I went looking for new summer gloves in Japan and despite 100’s on display in the motorcycle superstore Naps I came away with something from a familiar brand Alpinestars which I later regretted. In Japan there are loads of motorcycle accessory brands I am not familiar with. Some are reputable […]
Read MoreTested or reviewed
Just simple words about things I have purchased and bikes I have rented but honest reviews not fake bullshit that fills YouTube.
A Better Luggage Strap For Riders.
Securing a bag to a bike is simple thing, but I have a couple of tips. I have tried numerous types of straps, flat, round, thin and thick. The most versatile I have come across is the design below. This is a 2 metre stretch cord with two additional sliding […]
Read MoreFive years with the Yamaha FJR1300
My neighbour always tells me I have seen so much of Japan, which is true, but there remains more here to explore on the remote back roads and so I am pausing to consider if I need to change motorcycles to reach these places and indeed if I want to […]
Read MoreYamaha FJR1300 engine and final drive oil change.
The Yamaha FJR1300 must be one of the easiest bikes to change lubricants. Starting with the engine oil you can access the drain plug very easy underneath, simply remove and drain the oil, I am using a designated container that has plastic liner which has to be taken to a […]
Read MoreHonda CB500X
I have completed three tours of Thailand on the CB500X yet never got around to writing a review of the bike. Honda builds the CB500X in Thailand and it is a common model in the rental fleets in Chiang Mai, often the cheapest option in a big bike which is […]
Read MoreFour days with the Yamaha MT-07
There has been much written about the Yamaha MT-07 already but having enjoyed four days touring on this bike I shall add a few thoughts all the same. What struck me first is how compact the bike is, it felt like a toy compared to my QE2 size touring bike. […]
Read MoreTourmaster Cold-Tex 3.0 Gloves
Whilst I try to avoid riding in the coldest weather, Spring or Autumn in Japan can see me out in low teens or single digit temperatures. In that weather none of my existing gloves are up to the task. I turn on my heated grips which are a great assist […]
Read MoreSeven days on a Harley Davidson Street 750
I rode a Harley Davidson Street 750 in Oman and UAE for 7 days. This is a small review.I am not going to talk specifications, you can read that in the press release type articles published everywhere. Also I chose to rent a Street 750 purely based on it being […]
Read MoreTen days with the BMW G310
I rode a BMW G310 from Johannesburg to Cape Town for a 10 day tour (link here). This is a small honest report on how I found the bike.Not going to rehash all the specs, heaps of press release type ‘reviews’ already published.Let me first say I chose the bike […]
Read MoreMotorcycle fly ride tour packing and my solution to one way rental
Wait! It’s not as much as it seems – just everything spread right out as next photo shows once together. I’ll list what I take for trips beyond SE Asia before showing my one way baggage method. (SE Asia far less) From the rear is my Alpinestars Andes goretex jacket. […]
Read MoreReasonable rider gear need not cost a fortune
A friend recently told me he cannot afford to buy gear for motorcycle touring which got me wondering how much does a basic kit set you back. My home region the licence plate logo says “Sunshine State”, like Florida. I rode for years without owning wet weather or winter riding […]
Read MoreHow to create and navigate a GPS route for motorcycle touring
Update: This post is getting old now and I have finally in 2024 started to use a phone more for navigation but in some countries still rely on my Garmin GPS. I am starting to use My Route App on my phone for turn by turn guidance linked with my […]
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