Trooper74

Outstanding bike … Welcome to the Brother and Sister hood … You’re one of us now ….

A bit late to the party …. But this is the best CBT bike I’ve seen and ridden … yet another mad GD on board ….no, It’s not hers ….! It’s her big brothers … Aprillia Tuono 125 …. Physically big, the same size as the 600 series … just a small engine ….

Washed 800 miles of dirt off the bike, cleaned and lubed fescalised portions of the bike, lubed chain, … did maintenance stuff .. oil change in the morning after short ride … all consumables in place .. A run down to Battle next week is a definite … “Work” so the company will be picking up the fuel and hotel tab …

I live there … drop me a pm and I’ll send you some amazing routes .. all with tarmac I promise … mostly B roads .. no cameras..just fun

This morning .. 0700hrs … black black skys .. but we set off south ..still wet in some places from yesterday …..Our clothes .. still damp despite being huddled up to the radiator all night … Met 2 Brothers from the RBLR at Perth services .. they removed their gloves an shook Molly’s hand, which impressed her… she’s not sure how adults work yet … Inverness, Perth, Edinburgh, Abington, Penrith, Scotch Corner, Doncaster, home … 420 miles today ….A fun 2 days with my GD … 823 Miles for the 2 days …. And it was fun ….

NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING BBC WEATHER TELLS YOU !!! Currently sat in Inverness prem inn with the granddaughter … soaked … well drying out ..core stayed dry but relentless rain from Jedburgh to Inverness was “ sub optimal “ .. GD currently drying her jeans with the hair dryer .. However …. YES ! She’s taking pictures, videos and face timing while we’re riding .!!!!

Oops …. Slept in …. We’re off …….

Maps read, Suzuki V-Strom 650 DL chain lubed. Granddaughter has sorted all her riding gear. Hotel booked, waterproofs packed …. 0500hrs Sunday me and Moll are off … Rotherham, A1, A68, Edinburgh, Perth, A9, Inverness. Night stop, Premier Inn Inverness. Steak and chips, shower, sleep …. No doubt some Snapchat … Molly …!! Monday….0500hrs.. Inverness, Fort Bill, Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Glasgow, Penrith, Scotch Corner, Rotherham….. Depending on our actual route … 900 miles…ish …. 2 hourly stops, no riding tired, precious cargo on board. I planned to do Iron Butt, RBLR 1000 mile fund raiser, timed events … and then thought.. Why … why add to the stress in my life …. I’m riding for fun ….

Sort of “with “ the bike .. we’ve booked the day trip to the Southern 100, leave the bikes at Heysham … we’re delivered to the paddock with brekkie, watch a day’s racing, home with dinner … ride to local Premier Inn .. sleep, ride home £150 for 2 …. Why would you not..

Maintenance Day … Tuono and Strom … chain tension, lube, wash, new chain ordered for the Tuono, £41, . Rust scrubbed off Strom main stand and Hammerite lovingly applied … .. Julie painted walls in conservatory, I did the cutting in where she could not reach … all in all not a bad day …

SIDI Adventure boots ..brand new, never worn, superb quality boots … £150 plus p&p …… £314 at Sportsbikeshop ….

Just pull the fuse and check your tyre pressure once in a blue moon like the majority of us do … simples

Swap all jubilee type hose clips for Norma Wave Spring clips … they expand and contract with your cooling system .. cost pennies and don’t cut your hoses.

Milwaukee every time … The “ Snap-On “ of tools ….

Sell it … buy a £3 grand Honda CBR 600 …. LIVE …. and don’t stay safe …

Up at 0500hrs … toilet, dressed .. start bike. 0535hrs. Start at Quarter bridge … no traffic … nothing , no one all the way to Ramsey ! Police at Balacraine, Sarah’s Cottage, gave me a friendly wave on the way past. Through Parliament Square onto the Mountain. Police at the Gooseneck holds up speed camera, waves it with a smile …. He needn’t have worried, fog and less than 20 metres visibility made sure I never got over 50mph over the Mountain road. Dropped through the speed control gate into Douglas, across the TT start finish line, back to the Rugby Club, 0623hrs. Toast, jam, coffee. Go to the IOM, ride the TT Course… “Change your life dude.”

Did a lap of the TT circuit, cross winds on the mountain were unpleasant even at my speed never mind race speed. We did another partial lap and went to Peel … “ Peel’s lovely” people said … they were right , it’s lovely … after 15 minutes we set off and finished our second lap ……. !! Watched practice from the Co Op at Crosby … god, the bikes are fast through Crosby…. This is the bike park at the DRC this morning… they’ve started a spillover park .. never mind the couple of hundred bikes parked next to tents in the “Paddock…..

The view from Douglas Rugby Club bar … light rain, my hauscarl is in the tent sleeping off the 0215hrs ferry … and I’m having a pint..shivering slightly as I packed no long trousers / jeans ….. Tesco or Sports Direct beckon …….. After a night of pouring rain ….. the sun has come out …

My bag was £1.50 from Hemswell Cliffe car boot sale … My best boots, TCX , where £12.50 from EBay and have done 6000 miles+ on my feet …. And quite a few miles on the original owners … These new SIDI super boots are unworn, brand new … on Sportsbikeshop at £314 … Maybe I should wear them , but I prefer Race / Tour boots … these unworn SIDI Adventure 2 Boots need a new home £150 to you ….

Get the TT+ package and watch everything live or highlights and tons of other stuff .. We go to practice week and spend the race week watching all the racing live … honestly boss, we’re working from home , … Because it’s a TT the practice is just as exciting as the racing we reckon … and fewer mad drunks falling asleep in the woods at Quarterbridge …

Converted the tank bag from magnets to straps ready for Saturdays drive to Heysham and the IOM. V Strom has plastic tank panels.. not so good for magnets.. So .. bought some straps off Amazon, cut slits in the bag just below the magnets, slipped the straps through and now sewing the slits to strengthen the area. The straps will hold the bag in its normal position attached to the crash bars either side of the radiator … Not spending any money when I can modify it myself …

Both parcels… camping gear and clothing have arrived at the Douglas Rugby Club… now only the weather to arrange. Spoken to the IOM Ferry company if it pours all week we can bug out with little notice as the ferry is not full for the return journey during practice week …. But thats the last resort …

Bike garage for chain adjustment … seriously …. It’s really simple …. Super simple. Where in Scotland are you … there must someone on here near by that could show you … or go to YouTube … it really is easy …Enjoy your ride out … Just checked YouTube really good instructions on doing the chain.

I’ve bought 3 90 deg adaptors … one for each of my 3 jackets …