It only takes a moment on the 8.21 Southwest Trains service from Clapham Junction to Teddington for me to realise just how much I use the Kriega R25 backpack. For the past five months, the Kriega R25 has carried my camera, laptop, books, holiday gear, badminton stuff and general work related paraphernalia with me pretty much on a daily basis.

The 25 litre Kriega backpack replaced my previous, long lasting North Face Jester backpack which boasted an impressive 10 year life.  The ever increasing size of the hole in the bottom was the main decision to switch from North Face to Kriega.

I went for the R25 mainly because of Kriega’s patented quadlock harness. By bringing the straps together in the middle of the chest it takes the weight off your shoulders for easier use of your arms and shoulders whilst motorcycling, which also means that the straps are longer and therefore proves much easier access for putting the backpack on and taking it off. The harness is also very easy to close and open, and the length adjustment system which Kriega have implemented on the R25 is easy and quick to use. It’s essentially a backpack which is designed for motorcycle riders.

When you’re riding a motorcycle on a daily basis you need something dependable, functional, capable and flippin’ easy to use. This ticks all of those boxes for me.

One of the few things which I had difficulty finding out when searching for product reviews before I bought it was how waterproof it is. Kriega do waterproof backpacks and others which aren’t, so does that mean that they let all of the water in? In short, experience so far with the bundles of rain a classic British summer delivers is no. The straps tend to absorb the water which although annoying, isn’t the end if the world. The rest of the backpack tends to collect some of the water which you can see beading on the surface, and absorbs the rest. The inside of the backpack hasn’t got wet, yet. I did have the intention if attaching a Respro waterproof reflective backpack cover to the R25 if it wasn’t waterproof enough – I don’t plan on getting one anytime soon, although it might be a good idea for high visibility during winter commuting.

Before a road trip on the Honda CB600F Hornet

The main and pretty much only issue I do have with the Kriega R25 backpack is the zip. Whilst the material overlap is sufficient and it does what it needs to, i.e. keeps the contents inside the bag with overlapping material to keep water out, the zip often gets trapped with the overlapping material and it never seems as though I’ve completely closed it. Having said that, even though the zip does catch on a regular basis, I’m confident that it won’t tear itself apart! The guarantee which comes with the backpack from Kriega is enough to keep me confident.

On the whole, this is not only a motorcycle backpack which i use when commuting, but one which i use for everything. The harness which takes the weight off your shoulders and places it on your chest and hips makes it so much easier to carry anything. I get a few blank stares from people who walk past me in the street when they see me wearing what looks like a parachute, but the benefits of carrying stuff more comfortably completely outweigh this. I certainly believe that Kriega should be selling the technology to people to make cases for musical instruments – I can imagine those are some heavy bits of kit.

I do have a fairly small upper body frame compared to your typical motorcyclist, so I am probably on the smallest setting for the straps. So I would say don’t buy this for a child or young adult. But when I have my jacket on, there’s no problems at all and the harness is really easy to tighten and adjust to fit you.

Fantastic piece of motorcycling kit. If you’re in need of a new backpack, buy one.

Photos here

I’d normally expect to get an older and slightly mis-treated courtesy bike when taking my Honda CB600F Hornet in for an MOT. recently though, I was pleasantly surprised by Hartgate Motorcycles when they gave me this Honda Shadow VT750C demo model whilst mine was being prepared for the next 12 months road worthyness!

It’s a “custom”, as Honda calls it, and with only 750 miles on the clock I was pretty shocked they allowed me to jump straight on. But what the hell, I’m not going to complain. It starts at around £6,925 and after some customisation would probably come to a little bit more!

The riding experience is completely different. The Honda Hornet I’m used to may be made by the same company, but they are as different as chalk and cheese. The Hornet is more upright with a responsive throttle on the inline-four. It’s fairly quiet, in part due to the 599cc engine and four cylinders. It also allows for quick accelleration and braking. The Honda Shadow VT750C is a745cc V-twin. The engine sounds louder, and the throttle is much less reponsive – but not in a bad way.

The overall differences led to a different riding approach. The Shadow made me ease into and out of situations, taking more time and enjoying more about the experience of riding. I had a more relaxed riding position which was lower, which helped me feel lower to the ground and closer to the road.

The Shadow is definitely louder, heavier (262kg vs. 185kg ish), smoother and definitely more of a head turner. It’s increddibly fun and exhilerating. The Shadow embodies everything that motorcycling is and should be about.

But, it’s less practical in my daily commute and it’s weight takes a little bit of getting used to. Other than that, i’m running out of excuses not to swap. But the Hornet will live on for a while yet!!

After a year of wearing my Sidi Strada Rain motorcycle boots, I scuffed the front toe of my right motor cycle boot. It’s made me realise just how good the Sidi motorbike boots are! Read on for more about these motorcycle boots.

I bought a pair of Sidi Strada Rain boots from Fowlers after nipping into Bristol to get them one lunchtime during the work week. This was after taking part in (and passing) my CBT wearing a pair of work boots with steel toe caps in the end. I was advised that steel toe caps were not a good idea on motorcycles!! So I fairly quickly went out and got a hold of some new boots before doing my direct access course.

The Strada Rain boots from Sidi were sold to me by a guy who had written off his previous bike (the guy who sold me my helmet also wrote off his bike! See the common theme there!), and although I was learning and thought he was a tad daft, his advice was sound.

They fit well, suited my budget of just over £100, and looked like they would do the trick. Not knowing much about boots, I figured that if they were waterproof then that would be good enough! They also have a reinforced sole which means that they cannot bend backwards, but can forwards, allowing for ease of normal walking but if the boot gets caught under the peg, I shouldn’t lose a foot. It’s most likely standard in a good pair of boots, but worth mentioning.

After a year and a half of using them, the have turned out to be a truely great choice for the all-year-round motocycling I have been doing. They are fairly hot in the summer, but not bad for full coverage. They are pretty warm in the winter, even without really having a winter lining. They fit really well, slide on and zip up easily, and so far they have been completely waterproof! The Sidi Strada Rain boots are also fairly flexible as to whether I put my jeans over the top or tuck them in, allowing for full comfort.

I regularly ride a Honda CB600F Hornet, and even whilst using a Honda Shadow VT750C for a day, they fit perfectly.

The Sidi Strada Rain boots don’t look like a hardcore street racers boot, but they don’t look like something your grandad might wear either. They sit within a nice middle ground which would probably suit about 90% of normal motorcycle riders.

I’m definitely not looking to replace these any time soon. What an excellent pair of boots!

I bought my Honda CB600F Hornet a year ago and I’ve been commuting on average 100 miles per week since then. I wanted to take this opportunity to share my thoughts on what I have learned.

Know the bike

I had a smile on my face all the way home from the dealership. Even though it was raining and I had a Monster disclock and Abus chain lock in my backpack, I remember being very pleased, even managing to swing by my partner’s house to show it off. The 2004 Honda CB600F Hornet was now in my posession!

I very quickly learned bmy first lesson. Having parked the bike outside the house overnight, and attempting to start it in the morning, it quickly became apparent that it had a choke. Unfortunately something I neglected to think about before buying it. The bike has a carboretta instead of fuel injection, so needs a little manual control in the mornings before heading off. That was the first lesson – learn how the bike works.

Once I was using it more frequently, and travelling into work every day with the summer approaching, it got more and more comfortable. It handles superbly well, although with nothing to compare it to, I would say that! I find it very easy to control. Accellerating and decellerating is easy, the throttle and brakes are responsive. In traffic I soon got used to handling the bike, weaving in and out of traffic and obstacles in the way. I’m still learning the control, but it’s amazing how responsive the bike it.

The first thing I have learned is how much petrol it uses and when I need to get some more. I keep the fuel switch on reserve and watch for the fuel light. I know I have about 10 miles after that before I run out. I’ve started to get an idea of how much oil it uses too and what it sounds like so if something does come loose I should recognise it. The thing which seems to need changing most frequently is the chain slack, and it becomes obvious when it needs tightening when the chain starts to grind. And, I’ve managed to do a realistic cost calculation of my London commute, and although it isn’t cheaper, I know how much it costs me to use it.

Know when to catch it and when to get out of the way! - Doble Motorcycles

The best piece of advice I’ve had so far was from the dealership, before I had even bought the bike. The guy said, if you lose control of the bike and it’s going to fall over then make sure you get out of the way. It’s sure come in handy a couple of times! Luckily the crash bungs have saved any major damage. Although the bike is heavy, it’s fairly easy to get back on and head off again.

Know yourself

The second thing I have learned is about myself. The first thing I did was to adjust my riding position. I lean slightly into the front of the bike, gripping the tank with my legs, and keep my shoulders and arms pretty loose. It’s not quite perfect but I’m getting better. I find that the looser my arms, the lighter the bike feels and the more control I have. If I sit back I can get caught a little unaware and find myself hanging on rather than being in control! I have also noticed the control I can gain when putting weight onto either of the pedals.

I’ve also made sure that I am aware and awake. Riding a bike naturally seems to make me more aware and I certainly wake up quicker than if I was getting the train. But I am constantly aware of my energy levels, any comfort, how cold or warm I am and I am also a little bit more aware of the weather.

The other important thing to mention is the gear. The AGV GP-Tech motorcycle helmet has been great. Very comfortable and an excellent choice. The other Hein Gericke kit which I bought has fit and lasted well so far. My Sidi boots are brilliant. My North Face backpack has started to wear out with a small hole in the bottom just waiting to get bigger (but then it is 10 years old or something!!). When I start losing shopping I may upgrade to a Kriega.

The winter has been pretty hard. The coldest part of my body is definitely my fingers. The exposure to the wind and close contact with metal brake and clutch levers means that they get really cold, very quickly! I may look at getting some mits or thicker gloves next Winter!

Know the road

The road is one of the most important things to learn about. When I first had the bike I was pretty much always riding in the light and in dry weather. That was great! I usually took one of three routes to work and so I have started to build up a memory of where manhole covers and pot holes are, especially on corners. This helped prepare me for the cold, wet and dark winter. A little less to worry about!

But it’s not necessarily about one route or road in particular, but the ability to read it better, understand it better and also predict what you might have to deal with at any certain moment. Finding by chance and reading Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider’s Handbook to Better Motorcycling definitely has helped me learn more about the road and the rules, but also more about how the bike performs under these conditions.

Have Fun!!

The main thing which I have learned is to have fun. Step the speed down a notch (a lot if it’s raining), take my time into and out of corners and it becomes so enjoyable. Working hard to get the technique as good as I can really makes the effort worth while. I am learning more about the hazards including pedestrians, other road users and the natural flow of traffic. Bus lanes are especially tricky to watch out for!

So after a year of motorcycling, I am completely hooked.  Hopefully the next year will be full of more excitement, traffic free commuting and some motorcycling events!

It’s all about the dreams, and I love how Honda works towards preserving our dreams.

With the increase price of train and tube tickets annually in January, and with the addition this year of the VAT Increase from 17.5% to 20%, I thought it would be time well spent to work out the cheapest method of travel for getting to work.

So I calculated the cost, based on the costs which I had experienced in the past 7 months, and including things like insurance and petrol, verses the two options I have with the train system, which is either pay as you go or monthly travelcard. At this point I ruled out a yearly travelcard.

I also took into account how many working days there were per month including public holidays and any possible holiday I might take, e.g. a week in August.

The results are shown below.

There are a couple of immediate observations. The most obvious is that the fixed monthly cost of the Oyster travelcard (in purple). This can act as our standard cost throughout the year. The other costs, unlike the monthly travelcard, are affected by the number of days in the month. The motorcycle costs are also affected by a set amount per month, so even if I don’t use it it’s still going to cost me. Whereas the pay as you go (PAYG) travelcard from Oyster means that I only actually pay for that journey. No other overheads.

So, when there are a low number of working days in the month, the motorcycle and PAYG win. When there are a high number of working days in the month the monthly travelcard wins. So, what this actually tells me is that for three months of the year the bike is cheaper, for four months of the year the PAYG is cheaper, and for the rest of the time, the travelcard is the cheapest. 3,4,5.

Although my calculations look fairly complex to me at the moment, working out which is cheaper gets more complicated than this. The cost of the insurance is a fixed fee which I have to pay for the whole year, whether I ride or not. So every time I take the train, it’s costing me much more. Here’s a look at the graph if I take away the insurance costs, to find out the difference:

The difference now is clear, but of course it’s biased.

So taking into account my calculations for petrol cost, insurance and maintenance, travelcard and PAYG costs, there are still a couple of big exceptions if you’re looking to do the same. I’ve been riding for under a year which puts the price of insurance up quite a lot, as i get older and more experienced, gain more no claims bonus’, the cost of motorcycle insurance should decrease. My bike is carboretta fueled bike, as opposed to fuel injection, which means it’s less efficent than newer bikes. The current MPG is about 40. I don’t have to clean a travel card. I’m travelling between zones 2 and 6, and if my journey was any further or from outside of London then the train price would go up.

So if you’re looking at this, wondering whether getting the train or a motorcycle is cheaper, then I would recommend weighing up your base costs, where you live, how much motorcycling experience you have, and any other specific factors. But these shouldn’t necessarily be the driving factors, when it’s fun, enjoyable and quicker… (although that is yet to be confirmed!!)

I’ve been riding a motorcycle since May 2010 and loving every minute of it (except for freezing temperatures!). I wanted something to affirm what i was learning and improve my understanding of the bike, road position and handling.

Since getting onto a motorcycle, I’ve tried to stay aware of the rules of the road and learn a little more about how the machine I’ve been riding works. I’ve read a few blogs and websites which help with riding. Then I found this book in Foyles and bought it, in the hope that it could give me a little more information to improve my technical riding.

Since starting to read this book I have definitely started to become more aware of the areas which I need to improve. Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider’s Handbook to Better Motorcycling breaks down the various different aspects of motorcycling and gives a more technical insight into how and why certain things happen when riding.

There is a staggering amount of information and in-depth coverage about control, observation, using gears and braking, accelleration, cornering and balance, how to avoid skids, signals, positioning, overtaking, and plenty more information about the various aspects of riding.

The book goes into the reasoning behind each technique, and it demonstrates this through very useful diagrams and illustrations. There are additional checklists found in the back of the book, but there could be more. And there are useful notes and “did you knows’s” throughout the book.

The book was first published in 1996, and now in it’s 16th impression for the 2009 version. It’s clearly had a lot of time, thought and effort go into it to create a manual which can be used by anyone, and not just police motorcyclists. I would definitely advise that most mototcyclists find a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider’s Handbook to Better Motorcycling and take a look through, even if just to imrove one or two aspects of their riding.

I’ll be returning to this book next year, to follow some of the how-to’s and recommendations on what to do to practice various techniques of my riding. There is much more information in Motorcycle Roadcraft, that it’s definitely worth more than the £12.99 RRP
.

The same video camera which my brother used for A Season to Remember is now in my hands, thanks Miles! I’m going to be experimenting with it, although might have to wait for the summer to get the best shots!

The picture above was simply acheived with the use of a GoPro HD Hero, and a tripod clamp. Nothing too spectacular, but with the addition of electrcal tape I have attached it to a few different places on my Honda CB600F. The picture above is attached next to the back wheel facing backwards. Below is a picture which shows the forward facing view clamped onto the top box bracket runner. Both are interesting views, but i’m thinking that perhaps something a little more distant could prove more interesting for video.

I am now debating whether it’s worth purchasing a chest mount or pole mount in order to mount in different positions!

After reading a number of reviews, and spending hours trying on different helmets within various shops, I chose the AGV GP Tech. Here’s how I’ve been getting on with it over the last six months since learning to ride a motorbike.

I tried on a number of different brands and sizes of motorcycle helmet before deciding on the AGV GP Tech. I had read that it’s important to make sure that there are not any pressure points and shown how helmets should fit you properly. The guys at Hein Gericke in Stockwell and Metropolis Motorcycles in Vauxhall were both very helpful in this respect. I also found Yam Yam Biker’s GP Tech Review very helpful.

Although the Arai X-Spirit 2 was a nice helmet, I was torn between the Shoei XR1100 and the AGV GP Tech initially. These two fit the best, with the AGV GP Tech just winning purely over the tight, but not too tight, feel of the cheek pads. They were both on sale at the time.

Since purchase I have been riding almost every week day for three months on a Honda CB600F Hornet.

Overall the helmet is very comfortable. The cheek pads fit very snugly around the sides with enough space for my ears and possibly headphones (although I haven’t tried it). The rounded inside roof of the AGV GP-Tech fits my narrow shaped head nicely. The air circulation around the inside of the GP-Tech offers a stream of air which constantly circulates around the inside of the visor. The gaps around my ears do cause some unwanted air circulation which can lead to a sort of reverberation type hollow sound. This is easily solved by the use of a neck tube.

The visor is clear, and rarely gets fogged up, unless i’m wearing a neck tube. It’s easily cleaned and using something regularly ensures that the rain slips of well. The AGV GP-Tech visor is easy to take out and could be replaced by a darker one should I need.

Although I can’t compare the GP-Tech to another manufacturer or model, as this is my first one, so far it’s been excellent. It’s not too heavy, keeps in heat in the winter and out in the summer. The surface seems hard wearing enough against a few dents and scratches, although the paint does come off here and there.

I plan to keep this one as long as it will last me. It’s comfortable, light, warm and not too noisy when wearing a neck tube. I would recommend it for a first, second, or any other helmet.

After passing my Direct Access motorcycle test last August, and since moving from the country into London, I recently purchased a Honda CB600F Hornet. It’s not the one above, but slightly older. Over the past month, i’ve been getting to grips with some of the trials and tribulations of riding a motorcycle in London, and commuting to work on it.

Here are some of the lessons i’ve learnt.

1. It always costs more than you think it will

I ended up spending slightly more on the bike than I thought I would. I figured that going for a slightly newer and better model than i was going to, and getting it from a dealer would help the bike last longer, and be a little more modern in terms of the features (it has a clock, which apparently is a real bonus!).

I anticipated buying a few items, but then realised how much more there is. Helmet, boots, gloves, jacket, trousers, scarfs, ear plugs, visor cleaner, bike cleaner, oil, brake fluid and coolant. In comparison to the train, it’s more of a similar cost than I originally anticipated.

2. The Helmet is harder to buy than the bike

The helmet took me several sessions to find, and I was comparing the Shoei XR1100 with the AGV GP-Tech for a while, trying each on quite a few times before deciding. Once you take it out the shop, there’s no taking this sucker back!! They compared well, and the differences were minimal. The tightness of the padding around my face was the main reason I went with the AGV GP-Tech in the end.

3. What feels right, probably is!

I researched for a month or so to find the right bike. It was a battle between getting the bike I wanted, and being able to pay for the insurance. So the trade-off began.

I honed in on the Suzuki SV650, which although I thought looked nice, once I sat on it I realised that the sports style bikes weren’t going to be as comfortable. The dealership had a few naked style Honda’s in too, and once I sat on the Honda CB600F, I realised how nice it could be to ride.

After a test ride, it was mine. And after a month of commuting on it, I feel like I made the right decision. Easy to ride, comfortable and a good riding position. It also has the option to add a topbox onto the back, which would provide additional storage if needed.

4. Noone sees you

The first thing i learnt is that noone sees you, except perhaps other motorcyclists. This is especially true of van drivers without back windows, and frustrated car drivers looking to bypass the traffic. You have to be so mindful that people aren’t expecting you to be there, and be prepared to get out the way if they do something unexpected.

5. I really don’t want it to break!

Unlike any other vehicle I have owned, this is one which I feel I should take more care of, and look after better. I’m quite happy not to check the oil in a car I own for hundreds of miles, but I am trying to keep a regular check on all parts of the CB600F, just to make sure that it’s running in good order.

I’m clocking up the mileage quite quickly, with a combined journey of around 100 miles per week, along with the occasional pleasure trip, and getting to know the area. It’s brought a completely view for me to how London is connected, and opens up so much more in terms of getting around for less.

Keep tuned to find out how I get on with my various motorcycle adventures in the future.

Image by Worldwidemotorcycles