 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Trip 1, Tuesday August 7th.
Because of better visibility I constructed a mobile headlight, mounted in front of my luggage. And I granted myself a fresh pair of gloves, prepared with powerful magnets of course.
The CBX was in absolute showroom condition. Not for long though: CBX trips = muchos rain, I'm used to it. The weather forecast was horrible but it turned out to be even worse. Far worse. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Rain started immediately and continued for four days. The first trip to Warburg was like riding in a washing machine: one could only see the vehicle in front if its fog light was on. I have seen heavy rain while riding but this was unbelievable. This picture I took at the first tankstop. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I tried to take more pictures but halfway the trip to Warburg the dampness made the camera fail. To be more exact: it started to hallucinate. No wonder: hallucination is a known symptom before drowning. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
After swimming 298 km I put up my tent at camp site Eversburg. Had a good meal and dito beer. The nice lady of the site, Karin, took care of the camera in her dry house. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Trip 2, Wednesday August 8th.
I visited 'Documenta 12' at Kassel, a big art exhibition. But as soon as I entered Kassel I was stopped by the police. They checked my papers and asked me about the missing mirrors. I showed them my camera system. They were impressed and started making pictures; and so did I.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Last Documenta had no less than 650.000 visitors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
One room showed twelve TV's, all simultaniously playing the same soccer match: France vs. Italy. Every screen showed the game from a different view: one computergenerated 3D simulation, one schematic top view, one focussed 90 minutes on Zinédine Zidane, one analysing all offside and pass possibilities. Being not a soccer fan I'm always impressed with the fuss around his game; this work of art was its superlative. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
This room showed about twenty guitars, each controlled by a computer. Every guitar could play one chord by a motor attached to it. In apperantly random order they attracted attention. You as a visitor was surrounded and surprised by it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Motorminded as I am, this piece of art made me smile. All engine parts made of natural materials. Intriguing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Trip 3, August 9th.
After a short night (had to plug my ears against the pandemonial rainfall) I rode the misty, rainy and often deserted German highways. Beautiful in its own way though. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
288 km of constant rain continued the transformation from a showbike into a dirtbike. The cameras had to be cleaned at each petrol station. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
No wonder one of these stations was called 'Grossenmoor'. Translated: 'Big swamp'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
For the first time in all these years water even reached the inside of the tank cover, and the LCD monitor. This temporary shut down the camera system. Luckily it regained consciousness after drying. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Main goal of this holiday was the 'Bike and Music Weekend' at Geiselwind, a huge annual event. Not only bikes and music, but American cars, stuntshows and party as well. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On arrival the CBX was immediately surrounded by bikers. I was pleased (and a bit surprised) I was not the only one on site; the past three days I'd seldom seen any bikers on the road. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After putting up my tiny tent ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
... I rode the bike to the bikeshow area. There were very few bikes present yet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Because of the frequent pinching and tapping a ribbon was wrapped around the bikes. Kerstin Bolten should have the credits for this fine idea. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Kerstin travelled to Geiselwind accompanied by our mutual good friend and journalist Sabine Welte. Her van was a good place to dry my soaked belongings. At least: we tried to. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
In the evening a AC/DC cover band called 'AC/DX' did a good job. Their Agnus Young was half a meter too tall though ;-) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Friday, August 10th.
I woke up quite fresh: the German beer with its 'Reinheitsgebot' didn't cause any hangover, very pleasing. I decided not to clean my bike. For the first time in all these years I put a dirtbike on the show: I rode 669 rainy kilometers so far and was not ashamed to show that. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
I put a specs sheet in front and entered in the category 'streetbike'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
The Bavarian MC 'Knight Riders' were the organizers of this event and did a splendid job. They offered me a print with the text 'NIX MIT DIE FINGER !!!!" on it, meaning 'do not touch'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Knight Riders asked me to show and explain my bike on stage, which I did of course. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
I met some nice guys. On the right you see Dieter, on the left his mad brother. Dieter invited me to his coming wedding: I wonder if he remembers his offer ;-) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
In the evening a jetcar called 'Patriot' did a show. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
12.000 bhp starting up ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
... scorching your eyebrows ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
... and finally gassing the crowd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
I've seen a lot of impressive stuntshows through the years but this one is certainly in my top 5: a perfect controlled drifting BMW brushed past the concrete walls. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
And the weather? Still consistent. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Australian band 'Rose Tattoo' gave their best in the event hall. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Saturday August 11th.
Breakfast time, 09.30h. I wondered if this guy was a left-over from the night before or an early drunk from today ;-) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A lot of bikes entered the show, many of them wellknown streetfighters. On the bottom half of the picture you see 'Best Streetfighter' of Fighterama 2002, a Fireblade called 'Hellspawn'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Every year I have to replace my number plate. This year will be no different. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Knight Riders offered me a more spacious part of the hall. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
This way it was easier for the visitors to see the bike without damaging it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the morning Erwin came. He and his Ducati crossed Germany in less then six hours. He took with him some Dutch beer and better weather; at least it was dry for the first time. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The camp site really grew by the hour. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Boss Hoss had a stand outside. You could even buy one for 48.000 Euro; a bargain, isn't it? Well, I'll just continue building my own V8 bike. Wait and see... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
My favorite ratbike was this one, based on a Honda Firestorm. Here the owner, appropriately called 'Ratz', repaired his flame thrower. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Never seen on a bike event before: hillclimbers. This one's a former Yamaha FJ1100. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
A nice clean chopper based on a Intruder 1400 engine. The cylinders look extra big because dummy heads are fitted. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
This one was my favourite streetfighter: a mean V-Max called 'Enigma'. I saw it for the first time at Fighterama last November. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
For me the best bike (after mine, of course ;-)) was this beautiful styled Katana built by Toni Herder. Plain black, fitted with an Eaton compressor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Classic looks combined with state of the art technololgy. A very modest bike though; this might be the reason it did'n get an award, crushed between all the present visual violence.
Sabine took it outside on Sunday for a photoshoot.
Picture: Sabine Welte © |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
I had a long conversation with Toni trying to convince him to show his bike in Utrecht at the Streetfighter Day next month. I might not succeed: Munich - Utrecht is 800 km, a bit far for a day out.
Picture: Sabine Welte © |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
This is Lothar Obst, better known as 'Leder Lothar' ('Leather Lothar'). He's the man who will probably make the seat of my V8 bike. I saw at his stand that he certainly has the skills.
One would expect this man to own and drive a Harley but no: he's the proud owner of a ... two stroke Yamaha RD 500! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Next to bikes there was a huge number of beautiful American cars present.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
All classic ones, of course. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A kind of its own is the hopping car with its impressive hydraulic system (and countless batteries to feed them). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I was told this hotrod is streetlegal in Germany. Loud as hell, fitted with a brake parachute: how's that next to you at the traffic light? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Saturday afternoon I did another presentation on stage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Trailering your bike is a sickness! For help call 1-800-scared 2 ride'. Not many participants In the bikeshow agreed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Sunday August 12th.
As I woke up it wasn't just dry. I saw ... I saw ... a blue sky! Blue! Not grey! Life's sweet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A red piece of paper told me the CBX was a winner. Visitors and jury decided that I won in my catagory: 'streetbike'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Fritschi, winner category 'streetfighters' with his BMW R1100S, made a nice burn-out on stage. My favourite streetfighter, 'Enigma', came second. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I rode the fully packed CBX on stage to collect the prize 'Best Streetbike'. And I was asked to demonstrate the 'magic glove' once more.
Picture: Sabine Welte © |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On stage I was told there was another award: 'Best Engineering'.
Picture: Sabine Welte © |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And if that wasn't enough I got a third plaquette: 'Furthest Travelled'. This certainly eases the pain in back and ass! The cup was sponsored by a company called Tallink Silja Line.
Picture: Sabine Welte © |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another pose; this one with the three plaqettes and the cup. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
The prize money (300 Euro) fitted nice in my wallet. The four awards though ... not really. Sabine (l) and Kerstin (r) immediately offered to take them home and send them to me. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
The extreme GS500 won second place in the category 'streetbikes'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Its owners apparently did not understand the meaning of the concept 'streetbike'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
About 13.00h Erwin and me left for the little town called Laubach, a 214 km trip. For the first time this holiday a rainless trip. Even better: it was sunny! We arrived at Das Biker Haus, managed by Tom, who let us put our tent on a little lawn. The place is next to a nice curvy road, or rather: a race track. That evening no less than two riders ended in hospital; Isle of Man in Germany. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Of course, after a while, the sun vanished. My tent looked a bit disappointed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Monday August 12th.
Erwin started the day repairing the clutch of his Ducati. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Those Italians make absolute beautiful bikes. But technically, well, they still have a lot to learn; take a close look at this cockpit. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
We made a 86 km trip that day and enjoyed some nice misty views. These few kilometers were very fatiguing as the roads were extremely bumpy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
That evening I connected the digital camera to the LCD-monitor to view the pictures from the past week. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Tuesday August 14th, 390 km: Laubach - Nijmegen.
Our trip back home in perfect weather. Another problem with the Ducati? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Nope: the CBX started to sound like a Kawa so I immediately stopped. I found out the sixth cylinder wasn't doing its job due to a failing spark plug. Luck was at my side: it was cylinder six which is easy to reach, Erwin had some tools to get it out and (last but not least) even had a spare plug from his GL1000 which is identical to the ones in the CBX!
Eight Days, 1.359 kilometers, tons of rain, a great bike event and a sunny finish. For sure a memorable holiday. |
|
