rob m

My phone stays in the tankbag, it's my lifeline should things go wrong...and it's expensive. I've had Zumos in the past but couldn't justify the cost this time around. So for a cheap solution last year I bought a Garmin Nuvi car sat nav for £40. It has lifetime European maps and live traffic through bluetooth. There's thousands out there up for grabs. Updated the maps right away. Then I bought: https://www.ram-mount.co.uk/holder-for-the-garmin-nuvi-52?search=nuvi 52&sort=p.sort_order&order=ASC&limit=20 and: https://www.ram-mount.co.uk/diamond-base-with-1-inch-ball?search=diamond 1" ball&sort=p.sort_order&order=ASC&limit=20 So the cost was £70-ish all in. Then, after looking at ATV forums and seeing what they did, I silicone sealed the screen (tutorials on youtube) and covered the speaker port with waterproof tape so the two main routes of water ingress have been dealt with. Those guys on the ATV forums have done this for years and swear by it, some even hot glue the power supply in, I haven't gone that far. I also looked online for a motorcycle icon which I now have on the sat nav, transferred it via my laptop. The sat nav has latest hotel and campsite updates but to be honest I'd probably use my phone for that then enter the postcode in the sat nav. For GPX files, Basecamp won't play ball and transfer them over but MRA will, no bother. I tried this and they appear in the 'Trip Planner' app on the sat nav. So for about £70 and a tiny bit of DIY I've a got a Zumo-lite. I'll pop a couple of pictures up when it's back on the bike.

I had a Garmin Zumo, we would decide on a destination then set the sat nav to ‘no motorways’. It took us through some lovely areas of France. We knew we wanted to get to Jaca so split into 3 days. We stayed in Le Mans, Bordeaux and then to Jaca via Pau. When we were in Spain we would head out for the day and see where we ended up then use the sat nav to get back to where we were staying.

Have an idea of where you want to go and plan loosely around that I’d say. I’m away on the 19th May to Spain, the only thing that is certain is that I’m on a ferry to Santander from Plymouth and that I’m going to the MotoGP at Catalunya the following weekend. I’ve already bought the tickets. Then I’d like to cross the Pyrenees into France but no idea what routes we’re taking after that. I imagine it’ll probably be home via the Eurotunnel but I haven’t bought a return ticket, I’ll do that while over there. We’ll just keep an eye on the weather and be guided by that. Got a quite a few GPX files that can be cobbled together at short notice but I’m not planning a route, we’re going to keep it free to choose at the start of each day. We’ll look for places to stay late afternoon/early evening through booking.com or air bnb with a washing machine as I’m only taking a week’s worth of clothes. The thing is, me and my mate are really chaotic and can’t plan to save our lives but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, sense of adventure and all that. When we rode to Spain in 2016 we didn’t use a single gpx file and it all worked out fine.

Nice experiment but you’re over thinking it. I judge heated grips by feel. I’ve had Grip Puppies on my last 3 bikes and they’ve all let the heated grips work well for me. Got a set on my latest K1300S. BMWs have great heated grips and have two main settings: 1. Ooh, that’s nice. My hands are pleasantly warm. 2. Send help. My hands are on fire and I’m in fear of first degree burns. The Grip Puppies take some of the heat out of the second setting, which is welcome.

Nice one Simon, great bike. Sounds like a bargain. Hope you have lots of fun on it! If you haven’t already, search up Griff and Jones on YouTube, one of them rides exactly the same colour and model as yours, he’s been all over the uk and Europe on it.

Yep. Amazing place and roads.

I’m doing something similar-ish. Already booked a one way ferry to Santander from Plymouth, got an early bird ticket for £322 all in. Sailing out on 19th May, we’re spending a few days in the Picos then riding via Jaca to Barcelona for the Catalunya MotoGP. After that, across the Pyrenees for couple of days staying at a mate’s place near Carcassonne. Then just winging it back to Calais, where we go is dependent on weather, high passes might still be snowed in. We’ve got 15 days overall. For the ferry vs ride debate. I booked a ferry this time because in 2016 we rode to Spain through France over 2 days. The report is on here somewhere. It pissed down all the way and it was a totally miserable experience. The other reason is it’s my choice and my money. I’m not forcing anybody else to do it.

Every bike I've owned over the past 30 years has lived outside under a cover. No ACF 50, no trickle charging, no starting during the winter months. I'll give them a good wash before covering for the winter (I've used an Oxford Stormex for years), then lock up and leave. Come the Spring, I take the battery out, charge it up and start the bike. Surprisingly, none of them have crumbled into a pile of rust, blown up or refused to start. I imagine it's easier in a garage. Also, don't listen to naysayers who say petrol goes off in 4 months. It doesn't. Nor does engine oil.

Dodged the showers and had a nice run down to Goodwood with a mate. Surprised to see few bikes out for a Sunday, unless something was going on elsewhere...or the slightest hint of rain put folk off. Anyway, nice little 120 mile loop done and burger consumed. Bosh.

Not at all selfish, I love being on my own. I'm setting off on a trip tomorrow for a week on my own and I'll love it. I've let people down over the years with pulling out of trips or getting ill so I've decided to do things on my own now so I'm only letting myself down if I cancel plans. Also I can stop when I want, go where I want etc.

Quick engine oil change and shaft oil change on the K13S. Went as planned, thankfully BMW provided a drain plug on the K13S final drive so I didn’t have to split and drop the shaft drive like I did with the K12S. Ended up going to a local aquarium store to get a large syringe and clear tubing to do the job! Bike nearly ready for a trip to Germany next week.

This was uploaded today by Saddlebags. I liked the whole video but I think this is the most jaw dropping drone footage I've seen of a motorcycle ride on Youtube, the music makes it incredibly moving. Link is timestamped.

I thought the band were great, less so Axl. Slash played a blinder as usual but then he’s one of my guitar heroes so could play nursery rhymes and I’d still listen to him. I had the Les Paul out last night and was jamming along with them, bloody love it!

Took the new wheels down to Brighton this morning. I like it very much.

Replace the worst PM ever with the second worst PM ever? Nothing surprises me anymore with this shower.

I've stayed at Camping Alpenblick, lovely little site and great hosts. https://www.camping-alpenblick.ch/en If I ever return to Switzerland I would definitely stay there again. It was in 2017 and was about £15 for the night, not too bad for Switzerland. Like you, I got supplies from the local Aldi but I did splash out for a breakfast in the restaurant and it was worth the extra coin. If you're on a budget, trust me, don't eat out. The prices are eye watering! Interlaken is beautiful and the site is right next to Lake Thun which is gorgeous. Some pictures:

That's what you get when they appoint Howard from the Halifax adverts as chancellor.

I wonder whatever that could be? Not immigration presumably as she wants them back to support 'growth':https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/24/liz-truss-plans-to-loosen-immigration-rules-to-boost-uk-economy Fact is, she's already dead meat. With a cabinet full of chancers, prices going through the roof and a budget for the wealthy the trajectory is heading speedily downwards. Truss' complete lack of charisma, oratory skills, leadership or charm will see her hung, drawn and quartered by March. My moneys on a General Election by the summer.

Tories will never bite the hand that feeds.

Good luck with that. https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/eur/17540-pound-to-euro-week-ahead-forecast-risk-of-exceptional-volatility-and-historic-lows

I've just put a tenner on the Smiths being number 1 next week.

John Major? I've suddenly been transported back to 1991! Truss is as thick as shit. I'll be watching what she achieves, although my hopes aren't high. Not that I have any hopes, of course.

You're right, they could.