bonio

Mid country? I know what you west country folk are like.... you mean, like somewhere near Crediton?

Lucky the beer came the right way up. I'd have been unhappy with it sloshing out over my keyboard.

Hey matey @Bungleaio, give us a few tips on how to keep a brick weave drive free of moss and weeds. Yours is a masterpiece in tidiness. Done my last work of the week. Just got the garden to dig over before I set off.

Sticky tyres, man. Like it.

the perfect number of gloves (1 summer, 1 waterproof, 1 cold-proof) just the right number of trousers (1 pair jeans, 1 waterproof, 1 aspiring to be waterproof, 1 mesh for summer) too many helmets (1 full face, 1 flip up, 1 oldie that should be chucked out) a jacket tsunami (2 waterproof, 4 leather, 1 mesh)

I only missed mine for the first three years. I'm more or less over it now... almost.

Looks even better on wetter.de: warm, and dry

... and all the best for Mod 2!

You're right, a heavy bike isn't going to help build confidence; something mid-weight will work much better. Adventure bikes tend to be taller then sports tourers, and with their wide bars, they're easier to handle too. There are loads to choose from, as the sector has become very popular. I've neither ridden a Transalp nor a Tiger 660, so can't help you on those. Whatever it is you go for, at least try to find one to sit on before you buy - you will know from that alone whether it's the kind of bike you will be comfortable on.

Happy birthday mate. Don't get too drunk; need you to be sober on Saturday.

Some cities make a fine sight when you arrive by sea. I've never done it, but New York must be one of them.

Could be a hairline fracture in the radiator, one that opens up and starts to weep when it gets hot. I think if it we me, I'd try some Radweld, but I'm a bit of a bodger and others here will come along with more professional ideas. If you've got a pick of the bike with the leak, would be helpful.

Welcome in.

I've a feeling an engine strip down on the cards. Probably starting in the front room.

I had a good friend once who had paranoid schizophrenia. When he was on a wobbly he would turn into one hellishly crazy dude. But most of the time he was good fun. Rest in peace, Chris. Sadly missed.

Too busy this weekend to think about going away. Will have to get everything done on Friday.

@RideWithStyles is right: it's a 2023 bike and so under warranty. The dealer should fix it for free.

Welcome in! Very nice bike, looks like great fun. Abernethy? (the biscuit of course, not the place)

I used to have it my Garmin, too, and it's useful. These days I use an app the has track logs, and I hope I can recognise where I was from the track. But as I've been able to show conclusively, it's not a fool-proof method.

Fridays are days off for me, underserving scabster that I am. Bank holiday Monday, so only three more days at work between now and the Saray Grill. .

In a different life where youre only 5 foot 5, you'd be ridng a grom and it would tick all your boxes. There was a nicely customised one at a local bike meet earlier in the week and it had crowds of admirers. But in this world, you could do a lot worse than an sv650.

Happy birthday mate.

Can recommend the ibis styles at petite foret, valenciennes. Very comfortable, free brekkie, easy parking, next to a small army base so there are men with guns watching over your bike, and loads of places to eat and a petrol station all within 400 yards.

New boots for the DRZ. Had to replace the inner tubes too, as they'd had glued themselves to the rims. All in all 400 freakin pounds . Free coffee while I waited, which makes it all fine.

Pluggable, I hope