rob m

So summer temps then I have the liner if temps drop anyway. I don't think you'll have to worry about that

Cheers, appreciate that. Especially the free part The picture of your gear you posted on your thread was really helpful. A mate of mine who lives in Kilmarnock is riding down and meeting me and then taking me on a tour of some great roads up to area. Can't wait. I have one eye on the weather for next so happy to adapt and be flexible. It is going to rain, it's just how much I can avoid. I'll take getting wet and riding rather than no riding at all!

The sleeping bag is rated for temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees. You will be very cold and I would recommend something that can cope with just above freezing. I use a sleeping bag liner in that bag and have been toasty in the winter. Saying that I have a more substantial bag on standby

Thanks for the tips chaps! I have two bottles of Skin So Soft (the old type) so will be packing one of them. Need a mozzie net but have time to get that.

Eesh. Any tips?

I'll be doing both! Enjoy Deutschland!

Thanks man, Moffat and the surrounding areas are on the cards! I've taken some routes/tours from the Bikers Britain book and put them through Basecamp the onto my Garmin. [mention]raesewell[/mention] I'll let you know if I'm passing through that area I'm camping light so this will be my home for the my trip. Tent: https://i.imgur.com/scm1rbA.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Sleeping Bag: https://i.imgur.com/KrDSGzv.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Chair: https://i.imgur.com/a9ZfLdD.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Inflatable Pillow: https://i.imgur.com/Z1LPHs6.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Inflatable camping mat: https://i.imgur.com/l9yC74F.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> I know camping ain't everybody's cup of tea but I love it and it saves me loads of dosh.

I was going to go with [mention]Gerontious[/mention] to Europe but due to Covid and a few health issues, I called it off. Very gutted but after risk assessing the situation it was right for me. So, after booking a couple of weeks annual leave to use up and the bike fully serviced, I wanted to make the most of the situation. I'm heading off on Sunday 30th August for 10 days touring Wales, the Peak and Lake District then Scotland. I'm really excited as I've never really explored the UK, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be camping all the way, so adventure mode is activated. I'll upload pics and videos when I can

OO but i do have some N gauge stock and if i can do it i might be able to have a pull out N gauge layout Cool. Looking forward to seeing it mate

After riding one last week, I'd go for the MT-10. Superb engine, very comfortable and luggage options for touring. Also, it's so flickable on the bends.

OO or N gauge?

Good phones [mention]XTreme[/mention], nice one I love new phone day and as I haven't had one for a while I think it's about time I look at upgrade options...

I've watched it so many times and am still gobsmacked how that bike missed him. Fan allegiances aside,(I'm a huge Rossi fanboy and I know he's not popular with some on here) but these boys are out there racing and taking huge risks for the love of the sport. I'm very glad nobody has been seriously hurt. Nobody wants that.

I'm 51 and have 9 years until I can take my pension from the NHS. I started working for the NHS when I was 19. It's a final salary pension and it's fairly decent but even with the projection of what I'm getting it's still only about half of my monthly outgoings so I'll still work on, probably in a part time capacity. It's not just for financial reasons though, I want to stay active and engaged. I know quite a few that have retired and suffered health problems not long afterwards, including a couple who died within 6 months

That's me too. I dropped my last K1200s twice. Once in the Pyrenees while paddling backwards on gravel and then at a campsite in France doing the same on wet ground, that ended in a couple of broken ribs. I'd had a Fireblade before that and it was light but the BMW was so heavy and I underestimated that. These days, I just get off and move the bike holding one bar and the grab rail. Haven't dropped it yet (fingers crossed).

Agree. When lockdown was eased and everybody was allowed out I saw some extremely stupid riding around where I live (about 2 miles from Boxhill) . I was out for a ride one Saturday when two Gixxers came past me and nearly had a head on with a bus on a blind bend, one nearly ending up the hedge. To be honest I see quite a lot of that around here. You generally see these guys puffing their chests out at Rykas cafe or Newlands Corner talking about how their godly their riding is afterwards. Saying that, I admit that was me not so many years ago and the late 90's were a blur of speed, kneedowns and other tomfoolery. I'll admit it now but I rode like a prick at times. I'm very lucky that I've managed to get through unharmed although my licence nearly bought it a couple of times. It's clean now As I grow older, I am becoming more risk averse on the bike, particularly with reducing my speed and reading the road, taking into account road surfaces. I bimble more now than ever and just enjoy the ride, I'd rather get home in one piece. Anyway, talking of surfaces, my main source of terror is gravel. I hate it and seize up when I see it, particularly on bends. [mention]Gerontious[/mention] and I toured France in 2017 and it was all over the place. Near Millau we ended up riding down a steep road with hairpins and it was wet with gravel on some of the bends. It was awful. I could feel my tyres losing grip. Horrendous.

Lucky sod. I love the Island. each time I've gone for the TT, I've explored the island and found some amazing roads. There's one that goes from the Bungalow and ends at the Sulby Straight, parts of it reminded me of riding through Germany. The back road leading to the Creg is a cracker too, and the ride to Peel is one of my faves.

In 28c heat and dodging thunderstorms, I've managed to do a full service on the K1200S: Valve clearances checked while cold this morning. All in clearance. Bike has done 31k miles. New clutch plates fitted. Cam chain jump guard fitted. K1300S cam chain tensioner fitted. Final drive oil changed. New sparkies fitted. New brakes pads front and rear, new fluids. All systems bled. Oil change inc. filter New Air Filters. Hornig fuel strip emulator fitted. BMWs of the 2004-2009 period had a fuel strip fitted and it failed...often. This shows on the display as full all of the time and I use the odometer to decide when to fill up, which I do anyway. New coolant, mate lent me a compressor so I could replace it under pressure as specified on the RepRom. Was really easy after my initial anxiety about it. Throttle linkages and other linkages greased. I started at 6am and finished at 8pm. All done in my allocated space outside my flat! I put a small gazebo over the parking space which helped keep the burn of the sun off me. Took it out this evening for 15 mins and it feels like a different bike. So much smoother and a delight to ride. The Barnett clutch plates have made the gear changes less clunky. Really looking forward to getting some miles under my belt, I haven't done any for 2 weeks since I was in Wales. Job done. Feeling very chuffed.

And the one you think perfect is always at a cost £90 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zebra-Head-Camping-Stainless-Steel/dp/B004DFC1LE/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?dchild=1&keywords=zebra+14mm+lunch+box&qid=1596903576&sr=8-2-fkmr2 Stoves are stoves...they provide heat. Cooking wise, this is the one I have:

I have a Coleman F1 which is similar in design and is very stable, as long as the ground is level but that's the same with any stove. It uses gas canisters. It's over 10 years old and is still going strong after many fishing trips and also being used on bike trips in the UK and Europe.Not sure if they still make them but I'm sure if they don't they'll have an alternative. I'm all about travelling light so the smaller the stove the better. Keeping your cooking set small is also useful, I use a carp fishing setup, there's hundreds on ebay to choose from.

https://i.imgur.com/yxSzY8K.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> https://i.imgur.com/wGpfQdV.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> I get excited when I receive parcels from Motorworks. Just gotta fit it now...

Congrats fella!

Private VPN and Piratebay have provided my entertainment for the past year. Cost me nowt.

I think they're great, at least for getting a decent deal anyway. I'm 51, been riding claim free for over 25 years and ride a big powerful BMW with a gearbox from a Massey Ferguson, so yup

Have given up using online comparisons, I call direct now. When I bought the K1200S in May, the best online quote for fully comp was £550 Fully Comp with UK Breakdown and legals. £1200 excess. Called Carol Nash, who were my previous insurer. £237 Fully comp with all the legal cover and UK/Euro breakdown including repatriation for the bike. £250 excess.