Category Archives: Travel Blogs

Tyres, Safety, and False Economies

Posted on by
Reply

I had a random call today from a customer asking me to fit two cheap tyres (a 19″ and a 21″) to their bike. They’d bought the tyres online at a bargain price and were now looking for an equally cheap fitting service.

It never fails to amaze me: the only thing keeping you upright and safe on a bike is just a few square inches of rubber in contact with the road. If you’re thinking about cutting corners, tyres (and, in my opinion, your crash helmet) are not the places to save a few quid.

As it turned out, I wasn’t prepared to fit them — and neither was any other bike shop or tyre-fitting service in the area. My advice to them was simple: buy a reputable tyre brand from a trusted supplier, and have the supplying dealer or shop fit them.

It might cost a little more upfront, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing the job is done properly is, in my view, well worth it. After all, better safe than sorry.

Honda CRF tyre change

BMW R1150 GS Adventure: The Ultimate Adventure Bike

Posted on by
Reply

The BMW R1150 GS Adventure (GSA) isn’t just a motorcycle—it’s a legend in the adventure biking world. Built tough, designed for long-distance journeys, and with a look that never gets old, this bike has earned its iconic status. This is one of our workshop favourites, now in Portugal.

At the heart of the R1150 GSA is its air/oil-cooled 1130cc boxer engine. This thing is rock solid. I love it for its reliability, with my silver one presently at over 180,000 miles without any major fuss. It’s the kind of bike you can take on a cross-country trip without worrying about whether it’ll hold up. But it’s not just about reliability. The R1150 GSA is built to go anywhere. Its long-travel suspension and BMW’s clever Telelever front end mean it handles rough terrain like a pro. Dirt roads, mountain passes, you name it—this bike can tackle it. Plus, with its massive 30-litre fuel tank, you can ride for ages without needing to stop for fuel, which is a big win if you’re out in the wild.

And then there’s the look. The R1150 GSA has a design that turns heads. Its asymmetric headlights and rugged frame give it an unmistakable presence on the road. Even now, years after its debut, it’s still one of the most recognisable and admired adventure bikes around. If you want a bike with serious character, this one’s hard to beat.

Its Been a While – Navigating Challenges

Posted on by

Blimey, it’s been a while since I popped in here for an update, due partly to everything that has been going on. The cycle of life and death, redundancy, loss of identity, being disowned by a child and then covid injury just all seemed to get in the way. I needed some help to rebuild my resilience – and without Mary I don’t think I would have survived. What did I learn though is that resilience is often described as the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, it’s not just about enduring hardship but thriving in spite of them and the idea that just ‘one more thing’ could break you. For me resilience involves a combination of mental, emotional, and physical capabilities that help me cope with and overcome personal challenges. Life is inherently unpredictable, from personal losses to professional setbacks, stress is an inevitable part of the human experience – and those who follow my unpredictable travel path would I think, say I am pretty good at dealing with the unexpected. On the road you need to build your resilience to be better equipped to manage the unexpected effectively – you need (mental health) tools in your kit bag to solve issues, some you may have already and others you will need help in acquiring. Be ready for the unexpected and enjoy the ride.

Hundertwasser

Posted on by

In Vienna so popped into see Friedensreich Hundertwasser house – an Austrian artist and architect and whilst not a naturist in the traditional sense of the word he did have a deep appreciation for nature and the environment, which is reflected in his work. Hundertwasser believed that architecture should be in harmony with nature and that buildings should incorporate natural elements such as trees, vegetation, and natural light – there are 10 tenant trees in the house. While Hundertwasser did not espouse the naturist lifestyle, his work was deeply influenced by his reverence for nature and his desire to incorporate it into his art and architecture – plenty of pictures of his bits though 🙂