St Landrew

Let me just make a comment on the DT series of Yamaha 2-strokes. They were excellent everyday on-off road bikes, and I wanted one [a DT250, as it happens]. But by their very 2-stroke nature, I didn't like them as much as my 4-stroke Sports Cub. I have told a story about stopping halfway up a muddy hill and watching a DT175 owner scream the nuts off his new[ish] bike trying to get it up the steep incline. He declined my help, and so I plodded on up on the Cub. I even popped a wheelie at the top, for good measure. He got my mud. Mmm... 250s eh..? Well there's mine from 1972. A Honda 250K3. Lovely twin cylinder revvy engine with 30bhp at 10,500rpm. That equated to 100mph. I had it once well into the redline at 11,500 in top gear [5th] That was the fastest I'd ever gone on a bike I'd owned until the Viffer. But it handled really badly, not helped by the old rubber it was wearing. Then there's BadgerX2's RD250LC, which was indeed almost an RD350LC. Personally, I preferred the straight RD250/350 air-cooled ones at the time. All that water cooling was a bit over-the-top for me back then. Have to say, my present favourite is one I badgered [sorry] my mate into buying as a second bike. He wanted a smaller bike to runaround on and a VT250 Spada Honda V-Twin from 1989 was going ultra cheap. This is a 40bhp 250cc motorcycle that was a grey import [or produced for the UK, I dunno] for 2 years before they tamed it to 34bhp after 1990. It's available even in a 2009 model, sporting a Ducati like trellis frame, but my mate's is in a cast aluminium perimeter frame like most sports bikes built today. It's ultra light and handles beautifully, and is very fast for a 250. If you can fall off it you're an idiot because it simply will not get you into trouble. Next would be the Honda 250 Hornet. An in-line 4 cylinder pocket rocket that simply doesn't look like a 250. Looks alone says YES..! Honourable mentions go to bikes of my youth. The very fast Kawasaki 250 Samurai twin [long in the tooth by then] and the 250 triple - a beauty and I wanted one, just a little bit. Both of the Kwackers were 2-strokes, and therefore [at the time] both very smokey. Why are they mostly Hondas..? I don't really know. Perhaps it's because when I left school my first job was in engineering, and I grew to know the difference between something mechanical that was well designed and made, and what was not. Hondas are generally extremely well made and well designed bikes, certainly in latter years. Plus, they are very reliable, unless badly abused, with very few specific issues [usually timing chain, if there is one]. Here's a line-up of all the 250s I've mentioned, minus the Yamahas as they are well represented above.

You mean he does worse than that usually..?

Good advice..! Since I moved back to Southampton, 9 years ago, I have kept a pair of gorgeous Kef 104/2 reference monitors absolutely wasting their time in my small house, compared to where I used to live in Kent. I just haven't got around to selling them yet. But I should. Horses for courses.

There you go. Any further advice needed..? EDIT: Just thought. If you are going to Oz, then the obvious way is going east. If, like me, you went as far as NZ, then going west also became an option. If nowadays, there is an option to go west, don't take it, even if it is better for jet lag. Go east and have that stopover.

I'll give you the same advice I gave someone earlier this year. Get some lessons. To start with, get some online lessons at: www.justinguitar.com for the home page. and here's where to start: http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCourse.php It's free, unless you want to donate. He's very clear with his advice, and it is up to you to practice. I'm still useless at playing, because that's how I am. I don't practice enough, and stopped playing in early summer, when I got the beaut in the avatar. I've played tunes on that since. But autumn is here and with winter coming on, I will step it up again until late spring.

This Week was the usual good bit of knock-about fun, and serious issues, in political chat. Haven't watched in months, but I came back to it this evening as though I'd never been away.

Sorry, but yes it is probably poo, but if it sounds good to you, then that is good enough. Don't go buying hi-fi to impress the friends or neighbours. It only ends in tears. Buy something that sounds good enough for you. Above all, don't buy something until you've heard your own records or CDs through it and are entirely satisfied it meets all your desires, audio wise. And check the price before you sign the house away.

David hails from the era when coloured people was the so-called accepted term. He means well, I think. Nowadays, it is squirmingly embarrassing to hear it. Aren't we all coloured in some way..?

Head for a quality Hi-Fi Shop. There are plenty around. Be prepared to have your socks blown off, but also your wallet will want to escape your pocket and run home. NB: Richer Sounds are actually a good shop to buy from, provided you know what you're buying, because some of the kit they stock is of good or very good quality. Richer Sounds knows its place in the market, and canny research can reveal a very good bargain from them. If you don't know anything, and would normally head for Currys or Comet, and settle for sh!te, then head for the proper Hi-Fi shop to get some serious advice. But hold onto that wallet. Oh, and take some favourite CDs or records to play. You may find you're hearing them properly for the first time.

I've done Heathrow to Auckland and back twice, and that's a 1000 miles further per route. The first time I did it with stopovers in Singapore, both out and in. The second time I did it without stopovers, basically because a Boeing 747 had been developed that could go all the way, non-stop. Each time, I did it without kids in tow. I promise you, kids or no kids, it is far easier with a stopover. Even though you may be keen to get there. I don't know who your carrier may be, but I can thoroughly recommend Singapore Airlines, especially if you have kids, by the way they looked after the other passengers toddlers. Have fun.

Yeah, but it's Father and Son which raises the attention. Security focus goes this way and that, but two males together does seem to raise the antennae. I'm not sure you'll have problems Baj. If you worry too much about it, it will come through in your body language, and you could get pulled aside for checking.

I can only echo FF's comments. I had an inkling how much Ron needed Chris, and it now worries me also how Ron will get on without her. Indeed, GITR supports any positive action you can bring about Tim. RIP Chris.

Read this from Charlie Brooker. Quite a chuckle: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/28/charlie-brooker-microsoft-mac-windows

Agreed with all of the above. But just to take your point about the BBC's timing; the Beeb are all about balance, and it's possible that they would see an appearance by Nick Griffin as a balance to the attention put to Black history month. Just a thought.

Know what you mean. Could be the making of him though.

OK. All I was suggesting was that I was thinking of moving this thread to TMS because a fair proportion of the posters were starting to be flippant about it. It makes no difference what I think of the subject matter. This is a Lounge thread, and should be treated as such. If this thread moves to TMS, it won't be because of me. Unless of course those that don't take it seriously start coming back.

Democracy. Free speech. We may not like it, but it's part of the freedom we enjoy.

Yeah, I get the impression that with Clarkson, it's a case of what-you-see-is-what-you-get. With Hammond, I think it's quite made up, and he likes playing the role. With May, I think we're seeing a skilled and intelligent bloke, actually dumbing himself down, so as not to appear out of place, too badly. Anyone else get a similar vibe..? EDIT: Of course, the whole bloody thing works in Top Gear. The invention of The Stig was genius. But I do wish they'd open the bonnet and talk a few BHP/MPGs occasionally. And review bikes too, which I'm sure Hammond and May would love to do.

Oh that's all right then. Do you reckon Swannymere might have a point..? Come on, be honest.

This could create a whole new pastime between friends. Is it bogus..? Try it.

You've obviously gone off me for some reason. You're getting your little stabs in every chance you get. As it happens, yes I know it's blinkered. But I wouldn't want a Lotux Evora anyway, so it matters little anyway. Pretty car though.

If you're talking about climbing through the leagues, I'm sure only a handful will be good enough. There are always players who win a promotion with a club, only to find that they have been transferred back to the league they've just helped to fight their club out of. They are simply not good enough to make the step up, proper. It'll happen at Saints too.

Agreed, the timing appears poor, but it must have been something that Steve Gibson has felt for quite some time. Presumably, in his mind, it was better to do it now, while they are in a good position, to let someone come in and not have to fight them out of a relelgation position.

I can't honestly take this thread seriously. I'm thinking of moving it to TMS.

Cheer up Huffton. We'll still win that one.