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John Metcalfe

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About John Metcalfe

  • Birthday 15/02/1964

Personal Information

  • Bike(s)
    BMW K1100LT
  • Location
    Hammamet Tunisia

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  1. We moved to fully Tunisia in 2021 after having a villa since 2016. Best move we ever made, relaxed way of life, good riding weather all year round, and only just over 2 hours from that big sandy playground called the Sahara. Plus we're only a 10 hour ferry trip to Sicily which then gives us access to the rest of europe either by ferry or just simply ride across Sicily onto mainland Italy then access to just about anywhere our hearts takes us.
  2. I'd follow it through as far as possible, even if only for the benefit of your son and to show the w****r in the car that he isn't untouchable and above the law. Only problem I can see is the UK plod being about as much use as a chocolate teapot not having any interest in doing any proper police work. One benefit of living here in Tunisia is that the police deal with it almost straight away working on the principle arrest first then investigate when they're locked away. The police here have the power to lock someone up for 90 days without actually going to court and they do it, working on the principle of behave like a dickhead get treat like a dickhead, needless to say there is very little repeat or petty crime here, plus all police officers carry firearms and will use them without hesitation if the need arises
  3. We had a young girl run up our arse as we stopped at a junction, luckily no damage to us or bike. She attempted to do a runner after forcing her way passed us and a couple of cars. We "chased" her for about 3 miles before we caught up to her in heavy traffic near a police check point, missus jumped off and went to inform police at check point who to their credit acted immediately and puller her over. She tried to deny hitting us but when we presented the video footage from the rear facing camera. On seeing this the officers pulled her from the car, placed her in cuffs and had her taken off to the local station. We were told to take a copy of video to traffic police asap who were dealing with her. Unluckily for her the video damned her as she was not only on her phone but also doing her hair whilst driving, didn't go down well with traffic officer, who by luck was actually a bike cop and was well pissed with her attitude and disregard for other road users. Her car was confiscated and turned into coke cans and she received a driving ban and a 3 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months along with a large fine. All within 14 days of incident, not bad for a so called 3rd world country.
  4. My missus has done 1000's of miles ss a pillion with me. For first few trips she would put her hands on my waist gripping loosely onto the jacket belt. Know she sits on the back without holding on, i alot of cases on longer trips she either falls asleep or reads her kinde. The dnoring while she asleep is abit much through headsets but you can stske your life onit if i mute the mic wakes up Trust and understanding of each other is the priority for a safe and enjoyable ride. Admittedly our bike is made for 2up long distance touring
  5. There's a company based in Milan called Mototouring, they do rentals. They also offer a free drop off and pick up service from all 3 of Milan airports, along with other locations throughout Italy subject to numbers. They have a website at https://mototouring.com.
  6. I'm assuming you mean the S1000RR, if so it's got to be the RR that's unless you like sitting on a razor blade for a seat. also the RR is a bit less of a lay down and ride bike yet is still a sports bike. You only have to watch the TT superbike and senior races to see what I mean. I'd love an S1000 but "she who shall be obeyed" prefers the old K1100LT, probably due to the armchair of an pillion seat and backrest
  7. Yep fully agree with all above comments. I've always used a small amount of copper grease on the backs of my brake pads on all my bikes and cars. It has a very high melting point which is well below the expected normal temps of normal braking so if you don't over do it and get it on the pads braking surfaces you will be fine. My 1994 BMW K1100LT has Brembo brakes and pads front and rear and I've had no issues at all using copper grease.
  8. It gets hotter here from start of May. Last year we had temps of over 50 degrees during day and mid 20s at night
  9. I do all my own servicing and repairs to my bike, yes fair enough it's not a modern computer controlled starship. It's a 1994 BMW K1100LT so pretty basic systems once you get the Clymer and read it. When I have to come back to the UK for the "dreaded" MOT I have a set of scrubbed in pads that are only used for the test. It may be sort of cheating but hey ho gets the test passed without problems. After the test these pads are replaced with the original set for the return trip leaving the test set ready for next time. Changing the pads can be done on beemer in the time it takes to boil a kettle and make a cuppa. I've been told I'm mad for doing it this way but at least I know that the pads in for the test are scrubbed in and have plenty of meat left on them. Whereas if I left the pads in from the journey through Italy and France even when the pads were fitted new before leaving home in Tunisia they would have the best part of 2000 miles on them before getting on the tunnel and would probably result in an advisory just as yours did.
  10. I had the shoulder check "life saver" drilled into me when I did the Road Craft course with the police many years ago so it still come as second nature. I've fitted adjustable blindspot mirrors onto the fairing mounted mirrors on the K1100LT and have them set to cover the wider angle into the kerb area and the centre of the road. There have been a number of times over here in Tunisia when if I hadn't done the "life saver" then I could have been wiped out by a numpty on a battered moped/scooter who have no road sense or in the majority of cases no sense at all, to the point that the street cats and dogs have more awareness of traffic than they do.
  11. I fitted pair Bridgestone Battlaxe's to K1100 before leaving UK for Tunisia and so far have done nearly 10,000 miles with the front looking like it still new and the rear has still got over 3mm of tread left. Nearly all the mileage has been two-up and fully loaded luggage with no signs of squaring off either. Cost not too bad either £200 for the pair fitted and balanced with National Tyres.
  12. I've been doing mine through Bikesure for the last 5-6 yrs and they've been ace. Had both the ST1100 & K1100LT on same policy and that was only £105 fc, up until we moved over here to Tunisia and sold the ST keeping the K11 on including being over here for a maximum 180 consecutive days in the 12 month period and it's only increased this year by £10ish which I don't mind given some quotes I've been seeing banded around, plus I'm covered over here and in continental europe not just eu/schengen area, which is a bonus for us as we frequently jump on the ferry to Italy or France for a "holiday" so I've stayed with them.
  13. After last weeks episode when the clutch cable went "twang" as I pulled into the drive and I ended up on the floor via a plastic garden chair and table. This left me with my arm in sling and a badly bruised shoulder. Ordered a new cable from a parts dealer in Germany which arrived earlier this week, so with my arm now sling free it was time to fit the new cable. After pulling old cable out with a draw wire attached, without removing fuel tank, removed footpeg and mounting plate to gain access to clutch arm attached new cable to draw wire and pulled in new one. Allowing for removal of footpeg and mounts whole job took less than time it took for kettle to boil to make a cuppa. Took another couple of minutes to finish adjusting cable and replacing parts removed and torquing footpeg mounting bolts up and ready for a quick road test.
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