RG500

VJMC / CMRC link man Doug Perkins proving that we all are old enough to know better but never will
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Suzuki RG500 fired up

Suzuki looked to have made a leap forward with this chunky, compact bike with everything beefed up in comparison to the TR750. Still a bit wonky at the rear with forward leaning twin shocks looking out of sync with the front forks.
Fired up though this is the real deal. Open expansion chambers and 4 cylinders = the sound of ripping canvas every time the throttle is opened.
Recently ridden at Brackley by a club member who said that trying to pull away below 10k revs produces a stall every time.
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Suzuki TR750 and RG500 at VJMC Mears Ashby

An ex works TR750 from the original Art Baumann / Jody Nicholas 70s era and an RG500 of indeterminate history but now ridden by Phil Read Sr.
Looking at the TR750 you can see why it was called the Flexi Flyer. Long wheelbase, skinny frame tubing, raked out skinny forks, vertical rear shocks, engine set low and forward, final drive sprocket way ahead of swingarm pivot and fresh air everywhere surrounded by tubing. By an odd coincidence the one rider in the world who would have noticed all this at first glance , Jack Findlay, did race this bike and won a TT on it. The significance is that he previously rode the beautifully crafted McIntyre Matchless where Bob Mac understood how to configure all this. Odd that Suzuki hadn't noticed it to learn from.
Anyway it was smokily fired up and produced the flat drone I remember from watching Sheene, Newbold et al when they raced them.
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ZX6R misbehaving

ZX6R is on the naughty stool as clocks came loose and speedo cable fell out on way home. In the background Ethel is quietly smirking.
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Vmcc rally Manx GP

Woohoo - we have our entry number ! This time it is #30. Nipped out this evening to scrub in brand new tyres on Ethel. Don't care what Conti say about not using any releasing agents so no scrubbing in needed - for the very first mile or so Ethel has never turned in that fast. Anyway after 50 plodding but curvy miles they started to come in so loadsa time to be ready for Jurby.
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Bike museum

Is this - but nailed to Tourism for the Terrified so no chance to go inside
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St Petersburg

Bang opposite this
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Joey Dunlop Tallinn

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Joey Dunlop Tallinn

This is looking back from the direction of travel. The bend has a late left hand apex but is innocuous enough with no apparent camber. It was drizzling when the photo was taken but the road surface was grippy rather than slick. Makes me wonder if the bike siezed.
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Joey Dunlop Tallinn

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Paying respects to Joey Dunlop in Tallinn forest

Hi,
On this rain delayed Senior TT Saturday here I am in the rain at the Pirita Kose Kloostrimetsa circuit outside Tallin in Estonia to pay my respects to Joey Dunlop.
Regards,
Keith Philpot
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Simson AWO 425 T

Reading a fascinating German history of Simson motorcycles of Suhl.
I wondered why the crankcases look so bulbous. Reason is that the upright single is mounted across the frame with the crankshaft turning at 90 degrees to the direction of travel to simplify take off of the drive to the shaft drive at the rear.
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Because that's where you get this

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Belgian STOP sign

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