Out with the old and in with the new. The FireBlade currently sits in the garage sporting beautiful brand new rubber on the back wheel. Sadly, I really didn't have a choice as the older tyre was completely shot. I mean, just look at the photo above. I'm amazed it could even disperse any kind of water from the roads surface.
It was however, marginally nerve wracking riding back home from Bournemouth Bikes this morning on a brand new tyre when the temperature was barely over freezing. Ahh the joys of riding in late January. I will say the service was excellent; both quick and reasonably priced. You know its a good place, when they have a go at you for a dry chain and then sort it as part of the service.
The last rear lasted me a little over ten months and was good for well over 6000miles, many of those of fast A roads and motorways. That's pretty good going when you think about it.
With a shorter commute in place and a variety of different routes available, I'm hoping this Pirelli Rosso 3 tyre lasts a bit longer in terms of time. We shall see.

So far the amount of actual riding I've done this year has been negligible. I managed to get a days riding in last week and I maximised the ride as I had a meeting in Bournemouth and the bike was a much better choice than the car.
It was during this ride when checking the rear tyre when stopped for fuel that I realised just how low the tread was. Really not good, so today I contacted Bournemouth Bikes to arrange for a new Rosso 3 to be fitted. All booked in for Saturday.
Since having a pair of these fitted last year I have been really really impressed with every element of the tyre, including wear rate, and have no reservations about equipping the FireBlade with a fresh hoop.
A new rear tyre wasn't the only bit of 'replacing a worn and knackered part for something attractive and fresh'. My 2011 Supertech Rs have now been retired and they've been replaced with the 2016 model (a wonderful Christmas present from Carolina - thank you my love).
Five years for a set of boots is damn good going especially when I think about what I've done to them and where they have been. They've been used for everything in all kinds of conditions. Track days - check. Rainy commutes - check. Scorching hot summer rides - check. Foreign trip - check. Crashes - yep, two of them. These boots stood up to one hell of a beating and, like the Rosso 3, I can't recommend them highly enough. Yes they cost between £300 and £400 depending on where you shop, but they really are worth every penny.

For a first ride of the year, it certainly wasn't a bad one. After rising early(ish) to hit the gym, I had the whole day in front of me. The low morning temperatures were creeping up in the sharp winter sun, but as it was still greasy in places, caution was required.
The ride was a nice fairly reserved affair. I was breaking in some new boots (thanks to the wonderful Carolina) and having not ridden for a few weeks, I had no desire to start the new year on the floor.

As you can see from the pictures above, the weather was exceptional and its days like today when I realise just how lucky I am to have moved down two years ago. 2016 was a fairly turbulent year for me, but as I mentioned in my end of year review, it finished on a real high. Cross fingers there will be more days like today to go and explore this little country of mine. Hurry up Spring, we're waiting.