Ok this is not related to motorcycles or travels but is just a great moment of fun. Click on the link below to view the video

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Just back from a trip to Ireland to visit our local Unicorn Adventures Motorcycle Tours representative I noticed something funny.

I was living there some years ago while the local economy was boosted by the EEC funding and could notice that people were quickly getting used to credit, mortgages, thus getting brand new cars, new houses and starting to enjoy life; which is the least that country deserves considering its history.

But on the other side my brand new GSX-R 750 (2000 model) was looking awkwardly out of the picture compared to all those old bikes (most imported from the UK) that were on the roads at that time. I was really concerned I wasn’t going to find ride mates or a good mechanic. Some major biking shops were existing but you could feel they were getting there slowly and would have liked many more customers.

What a good surprise it was during the last days to see only brand new bikes from the latest models! Wow in a couple of years they moved from old rusted wheels to shiny, chrome ones (I over do it a bit).

So the economical development did well and is now going on itself without EEC funds, and now new motorcycle appear, right after the rest. Is this due to the fact that bikes are more about fun than the rest? Well you definitely need first a nice place to live (or at least a decent one, when possible), then a solution to move around as now you make money and start to enjoy freedom; of course the cage is the most sensitive option to carry the family around and go to the office without being soaked wet (remember we are talking about Ireland here). And finally here comes the motorcycle, if you are single it may be a good first choice (versus the cage), but if married you need to negotiate a bit.

Ireland is just one example if you know others let me know. Would then the conclusion be:

So more new motorcycles on the streets so higher an economical success the country has reached?

Now considering that in France the government does every possible thing to get rid of the bikers and their pride (the motorcycle) and that the French economy is definitely not the most shiny in Europe and that France’s peoples happiness and joy of life is a bit down the pipe; it could be an interesting downside to the above developed idea. When your economy goes down you try to get rid of motorcycles first…but this may be a bit over stretched…or not?

Writing and Riding! At least now there is something to do when the weather is sh... and the motivation low: write about your riding experiments, thoughts etc... as more and more people do!

Our friend Mike from Bikes in the Fast Lanes and some others had the idea to get together the biker bloggers !

Check the Motorcycle Bloggers International web site to learn more and see the 2006 MBI awards winners...and losers.

Found on Beaker's Cruising Down Under blog a link to a personal initiative developed by a guy about increasing awarness for bikers and the fact that some behaviours just make our life easier.

Have a look at the tips for driving biker friendly section! As usual comon sense is the answer, but as this is what is less available on this world it is always good to "inject" a small dose on a regular basis.

Some time ago we posted a note about the fact bikers do look scary, but after giving it some more thinking I think we need to add a bit of data.

In fact it seems the topic is twofold: on one side you have the “bad boy” image, and on the other side you have the sort of “road angel” one. Did you notice that people who aren’t bikers always look at you in a special way when you let them know you are a biker or when you arrive at some place with your helmet in your hand ?

People tend to look at you with a dreaming glance and a special smile, in fact it seems a biker caries with him that image of a free person, a person a bit out of the system who goes where s/he wants, when s/he wants it.

And there is also the fact that a motorcycle is a special machine, it needs specific skills to be properly handled, it exposes you to the outside, there isn’t an iron cage around you! It is only you, the machine and the road!

Would that glance in non biker eyes be qualified as envy? Admiration? Desire? Not sure but there is something positive: a bit of dream is carried by every biker!

Unicorn Adventures Ltd is recruiting representatives.

If you are a biker, have some good insight on your market, beleive that Motorcycle Tours are a great way to discover new places, meet new friends and enjoy a great vacation: you could become one of our representatives.

We look for people who are willing to take a couple hours per month to track their local market for bikers looking to discover Southern Europe in a different way and would like a company like Unicorn Adventures Ltd to take care of them.

Of course you won't do this for free as you will get paid on a commission basis for each tour sold.

Check our contact section to get in touch and let us know your interest and your country.

All about a dream coming true! As you can see considering the price of a beemer the guy sticks to his dream for years! BMW customers are persistent ;)

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Recently read a paper about the latest evolution of the Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS and the YCC-S semi-automatic clutch system. No more clutch handle and some buttons to manage the gears. From what comes out of the various tests it seems that thanks to such technology riding gets easier, or,lets say more comfy, which is what you expect on motorcycle tours for example or long week-end rides.

The papers in the press seems to all agree the system is cool and does not sound like a "scooter automatic gear box", which would be unaccdepted by bikers anyway! We want control !

As much as the press loves the YCC-S solution they still find some negative points, and I think this is where it gets crazy!

Just to make this clear we are here talking about a GT, the FJR 1300, with ABS, paniers and all that stuff! The kind of bike you buy when you get on long rides, or even commute and want to carry yourself, the lady, and your work stuff in peace, a pretty expensive (close to 17.000 Euros) piece of technology.

So the point that was not pleasing the journalist in the paper I reacted on was that....the YCC-S doesn't allow you to do .....wheelies!!! Do you really get such a bike for a wheelie? Come on lets get down on earth and test and analyse the bikes for what they have be designed for! Of course it won't pull a wheelie! Does a Renault Twingo race against a formula 1? Does an Airbus A320 fly faster than the Concorde?

You know, it is like those journalists talking about that tenth of a second the latest version of the SuzHonKaMaha 1000 RRRR goes faster on the Jerez circuit and which for them makes it the Bike to buy! Hello! Yes we like to dream but most of the readers are normal blokes who ride on normal roads!

Some times those journalists should come back on earth and share our bikes and roads and see how real life feels!

Yes our red R1200RT is for sale!

More info needed? Contact us!

Et oui notre belle R1200RT rouge est à vendre!

Contactez-nous pour plus d'infos!

Il est toujours curieux de voir comment la presse gère les informations que les services marketing peuvent lui faire parvenir.

Pour exemple cet encart apparu dans le dernier numéro de Moto Journal Hors Série BMW, sur le nouveau livre de MC Gregor et Boorman "L'échappée Belle" .

On découvre dans ces quelques lignes qu'ils ont été menacés par des mercenaires en Ukraine, harcelés par la police, poursuivis par des paparazzi et contraints de manger des testicules de taureau...Bref que du monstrueux.

Pour avoir eu le plaisir de lire la version anglaise il est possible de vous garantir que: les pseudos mercenaire s'avèrent être des types super sympas qui les hébergent (de plus on ne parle jamamis de mercenaires), la police qui les harcèle est en fait envoyée pour les escorter vers des fêtes organisées en leur honneur et les diriger sur les bonnes routes, les paparazzi se trouvent être présents à ces fêtes (mais on ne parle jamais de poursuite) et enfin personne ne les force à manger des testicules de divers ovins (y'a pas de taureau en Mongolie !!!) mais il sont invités!

Bref! On essaye de nous vendre un truc horrible alors que c'est une histoire de motos et d'hommes, faite de moments forts, de rencontres délicieuses et de plein d'aventure!

Un vrai beau livre sur les voyages à moto!

Who didn't already hum this song? Written by the unforgettable Serge Gainsbourg, the French maestro of the defiant and poetic text songs, and performed by the sublime Brigitte Bardot in 1967. Here is a trial of translation. But I advise you to read it (and sing it!) in French to keep the flavour of all the rhymes.

Picture copied on http://www.chez.com/bbardot/


I don't need anyone
In Harley Davidson
I don't recognize anyone anymore
In Harley Davidson

I switch on the ignition
And here am I leaving the earth
Maybe I’ll go to the Paradise
But in a fast Hell pace

I don't need anyone
In Harley Davidson
I don't recognize anyone anymore
In Harley Davidson

And if I die tomorrow
It is that such was my destiny
I love less my life
Than my terrible machine

I don't need anyone
In Harley Davidson
I don't recognize anyone anymore
In Harley Davidson

When I feel on the way
The trepidations of my machine
I feel going up desires
In the small of my back

I don't need anyone
In Harley Davidson
I don't recognize anyone anymore
In Harley Davidson

I go to more of hundred
And I feel to fire and the sword
It doesn’t matter for me to die
If it’s the hair in the wind

Qui n’a pas déjà fredonné cette chanson ? Ecrite par l’inoubliable Serge Gainsbourg, le maestro français de la chanson à texte provocante et poétique, et interprétée par la sublime Brigitte Bardot en 1967.

Photo copiée sur http://www.chez.com/bbardot/


Je n'ai besoin de personne
En Harley Davidson
Je n'reconnais plus personn'
En Harley Davidson

J'appui sur le starter
Et voici que je quitte la terre
J'irai p't'être au Paradis
Mais dans un train d'enfer

Je n'ai besoin de personne
En Harley Davidson
Je n'reconnais plus personn'
En Harley Davidson

Et si je meurs demain
C'est que tel était mon destin
Je tiens bien moins à la vie
Qu'à mon terrible engin

Je n'ai besoin de personne
En Harley Davidson
Je n'reconnais plus personn'
En Harley Davidson

Quand je sens en chemin
Les trépidations de ma machine
Il me monte des désirs
Dans le creux de mes reins

Je n'ai besoin de personne
En Harley Davidson
Je n'reconnais plus personn'
En Harley Davidson

Je vais à plus de cent
Et je me sens à feu et à sang
Que m'importe de mourir
Les cheveux dans le vent