Pete

She loved it....in fact I was trying not to like the bike. But she was absolutely bowled over by it. I tried really hard to find a fault...but I couldn't. It really is THAT good. In every area. Alan...find a dealer and get a demo. Seriously....do it. You can get 2-3 year old ones for not much more than you paid for the KLR. As you know I've owned a lot of bikes. And ridden a lot of bikes. And it's been many, many years since I've been as impressed by a bike as much as I have been by the Strom.

It's got Trailwings on it....but they're nothing like Trailwings I've seen before. They're not squared knobbly things, they've got a much more rounded roadbased profile like a Tourance. Have they revamped the Deathwings? Cos they look completely different.

Out for a ride on the Transalp today with the wife on the back. We stopped in the dealers 30 miles away for a cup of coffee, and I got talking to the owner. They're the same people I bought the Transalp from. So he said to me...."We've got a demo bike going...do you want a try?" Well I'm not one to refuse something for nothing, so instead of using our petrol, we'd use his. So me and the wife jumped on and off we went. First thing I noticed was comfort....absolutely amazing, most perfect seating, riding, and pillion setup I've ever experienced. Makes the TA feel like a wooden bench. Secondly....smoothness. It made the TA feel like a tractor. Brakes....fantastic...very smooth and progressive. Probably half the stopping distance of the TA. Gearbox....absolutely perfect....possibly the slickest I'd ever used. Miles better than the TA. Handling....excellent....far better than the TA or anything else that I can remember. The most perfectly balanced bike I've ever ridden.....feels at least 50lb lighter than the TA, and manoevring at walking pace two up on a bike I've never ridden before was unbelievably easy. Performance...New engine with 80 miles on the clock. We're at 35mph in 6th, two up....and just open the throttle and off it goes. No hesitation or snatch whatsoever. Want to pass something? Just drop a cog and you're whipping along. By the time the TA got to 60, this thing would be doing 100. It pulls strongly from about 3K revs with a further surge around 7K. But it's not a sports 600 power on/power off feeling when you get up in the revs. The power is exactly where you want it.....in the midrange, so it's easily useable rather than dropping cogs to get it. We did about 20 miles and we loved it. The wife didn't want to get back on the TA after it, cos it was just so comfortable. AFAIC it's the best allround bike for my needs that I have ever ridden. We dropped the bike off at the dealers and rode home on the TA. It felt like absolute shit TBH. Comparing the demo bike to the TA is like comparing ice cream to horse shit. I'm gobsmacked....I knew this bike had got rave reviews worldwide.....but until I rode one I just didn't realise how good it actually was. Cos if anything those reviews have actually understated it's capabilities. Because it is an absolutely brilliant bike in every respect....every aspect of it was outstanding! Don't ride one....cos unless you've got some seriously exotic piece of kit, then this thing is just going to piss all over it. It's everything the reviews said it was....and then some! Bottom line.....my brand new 05 plater will be on the road next week. I dealt with the owner personally, and he gave me a very good deal indeed. Oh....and the bike in question? I think you're probably ahead of me already.... The 650 V-Strom! I've got no excuse for it, other than to say.....Believe the Hype! This is an absolutely fantastic bike....if Suzuki ever got something right...then this is it! I'll get my coat!

I got some lead additive stuff when I had the old DT175. Can't remember what make it was....but it was recommended to me by a guy who's a classic car enthusiast. Those type of guys are the best to advise on it cos they're fanatical about their stuff.

Who's champion? Not more fucking aliases surely? Is John R6 involved?

So you're settling back into the Brighton lifestyle then Alex?

You talking to Dani or Mozzy Bazz? Or even worse....me?

I dunno Danni...I think Massey-Ferguson have just got the edge on them. However, it's been suggested that buying a Harley is God's way of telling that you have too much money and not enough brains.

I heard you pulled his helmet Moz!

Well it's no skin off my nose Moz!

On the Vespa?

I think we're going into Cheesy Foreskin territory here. But I'm not going to rise to it you know!

Hi Dani! And we need photos to verify all this of course! Of YOU not Da Mozzman! And where's your mother these days...she hasn't been on for a while?

8 days Moz....and then you buggered off and let me stuck here with The Mullets and The Brighton Belle!

And less of the bloody old Moz...I'm just mature...like an old cheese!

Hi Dani! Good to see you.

It's bloody blowing a gale, subzero, and snowing here Alex. Not Gay Honda weather!

Are they second hand...or is it second arse?

Which one Moz? Can you be more specific!

She closed her legs did she?

And where's Jarno? Stupid Boy!

The Gossip: 1. Alex is back from his World Tour. And split with his girl. 2. Mozzy split with his girl. Now has a new one. 3. Liquidcooled cut his mullet and bought a dualsport. And split with his girl. 4. Yamahead cut his mullet and bought a dualsport. 5. Beezkneez is getting married in June. There's likely to be trouble at t'mill. 6. I'm still The Cool Guy!

I'd prefer to be Irish than English myself. And Alan will agree too.

I'm resisting the urge to put in a smutty one liner you know!