Peter Henry
15-01-07, 08:55 AM
Yesterday I went for a gentle bimble with a Dutch friend of mine, also called Peter. Conditions were not at all ideal as we passed through low clouds as we climbed our favourite biking road.
Peter is a former road tester for magazines, has had 2 books on motorcycles published and still writes for several magazines today. Very nice guy, superb rider and immensely knowledgeable. Odd perhaps that, as good a rider as he is he feels his GSXR1000 K6(?) is way too much for the road. He is actually seriously contemplating a V-Strom 1000!
But as we sipped coffee he recalled the launch of the 2004 Fireblade in Arizona which he attended. All the main test riders from the biking world were present and they all set about caning the new bike, larging it to see who could do the best lap time.
There was plenty back slapping and micky taking with some pretty good times posted, however.......
Also present at the launch was Chris Vermuelen, he went out and road the Blade also and no doubt impressive he was too. Apparently Chris posted a time which was something like 3 to 4 seconds better than anyone! But guess what? He was actually riding a German spec bike,(like those built for France it was limited to 100BHP!) and so the time he lapped truly was awesome when compared with some very handy riders on a full spec Fireblade.
Maybe puts our own riding ability in to perspective,no? :?
Peter is a former road tester for magazines, has had 2 books on motorcycles published and still writes for several magazines today. Very nice guy, superb rider and immensely knowledgeable. Odd perhaps that, as good a rider as he is he feels his GSXR1000 K6(?) is way too much for the road. He is actually seriously contemplating a V-Strom 1000!
But as we sipped coffee he recalled the launch of the 2004 Fireblade in Arizona which he attended. All the main test riders from the biking world were present and they all set about caning the new bike, larging it to see who could do the best lap time.
There was plenty back slapping and micky taking with some pretty good times posted, however.......
Also present at the launch was Chris Vermuelen, he went out and road the Blade also and no doubt impressive he was too. Apparently Chris posted a time which was something like 3 to 4 seconds better than anyone! But guess what? He was actually riding a German spec bike,(like those built for France it was limited to 100BHP!) and so the time he lapped truly was awesome when compared with some very handy riders on a full spec Fireblade.
Maybe puts our own riding ability in to perspective,no? :?