Steve_M

I’d put the GS on par with the FJR, edging it because the knee angle is less acute. My good lady hasn’t done many miles on pillion but reports that it’s fine and, again, because the knee bend is less acute she prefers it. She much prefers the higher seat relative to the rider on the GS because she has a better view. The pillion on the Tiger was particularly raised and changing to the lower pillion on the FJR she felt it was, for want of a better word, claustrophobic. The GS is much better in that aspect.

I was disappointed in the comfort level of my FJR after owning a Triumph Tiger 1050. I even changed the seat for a custom seat, though my choice of custom seat was poor. My R1200GS is better, though not the comfiest bike I’ve owned. That accolade belongs to either my Honda CX500 Eurosport or my Honda ST1100. Neither of which seem relevant to this discussion.

Simple answer is... maybe. The current trend being for adventure bikes, they, naturally, have wider handlebars than, say, a sports bike. I noticed this particularly when I bought my Triumph Tiger 1050SE to supplement my VFR800. My GS is even wider.

Whereas my teething ring was a Brummie screwdriver.

That’s more or less our situation. We’ve been shacked up for 19years. As my good lady is far more organised (and intelligent) than I am, she manages most of the household bills, I pop my share into her account and we’re happy with that. However, we’re pretty relaxed about who pays for what outside the week-on-week (month-on-month ?) bills. The only real exception to that is the bike, and touring. I bought it, and run it, and pay for most of the touring holiday. It’s still pretty equable as she pays for lots of things that I benefit from.

I’m a technofeckwit when it comes to mechanical stuff. I have my VFR part dismantled with the intention of learning how to do that stuff but ran out of talent (and time). I’ll stick to house renovating and leave the spannering to those who can.

They’re reliable beasts once you’ve got the electrical spider issue sorted (that was the 2009 model, I believe). Mine was a 2010 and still had the issue. The guy who used to service my bikes (Smiffys Superbikes in Acle for Norfolk peeps. Top guy) sorted it for me. From a reliability perspective I would have it still but there were a few niggles that I felt an irrational annoyance with.

Nor was mine...

There was a time I lived in a village with poor public transport, and I didn’t own a car, so riding the bike was the only option to get to work on those days where the train times didn’t provide a practical alternative. I rode in all weathers as a matter of necessity. It was an utterly barking situation. I reality I should have flogged the bike and bought a little car.

You might find this a handy little tool ... it won’t tell you about seat padding etc, but that’s usually a simple fix. Motorbike ergonomic guide.

Hopefully the right place If you’re an FJR rider (2015 - 2020 models) but not on the FJR forum, this may be of interest. https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/recall/yamaha-fjr1300-2nd-gear-recall/?fbclid=IwAR36Jx93O6BaX5amxeBsBV9FjU8bA37ZB-OSD41H_4-CEcugk4vSwFKGVVQ

Ah. Good point.

Ewwww. Cars.

I thought that was called Revolutionary Ride. Fantastic book.

Some might say that’s a bonus. Not, me, obviously. (Has she gone yet?).

Check out the background to Nathan Millward’s venture ... the Garbage Run https://www.nathanmillward.com/the-garbage-run

The weather we’ve had / having isn’t helping. We’re waiting for the ground to dry out a bit so we can have an area levelled and drainage installed ready for us to put up a polytunnel. It’s to be at the bottom of a field which slopes down to it, and is on clay soil, so no natural drainage. It’s a little annoying as we want to start propagating plants and growing our own veg.

Good morning. I’m about to carry out essential shopping. Click and collect from Screwfix and then pick up some materials from Wickes. How strange that builders’ merchants are regarded as essential (though I’m glad they are), as are garden centres. Weird definition of essential. I’ll be continuing with the ongoing saga of fitting out the bathroom this afternoon, we’re finally on the home stretch for completing the work now. Stay safe, folks. Have a good day.

The advantage for picking up a pan is that it pivots on those wing like protrusions so it’s already some way up before you have to do the real lifting. I speak from experience. The BMW R series are similar on their engine rocker covers (or crash bars). Again. I speak from experience. Lifting an FJR1300 up off the floor in a muddy field is where the real pain is. I speak.., you know the rest.

Some years ago I bought a Suzuki GN125, to sit alongside my VFR800, for my daily commute. My commute was about 7 miles using city roads (Norwich) or 6 miles if I used a short stretch of the A47 dual carriageway. The city route was tedious. Norwich city planners are really good at causing traffic issues and even on the 125, filtering was a chore, so I used the A47. The 125 had a useable top speed of a around 60mph, though on the uphill stretch I had to ride (yes, Norfolk has some inclines) from Broadland up to Trowse that could drop to 50mph. This meant HGV’s were overtaking me, albeit slowly. In daylight in fine weather this was fine. In sh*tty winter weather in the dark it was unnerving - as in I had to change my underwear when I got home. I kept that bike for 6months, sold it at a profit which paid for my six months of commuting and bought something a bit bigger. Do not laugh when i tell you I bought a Honda ST1100 for my commute. It was actually a good decision as the A47 commute felt less hazardous, the little bit of town work remaining was no more of an issue, and I was able to use it for a wide variety of purposes (including a charity run up Prescott Hill climb with my good lady pillion). With hindsight, a 250 - 400cc bike would have been ideal for the commute. As it happened, the succession of bikes arising from the decision to have the 125 has, by and large, worked out well for me.

I had a subscription to MSL until this month (Christmas presents). His column was one of the go to features in there. Great suggestion. Thanks.

I missed this one.

A few off my bookshelf. Many more on Kindle

Yup. I have that one. Difficult read, as you say.