Previous
news pages at Motoeuro HQ.
As
Motoeuro draws closer, a combination of excitement
and that nagging fear something is going to go tits-up
has become overwhelming. My list of things to do before
I leg-it grows daily and I still haven't got new tyres
as the rain has been too severe for tyre-scrubbing.
Daft dragging the Viffer out, getting all kitted up
for 3 miles then just riding back home, might as well
go for a blast to scrub 'em in. As soon as this damn
weather gets better I'll make an effort - along with
half of Tyneside I bet.
With Steve away with his missus it's left to me to
plan a couple of accom stops. Managed to confirm a
self catering cottage in Menton, many thanks
to ActivCycles for that. However, I am travelling
light this year, no side panniers, just tail pack,
small tank bag and bum-bag will see me done. But I
must get a new tail pack that holds more than a pair
of shoes..... Ebay is great, innit ?
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1st
July 2008
Time for a change for Stevie? He’s looking
for a new home for the Yellow Peril… Start
of a mid-life crisis or finally getting the
bike that he meant to? Stevie has got his 2000
W 1150GS up for sale for a mere £3.5k. |
| BEFORE: BMW R1150GS |
AFTER: BMW RT1150 |
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8th
May 2008: TITS.
John's sold the V-Strom on Fee-Bay and Auto
Swindler. A sad, sad day for Motoeuro as he
says goodbye to the bike that he loves. Bloody
typical isn't it ? At last he gets a bike he
adores then she's up for sale. Needless to say,
unless John can get away with the 100cc scooter
in the shed and has about 4 months spare to
get anywhere, Motoeuro 2008 is cancelled for
our Scottish Chapter.
Motoeuro 2009
only 380 days to go to the Pyrenees..... Oh,
FFS....... |
24th
April 2008:
As Geordie clicks over
to the ripe old age of 40, we needed to celebrate
in style. Palma it is then. Oh, by the way,
no jumping out of hotel bedroom windows into
the pool, no bottles of Champagne in the Jacuzzi
and absolutely no suntan allowed - ahem.
But all is not sweet as we're a man down - Sparko
can't make it so the trip starts off on a downer.
This means even more alcohol to get us in the
party mood. Pity EasyJet ran out of beer....
hic..... couple more 'cheeky ones' then lads
? Oh, look it's 10am and I'm hammered..... pass
the Gin.... |
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8th
March 2008: Bike
shows are great, so it's a shame to see the
Scottish Motorcycle Show in Edinburgh getting
smaller each year, this our third visit in a
row but this time we're wondering if it will
here next year. Mind you, all the big boys were
there including a small, but perfectly formed,
stand by Honda with the new Blade. Meanwhile,
Geordie is found hanging off the new Buell 1125R
and John's still got an eye on that Multistrada.
I, on the other hand, start to salivate over
the RSV, Blade, 848, in fact anything with two
wheels really.....
Pleased we took the car this year, whizzed down
most of the day. |
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Honda's
VFR1000 (View
larger image by clikcing here)
What's your flavour ? Yep, looks like the rumours
were serious, Honda is to unleash the VFR1000 V4 in
2009 with a non-Vech option (we'll see). However there's
no denying, she's a real looker and I rekcon the new
'Viffer' will walk all over the Sprint and BMWFS800,
in fact, coming in at 225kg there just might be an
awful lot of Blackbirds up for sale soon. Anyone lend
me £10k ? I'll need new kit too.
When asked if the VFR1000 would be around in 2008,
Honda's customer friendly, informative and, quite
frankly, crap official comments to Motoeuro reads....
"The range for
2008 has already been confirmed, at this point there
are no confirmed plans for the range in 2009 or onwards.
The 2009 range will confirmed at the NEC Motorcycle
& Scooter Show in November/December this year.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
" So
bloody there - You're not playing in my back garden
any more.
Tuono
trouble: Part 2.
Ha ! At last, Geordie's Tuono is registered with Aprilia
and she's being operated on to fix the those issues.
Mind you, it's still gonna take about 2 weeks, not
sure why, probably 'cos of parts but Motoeuro will
be back to full strength again soon in time for the
biking season. Jock's even had the U.K. Aprilia rep
on the phone to apologise (and try to sell him a new
Tuono). You've got to admire the cheek. Marvellous.
Italian bikes look bloody great, from the sheer madness
of Beneilli to the mind-bending sexiness of the newer
Ducati's, these are sought after machines with a race
reputation. Geordie's Aprilia Tuono is no exception
- a good looker with enough power and torque on tap
to make a jump for light speed, this thing doesn't
move forward it rotates our planet from the back wheel.
It's helps a little if your brand new bike gets registered
with the manufacturer so you get your warranty, this
is where the trouble begins. Without the registration
and hence no warranty, Jock's bike has developed a
few niggles that he cant get fixed; clocks are cracked,
indicators don't show on the dash, an irritating oil
leak and scuffling of the ankle plates. Who's to blame
? As usual the dealer is blaming Aprilia, who blames
the dealer, who now isn't a dealer anymore, who blames....
Yada, yada. We're hoping in the next 3 weeks this
will be all sorted, but for now Geordie isn't best
chuffed. Keep ya posted....
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28th
November
Motoeuro to the NEC Bike Show.
Oh yes, Geroge and I managed two ride outs at
the NEC; Harley Night Rod and the mad as feck
Benelli TNT cafe racer and sport. Yummie. Scive
a day off, up at 5am, back at 10pm, bore the
crap out the missus while drunk untill 1am.
Magic.
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2nd
-4th November
Motoeuro to Amsterdam.
Three days later and I
think I am still either tipsy, stoned or just
plain knackered. Motoeuro returns from Amsterdam
after an 'eventful' weekend of exactly what
you would expect from four blokes.... oh, lordy
I'm getting too old for this 'fun' lark.
You know, we have a saying
here at Motoeuro; "Whats happens in Amsterdam,
stays in Amsetrdam." So these are not pictures
of lads we know throwing up, stoned, and "bed
dancing" after too much 'fun'. The end. |
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1st
Oct.
The sun is out, roads are dry, blue skies....
Can only mean Mark has got his KTM 990. Mint
condition, the KTM looks and sounds superb and
not really that big either. But it's way faster,
lighter and thinner than the over-weight GS
was, the KTM 'aint no supermodel, but she has
one hell of a figure..... Did I say that out-loud
?
Time for a quick blast round the coast, 70 miles
later it's all over but Jock and I manage a
cold blast out to Northumberland - riding back
in the mist was spooky and bloody cold. And
why do we always do this ? Buy bikes in the
winter ?
It's hard enough to get out of bed never mind
get on your bike when it's freezin'.... |
17th
Sept. The
rumour was true after-all. The 'old girl' has gone
to the GS home for the elderly, meanwhile we (or
rather Mark) is salivating over the arrival of his
new KTM 990 'Mad venture'...... Quicker, lighter
and more powerful, but what a twat to fill up at
the garage. Instant Dakar hero in less than 2 weeks.
I'm not jealous. I'm not I tell you. Fec*ing bastard........Click
here to view a big image of the soon-to-be black
KTM.
6th Sept.
Raising the bar on culture, Motoeuro head off to
the theatre...... Take a £40k BMW X5, add
another £25k to make it 'Dakar ready' and
add 3 pissed Motoeuro blokes. Now, mix it all together
with lager and cigarettes and......viola ! Take
turns at sitting on that really cheap-looking car
taking silly pics......
"An evening of adventure motorcycling"
was at the Journal Tyne Theatre where Patsy Quick
and Charlie Boorman gave us a night of Dakar Q&A
and video clips. An appearance by the Hairy Bikers
in the audience and Chris Scott in the bar (with
Patsy and Charlie's bikes), made a good adventure-cocktail.
A classic Vincent Comet and a fun looking KTM gave
us more to drool over - a good evening ending with
us drinking outside and meeting Charlie, who by
his own admission "wasn't pissed enough yet"
and talking bikes all night.
This leads me nicely to Sparko. Has the mighty GS1150
Adventure had it's days ? As predicted in 2006 after
Sparky rode the 990 KTM Adventure at the NEC Bike
Show, our lad's heavily temped to the Austrian more
than the German..... and who can blame him with
nothing but praise for the KTM, everyone wants one.....
just make sure that fuel-injection issue has been
sorted with new mapping old boy or it's digital
riding for you... on. off. on. off. on. off. on.....
Click
here to view a big image of the black KTM. More
posted as it happens.....
 |
KTM has revealed
its naked 1150cc Venom - first seen as a prototype
in 2004 - will go into production for 2008. And
I want one ! Thought I would let you know just in
case one of you lot has won the Lotto and fancies
giving me a new bike. Anyone.... ? Hello...?
View
progress so far at the KTM micro-site for the LC8
by clicking here.
Now that I have come to the sad realisation that I
can't afford a new bike I thought the Viffer deserved
a 'special service'. The biggest service for my 750FV
is a 16,000'er with valve clearances and other stuff
I can't remember. Good news: Viffer passed a 'good
seeing to' with no drama, bad news: £351 to
you monkey-boy. M&S noticed a weld had rotted
on my exhaust, as they fitted it as part of the original
purchase, I thought I would have a go on the Motard
guarantee: 36 months unlimited mileage - my exhaust
was 33 months old....
Yip ! Free to the man on the red bike - brand new
stainless system including down pipes and fitting
for nowt - Oh, there is a god....
Motoeuro 2008 is now under
discussion and as the season is coming to an end,
be nice to agree dates if poss. Have a gander at the
2008 page and let me know your thoughts.... if you're
coming that is !
With news of Buell's new 1125R and the launch of the
B-King, our Geordie has a nice problem. Which one
to buy ! Although the Aprillia has been a good machine,
he's after more horses and less of a sports bike power-band.
Stay tuned, when he's back from his holidays (yes,
another one) we'll let you know what happens....
View the B-King
here, and view the new Buell
1125R here.
Quick news for ya...... Steve and John are on the
road ! Near the 11th hour, Steve gets a cracking job
so he's got the cash to service his bike (see below..EAK!
- but nice loaner !!!) and John climbs aboard his
new DL650 V-Strom. Half the cost of a GS but not half
the bike, the only things he misses are those sticky-out
pots to keep your ankles warm (!) and...errr....and...err....
That's about it.
Steve's service from
HELL !
Well, I knew the rumours that BMW servicing was expensive,
but bugger me sideways.....
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In
Steve's own words.... "Now I'm not naïve,
and I know I've bought-in to the world of McGregor
and Boorman, and this is what I'd call my first
proper big bike. I love the idea of a maintenance
free shaft-driven bike. With the trip now only
a month away, I knew I was cutting it fine to
get involved. I got a job sorted then booked
my Channel Tunnel tickets, then I called Vines
of Guildford as it was recommended by a Beemer
riding mate from my old work.…So that'll
be an annual service and an MOT, sir, certainly!
(cue Peter Lorre laughter in the background)." |
"Of course to be sure I'm prepped for the trip
there are a few very minor things that need a look
at. A bolt for the centre-stand has vibrated out and
vanished (or was it the bike pixies?), my headlight
unit shakes at speed, the metal cover where the silencer
joins the exhaust also vibrated off and vanished (should
have looked for this one!), and of course, the MOT
= £659.03. Oh, Bollox."
"This said, I love my bike,
the service and staff at Vines
of Guildford was excellent, and I got to play
with a K1220R Sport for the weekend. Now guys…
don't fucking crash in York this year! "
Stace
has left the building, oh, country.....
Stace is off to China, so ta-dar from us. Never met
the mystery man of Motoeuro......
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Arrrgggg
!!!!! Owwww Feck. Winter riding is fairly crappy
at times, but when it's slippy and some joker
has spilt diesel on a roundabout and you've
got brand new tyres...... It's a recipe eh ?
Sparko's GS Adventure takes a tumble, which
in fairness, could have been anyone of us. On
the plus side, the GS just laughed and apart
from a wee dint in the exhaust and a scuff on
the screen, it's A-OK. Sparko on the other hand,
is suffering from "for fucks sake"
syndrome which we think has been sorted by administering
a course of 3-4 weeks worth of beer. |
Get this
for the height of irony..... Jock turns up at Sparkos
for a ride out last Sunday as he's up for it, get
your clobber on and hit the start button..... Err.....errr....
That'll be a flat battery then. Sigh....
You Too.....
Well, it had to be done, Motoeuro 2005 Video is up
on You Tube and I have received some good comments
too. So far, 231 people have viewed it, ( now in August
2007, it's 1352) cool eh ? Check
it out by clicking here.
Jock's CBR1000
Is slowly starting to cost time and money, so he's
thinking of a Duke 916 as his new 'classic' bike.
The legendary 916 is like box of fecking monkeys to
service, but he's up for giving it a go. Kinda got
to take you're hat off to him.... I'm first in the
queue for a go.
Is Stace still in....?
Looks like Stace is selling his VFR so whats going
on there then ? Is he up for a blast before it goes
? Only time will tell but he's after £3,000
- £3,500 for it, well, well worth that kind
of money. These things still go for about £4,000+
at dealers.
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Spark's
New Metal.....
You
know what it's like..... Go to the shops for
a pint of milk and a pack of smokes and come
back with 10 Tesco carrier bags. Same for Mark.
Off to Mill BMW for a GS sponge pad, come back
with a mint 2003, R1150GS Adventure. And by-golly
it's feckin' huge ! Suits our Sparko to a T
as he is 6.4" but my toes were only just
on the deck when it's on the centre stand. Looks
great and Sparko is up for riding through Africa
now more than ever. Is it time for us to have
an off-road weekend ? Both BMW and KTM offer
these weekends away - EH ?, EH ?..... |
It's not what you know......
The guy I bought my bike from is now at Fast Fit Service
at M&S, David promised me he would 'look after
me' and he did. Parts for my VFR came to £170,
(tyre, spark plugs, oil and filter), so they did this
then added my new centre stand spring and gave it
an MOT. SORTED ! All in all, £40 labour + the
MOT cost, but how good is that ? Not worth getting
your hands dirty ! Tee hee :)
NEC Bike Show
Courtesy of Mike, we're off at silly o'clock to the
NEC. Big queues wait for us as we do our best to push-in.
Wait and hour for a ride-out and we're all sorted
for a launch time of 12.30. TOP. Mark takes the KTM
990, Jock the Speed Triple and Dave the BM K1200R.
And they're off !
Overall, class fun but Dave almost looses the BM (EAK
!) over-zealous riding and didn't see a wee dip in
the tarmac raised my heartbeat slightly ! Meanwhile,
Mark falls head-over-heels in love with the KTM (bye,
bye GS if you ask me) and Jock doesn't like the Triple
- "Breathless" I think was the word he used
- Good bloody job he didn't buy one then. (See July
News).
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Meanwhile
where's Steve and Tony ? Oh, that'll be them
at the Harley stand getting a ride out. Steve's
next bike is gonna be a Street Rod. See pix.
All in all, a class day out with a beer on top
for good measure. Must get Mike talked in to
buying a bike. |
Yellow GS gets the Touratech
Treatment....
I kinda thought by now I would have some pix from
Mark....... But we always forget the do the Bluetooth
thing when beer is involved. Ho hum. Anyway, back
from the brink, (man down
on Motoeuro 2006) the GS is back and better than
ever. Jock fixes the 'beak' while Mark goes mad a
Nippy-Normans for crash bars, tank pads, new screen
and Touratech hand guards ! Cool or what. Pictures
will follow this news item when I get them. (don't
hold your breath)....
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The
Sunseekers Return.
With Motoeuro 2006 well and truly cancelled,
(see 2006 page)
Jock and I head off to the Lakes and then to
the East Coast to Whitby for a couple of days.
Just over 500 miles later we return pleased
with our biking fix....read
the story in here.
John wins work
karting competition....Then sells his GS650.
Yep, that's what I said too ! Bloody Hell. John
and his work mates go karting at Knockhill and
he wins it. Hummmm.... Is this the competitive
streak in John I see emerging...?
Then he sells the GS650. Bikeless for winter
2006, we're keeping everything crossed for his
return in 2007, rumours at Motoeuro HQ include...
Triumph Trophy, VFR750, Bandit 1200. I'll keep
you posted. |
|
Tuono
- Italian for tuna ??
(no, clap of thunder apparently)
Regardless, its a beast alright. Jock likes
them big, fast and loud and bugger-me this is
! Had my ear plugs in when I had a go and you
can still hear that rumble - Gerrrrrrin ! This
Aprilia Tuono is actually an RSV Mille, but
a naked version. With a small faring the wind
protection is surprising good, so off to France
? Reckon so my friend. |
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VFR
V-Tech Stace gets a real bike.....
In Stacey's defence, the KTM was shagged. Too
much bother with warranty claims and unreliability.
Shame really as I personally like the KTM. However,
along with Jacques at work, Stace has discovered
space-bending speeds and a bike that just fecking
works. Comfy, a good looker, 3,000 miles on
her, yours for £4k. Sorted. oh, and it's
red (red ones go faster you know). |
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VFR750FV
This is not the bike you're looking for. Move
along.....
Although John's GS650 is a great bike, constant
trips to Newcastle from Dundee are not the happiest
of journeys aboard a 650cc Single. In truth
you need a bike just to get you there and back.
Sick of mags reporting how good the VFR is and
looking at Stacey's smug face, we stumble across
this VFR750FV with 12,000 miles for £2k
! All is not sweet:- No service history, no
owners book, tool kit or manual and badly dropped.
Non-starter. SHITE. Looks good though, eh ? |
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Steve
gets a GS
EAK ! Unknown to us lot, Steve has a low-speed
tumble on the Cagiva. But the insurance company
has written it off. So, naturally Steve gets
a BMWR1150GS in Yellow. Just like Marks....
Oh dear...
Steve's always wanted one and with a big cheque
(joking) from the insurance company, it's time
to splash out. Yours for £4.5k. Minta
! |
Open
heart surgery or the CBR 1000.....
Picture the scene.... After
taking my VFR to bits, Jock decides to sort the
tensioner in the CBR but it's buried in the bloody
engine. So, with his leg in plaster and ribs knackered
so much he cant take a full breath, Jock takes the
CBR engine out, sorts the tensioner and bangs it
back in - IN ONE DAY. Christ. Me ? I'd be in front
of the TV feeling sorry for myself with a DVD and
bottle of Italy's cheapest !
A very sad day. 24th
June 2006
On the day we were going to leave, John and Dave's
Dad passed away. Ted Harrison was 80 years young but
ill health eventually got to him. I am proud to say
that the boys of Motoeuro were pallbearers (including
another close friend, Grayson) at the funeral and
although John and I wanted the boys to go on the trip,
they wouldn't leave without us. New date of 2nd September.
Dum-de-dum...
Less than 4 working days until Moteuro
2006, things are a bit up in the air to say the
least. Jock's leg is not 100% fixed, Steve looks iffy
thanks to too much wrist action, John still needs
tyres......
Dave's Viffer feeling
better.
Waiting for bearings to come, but she is looking far
better. Geordie and the 'Persuader' to the rescue...
More as it happens, these pix are the latest ones
with her looking de-greased and cleaned up, I prefer
it when she's really dirty mind you.....ahem !
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