2016 - Page 2 of 5 - TBNI.Blog - The Official TBNI.Blog

Winter is Coming : Time to Protect Your Motorcycle! ACF50 – The Answer to all your needs!

November 24, 2025October 21, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Winter is coming. For some that may mean very little, maybe a touch colder, a touch wetter, but nothing to worry about. However for us in the UK it means salt. Cheap, nasty salt that gets thrown over every road whether it is +6 degrees or -6. Although to be honest it is more likely on the +6s!

So the roads get salted, and that is a good thing. It is for road safety, to stop ice and keep us on the black stuff and out of the nearest hedge, whether you are on two or four wheels.

However the salt may as well be concentrated sulphuric acid as far as your bike is concerned. It will corrode it and destroy anything metal or shiny within a matter of hours, leaving your pride and joy looking like a neglected rust bucket, and you will pretty much be able to watch as the £££s fall off the bike’s value.

However all is not lost! Enter ACF50. This wonder juice treats your bike to a protective coating that prevents (and if necessary stops any further) corrosion from even happening.

The product itself is an oil based liquid that you spray everywhere (except brake components and tyres – as basically it will make them too slippery to stop you or keep you upright – honestly do not put ACF50 anywhere near the brakes or tyres). Once on it works itself into every nook and cranny of the bike protecting everything it touches.

Here’s how…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30paBTt8Oko]

Another article I found really useful in researching and subsequently choosing what winter protection to use can be found here :

http://f2mcltd.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/winter-salt-protection-acf50-fs365-or.html

I think this experiment speaks for the benefits of ACF50 far more than I could do here.

10 Second Review : Gears of War 4

October 15, 2016 by TomBoyNI

So the year is 2006, Gears of War comes out to critical acclaim on the xBox 306. It’s amazing, it takes the gaming world by storm, the new cover, run and gun system is perfect, the multi player is perfect, the story is deep and involving. Marcus Fenix is the hero we need, Locust is the threat we fear. Well played devs, well played! It has it all. It captures me, and millions more.

10 years pass and we get Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, we follow Marcus on his journey against the Locust Horde and then we have Gears of War Judgement and we get to see the story from Damon Baird’s side. Next comes a remake of the original for the xBox One. Finally the rest of the series become available again to a new generation of gamers thanks to backwards compatibility.

The story evolves even more, it gets deeper. Comics run alongside the games’ timeline and Karen Travvis pens five epic novels taking us from the Pendulum Wars (before the Locust emergence) to right level with the events of Gears 3.

So now everyone has the chance to be up to date and ready for Gears 4!

That is where I must start. From the beginning. If you are new to the Gears world, just don’t jump into Gears 4. Play through the originals, read the comics and the books, honestly, it is absolutely worth it. You will then be able to approach to Gears Universe with the empathy for the characters that us older games have developed over the last 10 years.

If you want to get ripped in right away go for multiplayer, enjoy it level up, get your packs and customise your player, however for the Campaign do yourself a favour and enjoy the whole back story. The Coalition have put a 20 minute prologue in there so you can get a glimpse of the story before you go at Gears 4. Don’t do it. Enjoy the series, then enjoy the Campaign of 4. I promise you will thank me for this advice.

So onto Gears of War 4 – and the actual 10 second bit… ish.

Scotland’s North Coast 500 GPX Route File – NC500 GPX

September 17, 2023September 27, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Scotland’s North Coast 500 GPX Route File – NC500 GPX:

UPDATE : I have again completed this route in 2019 and have uploaded some videos recorded on the Hyperlapse (time-lapse) setting of the GoPro Hero 7 Black Edition.

These videos will hopefully give you a little taste of what to expect or something to wet your appetite with so you can start planning your NC500 adventure…

A link to the Ride Report is also included further down this page along with the direct link to the GPX file of the NC500 route.

UPDATE #2 : I have completed the NC500 again, this time in 2023, and this time in a car. If you are curious about fuel on the route, specifically E5 / Super Unleaded 97 Ron, then this is the post for you : https://tbni.blog/2023/09/16/nc500-super-unleaded-fuel/

Day 1 : Inverness to Ullapool :

Day 2 : Ullapool to John O’Groats :

Day 3 : John O’Groats to Inverness :

</p>

I have now uploaded my galleries and Ride Report of my 2016 trip around the Scotland’s North Coast 500 (NC500). You can find them all here :

Scotland’s North Coast 500 : NC500 : Ride Report

~~One thing I did notice (for example in comparison to the Irish Wild Atlantic Way) was the lack of signage. Unless you knew you were actually on the NC500 you probably wouldn’t know you were on it.~~

UPDATE : As of 2023, having completed this route again I can now confirm that the signage situation is now infinitely better. You will now see frequent signage and directions that include the NC500 markers. It is not quite as frequent as the WAW however there are far less deviations from the loop.

NC500 Sign - These Signs will keep you on the correct route

The GPX file is available from the official North Coast 500 site, along with a printable map however my Sat Nav (a Tom Tom Rider V) found it far too complex, there are thousands of way points on it, and the sat nav just just refused to load it. The printable map is nice, but let’s be honest an A4 map covering 500 miles isn’t an ideal solution either.

Thankfully there is a good solution. This GPX file is sat nav friendly and guides you perfectly around the route.

(This GPX file will not take into account local diversions, road closures etc etc. Use it for guidance, but ensure to follow all local laws and rules of the road. TBNI.Blog is not responsible for the accuracy of this GPX file, it has not been updated since 2016 and should be used as a tool to assist your navigation and no warranty or guarantee is made or implied by its use. The use of this GPX is entirely are your own risk.)

Enjoy

https://www.tbni.blog/downloads/North-Coast-500.gpx

(If you have any trouble downloading the file just Contact Me and I will email it to you.

If you found this file useful please consider a small voluntary donation to the site, which helps keep things online and up to date. Thanks.

Gadget Show Live (2017) Cancelled?

September 10, 2016 by TomBoyNI

In what seems like devastating news for the UK Gadget fan Gadget Show Live appears to have been cancelled.

With relative Internet silence around the annual event, and the fact that at this time of year I normally pick up my tickets, get the flights and hotel booked and sort out a Christmas present at the same time I was looking to get that little bit of spending sorted.

However nothing. No talk of tickets, nothing on the NEC website, nothing from The Gadget Show, nothing on TV, nothing.

A little more internet digging and The Gadget Show Live website (http://www.gadgetshowlive.net redirects to http://www.upperstreetevents.net) has no reference to an upcoming Show. It is now advertising The Technology Showcase at Westfield, London (in October 2016).

Following on from this And my search turned to Social Media.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/gadgetshowlive/ – again references Technology Showcase, it states ‘Brought to you by the organisers of The Gdget Show Live.

Gadget Show Live Faceebook Page has a distinct lack of any mention of the Gadget Show Live!

Coming Soon – Long Term Reviews & Tests

September 9, 2016 by TomBoyNI

As bikers we all have our favourite kit and brands. We use them over a long period of time and develop opinions on them. Generally speaking it is the kit that we use for a long time and that works well then become the brands that we favour.

I will soon start posting long term reviews of kit that I have and have been using for some time. I will be pointing out the good and the bad, the price and the mileage the gear has covered and all importantly when it is done, will I replace it?

Make sure to subscribe to the site for updates or follow me on social media for updates and reviews as they are posted.

Twitter : https://www.twitter.com/TomBoyNI

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/tbnicouk/

TBNI.co.uk Going From Strength to Strength – Thank You.

September 1, 2016 by TomBoyNI

With only nine months of this year gone tbni.co.uk has already passed last years totals!

Thank you to all of you visitors for stopping by, liking the blog, following it and coming back! When you see the site grow it makes it all worth it!

Thank you!

Castles of Ireland 2016 : Tullynally Castle, County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland :

September 1, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Introduction :

My Castles of Ireland 2016 Tour is part of a larger UK & Ireland run Challenge as can be found on Adventure Bike Rider.

I will add the add the castles to this blog along with a little bit of their history to wet your appetite as to just another thing that Ireland and Northern Ireland has to capture your imagination and set your sights on. You can take in all of the castles on this island in on one trip of 676 miles, that according to Google will take you 14 hours 50 minutes. Of course that means no stops, food, leg stretches, or photo ops.

Castles in Ireland / Northern Ireland - The Route — Castles in Ireland / Northern Ireland – The Route

Belfast HOG & BOG 2016 – Newcastle Co. Down, Northern Ireland 06/08/2016

August 17, 2016 by TomBoyNI

As luck would have it I was fortunate enough to be in Newcastle on 6th August 2016 for the Festival of Flight (which I really should add was excellent!). On the way into town I noticed a massive gathering of Harley Davidson Motorcycles at a local hotel. It turns out it was their annual weekend meeting of the Belfast Chapter of the Harley Owner’s Group (HOG) and the Buell Owner’s Group (BOG) – See what they done there!

I was then fortunate enough to catch them leaving to go on their Saturday Run – what a turn out and what a noise! Enjoy…

(I might need a Harley after this!)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xXmlAFJSvc]

Castles of Ireland 2016 : Ballinafad Castle, County Sligo, Republic of Ireland :

August 17, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Introduction :

My Castles of Ireland 2016 Tour is part of a larger UK & Ireland run Challenge as can be found on Adventure Bike Rider.

Thanks for joining me for the Live Coverage of the Ulster Grand Prix 2016

November 2, 2023August 15, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Thanks to everyone who joined me for my live Twitter Coverage of the 2016 Ulster Grand Prix.

Seven races, a monster meeting for Hutchy, with 4 wins a great show from Bruce, with a win, a super looks and a number of podiums and an always keep going from M. Dunlop earning him a load more UGP Podiums.

All of this covered live with hundreds of tweets, so if you were with me thanks. If not hopefully you can join in next time.

Something must have been done right though…

If you missed the action you can catch it tonight 15/08/2016 @ 21:00 GMT on BBC 2 Northern Ireland and tomorrow, 16/08/2016 @ 21:00 GMT also on BBC 2 Northern Ireland and I’m sure the BBC iPlayer shortly afterwards.

Day 1 : Inverness to Ullapool :

Day 2 : Ullapool to John O’Groats :

Day 3 : John O’Groats to Inverness :

Disclosure :