Category: just-plain-life

Finally I can ride my new Honda Silverwing Scooter

Honda Silverwing

So yep at long last, I'm riding around on my Silverwing. Its been restricted from 600cc to about 400cc to fit with my 33bhp licence restriction. But even at two-thirds of its full power, its a true rocket on the road. Riding along windy dual carriageways like the A40 are a joy now and I can finally get out in front of the cars and superbikes like you've never seen before due to its automatic gears. Sarah also loves the bike and claims she will go down to Bristol on it if needed. I have not played with the power adapter yet (yes so I can charge my phone while riding) but I'm thinking about adding a USB adapter once I get the box on the back.

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Yamaha Majesty YP250 for sale

My Yamaha Majesty YP250

So its basiclly on its last legs now. Its time to give it up. Yep my lovely Yamaha Majesty is going to be replaced with something a lot larger and quicker. Its been great going here there and everywhere on it in the last few years. I remember driving down to Bristol in the summers. But I also remember the one crazy ride in the freezing cold and snow, when we drove back up to London on the M4 after a freak snow storm overnight.

Anyway back to the sale. Its actually in not too bad a condition. So here's the things which need fixing.

  • The coolent pipe has a leak, so the water cooling system lasts for 5mins.
  • The Battery is pretty much dead, so it needs replacing
  • The body work needs attention, its ok, but looks a little ugly
  • The Exhaust has a small hole, can be patched or best replaced as its old and gets very hot
  • The engine also needs to be looked at, but it does go well once running

I'm not expecting a lot for it but I'm still currently using it to drive to North Greenwich everyday. I'm going to stick the scooter on Ebay for about 400 pounds soon because it does have a good seat, box and it does still go with less that 30,000 miles on the clock. If you fix most of the issues outlined above, you could ride it for quite some time before another check up. With me and Sarah on it everyday, in and out of traffic for 36 miles a day, its a little too much for a older 250cc scooter. Someone riding less distance, with some training in motorcycle mechanics and not riding 2up everyday. Would love this scooter, and its a steal at 400 pounds. Tax and MOT doesn't run out till June 2007.

I was looking around Flickr for a decent picture of my model of Maxi-scooter but then I got hooked into modified Majestys. This one in Pink is simply nuts. While this one looks more like a TMax black edition which is certainly high on my list. This one is cetainly attractive and thankfully not as customised as the other ones. Anyway, do drop me a email if your interested, you could snatch it before it hits ebay, craigslist or the local loot.

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The portrait of a south london racist

Pissed fools

Miles paints a picture of a South London racist which it too good to miss.

A hazard of living in South London is racists in the neighbourhood. The recent press hysteria about new EU entrants and “Islamic fanatics” has given the racists license to start expressing their hateful prejudices in public once again. After years of public disapproval of racism, these scum have clearly been waiting for the opportunity to spout their worthless opinions – and our wonderful politicians and business leaders have just given them the green light…

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Foiled terrorist plot at Heathrow

Manchester airport

I first heard about foiled terror plot in my aggreagtor while heading to welling today (don't ask) but have been so busy, to read about it fully. Now sat on the train looking through the news and blogs, I'm getting much more detail. One of the most interesting is from Bruce Schneier.

The most interesting part is the ban on carry-ons. First up, I thought its about bloody time – I've seen people carry things as close to a suitcase as you can get, on board. But then I read the actual list of whats allowed.

  • Pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags);
  • Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets);
  • Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic;
  • Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases;
  • Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution;
  • For those traveling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger);
  • Sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags);
  • Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (e.g. tampons, pads, towels and wipes) tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs;
  • Keys (but no electrical key fobs)

What the heck! I have no idea whats caused this insane change in the rules but it must have been something pretty serious and maybe something to do with liquids? Either way, I'm in total agreement with the last sense from Bruce.

I'm sure glad I'm not flying anywhere this week.

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1 year on from July 7th 2005 in London

London Remembers

London seems to be under a grey cloud today. I can't work out if its simply a Friday thing or people remembering what happened last year in the heart of central London. I wrote this long entry about the events during the day. Today in less that 30mins, I'll stand outside in the Kingsway and maybe just film the 2mins silence which is meant to happen at 12 midday. I'm considering just uploading it to Archive.org as a very Free Creative Commons licence. I was condering going up to Russell Square where the Bus Bomb went off, but I don't honestly feel like it right now.

So back from outside and people did come out to respect the silence at midday but the traffic was still going, so it was generally quite noisy. At lot of buses stopped but Taxi drivers didn't. Anyhow, I filmed about 5mins worth of sitting on the steps of the BBC Bush House looking northwards thinking about the people who were caught up in the bombs of a year ago.

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When did police officers get machine guns in London?

Crazy!

I ride thought Bank in the City of London pretty everyday on the way to work. But today, while waiting at the lights a police women crossed the road. Nothing special there you say, and I would agree except she was carrying a sub machinegun. Ok when did the police get to carry sub machines guns around in normal use? Usually the police will radio in for the big guns once they know theres a risk or something, not just carry them around in everyday use. To be fair at the airport you do see them but not just walking around the streets. If I wasn't driving I so would have took a picture and uploaded it. Sarah was with me, so I got a witness. Scary stuff….

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