InvictaMoto's On The Road Again!

A bit premature. But I need to look the part on the day I take the GT out for the first time! Available from eBay whilst stocks last.  When the link packs up that's when they are sold out. It has the red Suzuki stylised "S" on one of the sleeves. Can't say I like that bit but it's what it is. Looks nice and the material seems decent quality.

Back in 2001 I was invited to attend the event held at the Montlhéry circuit to the south of Paris. So one Friday we set off, Claire and me aboard the Kettle for the relatively short run to Paris, it's about 199 miles. We took the A26/A1 route from the Channel.  I chose a Campanile hotel at Porte de Bagnolet, although those in cities were called Campaville at the time.  This one was within easy access to the city on the metro.  Parking was a bit crap as it was a multi-storey building. The problem was getting in and out through the barrier and no marked bike spaces. Once checked in we set off for the city on the metro line a few hundred metres away.  It was also close to the Boulevard Périphérique. We had a good wander around the sights like the Eiffel Tower etc. Had a meal and then back to the hotel. After breakfast on Saturday we togged up and checked the maps to Montlhéry. A mere 35kms or so from the hotel.   It was an easy run on the Pér...

The World in Pictures - Day 10 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! USA! USA! Montauk Lighthouse - Long Island NY

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Motorcycle groups develop a united response to Oxfordshire County Council’s anti-motorcycle bias. Many Oxfordshire motorcyclists already know that Oxfordshire County Council is conducting a survey regarding its future Local Transport and Connectivity Plan 5 and asks for responses to 28 papers on various aspects of the plan. The 28th paper discusses motorcycling and appears almost as an afterthought, created only after Cherwell District Councillor John Broad raised issue with a lack of content relevant to motorcycles in the previous strategy document. The original version of the topic paper was so biased that Oxfordshire County Council revised it after significant pressure from Cllr Broad, motorcycle lobby groups and many local motorcyclists. The revised document still shows bias and misinformation, and none of the other topic papers even mention motorcycles. Motorcyclists will be happy to know that, yesterday, representatives...

This run was slightly different to that of 1993. I was going to meet my friend and fellow SOC member Steve Hazlehurst. Steve had attended the Czech Invader Rally near Brno the weekend before. My plan was to get to Köln to meet the DB Autozug to Salzburg. I'd meet Steve there and we were booked into the YH. The bike was packed with my Swagman panniers and the Givi topbox. The ride to Köln was easy enough and I had lunch near the Dom before finding the station near the exhibition grounds. There were other bikes there going to Villach.  Mostly HD on their way to some treffen of their own in Slovenia I think. Just before the train was due to arrive there was a massive storm. The train was "lost" and we sheltered where we could.  As it thundered and the lightning crashed around us I tried to take a selfie.  Not as easy as you might think with an SLR in those long days before digital cameras were invented. SLR Selfie - uses self timer! Actually, I did have one with me.  Th...

The World in Pictures - Day 9 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Sweden - two today! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasa_(ship)

The World in Pictures - Day 8 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Italy - Positano

MAG calls for a weight-based Vehicle Excise Duty system The Motorcycle Action Group has revealed its position on Vehicle Excise Duty.  Proposing a universal system based purely on vehicle weight, MAG says it is promoting a system that meets all the goals of the Government whilst offering a long-term solution that addresses far more than just a single vehicle emission problem. On 11th March 2020 HM Treasury published a call for evidence seeking views on moving towards a more dynamic system of Vehicle Excise Duty which recognises smaller differences in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Speaking after the publication of a formal position statement, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, explains the thinking behind MAG’s position: “Motorcyclists have long felt that the current VED system is unfair. The existing system - based on engine capacity for motorcycles - sees many riders paying far higher levels of VED than most car owners.  I ...

An event I have wanted to attend for many years but it has always fallen on the Saturday when I have other distractions. This year Neill and I decided to give it a go. It's on October 3rd. Again a Saturday.  The plan such as it is to ride up Friday to near the starting points and stay overnight. I have booked the Ramada at Newport Pagnell for Friday night. The usual cancellation free and pay on the day basis. https://www.rttw.org/

The World in Pictures - Day 7 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Norway - Olden

The World in Pictures - Day 6 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Germany

The World in Pictures - Day 5 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! France - Paris 2005 - like all the photos in this challenge I took it.

http://www.wasserbueffel-club.de/klassiker/gt750.htm http://www.crooks-suzuki.com/ http://www.suzukigtclub.nl/ https://www.bikebandit.com/blog/iconic-suzuki-gt750-lemans http://suzuki-gt-triples-et-twins-deux-temps.fr/ http://www.thekettleclub.com/ https://www.wasserbueffelclub.de/homepage/home http://www.wasserbueffel-club.de/ http://jacques.masse.pagesperso-orange.fr/anglais/index_eng.htm

Working from home should have given me some time to get out in the garage and clear away some of the junk so that I can get to the bike without climbing over crap. Some is destined for charity shops and others to the recycling centre. But due to the coronavirus lockdown both are shut. Helpful? Not very. My search for a "new" John Storrie to fix the bike stalked a bit.  John had said that if the engine was okay and the crankshaft oil seals were okay it would be a relatively simple job to do the carbs and a tidy up. Budget about £800. If it needed the engine out and the crank sorting, then look at £1500 to £2000. He would need to get another guy called Barry or Phil to do that as he wasn't strong enough any more. I haven't found Barry but I have found Philip through the GT750 Owners  Facebook page. Having been blackballed from the Kettle Club years ago I have been loathe to associate with other Kettle owners other than John. It's all old news anyway. I put a note on...

The World in Pictures - Day 4 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! England - Liverpool 2007

The World in Pictures - Day 3 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Prague - Czech Republic 2004

The Motorcycle Action Group praises Oxfordshire County Council for  revising motorcycle proposals following feedback from MAG In a major motorcycling breakthrough, MAG has welcomed a rethink by Oxfordshire County Council following significant input from MAG and local bikers about blatant anti-motorcycle bias regarding their Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. MAG challenged sweeping statements in the Council’s document that were not backed by evidence. These showed a biased and discriminatory attitude against motorcyclists. Top of the list of claims that MAG objected to was the stunning statement that motorcyclists are ‘a danger to themselves.’ Communicating directly with the Council, MAG secured a promise that the Council would supply the evidential basis for the document and ensure that the document reflected the references “appropriately.” Yesterday, MAG received confirmation that the review had been completed and the document amended. MAG’s Director of Cam...

The World in Pictures - Day 2 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Belgium (1997) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menin_Gate

I just ran my 3rd longest run with @Runkeeper! https://runkeeper.com/cardio/56846a02-c9c7-4a3b-b58b-63055dfba081 #KeepRunning

The house was created during WW1 for soldiers to get away from the front.  I have been twice, and only once with a camera.... In 2006 we went in and I had the camera with me. I have only these two in Flickr. To save the house and to maintain it there is a gofundme page for donations. If you can spare a few quid then go here. Poperinge one of the twin towns with Hythe where I live. The common denominator being Lord Wakefield of Hythe. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142435748/charles-cheers-wakefield https://www.talbothouse.be/en/museum/friends/toc-h

The World in Pictures - Day 1 I have been challenged by Neill Devall to post a picture, every day, for the next 10 days. The picture can be of anything you like but each picture must have been taken in a different country. You can tell us about the photo or not, as you wish but must at least specify the country. I'm not going to challenge anyone, but if friends want to take part so well and good! Austria (1993) http://www.hundertwasser.at/english/oeuvre/arch/arch_bad-fischau.php On the way from Zastavka u Brna where I lived at the time to Schloss Moosham to join up with the Wasserbueffel Club rally.

And this is still my main bike jacket for all year wear.  Bought in June 2008. A couple of summer jackets have come and in some cases gone, but this one lives on. It's a bit faded but is still waterproof. https://invictamoto.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-jacket.html

Inevitable given the current state of the world with the pandemic running wild.

I was nominated for 10 day bike challenge by Mark Powell.  Everyday I select a image of biking and post it without explanation - 10 days 10 bike photos. Day 10 - The final day of the challenge.

So back in March I cancelled the hotels I had booked with booking.com. 👍 RCI gave a credit for the exchange fee to use later and our points back. 👍 Still waiting for the airfare from Travel-Up. 👎 I also logged into Cartrawler and cancelled the car hire and emailed the excess insurance. Both replied on March 16th - refund in ten days. My MasterCard statement dated April 13th came today. I guess March 16th to April 13th is less than 10 days!! 👎 More bloody emails... Update 19/04/2020 Gatwick Parking.  One email sent on the 18th. Today email from them and then from PayPal to say that they have repaid the money.  👍👍 Cartrawler replied to say that they are sorry and that thir 10 day refund has gone longer and that they are experiencing unprecedented calls for refunds and therefore it is taking longer.  We'll see.

I was nominated for 10 day bike challenge by XXXXXXXX. Everyday I select a image of biking and post it without explanation - 10 days 10 bike photos.

I was nominated for 10 day bike challenge by XXXXXXXX. Everyday I select a image of biking and post it without explanation - 10 days 10 bike photos.

Instead of having a lay in and then later this afternoon checkout out of the apartment in Denia, we are of course at home in Kent on lockdown. We have had a drive out to Tesco in Cheriton.  I happened to look on their website and saw that there were free "click and collect" slots today.  Marvellous. We could do most of our week's shopping and pay online and collect. We were also able to get some things for our neighbour, Connie, who is in her 80's and lives alone after her husband passed in January. Our flight home was to be tomorrow morning but of course, it was cancelled and we are here.  Still waiting to see what, if anything, has been credited back to my MasterCard.  Why am I not feeling confident that anything has arrived there yet?

The Motorcycle Action Group has formally requested that Oxfordshire  County Council withdraw part of its Local Transport and Connectivity Plan documentation after discovering ‘jaw-droppingly inappropriate’ accusations against bikers in their document. In an email communication dated 8th April 2020, MAG formally requested that the Council urgently withdraw what it described as a “highly biased and inaccurate document”.   The document in question, entitled "Connectivity: Motorcycles” is one of 28 documents published on the Council’s consultations website as part of what is described as an engagement activity of Oxfordshire County Council's Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.  The Council state that they would like survey responses before the full consultation of the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan, which will be out later this year. The Council will use the responses to the engagement to inform the content on the consultation. MAG’s Direct...