Gerontious

My concern with these sorts of brands is always servicing in the future.  This is not really an issue with the 4 Japaneses brands.Triumphs and BMW. it can be a bit of a problem - especially where spares are concerned with some Italian brands. despite the name, Benelli is Chinese and obviously (or not) Enfield is Indian. Maybe less of an issue for Enfield as they have a lot of dealers around the country. But Benelli? eyes wide open with that brand. And all Chinese brands.

1 hour ago, bonio said:

Thanks for the warning.

We won't be affected by any of this.

52 minutes ago, keith1200rs said:

It's a UK sticker now!

Has been for a while. But, it seems not many people care. I certainly dont. I have GB on my number plate and I'm not about to change it, just to satisfy Northern Irish politicians.

They also have got rid of ENG. CYM and SCO identifiers. but not NI. which just about tells you how perverse all this is.

5 hours ago, rennie said:

I still haven't sourced a replacement switch cover for mine

Might be worthwhile sending this seller a message. see if the ones he produces by 3d printing will fit your particular bike. he does mention a change in design in the description if the photos on the page doesn't quite match yours.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225002176840

35 minutes ago, peepae said:

I changed my license plate to a personalised reg and ofcourse do not have the v5 yet, and will most likely not receive it within the next 5 days.

 

Has anyone gone to Europe without and what if you do get stopped?

If you get stopped you might be fined. depends how 'to the letter' the copper is. Ive never been stopped by the police. except on the Brenner pass where the Austrian coppers like to lurk in shady doorways with their trusty radar guns. usually looking out for unsuspecting travellers who aren't below the limit when they pass the reduced limit signs on the edges of villages. drat.

You only need it if you get stopped.. so dont attract attention to yourself and just the same as here - you will be invisible.

1 minute ago, S-Westerly said:

I used to live near Lanchester.  It's not that bad really.

I know, I only say that to wind her up. and its become a habit.

I've never been abroad.

Though apparently I must do soon as my sister has just bought 30 acres up the coast from these here foreign parts. she's mad. it runs in the family. She's currently living in some poxy little village called Lanchester. they can't even spell that right!! spellchecker said no. - repeatedly.

its a constant struggle.

4 hours ago, Fiddlesticks said:

but wondered if there was anything out there that could re-use the 2 setting illuminated existing switch.

 

Any ideas?

Doubtful. this has been a question asked for years by owners of the Africa Twin. as it's been quite hit and miss for people how effective the OEM heated grips are. not only do they want to replace them with some that use the same indicator lights and switch on the LHS handlebar, they also want some that will use the level setting tell tale on the display. But, Ive never seen a satisfactory answer that solves even one of those - let alone two. usually people resort to removing the OEM grips and replacing them completely. or using the heated wraps that are available.

Heated grips on mine are at best 'adequate'. they're not impressive. However I seldom need to use them as I spent on really good gloves rather than fret over the grips.

Personally, I think the issue with grips that dont get super hot is down to inadequate insulation between the element and the metal of the handlebars, so instead of the heat being pushed outwards its absorbed and channeled away by the cold metal underneath. total failure is another story.

1 hour ago, onesea said:

Honda NX750 not bad choice but I would ride with gears then get lazy but that's personal preference.

It has gears. 6 of them. And there is nothing stopping you from using all of them as and when you choose. This usually comes as a shock to people. DCT is nothing like CVT. 6 gears. 2 clutches that = the mother of all quick shifters.

3 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

Not the first thing id think of even as a noob adventurer, could think of worse things for starters though...cough gs). 

Depends on which definition of “Adventure” you’re thinking of. There are quite a few, most of them born out of confusion. To my mind this one is a mash-up between a naked step-thru scooter (type) and a scrambler - with nothing that says “Adventure” in any of its traditional meanings - either when the term was invented in the early 2000s or the 20 years before then, when these bikes existed but were largely unknown. And went by an entirely different name/descriptor.

I have to wonder why they have done this. It wouldn’t come from nowhere - there will be a reason. Might it be the usual reason, perhaps? Inconsiderate Idiots spoiling it for everyone else.

apparently it had become something of an attraction for bikers due to the cafe there.

21 minutes ago, Mawsley said:

“Yes, it’s that one,” I said.

 

”But you said it’s a ‘DCT’,” they replied.

 

”Yes. Dual clutch transmission.”

 

”So it’s not a CRF1100D2-L then.”

 

*cue hair pulling and gnashing of teeths

So, let me get this straight. The insurer was looking at his screen and seeing the signifier. That matched your bike.

you were asking for insurance for a DCT - letters that do not exist in the signifier. which the insurer wasn't seeing.

and risked chipping a tooth because of it.

OK.

Fortunately tonight I am back with the rampaging schizophrenics. so a distraction from any further attempt to get my head wrapped around this.

Only available in the UK as a grey import. and then only the 125 variant (as far as I know)

DK has one an unregistered 2021 for £4,800 

On 06/12/2023 at 05:35, Mawsley said:

Took me three days to get a quote on the CRF because I made the mistake of going ‘yes, that’s my bike although it’s not because it’s not called that’…and expecting them to agree. I can only guess everyone else with a post-‘20 DCT base model has been technically uninsured because it’s only now featuring on underwriter’s screens because I kicked off about it.

I remember seeing posts about this at the time. The answer that seemed to work for a lot of new owners was to use the signifier, rather than the name.

So, for your bike that would be (I believe) CRF1100D2-L  with or without the dash.

It came to a point that some insurers, or rather the underwriters recognised this new model. and some did not. So, they lost the business. Of course such is the way these pirates work. if you simply stay with your current insurer for a new bike, they will charge you more. Switching generally leads to a 'new business' discount. Which is why I switch almost every year, though not last year as my very reasonable premium went down to become even more reasonable. which was a good enough excuse to stay put.

Simplest way is to do the entire journey to the Turkish border within the EU. So bypass Serbia.

20 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

Do you usually stay based in a single location and ride out from there? 

Ive done that. Ive also done it as "every night a different place"

So one year we went to the Vercors, stopped for a night at Avallon to split the journey south and then stayed at a single place in the Vercors, and did much the same for the return, but stayed at the usual place in Eperney. That was over a 'long week' we did the travelling at the weekends and had 5 days 'there'. Arriving Sunday night and departing Saturday Morning.

The only thing that's really become set in stone, is - over a fortnight, the middle weekend. especially the Sunday. I always have that as a rest day. Mostly because at weekends these popular areas turn into tourist hell holes. You go from 'normal working weekday traffic' to hordes of cyclists. day trippers and weekenders descending on the place, usually accompanied by a higher than usual police presence - radar speed traps and spot checks. then Sunday night - they are all gone. back to work on Monday. So, I like to avoid all of that and have a day off.

But, who can say? sometimes a particular region might have a lot to offer and so its good to stay there for a few nights - especially if the weather is good. A chance to ride without any luggage, leave that behind and head out.

It's always best to take each day as it comes, stop for a night and think about what or where next. or should we stay here for 2 or 3 nights and explore this region. have a goal in mind, but dont really obsess about achieving it. if it happens then fine. if it doesn't and I end up somewhere else entirely, then that's fine too.

That's why for next year I have two plans. either Germany or the South of France. Both circular routes that can be done clockwise or anti. no fixed day by day itinerary - just a number of set piece routes, wandering from the end of one to the start of the next. If I  end up going to the Harz - I might just wander through, or stay there a few nights and take more of it in. see what the weather is like. I can't be doing with fixed day by day itineraries.

As and when I return to the Italian Alps. Dolomites area more than likely. I'll be staying just over the border in Austria. Italy is staggeringly expensive for everything. Though, oddly. in June, just gone, the petrol wasn't that much more expensive than in Germany. Previous years it's been significantly more expensive.

We stay at a little place called Tassenbach. which I find super convenient for a lot of attractions in that part of the southern Tyrol. Incidentally. There is a Pension there which is very popular with Bikers. https://tinyurl.com/ymm5yyyd

Im not sure what I would do in these circumstances. Being a tight git I wouldn't want to be spending much. So. a bucket for the warm sudsy water and probably a watering can - with a fine rose, for rinsing. Would be a bit of a pain if there are stairs to contend with - accidents can and do happen. Ideally I would be searching for a local car wash - with hose. DIY rather than manned and do it there.

I don't bother with the anti corrosion treatment each year. I don't think it's necessary for modern bikes. not much on my bike is exposed metal. nearly everything is either painted or stainless. so, perhaps some odd fixings might eventually show some signs of corrosion and if so, then it would be a good excuse to replace them with the appropriate grade of stainless steel. or rub them down and give them a lick of oil when I do the chain. or perhaps take them out, clean them up and give the head a spray with black hammerite. or similar.

But, I've not noticed that so far. 5 years and kept outside. it's too easy to become overly precious about these things. I reckon. A spot of rust on a bolt isn't the end of the world  (as we know it) and is easily fixed.

10 hours ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Where is that? Looks amazing.

south of France. East of Grenoble. It’s at the side of an amazing valley that’s not hugely popular, probably because it has a motorway running down the middle of it it’s very popular with cyclists as it was part of the Tour one year.

Lacets de Montvernier

it’s quite tricky. 17 hairpins over a mile and a half. Quite narrow with very nasty cambers on the turns. 8% - 12%. I was lucky and had it to myself. The really scary bit (that I don’t like to think about - much) came when I stopped by the chapel. There is a bench quite close to a precipitous drop with a little lay-by next to it. The lay-by is quite narrow, slopes away from the road and then drops away to nothing and is just loose stones and gravel. I pulled into it and immediately regretted it. I got the side stand down and it was so dicey getting off the bike I had to fall off!!  Then getting back on was even worse. But hey ho. Nobody died.

A road I’ve always wanted to try is Gavia. South of the Stelvio.

sounds great.

Most of them become tedious very quickly. but I know a dangerous road when I see it. usually the number of little shrines is a giveaway.

The danger doesn't always come from the road, but the plonkers riding or driving on it. too busy oohing and aahing at the scenery to pay attention to what's coming up ahead. One memorable time I watched a bike too long to easily get round the hairpin go over and then slide back down the road and wedge itself in the barrier. 3 of us failed to shift it.

Of course there was the time when "sideways" lived up to his screen name and went sideways and ended up in a ravine. his shiny spotless VFR wasn't so pretty after being dragged out.. and I never got to the bottom of what exactly happened. Wasn't even a particularly dangerous road. been past the spot a lot of times since as its so close to Neuerburg on the L10

Personally I'm not too fond of rockfalls. And roads with no barrier and a >45 degree slope that goes a long way down. Sheer drops less so, there's usually (but not always) some kind of a barrier. interesting when it's a low wall. a foot high. And oddly it's easier to ignore nothing than a slope that's visible and horribly steep.

This is why I always go away out of season and NEVER ride on at the middle Sunday. mostly due to the hordes of cyclists who also love these sorts of roads. Cyclists. Tourists.  inexperienced or over-confident bikers. (especially Italians)

French mountain passes that have been repaired.. with mile after mile of gravel. it's not a road, it's a river of gravel.  Never has a pass been so aptly named. Col de la Morte. (Death Pass) You enjoyed that didn't you @bonio

I did enjoy this one.. but have only done it alone. There might be complaints!!  I did have to have a little rest at the chapel that can be glimpsed at the top of the photo.

Shame you can't get to Southampton. about £80 will get the entire job done for you.

https://allyearbiker.co.uk/

Good Moaning.

Snowed-in.

walk home this morning was “interesting” - especially the last part uphill to my house. Roads are dreadful.

honestly can’t remember the last time we had snow like this so early.

21 minutes ago, Stingy1 said:

 And......try driving on small heath highway around Brum. Lots nasty shits that don't give a toss. Wrong uns that really don't care if they kill you

not much has changed then in the more than 25 years since I left brum. Small heath bypass was my local “quick route” to town, when I lived just across from the Asda. I always tried to avoid that road to be honest, even if it meant a long(ish) detour. Or riding through Small heath itself.

Im biased too. I would be looking seriously at the NC750X DCT.  £300 more than the CBR650R but (my opinion) a much more practical commuter. that can also do other things. Just in case you get an itch to jump on the ferry.

I have a bike with DCT and I wouldn't consider any bike without. (my bias in a nutshell) - its fantastic.

The NC is also A2 friendly. so can be restricted if needed and obviously derestricted when allowed.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/honda/nc750x/2014/

Well, they are women’s boots and don’t appear to be made anymore. As I can’t see anything similar in the line-up. I did come across something similar, but they were unnamed by the seller.