Greetings from Tenerife!

[Caballero700]

Evening everyone! Doing things backwards as I tend to do, I posted a review on the forum yesterday for my new bike (Fantic Caballero 700) before actually introducing myself, so apologies if anyone was wondering who the hell this presumptuous newbie was.

 

Anyway, I'm 50 years old, originally from Kent but now live in Tenerife, Spain. I was never that into bikes in the UK, but in Tenerife, it just seems the right place. Probably a combination of the warm weather, lack of rain and some of the best biking roads on the planet. If you've seen any Peugeot car advert you'll have an idea of the typical backdrop scenery. Even the motorways here have an amazing backdrop (e.g. Fast & Furious 6 - Tank scene).

 

I only passed my big boy A test 10 years ago (fast-tracked during a visit back to the UK to avoid the language barrier here), so I'm still relatively a novice, having racked up only about 18,000 miles on big bikes so far. My previous bike was a 2015 Ducati Monster 821 Dark, which was a lot of fun, but not a bike that inspired me with much confidence to throw around into the corners, which is what naked bikes are supposed to be. Other bikes I've ridden were all loaners from friends or rented, including a Triumph Thruxton 900, Triumph Street Triple 900, Yamaha MT-07, Ducati Scrambler (and finally the world's tamest bike, a Honda NC750, which I did consider slashing my wrists after riding for an hour).

 

Meanwhile, I'm now getting used to my new Fantic Cabellero 700, (having just done the first 1000km oil change) but so far its a blast, far easier to ride than the Ducati, with superb cornering and lots of low down grunt and torque. It really is at home on the mountain twisties here. For me, it's the perfect novice/intermediate bike and still an extremely rare sight on the roads (I have the 2nd of only 2 sold in the whole Canary Islands).

 

But that's enough rambling from me. More soon hopefully. Cheers for listening!

 

P.S. Quick poll: How many of you riders prefer going gloveless? Maybe it's the Tenerife weather, but I really can't stand wearing gloves for a Sunday blast. For me, it ruins a lot of the steering and braking feedback. I'd rather go gloveless and suffer the occasional stone-chip on my knuckles (or skin them if I have a big off).

[Fiddlesticks]

Hi

The second post today mentioning no gloves.

Have a summer pair, a winter pair, and some waterproof over mitts that don't get a lot of use.

I did go out without them by accident once, just for a short ride. Have to admit it felt much nicer, but it was like going out without your trousers on, liberating but ultimately far too exposing.

Anyway, Spain sounds very nice

[bonio]

Gloveless? Each to their own, but not for me. Too attached to my skin, even at 30+C.

I had the same reaction to the NC750!

[curlylegend]

4 hours ago, Caballero700 said:

P.S. Quick poll: How many of you riders prefer going gloveless?

Personally I prefer very thin leather gloves but in France the law says you have to wear gloves and they must be CE approved and labelled.

[ColinWB]

Welcome from another Newbie. I've found the folk here to be very welcoming and helpful 

 

I wear gloves even when I'm on my pedal cycle!

[Simon Davey]

Welcome to the forum. 

Gloves are a must 

[Bender]

Welcome, love the roads in Tenerife, gloves yup great without them till your hands are de gloved, I've never found riding with them a problem in any country.

[curlylegend]

22 hours ago, ColinWB said:

I wear gloves even when I'm on my pedal cycle!

Sensible ! get a dose of gravel rash on the palms of your hands and you know all about it !

[Gerontious]

I’ll never forget the pain and ultimately the infection I got on the heel of my right hand after coming off a bicycle at very low speed. The nurse remarked that if the damage was any greater it would have meant skin grafts I was just a few mm away from that point. This was from going over the handlebars at not much more than walking pace. Multiply that by whatever at any kind of normal motorbike speed. It doesn’t bear thinking about.

 

i wear summer vented gloves on both bikes now. Motor and pedal. Without fail. In extreme heat an easy fix is to spray them with water and that really helps. Though probably not appropriate for full leather vented. Mine are mostly textile.

Edited June 20, 2024 by Gerontious

[ColinWB]

On 19/06/2024 at 22:34, curlylegend said:

Sensible ! get a dose of gravel rash on the palms of your hands and you know all about it !

Exactly. And I'm lucky if I get over 20 mph on it these days lol.

[KiwiBob]

On 18/06/2024 at 18:37, Caballero700 said:

I'd rather go gloveless and suffer the occasional stone-chip on my knuckles (or skin them if I have a big off).

You won't just "skin" your hands if you have a big off .. You'll lose your flesh right down to the bone!

[AstronautNinja]

I wonder how many people actually jump oin the bike wearing little to no protective gear?

 

I must admit if I was in sunny Spain I would end up nipping out in trainers and a T shirt occasionally. Stupid as it might be.

 

I did some big miles on a push bike when I lived in the sourh of france and would frequently blast down the pyranees in nothing but a vest and the shortest shorts money could buy. Really not the wisest choice.

 

Suppose its a case of "f**k around and find out"

[RideWithStyles]

In a hot country guessing The half way house would be to just wear the protective vest/sleeved under layer, and just keep to cruising below 60? 
just depends on how hot blooded, distance, speeds, weather your doing and how much protection you want.