Motorcycle Journals

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  • Culture
    • To Wave or Not to Wave? That is the Question.
    • Café Stops and Bike Nights: How to Find Your Local Scene
    • 15 Unwritten Rules of Motorcycling (That Nobody Tells New Riders)
    • Classic vs Modern: Why We Love Old Bikes Even When They Hate Us
    • Motorcycles and Mental Health: Why Riding Bikes is a Medicine
    • The Best Motorcycle Films, Books, and Documentaries (for Rainy Days)
  • Gear
    • How to Choose a Helmet That Fits Properly (Not Just One That Looks Cool)
    • The Truth About “Waterproof” Motorcycle Gear: What Actually Works
    • The Essential Toolkit for Riders: What to Carry Without Packing a Garage
    • Bluetooth Earbuds vs Helmet Comms: Pros, Cons, and Legality
    • Gloves Matter More Than You Think: One Pair for Every Season (Almost)
  • Reviews
    • Top 10 Motorcycle Gloves for UK Weather: Real-World Picks
    • The Best Small Upgrades Under £50 That Actually Improve Your Ride
    • Budget vs Premium Helmets: What You Actually Get for the Extra Money
    • Best All-Season Jackets for UK Riding: What’s Actually Worth Buying
  • Ride
    • Cornering Without the Drama: Smooth Lines, Calm Brain, Faster Exit
    • Ride in the Rain Without the Panic
    • Braking Better: The Simple Habits That Stop Panic Stops
    • Riding in Traffic Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Mirrors)
    • Road Positioning 101: Where to Put the Bike So You’re Actually Seen
  • Travel
    • 10 Step Plan for a Stress-Free Motorcycle Road Trip
    • Packing for a Weekend Ride: The List That Stops You Forgetting the Obvious
    • 12 Motorcycle Trip Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To
    • UK Motorcycle Day Rides: How to Find Great Roads Near You
  • Workshop
    • Motorcycle Chain Care: No-Nonsense Guide
    • Basic Motorcycle Servicing at Home: What You Can (Safely) Do Yourself
    • Tyres Explained: When to Replace, What to Buy, and Why Pressures Matter
  • Electric
    • Converting Classic Motorcycles to Electric: Right or Wrong?
    • Range Anxiety Explained: What EV Riders Actually Do
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Culture
    • To Wave or Not to Wave? That is the Question.
    • Café Stops and Bike Nights: How to Find Your Local Scene
    • 15 Unwritten Rules of Motorcycling (That Nobody Tells New Riders)
    • Classic vs Modern: Why We Love Old Bikes Even When They Hate Us
    • Motorcycles and Mental Health: Why Riding Bikes is a Medicine
    • The Best Motorcycle Films, Books, and Documentaries (for Rainy Days)
  • Gear
    • How to Choose a Helmet That Fits Properly (Not Just One That Looks Cool)
    • The Truth About “Waterproof” Motorcycle Gear: What Actually Works
    • The Essential Toolkit for Riders: What to Carry Without Packing a Garage
    • Bluetooth Earbuds vs Helmet Comms: Pros, Cons, and Legality
    • Gloves Matter More Than You Think: One Pair for Every Season (Almost)
  • Reviews
    • Top 10 Motorcycle Gloves for UK Weather: Real-World Picks
    • The Best Small Upgrades Under £50 That Actually Improve Your Ride
    • Budget vs Premium Helmets: What You Actually Get for the Extra Money
    • Best All-Season Jackets for UK Riding: What’s Actually Worth Buying
  • Ride
    • Cornering Without the Drama: Smooth Lines, Calm Brain, Faster Exit
    • Ride in the Rain Without the Panic
    • Braking Better: The Simple Habits That Stop Panic Stops
    • Riding in Traffic Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Mirrors)
    • Road Positioning 101: Where to Put the Bike So You’re Actually Seen
  • Travel
    • 10 Step Plan for a Stress-Free Motorcycle Road Trip
    • Packing for a Weekend Ride: The List That Stops You Forgetting the Obvious
    • 12 Motorcycle Trip Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To
    • UK Motorcycle Day Rides: How to Find Great Roads Near You
  • Workshop
    • Motorcycle Chain Care: No-Nonsense Guide
    • Basic Motorcycle Servicing at Home: What You Can (Safely) Do Yourself
    • Tyres Explained: When to Replace, What to Buy, and Why Pressures Matter
  • Electric
    • Converting Classic Motorcycles to Electric: Right or Wrong?
    • Range Anxiety Explained: What EV Riders Actually Do
  • Contact
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  • Culture

    The Best Motorcycle Films, Books, and Documentaries (for Rainy Days)

    April 5, 2026 /

    There are two kinds of rainy days in the UK. The first is the sensible kind, where you accept defeat, make a brew, and watch the weather ruin someone else’s afternoon on the news. The second is the stubborn kind, where you suit up anyway and ride through it like a damp hero… only to spend the evening drying gloves on radiators and questioning your choices. Either way, rainy days are perfect for one of motorcycling’s underrated pleasures: motorcycle stories. The films that make you want to ride. The books that remind you why riding matters. The documentaries that show what “two wheels” means in different cultures, eras, and corners…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Motorcycles and Mental Health: Why Riding Bikes is a Medicine

    April 5, 2026

    Café Stops and Bike Nights: How to Find Your Local Scene

    March 9, 2026

    15 Unwritten Rules of Motorcycling (That Nobody Tells New Riders)

    March 16, 2026
  • Culture

    Motorcycles and Mental Health: Why Riding Bikes is a Medicine

    April 5, 2026 /

    Let’s get one thing clear up front: riding a motorcycle isn’t a substitute for therapy, medication, or professional support. It’s not a cure, and it’s not a magic fix for depression, anxiety, trauma, burnout, or grief. But it can be a powerful tool. I’m not going to bore you with the details, but back in 2015, motorcycles saved my life, or should I say, stopped me from taking it. So this blog is written from experience and a real understanding of the power that riding motorcycles can have in improving your mental health and well-being. For many riders, getting on a bike reliably changes how they feel. It can reduce…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    To Wave or Not to Wave? That is the Question.

    February 18, 2026
    Classic Motorcycles Moto Guzzi

    Classic vs Modern: Why We Love Old Bikes Even When They Hate Us

    March 23, 2026

    The Best Motorcycle Films, Books, and Documentaries (for Rainy Days)

    April 5, 2026
  • Gear

    Gloves Matter More Than You Think: One Pair for Every Season (Almost)

    April 5, 2026 /

    There are two types of riders. The first treats gloves like an accessory—something you buy once, forget about, and replace only when they start smelling like a damp dog. The second knows the truth: motorcycle gloves are one of the most important pieces of kit you’ll ever own, because your hands do literally everything that keeps the bike upright and under control. Throttle. Front brake. Clutch. Indicators. Switchgear. Mirror adjustments. Visor wipes. Emergency “please don’t do that” horn presses. You can ride with a slightly chilly torso and still manage. Ride with cold, wet, numb hands, and you’ll discover how quickly your confidence, finesse, and mood can collapse. So yes—gloves…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    How to Choose a Helmet That Fits Properly (Not Just One That Looks Cool)

    February 17, 2026

    The Truth About “Waterproof” Motorcycle Gear: What Actually Works

    March 2, 2026

    Bluetooth Earbuds vs Helmet Comms: Pros, Cons, and Legality

    March 25, 2026
  • Ride

    Road Positioning 101: Where to Put the Bike So You’re Actually Seen

    March 31, 2026 /

    There’s a cruel truth about motorcycling: you can wear the brightest jacket on Earth, run daytime lights, and have an exhaust loud enough to set off car alarms… and drivers will still look directly at you and pull out anyway. A lot of that is human psychology. People tend to look for cars because cars are what they expect to see. Motorcycles are smaller, faster in the frame, and easier to miss in cluttered environments. But there’s a part you can control, and it’s one of the most powerful skills in real-world riding: Road positioning. Where you place the bike in your lane can make you easier to see, give…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Braking Better: The Simple Habits That Stop Panic Stops

    March 16, 2026

    Cornering Without the Drama: Smooth Lines, Calm Brain, Faster Exit

    February 17, 2026

    Riding in Traffic Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Mirrors)

    March 22, 2026
  • Electric

    Range Anxiety Explained: What EV Riders Actually Do

    March 25, 2026 /

    Range anxiety is the electric motorcycle version of that little voice you get on a long petrol ride when the fuel light comes on… except it starts whispering before the light comes on, and it has a spreadsheet. If you’re new to electric bikes (or you’re just EV-curious), it’s easy to assume EV riders are constantly sweating the battery percentage and praying for a working charger like it’s 2013. The reality in 2026 is a lot calmer. Yes, range is still a constraint. But most EV riders aren’t living in fear. They’re doing a few simple, repeatable things that turn range anxiety into range awareness. This post breaks down what…

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    Simon 0 Comments

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    Converting Classic Motorcycles to Electric: Right or Wrong?

    March 23, 2026
  • Gear

    Bluetooth Earbuds vs Helmet Comms: Pros, Cons, and Legality

    March 25, 2026 /

    If you ride with music, sat-nav prompts, or phone calls, you’ve probably had this debate in your head at least once: Should I just use Bluetooth earbuds… or buy a proper helmet comms system? On paper, earbuds look cheaper and simpler. In practice, it’s a bit more complicated. Comfort, wind noise, safety, battery life, microphone quality, and—yes—legality all behave differently on a motorcycle than they do on a train. This guide is the real-world comparison: what each option is actually like to live with, what works best for different riding styles, and what the UK rules really say (spoiler: it’s less about “illegal” and more about “distraction and control”). First:…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    How to Choose a Helmet That Fits Properly (Not Just One That Looks Cool)

    February 17, 2026

    Gloves Matter More Than You Think: One Pair for Every Season (Almost)

    April 5, 2026

    The Essential Toolkit for Riders: What to Carry Without Packing a Garage

    March 16, 2026
  • Reviews

    Best All-Season Jackets for UK Riding: What’s Actually Worth Buying

    March 24, 2026 /

    “All-season” in the UK is a bold claim. We’ve got drizzle that lasts all day, surprise heat in April, sideways rain in July, and winter commutes that feel like you’re riding through a cold shower with opinions. The truth is: no single jacket is perfect in every month, but there are jackets that make UK riding dramatically easier—because they’re built around the realities of wet roads, changing temperatures, and long hours in the saddle. This guide is about what’s genuinely worth buying if you want one jacket that covers most of the year (or a near-one-jacket solution with smart layering). We’ll keep it practical: what “all-season” actually means, the construction…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Top 10 Motorcycle Gloves for UK Weather: Real-World Picks

    February 18, 2026

    The Best Small Upgrades Under £50 That Actually Improve Your Ride

    March 9, 2026

    Budget vs Premium Helmets: What You Actually Get for the Extra Money

    March 16, 2026
  • Workshop

    Buying a Used Bike? The Workshop Checklist to Avoid a Money Pit

    March 23, 2026 /

    Buying a used motorcycle is one of the most satisfying ways to get more bike for your money. It’s also one of the easiest ways to accidentally buy someone else’s neglected project, disguised with fresh plastics and “runs great mate” optimism. The trick is to approach a used bike like a workshop would: calmly, methodically, and with a checklist that doesn’t get distracted by shiny paint and loud exhausts. Because the goal isn’t to find a perfect bike. It’s to spot the expensive problems early, price them honestly, and walk away from the ones that will eat your time and wallet. This guide is a practical used motorcycle buying checklist…

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    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Basic Motorcycle Servicing at Home: What You Can (Safely) Do Yourself

    March 2, 2026

    Motorcycle Chain Care: No-Nonsense Guide

    February 17, 2026

    Tyres Explained: When to Replace, What to Buy, and Why Pressures Matter

    March 16, 2026
  • Electric

    Converting Classic Motorcycles to Electric: Right or Wrong?

    March 23, 2026 /

    There are few subjects in motorcycling guaranteed to split opinion quite like this one: should classic motorcycles be converted to electric? For some riders, the answer is immediate and absolute. No. A classic motorcycle is more than a machine. It is the sound of the engine firing into life, the smell of fuel and warm oil, the vibration through the bars, the quirks, the flaws, the rituals, and the unmistakable sense that you are riding something mechanical, alive, and full of history. Remove the engine, and to many enthusiasts, you remove the soul. For others, the opposite argument is just as compelling. If electric power can keep old motorcycles on…

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    Simon 0 Comments

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    Range Anxiety Explained: What EV Riders Actually Do

    March 25, 2026
  • Classic Motorcycles Moto Guzzi
    Culture

    Classic vs Modern: Why We Love Old Bikes Even When They Hate Us

    March 23, 2026 /

    There’s a particular kind of relationship you only have with an old motorcycle. A modern bike starts when you press a button. A classic bike starts when it decides you’ve shown enough respect. Sometimes that respect involves a warm garage, a fresh battery, and a ritual that looks suspiciously like bargaining. Modern bikes don’t really have moods. Old bikes absolutely do. They leak, they rattle, they vibrate, they sulk in damp weather, and they occasionally throw a tantrum in public just to keep you humble. And yet—despite all this—we adore them. In fact, many of us love them more because they’re difficult. Or at least, we tell ourselves that while…

    read more
    Simon 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    The Best Motorcycle Films, Books, and Documentaries (for Rainy Days)

    April 5, 2026

    15 Unwritten Rules of Motorcycling (That Nobody Tells New Riders)

    March 16, 2026

    To Wave or Not to Wave? That is the Question.

    February 18, 2026
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