rob m

If it makes you smile and enjoy riding it, any bike is good for you. Owning a bike is a personal choice and I like those who buck against the trend and ride what they like. I've deflected criticism for any bike I've owned because they're not riding it, I am. I couldn't care less what others think.

South East are still panic buying, long queues here in Surrey. Lots of 4x4s brimming their tank with £3 to transport their little sprogs to the local school. Priorities.

It's the official BMW Service Manual on DVD Rom, the one the dealerships use. You can buy them from ebay like this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264667063545?hash=item3d9f62e4f9:g:q-AAAOSwrVRf33-K Only works on Windows by the way!

Maybe they’re not! Have you got the RepRom manual on CD?

I would love to do one of those, I ride a heavy old lump and on tight corners or hairpins it can be a handful, a bit more confidence would really help with this.

Bikes are capable of much higher mileages than people think. I've said it before but engines aren't made of cheese and if they're maintained well will go on for mega miles. If they are well maintained that is. I've bought bikes with low mileage (-20k miles) that have been dogs because they've mistreated but once I've sorted them out have gone on to much higher mileages because I've kept on top of servicing. I'd happily buy a high mileage bike if I was confident it had been looked after. This guy has turned 500,000km on his BMW K1200S (Same bike as mine):

Indeed. Also I couldn't get my knee down at all these days, even if I tried

Only serious crash I've had is on a Kawasaki ZX9R on the Betts Way roundabout in Crawley in 1999 after it had rained. I was in my 20's and full of bravado. Me and some mates had spent the day scraping our knee sliders and after a quick downpour I was first to head out. Charged into the roundabout, tipped it in, knee down and lost the front...plastic everywhere and a DID exhaust can ripped off in the process. That was bad enough but mates were stood by the roundabout and added to the embarrassment with their piss taking. Ultimately it was my own fault so took it on the chin, it cost me loads though repairing the bike as I was young and didn't want to claim on the insurance. Lesson: Don't show off. By the way, anybody remember when we could sell worn sliders on ebay? Nice little earner that.

A ZX9R, 1994, the B model. I traded in a GSXR1100 for it in 1998. First couple of days it was fine then the brakes went, then the radiator, then…I crashed it. The only bike I’ve truly hated. Got rid of it for a Fireblade which in contrast was one of the best bikes I’ve ever owned.

Remember this in Germany fella? It was the same day we went to Aachen and were dying in that shop because it was so hot.

I fill the BMW with whatever's the highest octane available, as advised. In Wales last year I found a garage that only had 95 and the bike definitely ran rougher after filling up. It was really noticeable. In Switzerland in 2017 I found this Shell garage that had 100 octane (probably for the classic and sports cars that drive the passes). I was properly excited for a moment

So, the Alps next year?

Yeah, I saw that. I’m doubtful the situation will change anytime soon. Goes to show how quickly things can change.

Covid: Fully jabbed arrivals from France must still quarantine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57869880 Woke up to this. Applies to those transiting through France too. Taking into account the devastation in the Eifel, this news and the cases in the UK and France rapidly rising, my mindset is changing to 2022. Have to admit, this ‘can we/can’t we’ situation is doing my head in!

Just terrible.

When @Gerontious and I were touring France a few years ago, I was met with this on a campsite we stayed at. I used the ladies.

Looking forward to your report!

Happy Birthday!

My formative riding years were on scooters, I was in the scooter scene of the 80's/early 90's. Such great times and memories. I rode them to all four corners of the country to scooter rallies, which is maybe why I love touring now as I loved the ride there as much as the rally. Some of my mates are still into the scene and ride all over Europe. I had a dig around and found a couple of pictures: My mighty T5 with a Mikeck exhaust, 172cc Malossi kit and 30mm Dell'orto carb. In scooter terms it absolutely flew. The same scoot in the foreground at Margate '91.

Nice bike bud.

Timing chain let go?

Happy Birthday chief!

Unfortunately par for the course for certain Hondas of that age. I went through 2 rectifiers and a stator on my 929 Fireblade in 6 years. In the end I kept one of each spare and classed them as consumables. There’s not enough air flow where they’re sited and they overheat.

Plan?