StephenPacker
@stephenpackeruk.bsky.social
Recovering Engineer. Failed at retirement, returned to the workplace.
Motorbike travel on occasion, less than I'd like.
South West UK.
Motorbike travel on occasion, less than I'd like.
South West UK.
I found a picture of my moped from a couple of years back when I sold it.
It looks a bit neglected, mostly because it was left in a barn for 40 something years.
How lucky my generation was to have things like that to ride.
It looks a bit neglected, mostly because it was left in a barn for 40 something years.
How lucky my generation was to have things like that to ride.
September 23, 2025 at 7:08 AM
I found a picture of my moped from a couple of years back when I sold it.
It looks a bit neglected, mostly because it was left in a barn for 40 something years.
How lucky my generation was to have things like that to ride.
It looks a bit neglected, mostly because it was left in a barn for 40 something years.
How lucky my generation was to have things like that to ride.
Not the best image but it's in the Caucuses and some of the views were stunning.
September 7, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Not the best image but it's in the Caucuses and some of the views were stunning.
How long do you plan and what route will you take?
If you get the chance to go to Romania (which is only a little north of Bulgaria...) the Transfagarasan is one of the most fun roads I've ridden. Just don't feed the bears.
If you get the chance to go to Romania (which is only a little north of Bulgaria...) the Transfagarasan is one of the most fun roads I've ridden. Just don't feed the bears.
September 7, 2025 at 6:58 AM
How long do you plan and what route will you take?
If you get the chance to go to Romania (which is only a little north of Bulgaria...) the Transfagarasan is one of the most fun roads I've ridden. Just don't feed the bears.
If you get the chance to go to Romania (which is only a little north of Bulgaria...) the Transfagarasan is one of the most fun roads I've ridden. Just don't feed the bears.
Mosjoen, February 2011.
We didn't make it to the Arctic Circle. We did get frostbite.
We didn't make it to the Arctic Circle. We did get frostbite.
August 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Mosjoen, February 2011.
We didn't make it to the Arctic Circle. We did get frostbite.
We didn't make it to the Arctic Circle. We did get frostbite.
It was taken there, I visited last week while passing and spent a few hours there.
Some of the early bikes were crazy; using the rear wheel as the crankshaft and no clutch...
Some of the early bikes were crazy; using the rear wheel as the crankshaft and no clutch...
August 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM
It was taken there, I visited last week while passing and spent a few hours there.
Some of the early bikes were crazy; using the rear wheel as the crankshaft and no clutch...
Some of the early bikes were crazy; using the rear wheel as the crankshaft and no clutch...
Instrument cluster.
August 17, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Instrument cluster.
Bad picture, but saw this Suzuki RE5 at the Augustusburg motorcycle museum.
I remember being very impressed by the technology (Wankel engine and modern design, especially the clocks). Used to regularly look at one parked on my way to school in 1977 or so. Always wanted one... Not so much now!
I remember being very impressed by the technology (Wankel engine and modern design, especially the clocks). Used to regularly look at one parked on my way to school in 1977 or so. Always wanted one... Not so much now!
August 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Bad picture, but saw this Suzuki RE5 at the Augustusburg motorcycle museum.
I remember being very impressed by the technology (Wankel engine and modern design, especially the clocks). Used to regularly look at one parked on my way to school in 1977 or so. Always wanted one... Not so much now!
I remember being very impressed by the technology (Wankel engine and modern design, especially the clocks). Used to regularly look at one parked on my way to school in 1977 or so. Always wanted one... Not so much now!
Appropriately the Horex VR6 was parked outside the motorcycle museum in Augustusburg (it's a rare motorcycle).
August 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Appropriately the Horex VR6 was parked outside the motorcycle museum in Augustusburg (it's a rare motorcycle).
And a Nurnberg Triumph.
Little did I know that Triumph in Coventry was founded by a German guy that also founded Triumph in Nurnberg and they both moved onto motorcycles...
Little did I know that Triumph in Coventry was founded by a German guy that also founded Triumph in Nurnberg and they both moved onto motorcycles...
August 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
And a Nurnberg Triumph.
Little did I know that Triumph in Coventry was founded by a German guy that also founded Triumph in Nurnberg and they both moved onto motorcycles...
Little did I know that Triumph in Coventry was founded by a German guy that also founded Triumph in Nurnberg and they both moved onto motorcycles...
Hildebrand and Wolfmuller motorcycle 1894. At Augustusburg Motorrad museum.
Don't think I'd be keen to ride this at 30mph...
Don't think I'd be keen to ride this at 30mph...
August 12, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Hildebrand and Wolfmuller motorcycle 1894. At Augustusburg Motorrad museum.
Don't think I'd be keen to ride this at 30mph...
Don't think I'd be keen to ride this at 30mph...
Route I've taken on this year's trip. Turn around and head for home today. Get to Calais (different route) on Friday.
August 10, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Route I've taken on this year's trip. Turn around and head for home today. Get to Calais (different route) on Friday.
Camping trip on the outskirts of Zagreb. Great site.
August 10, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Camping trip on the outskirts of Zagreb. Great site.
This Andrea Jenkyns?
July 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This Andrea Jenkyns?
In 2019, I went on a trip to Volgograd with a couple of friends. We all had old BMW GSs. Good trip, via eastern Europe and Ukraine (crossed from Ukraine to Russia). I guess I'm not likely to ride a bike in Russia again.
July 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
In 2019, I went on a trip to Volgograd with a couple of friends. We all had old BMW GSs. Good trip, via eastern Europe and Ukraine (crossed from Ukraine to Russia). I guess I'm not likely to ride a bike in Russia again.
My days of wearing leathers are behind me... Sadly.
But they were black, not green. Think that picture was 1994 or so, had just bought this ZXR750 (which was the forerunner to the ZX7r)
But they were black, not green. Think that picture was 1994 or so, had just bought this ZXR750 (which was the forerunner to the ZX7r)
July 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
My days of wearing leathers are behind me... Sadly.
But they were black, not green. Think that picture was 1994 or so, had just bought this ZXR750 (which was the forerunner to the ZX7r)
But they were black, not green. Think that picture was 1994 or so, had just bought this ZXR750 (which was the forerunner to the ZX7r)
Back to the late 90s. Just need to fit a quieter exhaust once I collect it; I really don't like offensively loud exhausts.
July 12, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Back to the late 90s. Just need to fit a quieter exhaust once I collect it; I really don't like offensively loud exhausts.
Could be worse, could be an R1100RT
February 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Could be worse, could be an R1100RT
Hahaha.
We had one. She had four pups and we couldn't bear to part with any of them.
We had one. She had four pups and we couldn't bear to part with any of them.
October 20, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Hahaha.
We had one. She had four pups and we couldn't bear to part with any of them.
We had one. She had four pups and we couldn't bear to part with any of them.
Interesting. In the UK we probably have until 2035 or so until ICE (big) bikes are withdrawn from sale. I love my little Zero S for close to home use but at the moment I don't believe Europe has the charging infrastructure in place. I think the current bike is probably the last ICE one I get tho.
October 3, 2024 at 8:03 AM
Interesting. In the UK we probably have until 2035 or so until ICE (big) bikes are withdrawn from sale. I love my little Zero S for close to home use but at the moment I don't believe Europe has the charging infrastructure in place. I think the current bike is probably the last ICE one I get tho.
Triumph of optimism and ignorance. I'd been riding bikes for 30 years ish and assumed a sidecar would be 'just the same'.
I wanted to go to the Elefantentreffen on an outfit because 'it looked like fun' and thought this would be the outfit.
I learnt to ride on this then built a bigger one.
I wanted to go to the Elefantentreffen on an outfit because 'it looked like fun' and thought this would be the outfit.
I learnt to ride on this then built a bigger one.
August 16, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Triumph of optimism and ignorance. I'd been riding bikes for 30 years ish and assumed a sidecar would be 'just the same'.
I wanted to go to the Elefantentreffen on an outfit because 'it looked like fun' and thought this would be the outfit.
I learnt to ride on this then built a bigger one.
I wanted to go to the Elefantentreffen on an outfit because 'it looked like fun' and thought this would be the outfit.
I learnt to ride on this then built a bigger one.
Bunny came first?
Sensible policy.
Sensible policy.
August 16, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Bunny came first?
Sensible policy.
Sensible policy.