What did you do to your bike today?

[RideWithStyles]

Yeah agree gotta be careful,

Capt was lucky that time cos if those animals think your out numbered.

[teo63]

something for the weekend!

[RideWithStyles]

Michelin "pilot" power, nice. Difficult to tell by the pic is it the 2ct version?.

[teo63]

That's right, yes the 2ct. They'll be 800 mile older after the weekend

[RideWithStyles]

Yea good tyres that are actually great value, had them on the Kwak. Enjoy ur weekend!

first two are back from a 1.5ml straight road with 4 right turns at junctions from the garage after mot and tyres. Yes in std tradition when i get new tyres it did downpour and ground pic is from my partly sheltered driveway. Tyres gently warm and pushing water away.

the last two are after a pottering about on a 40mile loop for a gentle scrub in. The next ride will be less gentle. the rear suspension may need a tweak after trying to cope with the previous tyres, will see after the next ride.

[Gerontious]

For a change.

 

[RideWithStyles]

What was on it before??
Yea Pirellis road going tyre for "light" off road biased bikes. Heard they are a bit marmite with peeps... mostly GS brigade.
never had a set but they do remind me of the Angel STs i had on the Benelli.

be interesting to see what you make of them and how they do. 

[Gerontious]

Continentals Trail Attacks. I wasn’t particularly impressed by them, for touring. Which is mostly what I do. You only had to show them a motorway and they grew a flat spot (as if by magic) see how they go and if they turn out the same I’ll go back to using the original Tourances. So long as they’re alright for two tours I’ll be happy. 3 and I’ll be very happy. Down to Folkestone tomorrow and then the Eifel on Sunday. That should be a good test.

 

These are the first Pirelli’s I’ve had since 1997. And those were OEM.

Edited September 1, 2023 by Gerontious

[RideWithStyles]

Got a work colleague who has a 900 tiger with tourances fitted.. he's not changed them or whinged about them.

 

yea oems tyres are an insult to everyone other than accountants, im avoiding going into detail about that one.

 

Safe riding and enjoy the tour!

[Throttled]

The lining in my 11 year old Hein Gericke jacket has frayed. The velcro at the neck and wrists has always been a bit too short and I am fed up with damp wrists and neck. So, it has been replaced with a Rev'it! Poseidon jacket and trousers. Dropping not far off what I paid for my first bike is scary, but the Hein Gericke was expensive at the time and lasted years of daily use in all weathers. I don't commute on the bike any more, so this should add years to the kit. At least I get vouchers worth enough to replace my ageing Frank Thomas vented summer gloves for free.

 

I am looking forward to having laminated goretex, the jacket and trousers not taking hours to dry and vents that do not have a lining in the way. The far longer velcro on the wrists and an optional storm collar should eliminate getting soaked.

[RideWithStyles]

I remember Hein clothing and the wife still has her first set that she got years ago, good stuff at the time.

 

id have ago at laminate version of any clothing if my richa fails me while if im forced to ride winter again. I dont think i would go goretex as i find its not that breathable and the price is just too steep for me.

Edited September 4, 2023 by RideWithStyles

[RideWithStyles]

 Look what i saw in the car park, Proudly bragging.

[Pie man]

On 01/09/2023 at 11:15, Gerontious said:

For a change.

 

Would like to hear what you think of them when you're back in blighty. I had them on the Katoom and thought they were shocking. 

Edited September 7, 2023 by Pie man

[Stu]

Fitted my new rear tyre today as I think I got the most I could out of the last one

 

 

I do like these michelin road 6 gt's 

 

Although they are supposed to be a stiffer side wall they come off and go on really easy! 

 

Not like the bridgestones that was fitted before! The tyre was stiff as hell so bad I had to cut across the carcass to be able to push the tyre in to the centre of the rim

[Gerontious]

22 hours ago, Pie man said:

Would like to hear what you think of them when you're back in blighty. I had them on the Katoom and thought they were shocking. 

They behave exactly as I would expect a tyre at this price point would. No surprises. And I’m not surprised, as they are a real favourite amongst Africa Twin owners. I really can’t say I’ve found anything “shocking” about them. I’ve had Conti Trail attacks on the bike from almost new and these are about the same. But then the road and weather conditions here are perfect. One thing I have noticed is the my haven’t developed a flat spot after 400 miles of vigorous motorway riding. That’s by far the worst thing about the Conti. They are no good for motorway use. Only have to se the word and they get a flat spot.

[Pie man]

I had had them on the 1290 and didn't get along with them at all. Probably better suited for the Honda, but I found them shockingly poor in the wet. Then again, it could have been my riding style. 

I'm not keen on the Avons I have on the 890 either. No pleasing some folk

[Fish]

With the bike (an me) off the road at the moment and the weather as rubbish as it is, I took the oppertunity to give the jacket and trousers a wash and re-proof..... Took longer to wash it than it did to dry for some reason 

[fastbob]

49 minutes ago, Fish said:

With the bike (an me) off the road at the moment and the weather as rubbish as it is, I took the oppertunity to give the jacket and trousers a wash and re-proof..... Took longer to wash it than it did to dry for some reason 

Rubbish weather ? We're in a heatwave in Coventry . 

[RideWithStyles]

And up north.
i think he's trying to convince himself,  yes buddy worst weather in ages... got to go and pop out for some "cough" butty ... mean milk..

[Gerontious]

Today I did that rare thing and left the bike uncovered in the rain and did it rain. Hour after hour followed by drizzle. Marvellous. It finally stopped for a time and with the bike dripping wet. I washed it. Remarkable how a good soaking makes removal of a weeks worth of dead insects dead and previously baked on, just wash away with almost no effort at all.

 

it’s like it never happened.

[Fish]

If I ever have dried on bugs I just place a soaked cloth for 5 mins whilst I clean other parts.

[Gerontious]

1 hour ago, Fish said:

If I ever have dried on bugs I just place a soaked cloth for 5 mins whilst I clean other parts.

A soaked cloth. I wonder how many I might need? Maybe I could do it one at a time and take a week to do it. Or use multiple cloths and cover the bikes front like a patchwork. Hard work. Though possibly quite decorative. Easier to let the rain do the soaking while I sat inside doing other rather less tedious things. (Drugs and porn plus a little light Mister Sheening) I like your solution but it don’t half sound like hard work. 1 cloth or 30+ or let the rain take the strain. It’s not really a tough decision.

 

anyway it’s done now and took the time it takes to soap it up and rinse it down front to back and top to bottom. I even cleared the rear wheels. Thrilling. I was genuinely thrilled. (They came up lovely)

 

I did cheat somewhat and popped the headlight lenses and hand guards into the sudsy bucket of death and leave them to soak. But they were particularly bad. I’m quite glad @Snod Blatter  is no longer active as I’m sure his level of sarcasm at the very idea of cleaning off the mortal remains of multiple species of insect would have been a joy to behold. (Or not)

 

maybe.

 

The bike even got rinsed twice. Once by me then again by even more rain. Life is good.

[Fiddlesticks]

Today I applied the rain repellent to the helmet visor and went to work.
An hour later, two wet hands, one damp derrier, one slightly wet sock.

Must look into some better quality gear

[Gerontious]

1 minute ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Today I applied the rain repellent to the helmet visor and went to work.
An hour later, two wet hands, one damp derrier, one slightly wet sock.

Must look into some better quality gear

 

You can never have enough hats gloves and shoes (or boots)

 

I’m poised. Poised I am. Eager to leap into action armed only with a credit card at the first whiff of a winter sale to buy that one thing they don’t usually sell much of in the bleak midwinter (as frosty winds make moan)

 

fully vented jacket and troosers. Summer is only round the corner and I get this feeling in my waters that hot summers are the new normal.

 

I shall be spending my nights researchering the options and full price ticket prices so I can get overexcited as and when I spot a bargin.

 

and cook no morer.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

5 hours ago, Gerontious said:

 

You can never have enough hats gloves and shoes (or boots)

 

I’m poised. Poised I am. Eager to leap into action armed only with a credit card at the first whiff of a winter sale to buy that one thing they don’t usually sell much of in the bleak midwinter (as frosty winds make moan)

 

fully vented jacket and troosers. Summer is only round the corner and I get this feeling in my waters that hot summers are the new normal.

 

I shall be spending my nights researchering the options and full price ticket prices so I can get overexcited as and when I spot a bargin.

 

and cook no morer.

I bought a mesh jacket in March. By May it was twice the price. Then we had a crap summer. I've used it more in September than the whole of the summer put together.