And his reply,how original!

Dear Ian,

As a Member of Parliament, I have always been an advocate for road safety. My comments in the House of Commons arose from thorough research and quite devastating facts.

In 2008, the number of road accident deaths among motor cyclists in Great Britain was 493, representing 19% of all road deaths. Although this number has been decreasing over the past ten years, it still remains a great problem in road safety as it accounts for twenty percent of all deaths taken place on Great Britain’s roads. I agree that there are many other problems contributing to the number of deaths on the roads and I acknowledge the fact that many of these deaths may be caused by drivers of four-wheeled vehicles. Regardless, I am still a supporter of addressing every problem in road safety, including motorcyclist accidents.

I am the chair of trustees of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. The objective of PACTS, as a registered charity is “To protect human life through the promotion of transport safety for the public benefit”. In our efforts, we tirelessly work to advocate research-based improvements to transport safety

I will not apologise for my work to promote road safety in the Great Britain, but I thank you for your comments on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Sheerman MP

Labour MP calls bikers “Orphan and Widow makers”

Labour Mp for Huddersfield “Barry Sheerman” decided in his infinite wisdom that he is “qualified” to make fatuous statements about motorcyclists, so I felt the need to reply….

Dear Sir,

I was today made aware of your comments regarding motorcyclists. Describing them as widow makers and orphan makers. Could you please inform me where in your socialist dogma training pamphlet did you acquire the qualifications to make such rude, absurd and fatuous statements? Also could you tell me why it is, that you would not dare make such a comment towards a racial minority or ethnic group, yet you feel that your position allows you to insult people because of their mode of transport. Perhaps if you and your lacklustre party concentrated on running the country correctly and left knee jerk politics alone, a lot more members of the public would not be in the position where the only form of “get to work transport” they can afford is a motorcycle or scooter. Perhaps if your esteemed leader had not squandered the countries gold reserves, by selling them at a knock down price, you and your colleagues would not have led us into financial ruin. Perhaps if you and your colleagues had not “raped” the expenses system to feather your nests and gold plate your troughs, the public at large would hold you in some respect. Perhaps if your previous war criminal leader Blair and his replacement Stooge Brown had not taken us into an illegal war, followed by an occupation of a non sovereign country with no defined purpose except to let the blood of our troops spill on Afghan soil, you would hold some moral high ground from which to preach to motorcyclists about their choice of transport.
Well guess what, unlike Pontias Pilate, you and your war criminal colleagues are not going to wash their hands of the blood of our troops, you and your fellow Labour MP’s have the death of every British Soldier fairly and squarely in your hands. So please cease to be a hypocrite and consider the widows and orphans that you are personally responsible for! At least if I die riding a motorcycle, I do it because I enjoy motorcycling and to ride one is my free choice and I accept the risks involved and unlike our troops, no one orders me what to do.

Yours sincereley

Ian Robert Woolger

First Service on The Tenere

Well what a day, off from work today so off to Ireland’s in Barnstaple for the 600 mile service. The weather was absolutely appalling on the ride up, so bad that I hit a full on blizzard as I approached Rackenford on the A361 and was being buffeted all over the road. I got off the A361 and took the back roads via swimbridge and landkey avoiding the high winds and lunatic car drivers…Thank God.

As usual, got to Irelands and they were their usual superb selves. Always a handshake a friendly greeting and a coffee. Bike went round to the workshop and I perused some new boots, had a couple of coffees and some “comfy chair time” Bike done, I paid for oil and filter as the rest was free, being the first service and headed home via the Crediton Road, beside the river. Severe Hailstones and very cold all the way back to Exeter, but the Tenere ran like a train and was a joy to ride.

Paignton Bike Weekend

It’s that time of year and we approach the start of the ever popular Paignton Bike Nights, organised by BMAD, to raise money for charity. As usual to start the season, we have the excellent Paignton Bike Festival Weekend on Friday the 30th April to Sunday the 2nd April. This event is always a cracker and well worth a visit, whether a biker or just someone who likes bikes. You wont be disappointed, classics, customs and modern. Accessories, beer tent,music and more. Book the day off now and be there.

Here is a little taster video of the 2008 Fest

Hope to see you there…..

Kawasaki Versys Review

The New Versys

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You might be interested in my 2010 review of the new Versys, as this was what I was going to buy, but instead I decided on the Tenere!

Well well, what a strange day Saturday was. I received a phone call on Friday night, telling me that Irelands in Barnstaple, had the new 2010 Versys in stock and my name was top of the list to “pop its test ride cherry”!!

So up with the lark on Saturday morning and fuelled up with an “artery furring” fry up, I did battle with the North Devon link road and duly arrived at Irelands.

As usual the service was impeccable, a handshake, a hello and a hot coffee in quick succession. Then a drool over the new Versys whilst they copied my documents and then “heres the keys, the tanks full, see you when we see you”.

Full of anticipation I threw a leg over the 2010, fired the engine into life a slid out into the traffic in the direction of Croyde. First impressions were good, engine power delivery was smooth and seemed less “snatchy” than my old Versys. The vibrations that were prominent on the old V, were less on the new. Perhaps due to the rubber engine mountings and different plastics. However, I started to notice my left foot “losing grip” on the foot pedals, which seemed a lot smaller than on the old V and the riding position seemed a little more cramped.

Through the twisties from Croyde to Woolacombe, then up the steep hill out of Woolacombe to join the A361 back to croyde and then return to Barnstaple. The riding position was starting to get to me a bit as I left Woolacombe and I had developed a sharp pain in the back of my left knee and severe cramp in my right wrist, seemingly just due to a small change in the riding position set-up.

The tank seemed slimmer and the front cowl was a lot less substantial, yet the screen seemed more effective than the old one.Even the seat seemed harder, but I think by now I was becoming a little disillusioned with the new V and perhaps finding fault where none existed!

Some 40 miles later, I returned to Ireland’s, glad in a way to see my old V. But saddened that for some unknown reason, I just could not “gel” with the new one…..

My overall view, they have drastically improved the cosmetics, with a much sharper style, which gives the bike a “more super motard” feel. The riding position and the footrests particularly seemed to have changed and I felt more cramped. Engine was better, less snatchy dropping slow into corners, but still needing some revs to keep it sweet. The power delivery was smooth and the acceleration was crisp and precise.handling was good, but the footrests did cause me some concern as I felt they needed to be longer and more grippy.

Overall, still a good bike and if you haven’t ridden one before, I think you will love it, but sadly having had 2 x earlier Versys, the new one has not “lit my candle” like I thought it would.

As I was intent on buying a new bike, sad to say I have “sold my soul to Satan” and purchased a gleaming black Tenere 660, which will be my new steed in a short while. So Wootton Bassett will be the last ride out for myself and my trusty Versys.

On the bright side, this great model x 2 has given me 30 thousand plus miles of superb fun motorcycling, never let me down, been all things to all men and overall a reliable and yet exciting bike to ride.

This enjoyment has only been possible due to the excellent service and friendly staff at Irelands, whom I could not speak more highly of and I look forward to getting the same superb level of customer service from them on my Tenere as I have had on the Versys.

To all of you in search of a good mid range 650cc bike, with character and a bit of “Ooomph”, give the Versys a test ride and if you are in Devon, go and see “Tom” at Irelands in Barnstaple, where the skill of good customer service is still alive and kicking.