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

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.

 

This adventure trail riding is a piece of cake.



Biscoff cheesecake with toffee fudge sauce and a pot of tea..... very nice.
This is at a cafe in Sowerby bridge next to the railway bridge



A very convoluted route but using the absolute minimum of main roads.

 

This is what some of the off roading looks like. Ripping down here listening to Kaiser Chiefs on one ear bud ..... what could possibly go wrong!
Nothing today as I kept pinching myself



How many bikes can do all this?
Sit on the motorway at a comfortable 65mph, do this off roading lark, and entertain me chasing my eldest on his ER6 last night around Pateley Bridge.



Look at these for peppered chicken strips

 

This weekend Helmut and I went to see both sets of parents; we planned to bite the bullet and go on the M5 on the way there as I had finished nights that day (Friday) and Helmut was working until mid afternoon. It was BOILING hot and we filtered for what seemed like a huge chunk of the journey - thank goodness for motorcycles as cars were well and truly stuck for hours. I have to admit to being VERY hot and grumpy though . Lots of considerate drivers and a few thumbs - up from van windows etc. Still, the motorway is always my very last resort on the bikes.....

We had planned to come back on a nice interesting route on Sunday, however absolutely biblical rain, being later away from his parents than we had perhaps anticipated and the fact he then had to drive back to work when we got home meant that we took the motorway again....and again did plenty of filtering, although nowhere near as much as the trip up there.

About 430 miles done in total and at least I got to use my birthday gift from my stepdaughters and their other halves - I can confirm that it is indeed waterproof and very handy!! https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/649396

 

My beautiful Fireblade has been admitted to an inpatient facility (local mechanic!) after a wait of several months to see what the slow oil and coolant leaks discovered during the MOT are about. I am missing riding it very, very much, especially in the gorgeous sunshine!

 

With Hondas reputation for engineering, reliability and quality, then hopefully it will be something trivial. Please do keeps up posted though as I for one am curious as to it's cause.

My Kove developed a very minor leak of engine oil at around the 700 mile mark. It turned out to be a minor issue as it was a hidden copper washer on a 6mm bolt, tucked right up on the head behind the radiator.
Totally hidden from any angle and can only be seen with a small mirror without stripping it down.

 

Hopefully it will as you say, be trivial. There is no sign that there is a leak until the fairings are off; I check the oil level regularly and it has not dropped. The mechanic was happy for me to "ride and watch", however I would rather get whatever it is sorted before it gets worse!!