Gerontious

I went to Wales last weekend and I saw no difference. 20mph signs in the villages. but there's nothing new about that, well not for me anyway. they have been totally normal In Das Eifel for a number of years. Speed limits were unchanged otherwise. much ado about nothing.

E10. I don't worry about petrol. aside from the price of course. but there's nothing I can do about that. Was using E10 long before it became ubiquitous in this country on tour in France, as once you're away from civilisation that's mostly all you can buy. There was and still is so much paranoia about it, but I don't subscribe to any of that. Actually the level of paranoia was even worse just a few short years ago. Its died down quite a bit, but hasn't completely gone away. Every few months I seek out a SHELL as they sell seashells by the seashore... erm... I'll try again. Every few months I go to a Shell station and brim the tank with their E10. The call it fuel save and (I'm reliably informed) it contains a very good package of additives that will clean out the injection system and so on. It might cost me a £1 or 2 more for the full tank. but it makes me feel good inside and that's all that matters, makes me feel like Ive done something positive. Other than that I use whatever petrol I happen to be close to when the amber light comes on. If possible I will check on petrol prices and see if I can tie in one of the cheaper fuels with another errand. I tend to do this more when it's a proper refill rather than just a top-up. Today the cheapest is £141.7 - though a better choice for me is £141.9 as its next to the big Aldi.

Just be sure you’re sitting down when you start looking at the ferry costs. Some of the prices I’ve seen quoted lately for Santander and Bilbao have been staggering. I’ve seen mention though that some people have found it cheaper to cross to Ireland and travel south to Rosslare and catch the ferry from there.

it’ll be track only. And I would think that quite a few tracks wouldn’t allow it. Some have noise level constraints in place.

New desktop is now set-up and completely familiar as almost everything that was on the old is now on the new. Im not one for change so they even look identical... with only some slight differences in appearance. Top is a 2023 M2 pro and for now its sitting on top of my ancient 2012 2.6ghz i7 (originally a server - which I modified - bought it broken "spares or repairs" they said, in 2014, it was dirty. fan was in a right state, just needed cleaning!!) I tend to keep things for a very long time. very long. So this one should last while I'm waiting for the worms. Main differences. its lightning fast. cold to the touch - the old one never got hot, but it did always feel warm to the touch. silent (no change there) and did I mention it was fast? its not fast - its instant. Boot times on the old was 40 seconds, which I thought was quick for such an old device. The new one does the same in <10 seconds. Dual SSD and 16GB Applications open instantly. Good to have the latest OS. with all its attendant security. I can finally use the computer for banking and other highly sensitive stuff and not rely completely on my phone. a big plus. hooj. Anyway. not much left to set up on it. just need to find some rather more modern versions of some of the applications that it couldn't transfer. I'll do that tomorrow. day off. Now, about to get ready for a fun packed night with the rampaging schizophrenics. (bless em)

There’s really no need to buy the latest and greatest. Garmin support their products for years only dropping them when they become obsolete and that’s usually because they run out of storage space. I had a 660 from 2009. It still works just fine. Still updatable. Gave it to one of my friends so it continues to be used. personally I wouldn’t recommend an early TomTom with the same enthusiasm, as they drop support for them. Also early ones weren’t built too well. The copper contacts for power were kinda printed on and vibrations could wear these away. Not good. if you change your mind and want a bike specific sat nav. And they do have many distinct advantages. And you look on eBay, for example - look for any with LM in the description - it may be written as Lifetime Maps too. nowadays I reckon a sat nav is extremely handy for touring in Europe in conjunction with a phone, with data roaming. Then you’re basically fully covered. Sat nav’s aren’t always perfect. I learnt this year that sometimes they mess up. Though it wasn’t actually the units fault or its mapping/routing - it was 3rd party software that Garmin includes. i was running out of fuel and the poi software was wrong about the nearest fuel stop. So I looked at my phone - google maps - found one that was nearby and the Zumo guided me there. Sorted. No drama.

nothing would sway me to buy anything from TT. Nothing. Especially their luggage - which is always silly money.

I’ve read more than once in reviews that good quality muff used in addition with heated grips mean you can wear gloves that are just a step up from full-on vented summer gloves. So gloves with fairly minimal insulation. Never tried them myself. One summer I got carried away in the sales and bought some rather glamorous winter gloves. With a very clever design feature, it has two ways of putting hands in. One you get maximum insulation. The other has almost all the insulation on the back of your hands and only a little in the palm - so you get more warmth from the grips. In the sale they were a tad under £200. I did slap myself (metaphorically) for spending so much on something I wouldn’t wear for months. But i am apt to such moments of madness. Sales. Keep me away from sales!!

Pulled the trigger last night on a new desktop computer, to replace the one Im using right now, which is 10 years old. First the website said it would be delivered on Wednesday. Then once I completed the payment it said it would be delivered on Tuesday. And then just now a text message from DPD - your package will be delivered today between 1 and 2. Unexpected. I should really go to bed. Work tonight. (sigh) Awful rain last night - all night. and its going to rain almost all day. however forecast says it will stop when im walking. so there's that. if good luck runs in 3s I might be tempted to buy a lottery ticket mañana. though I say that a lot and always forget. (sigh)

Today I have started the bike. allowed it to warm up and while that was going on checked the tyre pressures. And once it was up to 3 bars on the engine temperature doodad. I checked the oil level. and the state of the chain. nice and oily. And once Snod Blatter finally replies to my text message I'm off to see him in his funny little house oop norf. He lives in Nottinghamshire but (being special) has a Sheffield post code. wipe the cobwebs off. Ive put the thermal liners into my trousers as its just a tad chilly. The bike tells me its 2c. Bracing or what?

Apparently. speed Cameras in France cannot - theoretically - detect speeds higher that 250kph (155mph) A camera clocked a car driver doing 275kph (170mph) and because the speed was higher than the camera was rated for, it couldn't be regarded as reliable and so he was acquitted. https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/No-penalty-for-driver-caught-at-275-km-h-on-French-motorway?fbclid=IwAR3YCVPyW7CzToadRu7A9Ss35npB1xxjw_0Zj0T2iMHLQO90pSCeZl5x8Ko

My walk home this morning was bracing. cold. well yes, its the end of November. This is to be expected. I wore my special hat. And kept my hands in my pocketses. Its not so cold that I need to wear gloves. I spent the night.. aside from gibbering. and eeking. thinking not of the cold.. but mid 30s heatwaves and how to deal with them. I have a cunning plan, but can't put it into action until Monday. Its no good buying something on PayPal credit and then them wanting payment two days before payday. No, that won't do at all. Someone mentioned a 20% discount at sportsbikeshop and this successfully ruined my night. I was kinda poised to buy something I don't really need and now I'm being forced to buy something I probably will. In seven months. seven short months. Its cold out.. but it won't last. In fact, its only 27 days until the solstice and the days getting longer again. 27 days. and coincidentally. its only 200 days until I'll be off in search of mid 30s heatwaves. endless blue skies. and roads that twist hither and yon and up and down. Baking in the heat and looking at the mountains and those last dregs of snow that still remain in them sheltered spots and thinking just how wonderfully cool it must be up there. I might even think about this here post. and smile all whimsical-like. thinking about how cold it was back on that Saturday morning in late November.

I don’t do this often, but as I’m at work with the rampaging schizophrenics. Nobody will either notice. Or care. £1,800 for insurance deserves a loud “EEK!!” I thought. What are you? 19?? But clearly you’re not a new rider. What’s going on? first year my insurance for the AT was £270. Now, 5 years later it’s £110. No garage. No security. City centre postcode. £1,800!!! I’m tempted to gibber for dramatic effect.

I don’t bother with ACF. Utterly pointless on my bike. I don’t even bother for that “feel good factor” as throwing my money away on something that’s a waste of time doesn’t exactly encourage my feeling good. It’s a modern bike. Has no naked mild steel. So nothing to rust, aside from the brake disks and something tells me that nothing will help with them if they start to rust, aside from riding the bike and using the brakes. Friction (ooh mrs) if we have a cold snap and the roads are gritted. Well, I’m not going to be rushing to ride the bike anyway. Usually I will wait until it rains. Washes the salt and grit away. And then go for a ride if so motivated. been doing this for 5 winters now. No rust. Bike lives outside under an Oxford cover. i fail miserably at exuberant paranoia. i blame my mother.

in a way…. Syphilis.

They are. However an old man once showed me a secret book wherein it was written.. in tiny curly writing. "Whomsoever shalt carry a puncture kit on their adventures shalt be proof of punctures. but anything sticky shalt perish. glue shalt go hard in ye tubes and rendered useless just when thou art in need of them. but mushrooms are forever and a day." he later died. I shed a little tear. true story.

Its easy to become infatuated with the XT2 as being the latest and greatest. But, it hasn't rendered the original XT obsolete. Far from it. What do you get extra? A screen that is 1/2" larger. (5.5" becomes 6") and new software. I'm definitely not the type that ignores new tech if I think its going to make a tangible improvement. Im not exactly broke, so buying the XT2 wouldn't crush me. But.. I just don't think its enough of an upgrade to warrant going for. The XT will be supported by Garmin for donkeys years. They still support the Zumo 660 from 2009!! so that's not an issue. Prices have really come down.. as per usual with a new device being launched. And obviously if you go for second hand the price will be even lower. there are a lot of people who don't have my restraint and will sell their XT and buy the XT2. just because its new and they can. I enjoyed your review. (aside from the funny seat) I can relate to everything you say. I bought mine without a test ride. zero regrets. Its the best bike I have ever owned. There is nothing on sale at the moment that I find even remotely tempting. Mostly due to the unlikely seat height (on mine). Its tank range... I did. Ashford to the last petrol station before Germany - in Luxembourg on a single tank, with miles to spare. And.. the DCT transmission.

My suggestion. spread the cost. @fullscreenaging suit is a bargain not to be missed. My suggestion is apply for Paypal credit. - with that you can spread the cost over 4 months. and so long as you make the payments within that time frame. its interest free. I use it fairly frequently and have never paid a penny in interest. I just ignore the suggested minimum payment. which in common all credit cards (in particular) offer.. they want you to pay interest. First payment falls due a month after you buy the item. So, if you can afford £300 now.. that would only leave a £100 payment to be made before April. Actually £85 as they will want a minimum payment of £5 per month until its paid off. Im always loathe to suggest credit of any kind. but PP credit can be very useful. you just need to be disciplined and make those payments. to avoid interest from month 5.

Well yes, they seem super handy from Worthing. But I would rather do the miles in this country and have the shortest hop possible over there. At that time of year. Any other time it wouldn't matter.

Get the ferry to Hoek. I wouldn't want to be riding from the channel ports at that time of year. And hope its not snowing. Ensure my phone is full charged and I have good roadside rescue arranged. Aside from that I wouldn't need much. my jacket and trousers are more than up to the task. I would be wearing thermal long johns and long sleeved thermal top. plus a wool sweater. woolen socks. nothing more than I would wear for a long trip in this country in jan/Feb. (and once again - hope its not going to be snowing - if it is then I would have a plan B.

Go straight for A2. nothing wrong with them, we had a young lad come to Germany with us a few years ago. he had only just passed his A2 and came with us on a CB500R.(I believe) and there was no way you would have known it was restricted. No problems on the motorways through France and Belgium and no issues whatsoever for the 5 days we were there. The only reason to go for a 125 is money. but, do bear in mind you will need to keep it for a full year at least so that when you do move up, you will have that years worth of No Claims, which will have a significant effect on the insurance for your next bike. If you get a 125 and then get fed up with it within the first year and decide to go for the A2. it will cost you a hell of a lot more than just going for the A2 now.. or as soon as you can. 125. plus insurance. then new bike plus new insurance. it will add up. so think carefully.

I agree. I'm already counting down. only 40 days until the Cadbury cream eggs appear in the shops. (and we all know what that means)

Back in the 1990s there was a magazine I used to buy at the time called Motorcycle International. And one issue had a HD special which I must admit caught my eye and was up to that point the only HD based bike that I ever thought: "I would buy that." This when the Cafe racer style was being introduced. or reintroduced by Triumph most obviously with its Speed Triple 900 (I owned one a year or two later): Sadly, only 20 were ever made in 1994. It was called the HDS1200 and was built by the grandson of the founder of Velocette. Reynolds 531 tube bronze welded frame and swingarm Full floater cast iron Brembo brakes Goodman designed magnesium wheels, built by Techno Magnesia Marzocci front forks, independently adjustable compression and rebound damping

I wonder why you are even looking at other bikes when you have only had the Honda for 5 minutes. are you dissatisfied with it already? What we do isn't really a'tour' - its a riding holiday. spending 5 days doing what most of us can't do due to work etc. riding for pleasure for 5 solid days.

I have the 1000cc version and the 21" front wheel didn't bother me in the slightest. I could very easily have changed wheel size at the time I swapped the original wheels for tubeless. But, I didn't see the point... actually the only point in its favour was widening the choice of tyres. 19" are far more common than 21". As with every new bike - you adjust. your riding style might change a little and you may not even be aware of this change - it can be completely unconscious. The only time I think about the size of my front wheel is when its time to replace the rubber. If you do go down the 'touring' bike route then you might be interested in our week in Germany next September. Always great fun. Though to be fair having a 'touring' focussed bike is not necessary. just strap a bag to the rear seat with a few changes of clothing and you're done.