Its strange how things work out. Still suffering from a pretty horrible cold/flu, I worked from home on Monday, saving myself the four hour plus round trip commute on the FireBlade. I went to work as usual on Tuesday and the trip home was certainly an interesting one. 
On the way home, the journey started in bright sunshine. However around Alton, a small town in Hampshire, I rode through a storm which delivered a blizzard. I'm not kidding, like proper snowfall and lets just say it was bloody horrible. Less than ten minutes later I find myself riding under perfect blue skies in bright sunshine on dry tarmac. 
The back of the bike seemed a bit 'off' on the way back home and when I filled up with fuel in the New Forest, I had a quick look at the back tyre and saw this.

Those long fast runs on the motorway and A31/A3 have clearly taken their toll on the tyre. The funny thing is, this wasn't across the whole tyre, just a small section and it just so happened to be the bit I could see when I pulled into the garage.
So, being about ten mins from the team at Conquest in Three Legged Cross, I took the chance that they would still be there and headed over. I had intended on heading over there today anyway, but that was to drop of some parts for the Ducati.
Luckily, they were still there and was able to arrange for my wheels and tyres to be picked up from my house. Being without a car I had no real way of safely getting the bike and tyres to the garage. Yes I could have strapped them to the back of the bike, but that wasn't something I really wanted to do.
So, if I had gone to work on Monday, then there was a very real possibility that the rear could have failed on the way home the next day during my monster commute. However as it is, I was able to get home, take the wheels off the bike and have the new tyres fitted instead. See, it is very strange how things work out.
On a side note, my monster commutes will shortly be coming to an end, but that's a story for another time.

So, for the first time since 2004, in fact since 1996, my motorbikes are my only form of transport, which is making the food shopping quite interesting.
The car started making really horrible knocking noises on the way to work yesterday which resulted in a monumental return journey back down the M3 inside an AA van.
So, back on the bike this morning, which I would have probably done anyway, but having it as the only option, is a weird feeling. Both rides, both to and from work were enjoyable and stopping at Midhurst on the way back, I took this little picture.

Its great to be out riding the bike on dry roads in the sunshine at the start of the summer of 2016. The leaves are coming out and green is replacing brown as the dominant colour of the countryside which is always a heart warming sign, but despite this I'm still a bit gutted about my car.

We've all been there; we're out riding a reasonably well known road or route, the fuel light comes on and you know where the petrol stations are, but you don't know exactly how far they are. You think to yourself I can get to 'that' one, so you pass the more expensive or unfavourable petrol station thinking to yourself...I've done this before...I'll be okay...Its just a few more miles....I'll be fine.
So yes, that was me this morning on the A31 between Winchester and Alton. Coming out of a roundabout, about five miles from the petrol station I was aiming for, the engine stutters.....uh oh!
I make sure I'm in top and cut my revs right down....then the engine stutters again, then again and the bike is lurching...then...nothing. The engine stalls about half a mile from the station. The road is fast, there is no hard shoulder and the sun is low. There is no way I'm going to even attempt to push it. Its time to call the recovery guys.

 Today really was a day of two halves. The forecast looked good so after spending just over a week without riding, I donned the Alpinestars and headed off to work. What I encountered was fog and mist and lots of it, all the way to Basingstoke, which is around fifty miles. Not good and not fun.
This afternoon however was perfect. Bright sunny cloudless skies, a decent temperature and a fast motorcycle. Happiness takes many forms. The forecast looks like a carbon copy tomorrow, so I'm thinking that the bike is the best choice. I may vary my route though, but I haven't decided.
In movie news, a few days ago I watched a documentary on Evel Knievel, called 'Being Evel' and take it from me, the title really does work both ways.

Co-produced by Knievel fan and in a way, spiritual successor, Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame, this film charts Evel's rise from small town America to his meteoric rise to stardom, his fall from grace, resurgence and them ultimately his passing. When I was a kid, I missed the whole Evel Knievel thing, although I did have the stunt cycle and therefore knew who he was, but growing up I knew he was a big deal and in the time before the web, the truth about the man wasn't readily available. 
In short, Evel Knievel was a asshole. A really nasty man who made lots of money putting his life on the line and this film documents that perfectly. 
With some really compelling interview segments with friends, family and fans, there is still clearly love and admiration for the man. The film stitches footage from various sources into the narrative and fleshes out the story and is very well made and is certainly worth a watch.
Knievel was a true pioneer in entertainment, showmanship and is arguably the grandfather in extreme sports achieving some amazing things during his lifetime, which is what makes it so sad to hear the truth about the man he really was.

So, having spoken to Stuey at the garage, it turns out the oil leak on the 1098s isn't coming from the seal behind the front sprocket as originally suspected, but is in fact, coming from the clutch slave cylinder instead. Oh goodie!
So after a few calls to Metropolis, a standard slave cylinder is just under £140. Not ideal. I could go second hand and source one off ebay, but I'd rather not. This left a third more interesting option. I called the team at Conquest Carbon www.conquestcarbon.com and spoke to my mate Steve who works there and after 3mins, I now have a Ducabike one making its way to my address at this very moment for less that the dull standard one. I still needed to order the O rings etc, so turned to Mike and his team at Metropolis who were happy to help a man in need.​

I could have easily gone for either the black, red or gold as either would fit with the Ducati's colour scheme, but in keeping with the red frame and clutch, its red I've gone for.
Cross fingers I should have the bike back within a week or so. Then I'll tax her and get her back out on the road. I sense a long ride coming.
Looking at Conquest Carbons site, I've started looking at lots of really nice things and I can easily see myself spending some more money on a few bits here and there. They do a lovely range of rear sprocket carriers, then there is the axle nuts, ooh look new levers and have a look at this, an awesome looking slipper clutch......the more I think about it, the more I realise I either need to win the lottery, or get myself a sponsorship deal.....any takers?

Its Spring. Its Poole. Its a Tuesday. These three things really only mean one thing. Poole Bike Night is back on. The first Poole Bike Night of the year is always a nice occasion as it gives many riders an excuse to get out on the bike on a Tuesday evening. ​

Last year we were in the middle of a fantastic spell of weather and this year, despite a heavy shower in the afternoon, the skies were blue, the temperatures were reasonable and the atmosphere was positive and the chips were hot.

Now, I have a confession. I went to bike night in my car. That's right ladies and gentleman, this biker went to the first Poole Bike Night of the year as a spectator rather than a participant. The reason? I needed to get something from the supermarket. How very middle aged of me.
​
As expected there was a good variety of bikes on show, from weird stretched out Labrettas, to the usual Harley crowd and Sportsbike riders of the South Coast. My favourite bike was this though. A nicely modded Triumph T955i.

Below are just a few of the bikes I spotted, which included a new Ducati Diavel X, a beautiful Honda SP1 or 2 and a lovely FireBlade in Rothmans colours. 

After my morning run, the less said about that the better, I just had to take the bike out. Today was a beautiful Spring day, not warm, more cool, and I had plenty of time on my side. In all honesty, I really just needed to get out and do something that required 100% concentration and that would therefore spare me from confronting my demons for at least an hour.
For the first time this year I was able to put my proper kit on and for the first mile or so I really noticed the difference between my winter and summer gloves. Its funny how easily you get used to riding in thick gloves, but in terms of protection, my Alpinestars gloves are a much better choice.
I got a call from the guys at Conquest on Thursday saying the 1098s was all done, so I just headed over to Three Legged Cross today and en-route was following a rider on a '15 plate BMW S1000rr. That bike can move. It appeared I was a little more confident/reckless through the turns and so was able to make up ground, but down the straight bits, that bike just left me there like I was riding a 600. Amazing bike.

Speaking with Howard and Stuey at Conquest, the problem with the 1098s was indeed the neutral switch that had worn out, failing to tell the ECU that the bike was in neutral. Bit of a pain, but there you go. Whilst they had it I asked them to look at the fan. Long story short, the ECU has gotten spiked at some point which resulted in a constant current being sent down the earth line for the fan....at least that's was I remember them saying. The guys hard wired up the fan to the battery with a new sensor attached to the radiator meaning the fan will kick in earlier, which is fine by me.
Whilst there we discussed a possible oil leak down by the front sprocket, which was probably the cause for the smoke a few weeks ago. I'd thought there was a leak there before and it appears that the seal only weeps/leaks when cold, sealing itself when it gets warm. As they had the bike there already I was more than happy for them to replace the seal and investigate the leak further if needed. I don't want all the oil to make a break for the outside and smear itself all over my rear wheel, thank you very much.
In kit news, now that the weather is getting better and following being caught in a biblical rain storm earlier this week, I've taken the opportunity to actually clean my Rukka gear. Following their simple washing instructions I just popped them in the machine and I even bought an iron to 're-seal' the outer membrane of the jacket, which will allow the water to bead off again, rather than get absorbed into the jacket. This will indeed be tested sooner than I would probably like.
To get it ready, I had to whip the armour out and just in case you're interested, this is what it looks like.

The orange armour on the left came out of the jacket and the black armour is from the trousers. It was pretty easy to get back in and even easier to take out, so if you need to clean your Rukka kit, but are worried about the armour don't be, it's all very easy.