Joe85

I’ve been touring in Europe several times with just the phone with absolutely zero issues. Hundreds on a dedicated satnav just seems unnecessary to me.

Thought I do a quick multi-bike policy check on an S1000R and a 1250 GSA - £1400 with Bennents. That's pretty decent.

Gerbing are running 20% off their heated clothing and gloves this weekend with code BF2023. Some good discounts to be had. I'm tempted by the heated trousers. Brought the gloves, jacket and socks last year and they're absolutely marvelous, especially the socks (although a faff to get on and connected). Everything connects to the jacket, so you adjust the heat levels for the jacket, socks and trousers through the controller. The gloves have built-in, independent controls.

I have to say, having taken a car to the ribs, they do take a particularly long time to heal - it inhibits so much of what you do normally. But i just cannot bring myself to buy one. Like Dave, it just feels like far too many layers, although i say this in ignorance having never tried one on.

Rather annoyingly, Rukka has stopped including thermal liners in their jackets and trousers. They don't even include an attachment zip so you can transfer over older thermal liners. Bit low, that.

I get bent over at the moment. The GSA was £800 a year, which is far more reasonable. The S1000R was £1200. I've 6 years NC, no rider fault accidents, and zero points/convictions. The bike is kept in a locked garage too. Must be my location and proximity to bike crime in London. Twats.

It just a bit more naughty, a bit more exciting. It has that something that gets the blood pumping when you give it a bit of throttle. There was always something ‘meh’ about the 1250. Great for touring, superb actually, but for a bit of fun on a weekend? Nah. New 1300 just felt fun to ride. I feel like I could enjoy commuting on it. Something I could never do on the 1250 (Adv). Insurance are tearing my pants down, though. £1800 quid! Part exchanging the S1000R softens the blow a bit.

Sportsbikeshop currently running 20% off of Rukka.

I should’ve added “when moving”. Incredibly agile thing.

It was on my mind, haha. I need to go to Frankfurt next week for work, but you’re right - I can’t be doing that again.

It’s true, though. If all was fair, then any points you have, or claims on your policy would only be applied to one bike also. Anyway, in light of this attempt at legalised theft, I’ve decided I’d rather just trade the S1000R (again). In your honour I’ll be sure to read the small print, just to make sure they’re not ethically sneaking in some other outrageous money making clause.

Nonsense. I’m legally obliged to take out motor insurance to drive my vehicle on the road - that makes it a racket, legalised extortion. “No claim's” isn’t some finite resource that needs to spread sparingly throughout the country. It is literally an imaginary discount applied because you can demonstrate that you have not claimed insurance on your policy in that period. There is literally nothing preventing me using it across multiple policies other than pure greed and profiteering from insurers. Similarly, car no claims cannot be used on a bike policy, yet car claims must be disclosed. Rancid practices. It’s a con. Still, well done you.

Nah. Just went for it. Sadly got caught out by snow once back in the UK, but in France it was great; the weather was dry, which helped.

I did a four day jaunt to Paris this time last year. It really is a beautiful time of year to travel on European roads, just a shame about the temperatures. Frosty farmers fields, stretching for miles, glistening in the mid-morning sunlight. Stunning. I’ll see if I can throw up some footage. I would advise heated gloves, instead of or in combination with heated grips. They’re a game changer for sub-zero temperatures. I also had a heated jacket and socks, and that allowed my to ride all day in sub temps ranging from -4 to 5 deg like it was summer. Some may see this as risky, but for maximum enjoyment, I would suggest avoiding motorways and enjoying the backroads. Good luck!

And I’m sure your parents are especially proud of you for doing so. Congratulations. Why you think this relates to my post, I have no idea.

Today I learned that you can only use your no claims bonus on one policy at a time. Con artists.

Test ride the 1300 GS today. What a preposterously awesome bike. Wheelies for days, fast, light and nimble and still comfortable. Ended up buying a Trophy edition. Pick it up Saturday. Oh dear.

XCP for me, too.

Here's some Friday entertainment for you all. Don't think I got around to posting this at the time. Having just crossed back over into the UK following a 4-day trip to France back in Dec 2022, out of nowhere the weather decided to dump a tonne of snow on the A2. I had to ride 50 miles in that shit, the hardest ride of my life. Enjoy my utterly woeful attempts to navigate the snow (thank funk for crash bars).

FYI - the Quadlock mirror mount is a perfect fit for the GPS bar on the GS. A very cheap way of mounting an iPhone or other phablet if you have the right case.

Yeh, but because I record the imobilliser he won’t be able to start it.

I told him. He emailed my manager asking where is bike was

Yep, utterly bizarre. I meeting him next week to hand over the keys (bike is already back at work). He's already asking "did you damage it", "why did we move it" etc. He basically got a free service, although there was no chance I was giving him it back with a fully-charged battery (annoyingly I threw the old one out) so I let it discharge overnight. One of my senior managers has told him he has to get it off-site before year-end or we'll scrap it.