June Newsletter

June Juney, loves chimney stacks...

Hi achternaam,

Isn't singing in yer helmet therapeutic! It would be if I could get the lyrics right though.

I suppose long haul truckies get a similar experience, though they are tucked away in their cab they have distractions like UHF radio, mobile phones and lots of dials to monitor. Having said that the modern rider is assailed by TFT dashboards with all the data, settings and choices they throw up. GPS, Comms systems and phone calls impinge on the pure joy of helmet time.

Maybe that's why the lure of old bikes continues to grow. Is that why the 'hipsters' are gravitating to the older and simpler bikes? Riding the old Guzzi or Mario the Sport is such a different experience to having a colour telly staring back at me and offering more settings than the Enterprise.

All the new technology is terrific, I love it and it makes conquering distance so much easier. It does, however, dilute the purism of riding a motorcycle.

First world dramas or what? Beam me up Scotty.

Alpine 50

Wow, what an effort, who would have thought that a bunch of idiot motorcyclists would make regular runs into the snowline to tell lies and drink too much? What's more, they would continue to do it yearly for 50 years!

I was privileged to get to ride with Tony, one of the original Snow Geese (as in "ya goose") who had vague memories of the first events. Not surprised, I only have vague memories of all the rallies I've attended over the years.

The fireside chat (mis)informed me that one of the main drivers was Paul Giles (yep, Shawn's Dad).

This year the weather was a balmy minus 3 overnight (-7 last time I went) but the snow cover on the ride from Kiandra to the Rally site at Yarangobilly was one to remember. Not only did the country have a generous coverage of snow but we were riding just below the cloud.

Bugger stopping to take a photo and wrestling with gloves and clobber, you're just gonna have to use yer imagination.

Special mention needs to made of the organisers of this event. It takes a lot of time and phaffing about to pull them together. It's like wetting yourself in a dark suit. It's a warm feeling but not many people notice. Henning Jorgensen who's put in above and beyond stepped down on Sunday morning. There are lots of frostbit, hungover bikers who dips their lid, Henning. Thanks.

New Kato 790 Kit

It may be a bit premature but it looks like KTM might have a hit on their hands. Interest and sales of the new 790 are very strong from what I hear.

Luckily our mate who bagged one early loaned us hers to do our frameset.

I'm really happy with the progress we are making with our designs. These are the stiffest framesets we've made yet but still come in just over the 1kg a side. We've developed a bunch of tricks to brace and generally reinforce them. As you know rear cross bracing is superfluous, the weight of our bags is across the seat.

Our new Avduro 2s and all the previous versions of our panniers fit like a Prostate Doctor's finger.

Here's the page link

Smart Phone

There's no end to ingenuity and the use of ve(L)cro.

Here's a way to reduce navigation arguments.

This rider is always assured of being told where to go!

I guess his response might be - "Get off my back!"

Hat Run-Out

The very last of the C4 Schuberth stock I have, are sitting waiting for a new head to adorn.

There's the flash Matt Blue in Large, Yellow/matt black - Legend in XXL and white in XS, M, L, 2XL and 3XL.

At $795 they are a bargain.

Flick us an email to snap one up.

Soz

Software Stuff-Up-Dates Vex Me!

The last newsletter seemed to go a bit rogue. It appears to have sent to some people each time I closed the bloody thing while composing it. Seeing as I take a couple of weeks to drag it together in the freer moments of my week, it would have been tres off pissing to have it turn up in your inbox over and over.

Soz... I think I have it sorted now.