2014 Ktm Sx on 2040-motos

Moto blog

2012 Erzberg Rodeo Results – Only 7 of These People Finished the Race

You know it’s a tough race when less than 2% of the starters make it to the finish. That’s what happened this Sunday at Austria’s Iron Mountain for the 2012 Red Bull Hare Scramble. KTM factory rider Jonny Walker was the first of just seven competitors to make it to the top in the 3.5-hour time limit out of a field of 500 entries.

Buying countless tatty bikes. And that Marquez fella

A South African friend of mine called Trevor Binder told me last weekend I’m quite obviously in the advanced stages of a terrible disease. He recognises the affliction because he admits to suffering from the same condition for many years and so far hasn’t found a cure.  He says he can’t stop collecting bikes and while I didn’t think I had a problem, last weekend he pointed out I should be careful as I’m starting to acquire bikes at an alarming rate. I wasn’t really worried about spending a modest amount of cash an old KTM 125 race bike, a 350 LC and a Fizzy over the past six months but Trevor says I’m on a slippery slope.  He says it always starts with bikes that have some sentimental value but then swiftly moves on to buying any old tat.  Trevor is a wealthy man with dozens of nice bikes in his collection but more recently has been on Gumtree bidding for £150 Solex front wheel drive step - thrus, and doesn’t know why.  Closer to home, James Whitham has recently confirmed he may also have these symptoms and is actively seeking therapy.  I’ll be monitoring the situation from now on but in the meantime if anyone hears of a reasonably priced Raleigh Wisp for sale please let me know.

Bodachs on bikes

With the Gaelic for ‘old man’ being Bodach it was only right we call our annual has been Scottish Racers run out 'Bodachs on Bikes'.  The gang now includes names from the past like Morrison, MacPherson, Simpson and Duffus with a Robert Burns and Big Gordo thrown in for good measure. Island hopping was on the agenda this time round, so for £60 we acquired a Caledonian Macbrayne Hopscotch ticket allowing us three ferry crossings between the mainland, Skye and Lewis.  Having heard lots of good stuff about the new KTM 1190 Adventure I thought this could be the perfect bike for the journey so managed to book Loughborough’s Redline KTM’s demo out for a week.  My first stint was an uneventful 400 miles north but with an average of 250 miles range per tank and 80s club classics on the i pod it felt like I was there in no time.  I also kept myself amused scrolling through the easy to navigate countless combinations of engine performance, traction/anti wheelie and suspension settings clearly displayed on the dash.  There seems to be a setting for everyone; luggage or no luggage, big guy or small guy, brave or scared ( no rider aids or full rider aids).  After assembling in the holiday town of Helensburgh on day two, we rode up around the coast on the A82, A85 and A828 to Ballachulish.  A quick puddle jump across Loch Linnhe then saw us heading round the A861 to Strontian before going north to Mallaig.