Gerontious

prepare to be underwhelmed .. crowded tacky and expensive. That doesn’t matter, it will be a normal working week and I’m not all that interested in the village. I want to see the valley.

We can discuss that in August. I’m just relieved that there is now some level of certainty, as much as there can be in these strange times. We can at the very least do part one, the Black Forest and then take it from there. If we can manage it, I would really like to see Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland if we decide to stay in the BF for a few days. It’s a fairly easy ride from our base via Interlaken.

Ordered a top box.

It probably doesnt need a baffle as its so huge and coupled with the CAT is quiet enough to meet the regs. fwiw, the OEM exhaust on my bike doesnt have a baffle either. are we doing a mines bigger than yours? mine isnt.. i feel inadequate.

So after months of not really knowing.. just hoping and trying to remain optimistic. It now looks highly likely that our trip can go ahead. There may need to be some tweaking as Austria is insisting on a negative test result for all visitors intending to stay. We'll have to see about that, at worst it may mean staying on the German side of the border and crossing into Austria for the day. Ive offered the guys a choice, if they dont want to bother with that and the palaver involved then we will go back to the French Alps. perhaps stay at camping moto again and try again for Combe Laval, which was closed last time due to a rockfall. or we could head for Bavaria and explore the Bavarian Forest mountain range that is right up against the Czech border.. 9 weeks today so plenty of time to work it all out. I still really want to revisit the Grossglockner though.

calling [mention]bonio[/mention]

As with any older shaft driven bike. be sure to use the correct spec of gear oil in the shaft. This is CRUCIAL. It must be GL5 and changed as per the recommendation by Kawasaki. If you are unsure when it was changed last, then change it.

For my purposes im fine with basecamp. been using it for 11 years now on this same Zumo.

The only bad thing about Garmin, isnt the unit itself.. zumos are amazingly tough and last forever... (seemingly) And Garmin support is eternal too. my 11 year old unit is still fully supported and updated, And the one time i neede to send it to Garmin, they went that extra mile.. I was really chuffed with the way they sorted the issue i had. no... its the software you use on the computer to create bespoke routes, "Basecamp" - I use the Mac version and its not exactly user friendly (putting it mildly) but.. i get on with it ok. it could be better though, a lot better.

I think Garmin have a standard fitment for all their powered holders. You can confirm that by contacting Garmin UK based in Southampton.

Carried on as though nothing had happened. Went to work as normal. Though obviously work itself has been far from normal, in fact it's been extremely difficult. But, I've only been attacked twice which is possibly a record in this place. And there was no blood or bruising which is obviously a plus. I'm doing a wake night. (10-7) and have missed a fun day. The TV.. A 60" is just a tad poorly after having an empty mug thrown at it. Mugs and LCD screens don't really get in all that well. Did I say I love this job? I love this job. Never a dull moment. By the way. I think the title of this thread will turn out to be just a tad wrong. I reckon it will be the Pandemic of the 2020s

Frozen like that, I see that as an excuse to bin the Stella and buy something worth drinking.

Now I remember why june is not the best month to go to the Alps. Rain and Snow, both very possible. When Snod and i went several years ago we had it all, bakng heat (In Monaco), Rain... and Snow with <3c in the Mountains. So, from this, A very happy Snoddy seeing the Med for the first time: To this, a relatively cool Lake Como. To this, Leaving the Dolomites... To this, on the Glockner... Bitterly cold. (but fantastic)

Macron was here on Thursday and it was reported in the press that he was expected to lobby the UK government to relax the 14 day quarantine. France did have a similar thing set up... But that was overturned very recently. The French seem keen to salvage something from this holiday season, which is almost upon us. And UK holiday makers, second home owners and the like are very important to them. The BBC story does mention some restrictions, but none seem insurmountable and anyway, we have another 10 weeks before we are due to cross. So who knows what the situation wil be by then? There may be a reversal, in which case we will switch to our Plan B. But as of today, I'm feeling very positive and upbeat. I've also discovered that Austria is demanding that all visitors have a recent negative test result. I'm sure we can sort that out. But if not... We will stay on the German side of the border and... Perhaps have a few extra days in the Black Forest before heading for Bavaria. Bavaria and the mountains that border the Czech Republic was from the start, our fall-back destination, though back in January, when I suggested it. I thought we might go there due to bad weather in the Alps. That was then, this is now. See how it goes, but... I think it's time to get cracking with routes for our daily rides. And I think I might include Slovenia, if the weather forces us further south. I've stayed at Bled before, several years ago and would love to go back and explore more thoroughly the Julian Alps. Whoop.

Well, it looks like my optimism and patience has paid off. The BBC is saying that an announcement is coming about non essential travel to France, on June 29th when the current 14 day quarantine is up for review. There has been some talk, over the past few weeks about so-called "corridors" and that's been mostly about flights, but apparently this will go further as they mention cars. So that means the ferries and tunnel. Well, that's my assumption, anyway. We'll see. #feeling positive.

Ha... he has taken the video down.

I didn't notice the amazing disappearing coolant.. but there it is and isn't and is again. spooky.

its like the most basic thing in the world. change coolant when the engine is cold due to a huge risk of scalding or steam burns. its printed or embossed on most fill caps. its in all service manuals. the way he does this simple task is insane... and aimed as his channel is at 'learners' or those looking to learn, is just so irresponsible.

I have a feeling this "Tutorial" will be deleted soon. but, you never know. Anyway.. posting it in this section as for some of you it will be entertaining. the same way a multiple car pile-up is on the motorway... we just cant help looking at it. Watch the video before reading the comments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B2FoLHPFAE

The new ban on motorcycles over 95db Standing on a very small area in the Austrian Tirol caused quite a stir. I bet you didn’t know there are far stricter noise controls in place that have nothing to do with motorcycles https://tinyurl.com/y8yjufz5

I swapped the OE for a Scorpion on my bike, Ive noticed no difference apart from the way the bike looks. with the baffle out its really quite loud though. too loud for my taste. If its a 'normal' exhaust then it will have been designed to closely match the characteristics of the original. you only get a real change when you swap the entire system. or go 'Race'. I went for the ceramic black.

just a small tangent... I just realised, or 'remembered to remember' - the computer Im using right now is 9 years old. bought new 2011. And I only bought it because when I saw it for the first time I didn't have the foggiest idea of what I was actually looking at. totally confused.

Will losing your license for a period also mean you will lose your job as an immediate side effect?

75 days to go... doesn't time fly when you're in an enforced limbo? And there have been some major developments. Once (if) we actually cross to France, then its plain sailing. everything that we need is available to us. France from today is allowing all EU nationals AND UK citizens to enter unrestricted. Thats a fairly big deal.. gone is the idea of a tit-for-tat 14 day quarantine, so as of now its just the UK with that... and once that starts to sink in.. get the popcorn ready. So, the plan was to start the trip in a very lazy way. Meeting up at Ashford on the Friday night, a last night for a while in a proper bed. we were hoping for a group meal at the Beefeater. (maybe-maybe not), And then the next day, a lazy morning, for me that might mean nipping over to the Sainsbury and stock up on supplies, emergency food rations (just in case) and some drinks. Then head for the Tunnel at about 11 to check-in. See how it goes, the Tunnel have changed the 'rules' and so there is a lot more flexibility on boarding times, turn up and go as and when it suits. Once on the other side we have a 170 mile motorway dash to Rheims, with a lunch stop, followed by another 12 miles to our first stop at Epernay. I've stayed there twice now so know what to expect. There is a great kebab restaurant an easy walk from the campsite, which is open. There is also a really nice bar Le Red Fish. (glug-glug) on the Sunday morning...an early start and then its a ride, southeast to the Southern Vosges.. if I can get the guys motivated so we have time, we will go over the top. or if not, there is a tunnel that saves a lot of time. then on to the border at the Rhine and into the Black Forest. Hopefully.. Monday will have good weather... or at least be dry. and we will ride the B500. but, you can never tell with the BF what the weather is going to be like as it creates its own weather. So, thats the plan for the first weekend... and effectively there are only two things stopping us. The 14 day quarantine for (almost) all returnees and visitors to the UK. And its impossible right now to get travel insurance. I was a bit deflated when the 14 day quarantine was announced. it was a positive thing that they put it on a 21 day review. But now, with all the developments across the channel.. in France and especially in Spain. I think there will be a change. The airlines and especially the Ferry companies are expecting it. so... its still a matter of waiting and watching. We have time enough for things to change. 7/8 weeks before we reach the point where it might be best to forget about the Alps and concentrate on our Plan "B".

I've never felt the need for one of these. In my experience tyres seem to exist in one of three states. Fully inflated. Flat. Or with a slow leak..which often starts the moment the tyre goes on and just needs a top-up every couple of weeks. I always check the pressure of a new tyre a bit more frequently until it's bedded in and it's state is "known" I can see a TPM helping with that.. But is it really worth it just for that? I've never thought so. One of the reasons I oil the chain by hand is it gives me the opportunity to get intimate with the back tyre and give it a proper exam. I've had more than one scare with things in the tyre, ground down nails or screws usually that are fully penetrating the tyre and keeping the air in. How will a TPM warn you about that if there is no air loss. They are an excuse to be lazy.. "Ah, the gadget says everything is peachy, so why worry? It's teatime." Well.. Everything might be peachy, but the tyre could be mortally wounded. It's for much the same reason I've not fitted an oiler. They can make you complacent. Make ME complacent. It's no effort, takes seconds to check a tyre pressure and give the wheel a turn or two to check it for damage. That's something I was brought up to do. It was important in the 80s, it's just as important today. I've had a sudden deflation, always in town and the signs are unmistakable. A TPM will just tell me what I already know. Oddly enough I have never...from my first bike in 1980 to today, never had a front tyre puncture. Always and only the back. But, anyway, It's a gadget. And don't we just LOVE a gadget. Bike manufacturers know this and so do gadget manufacturers and there is always some factory in an unpronounceable Chinese city ready to churn them out at 20p a throw and then some European or American puts a sticker on the thing adds some zeros to the price and bang, the cash flows. All my own opinion of course.. And really just talking to myself. Don't get in a tizz.