S-Westerly

Apart from losing one pannier I had a good day adding another couple of hundred miles on. Less than 150 to go before service which is booked for Jan 12. Rode from near Walton on Thames to Pangbourne, up the Thames Valley to Wallingford and on to Oxford then Stratford (and the Piston Club for lunch) and home again via Evesham and Tewkesbury M5 Junction and home. Nice to have an entire day without rain. The bike is definitely more pleasant to ride than the Multistrada at least for me.

I'll be the easily visible Guzzi as I'll be the one with only one pannier if I'm needing luggage. Not paying £800 for another set. I'll put feelers out to see if there's any damaged or other singles around but not likely I fear. Buggeration.

Me. Managed to lose a pannier somewhere between Goring and Wallingford in the Thames Valley. Never saw, felt or heard it go. Only realised it had gone when I saw a rather lopsided shadow. Went back slowly in both directions and never saw a sign of it or fragments either. Can only assume someone picked it up and kept it or lobbed it in a ditch. My fault entirely as I'd had it off to wash the bike and obviously didn't put it back properly. I almost lost the pillion seat as when I stopped to check it was only hanging on by gravity.

Sorry, but I just can't get excited by hay. Never tried eating it.

Riding home from Surrey tomorrow. Weather permitting I plan to take a more scenic route and try to get another 150-200 miles on it.

It is. I i personally would have preferred gunmetal or black but gold is the only option. At least I didn't get the gold wheels as that would have been too blingy if that's a word.

I've now had a bit of time with the bike and over 600 miles under my belt. This has been on a mixture of A and B roads plus motorways. I've still not been able to really thrash it as the revs are still limited. Its due its first service on 12th January after which it will be unleashed. So first impressions: its really nice to ride, got good brakes and handles / corners very well. For me it's more comfortable than my Multistrada and easier to handle at low speeds. The electronics are pretty good and I've more or less got the hang of the various bells and whistles - cruise control, heated grips and electric screen. The lights are really good. The Ohlins adaptive suspension is really good and I think contribute to the perceived stability. The aero wings might be a gimmick but they're cool! I get less vibration through the bars than with the Multistrada and more visibility through the mirrors. The panniers (expensive) are useful and can fit my helmet in the left hand one. Cornering ABS etc seems to work as per what it's supposed to. All in all I'm really pleased with it and I still think it looks gorgeous.

Last time I was in Scotland I definitely had a smile on my face but then I was signing off and on my way home.

Took older grandsons to cinema and we walked. Was fine going but monsoon rain coming back. 2 miles later absolutely sodden and discovered I left half my stuff at home.

They stole black pudding from us. I'll give them the haggis and white pudding too. Deep fried Mars bar isn't that bad.

You forgot the with / without midges.

Well that's bloody new! I'm about to ride from home to Shepperton and haven't any choice. 40 years ago forecasts where made by human beings and mostly accurate for up to 36 hours. Now they are made by supposedly supe accurate computers and you're lucky if you get an accurate forecast for 6 hours ahead. Bloody useless.

In that case I definitely am not touching it. Might be infectious.

Two SUV drivers playing silly buggers on the northbound M5. Weaving around and brake checking each other. Kept well back and left them to it.

Wassat then? Can't touch it cos I don't know what it is. Tempted to.find out though just to be a pita.

Don't hold back or anything! I agree totally though but couldn't be arsed to write it as I suspect OP will just ignore everything.

What I don't understand is an insurer willing to insure a Ducati Multistrada but not a Moto Guzzi V100. Broker came back with another quote for over a thousand. Went somewhere else completely and although still high at £400 is bearable. I've no idea what algorithms they use but I'd say they need reprogramming!

Rode to the Piston Club at the Stag. First time I've been here and on first impressions I'll be back. Pretty quiet now but at 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon not too surprising. By the time I get home I'll have over 500 miles on the bike. I've another 200 plus due tomorrow and Friday so I'll be booking in the first service for end of next week - weather permitting. Be nice to be able to exceed 4500 rpm! It'll have taken.me just under a month which considering the crap weather and Christmas and New Year mucking things up isn't too bad.

I tend to buy stuff when I actually need it although I can be conned into buying something I really don't need if the price is right. Sometimes this is good but sometimes whatever I've acquired ends up in the loft never to be seen again.

Happy New Year to one and all on the Forum. Let's hope next year is better than this!

Reisens and beer? A strange combination.

Not really! It cleared here and the sun came out so I thought I'd grab a last ride for the year. Got about an hour from home when it all went dark and the heavens opened. Got the last ride alright but the last half hour was rather like snorkeling. Got home and the rain stopped. At least I was able to wipe the bike dry before I put the cover back on. Still hate this bloody weather.

I hate you.

It's a lousy morning! I am bloody fed up with endless rain. Everywhere is sodden and knee deep in mud. Rode the bike 10 miles to get some stuff and it looks as if I've been mud plugging. Can't wash it or get it dry to put its cover on. Hate this time of year notwithstanding Christmas and New Year. Bah bloody humbug.

Same on the M5 today. A few trucks and slow cars in lane 1, lane 2 is full with cars doing 68 and lane 3 are all going 72 and probably on cruise control. On my bike I'd be ducking and weaving. In the car I'm in lane 3 gritting my teeth.