A reduction of less than 1kW (0.93 to be precise) would make bugger all difference to the othger market but makes it more saleable to the likes of ChristoT who have the 25kW limit.

Sure, but IMO it's a perception issue. If some lad sees that this bike is ok for "restricted" riders, he's likely to think "I want a big boys' bike" and go for something else, even though, as you mention, the power difference is negligable.

Why didn't they massage the figures a fraction more to open up a whole new market for the bike?

Probably because they'd then have the rest of the market going "oh, it's a beginners bike..." and refusing to ride it!

Another reminder that we're all vulnerable on bikes

A police officer riding an unmarked motorbike has been killed in a crash outside a Southampton petrol station. He was on duty at the time, but was not involved in a pursuit or responding to a 999 call, Hampshire Constabulary said.
The officer's police bike collided with a BMW outside the Shell garage on Thomas Lewis Way in Swaythling at about 14:00 BST.
He was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-22019006

I looked at these, but as ghostbiker suggests, they can put a lot of strain on the valve.

I use a simple tyre pressure gauge, about half the length of a biro and about the same diameter which sits in my right hand jacket pocket so it's always available for use.

My experience is that it all fine but after 18 months or so, it started to bung up the valve when performing tyre pressure checks

I can't say I've ever had this problem. Given that it sits on the outside of the tyre, I'm not sure how this could happen unless it wasn't installed properly in the first place.

Rather than drag the "Respect" thread off topic, I thought I'd post this in a new thread.

Firstly I was surprised when I read this article from the AA which was linked to in the other thread, because that's not "off-siding" as I understand the term, but rather "Illegal riding". A traffic island with blue sign with a white "Keep Left" arrow is a mandatory, ie you *must* obey it and going the wrong side of it is bloody dangerous as much as anything else.

However the definition of "off-siding" that I'm familiar with is when you position your bike across the centre line. generally on a left hand bend, in order to give yourself a better view of the road ahead.

Here is the current IAM advice on this practice for people taking their Advanced Test:

16: Definition clarification: ‘Off-siding’ = the crossing of the centre line/hazard line, (or in the absence of such a line, the centre of the carriageway) in order to extend a view.

Off-siding – Single track road clarification: In situations where there is no possibility of passing an oncoming vehicle due to the width of the road and in order to enable your presence to be seen earlier, this is acceptable, providing it is both advantageous and gives no risk of conflict.

Off-siding (to extend view) – two-way carriageway clarification:

Experience is showing that this is causing Candidates to put themselves in danger. The IAM actively discourages this practice and it is therefore not acceptable on test.

Related to this is their advice on straight-lining or "trimming" a series of bends:

17: Set of open bends – straight-lining/trimming clarification:

Trimming or straight-lining a set of open bends whilst acceptable on test must not be carried out if there is a risk of conflict with other road users or where it will inconvenience, confuse or cause alarm or distress, to others.

If the Candidate compromises their own or any other road user’s safety they will fail the test.

So mostly the advice seems to be "Don't put yourself in danger" and "Don't do something that will cause someone else to feel they have to change speed or direction".

I think the intended use is just to keep your tyre inflated until you can get it seen to / replaced. I don't think I could trust it enough to keep riding until I needed a new tyre.

No, it's a permanent fix, not a "get you home" job. Once it plugs the hole it can be ridden on indefinitely.

Rode up to Epsom via the A32 which was a lot of fun.

The ride back down the A3 this evening with frequent snow flurries was not so much fun...

So by your definition you never look at the scenery either  as it's not "the job in hand"?  What a boring life.  Riding is about being confident enough in your ability and the bike and your experience to actively enjoy the ride.  If that is looking at scenery, humming whilst listening to music or talking to a pillion, fellow rider or your mum in law. 

Ah, so you *don't* always have to give 100% concentration to your riding.

Thanks for clearing that up.

When is it suitable to not give 100% concentration whilst operating something that could kill you or others?

When I'm in a situation where it's extremely unlikely that anything that could happen which could "kill me or others".

If I'm riding down a motorway which has light traffic on, there's nothing within 100 metres ahead of me, nowhere someone could pull out from, nobody in my blind spot and plenty of time to see anything that could be a hazard to me, then I don't see a need to give absolutely 100% concentration to my riding and would not feel worried about taking a phone call on my hands-free headset.

However if the situation changed to one where I *do* need to put my concentration into my riding, it would be "got to go, talk later, bye".

Twice this week, on the same road I've had a car start to undertake me on a single lane road. I wasn't even out wide looking to filter.  I could understand maybe if I was in London, but this is a small town.

The only way I can think of stopping this is moving further inboard on the road, but that compromises my view of the road ahead.   

The advice in the Police Motorcycle Roadcraft is to position for Safety, Stability and View in that order.

As such, in the situation you describe, you should sacrifice the extended view ahead for better safety to stop idiots trying to undertake you.

Two things to consider:

1) How tightly are you gripping the bars? You shouldn't need to put any pressure on them, I was always told you should hold them like you had an egg in your hand.

2) If you're wearing multiple layers under your jacket because of the cold, check that nothing's digging in under your armpit or nearby, this can actually reduce the blood supply to your hands causing the effect you mention.