Night Rider

So, finally got my new Honda NSS125. After over a year of deliberating on which bike, this is it. I'm very happy with it so far and do not see myself upgrading to a bigger engine. I get nearly 120 mpg and it has enough horsepower for highways. Comfortable enough for touring long distances and light enough for quick trips around town. Who can ask for more?

Last night I did my first night ride on it. It's the kind of unit you ride just for the pleasure of riding. I find myself trying to think of places to go just for the ride. Destination not important... just the ride. 

I've mapped out a few places long distance but my life is so preoccupied with other things I like (architecture, construction, bass guitar, and sailing) that I have to slot bike touring in for two to three days at a time maximum. Ideally, I'd like to do a whole week or two. I thought I'd catch this summer but it looks unlikely now. We'll see.

The ride last night was lovely. I set out to ride up to a certain round-a-bout and circle home but some friends had invited me clubbing. I didn't feel like going but I dressed ready to go in case I felt like riding that far. Well, I sure did. I ended up with a longer ride, great destination, fun friends, and great ride home, too.  The roads were mostly empty, and I was so pleased. 

Oh, the crisp fresh air at night... loved it! I think I'll do that regularly. 

Up and Ready To Go

Five weeks ago, I was riding my Peugeot Tweet 125 on private land. It was an industrial estate with a large vacant asphalted parking lot about the size of a football field and a half. There were no cars nor people around, and just great for free riding without obstruction. As I rode up to the far end, turned around to ride to the other end, I turned the throttle to accelerate and out of no-where a man starts walking across my path. Having no expectation of someone appearing, I brake suddenly, the front wheel locks, bike throws me over the front, it rolls over on top of me, and I next opened my eyes with my face down on the tarmac looking through a smashed helmet visor. The bike was on top of me. Between seeing the man walk across, braking and coming to on the ground, I remember nothing. 

Suddenly, my body hurt and I groaned loudly. I heard the man saying over and over, "don't move," as he removed the bike from off of me. He then called for an ambulance and shouted some other men over.  I could hear them running as I lay on the asphalt. 

I clenched both my fists and wiggled both sets of toes; with that, I figured at least they still worked. With the bike now removed, I rolled over onto my back and looked up into the clear blue sky. Not a single cloud to be seen. "What a beautiful day," I thoughtn. "Will I be making a journey up there?" Nope, I was not dying, my gut feeling told me, but I had an unbelievably terrible pain coming from my right arm and lesser pain from my right knee. I moaned, groaned, writhed, and cried like a woman in labour pain. The men were very supportive.

One of them tried to cheer me up as we waited for the ambulance to arrive. He said, "the good news is the bike looks in great shape." I managed a chuckle while shaking my head and thought to myself that he must also be a biker... because really, only a biker would say a thing like that and assume it'd be funny under the circumstances. 

Anyway, (cutting this tale short), having arrived at the nearest hospital by ambulance, it was assessed that I had dislocated my right arm and fractured it: my knees suffered soft tissue damage only. Under anaesthetic, they put my arm in place, fixed me up with a sling and sent me home with my other half who had now arrived, and with very strong pain medicine. The men had given the ambulance crew details of where they'd keep the bike for me to collect after.

So yeah, that was the last week in April. My arm and fingers are now strong enough to type all this and share with you. Heck, I even went to look for my bike replacement yesterday and have settled with a 2015 Honda Forza 125. I'll pick it up in about a month when my arm is 100%, and all the mods I ordered on it are complete. 

The Forza is a great replacement for the Tweet. It is perfect for city runs with a 125cc engine, has 14hp which is great for motorways, and very comfortable seat with huge storage for long haul tours. It's light enough to handle easily and heavy enough to sit solidly on the road. Can hardly wait to get back on the road and get riding it!

Which Scooter - Part 1

I've only ever ridden a 125cc scooter and as much as I enjoy it, I've decided to upgrade to a maxi-scooter. 

Years ago I had bought a white electric bicycle with really tiny wheels in a mall for exactly £125. I used it as a daily commuter from West Dulwich to Chelsea. Can't remember how long the journeys were but it was an upgrade to my red bicycle which I used previously. I fell off that red bicycle when riding downhill in a public park and an un-harnessed large dog stopped across my path. As much as I braked, the bicycle hit him with a thud, propelling me over forwards onto the asphalt. My helmet had split and both my hands lacerated. I had other injuries also. The dog owner called an ambulance promptly as I lay there stunned. The paramedic advised me to press charges. I didn't. I just wanted to get better. I was bed ridden for 6 weeks from that incident and haven't been on a bicycle since. I sold the red wreckage. Some time later I left the UK and gave the white electric bicycle to a cousin.

So now, back in the UK for a little while, which maxi-scooter to upgrade to? Another question I had was whether I should explore sports or cruiser motorcycles also. I eliminated that with determining how I wanted to use the machine in the next few years: I'm not enthusiastic about speed ... I want rider comforts firstly and then the minimum motorway capability required. Motorway capability also yields long journey feasibility. So, circa a 300 - 400cc scooter is just fine. Sorry Honda S-Wing 125: I loved you momentarily but I need something bigger. So now, which scooter?

Honda S-Wing 125

The offerings in Europe are plenty but I've managed to shortlist a handful purely on reliable Brand name only: Honda NSS300 Forza, Suzuki Burgman AN400, Yamaha XMax 400, and Piaggio X10 350. 

Honda NSS300 Forza

Yamaha XMax 400

Next, it has to come in white. I've learned enough from training to conclude that visibility on the road increases safety significantly. The current Honda NSS300 Forza and the Yamaha XMax 400 do not come in white, and since I'm buying new, this eliminates them. Yep, I'm that shallow but you better listen Honda and Yamaha. I'm a buyer and there are plenty like me. 

Down to two. 

NEWSFLASH! Before I've had the chance to publish this, Honda has gone and announced a new high performance Forza 125 scooter today. Some kind of GT version made for the motorway. 14bhp, claiming 123 mpg, adjustable screen, power socket in front glove compartment with tons of storage (two helmets under the seat), and with ABS as standard! And, it comes in white.

2015 Honda Forza 125

I need to think. I'll be back.