Zen and the Art of Cleaning a Motorcycle + Upcoming Stuff

But Why Do I keep putting it Off?

Goldie Clean and Detailed

If like me you're very good at putting off things, then it might seem a normal thing to do to just not clean your motorcycle. But at the same time you probably also feel guilty that your bike doesn't look as clean as it should. I know I certainly do. So, I finally got round to it today and I feel in someway renewed or more complete and I really enjoyed the process of wiping away the grime, seeing the shiny chrome and the paint looking pristine again. So, I guess it is a bit Zen like and perhaps the garden behind is a hint, flowers in the background the sense of calm and maybe that's what you need to be able to do this. Certainly a lot of the time there always seems to be something more important. or something that somebody is telling you to do and I know I certainly have got lots of things that I need to do but, today my set aside the excuses and I actually got the job done. I also put an Carnauba wax on the tank, mudguards and painted areas which felt like the cherry on the cake. The wheels which were replaced under warranty recently are now clean and shiny, but I still need to apply some wax coating to them for summer protection. My favourite job though was shining the stainless steel exhaust which was looking grimy and dowdy and now has a shimmering finish. I know that finish wont last, but it still gave me pleasure to work on it.

I suppose the question I'd ask you is; do you put things off or are you one of those organised people who has everything on a rota? I can remember one biker who used to go so far as using cotton buds when detailing his bike. That's a bit extreme but what tricks and techniques do you have up your sleeve for dealing with those tedious jobs ,you know cleaning spokes and things like that. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter because sometimes I wonder whether I'm constantly reinventing the wheel every time I clean my bike.

Thanks for bearing with me today and as a reward for getting to the bottom of this rambling blog post, here's a selection of images from forthcoming Vlogs which will be on my YouTube channel shortly.

Maeving RM2

Honda Rebel 1100 DCT

Scooter Boys

Want to Enjoy Cornwall But Avoid Tourists?

My Latest Video Now Live on the 'Tube Will Help You!

OK, so I'm being unkind to Tourists (well somebody has to😉) but in the Summer it can be a very real problem finding the less crowded roads so your ride can be a pleasant one. As I've now been resident in Kernow (Cornwall) for some 20 years, I've got to know some of those destinations that aren't subjected so much to over Tourism. You know the kind of thing, drivers in big cars unable to reverse, filling all the car parks and hogging the restaurants, all the while moaning that Cornwall isn't like where they came from. Well if that's the case, why not go back there? 😔 So here's an antidote as I head out on a route that finds places that should still be bearable even in the height of the Summer Season. I can't guarantee they will be totally tourist free zones, but with me you've got a much better chance of avoiding Summer season gridlock. 

Now, since you've been such a hero by visiting this Blog in support of my channel, here is a bit of a sneak peek of something coming soon(ish)  to whet your appetite.😊

If you DO watch this video, please do hit the 👍 button and if you have time put a comment below and then subscribe. If you really like it, channel membership is only 99pence per month and if 100 of my subscribers paid this minimal amount, it would make my creative process that much easier by allowing me to obtain the kit desperately needed to sustain this small channel. 

Thank You, Andy😁

My first Ever Easter Egg Run

In aid of Some Very Deserving Charities

But I nearly didn't go, courtesy of an iffy weather forecast coupled with reluctance to exit my toasty warm bed. I was so glad I did go in the end, but the attendant lack of planning nearly derailed the whole event for me as I ended up furiously charging every recording device needed for vlogging that morning. Miraculously, I succeeded and early on a cold and blustery morning headed towards Davidstow airfield. There, I was greeted by the sight of 100s and 100s of motorcycles lined up on what remains of the WWII runway. It was cold and every hollow was filled with pools of rainwater from a recent cloudburst. But everyone was in ebullient mood, and with good reason as after a long and very wet winter we were all  dead keen to get on our bikes and ride in aid of a good cause. So, I did and you can look at the resultant gallery of images, by clicking on the image below.

At Bowden Perra

Video from the day is still in production and may be a while as I have a lot to work through currently. However, you can also click on the short clip below which will give you an idea of the scale of the meet. 

At Victoria

More Info

Celebrating 1800 subscribers 🎉

 Running a Small YouTube Channel is Hard Work

Thank You!

There are costs involved that viewers don't see like equipment, subscriptions to ancillary services and just time. Plus the infamous algorithm doesn't promote small channels, so the number of people that get exposed to what we do is tiny. Therefore we need every ounce of support from that core and dedicated group. So, a huge and heartfelt thankyou goes out to each and everyone of you. Small acts like clicking the like button and putting a comment on are also vital and for us as small content creators are the main reward for what we do. One other thing that also helps is the new Hype button which was designed to give small content creators a leg up, so if you see that, do give it a hit. The monetary support from Ad revenue although welcome is minimal at this level, so anything you can do is warmly received. Heck, if you want to give ongoing support, channel membership is just £0.99 (or equivalent in local currency) For people who want to provide a one-off donation, there is the Buy me a Coffee link below every video😁

A Nice Ride Out

We Finally Had Some Decent Weather, So it was time to Ride 😃

Vlog is in preparation, but just for now, here are a few sniplets to munch through with your Sunday brunch... 

Honda CBX 1000

Six Cylinder Beauty

My Grubby Goldie, ready for the off

In Ebullient mood

Beaford Bike Show

 This looks like a fun day out in the glorious Devon Countryside. Who else is going???

I nearly Died Roadtesting the DJI OSMO 5 Pro & Mic Mini

 Well Almost...

You see I was out on my BSA giving my new wireless Vlogging setup an initial run, first without any external microphone, then with the DJI Mic Mini attached to the nose guard inside the helmet. This was just the first option I tried as after a scan of YouTube and the Internet in general, there appears to be almost as many solutions as there are people using this set up. But, what is the ideal set up for me? I'm acutely aware that getting both good quality audio and video from a motovlogging setup can be a tricky task. In fact, it's almost a black art in itself. However, as you can see from this initial run I was actually moderately pleased with the quality of the output and of course the horizon stabilisation is very good indeed. So, no real worries about the video quality and the sound was acceptable, despite both the tentative location of the microphone

Taking a break at the historic Bodinnick Ferry

and me having the remnants of a particularly nasty cold which made my voice muffled anyway. Motovlogging can be something that's quite distracting when you're trying to mentally compose yourself and deliver your thoughts to camera whilst riding a motorcycle which in itself is an activity that requires 100% concentration. However, I was sufficiently alert when a man in a red Ford pulled out from a side road in front of me to slow down to a safe speed and avoid him with no issues and the other oncoming car was also able to slow down. Clearly the driver of the red Ford was aware neither of myself on my bike, nor the oncoming white car. This is not an uncommon situation, as in Cornwall where I live drivers often perceive themselves as having a right way from an adjoining road to a main one and this can result in some alarming situations. It's certainly a lesson that to visiting tourists need to take on board because traffic in this part of the world is A: slow moving and B: doesn't look out for hazards in the same way as you might do in a busy city centre or urban location. The belief that traffic levels are low enough for everybody just to amble along safely is quite deeply embedded. Of course, having on board video is an excellent safety device. Now I already have the Aocci C6 pro which does already do that but most people don't have on board front and rear dash cams so a vlogging camera such as the Osmo is a valuable safety asset. If there had been an accident, I could've produced that footage in my defence or in order to prosecute a driver who is driving carelessly.

So, to be exact what are the benefits of this type of setup? well in a word, wireless That's right there are no dangling wires, no gaffer tape and no uncomfortable lumps in your cheek pad.

Osmo Action 5 with mic Mini

But of course there are limitations and restrictions all of its own. Namely you need to make sure you've got a good connection between the microphone and the receiver which in this case is the Osmo Action 5 Pro. Now, it does appear that after some years of evolution with this type of way of transmitting sound that DJI have more or less nailed it and the results you can get are really very good indeed. What it doesn't do of course is takeaway wind noise outside your helmet or how badly or well your helmet transmits that wind noise and indeed how well it dampens noise coming from any other location such as road noise, induction noise, engine noise, exhaust noise and so on. You get the picture, there are a lot of variables to manage and although there is noise reduction and decibel level reduction, at the end of the day the best thing is to have a clean signal in the first place. So a primary need is to place the microphone somewhere that you'll get the cleanest signal from the voice with suitable input from background or other sources such as engine or exhaust which complement the ability to deliver what the person is saying without drowning it out. A truly professional set up would involve multi channels and then use of a recording engineer to balance it all out and I'm sure this is what professional production companies like the BBC, ITV and so on do when they're creating videos from moving objects such as cars, motorbikes planes etc. In fact, even with all those facilities it's still often the professional choice to add back the road noise or other sounds so when you go to the cinema in that DOLBY surround, not much of what's coming out at you was actually present on the day. So without the ability to add oodles of special effects and other things before and after, what we have to do is try and get that clean signal which means placing the microphone somewhere where you get the verbals and some background noise but not enough to overwhelm it because simply limitations of physics state that it can only record what's there and without separate channels you can't decode it completely. That being said you can add the second microphone to get another channel which could be managing exhaust or road noise or induction noise but that's it and there are tricks you can do in post production to separate channels and add a surround sound element but that takes time and skill. Balancing sounds as I said it is a skill which most of us don't possess. So the final quality is never going to be 100% perfect. But what it needs to be is good enough so that the listener in this case doesn't immediately switch off. So, this has been a first iteration of a wireless microphone and vlogging camera set up. It has done away with the wires it is a clean set up there's still a few things to fettle and that there probably will be several more iterations of placement of microphone and so forth before I get the best quality obtainable from this particular setup. What that means to you is there should be clean sound, really good quality video and a better viewer experience.

So, what are your thoughts on the matter? I'd be delighted to hear, so pop a comment below or even better go to the YouTube video which I've put the link to above and leave a comment there. Some of the things I'd like to know about are: how important the sound to you? and, are you interested in in what the Vlogger is saying or actually do you just want to hear the engine noise and watch the visuals? It would be really helpful because you can't decide what to do in a vacuum. More on this subject coming soon.

Meet the New CMD Blogging Camera: Osmo Action 5 Pro

No More Wires!

Osmo Action 5 Pro

Well new to me at least as the camera was a used buy, apparently in excellent nick. but we shall see. So why the new camera? In a word audio and all the complications that come with it. You see, getting decent video is actually fairly easy and my current Insta One RS has great colours, insane levelling and stability. but to get sound of a reproducible standard required wiring in an attenuating microphone connected to a microphone tucked away inside the cheek pad of my Shoei Neotec Helmet. This meant discomfort as the wires had to be routed under the internal padding. Also, I couldn't then use the flip-up facility of the Neotec. Not good, plus on the visual side, I had to tape down cable runs. Now, if you have been following this Blog or any of my other social media, you might have cottoned on to my purchase of the DJI Mic Mini for an amazing price, but been a little unsure of it's purpose. Now the Mic Mini will do a number of things for me.

• There are two transmitters and a receiver, so I will be able to conduct interviews.
• The receiver will clip onto my phone making for a lightweight and discreet setup.
• The receiver will connect to my Mirrorless camera for the best quality video and audio in a studio setting and also enable streaming.
• Most importantly, it will transmit wirelessly to the Action 5 with a wide selection of options for the best quality Vlogs.

Phew! But The Action 5 isn't here yet and I have a deal of setting up to do. I have worries about the Mic Mini's ability to transmit through my helmet and how to ensure the (very small) transmitter does not fall off, or get lost. What I am reassured by though is that once in place, this is going to be a waterproof setup. No more stopping to unplug things if there is a shower, so ultimately more reliable and less fuss. I will create videos of the setting up process, so if you are looking at a similar setup, you will be able to benefit from my experience

DJI Mic Mini

 

Out-Harleying Harley with The Royal Enfield Goan Classic - Or as I call it 'Mrs Doyle Special'

Walkaround

Go-on Go-on Go-on Go on Go on Go on...

Forgive me for having a little dig at Royal Enfield's latest offer, The Goan Classic 350. This the latest variant on the J series engine blings it up to the max, presumably in recognition of that Indian region's colourful nature. However, on seeing it in the flesh for the first time today, all I could think of was Father Ted's Housekeeper and her catchphrase above. I have a friend who is keen on these, but he's currently in denial that the Goan is his forthcoming purchase. Shame as I could see him on one, together with my other Royal Enfield riding Buddy, sometimes known as 'Dave' (not his real name...) so, we shall have to wait and see what transpires in his world which is a dry Spanish one. Here however in the Peoples Republic of Kernow, it continues to rain. Every Day. Without fail. This is getting depressing. So, I suppose the Goan does at least brighten things up a bit. Low-res version of the video below and full-fat YT one in the link below, or click on the first picture. What do You think? Cheers everyone.😁

Goan Classic 350 at Victoria Services

YouTube Version

I need Your Help...

...NOW

You see, this little channel is struggling against the omnipotent YouTube algorithm which practically ignores small channels in favour of big ones and is endlessly pushing Creators to make more Short, vertical format videos for the Instagram generation. I DON'T WANT to make exclusively short form videos, OR pay YT to push my videos. BUT I am dependent on viewers feedback to help me. What really helps are likes, comments, subscriptions AND in particular the Hype button which is intended to help small channels by giving them a leg up. But it doesn't work if you don't press that button. It's free as is liking, subscribing and commenting and only takes a moment. So why not do it? Increasing my visibility not only helps me, but also gives more leverage when negotiating with manufacturers and distributors for Press bikes or test rides which are currently in short supply. That means I can do more independent reviews and tests not shackled by the golden handcuffs which come with the indulgence of big manufacturers. It will also help with the (very) small stream of payments from ads that helps keep this channel afloat. Everything is expensive, so this year I have a new helmet, camera mount and microphones and shortly a new vlogging camera. These all cost, but I'm not asking for money as such although there is a 'Buy me a Coffee' link under every video. No what I need is exposure, so anything YOU can do is welcome. Heck, put my videos on repeat in the background whilst you do something else, or just pop a Hello in the comments, no great wisdom needed.😁  Click on either image to go straight to my latest videos.

Chapter One and Project 83 Bike Night Gallery Added

Throughout the summer months, the sound of Motorcycle engines can be heard across Cornwall as their riders attend bike nights around the county. Chapter One Bike Meet is the café attached to Damerells Motorcycles at Indian Queens where the meet is held in the dealership car park and in 2025 their event kicked off shortly after the dealership closed. This then neatly morphed  into the Project83 one at Newquay a venue providing food, other refreshments and sometimes entertainment later into the evening. I attended one late May evening and had a great time taking in the sights and sounds of bikers having the craic at both events which by chance were held on the same evening. Keep an eye out for the event video which will be out very shortly, but for those who dislike YouTube or who prefer  a more relaxed way of consuming their content, this Blog and my Galleries will always be there to deliver an additional approach. If you were there and see your image here, please comment below if you would like a free digital download. If you would like a mounted Print, Canvas or other hard copy, please email me at: cmdiaries@icloud.com

Fat Boy Dash: Click for the Whole Gallery

N.B This year will be different as the Chapter One event will now be a monthly all day event. It's always advisable to check with the venues prior to setting off to confirm times, dates and any other requirements as these details can change. Links  are in the text above. 

Marazion Bike Night Gallery Added

 I'm still in the process of collating, editing and culling my many images of motorcycles and the events surrounding them, but I'm beginning to make progress. Today, I added a gallery comprising images from the popular Marazion Bike Night to my site. Click either above, or below to go to that gallery. If you were there on that night in May, ask in the comments section below about getting digital copies of the bike you were riding if it's featured. Prints are also available, but I will need to charge for those. I can do up to A3+, effectively 16x12 inches when printed and 20x16 if mounted and framed. p.m me for quotes.👍

Ducati 851 at Marazion

I also filmed a video of the event, so why not have a look at that too by clicking on the thumbnail below.

Marazion Bike Night 6th May 2025

TEC Adjustable Levers Install Video LIVE! on YouTube

Link to the Video and Short Video Teaser Below!

TEC Levers Video Teaser

TEC Levers Install

 

TEC Bike Parts and...

2026 Roadmap and Adjustable Levers for Goldie

I'm a fan of TEC bike parts. They are a UK based motorcycle parts and accessory manufacturer, specialising in the Retro Bike market. That means Triumph, Royal Enfield and latterly BSA. George Milburn, the owner is a plain spoken  North Easterner and a fine engineer to boot. I was delighted to spend some time with George at the 2025 ABR. So, when I spotted an update video from him, outlining TEC's roadmap for the forthcoming year, I was all ears. and, for BSA owners it seems the news is all good. George has plans to introduce more BSA accessories, cashing in on the sales success of the Bantam350. And, strangely enough, I had just installed the TEC adjustable brake and clutch levers for my BSA Goldstar. Video is in production as we speak. So, as a sneak peek of the upcoming video, here are some photos of the levers on my Goldstar. AND, if you click on the images, these will take you to George's Roadmap video. 

Andy

TEC Adjustable Clutch Lever

TEC Adjustable Brake Lever

First Ride of the Year Video now on YouTube and update

 But, if you were following this Blog,  you could have got to it sooner. Keep checking by more more pre-launch exclusives and content not restricted by the algorithms  of YT and Farcebook...

Click the pic to go and take a look. 👀

First Ride now done and all is OK

Today, I'm going to be filming installing adjustable levers on Goldie, with a new microphone and camera setup. Wish me luck! 🙏

Martin Jennings Run Video is Now Live on YouTube

 Apologies for the very long delay, but with one thing and another this got pushed to the back of the virtual queue. In this 13 minute video, I pick up what is Cornwall's biggest charity run as it heads towards Ladock and again at Victoria Services for the grand departure. All arrived safely despite one rider having a minor off and everyone is in good spirits on a Sunday in late September. Click below to watch and, please do like, comment and subscribe

More Soon.

Andy

First Ride of the Year

 For anyone who rides a motorcycle in the Temperate Northern Hemisphere, this will be a familiar experience. As winter abates slightly, you increasingly watch the weather forecast anxiously for signs of warmer and drier weather. Then, a window opens up and you hurriedly excavate your bike gear from whatever cupboard it has been hidden in over winter. Then you rescue your pride and joy from it's winter lair, hoping that the pre-winter precautions you took will have preserved both it's looks and function. Quick checks of tyre pressure, coolant and oil follow and the starter button is pressed. Aaaah, bliss! as the engine starts and settle to a steady rhythm. Helmet and gloves on and you are off a little unsteadily at first, but as you and the bike gel everything comes together. But, it's still early in the year and the road surfaces are slick and your reactions are rusty.  Your mirrors are fogged by the ACF50 you put on in autumn and your instruments have condensation inside the glass. But despite all this ½ an hour later you are home feeling exhilarated and with a bike in need of a good clean. Is there no feeling on earth better?

Paul Sample 17th February 1947 – 27th January 2026

 It is with great sadness that I heard that Paul Sample an artist and illustrator most famous for the long-running cartoon strip Ogri, has passed away at the age of 78. Ogri was something of a rites of passage for me and countless other teenage boys aspiring to the glamour of a big motorcycle whilst buzzing about on our 50cc Mopeds and small Japanese 2-strokes. Ogri of course rode a Vincent which famously went crob-a-crob-a-crob at every other lampost. We all knew though that although we aspired to be Ogri, unshaven and wearing his trademark winged helmet, we were all really his hapless sidekick Malcolm, needing rescuing in almost every comic strip. There is still a website for Paul, so here is the link for some reminiscing about the glory days of the 70's which for me and probably many others went by in a haze of 2-stroke oil. 😎  

RIP Paul Sample 1947-2026

Wild Southwest Rally Gallery: People

WSWR People

 I am gradually putting together albums and images of motorcycles and their events that I have attended over the last few years. I hope to expand these into a comprehensive account free of the garbage associated with social media. I also hope to throw these albums open to the public, so we can jointly build an archive built by us all. Here is a start and it's a brief compendium of all those amazing funny, weird amazing folk who were at this year's Wild Southwest Rally. 

Thanks for reading

I'm Stepping Away

 From Social Media...

For now and not including this blog where I will continue to post pictures, links to other stuff and my thoughts on Motorcycles, the World and anything else I find interesting. If you want to read it or even post a comment, you are welcome, but if there are no visitors here, that is fine too.  Nothing is compulsory and moderating (if necessary) will be by me and final. Where something is of wider interest, I may post out to Facebook, but that will be infrequent. Here is also the place where I can put the kind of thoughts that would not go down well in a more public space and that is just fine too.

Why?

I got to the point where I felt that social media was damaging me emotionally, physically and in terms of creativity. I found myself orbiting around other people's universes and doom-scrolling on Facebook without any aim, bombarded by meaningless content I hadn't requested sucking my soul away.  Putting out videos was  becoming a chore and I found myself neglecting my other passions, Nature and Photography.  The quality suffered accordingly and I allowed myself to put out content just to fill a gap. That needs to change. 

When will I be back?

That depends on how well I bounce back and feel creativity bubbling away again. There are a couple of exciting things bubbling away in the background, but no firm timeline for their delivery. I also wish to get my photography act together. I need to replace my expensive  Photography website with something cheaper (free) which will take some time to implement. Then I will find a way of adding a Blog, so I can do the same with images, all outside of YouTube, facebook and other social media. Plus, I have content to be edited and released on my photography channel, contests to enter and (hopefully) art fairs to attend. Then, there is home life including my partner, mother and son. All of whom need some care and attention. To give some sort of timescale; a month at least, possibly more. In the meantime, I will be working on the projects already mentioned and there are also some unfinished videos to be completed. I will also add many more still motorcycle images to my CMD Portfolio image galleries, currently  arranged as events and special interest, but shortly also marques where I have sufficient images to generate a gallery. 

What's Coming when I do return?

The various pieces of tech I have accumulated over the winter months need to be dusted off and put into action with me giving my thoughts in real-world riding conditions and hopefully wrapped in a quality video. To that end, here is a picture of one piece of tech which should help with that eternal bugbear of riding videos, sound quality. This microphone will amongst other attributes allow wireless connection with my smartphone and  teamed with a new helmet mounted camera, reduce clutter, deliver improved sound.

Aoocci C3 YouTube Channel Giveaway 6pm Tonight

Aoocci C3 Giveaway Tonight 6pm  

Yes that's right I'll be giving away this multifunctional display Unit/Satnav with  wireless Tyre Pressure Monitoring tonight at 6pm. All you have to do is subscribe to my YouTube Channel and answer a simple question at the end of the video. Simple, right? Well yes actually👍 and there will be no marketing emails or other junk heading your way as a result. There will be only one winner, but everyone can get their hands on one of these courtesy of my unique discount code of CMD22 accessible via the link below:

Get 22% off here...

Win This Aocci C3 Motorcycle Satnav and TPMS for FREE

Yes, that's right for free, nada, zilch zero.  All you have to do is watch my videos on the Aocci C3 and then leave a comment below on the final one as instructed by me, so you will have to watch it carefully, as otherwise you might miss out on a great opportunity to win a really useful piece of kit. You MUST however subscribe to my channel to be in with a chance to win. It is also a really good idea to watch all three videos as there will be clues to what question I'm going to ask in them. 🤔 Here are links to the first TWO videos which drop at 10:00 GMT on the 18th of January. Channel members however can get a headstart and access them NOW. Membership is currently just £0.99 (GBP) or equivalent in your local currency. Everyone, winner or not will get a unique discount code from me so you can save off the entire Aocci range. That code will be published with the final video which will drop next week. 

What is this?

 Special Delivery!

Look what arrived in the post today; all the way from Deutschland. What could it be I wonder...🤔

Wild Southwest Rally 2025

The Wild South West Rally

Is a Motorcycle event held in aid of a local charity on a September weekend in the grounds of The Britannia Inn, St. Austell, Cornwall. The intention is to recreate the fun factor lacking in present-day rallies by partying hard, whilst simultaneously doing good work for charity. The rally draws bikers from all corners of the UK. But my journey is a little shorter, in fact it's just under a mile to the venue from my home 😎 It began in 2021 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. 

Maka Jerycho with Slagetha