Polishing away the Winter Blues

How long does it have to be since your last meaningful ride for you to qualify as “returning” to motorcycling?

Some motorcyclists ride most days regardless of the weather, while  for others riding is a joyous weekend activity that doesn’t mix well with rain or cold conditions.

Riding is a skill and that skill can go rusty if it isn’t kept well oiled. Other than a single 40-mile trip a few weeks back, the KTM has been sulking in the garage for the past eight or is it ten weeks and whereas I don’t expect to have forgotten how to ride, the thought has crossed my mind that I might be a little rusty.

Having prevaricated about completing a collection of jobs to the point of things becoming necessary, the day finally arrived when I could put them off no longer.

It ended up taking me two days, during which time the KTM, which I’ve been lovingly polishing while leisure riding hasn’t been appropriate, ended up absolutely filthy.

How was the ride, other than sheer bliss? Read on …

Pre-Ride Checks

Paranoia is a wonderful thing. I know for a fact that I checked the bike when I parked it. I know I’ve checked the tyre pressures and the electrics since then, as I’ve added a Scotoiler, and the Thatcham alarm unit.

I did have a reason to ride the bike a few weeks ago, albeit for only a few miles, and tested the Sena Prism Wifi camera at the same time. So I’ve also been through the pre-ride ritual not that long ago. Regardless, my paranoia is in full flow and I’m checking the KTM once again.

There isn’t a pool of oil on the floor. I can see this. Oil doesn’t evaporate, and despite knowing all of this for a fact I’m still checking everything before wheeling the bike out of the garage. Got to love the paranoia.

Unlike my colleague Billy, I use an Optimate charger, so for the last 8-10 weeks, my battery has enjoyed the occasional workout and been kept in tip-top condition thanks to the Optimate.

As soon as I pressed the button, the KTM fired up immediately. Billy, on the other hand, trusted to luck and the cold weather killed his battery.

It is slightly over the top to connect the Optimate every time I park the bike in the garage but I figure, what the heck and plug the Optimate into the lead that normally powers my Keis jacket and gloves.

Is that paranoia or OCD? Face it I’m a basket case.

Metzeler Tourance Tyres

Faith in the tyres we have fitted to our motorcycle is one of our most basic needs. Whereas we prefer them to stick no matter what the weather or road conditions there are limits and we adapt our expectations accordingly.

More than anything else though, consistency is what I’m looking for.

I’ve run several sets of Bridgestone A41 tyres, they do however have an annoying habit of squirming when crossing white lines. It doesn’t last long but it does it.

I got so used to this behaviour that the first time out on the Metzelers when it didn’t happen I was surprised. I even felt myself tense, ready for the KTM to shake its head, but nothing. Just a smooth as silk crossing of the white line and back again.

That extra level of consistency certainly helped to blow the cobwebs away. I’ve been unable to move the Metzelers Tourance tyres in the rain, dry or slimly road surfaces that I’ve ridden on recently.

If you are feeling rusty then every little twitch somehow feeds that paranoia monkey at the back of your brain. You know the one, the one that is sure there is mud around the next corner, diesel on the roundabout or that you left your credit card in the petrol pump.

The Metzelers did a wonderful job of keeping the paranoia monkey in his box.

In a few weeks the Metzeler Tourance Next II will be available. Hopefully, I’ll get through enough miles before then to justify a set.

Helite Airvests

I’m happy to report that the Helite Turtle Airvest is still untested and I still haven’t noticed that I’m wearing it. I’ve also proven that despite having forgotten to unplug myself when getting off the bike, no it hasn’t gone off.

The Helite Turtle has however attracted a lot of attention, especially from my colleagues. The idea of an “airbag” for a motorcyclist hasn’t transferred into everyday life as yet.

Me …? I thought back protector was a good idea. To have something that does that and more definitely works for me. The only reason I can think of not to wear one is choice, and long may the decision remain with the individual.

Any reason other than the personal choice to not wear one, I can’t find.

How was my Riding?

I could certainly tell it had been a while. Corners in the damp started out slowly. The constant feedback from the Metzelers Tourance Next tyres helped me remember to look where I want to go, not at the road in front of me. Once I got my head turning and looking away to the limit point, it all started to come together.

I’d forgotten how much quicker the KTM is to react to changes in direction compared to the V-Strom.

In the first few progressive corners, I noticed I was turning in early and turning in too much, resulting in having to make mid-corner corrections. It is nothing that more time on the bike won’t cure.

Gear changes were a little clunky. My timing was off when shifting through several cogs quickly. Thankfully this was only something I could feel rather than creating loud embarrassing noises.

It is a question of levels. Scott Redding’s definition of slow would warp my mind, but even riders at that standard are using track days to polish away the winter rust.

All I need now is for Scotland to open up and for visiting Ireland to be allowed. As soon as that happens, the Five Nations Motorcycle Challenge is on. After all, what could possibly go wrong? 

Until then I must remember to stockpile jobs so I have a reason to spend another day out riding.