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

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.

 

A run out on the Ducati this morning before the rain arrived here. I don't go far on the beasty, the riding position is even more radical than my NS400 and that's saying something. Its fun to ride tho.

 

I have tools, and live in Yorkshire, and have a Kove 450, and....... think you get the idea.
Let me know if you need a wingman

 

Nice rideout, coming back through the Campsie Hills and past the Carron Reservoir- I think claims of summer water shortages are being greatly exaggerated!!

 

Just a local rideout today, to Aberfoyle where there is plenty of space for bikes in the car park and a handy cafe.

There were about 15 bikers there, on all sorts from a classic BSA, a couple of Velocettes, and the usual mix of modern Japanese, Royal Enfields and Harleys.... it was like a youth club for the over 60's!!

 

Helmut came camping with me because that is what I wanted to do for my birthday.....we spent three nights away at a site that I love. Day one was gorgeous weather and we had a lovely ride to the campsite and set up....day two was an absolute washout with torrential rain all day and we didn't actually get out on the bikes....day three started nicely and we ended up riding back to the site in the torrential rain in full waterproofs and our way home today also brought mixed fortunes weather - wise. However....we had fun and stopped at Bringsty Vintage cafe today on the way home because it has become my "tradition" to have a slice of birthday cake from there every year. I can confirm that it was as delicious as ever!

I had an almost - off on some gravel on a corner yesterday on the Gower Peninsula....the back end went and somehow I managed to stamp a foot down and get the bike righted again, albeit over the wrong side of the road (nothing coming, thank goodness.....). I almost had a heart attack, but disaster was averted at least.

 

I know the feeling Mrs V, as, I guess, most members on here will have had at one time or another. There's nothing like little "moments" like that to sharpen your senses! Glad you managed to save it.
Gravel strewn roads can be a major hazard after heavy rain where washdown from adjacent land brings all sorts of debris with it. Many back roads in the Peak District are particularly prone.

 

So many of the roads round here are prone to it too (Herefordshire), but I just clearly didn't see the extent of this lot. How, I don't know, when I looked on the way back!! I am very pleased I saved it, would have been an expensive business I think .

 

....and definately a Birthday to FORGET!

 

Honda CL500 and CB500F at St.Fillans on a day ride around Stirlingshire and Loch Lomond National Park.

 

That has to be one of, if not the most beautiful areas in the UK IMO. I used to camp there twice a year for many years at Milarrochy Bay for walking/fishing/beer holidays with my Border Collie Tilly, now long gone unfortunately. Initially with tent but then caravan. Even had some short stays with bike and tent when weather was good. Shame about the feckin' midges though!!

 

Now that Loch Lomond is a "national park" they are much more controlling about camping and activities- Millarochy Bay is still beautiful, but "sanitised" with reduced and organised parking and a park ranger - wild camping is probably frowned upon and the chances of launching a speedboat as my Dad used to do are now nil.... no launching allowed!

And god forbid you should turn up with a jetski..... although that may be a good thing!!

 

I always stayed at the Caravan and Camping club site which included boat launching which I needed as I used to tow a Dejon 14 fishing boat up to the Loch when I camped in a tent.
Wild camping was stopped during the Summer, sometime in the late 2000's IIRC which I think was a good move because, prior to that, many wild campers left a real sh*t tip behind when they left. Empty beer cans, food wrappers, even abandoned, cheap "throw away" tents and sleeping bags. The were doing the same on the Islands in the Loch which led to restrictions on boat landing on the beeches. They were even resorting to chopping trees down for firewood. I myself came very close to knocking a blokes teeth out one time after a drunken (on his part) altercation with a wild camper near Balmaha. Same old story, the mindless few spoil it for the many.
Rant over!!
Still a beautiful place though even with the restrictions.

 

It was yesterday but got out on the Multistrada for a few hours. Met up with a couple of mates at Crossgates then routed through the Elan Valley down to Aberystwyth for an ice cream at the seaside. We then bomb burst in our various directions so had a slightly more spirited ride home

 

Out on the Kove today going north on the TET from near Huddersfield.



On and off road linking up to take me to Castle Hill.