It’s a while since I wrote anything about the Federation of UK GoldWing Clubs, so here’s an update on the progress we’ve been making.

The basic idea of the Federation as previously described on this Blog is unchanged but things have moved on a little and the ideas have been developed.

The Federation has already been formed and its website will be launched within the next few weeks, containing details of the services being offered, i.e. what you get for joining, and of course how to join.

The Federation already exists as a body corporate, as the lawyers would say, in the form of a Club. It therefore has Officers: continues………

Last week, from July 20th to 26th,  2,786 unique visits were made to this Blog.  This reflects the steady increase in readership ever since its launch last November.

It’s already got a very much bigger ‘circulation’ than any other UK GoldWing  publication.  For example Wingspan, GWOCGB’s  magazine, might still be in second place but it’s only distributed monthly and its circulation has now fallen below 1,000 copies.  And of course it has a month’s lead time for copy whereas this Blog can respond quickly – the Tram Sunday article and pictures were published the very next day.

The Blackpool Light Parade website gets similar numbers of hits too and that’s currently being updated almost daily, so it’s well worth a regular visit too.  There are some very promising irons continues………

On the right is a 2008 Pearl White US model, with chrome extras, and on the left an absolutely unique colour called "Last Week's Papal Robes"

A white GL1800 is to be sold officially in UK for the first time – but not just yet.

As I forecast in an earlier article on this Blog, included in HondaUK’s stockpile of GL1800s there are colours not previously seen in UK except personally imported US-spec bikes.  It now appears there were two such colours – and at long last this includes white.

White has always been a very popular colour for GoldWings and many have been imported from the US.  With a bit of extra chrome here and there it looks really good.  Indeed so committed was my friend Bill to having a white bike that when he replaced his white GL1500 and couldn’t buy a white one, he bought a blue one, stripped it of all painted parts before it turned a wheel and had them resprayed in pearlescent white.  The colour he chose has a golden sheen to it.  (Don’t tell him I said so but it’s really stunning.)

So at last, and it’s official, HondaUK will be selling a white GL1800.  Officially the new colour will be called continues………

This Hesketh caught my eye

Near the display of GoldWings at Fleetwood Tram Sunday a Hesketh caught my eye.  It was being displayed by a recently established local motorcycle service and repairer business called StreetRod.

Rob Angel, who used to run the workshop for Raceway Motorcycles, a Dealer in Fleetwood, has decided to go it alone.  Rod will be buying and selling the odd motorcycle but his main aim is to provide specialist servicing and repair facilities, for example to plastic fairings and specially fabricated exhaust components. He was showing a  few examples of damaged fairings which had been repaired and were ready for filling and painting, a much cheaper option than replacing with new.

His services might therefore be useful to a Winger who is restoring continues………

Bill ordering a new hair dryer for Barbara; even he couldn't fix the old one this time

My GL1800′s  cruise control stopped setting.

The problem persisted and I pursued several routes trying to solve it.  I checked the micro switches and all associated connectors/wiring but it still persisted.

The strange thing was when I tested the cruise control with the bike on the centre stand in my garage it would set normally every time – frustrating or what?

When I ride I always have the headlights on and when I put the bike away I always turn off the lights.  Purely by chance on one occasion I rode into my garage and left the lights on and the bike running.  Still frustrated that the cruise control wasn’t working I decided to attack it again.  Lo and behold it continues………

Gary's visitor at Tram Sunday

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO FOR A FULL SIZE VIEW.

It was an uncertain weather prospect as GoldWings North West met at 8.30am just outside Fleetwood to ride in together to display our bikes as part of the Town’s annual Tram Sunday.  The skies were very showery-looking indeed and it wasn’t all that warm.  Our thoughts were of coffee and bacon butties and where we could get them, or at least mine were.

As I rode into Fleetwood with the last four bikes, along three quaters of a mile of closed-off main street, it was a slightly spooky experience.  There were people putting up stalls and stands here and there but they were still thin on the ground.  It was a quiet Sunday morning but with only early arrivals among the other display vehicles in position, parked against the kerb.  It was like a flashback to how the street might have looked early on a Sunday morning forty or continues………

Good roads, well signposted - and really nice views

Click on any picture for a full size image.

For our second Riding Day in the Mosel I offered the group a choice.   I would lead a ride aimed at enjoying some of the Area’s excellent riding roads, which would be a rider’s day out rather than a tourist day, not all hard and fast riding, but an opportunity to ride at pace on good roads for its own sake rather than a leisurely scenic tour.

The alternative would be to spend time as a motorcycling tourist in some nice tourist places, such as Bern Kastel, an attractive town an hour or so up river which is both easy to find and has easy bike parking when you get there.

All the couples chose the tourist option (can’t think why!) leaving continues………

Not all red bikes, just lots of 'em!

Click on any picture for a full size view.

Nigel and I haven’t been away with Elite Wings for quite some time (last year was a bit of a write-off due to the building works and Nigel being in and out of hospital!) so we decided we’d join them down in South Wales last weekend.

Nigel and I set off on Friday in the sunshine and he’d very kindly researched the route and planned several stops at craft supply shops he’d found on the Internet. A lot of these were no longer in business but the thought was there and I always appreciate the fact that he’s willing to stop at such places (not very willing to let me buy stuff though!).

We arrived at the Hilton Hotel Newport around 5pm to find Mark and Pam in the bar (where else!) – haven’t seen them for a few years, but always remember continues………

Only three minutes from the M6

I am pleased to be able to announce that Knutsford Honda, who are based on the A50 just East of Junction 20 of the M6, on the site once occupied by GoldWings International, are to be the Main Sponsors of the 2009 Blackpool Light Parade Weekend.  They will be present in style, both on the Promenade and at Pontin’s, indeed throughout the weekend.

Sean Davis, their General Manager, has agreed to judge the Best Lit Bike Competition and he’s keen for his Company continues………

Having a good day!

Our second full day in the Mosel Region was forecast to be showery but we came down to a pleasant and clear morning for breakfast with a plan already formed to be on the road for a Ride Out without delay.

Rob Ellis, a seasoned Mosel tourer, had co-operated with me the night before in planning a circular ride for the group which would take in a useful sample of the area’s attractive places and also provide a gentle introduction to the riding opportunities provided by its magnificent roads.

We settled on a route heading across the river from Klotten via the continues………