review Archives - TBNI.Blog - The Official TBNI.Blog

TORRAS for iPhone 17 Pro Max Case with MagSafe : Review

September 30, 2025 by TomBoyNI

TORRAS for iPhone 17 Pro Max Case with MagSafe : Review :

You will have without doubt noticed TORRAS cases this year, they seem to be sponsoring all of YouTube!

The offering that you will have seen over most of the big Tech Reviewers is their TORRAS OStand Q3 Air model. This is their top of the range case that offers huge drop figure protection numbers as well as an integrated ring that doubles as a holder and stand. You can set the phone in any number of orientations and angles for your viewing pleasure…

However that is not the case I bought.

The OStand Q3 Air is very pricey at £55.99 GBP, I just could not justify the cost on a brand I have not yet tried. At that price point they are directly competing with the likes of Nomad (which has been my case of choice for the last 2 years with my iPhone 15 Pro Max) and Mous, a previous and uncontested favourite of mine, since replaced by a Nomad.

So I opted for one of their mid level cases, the TORRAS for iPhone 17 Pro Max Case with MagSafe which was priced at £23.99 GBP. For similar reasons to my purchase of the ESR Hybrid Magnetic Case, mainly that it was readily available for delivery prior to the launch of the new iPhone and it is absolutely necessary to have a case for your new phone, only sociopaths use their phone without a case! /s

As you would expect with Amazon the case arrived promptly and my initial impressions were indeed very positive. The packing is as you would expect, it’s a box, it ensures the case arrives protected, and the case itself is wrapped in a soft touch branded bag. The pleasant surprise was the pack of buttons which allow you to add a little bit of customisation and personality to the case. It is simply a press out and replace process to add a little colour pop to your case.

ESR Hybrid Magnetic Case iPhone 17 Pro Max : Review

September 27, 2025 by TomBoyNI

ESR Hybrid Magnetic Case iPhone 17 Pro Max : Review

The ESR Hybrid Magnetic Case for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is one of the entry level cases available from ESR for the new 2025 iPhone range.

In fact the Hybrid Magnetic case is the cheapest in the range, at £11.99 at Amazon with an RRP of £12.99.

It was also the first case I purchased for my iPhone 17 Pro Max, and that was for two reasons.

As is now common place from ESR, they always have their products ready to go for launch. That’s important, and commendable in its own right. You buy a new phone, you want a case for it and ESR are always ready for launch day, so no waiting, no expected shipping, just a case that is ready when you phone arrives.
It offers full camera bump protection. The new iPhone 17s come with a radically new camera bump design, and until we see how things go with new design I opted for maximum protection of the hump, however, in protecting that hump you must be sure there is nothing to interfere with with those gorgeous new 3 x 48 megapixel image shooters on your new device. That is why I opted for this, maximum protection for the hump, and minimal outlay should it interfere. (Spoiler – it doesn’t, at all).

Should I be worried about the hump? The 2025 iPhone Scandal – ScratchGate…

Eufy Smart Scales Review

September 12, 2025 by TomBoyNI

Eufy Smart Scales Review :

For over five years I have been using a set of Eufy Smart Scales (C1) – so this review is probably well overdue! But it also means that it earns the title of long term review!

However – they are still in use, still working exactly as they did on Day 1, and have only had the batteries replaced once!

And, for the review I will keep it pretty concise.

2024 Classic Bike Festival Ireland Dates Announced

January 9, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2024 Classic Bike Festival Ireland Dates Announced :

The Classic Bike Festival Ireland is back in 2024 and promises to be bigger and better than ever before!

The event will be held at the Bishopscourt Race Circuit, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland on 3rd and 4th August 2024.

To wet your appetite the 2023 festival featured over 230 riders on 280 bikes on track over the weekend.

The packed programme is likely to follow on from the last year’s event and should include classic racing, sidecars, parade laps and modern race bikes. Some superb racing is also expected and after last year’s exciting events there will surely be something for all motorcycle race fans to enjoy.

Get this event marked up on your calendar now!

Check out my review and photo galleries of the 2023 event here.

2024 Classic Bike Festival Ireland Dates Announced

2023 Sunflower Trophy Photo Gallery

October 28, 2023 by TomBoyNI

2023 Sunflower Trophy Photo Gallery :

The 2023 Sunflower Trophy was held at Bishopscourt Race Circuit on 21st and 22nd October 2023 and marks the end of the Ulster Superbike Championship.

With horrendous weather stopping activities on Friday 20th October 2023 (main qualifying day) the organisers made the difficult (but absolutely correct decision) to amend the schedule, cancelling the Friday sessions and moving them to the Saturday. The Saturday’s schedule was then shifted to Sunday.

The result was two excellent (maybe a little chilly, but we can’t complain about that) days that enabled the full schedule to run and 2 brilliant days of track racing action to wind up the 2023 Season.

2023 Sunflower Trophy Results :

Full results (qualifying and racing) of the Ulster Superbike Sunflower Trophy Races, Bishopscourt, Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 October 2023 can be found here.

2023 Sunflower Trophy Races Photo Gallery :

TBNI.Blog is happy to bring you an absolutely huge gallery from the 2023 Sunflower Trophy Races.

Over 450 photos are on the Official TBNI Facebook Page, the album is public so you don’t have to ‘Like’ the Page, but of course that would be very welcome too!

Fusso F7 Liquid Wax Review :

September 9, 2025October 4, 2023 by TomBoyNI

Fusso F7 Liquid Wax Review :

With winter fast approaching it is now a good idea to give your motorcycles and cars a thorough winter clean.

Why you may ask?

To protect your paintwork from the harshness of winter. The increased road grime, the harsh temperature variations and the dreaded road salt that will eat and destroy everything that it can. (If you are an all year biker then In relation to road salt this is even more important for you and you really need to look at anti-corrosion protection for your machine. My personal recommendation is ACF-50, but that process will be covered in another post.). Now is the time to get ready for the attack of winter.

What should I do?

Deep clean and protect. Take the time now to do a little hard work to make your maintenance throughout the winter that little bit easier.

This is not meant to be a detailed post on how to wash your car, so if you have any questions please feel free to comment below this post but here is what I recommend to get yourself winter ready – the final step uses Fusso F7 – and the review you came here for.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give is do nothing in direct sunlight or when the paint is hot.

Snowfoam – to remove any obvious dirt and grime and soften what remains on the paint.
Citrus Spray – to remove or soften any bugs and other road grim.
Thoroughly rinse, if you notice a large amount of grime being removed a second dousing of snow foam would do no harm.
Wheels and tyres can be addressed as the snow foam dwells.
Wash using a wash mitt – using the two bucket method, one bucket contains your suds of choice, the other is for washing and rinsing your mitt. Do one panel at a time and rinse your mat thoroughly between each panel.
Decontaminate – what you need to do here will vary by car, but you may benefit from clay, tar removal etc.
Rinse thorouhly.
Dry. A car dryer is ideal – and screw fix sell a vacuum cleaner that also blows for about £35. It is a bargain and an absolute must if you plan on doing similar with your motorcycle.
At this point I decided to polish the car using Autoglym Super Resin Polish. I didn’t need to clay, or use a tar / spot removal product and Autoglym SRP is now often overlooked for some of the more influencer heavy brands, but don’t underestimate this product. It is an absolute essential for any garage shelf!
That was me ready to try Fusso F7.

2023 Classic Bike Festival Ireland Review

January 14, 2024August 10, 2023 by TomBoyNI

2023 Classic Bike Festival Ireland Review :

The 2023 Classic Bike Festival Ireland ran over the weekend of 5th and 6th August 2023.

In summary, the event was exceptional.

Sunday 6th August 2023 :

I was unlucky, in that I was only able to visit on the Sunday, but the overall set up was excellent. I have also heard and read only positive things for the live entertainment on the Friday and Saturday evenings and on may arrival on Sunday I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of all the campers and campervans that were parked up for the weekend and had had the opportunity to enjoy the previous evenings’ entertainment.

As for the Sunday event. It was great. From things getting underway at around 09:30 am there was rarely a time that there was not bikes on the circuit, and there is the secret to a good biking event – get bikes out there and keep things moving.

The only noticeable break, was for lunch, and I am a big fan of how Bishopscourt plans a lunch break, it means you don’t have to decide what session you are going to miss.

Paddock, parade laps and racing…

A quick walk through the paddock early on Sunday morning was a mixture of bikes getting prepped and bacon baps getting made. Bacon, brown sauce and fumes… What more do you want on a Sunday morning?

Michelin Anakee Adventure : Long Term Review

October 9, 2023June 22, 2023 by TomBoyNI

Michelin Anakee Adventure : Long Term Review

Michelin Anakee Adventure Tyres (on a 2010 BMW R1200GSA) :

This is a long term review of the Michelin Anakee Adventure Tyres, which replaced my Metzeler Tourances. Those Metzeler tyres were exceptional and were available at the point of changing so why, you make ask did you change from what you liked and clearly worked for you? The answer to that is simply marketing. At the time I changed to these Michelins they were the stock tyre for the R1200GSA and then for the new R1250GS model range. So if you bought a new bike from BMW these are the tyres that came on a new bike and I wanted to try them out. The power of marketing and brand awareness, eh.

TOP : Metzeler Tourance / BOTTOM : Michelin Awake Adventure

The Michelin Anakee Adventure is currently the OE tyre choice for the following :

BMW MOTORRAD : R1250 GS
KTM : 790 Adventure, 390 Adventure
MOTO GUZZI : V85 TT
TRIUMPH : Street Scrambler, Tiger 850 Sport, Tiger 900 GT

You can read the Long Term Review of the Metzeler Tourance Tyres here.

I put 10,290 miles on these Michelin tyres and at the point of change the rear was on the wear markers and there was still a reasonable amount of usable tread on the front.

Michelin Awake Adventure : Wear and Tear after 10,290 miles — Metzeler Tourance at Point of Change

If you are looking to know the crux of this review, then here it is. They are decent but there are better options. Read to the end to see what I replaced them with and my initial impressions. No cheating though please. Don’t be jumping to the end of the review just yet.

G-Shock GA-140BMC-1AER ‘Tokyo Neo’ Review :

June 13, 2023 by TomBoyNI

G-Shock GA-140BMC-1AER ‘Tokyo Neo’ Review :

The GA-140-BMC-1AER: A Bold Fusion of Style and Innovation :

Released in August 2019 in Japan, the Black x Neon Series includes four G-Shock watches with blacked-out bezels and neon hands and accents. The matte black bezels represent the night and the yellow, red, and blue neon accents represent the lights that evoke “Neo Tokyo City.” The theme brings to mind the classic 1988 anime film Akira, which takes place in the year 2019 and was promoted with the tagline “Neo-Tokyo is about to explode.” According to Wikipedia, Neo Tokyo” is a common name for a fictional futuristic version of Tokyo often depicted in manga, anime, and video games.”

The Power of Black:

At first glance, the GA-140-BMC-1AER immediately captures our imagination with its sleek and formidable appearance. Drawing inspiration from the urban streetwear scene, this model exudes an air of confidence and undeniable style. The bold black color scheme, synonymous with the G-Shock legacy, creates a striking contrast against the vibrant red accents, resulting in a timepiece that demands attention.

Digital Meets Analog:

One of the defining features of the GA-140-BMC-1AER is its unique hybrid display. This model elegantly combines the best of both worlds, blending analog and digital elements seamlessly. The three-dimensional hands, coated in luminous material, effortlessly glide across the dial, ensuring optimal legibility in any lighting condition. Meanwhile, the digital display offers a wealth of information, including time, date, and a handy stopwatch feature.

Unmatched Durability:

As with all G-Shock timepieces, the GA-140-BMC-1AER excels in durability, making it an ideal companion for the adventurous at heart. Its robust construction incorporates Casio’s signature shock resistance technology, providing protection against impacts and vibrations. The watch is also water-resistant up to 200 meters, ensuring reliability in the face of the elements.

G-Shock Dragon Ball Z GA-110JDB-1A4ER Review and Unboxing.

June 11, 2023 by TomBoyNI

G-Shock Dragon Ball Z GA-110JDB-1A4ER Review and Unboxing.

Unleash Your Inner Saiyan with the Casio G-Shock GA-110JDB-1A4ER Dragon Ball Z Collaboration

Introduction :

Greetings, watch enthusiasts and Dragon Ball Z fans alike! Today, we have a truly epic timepiece that brings together two iconic forces in their respective realms. The Casio G-Shock GA-110JDB-1A4ER Dragon Ball Z Collaboration pays homage to the legendary anime series while upholding the G-Shock’s legacy of toughness and innovation. Join us as we dive into the rich heritage of G-Shock, explore the mesmerizing design of this special edition, and unravel the technical specifications that make it a must-have for fans and watch collectors.

G-Shock Heritage :

Before we embark on this fusion of anime and horology, let’s take a moment to appreciate the G-Shock’s remarkable heritage. Since its inception in 1983, the G-Shock line has revolutionized the watch industry with its unwavering commitment to durability, reliability, and functionality. Built to withstand the most extreme conditions, G-Shock timepieces have earned a cult following among adventurers, athletes, and watch enthusiasts alike.

Design:

The Casio G-Shock GA-110JDB-1A4ER Dragon Ball Z Collaboration is a visual masterpiece that pays tribute to the beloved characters and epic battles of the Dragon Ball Z series. The watch features a vibrant orange and black color scheme reminiscent of Goku’s iconic Gi. The dragon ball motif adorns both the dial and the band, with the famous four-star dragon ball prominently displayed at the 3 o’clock position.

Technical Specifications :

Beneath its captivating exterior, the GA-110JDB-1A4ER boasts a multitude of features that enhance its functionality and usability. Let’s dive into its technical prowess:

Shock Resistance: As a member of the G-Shock family, this timepiece can withstand the harshest impacts and shocks, making it perfect for active lifestyles.
Water Resistance: The GA-110JDB-1A4ER offers water resistance up to 200 meters (660 feet), allowing you to confidently explore aquatic adventures without worry.
World Time: With its multi-time zone functionality, this watch enables you to keep track of the time in different regions simultaneously, making it an ideal companion for globetrotters.
Stopwatch and Countdown Timer: The watch features a built-in stopwatch and countdown timer, allowing you to measure elapsed time and set reminders with ease.
LED Illumination: Equipped with an automatic LED backlight, the GA-110JDB-1A4ER ensures excellent visibility in any lighting condition, day or night.

Collaboration Highlights :

This special collaboration between Casio G-Shock and Dragon Ball Z celebrates the anime’s rich universe and characters. The dragon ball-inspired packaging adds an extra layer of excitement for fans, making the unboxing experience truly unforgettable.

Conclusion :

The Casio G-Shock GA-110JDB-1A4ER Dragon Ball Z Collaboration seamlessly blends the worlds of anime and horology, resulting in a timepiece that captures the hearts of both watch enthusiasts and Dragon Ball Z fans. Its robust construction, striking design elements, and impressive array of technical features make it a coveted collector’s item and a unique expression of personal style. So, embrace your inner Saiyan, don this legendary watch, and let it accompany you on your adventures as you conquer challenges with the spirit of Goku himself.

Official G-Shock GA-110JDB-1A4ER Product Page

If buying one of these watches make sure to do your due diligence and check that the item you are buying is not a fake. Genuine sellers should be able to authentic their purchase with a Casio invoice and high resolution images of every part of the watch. The watch pictured below is absolutely genuine, bought on release date from Casio – so feel free to use these images as a point of reference.

(Scroll to the bottom past the unboxing gallery for full product specifications).

GA-110JDB-1A4ER Real World Unboxing Gallery :