Gerontious

The Black Forest is lovely. here is a route map that comes from the Motorcycle section of ADAC. The German version of the RAC. It also includes the Vosges, which is kinda the mirror to the BF in France, well worth including in a tour as its en route. It can also be a plan B if the weather turns, and that's always a possibility in the BF as it has its own microclimate. https://www.dropbox.com/s/qt5xaqz4s11duaa/Black Forest Vosges.pdf?dl=0

It’s a very common thing that the people who bang on about how experienced they are always seem to have the most problems. I see this time and time again. There’s a reason for this I’m sure.

Ive never had a problem. not one. Im currently using a Mac Mini. I had a MacBook Air for a year but sold it a few weeks ago to get me through this 'poor' month. Paid £900 sold it for £700. new owner is pleased as punch. When people have problems its generally because they either think they know better, or they download software from dodgy sources. and install unnecessary things like anti-virus. or malware like "Clean my Mac*. I find comments like that endlessly entertaining. and problems with PCs even more so.

This is why I haven't owned a PC since XP. 2011 to be precise.

Explain.. I do love sad/bad PC stories. gory details.. is the blue screen of death still a thing? Ive not owned a PC since XP.

It denotes type and ABS. so.. bikes without ABS (American models for example) are just X Bikes with ABS XA Bikes with DCT XD Oh.. and NC stands for "New Concept"

K is a year signifier. 2018 was J 2020 Was L this year is N My own bike is a CRF1000 D2 J that is a Africa Twin D = DCT 2 = Type. (Adventure Sports) J = 2018

The law is quite clear. if you want to play silly buggers then Im sure you can twist it any way you want. until you get stopped by a traffic copper who knows the law inside out. The problem with being stopped for something like this is that coppers tend to treat it as the thin end of the wedge and will pay a lot more attention to you and your bike and are far more liable to treat any other acts of naughtiness or rebellion rather more seriously.

Email today and first payment to be taken on 5th November, never seen anything like this before. such a long delay. end of June to start of November. I can stop feeling guilty.

You're right.. and so Ive edited my post. (2) Where the vehicle is being used on a road between sunset and sunrise the registration plate fixed on the rear of— (a)the vehicle, or (b)where the vehicle is towing a trailer, the trailer or, (c)where the vehicle is towing more than one trailer, the rearmost trailer, must be lit in accordance with this regulation. (3) Where a vehicle (or, in a case where the plate is required to be fixed on a trailer, that trailer) has been constructed so as to satisfy the requirements of the relevant type-approval directive, whether or not it is required by law to satisfy them, that plate may be lit by a lamp which complies with those requirements but if it is not so lit it must be lit in the manner required by paragraph (5). (4) Except as provided in paragraph (3) that plate must be lit in the manner required by paragraph (5). (5) This paragraph requires the plate to be lit so that it is easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having a diagonal length— (a)in the case of a plate displaying a mark having characters with a width of 44 millimetres, of 15 metres, and (b)in any other case, of 18 metres. The law also defines how the plate should be fitted. (3) This paragraph requires each plate to be fixed— (a)in a vertical position or, where that is not possible, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable, and (b)in such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable, in the case of a plate fixed on the front of the vehicle, from in front of the vehicle and, in the case of a plate fixed on the rear of the vehicle or trailer, from behind the vehicle or trailer.

The basics are covered by the MOT. If the plate is not visible from a following vehicle then that is going to attract the attention of the police. as it makes a mockery of the ANPR system that they have on board. They will assume the worst and they could treat you as if you have no number plate fitted at all. so, you walk unless you can fix it. Ive seen plates fitted at all kinds of crazy angles.. but for the most part they could still be read. The worst I've seen is a plate on an outrigger that had been turned sideways. I didn't know what to make of that. Can the ANPR read it? I'm sure that question was eventually answered by some copper following the rider.

You're just gleefully rubbing it in.. a painful reminder that I got one a few years ago. After leaving Bikers Ranch, just outside of Simmerath. I'm taking notes. revenge is a dish best served cold.

"Everything from the styling and colorway are reminiscent of the early years of the Dakar Rally." I bet the price won't be... my guess is £20.000 likely more.

Ive never really understood why people care so much about this sort of thing. If I were to nod at every biker I see in the summer my head would drop off. I tend to pay a lot more attention to riders on what appear to be learner bikes and to virtually everyone in the cooler months once the 'summer only' lot have disappeared into SORN heaven. If I overtake an L plate I make a point of giving them a thumbs up. or a leg wobble. that's about it.

It’s more than a little shocking that something like this, which was common in the 80s is happening on a relatively modern bike from 2013. My old beemer unchanged when I bought it in 97 was fully stainless and it first appeared in 1993!! Triumph. What were you thinking!!

looks like they went cheap to me.. I would replace it with a full system if there is one available, in S/S.

Mine lives outside under a cover. It has been fine over 4 winters plus the various lockdowns. Don’t fret about it, especially if it’s in a garage,

if you can find these for less.. i'm all ears. its only fairly recently that the price has come down, they are a LOT cheaper in the USA. But, if you think thats expensive, you should see the price of a replacement OEM battery. Best price £524 + post. fortunately there are now pattern replacements.

Certainly are and cost.. well, best price at the moment is £25 each. and the bike needs 4. I may well wait until the 48K service... see how they go. One thing is certain, Ill be sourcing them myself and not getting them thru Honda as I suspect they will charge full RRP.

mine are due to be changed at 32,000 miles.

yeah well.. wouldn't expect anything else from a namby-pamby southerner. as it happens.. and coincidentally, my mattress cover is made from eucalyptus wood. (it really is.. that's not a typo. unlike the one quoted.)

A good quality 3 season jacket (not summer) should be windproof by design. If it isn’t then it’s not a 3 season. My jacket is fully windproof but only if all the vents are zipped shut, pockets closed and fastened and the front zipped fully closed. Under that I only need to wear normal clothing, normal for winter would be a long sleeved thermal top with a high neck and a wooden sweater. If I get wind coming in then I soon feel that and it’s always because I’ve neglected to close and fasten something. My guess is (though I’ve never been silly enough to test this) if the wind can get in the jacket then so can the rain. Which won’t do at all. There’s a reason I’ve not felt the need to upgrade my jacket even after all these years. It does the job. Pants should be the same, though for winter riding I think it’s best to opt for those that have a high waist or are similar to salopettes. And are long enough in the leg so there is no chance of them riding up above the boots, if you wear low boots like I do. Though riding position has a great impact on that, if my bike had a more sporty stance I would probably have gone for higher boots. Anyway, under these I tend to wear thermal long johns. Nothing expensive, I got mine from Matalan.

Ive had my Rukka jacket since 2009. its still pretty much as new aside from bits of the printed on logo washing off. but that's of zero importance to me.

Scandinavian. Halvarssons. Rukka. or German. Held. if you go on sportsbikeshops website you can filter a search for female gear. makes tracking down what's right for you a lot simpler.

my unlimited phone contract fell by £2.30 every little helps (as they say)