MotoZania Meet, bad weather, NEC, Tuono memories.

OK, first off, the MotoZania Meet will be at 5pm this Sunday November 29th at The Swan, Haslemere, Surrey. With the horrid weather we've been having I hope some will come. Flaming Henry but it's been abysmal. Dark, wet, violent winds and every flippin' day for weeks on end!

This Saturday I'm off to Birmingham to the NEC to see the latest bikes, meet with a motorcycle tour operator and also with Superbike at some posh hotel. They appear to want my opinions. Ha! Fools! I'll only rant and rail against speed cameras and the insane 'safety' paranoia of our nanny state...

No I won't. I'll answer their questions about my favourite bikes and the REAL question they always want...'when is my insurance up for renewal'...I wonder why? I'll take the camera. Pictures up soon.

Sarcasm aside, I'm still mending but not fast enough or well enough. I see the bikers go by and eat my heart out with envy. Oh well, good for them.
Got me thinking about the Aprilia Tuono I test rode. WOW! It was riding a hurricane that had bred with a tornado and picked up a comfy saddle as it blew through the countryside. The thunderous V-Twin was immensely powerful and the throttle action was instant and explosive. The brakes were beyond awesome. I'm used to smooth fours that, although powerful and fast, don't FEEL as fast or exciting. By the time I was riding the Tuono the lads in the group were 'on to it' and one skillful chap was wheelying past me at some ungodly speed. I just focused on keeping up but the overriding sensation was thunderous, instant, controllable power. I want one NOW! In fact, it impressed me so much that I have put the Aprilia RSV at the top of my 'next bike' list. Why the RSV and not the Tuono? I'm not into naked bikes because I find wind blast the most tiring of all the forces one faces when riding long distances.
May I quote from the Aprilia website? http://www.aprilia.com/
· New V 60 Magnesium Evolution engine
· Dynamic air intake (the only naked with ram air technology)
· Electronic fuel injection system with 57 mm throttle bodies
· 16 bit engine management unit
· Exhaust system with twin silencers and three way catalytic converter with Lambda probe oxygen sensor
· Aluminium alloy perimeter frame
· Double banana aluminium swingarm
· Lighter steering yoke
Once again Aprilia has succeeded in producing an exclusive, refined and unique naked. The latest Tuono 1000 R remains the most sought after of all naked twins, and the perfect synthesis of exclusive components, quality, technology and finish.
Like the RSV, the Tuono has been perfected on the track to satisfy the most demanding and refined motorcyclists. Each individual part has been developed to maximise the performance and riding pleasure of a naked that is already a legend in racing circles.
Engine performance is better than ever. Maximum power is 102 kW (139 HP) at the crank and maximum torque 10.9 kgm at only 8,500 rpm. The Aprilia Tuono 1000 R is therefore among the most powerful of all nakeds.

Bashed-up, bored, bitter and brain-dead.

Well, the weather is abysmal, the evenings dark, the motorcycle racing finished and I'm still not healed or healthy hence my total neglect of this blog...

Self-destruction seems imminent.

If it wasn't for the 2000 biking magazines I have to catch up on I'd jump off Beachy Head now. I've decided to hire a little car (God forbid) and drive to the NEC near Birmingham (the ORIGINAL - not that faked copy in Alabama) to see the motorcycle show. I am meeting a few business people and checking out the tasty new stuff for 2010 that it seems no one can afford to buy.

I have had no luck selling my trusty steed in Arizona (2005 R1) and I hear from American friends that they will pay you to take a new bike. I signed up with 1000 dealers so now I have 32,000 bikes and I'm stinking rich. Not!

If I heal enough over the next few months I'll start looking at KTM990's or Aprilia RSV's. Yum yum.

I'll post some photos on MotoZania.com from the NEC show.

This month's MotoZania Meet in Haslemere at The Swan will be on Sunday 22nd so do join us. Pity our meet is prior to the NEC show but there is another show in February in London. More bike pics for that show too.

In the meantime...here are a few shots from the Haslemere Fire Station event called Right It Right. Hogsback Brewery Bike was loved by all. Although choppers are here in the UK we do our best to discourage such behaviour. Hand painted tanks and helmets were AMAZING! Desmo Dave came again on his awesome Desmosedici. The SOUND! Like Niagara Falls in your living room! And last but not least the new BMW 100RR. Better in the flesh than in photos. I sat on it. Big deal...I can hear you! Don't worry, you'll hear about it when I test ride this sucker!