Gerontious

Makes me wonder how the French (for example) manage. away from the autoroutes and larger towns anything aside from E10 is impossible to find.

It’s an approach that’s easier to take if you are going to keep your bike well past the 3 year mark. Some buyers of nearly new bikes will walk away from a bike that does not have Honda stamps in the service book. It’s also something that dealers like to see as it makes reselling the bike a tad simpler. “Full dealer service history” does have a certain thing about it. It’s also easier to keep on top of any recalls or software updates that inevitably come along with a new model. Including less important ones that can wait until the next normal service. I’ve found my local dealer to be quite good and to my mind it’s a false economy to go elsewhere just for the sake of a few quid saved on the hourly rate. There is nothing stopping you buying your own service parts, which are often much cheaper on eBay than from the dealership. For example spark plugs and air filters.

Take it elsewhere. Its only an oil and filter change. any Honda dealership will be able to do it for you 'while you wait'. There is no requirement to use the dealership you bought it from.

Its like the old days. I remember going to a Triumph dealership sometime in the late 1990s and on a shelf was a sorry looking line up of gear boxes all with holes in approximately the same place.

still early days for electric motorcycles. A revolution in battery tech and fast charging may come, but perhaps too late for us old farts.

15, just using it as a more scenic ride. To the Med coast before turning east into Italy and Liguria.

Likewise. 23 years now. remarkable to consider how much Ive saved, though licensing continue to harass me, with their monthly "you are under investigation" letters. I did try opting out, but that doesn't work. the letters continue to arrive.

Looks like Im going to be heading down this way in mid June. hopefully the roads will be fully open. last time I was there (in May) a lot of it was closed. if it is closed then Route Napoleon will be the plan B. or something along those lines, keeping below the snow line. will be aiming to ride it in 3 days. Following the classic route without much in the way of deviation. Starting from Cluses on the Monday morning and arriving at the coast Wednesday before sunset.

Definitely sounds like it. although batteries will often last longer than 4 years. sometimes they just lose their oomph. and for no apparent reason. I personally hold Motobatt branded batteries in very high regard.. if there is one available for your bike. maybe think about getting one. they arrive fully charged and ready to go. try to resist the old fashioned 'wet batteries' - go for sealed.

I had something similar happen many years ago. unfortunatey Optimates aren't that clever. Mine would say the battery was fully charged but there was no 'power'. I fixed it with a new battery. Do you know how old the battery is? is it a lead acid type or has a previous owner replaced it with a Lithium type?

I don’t know anyone who is Trans. They had their own sports program eh. That’s nice.

The area of the Pyrenees affected by this proposal. As far as I can tell only has a very few minor roads as through routes, the vast majority of roads go up blind valleys. So it seems to me this change is mostly aimed at off roaders but has dragged in every one else on 2 wheels (or 3) it’s not a touring centre as such. Of course the risk is it expands or spreads to other areas of this is deemed to be a success as and when (or if) it comes into force.

Its a Lithium. or at least I assume it is as the charger mentioned is for Lithium only.

The user manual for that particular model. the 470 is quite laughable. but the key line is: As you can see they do say 'don't do this'. but then they say if you do, nothing bad will happen and the charging program will just reset to <start>. which I assume is what is required in this instance. It will either fix it or it won't. if it doesn't then there's something else going on. I have a more powerful version of the same charger, the 470 is 0.8Amp. mine is a 5Amp. I was told by the manufacturer that 5A was the recommended charger Amperage for my battery.

Next tyres for me will be the old faithful Metzeler Tourances. £200 a pair or less. The only reason to go for pilot trails is if you habitually ride in the wet. I don’t. So they are expensive overkill for my purposes.

That will depend on whether any part of the bars added will need to be removed for general servicing. I wouldn't use the strongest version, regardless. I guess it all depends on whether any of the fasteners come loose. just keep an eye on them for the first few months. In general its not needed. unless the manufacturer recommends.

My comment was based on reports on the Africa Twin forums and groups. So might be out of date. It’s not a brand I would go near anyway. But that’s based on what I’ve seen when they have actually been put to use. anyway, I want a bike not a scaffolders fever dream.

Positive is at the rear. and really should have a red 'end' - but anyway.. it is a longer cable as the battery has to be pulled out of the housing before the positive can be disconnected. The negative is much shorter as the negative post is the first thing you see when then cover is taken off. When you reconnect the battery, the positive is connected first, then the battery is pushed back into the housing and then once its secured, the negative is connected. and the cover replaced. A photo with the positive arrowed.

This was an old model. Not one with canbus mode. So direct to battery. It didn’t spark or anything like that. It just reset the software (apparently)

Optimate might need a reset. The way to do this, I was told was to use the crocodile clips. Turn on the optimate. Touch the clips + & - together briefly. Turn off the optimate and then turn it on again and that should clear the error.

I would suggest you look at SW Motech. Who generally produce excellent parts and accessories AND have UK distributors. The fitting instructions list any tools you need and usually give torque values where appropriate. You are also likely to find video instructions on YT. but at the very least once you look at the fitting instructions you will be able to gauge if this is a task you can DIY. I know some people who are unwilling to remove the exhaust headers. For example and so would rather pay a dealership to do the job for them. By far the most common complaint about Heed is the instructions which are in the polish language.

Never been to the Ollerton cafe, there used to be a fantastic chippie on that junction next to the shell petrol sadly now one of those overpriced coffee places that serves coffee in the sort of cup you could easily use to wash the dishes in. I usually go to the McDonald’s for a coffee. But it’s now a tedious ride up to there with more cameras than sense, though the back roads are more interesting aside from those with fords (obviously).

I’ve used Navigator for years. Never had to call on them mind. It’s like anything. If you have it you won’t use it. But if you don’t then all hell will break loose. I will be getting insurance from them in the next month or two for the first of this years tours. See if it’s cheaper to get an annual policy. Remains to be seen. for European breakdown cover I use ETA. not had to use them either. most likely problem is a puncture and it’s mostly quickest and easiest to repair that yourself in 20 minutes rather than wait and wait and wait for a truck to turn up. Obviously this will require a kit and inflator. No big deal. where are you actually going?

Fun night with a rampaging schizophrenic. Who is amazingly bad at being violent. Bad to the point of being comical. He’s like a cross between Mr Magoo and the Roadrunner with added vim. And a very bad aim. He throws something at you and it ends up behind him, how he manages this is purely marvellous. I am completely unscathed and he’s gone for a lie down. Fun and Games.

Never really thought about a tracker. The security of my own bike rests on one simple premise. If the thieves don't know where the bike is, they can't steal it. I just keep an eye on the mirrors when I turn into my road and if I suspect Im being followed then my behaviour changes. I don't go straight home. The bike is never left outside my house for even a minute. And anyone coming up to my house won't see any obvious signs. if they were daring enough to come up to my fence/gate and look over, they won't see a bike. this strategy seems to work. I can to an extent understand why people buy these. but to me, they are of no use whatsoever. But that's down to my personal history and 'story'. if someone wants to nick my bike. they can have it. its insured. but they've got to find it first.