Electric motorcycles; The future or the devil’s work? An inevitability or a passing phase?
Ever since I visited one of Europe’s largest electric motorcycle dealers, English Electric Motor Co, I have been hooked. They graciously facilitated my inauguration to electric motorcycles.
There is, however, no substitute for living with a bike, so Zero was kind enough to lend me their SRS press bikes for a while, to give me an opportunity to do a real-world review.
Zeros’ SRS is a fully electric motorcycle, like all of their bikes, and in the Zero stable, the SRS is the biggest, most expensive, most capable bike they make.
Let’s run through some statistics. This bike weighs 230kg, which is around 20kg heavier than a conventional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) motorcycle. For example, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 is 209kg and the Yamaha MT10 is 210kg, not bad at all.
Power is deceptive and stated as 110bhp, which doesn’t sound like much. Don’t let this dampen your enthusiasm, rest assured you won’t be disappointed in the performance from this SRS. To add some perspective, a Ducati Panigale V4 makes 123Nm torque, the BMW 1000RR makes 100Nm torque. The Zero SRS make 190Nm of torque… yes… 190Nm!! Make no bones about it, in sport mode, this bike is seriously fast.
Bear in mind also that the power and torque from an electric motor are delivered in a different way to an ICE engine. On a traditional motorcycle, as revs build, generally power builds too. With an electric drivetrain, the power and torque are linear, meaning you have very strong power available from the moment you twist the throttle if you want it.
Interestingly, it carries its weight quite low. Most of the weight is in the battery and motor, which is all below your knees. What would be the fuel tank on an ICE bike, is the storage box for the charging cable on the SRS.
Let’s talk about range. It’s usually one of the first questions people ask about electric motorcycles generally. It’s actually really hard to answer. This isn’t an excuse or me trying not to answer. There are a lot of factors that affect the range, such as temperature, riding style, type of roads and more. Batteries perform worse in hot weather for example and if you ride aggressively and in sport mode all the time, your range will suffer. The same applies to sustained high speeds such as motorways or dual carriageways, where the constant draw on the battery takes a toll on the range.
When I first collected the bike, I inevitably selected sport mode and spanked it for a few miles, quickly discovering the negative impact this had on the range. Fast forward a few days and by riding a bit more carefully, switching modes to soften the power and regenerate electricity in traffic, I could easily see 110 miles+ on a mix of roads.
Talking about rider modes, there are 5 on the SRS. You have the full-fat Sport mode which lets you have all of the power with reduced regenerative braking. You still have ABS and traction control though (which is a good thing). Next is Street mode, which offers slightly reduced power and increased regenerative braking. This mode is great for general riding. Next is Eco mode which restricts power and offers maximum regenerative braking. Top speed is restricted to 75mph. I use this is traffic to extend the range when there’s no point in using street or sport modes. There is also a rain mode which has the softest power delivery and least amount of regenerative braking. Rain mode is designed for low traction conditions.
Lastly, there is Custom mode. This is a mode that you can personalise, for example, maximum power with increased regenerative braking. You can also rename it. The team at English Electric Motor Co customised theirs and called it Beast mode.
Zero have taken a fairly traditional approach to styling on the SRS. They could have taken a more radical, futuristic approach, but I really like it, it looks great. There are some neat touches like the mirrors. They are mounted low on the fairing below the handlebars and actually look under your arms. It sounds odd but they are very effective. Quality of components is construction is outstanding. The bike is excellent and feels very premium and it’s the easiest bike to ride. Controls are absolute simplicity with no clutch, no gears and just brakes and throttle. The throttle is progressive and very smooth.
Handling is superb, this thing corners so hard. It’s a little short, but I like that, it helps to deal with the poor condition of our roads. The suspension is fully adjustable Showa front and rear and brakes are J-Juan radial callipers and are excellent.
“How long does it take to charge?” is another common question. Let’s do some man maths. The battery is 14.4kwh. Think of it as a fuel tank. If you charge up from a domestic 3 pin plug, you will see a charging rate of 2.3kwh. That means that every hour, 2.3kwh flows into the 14.4kwh battery, simple. Think of kwh as litres if you like. If the battery was empty, on a 3 pin plug it would take just over 6 hours to fully charge, which you would typically do at night when the electricity is cheap.
The maximum rate you can charge the battery is 6.6kwh on a type 2 fast charger such as the ones at supermarkets, shopping centres and fast-food restaurants. This means, if it was completely empty and you used any fast charger, regardless of the rating, it would charge the SRS at 6.6kwh and it would fully charge in just over 2 hours.
In reality, it is unlikely that people will fully charge ‘on the go’, but instead, maybe top-up.
On one of my rides, I stopped at a shopping centre in Milton Keynes and topped up for 30 odd minutes. In that time I increased the battery charge by 20%. It was simple and free.
Another big bonus of running an electric motorcycle is running costs. At home, you will probably pay something like 6p/kWh for your electricity. Let’s say 10p for the sake of man maths. If you charge at home, from a 3 pin plug, at night, a 14.4kwh battery will cost £1.44 to charge. Even better, if you charge at a shopping centre or McDonald’s on a fast charger, it’s usually free.
In addition to the minimal running costs, servicing is a far more economical affair. Remember, electric drivetrains are simplicity themselves. Very few moving parts, just an electric motor. No gearbox, no complicated engine with hundreds of moving parts. Servicing tends to be consumables such as brakes, tyres, drive belt and so on. The battery has a 5-year warranty and after that, is expected to last the lifetime of the motorcycle if looked after correctly.
To sum things up, the Zero SRS really is a great motorcycle. It is outrageous if you want it to be, or it can be a pussycat. It’s incredibly easy to ride and very well built. It’s pretty practical but not suitable for everyone. I love it and am very pleased to have had the time to get to know it.
A well-known LGBT+ bar in Aberdeen has called the decision to ban background music in hospitality venues a “nail in the coffin” and urgently called for a review into allowing music back in venues in Scotland.
In a statement, Cheerz Bar in Aberdeen wrote, “We’ve gone from a party venue with Drag, DJ’s and Karaoke 7 Days a week, 365 Days a year to still be functional with table ordering and background music but recent changes in government legislation has stopped this in an effort to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.”
It also called for urgent help for the hospitality sector from both the Scottish and UK government. It said that the lack of support for bars and nightclub was “deeply disappointing”.
The ban on background music was introduced by the Scottish Government on the 14th of August.
In the statement Cheerz owners laid out how they believed the ban on music would affect its customers’ behaviour, saying,
” – Customers will now get closer to have private conversations.
– Customers will speak louder because music will no longer disperse the sound of other tables.
– Customers will be more inclined to party at other households with music.
Cheerz noted how businesses in the hospitality sector have sustained massive losses, due to “stock wastage, rental costs, water rates, equipment charges”.
On top of this, Cheerz bar says it was sent a bill from Aberdeen City Council, looking for its annual licensing fees.
“We are trying our hardest to keep our doors open at this time but ultimately we need to save our team’s jobs and our venue”, the statement added.
“We’ve made it 10 years, and we hope to make it for another 10+ but this now depends on the actions of the Government.
Although the sun may be hiding at the moment, it doesn’t mean you have to lose your glow. utan’s tanning mousse is one of the best smelling, most natural tans we’ve ever used and it’s long-lasting. The mousse is easy to apply and leaves the skin lovely and smooth (and bronzed). Add the Calendula Tanning Water for the face for a facial tan that develops in just 4 hours.
Available from their website https://utan.co.uk/
We’re loving how clear our skin looks after using this product, which has CBD oil, Chlorella & Orange Flower Hydrolate. A little goes a long way. Perfect for oily and combination skin it leaves your face looking radiant.
Buy directly from their store: https://www.hemptouch.com/uk/balancing-face-cream
Now we’re not usually here for alcoholic drinks in a can – it gives us flashbacks to a day trip to Southend-On-Sea, which was tragic with a capital T, but 6 O’Clock Gin’s cocktails in a can is a drink we feel we can enjoy responsibly, mainly because it tastes as though their four gin-based cocktails have been professionally mixed, by a mixologist who really knows what they’re doing.
Check them out at their website: https://www.6oclockgin.com
Do you clean your toys after use? If you don’t you really, really should. Bathmate has created a cleaner specifically for anal toys. So keep them hygienically clean, leave them smelling fresh, while helping to prolong the life of your toy. And most importantly helping to keep your booty healthy.
Condoms are an important part of safer sex, especially if you’re not on PrEP and are engaging in anal sex, but what should you do with the rubber once you’ve spaffed your load.
Once you’ve removed your penis (while still hard) from your partner’s ass, you should roll the Johnny up from the base of your penis towards the end. Sometimes the receptive partner might do this for you, especially if the end of the condom has become a little dirty during sex. Be careful here, because the condom will tend to go inside out as you’re pulling it away from the body – which isn’t so great when the tip of it is full of jizz.
Make sure to have a tissue to hand and as you take the condom from your cock, place the condom into the tissue and fold over the tissue to encase it. Some people like to tie a knot in the condom, so the man mayo doesn’t leak into your bin.
Then… Chuck it in the bin. Do not put it down the toilet.
Have you seen those fatbergs they’re pulling out of the sewers? Yep, that’s a nasty concoction of condoms, wet wipes and sanitary products and poop all rolled up in fat. It’s not nice and because condoms are mostly latex, they don’t degrade – your trusty condom could be around for decades before it’s broken down. Not so good for the waterways and the planet.
Although did you know you can now get VEGAN condoms?
So chuck it in the bin and then wash your hands.
Syphilis is a sexually acquired infection caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, a spirochete bacterium.
In the UK, syphilis infection is relatively uncommon but diagnoses in men and women have increased over the past decade. In 2015 there were 107,000 reported deaths from Syphilis worldwide.
Anyone who has sex can get syphilis. People most at risk are those having unprotected sexual intercourse (i.e. not using a condom or in gay terms, barebacking), those with more than one sexual partner, and those who change partners frequently. The simplest way to protect yourself is with condoms.
Syphilis is caught through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal intercourse or genital contact with an infected partner.
Syphilis cannot be caught by casual contact (toilet seats, swimming pools and saunas).
The symptoms of syphilis are not specific. Initial presentation is usually one or more painless but highly infectious sores (primary infection) which appear at the site of infection. These sores disappear within two to six weeks in the absence of treatment.
Secondary symptoms may develop 6 weeks to 6 months after the onset of primary sores. Later symptoms are highly variable, but may include a rash on the palms or soles.
Late syphilis occurs four or more years after an untreated primary infection. Complications may occur in the mucocutaneous tissue, heart, respiratory tract or central nervous system.
Syphilis can cause a variety of issues from the seemingly unserious, like headaches but can escalate to stroke, hearing loss and sexual dysfunction. The Mayo Clinic lists some of the problems the disease can cause to your nervous system:
Without treatment, syphilis can damage your heart, brain or other organs, and can be life-threatening.
Sexually active people can reduce their risk of syphilis by reducing their numbers of partners and using condoms or dental dams.
Syphilis can be diagnosed by detection of the organism in the ulcer. Antibodies to syphilis can also be detected in the blood. Samples must be taken by a health care professional.
Genitourinary medicine clinics (also called STI clinics) have the equipment and facilities for testing and for contacting, testing and treating sexual partners. Details of these clinics can be found in the telephone book, from the local hospital or from the NHS choices sexual health website. Clinics are completely confidential and will not inform GPs of results unless requested to do so. Anyone can attend one of these clinics at any age (even if under the age of consent to sex which is 16). Appointments are not required.
A person with suspected syphilis should also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections which may be present without symptoms.
Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics.
All current and recent sexual partners should be tested and treated to prevent re-infection and the further spread of disease. Treatment should be offered whether or not they show any signs of infection Public Health England’s mission is to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government, the NHS, industry and the voluntary and community sector. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.
Taken from Public Health England.
Access from Wroxham road in line with pioneer road, walk through the park and through woods and walk to church or drive directly to church and park, walk down church lane until fields on either side
Woods nearby. walk down the lane with fields on either side. Cruisers are often on sniffles. there is a gate you will pass, bend down and tie a shoelace to show interest.
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Are you planning to be here later? Have you been here before? Let other guys know by using the comments below.
Actor Garrett Clayton apparently believes in giving the people what they want… and it has to be said, we love a giver.
The King Cobra star has been using his Instagram page to show off his dance moves of late, and when asked by an eager fan to do the WAP dance, made famous by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, Garrett was only too happy to oblige.
Fans were quick to claim the performance as “iconic” and quite a few wrote that they had been waiting for the actor to post a video for this song.
After labelling a Pride train, ‘Virtue Signalling’ Piers Morgan said that he was a “long-time vocal supporter of gay rights” except, history proves that this isn’t necessarily the case.
Morgan was called out by the Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s Twitter page after he labelled a train, which was decorated in Pride colours, the “Virtue Signalling Express” and asked “Why” when the train was unveiled.
The RVT Twitter page wrote, “The thing is, Piers, when you tweet stuff like this your followers then feel emboldened to openly attack LGBTQ+ people in the replies and in the street. Yet you stay silent. Your silence speaks volumes.”
Piers Morgan replied, that it was “it’s perfectly possible to be a long-time vocal supporter of gay rights – like me – AND think a gay train is ridiculous.”
However, the RVT was quick to reply with a newspaper article which was was printed by The Sun in 1989. In the article, it appears that Piers calls the two gay characters on Eastenders, “Yuppie Poofs”.
Further on in the article, readers were invited to ring in on the question “Do you think TV should show scenes of men kissing each other?
The article was in relation to the first-ever gay kiss on the BBC soap, which was groundbreaking at the time.
Lord Cashman, who starred in that Eastender‘s scene, also commented on Piers’ history as a journalist, saying, “Just look at his history as a journalist and the coverage of gay issues in the late 80s. He is a fair-weather ‘friend’, and as the weather turns so friends reveal themselves!”
If you ever see the acronym “HnH” on a guy’s profile, it’s all about having sex and being “high”, simply put, fucking while on drugs.
HnH stands for Horny and High – generally speaking, drugs play a part in this guy’s sexual activity. Sometimes also referred to as chemsex. You may also see PnP instead.
Drugs that might be used could be
Crystal methamphetamine, (Meth, Tina, Ice, Glass, Crank)
GHB/GBL, (G, Gina, Liquid Ecstasy)
Mephedrone (M, Meph, Meow Meow, M-Cat)
MDMA (Molly, Mandy, Ecstasy)
Cocaine (Coke, Charlie, Crack, C)
Ketamine. (K, Ket)
Make sure you keep safe during if you’re going to take part in a HnH session. Some drugs can make people take risks with their sexual health which they normally wouldn’t take, due to lowered inhibitions and feelings of intimacy and sexual drive when on certain drugs.
A fantastic resource and read into the world of chemsex is the book by James Wharton, Something For The Weekend, available from all good book stores and Waterstones online.
If you need help with addiction or are worried about drugs in your life, you can find resources at the Drugwise website.
Poker is undoubtedly the world’s most popular casino game boasting millions upon millions of players all over the planet. Traditionally the game has been dominated by men and has been less than inclusive to women and the LGBT+ community.
Things are changing though, female participation in the game has increased to around 15% in recent years and poker has also become more inclusive to members of the LGBT+ community. If you’re an avid fan of poker and are looking for an LGBT+ friendly environment to play in this article is for you.
We’ll take a detailed look at some of the world’s most gay-friendly places to play and enjoy poker. If there are any places, we’ve missed out on be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
Sin City as it is known colloquially is the Mecca of world gambling with an abundance of world-class gambling facilities. Poker in Vegas is one of the biggest draws to the 40 million tourists that touch down at McCarran International every year.
There are a huge range of poker tournament types, if you’re looking for a small-stakes cash game, or a high-rollers tournament or an LGBT+ friendly game, then Vegas has you covered. Almost every casino in the city from the well-known Mirage to the lesser-known bars such as Charlie’s run frequent LGBT+ poker events.
On top of that, the city has a thriving LGBT+ community and a dedicated online magazine called Gay Vegas that details all the latest news from the city as well as dates for upcoming events. One of the best places to visit away from the poker table is Freezone.
Situated right in the centre of the action, Freezone is a lively gay bar that regularly plays hosts to some of the biggest names in karaoke and drag. Drinks prices are also much lower than anywhere in Vegas, making it one of the best places to let your hair down and relax.
If you were to ask most British people to name their top three holiday destinations in the USA, chances are Colorado wouldn’t feature very highly. On this side of the pond it is more known for being home to the fictional town of South Park than anything else.
Despite that, it really is one of the most beautiful states in the whole of the USA and is a must-see for any thrill-seeking, natural beauty loving tourist. The world-famous Rocky Mountains can be found in Colorado, just 60 or so miles from Denver.
This stunning mountain range will take your breath away and help you to find a place of inner calm as you bask in the awe of amazing nature.
You’ll want to make Denver your base for your stay in Colorado, a city with an intriguing history and a thriving LGBT+ community. Get your poker fill at The Denver Wrangler, a popular gay bar that runs a weekly LGBT+ poker tournament called ‘All in Bitches’ every Monday.
If you haven’t heard of the small town Sitges in Catalonia, think of it as the Brighton of Spain. Its economy is predominantly based on the Pink Pound, with hundreds of thousands of gay tourists flocking from all over Europe to the town every year.
Almost every bar, club and hotel in the town plays a keen role in Sitges’ bustling LGBT+ calendar with parties and events galore planned to entertain the tourists. On top of that you can enjoy some intense poker action in a relaxed, LGBT+ friendly environment.
Poker and most other forms of casino gambling have been legal in Spain for decades and casino gambling is perhaps even more popular in Spain than it is here in the UK.
When you step out of the Hauptbahnhof train station and take your first steps into the thriving metropolis of Berlin, you’ll be struck by the dominating industrial revolution style architecture. Don’t let that fool you into thinking that Berlin’s attitudes to the LGBT+ are as traditional as its buildings.
Berlin is actually one of the most gay-friendly cities in Europe and has a long history of playing host to Europe’s LGBT+ community stretching back to the Victorian Era when bars and clubs throughout the city were regularly played by gay icons such as Marlene Dietrich.
There are so many things to see and do from an LGBT+ perspective in Berlin that it would be foolish to attempt to list them all out here. Heile Welt and SchwuZ are two of the best-known gay bars in the city and there’s also the infamous and exclusive Berghain Club which is well worth a visit for intrepid tourists.
There’s also plenty of poker action to avail of in the city, so once you’ve done sampling the delights of the gay scene get yourself to a casino and pit your wits against some of Berlin’s best players. The Trabrennbahn Mariendorf and Spielbank are two of the best to try out.