Is it hard? - Not if you have the right attitudes. It's having the right attitudes that's hard.

Robert M. Pirsig

Of late, probably partially due to COVID-19, I've been messing around with a number of different things. As a consequence of too much YouTube, I decided to get a drone. There was only one sensible choice for me - a dpi Mavic Mini. This only weighs 249g so is exempt from the current UK registration system. It's very competent - and relatively cheap.

To go with the video footage I expect to make I needed some video editing software. Now dpi includes a nice, straight-forward editor and I thought this would be fine. However, I use an Android 'phone (OnePlus 6T) and the screen is really a little too small for comfort (for editing video anyway). No matter said I, I'll download the video files on to my Nexus 7 or Samsung something or other Tab S. No problem - except you can't get the dpi Fly app for these. Initially I thought this might be due to the Android version and spent a day faffing around with rooting, ROMs and all things West (another story perhaps) - and then discovered that it's actually probably due to these 2 tablets being 32 bit machines. No problem, I've got an iPad - you know "It just works". Does it hell! Fine if you want to do what Apple wants you to do but otherwise …. Anyway, suffice to say I got no joy with this either.

So, Google being my friend, I found the Holy Grail. An unbelievably competent video editor that is free - I give you: DaVinci Resolve 16. Brilliant software - I can now cut and join bits of video, add titles and text, produce smooth fade-in/outs, music, blur out moving features (ref. numbers mostly) and so on. And, apparently this is just the start.

Also, after a couple of years off, I've resurrected my motorcycle (Triumph Sprint ST 955i) and drift around the countryside with Brian from across the road (Codger Biker on YouTube). The references about Dr John come from this - it's how Codger Biker refers to me on his channel.

So, the scene is now set for spectacular videos centred around my bike, my drone and the English countryside - which in my totally unbiased opinion, is the very best in the world - nay Universe.

Motorbikes

New bike: Possible Triumph Tiger?

04/06/2020 Filed in: Motorcycle |Triumph Tiger

So, with my poor old Sprint becoming less reliable, thoughts turn to the holy grail: a new bike! Forgetting financial practicalities - these things cost money - what do I really want?

With age, I find that all sorts of different bits of me (those that are still functioning) are beginning to work sub-optimally. Bending down is now a sort of trial by ordeal in the morning - who invented socks anyway? Consequently, riding the Sprint, which is a so-called 'sports tourer', gives me various pains after about an hour - specifically in the wrists and neck. Therefore I deduce that I need a bike with more of an upright seating position. I'd like a relatively light bike, but, I do like the performance of the Sprint (to get out of sticky and dangerous situations of course) so I don't want to compromise on that. I'd like at least some wind protection for motorways, so a naked is out (although a Triumph Street Triple looks like a real hoot). Having dropped the Sprint twice - once in a corner (possibly ice) and once trying to avoid a SMIDSY on a wet road, I'd also like some of the modern electronics. ABS is standard now but the 'lean angle traction control' stuff would be good too (I am, after all, a geek anyway).

So, an adventure bike it is - and I might even do some gently off-road riding :-). But which one? Yamaha Tenere 700 is too off-road (and high in the saddle), the KTM Adventure is too orange (I've sat on both). The Africa Twin is too big and heavy, and I just don't like the BMW F900 and 850s - although the TFT instruments look really cool. For a time I quite liked the idea of a Norton Atlas - but who'd risk one of them now? Finally, then, I think it would be a Triumph Tiger 900. I got invited to one of the launch sessions down at Hinckley and there is no doubt it is an extremely impressive motorcycle - it even integrates with What 3 Words. I want one. The next decision is which bank will be the easiest to rob, I've been watching all the best heist movies and I think I have a plan...

However, there are still choices to be made - the base model, Rally or more road focused GT. What additions, or should it just be the Pro spec? I just don't know.

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Tags: Triumph Tiger

GreyMamba

Thinking Allowed … (under construction)

Thinking Allowed … (under construction)

Thinking Allowed … (under construction)

New bike: Possible Triumph Tiger?