Vickys' had a name change

... She's now Gina. Vicky just didn't sit right on the tongue.

First 500 miles done so I can up the revs to 7,500 from the boring 5,000 I've been restricted to. To be honest, can't see me going over that... ever, 7,500rpm equates to 105mph! Her happy place is around the 6,000 mark which is comfy cruising at 80mph and just coming up for peak torque with max power coming on at 8,400. This means I can plod along the motorway and a snap of the wrist will still see me away from danger.

I love this bike :-)

Friday will be her 600 mile service, a very important event, and she will finally get all her extras fitted. That means by Saturday Gina will be complete and I finally get the bike I ordered. Sounds sad, but I really want my topbox and hand guards. I've moved the windshield up one setting which is a happy compromise between shelter and looks and fitted a 'Lubeman' oiler for the chain. I've measured the suspension sag and dialed in the pre-load to get proper ride height but left the damping as set at the dealers. It seems ok, so why fiddle?

That, I suspect will be the total 'fiddling' I do to her. She'll be just perfect that way.

My new bike... Vicky.

Well I've finally got her home and I'm completely chuffed with my choice so far.

Yesterday didn't go completely to plan, but what does hey? When I got to the dealers they had to inform me that the luggage and accessory kit which make the bike a 'GT' model had failed to arrive. This meant no topbox, panniers, centre stand, hand guards or heated grips. To make amends, they offered a full tank of petrol and got the teas' in. Would have been nice to pick up the bike complete, but this is just a minor grumble washed away with the joy of owning a new bike.

Next fly in the ointment was the DVLA computer crashed preventing the dealer from taxing the bike! The DVLA website said it would be back on line by 2:30pm and yet again the dealer was extremely embarrassed, but really, it wasn't their fault. Even so, they coughed up for lunch (and more tea!) and offered me any demo bike I liked to go out for a ride to kill some time. I didn't take them up on their offer and just went into town for a wander instead.

Finally got my bum on the saddle by 3:30 and went off to get to know my bike. Love it, love it, love it! Everything felt good and she rides like a dream. I have to run her in, so nothing over 5,000 revs for 500 miles, which is a pain, but I can live with that. Bike is crying out to rev way past the permitted 5k, but I'll be good (for now). Anywho, here's a couple of piccies of my new baby, Vicky. How long we'll be together I don't know, but right now I can't imagine riding anything else. Ah, new love. So consuming.

Very exited.

Pick up my new bike tomorrow... Very excited!

What have I done??

I seem to have signed on the dotted line and bought myself a brand new bike! Never owned a new bike (or car) before, so am proper chuffed (and scared, and guilty... but mainly chuffed). Only problem now is waiting for it to be ready to pick up. I shall post piccies of my new baby when she comes home in about a week.

Oh yes, forgot to say... It's a Suzuki V-strom, other wise known as a DL650A GT.