2006 August blog

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Did the action pics of the Varadero today. Next test bike is Aprilia RS125, but just got word from Aprilia that the last journos on the bike managed to seize the bloody engine! Now, the last journo on the bike was one of Britain's best known and experienced ex-racers. Surely he should have known to whack in some two-stroke oil after a zillion laps around a roadracing track? Whilst whining again about other journalists I'll use the opportunity to send my apologies to Moby at Fastbikes magazine. You're not that bad, just mindless maniacs with bad genes, just like me. TS

Kawasaki launched pictures of the new better looking than ever Z1000 today. It sails up as a 2007 favourite even before everything else has been launched. I have been out in torrential rain today picking up Honda XL1000V Varadero. It's Hunts motorcycles demo and not a Honda UK model and hence all the graffiti. The Varadero was great in the rain and I even took it offroad for a spin on my way home from Manchester. My full rainproof gear has taken a heavy toll lately with the GS Adventure crash, so I had to resort to the old Arlen Ness pants that also have been involved in another crash last year, but they are fairly waterproof still. About time I get the Scott gear replaced now that autumn is closing in. More Varadero stuff in the coming days. TS

Funny how some magazines think that copyright is free for all and whatever is on the internet can automatically be copied. I want you guys reading this to help me out a bit. It is virtually impossible to keep strict control of who uses Raptors & Rockets pictures where. But sooner or later I will hear about it and invoice will then be sent out. I have a place on the server for the high resolution originals too for magazine editors. Do me the favour and let me know which magazines uses pictures that you have seen on this site in your country. A scan is even better and I will contact the respective magazines if they have not received the material from myself. First I would like to know the contact details for the editor of the magazine the attached scan is from. Every single picture are our copyright and I cannot remember syndicating them to Motori. Thanks for your help, I need everyone to pay for copyright or I can't afford to run this very site! Send material here. TS

Everything back to normal now with regards to publishing and network. More good stuff regarding Kawasaki and Moto Guzzi next week. I am picking up the Tricolour Honda XL1000V Varadero next week. I'll be touring mostly rather than messing about. TS

Despite bloody BT messing up everything with their broken telephone exchange I am able to do some work offline at the moment. Many of the factories are closed for the summer now in August, such as Ducati, Moto Guzzi and several others. I have put another September date on my calendar today for the Euro launch of the 2007 Harley-Davidson and Buell models in Austria. But first I am waiting for a small and exciting motorcycle from Aprilia, RS125. I tested the Tuono 125 and MX 125 a couple of years ago and it's the last of the performance 2-strokes you can buy for the road. I'll be riding the 39bhp unrestricted version and you don't need to be 16 to have fun on one of these. TS

Due to technical problems with the network providers telephone exchange I might not be able to update as regularly as I wish the next week. TS

Headed down to Hinckley early today as the T100 was booked out again by Triumph. It has been a couple of days with rain and thunder, but today the sun was out in full force again. When I returned the T100 I picked up a Thruxton 900 with loud pipes to test how that faired back-to-back with the quiet and original Bonneville T100. The noise levels are quite different between the two. According to Triumph the soundtrack is about the same on the two with the replacement exhaust that releases about 10% more power as well as nice parallel twin sound. Thruxton 900 has only got 2-3 bhp more than the T100, but with the open pipes in addition it felt much more powerful. I cruised past Mallory park and did a circular around the Hinckley area before returning the bike. TS