Throttled

Bugger, I was looking forward to the Craven Museum only to find it only opens one Sunday a month and the odd bank holiday

Now going to do the north east of England, with a couple of other tags for good measure, Wed 2 April to Friday 4th. The family holiday is near Whitby again, so I will head off beforehand with the tour.

I use a RAM mounting system http://www.ram-mount.co.uk/stainless-st ... -1004.html There are longer arms and different fixings depending on the case.

Shame, but thanks for keeping this post going. Do Sinnis know about it?

Nikwax tech wash the whole lot. Much off foam cleaner for the helmet lining.

Ebay for £15. http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Portable-Pressure-Washer-Power-Pump-Car-Jet-Wash-Brush-Hose-Lance-8L-Cleaner-/00/s/Mjk3WDQzNg==/z/vskAAMXQLw1RyeKS/$(KGrHqJ,!qIFHG)Q+IDPBRyeKRjeoQ~~60_35.JPG I like using this on the bike as it has enough pressure to rinse off crud and after a clean with Muck Off, but it is not going to blast the bike and damage electrics. For £15 or less it has done me proud all winter with regular use. I delayed doing this review to make sure it was not going to break after a couple of uses. One fill is easily enough to clean the bike. I wet it first to get off the grit, then Muck Off and a rinse. I pump it about 20 times and then again for a couple of times every 30 seconds or so as I am going.

Bought from eBay for about £4. http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqIOKpUE3tk)2uq+BOEGWHlK5!~~_35.JPG?set_id=8800005007 A simple tube with a non return valve. Undo the bleed nipple, push on the pipe and then as you pour in the brake fluid to the reservoir pump the brake lever. I have the other end into a plastic jug. The excess fluid can go back into the bottle as all it has done is get pumped through the pipe. It is so easy for one person to do and I did a brake in a couple of minutes. Just pump till the fluid has no bubbles in it, which if you keep the reservoir topped up is very quick. Brilliant little tool and I find it easier than mucking about trying to use a vacuum pump system to pull the fluid through.

May as well update my thread about the Versys as well, eighteen months on..... Faults - blew an indicator bulb. Annoying - fairing buzz, cured by taking the whole off and putting it back on again Crash - came off on some mud. The Kawasaki bung did its job and damage was easily fixed with a new screen, new handguards, polishing and some paint. I have not yet renewed the bung, which sanded back to a finish which means you have to really look at it to to realise it is scraped. The pannier has some vinyl cover over the scratches, but it still works fine. Upgrades - (helped by winning a competition for extras) flatfoot for the side stand, mirror extenders, peg lowering, bar riser, fender extender, bumbag4bikers padded seat, tool tubes fitted to inside the pannier frame, hugger, bobbins, top box and rack. Much of that was bought second hand via the excellent UK Versys website. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/10191477205_57d72bfa65_z.jpg Riding - very comfy, easy 200 mile range, great for touring and then going for a blast and then commuting. Fine two up with a small lad and a huge fellow who made the suspension sag but the bike felt fine on the move. Servicing - easy, I can do it myself. The fairings come off easily, the spark plugs are tucked away and crud gets into where they sit, the rest is just bog standard stuff. Tyres - Metzeler Z6 feel more secure than the originals in wet weather. Happiness - very!

Likewise. x3, because it does work.

This the full kit list for seriously cold riding, such as we had last winter. This winter I have ditched one layer and the waterproof outer clothing. Head - Black thermal balaclava (Black being the makers name) Top half - Go Outdoors Hi Gear thermal long sleeved t shirt. Primark thin jumper. Aldi windproof motorcycle top. Hein Gericke jacket with thermal lining attached, Spada waterproof over jacket. Bottom half - Aldi thermal leggings and motorcycle socks, Knox cold killer over socks, Hein Gericke trousers with thermal lining. Hands - IXS gortex winter gloves, Knox cold killer gloves, Weise waterproof over gloves. The waterproof over layers really help keep off the wind and so keep you warm. I was not wearing them to keep dry.

Two, both mine, both road legal.

It is the long, single-story building with a bench and old-style streetlight outside. A small notice in the window (last year) states "Entry by Appointment Only" and has (had) a telphone number to ring. A guess a picture of the building where it is (or was) would be acceptable. I found it OK after asking a local, I was just passing on info that may help others. It is in street called Cathcartson off the round-a-bout in the middle of the village.

Six done today with a run in the sun So much so at times I was struggling to see with the sun being so low, even with my sun visor. The roads were filthy and around Dalmellington utter crap surfaces. The Doon Valley Museum is not marked and I am not sure it is even open any more. Saw a sight a mile or so north of Ae, a cottage surrounded by motorcycles. There must have been 50 odd going from the old to the very old. There was no one around. Anyone got any idea who lives there?

Bothwell Castle http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/11835092804_57ff97effb_z.jpg Chatelherault http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/11835313464_2d4d8a2c70_z.jpg Ae Totem Poe http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/11840021384_ebc4302f47_z.jpg Doon Valley Museum http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/11839917823_bac7e060a2_z.jpg Crossraguel Abbey http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/11840431156_59bf8c34f2_z.jpg The Dick Institute http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/11839949693_3c2428bed5_z.jpg

These are just small ones (apart from last one) Here's one of the bigger runs I've got planned... [album]886[/album] By the time I complete Scottish part hopefully weather get better so I can do some full weekend (Sat & Sun) runs to England! I hate the A9 and would go up to Inverewe via Ft William, Glen Garry and Torridon and back down the A82 from Inverness or that and the A9 for the run home.

I worked out an ironbutt route for the whole of the south of Scotland which would take 12 1/2 hours for me. But I think three trips is more reasonable. A loop taking in the the west ones from Bothwell to Ae to Ayrshire and Kilmarnock. Then a run down to the Mull of Galloway taking in the Galloway forestry roads just for fun. Then another loop with Scone and the two eastern tags. I do not think I will do the north this year as too many roads are the same as the last two years. I may do the three eastern tags as I have never been to places like Peterhead before.

My review of an eBay special that works fine and is £63 for the pair. viewtopic.php?f=83&t=50043

Some quick starters this year. I have had the place to myself in January for the past years!

Score reset to 0.

Nice selection of tags for Scotland. I am looking forward to a trip south down to the Mull of Galloway. I am going to do Wales as my big trip this year during holidays in the first week of April.

Superb bike

Is it the same format with tags and regions to ride?

Itching to get started. I am off Jan 1st and 2nd, will it be out by then?

Yes and do it not in police uniform on a police bike and people will get annoyed, think you are drunk and boy racers may see you as wanting to race/block them from over taking. They are training to drive very fast to emergencies, the rest of us are not going to do that. Something else I noticed, the roads they were on were in very good condition. I often do not move into the kerb side on a right hand bend because of puddles and pot holes.

I find this very therapeutic to listen to. Terry Reilly "In C" and I have been to a live performance of the work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Hg9isD ... detailpage