RantMachine

But it's one of the best bits...

But it does have the magical ability to cripples pillions

The argument as I've read it is that a tailpack loads the weight up high, when as a rule of thumb you want the weight down as low as possible, while on the flip side panniers create more drag than a tailpack. That being said, the panniers on my BMW were the least aerodynamic things ever designed, and I never really noticed any difference when using them. Oh, but there's a point - panniers can be a bugger for filtering. Depends how big they are, though. Personally I prefer panniers, leaves the rear seat free to tie a rolled tent or dry bag across the top. Now I just need to bodge a little frame to stop them sitting on my exhaust and melting...

Riding half way across the country?

TOGS ride one... back injury TOGS ride two... holiday What possible excuse will I have for missing the next one?

Clearly the seat on your 690 is significantly comfier than the seat on my KLX, saying things like that

Love it!

I'm going to wear something to make you buy me drinks not to do fancy dress again [emoji23] You have much to learn

Not my finest moment Still, at least I didn't chunder right outside the door to my tent like Ricky did

If you buy a new one, pitch it in your garden before setting off so you can make sure it's big enough! Couple of years ago me and Ricky both bought the same tent because it was meant to be 2m long, turned out when we got to the rally that they'd measured from guy rope to guy rope

What, because he said that the problem with the referendum is that people aren't fully informed when making their decisions? Are you saying that anyone who encourages understanding the facts properly must, by assumption, be voting in? That's an awfully mean generalisation to make about all the out voters...

Anti smoking billboards usually make me really want a cigarette. Except those ones with pictures of fat being squeezed out of a clogged artery. Or these ones

I will be impressively jetlagged! So the ride needs to feature many coffee stops

That made my morning

First!

Yeah, Glorian and I have had to do all the work telling people not to buy Chinese bikes while you've been gone

Awesome mate! Hope to see you on your travels!

Oh the stories I could tell

I like to think that the occasional good looking person joins, though

Forecast is looking great, and the bike is parked outside work ready for me to head straight over! See you all there!

NOOOOOO Don't do it! I made that mistake, and I have deleted my account and clicked "UNSUBSCRIBE" to their emails every month for two years and they still send me the damn things! Had far more luck meeting people who were into bikes by having an OkCupid account with me on my bike as the main profile picture... Plus the majority of biker chicks look like they have had several bad accidents with no helmet and resorted to food for comfort. I was trying to think of a decent way of getting that across but you nailed it Maybe fairer to include the words "on that site", though - I've never met people like that lot in the outside world!

NOOOOOO Don't do it! I made that mistake, and I have deleted my account and clicked "UNSUBSCRIBE" to their emails every month for two years and they still send me the damn things! Had far more luck meeting people who were into bikes by having an OkCupid account with me on my bike as the main profile picture...

I couldn't help noticing that a certain type of person voted for him in abundance... Or at least, were very vocal about their support during the leadership race. You know the type; twentysomethings or early thirtysomethings with a good education (probably a bachelors degree) who think that any type of hard work other than their chosen field is below them, but also think that they shouldn't have to work to get the jobs in their field, people should just come to them begging. The ones who have been living off the state since graduating and spend most of their time being a social justice warrior on the internet and attending every single protest they can, no matter the cause. Dreadlocks and hemp jumpers aplenty. I had a few university acquaintances who went this way, and I never quite got round to losing contact with them - they all flooded my Facebook newsfeed with pro-Corbyn crap during the leadership campaign, and honestly seem to believe that if he ever gets into power he'll create some magical world where they will be handed all the crap they think they're entitled to and never have to give anything back. I almost want him to get into downing street just so I can laugh wildly when they realise the reality of how it will go...

Does look very well looked after! My other half and I spotted a much shabbier but still pretty sound one of these in town yesterday and had a bit of a nose, both agreed that without a shadow of a doubt they look nicer than the 1200 models. I very rapidly forgot all the reasons why I swore off BMW while looking at that bike... A real pinnacle of design. Bit like looking at an illustration of what bulldogs used to look like before all the inbreeding took its toll