Hi achternaam,

I was born in Yorkshire, 60 years ago this year and was surrounded by ditties and sayings as I was growing up. My Grandad used to say "If ifs and buts were apples and nuts it'd be Christmas already lad". As I look around my office there is evidence of apple cores and nut shells everywhere. It's about time to start laying hints and gathering "Frequent Father Points". Odd though, nowadays I don't want for much but it is a good idea to avoid socks and jocks, that makes me feel old.

It's been a big one, 20th year celebrations for Andy Strapz and a hangover that would kill a small dog after my 60th.

The end of another year is peeking over the horizon as I think about the riding I missed out on this year. No rapid, epic dashes across the country, trips to exotic countries or camping trips into the high country. That old addage "Too much work and not enough play makes Jack a dull boy" comes to mind. Gonna have to address that next year!

The wet, cold and dark winter down here in Vicfreezia got the creative juices working even if the testing regime has been a bit lighter than I'd like. As a result a whole heap of gear that's been in development have started to pop out the other end of the design and development process. I'll try not to smash you too much with product stories but there is quite a list of new goodies to keep you in the loop with.

To all those hoping to catch up at the Sydney Motorcycle Expo, look for me on the Held/Schuberth stand. The Andy Strapz roadshow won't be setting up, sorry. It's too hard, expensive, disruptive and to be honest, I'm a bit "showed out".

 Avduro LE

Avduro Limited Edition panniers were launched at our GP Pop-up Shop a couple of weeks ago. The idea was to do something a little different for our 20th Anniversary year, add a splash of  colour and incorporate some of my development ideas in a special run of our saddle bag system. Aussie Ochre was the obvious choice from those on offer from our supplier. The basic bag shape, cut and design is essentially unchanged. We then added an embroidered front pocket of "ballistic" nylon that closes as the bag is rolled down, perfect for a jumper or wet weather gear. Side pockets are a little bigger, one a mesh with a special bottle restraint cord and the other a fully enclosed roll top jigger. A cargo net to work in conjunction with the top closing straps and soft plastic side stiffening panels complete the package. Each set will be individually numbered and orders taken now. Price will be $495 a set or $545 with our liners.

Drink Up

I sit here wrangling my computer, the f%^* b#@*&, looking out the front door as a 30 degree day unfurls. I get up for a slash and trip over the pile of dummies that are building up in this perfect riding weather Victoria is having.

My mind wanders to drink. Not the cleansing ale or a fortifying red but water. By the time we feel thirsty we are not at optimum concentration. Next a headache creeps up on us and perfomance drops further. Mistakes follow.

Add coffee or a light beer with lunch (both diuretics) or head off with the mother of all hangovers and you're behind already.

I reckon the very best place for water is on my back. I can get a slug easily and more importantly, regularly. A slurp every time I slow down or stop. Towns, intersections, to check directions or waiting for an opportunity to pass one of them aluminium cans with bunks. It makes such a huge difference to a day's ride and it's not restricted to off-road rides.

I grab one of those old wine bottles of water from the fridge at cafes, drink some and pop the rest into my hydration pack. It's usually cold and the bottle makes it easy to pour.

Another trick I've seen is to pop a hydration bladder into a tank bag and route the hose into a easy to get at place that doesn't flap about.

So cheers, here's to your health.

 Pay the Ferry, Man

 Modern Bang Water

Dr Z has been a pain to start if left idle for a couple of weeks. Flattening the battery getting the little bugger to bark into life at bugger off time dose nothing for my limited patience quotient. Blue shed air ensues.

Taking advice from a couple of mates (dangerous I know) the bowl was drained and "bob's yer Mother's Brother" it jumped into life almost immediately. However... the friggin thing wouldn't idle. Despite an arvo of more shed words and cleaning of jets, Dr Z was still unwell and had to be admitted to hospital. Despite my best effort, the smallest of crud flakes, invisible to the naked eye looks to have been the problem.

I knew that modern fuel is pretty crappy and "goes off" rapidly, what I didn't know is, just how quickly. The spanner spinner at the local bike shop reckons that 5 days will see Premium pretty well stuffed and a couple of weeks for regular. Oxidisation causing a gummy varnish like formation, evaporation of the more volatile constituents, water attraction and even bacteria growth can contribute. He's an advocate for using fuel stabiliser and looking about the inter web I found a Penrite brew that reckons to extend the life up to 12 months. Of course it won't freshen up old fuel.

This has me thinking, what is the woof water we buy at the Outer West Feknose general store like? While I always treat that sort of a fill up as a last resort, what about small town servos in general?

I'm gonna give the fuel stabiliser a crack and I'll let you know how I go.

And it Keeps on Comin'

Hot off the testing and two wheeled development  bench, Smart Netz are ready for release. Imagine a combination of our long serving Smart Strapz and a self adjusting, stretch 4mm bungee cargo net and you're getting there. Designed to adapt when pulled in any direction it will attach to small gaps on the bike. Those tails have two position loops and are adjustable. Quick, easy and gentle on the bike.

Click here for the webpage

 Wait, There's More

It's been a time of quite a few new things coming together at the same time.

The new V-Strom is here. We had to get our act together, make a frame and pannier system for it. To keep the whole plot as narrow as possible we followed our own lead from our KTM set up and perched the right side pannier above the muffler. Bolt holes were very considerately placed by Suzuki so mounting points were close and straight, allowing us make a strong but very light frame set. The complete kit, bags, frames and stainless fittings weigh a total of 3kg. Pretty chuffed with that I am.

 Click here to have a gecko at the webpage

And... more, Quad Locks locked in

Ooooh, that's cheesy.

I've taken delivery of a swag of the new Quad Lock Phone mounts. Basically the system consists of three parts, a mount, a case and an optional rain (poncho) cover.

Either Mirror (and crossbar), Motorcycle (bar) or Car mounts hold the case with a quick twist. The phone case is quite a substantial and protective one. Add a "poncho" rain cover if you plan to do wet riding with the phone exposed.

Dr Z and I took a set up out and tried to shake and crash it off with no success. The phone's charge cable didn't fare so well, the bashing from rough roads (and small contour bank jumps) disintegrated it in a day and a half's work. I reckon that proves that the Quad Lock system holds on pretty well indeed. It never looked like it was anything but secure.

Using Hema Explorer maps on the phone is much better than the GPS. The bike mount top clamp would dash mount on the cockpit of the DRZ quite neatly too.

Just push and turn to attach. To release or change from "portrait" to "landscape", press the little blue lever and turn.

Whether you're using a helmet comms system or the phone's mapping it's a simple and secure system.

It passes testing.

Have a squiz here

 Bugger off the Bollards

I've been thinking, yep, I know it's dangerous.

Instead of putting those ugly bollard blocks in public places that protect the public from evil bastards running down innocents in the name of some twisted ideology. How about councils and grovellments make bike parks in the same place.

They won't dare crash into the "bikies" beloved and it would stop them in their tracks if they did. All the shitter commuter bikes would be placed on the outside and insured to the steering head bearings. Win win!

Unchained melodies