It has a 2" display on the recordin unit but other than using it to ensure the camera is pointing in roughly the right direction, and to change the settings, I never look at it

Cool cool, makes sense ta

Ah that's good to see. I got my first one to 50k

For many years we have all used horsepower as a way to communicate the power of our bikes. Unless we're in a proper country that uses Kilowatts. Or metric horsepower. Or imperial horsepower.

Now we're no longer in the EU and so occasionally enjoying fricking brain-dead moronic great units-of-measurement revanchism around half a pound of bananas, I decided we should go our own way on measuring the power of our bikes. And because I currently have a magpie that has been landing on my window ledges all morning and beaking the window, I clearly have the mandate to do this. I asked an expert to help me define this game-changing approach (ChatGPT 4o):

Kitten Power

Step 1. Estimating a Kitten's Power Output:

1. Weight and Activity: An average domestic kitten weighs around 0.45-0.9 kg. A playful kitten can be quite energetic, but we need to estimate a reasonable sustained power output rather than peak bursts of energy.
2. Energy Expenditure: The metabolic rate of a small animal like a kitten can give us some clues. Let's assume an average kitten burns about 60-80 calories per day (about 250-335 kilojoules per day).

Step 2: Calculating Kitten Power
To convert the energy expenditure into power:

• 1 calorie = 4.184 joules
• Therefore, 60-80 calories per day = 251-335 kilojoules per day
• 1 day = 86,400 seconds

Power (in watts) = Energy (in joules) / Time (in seconds)

Using the average energy expenditure of 293 kilojoules per day:

Kitten Power = 293,000 joules / 86,400 seconds ≈ 3.39 watts

Step 3: Ratio of Horsepower to Kitten Power
Now that we have both measurements:

• 1 horsepower = 746 watts
• 1 kitten power ≈ 3.39 watts

Ratio = 746 watts / 3.39 watts ≈ 220

Conclusion
1 horsepower is approximately equivalent to 220 kitten power.

In summary:

1 horsepower ≈ 746 watts
1 kitten power ≈ 3.39 watts
1 horsepower ≈ 220 kitten power

My motorcycle has 38,500kp!

So many American videos like this sound like they've been narrated by an AI from ten years ago.

But anyway, with a lathe and a 3d printer and has anyone got a welding iron? We can make one.

An AI that is.

Today I went here/there after visiting that Compton Abbas airfield place for lunch. Someone must have told me about it previously as it was saved to my google maps and I'd never been before. When I arrived there were a bunch of Nortons and associated humans in the courtyard, plus an assortment of stuff in the car park. I plonked mine next to a lovely looking CCM.

Below are some photos. I recommend it. There's a cafe too however I decided to try and beat the traffic and left without visiting that part. In retrospect I should have stayed and come home late late. Fricking traffic!


Also they had budgies and love birds. I used to have budgies so I gave them the nod.


Charlie Dimmock's bike from the Dakar.


JPS! Although doesn't seem to be making the most of it and looks a bit subdued. I'm sure someone knows the history.


This was at the entrance proper. I really like it as it reminds me of the Fallout fifties style. Whatever that style is. If it was powered by a fusion engine even better.




Fricking scooters!


A great idea for a chain replacement.





I'd love a blue bike










These always looked much bigger on TV, this was the first time seeing one in the terrible plastic flesh.


1955 Vincent Black Knight. Awesome.




An original Katana. I hope it was nicer than the current one.


This thing is awesome, how many moving parts! I love how the advert goes into the detail of how it works, written by the guy who actually came up with it.







A V8 Moto Guzzi. I think that's my next bike. We may have to divert to Italy so I can ask them about making another.






We've got a way to go with our high mileage Ks!

I think if you rode that GS with us next month you'd still have fun. Your problem/blessing/genetic experiment gone wrong is you've got leverage for miles already and so can fling the K just as easily as a GS. For my part I could fling the GS far better than the K. Or at least far better for far longer. That made the GS pretty rewarding.

Then I discovered the KTM. Bugger. Which incidentally gave me a red Suspension notice about 30 miles in today. Turned it off and on again and carried on. Harrumph.

I do think this whole Triple Black business ain't helping many of these machines. I far prefer whatever colour scheme on the one I had.

Pity about the vibes. That seems to be a very individual issue. Thankfully I didn't get it. I wonder if motocross thin gloves help/hinder. I'd have expected worse.

Quickshifter: Yeah, better than it was, but still nowhere near my KTM for low speed/throttle changes.

The menu thing I never really explored other than on the last day discovering the lean angle stuff. I do recall being told there are two buttons for favourites, so I guess heated grips and suspension will end up there, similarly to my KTM.

The mud thing was annoying on my R1250GS, the rear of my lower legs would always get muddy. Coming from the K where nothing on me got muddy it was most annoying. And yeah, in Portugal my Kriega on the rear got absolutely filthy. But then we were 90% in filth!

Anyway the worst thing of all this is that you've been prodding for a K1600 and getting nowhere. When you go back tell them not to worry there's one at Bahnstormer you will go see. If they don't fight for you then get a divorce.

Ah I did notice that on earlier and agree it looks better. Jolly good show!