Just had the first proper Sunday run out on the bike since the twins were born. Still mind-numbingly tired after six weeks of no sleep and 24/7 baby feeding and nappy changing but put in two early nights and no booze to get ready. Got up at 5 but it was raining. But by 10 it was sunny and I did the usual run out to Finchingfield, full English breakfast and on for another twisty road excursion into deepest Essex. Missed Shade, (sorry mate you've got to get up earlier!) but had a good time on my own....probably just as well because I was slow most of the day just getting back into the swing of things after months of London traffic light riding and no lean.

Police presence at some of the little towns, one place they were pulling over every bike into a lorry park. Thought I had been done for speeding but it was a concerted effort to sign up people to Bikesafe courses. At first I thought "Bollox", because they would start to have a go at my small numberplate and unbaffled Akras but they were cool and I pretended to be interested in the course - had to sign up and say I was interested. Now they will ring me and bug me to do the course. I had to tell them that the last time I had training was 32 years ago!

Great day out, good to be back on the bike.

DRSWade. Mate.....this Scotts damper is the best thing! It's sensitivity of adjustment is something else! I spent a while playing with it and it is very good. Easy to adjust on the move, so much so you can easy back off the setting when you hit towns and need to wiggle through traffic and then back on for the fast bumpy bits. Way better than the six clicks telescopic SLS damper I had on previously. I guess it's like good suspension, each click you can really feel the difference.

Can't completely master the quick-shifter I put on last year. It's really brilliant - when you remember you have it. Smooth, super-fast shifts with the throttle pinned. But as soon as I'm riding really fast on public roads and get into the groove my 30 odd years of habit kicks in and I'm adjusting, (or closing), the throttle as I change up. Sometimes this buggers up the shift and it's like I've missed a gear. Frustrating. It's fine if I always remember that I don't need to clutch or throttle but this means that I have to concentrate on it - only a fraction of my total mind but it's enough to distract me from the rest of the riding I need to be doing. If I used it all the time then I might get used to it and re-calibrate my brain but a quick-shifter is not needed, (or the best way), when you are going slower so most of the time I change up in the usual way. Slipper clutch is brill because you have it when you need it and can blip the throttle and sync the revs if you want - it doesn't mind. But the quick-shifter often says, "Hey, what about me, use me because if you don't I will fook up your old school style". Anyone else has this problem?

I should of come out with ya mate, might of been aboe to keep up lol
I done one of the bikesafe courses at Ace cafe about 5 years ago, would like to do another, was a laugh.

Klincky and I did something similar to a Bikesafe as part of the Craig Jones day. I took one look at the copper on his pan and the daft bird I was paired with and thought 'I dont deserve a Superduke if either of those numpties can keep up'

The copper looks at my tyres before we went out and said ' looks like you have had some fun on those'. I had and I was planning a bit more. Dawdled along behind the copper and the daft tart watching her make real hard work of some simple roads. Then it was my turn to lead back. Daft tart missing after first bend, copper is struggling and losing ground for about two bends more. 5 miles down the road I pull in to wait....and wait....and wait.

The copper wasnt pleased but couldnt find fault 9I made sure every bit he could observe was ROSPA Gold standard (but maybe a touch faster

I did a Bikesafe when I was younger on my old Hornet. It was great! I had the copper to meself and we pushed on nicely through the Kent lanes. I wasnt fast but he helped me to ride faster and safer. Good for noobs and born agains imho. Not needed unless you are a numpty who gets suprosed a LOT by cars and other road users and has lots of close shaves on t'road. Might make you realise it's YOU who is the numpty.

And yeah, Bic, sorry we missed ya bud. I was busy in the morning...but I was up!

I know what you mean about being rusty tho....I was well unsettled on the R. Need to get out more.....I hoe that's all it is cos I really didnt feel the buzz like the good old days. It's either rustyness or that EXC is doing a number on the R when they are alone in the garage in the hope I will sell it and spend more dosh on the 450!!

Enjoy each & every moment of those little escapes, bic.... Lol

No such issues on my cheaper PC based version

Glad to hear you got some time out to free your mind from all the baby stuff for a little while.