So, at the EOSM, TOG mentioned he had an ideal bike for the Africa run, the Doctor's old Benly. Terms were discussed, hands were shaken and today I went to collect it. Today's top tip - When collecting a bike from TOG, if Timo is there, don't even joke about whether he has looked at, breathed on or touched the machine. It will come back and bite you. It's shiny, I had to break it to TOG gently that it will no longer be receiving the same standard of loving care and attention as before. Once the detritus of an afternoon's fettling was cleared from the drive and the garage rearranged, it emerged blinking slightly into the light. TOG kicked it over and once it had stood for a few moments it then started sweetly on the switch. Donning just gloves and helmet, I set out on a trial run. The first trundle around the block reminded me that drum brakes need a little bit of fore thought. As TOG promised, it has loads of torque, but I still felt compelled to twist and go - the look on his face as I returned and he pronounced 'you were revving the tits off it' was akin to that of a father seeing his pride and joy being deflowered and cruelly cast aside by some unsuitable youth. It has a seat that makes you feel your bottom is being cupped by Angels wearing the softest suede gloves. The Dave Silver exhausts give it a slightly fruity note, a pleasant warble. It only has 4 gears, a fact which continued to fox me on and off all the way home. So I returned, donned leathers, loaded the spare wheels (important these) and assorted bits and pieces into the car and set off northwards. It will sit happily at 65, anything above that and the vibration through the bars is very noticeable - some sort of padded grips are on the list. I trundled through the M25 traffic, filtering with slight trepadation as the last time I did this I was knocked off at slow speeds. All was fine. As the traffic cleared I was happily cruising (I hate to use the word but that's what it was) at around about 70 or perhaps a little over. Remember those vibrations, well at Rickmansworth the first of the three part Timo curse arrived - the speedo stopped working. At the first services I came to, Toddington, I stopped for a drink and simply re-attached the cable where it had vibrated loose. Patting myself metaphorically on the back (I'd done something almost technical) I proceeded to the petrol pumps. Coming out from paying, part two of the Timo curse arrived - one very flat back wheel. It had been fine turning into the services so I assume I picked something up either in the car park or going into the petrol station. My very first puncture. A couple of phone calls later and the Pixie Pit Stop break down services arrived and the lovely Mr Lozzo attached that all important spare wheel that I'd put into the car earlier. A quick detour via the Pixie place for coffee and alternate derision and admiration and on I went. Perhaps slightly faster than I had been earlier. Flat out in fact. Which is where the third part of the curse arrived - when indicating left to pull back into lane one (flat out isn't really all that fast on a 25 year old 198cc Honda) the engine spluttered as though going onto reserve or as if a kill switch had been flicked. Stopping indicating stopped the symptoms, apart from the back fire shortly afterwards. One battery to go on the optimate tomorrow I think. So I slowed it down a bit, but the speedo cable still managed to unattach itself again at Watford gap. So I slowed down abit more. By this time it was getting dark, I stood up and looked down over the handlebars to check the light was actually on - yes, but in that very special, gleam from under a door of a dimly lit room way that I'd forgotten about since parting with the CG125. Some form of brighter illumination has been added to the list. The lack of speedo meant I went through a set of specs hoping that there were no rear facing cameras mixed in with the specs and that the traffic I was keeping pace with was actually going at 40. If a NIP arrives at TOGs in the next couple of weeks then I'm blaming Timo. It is however a lovely beastie. Roll on next year and the dark continent.