S-Westerly

Two up sports bike "filtering" at 70 mph plus on a very busy M1 just north of Nottingham.

There's a guy on here with the username Marino who also has an EU license so can probably give you a lot of pointers. In another thread he did mention that his insurance was astronomically high.

I've got a Kreiga rucksack and its great, but riding any distance with a rucksack on its crippling for your back.

 

I think a lot depends on your position on the bike which in turn depends on the ergonomics of the bike. I can ride 500 miles and for 7-8 hours wearing a rucksack without feeling any pain. Should say I don't have anything heavy in it though. Heavy stuff I put in a roll bag on the back.

Kriega packs. Not cheap but neither is a MacBook. Designed for use on a motorbike and comfortable to wear. Come in the right size as well.

To be fair what I've bought has never needed to be returned so the issue of refunds doesn't arise. What I don't like is the way they constantly push Amazon prime. I really don't want it and it ticks me off that I have to deliberately opt out of it every time I buy something.

Have to say that apart from Kindle books I don't buy much from Amazon these days. I may use them as a browsing source for information but then actually buy from a manufacturer or a local supplier. I like to see something in the flesh first.

Also I don't particularly like Amazon's approach to business but that's a personal thing.

I've got a one piece overall which I've used exactly once. Having said that I did read about the Klim Hardanger one piece which is fully armored, waterproof etc. It's also about £1300 so a tad pricey. Not for me.

Clever stuff then. Although I'm quite glad the Multistrada doesn't as I would be going backwards on my tiptoes which could be interesting. I'll just put up with the exercise I get heaving it around.

can’t imagine turning it on our small streets

 

Yes but they have a reverse gear. Still I firstly don't fancy one and secondly can't afford one. I quite like the modern "small" Harley's and when I next get my bike serviced I'll probably get one as a courtesy bike just to try.

 

Perhaps you are thinking of the Goldwing . That does have reverse gear but it is electrically powered .

Yeah you're right. My mate's gold wing has reverse and it's electrically operated. TBH I'm not sure how exactly it works but when I'm wrestling my bike around in a tight parking space he just looks smug and wafts about.

can’t imagine turning it on our small streets

 

Yes but they have a reverse gear. Still I firstly don't fancy one and secondly can't afford one. I quite like the modern "small" Harley's and when I next get my bike serviced I'll probably get one as a courtesy bike just to try.

If you're coming in from the west and using the A4 the bus lanes there allow bikes. Be aware that not all of them are and central Bristol is a right pain due to all the 20mph zones. Good luck with it though.

Two: near me there's a set of traffic lights with a speed camera outside a school about 100 metres away. Needless to say I don't speed in this area. On this particular occasion out of sheer devilment I pulled up alongside a BMW with no intention of racing. Naturally he thought otherwise, took off like a bat out of hell and promptly collected some points on his license.

The other was on one of these roundabouts with multiple traffic lights and 3 lanes. I was going right so was in the outer lane. Souped up Corsa in middle lane who was revving like mad. Our lights changed and off he went for about 50 metres where the next light was red so he braked hard. I sauntered up just as the lights turned green and left him for dead and I wasn't even trying.

I'll admit that the brash and oafish can be pretty dire. The Bigg Market in Newcastle on a Saturday night is not for the faint of heart. Viz comics come to life.

Riding up the Fosse Way this evening near the turn off to Harbury when about 80 yards ahead of me a big , black animal dashed across the road . It was long in the body with a tail almost equal in length to the rest of it . I would estimate its size to be like that of a Labrador dog . I cannot say for certain that it was a so called Alien Big Cat but it was definitely much bigger than Bob and that's saying something, the fat f****r . Anyone else seen any unusual animals in their travels ?

 

Yes. I've just come back from a weekend at a campsite in Thirsk, which was rammed full of Geordies acclimatising themselves to the south before venturing down to Bridlington for their summer hols in a few weeks time. They were certainly an unusual breed, and would have made interesting subjects for anthropological study.

Besides having clothes several sizes too small to cover their truly obscene beer guts and having the obligatory lower leg 'England' tattoo permanently on display, they were remarkable mainly for their social interactions: they appeared to communicate almost exclusively by breaking wind and burping, both as loudly as possible, which I suppose is an evolutionary adaptation designed to overcome the linguistic difficulties posed by having a fag permanently clamped between the lips. The closest to human speech they managed was "Jayden, ya f*ckin' bastad, gerover 'ere now or I'll put ma too oop y'arse hool."

And the blokes were just the same.

Any man who comes from bloody Yorkshire wants to be very careful about chucking stones regarding Geordies. Most miserable person on the planet is your average tyke and they have the longest pockets with the shortest arms known to science.

So I have a 2 piece rst set of leathers though they are summer ones with the little pin holes in the chest and arms and I bought a set of waterproofs off Amazon for 16 quid though I'm yet to try them yet, and I now have some buffalo textile gear too and I now remember why I made the move to leather gear as I used the textile stuff to ride to work on Thursday and its bloody horrible......I just sweated too much in the stuff

Have to say I find textiles more comfortable than leather. Warm when I want it and cooler when I open the (many) vents. Also waterproof so I don't need another waterproof oversuit to drag around. Not much lighter though once the armour is in.

I think the whole test process for bikes is flawed. Makes some money to cover their costs I guess but for road users, especially more experienced ones, the tests are rubbish in my view. Did that missed check over your shoulder in a car park make you a danger on the road? No. If they are checking you can handle a bike at low speed then check that. Don’t check observations when there is nothing to observe. It’s ridiculous.

 

There's a reason shoulder checks are called lifesavers. The point of doing them during Mod 1 is to ram it home so it becomes an automatic reflexive action.

I'll drink one pint of beer with alcohol content of 4 per cent or less. I know that for me that amount is not going to register on a breath test if it's more than 30 minutes and won't show up in a pee test either. More than that and it's walk or public transport / taxi. Also I don't drink alcohol at all if I am on the bike. Non-alcoholic beverages only. Sigh.........

So having seen your pics of the BMW in the Challenge thread how was it to ride? How'd it compare with the Multi?

I got a free pumpkin once.

I've used SBS a few times and have always been pleased. I've also used Motolegends in Guildford and they're pretty damned good as well. Can't honestly say I've had any issues with online purchases from anyone. The one I'm not particularly keen on is J &S but that's due to one not particularly pleasant visit.

Taught by my grandfather. Down then up. However I've had a full beard since 1992 as I effing hate shaving.

Make sure you give us 3 rings when you get home safely

 

Hang on... other families do this???

 

Oh yes! It's a mum thing

 

If it's any consolation I'm over 60 and my mother still does this especially if I go up to Northumberland on the bike. Completely does my head in.

Interested to know how it compares with the Multi. Always felt I needed a step ladder to get on the big Beemers.

If I'm REALLY stuck then leave a decent gap in front and inch along usually with my left foot dangling and braking using the rear break. Then at the very first opportunity bugger off somewhere else.

As I don't ride to commute I'm rarely in that kind of traffic. If I am I'll filter forward if I can. If for some reason I can't then I'll do a U-turn and go somewhere else. I ride for pleasure not being stuck in traffic.