S-Westerly

Found the dreaded V100 coolant leak so took it in to local dealer who has promised to get it sorted by tomorrow evening. Need it for Saturday so here's hoping. Guzzi forums are full of this issue so not a surprise but as I'd made it to 3000 miles I thought I'd dodged the bullet. Hey ho.....

What a filthy morning this us. Solid rain since 1800 yesterday and looks to keep on until 1200 tomorrow at least. Waters the garden I suppose.

Very often about small Chinese bikes about which I know little and care less.

Took it for a 60 mile whizz through the Cotswolds. A couple of good fast roads (B4425) and found myself in the company of a couple of sports bikes. Kept up with no effort but found myself doing licence losing speeds all too easily but my word it was fun.

The sides can be rough but not too bad as most 4 plus wheelers straddle the humps. Also they are sort of marked and visible.

Bigger bike every time. In the long run could even work out cheaper.

To be honest I prefer them to the full width type. We have a lot round here and I pass them either side without issues. If I go over them I'm only doing 20 or 30 mph depending on the limit and I've not had any wobbles.

Going North again. Both my brothers and nieces will be there as well so by nice. Trying to minimise motorway but if its bad traffic it's 6 hours vs 10 hours. Also there's that big urban sprawl in the middle I have to get around.

I was put on statins, tried for 4 months and found I reacted badly to them and said enough. Peeved medics found an alternative which seems to work without any of the side effects for me.

I'd probably use photochromic lenses if I was allowed to for work but given the cost of specs I'm not forking out for a 4th pair.

For me yes. I always found the Mutley to be a bit top heavy - typical ADV bike really and more difficult to flick from one side to another. Not impossible by any means but I was always aware of the height. Never ridden a GS or a Tiger but have sat on them and always feel I need a step ladder to board. I've short legs. The Guzzi just flows for me and I find it much less effort and more confidence inspiring. Probably too much!

What I wear:

When I retire I'll probably try a pair but they are banned from use on the navigation bridge of ships so don't know right now.

I've got straight armed frames with moderately large lenses (roughly aviator size) I've got vario focal lenses so I can manage near and far with them. The frames are titanium and fit in my Neotec 2 helmet without any issues at all. Bloody expensive though but I find it worth it for other things I do - work, fishing etc.

Rode it home from Morpeth. Very much a ride of 3 parts. From my Dad's place to Penrith via Hexham and Alston and the Hartside Pass was great. A bit foggy (low cloud really) on the east side of the Pass but otherwise really good and the Guzzi is so much better at it than the Multistrada was. Then the M6 from Penrith to just north of the intersection with the M62 was reasonable but after that it was dire. Cameras, speed restrictions and really heavy traffic and the consequent congestion all the way to well south of Worcester. Lots of filtering etc. Not my idea of fun that last bit.

Wouldn't fancy that as an epitaph - "gored to death by horny cows while riding a motorbike."

Me too.

I had a Kaoko on the Multistrada. It worked OK. I mainly used it on those interminable average speed checked 50 mph bits of motorway. Simple to fit and use. Current bike has cruise control and only use it for the same 50 mph bits of motorway.

The trouble with old steel pipes underground is they will corrode. Even if they are galvanised to start with. If you get any breakdown in that you'll get rapid corrosion. In the good old days that's why they used lead as it didn't corrode. Of course we all got lead poisoning and died horrible deaths but hey we didn't have leaks.

Well now. Having fitted the spiffy new end can I neglected to check the OEM panniers would fit. According to the blurb they would but - surprise - they didn't. Faffed about for half an hour in case I'd but them on wrong but no. Ended up having to put the original back on. The hanger is too bloody short by about 30 mm. I'll see about getting a mod made up when I have time. Damned annoying though.

Cut over to the M62 and looped back. Those roadworks over the Aire (?) have been going on for ages. No idea when they'll be finished. When I head south again I'll probably go over to the Western side.

Prepped it for a thrash up to Northumberland tomorrow to see my Dad. He's having a bit of a wobble but he's 93 so it's not a surprise. Given the weather I'm probably looking at a motorway grind.

Don't do it. You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.

Having changed the end can went for a 50 mile wander. More of it than I would have liked was in Gloucester which with the current road works going on is chaotic. Went to my dealer to check if all the known issues on my bike had been attended to prior to delivery and according to their records they had been so all good there. New end can makes a slightly ruder noise but not excessive and still meets Euro 5 etc etc - it has a homologation certificate.

That's actually not a bad idea. A paint on version would work as I don't want overspray and with no garage I don't really want to dismantle the system.