2007 March blog

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Returned the Yamaha FZ1 today and swapped for the same XT 660 R I rode up and down the Olympic bobsled track in Lillehammer. But the tyres had been changed for some nice Michelin Enduro tyres rather than the ice studs. I will spend Easter in Norway riding the XT in the mountains, but I will also do some skiing with the family. Had to book another return flight after deciding to stay over Easter. I have a beautiful Triumph Rocket III Classic in Manchester waiting for me and it was due back to Triumph now, but the great guys at the Triumph sales team arranged so that I could keep it a little longer enabling me to relax in Norway over Easter. I am now waiting for a DVD from TV2 in Norway before shipping over all Motorcycle Olympics material to Eurosport in France. We want to make this Bob/Motorcycle madness an annual event and Eurosport are interested in covering this. Otherwise I am working on stories about Russian superbikes (yeah right...) and Italiano news. I also have to put down the details now for my trip to Italy soon. I somehow managed to leave both the USB cable and card reader for my DSLR back in the UK. If I run out of space I will have to buy another card reader for the FZ1 and XT 660 R pictures.

I have been spending some time during my stay on a Yamaha FZ1 Fazer touring version. Here's a little video.

So far only I have seen this video. It took a day to edit and render so I really hope that you will enjoy this one! Tor Comments

I've done it now, ridden up and down the Olympic bob sled track in Lillehammer Norway! Gjermund Frostad and myself spent the whole day today riding Yamaha XT 660 R and WR 450 F up and down the track with ice studded tyres! More later and video and pictures from the spectacular event in Norway! I am calling it the Motorcycle Olympics. TS Photo: DMW Foto

I made it, to Oslo and Hamar (60k's from Lillehammer) at least... Woke up like 30 minutes before I had to be at the Lufthansa check in desk at Manchester airport. I haven't even had time to check E-mail since early on Wednesday! That's a first! So saddled the gear up on the Rocket (biiig feature on its way folks...) and rushed to the airport. Due to silly hand luggage regulations I had to pack my offroad helmet in my main luggage since I was bringing a backpack with my laptop, cameras and spare hard drive to cover the Lillehammer stunt properly. Once again I got the go from the great Lufthansa staff at Manchester airport to board even when late and fast tracked through the security queue (he he, you might thing that I'm doing this intentionally now, but the fact is that it would have been a disaster if I didn't make my own stunt in Norway...) After a quick stop in Munich to change to the Oslo flight I landed at Gardermoen airport almost on schedule. Got the airport bus into the centre of Oslo and hooked up with my sister and her boyfriend. they then drove me to pick up my transport during my stay in Norway. A fully touring kitted Yamaha FZ1 Fazer, panniers, tank bag, tall wind-deflector and heated grips. Even though the weather has been lovely in Norway today, it is still much colder than England even. So thank you Yamaha Norway for those heated grips. Saved the day... Made my way in my orange Alpinestars offroad kit from Oslo to Hamar. First leg of the journey to Lillehammer made. 60 kilometres in the morning and I have arranged to meet Gjermund Frostad in Lillehammer at 12 O'clock tomorrow. We will then walk the track to get an idea of how crazy we really are and then at 2 O'clock it's all systems go! It will be a long day tomorrow, On any Sunday! Tor

Friday and the pressure is on from several events coming up. First we was told that we could only shoot until 11:00 rather than the whole day as I first thought as the photographers was due home this day. So were we, but it takes a few hours to burn DVD's and prepare our material. So I had to change my riding plans this morning and compress the riding of the XB12X Ulysses adventure model to as many different scenarios in as little time as possible. Did a few wheelies in the morning, then offroad which was great fun even though I couldn't possibly bring my offroad kit as no such bags and weight is allowed on commercial flights (double set of kit already remember) and a few tracking shots before rushing back to the hotel to pick up the XB12S, XB12Ss and XB12Sscg for a quick shoot and ride closer to our hotel. The standard Lightning model is such a tiny bike, but compared to the low scg it's nothing. Really a bike for shorter people the scg and I can't think of any other 1203cc bike that caters for small riders better than the scg! Pretty useless for me though as my legs was really uncomfortable with the lower seat. But I could easily see the appeal for someone that feels intimidated by something like the Ulysses. And the good thing is that you get the same fine engine and handling, just in a minute package. The XB12Ss Long didn't gel with me at all. It turned the great handling Lightning into a bit of a dog if you ask me. I didn't like it at all and don't really see why someone would want one. Particularly when doing back to back tests with the other Lightning models. Try them all is my advice! The Super TT and Ulysses are the two best Buells in my opinion and they don't compete with each other for customers I think. Ulysses is much more practical though whilst still being a fun and extremely versatile bike to ride. So finished the shoot before lunch. After lunch I went out on my own with the Ulysses to do some onboard filming and general extras from the launch. It was 30 degrees Celsius in the sun and a beautiful day, just a shame I'm leaving later this afternoon. Got a shower, checked out and whilst waiting for our taxi I called the bob sled motorcycle stunt people to make sure everything is set for Sunday. On Sunday Dakar rally racer Gjermund Frostad and I am riding Yamaha WR450F and XT660R up the Olympic bob sled track in Lillehammer, Norway. It will be a thrill and the event is now much bigger in terms of media coverage than I could have ever hoped for. Interview requests from TV, radio and newspapers ticks in and it will be a great day in Lillehammer. All the fuss this close to the event is a bit daunting and I find myself on the other end than usual for this very special event. We ride after 2 O'clock on Sunday March 25th. Come and see us if you can! No one knows whether we'll make it or not! On our taxi transfer from the hotel to Malaga I could see plenty of bikers heading for the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez this weekend. A lot is going on now if you are a motorcyclist! Arrived home just after 11PM knackered. But since I have an early flight from Manchester to Oslo via Munich I have to be at the airport by 6O'clock in the morning. I got about 2 hours of sleep after packing the gear I need in Lillehammer... 

Woke up in sunny Spain early with a bleeding cold from the flight last night. I do admit that everything is moving at turbo pace now and I might have been tough on my body with little sleep and mucho workie lately. So when a fully booked Easyjet flight is on my agenda I was bound to pick up all the bugs in the air. But it's all good and the end result from these last two weeks will be a good one! Had some breakfast at our 5 star Sotogrande resort hotel and got ready to go another round with the Buell XB12STT Super TT. But this time in Spain where there is no lacking in corners! And some really decent corners too up the mountains. A bit chilly in the morning, but temperatures picked up after lunch. The Super TT that had been set up for my weight felt better and more aggressive than the one I rode in Daytona Beach. The gas was more responsive and directly linked to my right hand. This was great on the twisty roads in Andalucia. Got all the shots that I needed with ease and Jürgen Mainx once again did a great and efficient job. During the day the bolt that holds the gear linkage together loosened and fell off. Suddenly I had nothing between the footpeg and my foot. So I was stuck in second gear until we stopped for another photo location down the mountain. Secong gear was ok everywhere on this road and the massive torque curve easily allows you to get going in second. However it stopped me from cornering properly so I jumped on another TT whilst waiting for the spare part to be collected from the improvised garage at the hotel. This one was a bit of a beast running on high idle. The fuel injection felt snatchy and mid corner I got the bike surging forward when I didn't want it too. So advised the Buell staff and was told that this is how all Buells are when they are new. All that is needed is an adjustment to the ECU. No manual adjustment of the idle speed then. finally got back on my  fixed bike and was happy again. Also rode one of the customised Super TT's with artwork from German artist Marcus for the cameras. After doing tracking shots and a change of clothing we did a few static shots at some sort of Orange plantage or something before the landowner chased us away. But not before taking our license plate numbers and calling the local police. We then went and had a long Siesta that consisted of squids, kalimare and more squids... When I felt I had ridden the Super TT enough and got all the shots I swapped over to the 2007 Buell XB12X Ulysses. It's quite a lot differemnt to ride than the Super TT, but I am iundecided which is more fun! That is definately a good thing for the Ulysses. There is nothing the Uly can't do that the TT can and it's more practical, but heavier. Hmmm... Headed back to the hotel before the sun went down to film German paintbrush artist Marcus in action customising one of the Super TT's number plate boards. Great to see how someone can do a long pinstripe freehand. I then did a group shot and walk around videos of all the bikes Buell brought. Tomorrow I ride the Lightning range and the Ulysses adventure version fully kitted with panniers and GI-Joe paint job. Some offroad on the programme too and I really look forward to that. Good night from Spain! TS

Another glorious, but cold morning here in the UK. So nice that I grabbed the Rocket III Classic keys and went for a ride and a photo shoot despite having an early afternoon flight to catch from Liverpool to Malaga. It is quite a different experience riding the Classic to the tuned Rocket III Tribal. Still plenty of power, but much more relaxed ergonomics. That again mixed with a tall windscreen and wide footboards makes it a great cruiser. So finished the quick shoot when the opportunity was there with great weather and rushed home to get ready for the MY07 Buell launch in Southern Spain. Packed two sets of riding clothes as I wanted to give the Super TT a more aggressive riding style with racing leathers and more laid back for the XB12X Ulysses and the Lightning models. My Bob sled stunt is now as good as finalised and I booked flights to Norway before rushing to Liverpool airport. Due to some quite heavy demands from the homely press I will stay a few days extra in Norway after the stunt. Already on Sunday afternoon you will know how it went... TS

I have now spent a lot of time preparing pictures for web, written the Nightster and Super TT tests and had a look at what's new since last. The main thing for me now is to finish Daytona Bike Week 2007 completely. That means that a gigantic photo special from Main Street, bikebabes and a lot more is coming for next weekend. It will be monumental and the page will be dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of bikers making their way to Daytona Beach each year. Particularly this year as it's the 70th anniversary. That page should stand on its own two feet for several years to come and you are the lucky ones that get to see it first. I'll announce under the news link when ready. Tomorrow I am heading down to the Triumph factory in Hinckley to return the Rocket Tribal and pick up the Rocket III Classic. Hopefully the weather will be the same as it was today with warm sunny spells. TS

Back in the UK now. Landed just after 7 O'clock in the morning UK time. Collected my luggage and found the Triumph Rocket III Tribal parked where I left it at the Gatwick short term parking. One of the parking guards asked me if it was my bike. Yes I said and then he moaned about me taking the bike with me because he loved looking at it whilst working! Had to fuel up as I had neglected the last fuel stop on my way earlier this week to save time. Filled enough to get to Oxford and a cash point there. It was absolutely gorgeous weather the whole way from London to Oxford and it didn't take that long to tackle the morning rush hour on the M25 around London once again. I was really tired and it was a fair bit colder to ride back in the UK again after Florida. So had a long lunch/coffee stop in Oxford. Did another fuel/coffee stop on the M6, picked up the latest UK Bike magazine and hurried home to Manchester. I was longing for my bed, but did look through the shots that I got from Ben on the plane and downloaded my E-mail before falling asleep. Luckily no drama at the end of my journey. Just sleeep, again...Tor

Right, last day in Daytona Beach and time to wrap up and do the last photography around the Loop. We went out straight after breakfast, three bikes; Harley-Davidson CVO Softail Springer, XL1200N Nightster and Softail Custom. I didn't do anything but ride the Softail Custom home from the shoot as I rode it in Austria and Slovenia last year. But on the way to The Loop I had to make a stop to pay my fine at the Courts office to avoid having to send a cheque or money order later. So that's what I did and the clerk apologised for our unfortunate meeting with the law. I wanted a few more tracking shots of the CVO and Nightster and that's what we did in Tropical Florida. I love The Loop for the nature and it's a very scenic ride away from busy Daytona Beach. There are hundreds of thousands of bikers visiting Daytona Bike Week each year so you can only imagine the traffic down Main street. We had to leave around 2 O'clock to catch our return flight from Orlando to London. But what a great morning on bikes in the sunshine riding the Loop! Quite relaxing too as we had finished most of the stuff already. This was just to get a few extra shots in the bag. After many miles on the CVO and Nightster I decided to ride in comfort back to Daytona Beach to return the bikes before heading to the airport in car. Comfort equals Softail Custom in this setting. And it is quite a difference in comfort with its generous seat and relaxed riding position. But oh so hot on the exhaust side. I had to put my left leg down at traffic lights to avoid the soaring heat from the exhaust on the right. Returned the bikes and started on the boring journey back to England. 10 hours of bad food and half sleeping through some films on tiny airplane screens. Zzzzz again... Tor

My hotel is just next to the North Atlantic beach side and this morning I headed out to have a look before breakfast. White sand and beautiful sun was just too much to resist. I had to take the Buell XB12STT SuperTT out there for a spin! So had breakfast, called the photographer and went out. It is completely legal to ride along the Beach. After all, this is how the whole Daytona Beach bike thing started. Beach racing! The sand are hard when the tide is low. I paid my $5 to ride 10mph on the beach and no noise! To be fair, I didn't exactly do a million miles per hour, but needed some speed for the shots to work. And the small and nimble Buell does make some noise! I could see the beach lifeguard moving as if to say that I am calling the Sheriff very soon... So had to make it a quick one. The SuperTT's front wheel just dug into the soft sand so no fun to be had there. But further down the beach by the water line the STT worked better. I suspect the Ulysses would have been better, but I am not convinced completely... In Spain later this month I will try some light offroad work on the XB12X to see what it's really made of. It was fun down on the beach anyway. Headed back to the Ocean Centre and exchanged the Buell SuperTT for the Harley-Davidson CVO Softail Springer. A 1800cc factory customised cruiser perfect for the Main Street in Daytona Beach. A proper posing tool, all shiny in gold and chrome. We also temporarily picked up a Night Rod Special as the Hungarian journalist hadn't tried it yet. First we cruised around Daytona Beach itself and did a couple of runs up and down Main Street with Ben running alongside or shooting from the pillion seat. Then we headed out to the world's biggest Harley-Davidson dealership, Bruce Rossmeyers Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson. This guy thinks he's Uncle Ben or something as the posters along the road feature a big picture of his face rather than a motorbike. The guy deserves some credit though for building up his own Harley-Davidson empire down in Florida. A really good Rossmeyer customer will be picked up in helicopter at Orlando airport to be flown onsite to collect his new Harley. The site is like a big Ikea warehouse. Bigger than life! What would sir like? A ready customised $50.000 chopper or a XL883? Or perhaps a Harley-Davidson dog leash or hard wood Harley-Davidson furniture? The sky is the limit at Rossmeyers in Florida. Not sure I would have bough anything from that man though. Too big for me! It had just gone dark when we headed back from Rossmeyer's and I was on the CVO Springer and Janos on the Night Rod Special for the return to Daytona Beach. We had planned to do some night shots of the Special and Nightster and when Paul jumped a red light I followed as I wasn't completely sure about the route from that place in the dark. However, that would be a costly mistake. $185.50 for both me and Janos. But nothing for our dear Harley rep. The whole thing pissed me off seriously. The Sheriff told me that I had jumped a red light and ridden off from the crossroad with my visor open. With my fucking visor open you twat, I thought you wanted to stop me for doing those mingers or burnouts earlier, not for a bloody open visor in a state where you can ride with no helmet! Wanker! So just signed the bloody citation so that I wouldn't get any trouble next time I enter the States. Off course I got the photographer to shoot the stupid event. If you are going to screw up, make sure you screw up in front of the camera as we say. Then I wheelied away after doing a burnout (come on guys, I was on the CVO Springer, it doesn't do wheelies naturally and you'll get shot for being anti-social in Florida...) Back in Daytona Beach we rigged the bikes up. Fetched the Nightster for the static night shot. I did the CVO Springer walk around and then I pissed off to have some down time with Janos. Got 8 Bud's in the hotel lobby (about 10O'clock at night now...) and let Paul and Ben sort out the rest of the shots that they needed more than I. Finished the beers, had a shower, then a pizza with the guys and then the gentleman's club. After 2AM I was well and truly knackered and fell asleep like a stone in my room. ZzzzzzzzTor

Finally the first whole day in Daytona Beach starts. After breakfast, Paul, Ben, Janus and I headed over to the Press office at the Ocean centre to pick up our bikes for the day. No one there really knew where any of the bikes were and when they would be in, but we finally mustered what we needed first, a Buell XB12STT Super TT and Harley-Davidson XL1200N Nightster. Our photographer during the whole stay was Ben Campbell, the guy behind most of Triumph's catalogues and press shoots the last few years. He is also a 3D artist and if I am allowed I'll show you some of the stuff that he can render on his computer! Pretty amazing stuff! First we did some tracking shots around Daytona International Speedway and then we headed North along the Atlantic coast to The Loop. It's such a contrast riding in from the sea to this gorgeous tropical area and it only takes 5 minutes to get back to the coast from the beginning of the Loop (also the nicest part in my opinion...) There's literally only one proper hair-bend corner along the whole Loop and this is where we set up for the Buell STT shoot. Spoke to the locals first and one guy told me that a big alligator used to live in the waters just next to the road along this part of the Loop. I was hoping for a good photo opportunity somewhere with a huge alligator in the middle of the road, but unfortunately the old gator didn't show up. Probably too cold for him as it was only 26 degrees (Celsius) at this point. Anyway, at the end of the day we got some great shots of the STT with the jungle backdrop that will make this shoot pretty unique. I am heading to Malaga later this month for the whole 07 range of Buell's to be launched, but Malaga is just going to be rocks like in SoCal so nothing special with the backdrop compared to tropical Florida. Swapped bikes with Janos the whole day to get some XL1200N Nightster shots in too even though we would keep the Nightster during the whole stay. The Buell had to go back tomorrow so had to concentrate on that now. Got the wheelies done as the last thing before we headed back to the hotel. Tonight was Main Street photography night and some fun time. After shooting a gig of night shots where I knew I would have to delete at least half due to blur I called it a day and let Ben continue. I just wanted some of my shots in too. On Main Street during the Bike Week every joint turns into a strip joint. There was not one bar or saloon that we visited that did not feature either scantily dressed waitresses or some sort of entertainment involving a lady and a pole. Just wait until I am publishing all that booty mixed with gorgeous looking bikes and babes (and some not so gorgeous mind...) It's purely intentional that you haven't seen any of that here yet by the way. Save the best for last as they say. AlligaTOR reporting from Daytona Beach, Florida.

4AM in the morning and I am firing up the Rocket III to head down to London Gatwick for my flight to Florida. Just after about one hour riding down the M6 I hit a standstill queue. Just after 5 O'clock in the morning that can only mean one thing. An accident has happened. After filtering through to the front I can see that this will take some time. Three cars had been involved in a pile up on the motorway. Someone probably fell asleep or something. Apparently it had happened only 10 or 15 minutes before I arrived and the ambulances were just leaving. Glad I wasn't close enough to be involved. So parked up front and had a chat to the other biker that was out this early. He was also on his way down to London on his Triumph. Triumph riders are up early. Whilst waiting for the site to be cleared and cleaned I fitted the telephoto lens to my camera and shot a few pictures of the accident scene. It took about one hour before the Police started letting us through. The only good thing is that we now had an empty motorway in front of us for a few miles and I had calculated plenty of time to be on time for my 11:40 flight to Orlando. Even though I hit the M25 just around rush hour on a Monday morning the traffic was lighter than I'm used to in the afternoon. So arrived Gatwick exactly two hours before take-off and parked the bike at the short term parking, free off course as it always is on a motorbike. Quickly stripped off the rain proof pullovers and the waterproof rain membrane from another jacket that I used under the leather jacket I would be using in Daytona. Packed the helmet down in the helmet bag and was ready to check in. About 10 hours later I was in sunny Florida waiting for Paul to fetch our rental car from Orlando airport to drive to our hotel in Daytona Beach. After freshening up a bit we headed straight for Main Street to check out the atmosphere. My photographer for the trip was Benedict Campbell, the man responsible for almost all Triumph press photography during the last years. Tomorrow we ride the Buell XB12STT and Harley-Davidson XL1200N in and around Daytona Beach. Can't wait. Zzzzz

Must not forget to update the blog before I head over the Atlantic to Daytona Beach and the Bike Week! I am now preparing and packing the few things that I need in Florida (my DSLR, telephoto lens, digital camcorder, extra helmet-one full faced and one open, some clothes, toothbrush and my passport) I will be in Florida the whole week with a tight schedule that varies between testing new metal to interviews and in general soaking in the Daytona Bike Week atmosphere. One of my colleagues that might be less interested in the Bike Week described it as being in a trash can for a week with a running Harley motor. Now I am actually looking forward to that experience, but have packed Painkillers just in case! Tomorrow I am flying into Orlando from London and you can check out the rest of my schedule here. I will try to update the blog from the hotel in Daytona Beach if I can, but the big update is due next weekend. Later in March I will also attend the MY07 Buell Euro launch in the south of Spain just before jetting to Norway and Lillehammer and then Italy. It will be a very busy month indeed... In the meantime I have video ready of the Triumph Rocket III behaving badly and a big helmet guide. I will edit the footage soon... Tor

Just a quick one now as I'm heading to the pub to meet some crazy Frenchmen I know. One of them is an expert in insulting woman and I the complete opposite! Anyway, been out with my photographer and the Triumph Rocket III Tribal today. Had a blast in the Peaks in gorgeous weather and gave the Rocket its hardest test so far in some really hard and mechanically tough riding:-) But I guarantee you that no clutch abuse is needed to wheelie this Rocket III. I still love it by the way... Tor