Category: This & That

Bought a motorcycle

Hi there – Long time, no see!

As my previous post, this might not be interesting to everyone, but here goes… I recently passed and received my motorcycle license! :D

I’ve been wanting to get my motorcycle license for a very long time, but when I lived with my parents they always told me: “If you get piercings, tattoos, or motorcycles, you’ll get kicked out!” – this kind of stuck with me, but now I finally got it!

After getting my license I was determined to get a motorcycle imidiately in order to get more experience riding and to have a building project.

I looked at a lot of different bikes – both newer and older bikes, but through a Facebook-group I found a rather good deal; a Honda CB 650 from 1981 (or probably more likely 1979).

Honda CB 650 from 1981
Honda CB 650 from 1981

The bike is not in mint condition but that quite okay – As I mentioned, I wanted a building project.

My plan is to separate the project into different steps in order to gradually learn more about motorcycles – Currently I know nothing! :D

Here is the current plan:

Step 1

  • Replace bent front brake lever
  • New throttle
  • New handles
  • New switches on the handlebar

Step 2

  • New clutch lever and perch
  • New front master brake cylinder
  • New handlebar
  • New speedometer
  • New headlight

Step 3

  • Rebuild bike frame
  • Frame paint job
  • New seat
  • New tail light
  • New licens plate light
  • New turn signals

Step 4

  • Fuel tank paint job
  • Rims paint job

I might change this plan continuously, but this weekend I’m planning to complete “Step 1”.

Please let me know if you got any good names for my bike or any tips/tricks for my project.

Bought a road bike

This might not be a topic that is interesting to everyone, but I recently bought a road bike, and I absolutely love it! :D

I’ve never owned a road bike before, and now I actually regret that – they are just so much cooler, nicer, faster and “awesomer”!

I bought a Giant TCR Composite 2 (2013) with a Ultegra/105-mix (more specifications).

Giant TCR Composite 2 Ultegra/105-mix
Giant TCR Composite 2 Ultegra/105-mix

Because I’ve never had a road bike before, I never realized the importance of having “extra gear” – This also explains why I only have pedals with toe clips, no bottle cages, no helmet, no bicycle clothes, and no bicycle computer. This setup has been sufficient for the first two weeks of owning a road bike, however when going on longer rides, I’m starting to miss having bicycle shorts…

Until now, I’ve ridden with my Nexus 5 in my pocket and tracked my rides with Strava, but I’m planning to get a bicycle computer soon – possibly a Garmin Edge. Any recommendations would be much appreciated! :)

Below I’ve included one of my most recent rides (actually it’s split  into two separate rides) – I know it’s not the fastest rides, but bear with me:

Bike specifications

  • Frame : Giant Composite Technology
  • Fork : Advanced-Grade Composite, Composite OverDrive Steerer
  • Handlebar : Giant Connect
  • Stem : Giant Connect
  • Seatpost : Giant TCR Vector Composite
  • Saddle : Giant TCR saddle
  • Shifters : Shimano Ultegra double
  • Front Derailleur : Shimano 105 (double)
  • Rear Derailleur : Shimano Ultegra (short cage)
  • Brakes : Tektro TK-R540 w/ cartridge pads
  • Brake Levers : Shimano Ultegra (double)
  • Cassette : Shimano Tiagra 12×28, 10s
  • Chain : KMC X10L
  • Crankset : Shimano 565 – 50×34
  • Bottom Bracket : Shimano Integrated
  • Rims : Giant P-R2
  • Hubs : Giant Sealed Bearings 24/28h
  • Spokes : DT Swiss Competition 14/15g
  • Tires : Giant P-R3, 700×23

LG Nexus 5 from Google

Recently I made a radical decision to go form iOS to Android; from iPhone 4S to LG Nexus 5, to be more specific.

For those of you who don’t know me, I got my first iPhone (iPhone 3g) in 2008, and I have been an avid Apple users and advocate ever since. This also explains why a bunch of my friend after my purchase of the Nexus 5 were like: “What the heck happened?!”

I’m still really happy with my various Apple products, but I am also extremely happy with the purchase of my first Android phone.

I always thought it would be a bit difficult to go from iOS to Android, but after having used my new Nexus 5 for a couple of weeks, it is somewhat the other way around when I have to use my iPad or my old iPhone.

Google and LG did a really great job with this phone, and the experience using it, is best described with words like: fast, clean and efficient – No lagging and no delays.

LG Nexus 5 from Google
LG Nexus 5 from Google (Credit: Google)

One really great thing about the Nexus 5 is the display which is particularly impressive – It is a 5″display with the resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels. This results in a pixel density of 441 ppi (the iPhone 5s is 326 ppi). For those of you who don’t speak “nerd”: This is a really crisp and sharp display!

The phone is currently only available in black and white, but a red version has been available earlier. There has been rumours about a yellow version too, but it hasn’t been released yet.

Please let me know if you got any questions about the phone, and stay tuned for tips and tricks for Nexus 5 and  Android in general.

If you are an iOS-user, you might find these iOS tips and tricks handy.

This time of the year

Its the time of the year where, for my part, I have to prepare a wish list for both my birthday in the beginning of December and Christmas – which I actually kinda like doing.

Most of my family live in the other end of the country, and we don’t see each other as much as we all would like us to, which sometimes can make it hard to find presents for each other. Therefore I each year make my wish list early.

This is wish list for 2013 (in Danish)

Do you have any suggestions for my wish list? – and what are your wishes for Christmas?