What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

I just nipped out this morning for 50 miles or so on the Hyperstrada on a local route, stopping at Bringsty Vintage Cafe. There were a few spots of rain on the way back, but nothing biblical - it does seem to be getting quite heavy now though, as forecast this afternoon.

 

Out on my STRS for a run with my son on his STRS. I have to say his bike sounds better with the Arrow exhaust rather than my '24 plate bike with the standard set up.

 

Did a quick moto camping trip in the Jemez Mountains here in New Mexico last night with the new Moto Guzzi V85. Was surrounded by a herd of cattle, including a massive bull. The cows and coyotes became very vocal late into the night and early in the morning.
mc1 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr
mc2 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr
mc3 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr

 

@Marco Wikstrom that looks amazing!

 

That Guzzi does look good.

 

Bullocks

 

Yep, pretty big. And a polygamist; many cows and calves.

 

A really good bike for travel. I still maintain a Speed Triple for the thrills.

 

No, it was true!

 

Stablemates.
stv85 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr

 

So today was supposed to be a rideout on the offroaders but you must know what KTMs are like by now. It didn't make it out of his village despite a hasty air filter change as that had recently been replaced.

Nothing else for it, a Billy no mates day
I really can't believe so many of my friends still work Thursdays , of course I need to ring them to invite them out, despite them obviously being at work





Drax power station ( above the mirror) and Emley Moor in the distance, respectively.

 

I'm doing a Section of what is called the TET today and will then part off when the time lands right for tea.



This is a combination of very minor B or C roads, tracks, trails, water crossings etc.

Once you've played in puddles as a kid some of us just don't grow out of it, yes that does mean my socks are damp







That last picture is Sheffield Town centre from an unusual angle.

 

And then I ended up at Hathersage.
There's a nice cafe upstairs of the OUTSIDE outdoor gear shop.
Nice food and reasonable prices, worth calling in if you're out this way.

 

Is that last pic taken at Porter Brook in the Mayfield Valley?

I'll take a guess at the 2nd last pic is Stake Hill road on Ughill Moor?

 

Yes and yes, well done.

Porter Brook or Clough Lane.

Previous is approaching the farm at Ughill (camera shot taken carefully so as to hide the farmhouse behind the bag).

 

Because there are no photos, Helmut and I didn't ride to the Biker's Campsite in Llandysul for a night on Saturday via Crossgates and Devil's Bridge. I had planned an epic journey wending our way home yesterday, however the weather wasn't very clever, so we didn't go to The Owl's Nest for breakfast then home via Penelope's Cafe in Goytre Wharf, Pontypool and gave what tend to be the rainier parts of Wales even on a good day a miss. Still a very enjoyable trip away despite the rain and winds.

 

So yesterday I went to pick this up........
A Honda C1000 Hornet. I didn't go for the SP version for pretty much the same reasons as I didn't get the RX Street when I got my plain 675 (I've still got it so you don't have to have me flogged and drummed out of the forum ), it wont ever get tracked and I'm pretty sure my capabilities are more than covered by the standard suspension which still has adjustable Showa front end anyway. Also the SP only comes in Matt Black, cant stand matt paint.
Well the weather was pretty wet for the hours ride home from the dealers, though it did more or less stop raining on the way back. There was still plenty of spray to go around, so I found out on the first ride (apart from a test ride) the Honda has the Triples ability to throw muddy spray all over itself and all over your back and helmet too.
In terms of riding, obviously it was a sedate trip in bad weather but in general the suspension is slightly softer than the street which is no bad thing and nowhere near as terribly soft and bouncy (even with stiffer front springs) than the MT07 it is replacing. The tip in is slightly slower but just as predictable as you'd expect. As I said to the sales guy after my test ride, its very Honda, does exactly what you expect with no surprises.
The exhaust is hideous. I might betray my principles and take a picture of that side of the bike later.
I chose red as that was the colour that could be delivered first, couldn't get white until October and black was December (or may be the other way round). Having said that, this bike arrived a month late as i should have had the first week of May.
As its sunny this morning out for a couple of hours with one of my mates to scrub the tyres and get fat on a full English!



PS: Little Watson in the background not looking too interested in the new noise generator.

 

Happy New Bike Day

 

Freezing my nuts off on a Sunday coffee rideout - where is the June temperature!

 

I’ve been collecting parts for the upcoming rebuild of my old Suzuki DR650RSE. It’s a 1991 model. I’m having it done as I simply do not have the time or the expertise to do it myself. So far I’ve ordered braided hoses, front and rear brake discs and pads, chain and sprockets, fork gaiters, grips, mirrors, tyres and found a replacement second hand swing arm as the original has holes in it. It’s getting a full service and the front forks and rear shock rebuilt. Perhaps having the wheels rebuilt too if required. I don’t want it painting as I want it to look over 30 years old but be mechanically sound.
The plan is for me to ride to visit our son who lives in Chamonix and then ride some trails with him. He also has an old DR 650 but not as old as mine. His is a 1999 model. Obviously I’m not going to enjoy this trip as he also has a brewery and a bar in Chamonix, it going to terrible . I’ve made this journey many time by various means of transport. Bikes, cars, flights, motorhome and in September by train. The DR will be yet another means of transport. It will definitely be the slowest though as I’ll take plenty of time and stay off the motorways. it gets me there.
This plan is for next year though. Hopefully I can get to use it for a while here first.