Been out on the bike!

It's quite chilly.

 

I thought about it, even went as far as putting the optimate on yesterday
as the clock has run the battery down since it was last ridden in November.
By the time I got out of bed, had some lunch & showered the mist had
started to come down over the Skirrid Mountain. So, I never bothered. Maybe
next weekend, although I'd have to pump the tyres up as they are both 7 psi
too low.

 

Been doing DIY. It's quite hot.

 

I've just finished cleaning two weeks worth of crud off the Tenere but
strangely enough I didn't really feel any great urge to go out for a
ride on it.

i had to buy a pressure washer from Halfords to get the last of the
caked on salt off it but it's now looking like any other two year old
'adventure' bike rather than the bedraggled mess it was when I parked
it up on Friday afternoon. The worst part to clean was the radiator
which was badly clogged and no matter what I did to it yesterday it
wouldn't clean up so £100 for a pressure washer didn't seem bad
compared to overheating when it gets a bit warmer.

It's unfortunate really that I've grown to really like that bike (1) so
even when I decide it's time for something new I'll struggle to part
with it and it'll join the 10R at the back of the garage as something I
know I should sell but don't.

(1) I whinged about it 12 months ago when it let me down in Germany but
after the abuse it's taken this winter without faltering at all I
reckon it's proved to be capable of coping with the worst I can throw
at it.

 

Isn't it just. The moisture puts so much *bite* into the cold.
My blowy exhaust sounds kind of funky though.

 

You do surprise me.

In other news, I replaced the fork seals on my YZ but it appears that
I forgot to spray WD40 on it after I last used it: surface rust
everywhere. Oops.

 

I took mine for a blat after cleaning it (a bit) without the panniers,
frames etc. Trellies still feel horrible

I need to get my power washer on it next weekend for a proper clean.
My rad' doesn't seem so bad but I haven't looked too closely...

I think I'm keeping mine

It hasn't actually used any oil at all during the trip and it just
'worked' despite me dropping it a bit

 

Standing around outside watching people thrash mk1 Cortinas, Capris
and Anglias around a track, I can't help but agree.

Brrr.

 

I've been out on the Armstrong - marvellous time in jeans, Belstaff and
shirt sleeves. Funny how the concept of cold has changed slightly (for
now).

No luggage, no muffs, no studs and no Trelleborgs just a nice pair of
part worn pair of Bridgestone Trailwings [1].

Still a cloud of blue smoke though.


[1] inflated too, which is one up on the Jag.

 

I paid Sainsburys ?3 for 10 minutes and the old girl's still a looker [1]


[1] # waiting for a stevedore from Tyneside

 

47°F, according to the big gold object.

Perfectly acceptable in jacket and jeans, with the seat and grips
turned up to 4.

 

11, surely?

 

I also like the XT660R a lot but really regret buying it and not getting
the Tenere. Absolute stupidity on my part because I thought the Tenere
was considerably higher. *sigh*

There is a nice one in Fowlers with about 20k on the clocks for 3.5k or
so. Wonder what they'd offer for my XT in PX??? Would now be the best
time to do this I wonder.

Don't really have spare cash to spend on bikes anyway so I guess it's
irrelevant.

I've had a couple of issues (break down due to a wiring problem,
non-start due to damp) but apart from that it's been pretty reliable.

It's no good for high-speed summer touring (i.e. 90+ cruising speed, 500
mile days) but if I ever was to take a few months out to bum around on a
bike a Tenere would be high on the list (together with the F800GS).
XT660R is pretty good but I think they made a lot of compromises and it
seems a lot cheaper than the Tenere when you look at the equipment
level.

 

Not raced or rallied, one careful owner, dry use only ;-)

 

Nah, it weren't that cold.

I had the stereo up to 20, to compensate.

Oh, and filled it up for the second time - *only* £29.05 this time.

 

Wrong bike or just a wimp ?
Took the Majesty into town for a spot of shopping and a bimble.
Nice big windshield and heated grips. No problem.

 

Not the bike - Alex has demonstrated that an R-GS can cope with proper
winter conditions.

Lack of motivation. Didn't have to go anywhere, needed to move the car
and faff about with the tyre pump so just couldn't be arsed with the
effort for what would be a short ride due to the mist getting thicker.

 

Christ, you're nesh. I did wear 2 jackets though for my late evening
jaunt to the frozen north on Friday evening.

It was chilly, but I consoled myself that I was nowhere near as cold
as the 'Kappers.

Paul.

 

I could try that but suspect it would be hard to get away with...

However it has stood up pretty well to the winter salt- as Andy said
thank God for ACF50.

 

I was partway through filling the FJR at Clacket Lane yesterday
evening (I know but it was running on fumes) when I realised I was
putting 'Excellium' in. £32.79!

Out of curiosity (I suspect it's OCD!) I decided I'd keep track of our
mileage this year - just over 3500 miles so far excluding short hops
when I didn't have the SatNav on the bike.

Kevin