To address your other points, you're quite right about knowing your mechanic/MOT shop, and I will endeavour to pass some work his way in order to get to know him and he me.
On a performance note though, if anyone's reading this about the Akras, I will say that they definitely add something to the midband without a doubt.
At fifty MPH, I could just about sustain fifth gear with the stocks in, and even then I'd have to accelerate slowly to move on up in speed.
Now, that has dropped to forty two, and it is more sustainable in each gear throughout the range.
I used to complain that this bike didn't like being in the wrong gear, but I'd be more reticent to level that accusation at it now I've got the Akras on.
Re-speeding in France, having just been there I can definitely say they're getting cheeky.
The black and yellow stripes around the fixed radars are gradually being removed, and they've moved over a lot more to the tall thin type of radar.
The warning signs are also being removed (pour votre securite...) and I have it on good authority that this year they're sending fines and licence points over to england for our speeding infractions.
Anyone care to comment on that?