Stuart’s GoldWing Blog

Ian astride a 2001 GL1800 shod with early Bridgestones

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW

To put my experiences and views into context, I’ve ridden Goldwings continuously and exclusively since 1998 and I am now on my seventh. The first Wing was a GL1500SE but the rest have all been GL1800s, all US models and all with ABS – as of course do all UK model GL1800s.

I’ve ridden upwards of 160,000miles on a Wing, some of it in straight lines but as much as possible on non-motorway roads.  I enjoy exploiting the excellent handling of a GL1800 and I ride to make progress more often than I dawdle along.  So my tyres are sometimes working hard for their living.

I have used tyres from four different manufacturers including two different designs of tyre from two of them, so continues………

As an Event Organiser it often seems like one step forward, like sorting the Parade arrangements for next year with the Police, is followed by two steps back when some other problem crops up.  So the news that Pontin’s are closing their Blackpool Holiday Park in a few weeks time is not exactly welcome.

It seems the Site was leased (from the previous owner of Pontin’s, who also owns other Blackpool attractions like the Tower and Piers) and Pontin’s have not renewed it.  Presumably because it couldn’t pay its way.

It remains to be seen whether the site will live on under another badge or not, we’ll have to wait and see. The Owner of the Site is said to have a track record of resurrecting failing pleasure businesses, so assuming Pontin’s have closed it because it was not doing well enough, he might be precisely the guy to give it another lease of life. I thought the buildings looked in pretty good condition this year, so we can live in hope.

One thing is for sure, the Blackpool Illuminations GoldWing Light Parade will run again next year, even if we do have to find a new accommodation venue. Where there’s a will there’s a way – so book your time off work, it’s going to be another Great Weekend next September 3rd-6th, wherever it’s based.

In response to an email I sent yesterday I had a phone call from an Inspector of Blackpool Police this evening, explaining that there had been a communication error at their end.  The Traffic Officers who stopped GoldWings at Squires Gate traffic lights had not been briefed to assist us through that junction on Saturday evening as planned.

I am completely satisfied that the problem we had will not happen again next year.  The Inspector and I will be getting together as soon as I get back off holiday to start working together to ensure it doesn’t.

We have already had a brief discussion about opportunities for improved arrangements for next year, building on what we ourselves learned this year, for example about the value of starting from Pontin’s as well as finishing there.

I am pleased to say that the issue we had with Blackpool Police about this years Parade has been resolved and we can look forward to a good working relationship with them next year.

As I write this, early on Monday morning at Pontin’s, the sun is shining and Wingers are starting to move around, getting themselves and their Wings ready for the homeward journey before breakfast. It’s a lovely, quiet and peaceful morning and a nice way to finish off a great weekend.

The final Ride Out of the Weekend, calling on our Event Sponsors Knutsford Honda

Our last Ride Out of the Weekend will be setting off after breakfast and offers a coffee stop at Knutsford Honda, our Event Sponsor’s Dealership Site on the A50 near Lymm, where Sean and his Team will already have unloaded their van full of accessories and set them up in their new home – an upstairs Showroom extension built specially for them.  (They are continuing their 20% special discount for a few more weeks so don’t miss it!)

This year’s Light Parade was well attended in spite of UK’s economic gloom (over 150 bikes left Pontin’s to ride the Illuminations) there was a great atmosphere.  The Parade itself was run differently this year, partly continues………

Best Lit Bike Competition - Friday Evening at Pontin's

The arrangements are complete, the weather forecast is pretty good, Pontin’s is stocked with plenty of food and drink, so it’s all go for a cracking weekend!

For those staying at Pontin’s the Event starts on Friday from lunchtime onwards when you enjoy a welcoming cup of tea or coffee in our Private Function Room, the Stardust Lounge, collect your Chalet keys, settle in, chat with friends old and new, have a swim, have a stroll, browse the Accessory and Lighting Sales, pop into Blackpool, ride to Lytham St Annes to find a nice gentile Cafe – the choices are endless.

Best Lit Bike Competition starts outside the Stardust Lounge at dusk on Friday and the Raffle, Awards and Entertainment, a Comedian again, follow on.

Saturday there is a morning Ride Out, the afternoon Pose on the Prom Display  of GoldWings at Waterloo Road Headland (400 yards north of South Pier) where there will be Knutsford Honda’s Riding Arena, a display of Honda motorcycles and other attractions, including a Tethered Wheelie Ride you can try if you wish.  Non-GoldWings are welcome.  Event Registration £3 per bike.

Departing from Pontin’s about 7.30pm and returning at about 9.15pm, the Annual Blackpool Illuminations GoldWing Light Parade itself – this year 14 miles of riding through admiring crowds!  Spectators will get a good view of the Parade anywhere along the Prom between these times. Non-residents of Pontin’s riding GoldWings may enter the site from 6.30pm to join the Parade;  Event Registration is £3 per bike if you haven’t already done it. This also gets you access to the Stardust Lounge after the Parade for the evening’s Awards and Entertainment – this year a Stones Tribute Band.

Sunday includes Ride Outs from Pontin’s with the alternative of Rider Education demonstrations and talks followed by another evening of professional entertainment and good company.  There’s even a Ride Out for Monday morning on the way home.

For more details visit the Light Parade Website.

There is still accommodation space at Pontin’s if you want to make a late booking, ring 01253 340100.

It’s going to be a Great Weekend!

Never mind, just pick it up again! It's not difficult

It’s quite normal to approach a GoldWing with sense of anxiety about its weight, wondering how on earth you could pick it up again if you dropped it.

This Page aims to give you confidence that although of course GoldWings can be dropped, there are ways to minimise damage (there is usually none or very little) and they can be picked up by a rider without assistance, as the demonstrations at last year’s Blackpool Light Parade showed.

Indeed one of the things you have to beware of when you are picking up a Wing is helpful bystanders getting too enthusiastic about helping – and doing unnecessary damage continues………

It's going to be a great weekend!

Only a few days to go and our final preparations are all in hand, no last minute snags so far!

The detailed Programme has now been published on the Light Parade Website. Apart from the batting order for the technical talks and demonstrations (which will form the wet weather programme for Sunday at Pontin’s) it is complete. These details will be available for you on arrival if not before.

We are planning a slightly different set of talks this year to include, for example, how to pick up a GoldWing after dropping it, with a chance to practice on someone else’s bike under safe supervision. It’s the sort of training every Winger should do, just to be prepared – and of course to give you confidence continues………