Took both bikes for a run today, not used either of them since before Xmas, it got very cold when the sun went behind the clouds and by the time I was on the last leg the Gritters were out on the M11, looks like it will get cold tonight!

Obviously a bit warmer down south as we had minus temperatures yesterday, I'm only slightly envious of you.

Obviously a bit warmer down south as we had minus temperatures yesterday, I'm only slightly envious of you.

 

We are lucky in respect of it usually being warmer, so no real need to purchase things like winter tyres and wheels for the car as all the main routes are sorted to keep the buses and normal traffic moving into and out of the city, however a few years back they gritted everywhere except outside the local bus garage and they couldn't get the buses out :D.

 

We have had a couple of thick frosts (crunchy under foot) so thank god for heated seats and windscreens :).

 

The downside is when the weather is good you have to ride a fair way to get to any interesting roads and this type of thing is probably on your doorstep. 

 

My little runs at the moment on good days normally involve a blast up the M11 to Harlow or Stanstead to keep the battery topped up, I'm off to warmer climes soon so will probably disconnect the batteries on both bikes so they don't get flattened whilst I'm away as I've no power in the garage to hook them up to trickle chargers. 

I bought the heated seats for the KTM last year but not connected them up. Only bought the heated seat as it is the same as the Ergo Powerparts seat but with heat elements. Picked it up during the summer second hand at a bargain price, much less than a used Ergo seat,  assuming other people couldn't see the benefit of heat during the warmer months. When I have the tank off to upgrade the air filter I'll get it connected up.

 

I know a few people who have used solar trickle chargers to keep their bikes charged as they don't have power in the garage. Don't know if one is better than the other but a mate has the Draper version

Went for a ride on Wednesday on greasy then freshly salted roads so spent more time cleaning it after than I did riding it :peek:

 

Prykey and Ade, either of you used dual sport tyres that give a reasonable amount grip off road without feeling like tractor on road?

Prykey and Ade, either of you used dual sport tyres that give a reasonable amount grip off road without feeling like tractor on road?

Ade's is a GS mate.

Tyres dont make a difference to it being a tractor ;) :D.

Prykey and Ade, either of you used dual sport tyres that give a reasonable amount grip off road without feeling like tractor on road?

 

 

I've not ridden the GS off road and have no plans to do so-even if I fancied it there's no green lanes or BOATs round here to go off road anyway. If the ground is dry I think most of the 80/20 dual purpose tyres will be ok ish- but if wet then they'll struggle. I have Anakee IIIs on mine but will be looking to change in a few thousand miles time to something more road orientated like the Metzeler tourance next.

Ade's is a GS mate.

Tyres dont make a difference to it being a tractor ;) :D.

as you never ride yours tyre choice would make no difference to you either :giggle:

as you never ride yours tyre choice would make no difference to you either :giggle:

:D :D.

Anything other than whats on it. Theyre shocking in the wet. Should be on an advert to promote ABS and TC these things :D

I've not ridden the GS off road and have no plans to do so-even if I fancied it there's no green lanes or BOATs round here to go off road anyway. If the ground is dry I think most of the 80/20 dual purpose tyres will be ok ish- but if wet then they'll struggle. I have Anakee IIIs on mine but will be looking to change in a few thousand miles time to something more road orientated like the Metzeler tourance next.

My dad uses ContiRoadAttacks on his GSA. He did have Anakee's on his first GS in 2004 but got rid cos for some reason they kept picking up punctures.

Also admits theres no chance of it going offroad... :D.

In a tyre road test in the BMW mag they compared 6 tyres for the GS both in the wet and the dry across a range of parameters and the Metzelers came second behind the Pirelli scorpions. The Anakees were joint last but TBF I've not had any problems with them though they do lack feel this time of year and the rear is beginning to square off now. After just over 5k miles I recon there's another 1-2k left in them so will change both at the same time. The local bike tyre specialist recommended the Metzelers based on feedback from his customers so that's why I'll probably go with those 

Michelin Pilot Road 4 are whats fitted to mine at the moment and are great on the road, step off it and it hard work. The traction control, ABS and power modes work wonders but they are still limited, any presence of mud needs full concentration.

There are plenty of green lanes around me and further into North Yorks but I wouldn't even dream of going on them unless it was bone dry which isn't very often.  

Michelin Pilot Road 4 are whats fitted to mine at the moment and are great on the road, step off it and it hard work. The traction control, ABS and power modes work wonders but they are still limited, any presence of mud needs full concentration.

There are plenty of green lanes around me and further into North Yorks but I wouldn't even dream of going on them unless it was bone dry which isn't very often.

Its all a compromise mate.

Ones that are better off road will leave you wanting more on road.

Just depends which is more important i guess :D.

I don't mind giving up some road for off-road performance. No requirement to find the edge of the tyres performance on road as I would be doing some stupid licence removal speeds or being a complete knob. Rather have something that will keep me safe on road within legalish speeds whilst giving me a bit more to work with when I'm off it.

Prykey and Ade, either of you used dual sport tyres that give a reasonable amount grip off road without feeling like tractor on road?

 

Sorry, no, I've never had a dual sport motorcycle so I cannot help you I'm afraid.

I bought the heated seats for the KTM last year but not connected them up. Only bought the heated seat as it is the same as the Ergo Powerparts seat but with heat elements. Picked it up during the summer second hand at a bargain price, much less than a used Ergo seat,  assuming other people couldn't see the benefit of heat during the warmer months. When I have the tank off to upgrade the air filter I'll get it connected up.

 

I know a few people who have used solar trickle chargers to keep their bikes charged as they don't have power in the garage. Don't know if one is better than the other but a mate has the Draper version

 

That draper solar panel looks pretty good, my garage is in a block of lockup garages so it might be difficult to locate/install, I also don't really want to draw attention to the garage as others may then feel it needs to have more attention paid to it, if you know what I mean!

Place it in the roof and pass it through a gap in the panels

Place it in the roof and pass it through a gap in the panels

 

Good idea, but in the end its not my roof, although it is a nice tiled pitched roof and not the normal flat rubbish that rented lockup garages normally are :)

I know someone who's used solar panels in a rented garage in the past. Charged his Multistrada and 748 off it. Reckons it was faultless, obviously he had no power in the garage at the time. 

 

Ask the owner of the garage, they might let you plonk something on somewhere. 

Fitted the LED Headlight to the Harley this afternoon, looks really good although its hard to tell if its better than the standard one until I ride it   :happy:

Fitted the LED Headlight to the Harley this afternoon, looks really good although its hard to tell if its better than the standard one until I ride it   :happy:

 

Good effort! 

 

Any pics? 

 

Interested to see what you think of the night performance. Tracers got LED lights n they're the best i've ever had on a bike.. but look more like HID's with a 6000k tint. 

Good effort! 

 

Any pics? 

 

Interested to see what you think of the night performance. Tracers got LED lights n they're the best i've ever had on a bike.. but look more like HID's with a 6000k tint. 

 

No mate, didn't really have a chance as I had other things to do ;)

Started the CB today. It's been sat since I got it mot'd so my dad was saying how it would be flat by now (his Bandit and scooter both were flat having been left much less time) but it started straight away. :D I miss riding it, going to start a little FB group for the guys at work to arrange some ride outs. 

Started the CB today. It's been sat since I got it mot'd so my dad was saying how it would be flat by now (his Bandit and scooter both were flat having been left much less time) but it started straight away. :D I miss riding it, going to start a little FB group for the guys at work to arrange some ride outs. 

 

About time you took the proper bike out isnt it ;) :D :D.