Mark Pierce (Germany)

Blinded by the Right.

Ceterum censeo Trumpem esse delendam.

Industrial heritage in Löbejün - der alte Fritz klaute sich eine Dampfmaschine.

So sorry I can't be there. Have a good one!

YouTube video by Christy Moore Christy Moore - No Time For Love (Official Live Video)

A belated happy birthday to the fantastic Christy Moore.
As relevant as ever it was.
youtu.be/zajeUWipqbU?...

I'm unfortunately right there with you in the "motorcycle emptiness" at the moment.

That last whisky was clearly one too mmaannyy for me.

C'est bien, Sabian!

Or in binary, as eleven.

It was somewhat ironic to have my first ever serious accident on the day after the course, whilst travelling home...

ADAC is a German motoring organisation. It was an all-day safety course for experienced riders at their facility in Grevenbroich, practising emergency braking, swerving, cornering, etc. It's good to refresh these things with professional instructors, I find.

Car ripped the valve cover open on the right-hand cylinder. Boxer engine protected my foot and leg.

We are legion.

Stupid question, why the L-Plate, when the monarch is exempt from the driving license requirement?

I was just trying to make a "joke" based on the lyrics of Trans Europe Express. 😀

So fucking true!

Wire wheels are good though?

o7

Was that when they met in Düsseldorf's fair city?

I was glad to be able to find the receipts for my helmet and jacket and sruff.

As another old geezer, I second this!

Sharp and fast it certainly was. I was able to slightly change direction to avoid a full-frontal collision, that may have helped me a little. The boxer's right cylinder probably saved my foot and leg from serious injury.

Some people also believe in "throttle voodoo", i.e. ignition on and slowly open and close the throttle fully a couple of times before starting. That's certainly a thing on oilhead boxers after reconnecting the battery, but I was never convinced that it did anything on the 650 single.

It's worth observing the light and waiting a few seconds.

It's a stretch of road that I've travelled literally thousands of times over the years in cars and on bikes, and I've never seen anything like that. There is no (legal) left turn along that section.

I was about to pass in the left lane. Car was slowing in the right lane ahead of a junction to the right, but instead of turning off it u-turned across my lane.

That's rough, I'm sorry to hear it. I'm in the middle of dealing with something similar myself (first ever insurance write-off). It's very saddening to part with a bike under those circumstances.

Glad you're otherwise ok. Had the thumb x-rayed yet? Hope it clears up soon.

I expect you know this, since it sounds like you've had the bike a while with no problems, but just in case: after turning the ignition key, wait for the coolant warning lamp to stop flashing before pressing the starter. The flashing indicates that the electronics are still initialising.

What was done to the snorkel? There's a temperature sensor in there used by the engine management to determine inlet air temperature and adjust the FI. Is this still connected and readind temp at a sensible spot? i.e. not dangling above the exhaust?