bonio

OP's posted once and never come back

Sportsbikeshop are first class about online returns. Just keep the labels on, they will have pretty much anything back. Gloves are a problem for me. First time I bought gloves from them I must have had 8 pairs before I found one to fit. Now I'm reluctant to use anyone else.

Mra has waypoints and viapoints. As you follow the route, it will try to get you to each point but it will just carry on if you miss one out. If you skip a viapoint, though, it will keep turning you back until you pass it.

Bit of a shite site, that one, I reckon. Some great roads on there but mixed in with just as many you're better off avoiding, and no way to tell them apart.

Never ridden a Tiger 660. I owned a Tiger 800, and found the suspension was too budget to keep the front wheel properly planted. The reviews of the 660 paint it in glowing terms... but reviews tend to elongate the positive. Definitely worth a test ride.

You're right: the company you deal with are the brokers; the people who actually pay up in the event of a claim are the underwriters. Different brokers sell very similar policies from the same underwriters... and all at different prices. The point is that when it all goes pear shaped and you have to make a claim, it's usually the underwriter you end up dealing with, not the broker. When my bike was nicked a couple of years ago, it turned out that Markerstudy were the underwriters for the insurance I had bought through BikeSure. And they were fine - it took them just two weeks from me filing the claim to them sending me the cheque. I had had to argue their valuation up from "absurdly low" to "low", but apart from that no complaints at all.

If you decide to go for the electric thingy, don't stint on range. Years ago I had an electric moped for commuting and saw the maximum range slowly shrink as the bike got older. A few years later I test rode a Zero, but I found the usable range very limiting. If I were get an electric machine now, I'd be looking to get a quoted range that's at least 3 times what I need.

Another one to consider is the newer F750GS. A very neutral, smooth bike to ride. Should be a good fit for size, too. 100% suitable for touring. And, being a modern BMW, will come with ABS and traction control. I think it fits what you're looking for spot on.

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Here's some positive feedback. Feel free to move it to the right section

I always thought that a ride report was more like a travel diary. I'd be up for a section which read more like Biker's Britain.

Alston. Every road there is a great road.

used gently

That is freaky. No, soz, not a clue.

Or here's an answer from ChatGPT

No. No luck on roofers at all. Sounds a bit of a nightmare up your way

Agreed. Start with a 650 and work you way up to the bike of your dreams.

Just started watching Marc Travels - he does a tour around Great Britain. Very funny to hear him go into raptures about the "quaint houses" in suburban Peterborough. Great editing, and great shooting. A big upgrade on your average touring vlog.

It's years since I had the GS, but I seem to remember that with my 9st 3lbs of bulk applied to the stand, a gentle tweak on the bars was all that was needed to lift the bike onto the stand. I don't understand how it ever worked, given it was 4 times my weight. Not got a centre stand any more, so I've probably lost the knack.

The idea of riding an old hack for a year and then swapping the bike and touring next year is beginning to look attractive.

Nor is a clutch that fails after 4000 miles.

A clutch is always excluded from the warranty as a consumable. But I think a clutch that lasts only 4k would be usefully followed up by a firm conversation with the dealer about things being fit for purpose, consumable or not.

I've not ridden in Spain, but when I've driven a car there I've found the emptiest, bendy roads with tarmac so beautiful it's enough to make grown man weep. People write epic poetry about biking in the Pyrenees and the Picos. I'd say simply not to spend too much time at the coasts (which are busy), and the roads should be awesome. It's place I'd love to take the bike. There's a ferry to Bilbao from Rosslare, if that helps. Don't be too rattled by the cameras. It's just better to realise that things have changed and to be aware of those places where you need to careful, than end up with a collection of fines after you get home. I was in Germany, Belgium, France and Luxembourg for a week last year, had great fun on the roads, and got no fines.