Bungleaio

7 minutes ago, bonio said:

Set off this morning. The A12, M25 and M20 make dull old roads to the tunnel but the motorways get the miles done. Got put on the train an hour earlier than booked which was nice. I think it was half empty; the carriage in front of ours hadn't anything in it. In Calais I fuelled up and then cross country on some really great roads. Bit of a turn up for Northern France. Eventually took to the autoroute to complete the journey to Valenciennes. Got lost, did a u turn and nearly dropped it! I heard myself say, 'keep it up!' and somehow I did. . Must've been getting tired.

The ibis hotel is great, comfortable, and near loads places to eat.

But the big news is I've lost my passport. Already! I am such a klutz, not really for to travel on my own. I stuck all my documents in a fancy wallet MV provided with the bike. All gone. Last I saw them for sure was when I put them in the taiil bag after going through passport control at Folkestone. I can remember zipping the bag up. Either I took them out and left them absent mindedly on the train or else they were half inched at the petrol stop in Calais. I prefer the Calais story as it lets me off the hook, but tbh it's not that likely.

What are you going to do for the return journey or are you going to stay on the continent for the rest of your days?

This could create the greatest faff know to schloss trips. 

Apologies for the photos being upside down. I will sort this when I'm home. If I don't put them in now then I'll forget what I'm on about. 

The sun's going down so I guess that's pretty much the end of Saturday. 

The ferry was very smooth last night, didn't really know we were moving apart from a slight sway. I enjoy cruising though so I might be less sensitive to it. 

I also got to see a fantastic sunrise. 

The inside cabin did the job for what I needed and I slept well. I was rudely awoken by the tannoy announcing the breakfast being available at 5:30 though. I think it was 5:30, it was early I know that. Last orders are at 6.30. The clocks get put forward an hour at that time and we got off just after 8. Customs was easy and at no point has anyone asked me about covid jabs. 

I'd had breakfast on the ship and filled up with fuel at Morrisons in harwich so I got straight on with the trip to Arnhem. 

I've not been on the continent for a while but it soon comes back. Cyclists going the wrong way around roundabouts took me a little by suprise though. 

The journey was relatively uneventful just smooth and mostly straight roads. I stopped to look at the windmills at Werelderfgoed Kinderdijk. The parking attendant let me park with the push bikes as I wasn't staying long. 

I stopped to take a photo in one village and a van just stopped in the road to check I was OK. He stopped to chat bikes for a few minutes much to the annoyance of all the cars behind him. 

The Dutch are used to bikes though and not a single person pulled out on me. I wish that was the case at home. The roads have also been very quiet

I checked into the hotel and they also said I would have to pay to use the garage provided I tucked it into the corner 

This afternoon has involved having a few beers and a wander around Arnham.i also got to see the sun go down.

That out of office notice is on, the laptop is shut and the bike is out of the garage. 

I headed down to Harwich straight after work and covered a fairly mundane 160 miles mostly on the A14, 55 junctions I covered. It was livened up by a massive diesel spillage over a couple of miles near Kettering, it was about a foot wide in lane 2 or 3 depending on which was the "fast Lane". I kept away from it and stuck to the inside Lane until I saw a BMW 3 series with its bonnet up and a diesel line directly to it. 

I used waze to navitage to Harwich and for some reason it decided a very narrow single track road with a load of gravel in the middle was in order, it was about a mile long and thankfully nothing came the opposite way. 

I arrived in harwich for just after 8 and got on the ship for about 9. In the bar for 9.45. I've never strapped my bike down before so fingers crossed it will still be standing tomorrow. If not I'll pick it up and carry on. 

The tunnel is certainly quicker and a lot more simple but the ferry cost me £120 so I figured that was cheaper than a hotel and the tunnel at either end,plus I'll be in the Netherlands ready to go first thing in the morning. 

Roll on tomorrow for windmills

This time tomorrow the adventure should be well underway and the bike should be safely strapped onto a ferry and I'll be in the bar.

The first leg is to go to Arnhem so I'll be crossing from Hawich to the Hook of Holland and making my way across the country having a look at some windmills on the way. I've got two nights in Arhem so that I can have a look around before heading south to meet up with @bonio.

The bike is packed up and ready to go so as soon as I finish work tomorrow I can get straight on it and head to the ferry.

7 hours ago, MikeHorton said:

Everyone likes a progress report of a tour with loads of pics 

Seems like people are interested so I'll put something up. I didn't think people would be that into it with it just being me going.

I did a thread for a trip to the Eifel Mountains back in 2018 which seemed to go down well - https://themotorbikeforum.co.uk/topic/30605-eifel-mountains-2018/

Is there any appetite for a 2022 version? I'm going on my own this time rather than being six of us and I'll be doing a couple of days on in The netherlands on the way there and a day in France on the way back.

If people are interested I'll post some updates.

On 16/08/2022 at 14:11, Tiggie said:

Blocked and gone now.  Profile says  in London, I.P. is located in Scotland and photos are from an instagram model in California.  

 

Bye Bye 

 

What a way to crush @husois dreams

Keeping any form of petrol engine in a property is likely to cause issues with landlords/leases/buildings or contents insurance.

You'll be better off if you got a 125cc if you're going on dual carriageway. 50cc at 30mph would be asking to be in an accident

If it’s not how it came out the factory then it should be declared. They will make the decision as whether it makes any difference to them. In the event of a claim if they see modifications then they may use this as a reason it to pay out. 
 

I’ve found that adding tail tidys, crash bungs and lights make no difference to the cost of the policy. 

I rode my bike back from Norfolk last sunday in the sun and I was glad to get home, to me once it gets abover 28ish then I don't enjoy it. I was wearing mesh gear too.

11 hours ago, Gerontious said:

Last day today. After an overnight In Eperney.

 

This is my favourite picture of the whole 16 days.. despite the lad cavorting. We were on the Mangart in Slovenia. By far the most dangerous road I have ever ridden in my life!! But so worth it.

 

That’s a fabulous picture. Not surprised to hear there was some maintenance faffing, it wouldn’t be the same if there wasn’t. 

I've got one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-6000-Tubeless-Puncture-Pilot/dp/B0068FX3VO/ref=asc_df_B0068FX3VO/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=449340026117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8103853838303447684&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006529&hvtargid=pla-468186484749&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=107459883267&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=449340026117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8103853838303447684&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006529&hvtargid=pla-468186484749

Works a treat and the pump is really small.

Has there been much maintenance/repair required yet? I'd estimate day 4 when the seat had to come off.

This place is awesome, they have a garage at the back that they let you put your bike in, space for about 8-10 if organised properly. The hotel has fantastic views and it's not far to the Mach loop or Elan Valley

https://www.richmondhotel.wales/

I just use pitchup.com and haven't gone wrong yet

Depends on how light you pack. This was mu street triple with a 30 and 10 strapped to the back. I had the other 10 inside somewhere ready to increase capacity if I needed on the way back but I never needed it.

kriega is expensive but it's very good. I no longer use mine as I have a GS with hard luggage but I'm keeping the kriega stuff just in case I get another bike at some point.

The kriega's are excellent and are easily added to. I've got a 30 and two 10's. They are great for easily adding capacity should you need to.

10 hours ago, Gerontious said:

 

I was quite taken by the way they worked on your bike, I dont ride much (if at all) at night so extra lights aren't a priority. Though I have been thinking about a pair of DRLs, maybe the smaller S4 variant. rather than the much larger D4s which are overkill for my type of riding.

I don’t ride at night either but I wanted to add the can smart to give switched a switched live for the cameras and also the better horn. I thought I might aswell add the lights seeing as I was taking the bike apart to install it. 
 

A bike thing sells the full kit for your bike https://www.abikething.com/product/denali-s4-bundle-honda-crf1100l-africa-twin-adventure-sports-18-22/

3 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

Its just a variation on what has been sold in this and other countries for years, with added control rather than on/off and various preset levels of brightness. as well as a few other clever little additions, like the lights will strobe when you use the horn. or when you want to. I remember that @Bungleaio had that feature on his bike last year. Its TUV approved so the Germans are fine with it and as with any auxiliary lights the MOT dont care.

Exactly, my denali lights can be dimmed by using the standard bmw whiz wheel thing. It's all connected up via a denali cansmart which uses the canbus system to tell the lights what the bike is doing etc so the lights can react accordingly.

I did my CBT on my 37th Birthday. I wanted to learn something new so I thought I'd mark the 20th anniversary of my first driving lesson but learning to ride a bike, never expecting it to go on to getting my full license but I loved it. Christ it'll be 5 years this year!

On 11/12/2021 at 22:32, Stu said:

I have always been interested in the quality of the video of these units

 

Has anyone got any clips to share? 

I have the K2 which I'm pleased with. This is a pretty good video for them 

@Bonio what a debarcle! I hope you get it sorted mate.

Stayed here recently and loved it. They have a garage that you can put your bike in. 

https://www.richmondhotel.wales/

On 31/08/2021 at 09:38, Throttled said:

Hopefully we will have a rally next year and I plan to get a camera for the ride out. That will look amazing.

I hope you have a good PC to edit the footage, the levels of data produced are incredible.