Yes everyone involved put the effort in to attend, we all got along and had loads of laughs and there was much p1ss taking during the 4 days

Brilliant. Sounds perfect then.

Are you planning to do another meet up between you then? Maybe France next time?

Yes, next years meet is already being discussed with somewhere near Kielder being the possible venue at the moment.

Adjusted the rear suspension pre-load on the Harley ready for Austria and European Bike Week

Picked up the last couple of bits and pieces for the Austria Trip, now need to start sorting things out ready for the off

Picked up the last couple of bits and pieces for the Austria Trip, now need to start sorting things out ready for the off

 

It's the Harley you're going on isnt it? 

 

Are you going through France? 

 

My dad had a harley n it wouldn't start up again after stopping in the petrol stations. Had to push it down the road before it would. something to do with the radio frequencies playing with the immobiliser. I don't know if yours is similar? Thought i'd say though! . 

Yes it is and yes I'm aware of that, they hide Cellphone Aerials in the filling station Canopies and they used to interfere with the factory fit alarm/immobilizer, I say used to, they may still affect the new models to, I'll find out soon enough lol .

 

The early alarm fobs you had to press a button to arm/disarm the new ones work on proximity of the fob to the motorcycle

 

Thanks for thinking of letting me know though 

 

The outbound route will be Channel Tunnel, Metz, Munich  and Faaker See and the return route will be Augsburg, Luxembourg, Channel Tunnel. 

Yes it is and yes I'm aware of that, they hide Cellphone Aerials in the filling station Canopies and they used to interfere with the factory fit alarm/immobilizer, I say used to, they may still affect the new models to, I'll find out soon enough lol .

 

The early alarm fobs you had to press a button to arm/disarm the new ones work on proximity of the fob to the motorcycle

 

Thanks for thinking of letting me know though 

 

The outbound route will be Channel Tunnel, Metz, Munich  and Faaker See and the return route will be Augsburg, Luxembourg, Channel Tunnel. 

 

I wouldn't know mate, all i can say is that his was an 09 plate and that was effected. . No worries bud! 

 

Sounds like a great trip! I hope it all goes well for you all . 

I wouldn't know mate, all i can say is that his was an 09 plate and that was effected. . No worries bud! 

 

Sounds like a great trip! I hope it all goes well for you all . 

 

A 2009 would of had the proximity fob I think, I may have some pushing to do

 

Thank you for your good wishes.

A 2009 would of had the proximity fob I think, I may have some pushing to do

Thank you for your good wishes.

I think it did, but i cant remember for sure. It was a while back. I think the fob was just round with no buttons on, i could be making that up .

Filling up facing downhill might make your life easier :D.

Not today, but wednesday night just gone,

 

Went to work and back on bike and then went out for abit of a thrash after id dropped my bag off at home and called at a family relation's near york,

 

Stayed a little longer than i expected and quiet late when i set off back,

 

Got 2 miles from home and stopped at a set of lights and bike just cut out and wouldn't restart,

 

So I was 2 miles from home with 3% phone battery left and no change for a pay phone at 10.30pm,

 

Just about managed to txt a mate who has a van before my phone died,

 

I had a mess with it until he arrived at side of road with what i could see and get to and just as he arrived the bloody thing fired back into life,

 

Got him to follow me home incase it died again,

 

Lesson learn't don't go out without some decent charge in my phone or some change in my wallet,

 

One person did stop and ask if i was ok though, i think he was a fellow biker

I don't think pay phones take money any more you have to use a debit card or phonecard.  Lesson learned though I think make sure your phone is charged up.  Maybe invest in one of them powerbanks you can use to charge up your battery.

Check and clean your battery connections are tight. Usually overlooked and quite often the culprit

What a ballache.

Somethin to investigate anyway!

Sorted out the bent bits, who would believe that a leg could bend a brake lever!

All the usual routine checks done and washed n polished it, ready for the Scotland tour next Saturday.

Uri Geller could bend spoons with his fingers!

Got back from the BMW national at Llandovery yesterday afternoon after a mixture of reasonable weather and heavy rain and OCD kicked in so the GS had to have a wash. Nearly dropped it a couple of times with SWMBO on the back at low speed so now seriously thinking about getting something more manageable (i.e fit for a short ar8e) 2 up  Not told SWMBO yet Looks like I've pulled a muscle in my back stopping one of the 'timber'moments too so all up I'm a bit fed up today as I'm supposed to be playing golf tomorrow :'(

Got back from the BMW national at Llandovery yesterday afternoon after a mixture of reasonable weather and heavy rain and OCD kicked in so the GS had to have a wash. Nearly dropped it a couple of times with SWMBO on the back at low speed so now seriously thinking about getting something more manageable (i.e fit for a short ar8e) 2 up Not told SWMBO yet Looks like I've pulled a muscle in my back stopping one of the 'timber'moments too so all up I'm a bit fed up today as I'm supposed to be playing golf tomorrow :'(

Ah dear :(.

Doesnt the ESA make it lower?

Ah dear :(.

Doesnt the ESA make it lower?

Not in itself Ollie. I have the factory lowered suspension (which you can only order if you also have ESA which is probably what you're thinking of) which also comes with the low seat so it's as low as it can go...... you then have 3 preload options - single rider, single rider with luggage and finally rider and pillion. I have it on rider and pillion with SWMBO on the back and the bike handles fine 2 up-it's just things like coming to a stop and starting off again or really slow tight manouvering that I have problems with as she's sat high up behind me so acts like a bit of a pendulum/makes the bike more top heavy. I might try the R1200R to see what that's like but I know it won't be such a comfy mile muncher as the GS. I quite like the look of the Triumph speed triple but the pillion seat is not much more than a plank so that won't get the seal of approval so I don't know what to do for the best at the moment

I guess the only thing in my favour is the GS is so expensive in the first place at over £15k now I might be able to swap and it not cost me much/anything to do so. :peek:

Having discovered I had the wrong Givi key so couldn't fill the top box with beer, I rode it back from Wiltshire in a "spirited" manner.

 

Chap on a CB1000R joined in with the fun for the last 20 miles or so after I passed him on the exit of a roundabout.

 

I really ought to start riding like an adult.

Not in itself Ollie. I have the factory lowered suspension (which you can only order if you also have ESA which is probably what you're thinking of) which also comes with the low seat so it's as low as it can go...... you then have 3 preload options - single rider, single rider with luggage and finally rider and pillion. I have it on rider and pillion with SWMBO on the back and the bike handles fine 2 up-it's just things like coming to a stop and starting off again or really slow tight manouvering that I have problems with as she's sat high up behind me so acts like a bit of a pendulum/makes the bike more top heavy. I might try the R1200R to see what that's like but I know it won't be such a comfy mile muncher as the GS. I quite like the look of the Triumph speed triple but the pillion seat is not much more than a plank so that won't get the seal of approval so I don't know what to do for the best at the moment

I guess the only thing in my favour is the GS is so expensive in the first place at over £15k now I might be able to swap and it not cost me much/anything to do so. :peek:

I thought (and im usually wrong ) that the settings in the ESA made the bike go up and down, but i might of made that up!

Its a shame its come to that Ade but you wont enjoy riding it if you're tense and worrying.

Does it have to be an upright riding position? Sports tourers tend to be pretty good for the pillion and lower than the adventure bikes?

Having discovered I had the wrong Givi key so couldn't fill the top box with beer, I rode it back from Wiltshire in a "spirited" manner.

Chap on a CB1000R joined in with the fun for the last 20 miles or so after I passed him on the exit of a roundabout.

I really ought to start riding like an adult.

Sounds fun!

Nahh. Riding like an adult is boring .

I thought (and im usually wrong ) that the settings in the ESA made the bike go up and down, but i might of made that up!

Its a shame its come to that Ade but you wont enjoy riding it if you're tense and worrying.

Does it have to be an upright riding position? Sports tourers tend to be pretty good for the pillion and lower than the adventure bikes?

The ESA sets the preload mate- stick it on rider plus fatty and it jacks the rear suspension up, plus I think it does other things to the suspension too by electrickery. Once she's onboard it's no higher than with just me on-it's just the extra weight high up behind me causing the issues. I had them last time we went away on it in May and was hoping now I've done a few thousand miles things would be better but I still struggled at times

 

We sat on the R1200RS before I got the GS and she doesn't like being sat back away from me- I think it's a bit of a throwback to the Fireblade which she hated and went on twice in the 5 years i had it. I'm considering trying the R1200R as it's a similar riding position but lower, in reality I'm not sure what to do other than I need to do something to make sure she's as safe as possible when on the back so any (sensible) suggestions gratefully received. 

 

Apart from that she said she noticed how much better a rider I am now I'm out with the IAM and said she was more confident in what i was doing  :clap: She's obviously bought into it as she was commenting on other riders poor positioning and antics on the back via the intercom which made I larff!

Ah okay.its clever stuff isnt it!

The RS is a lovely bike tbh. I like it! I know Chris wishes he could reach far enough to punch me round the face whenever i say i like a beemer, but i do like em . The R is nice too. Ahh i like em all, theyre all bikes.. I just like bikes .

Thats good then if she's noticed too! A pillion with more confidence in the rider is a relaxed pillion.. N a better pillion imo!

The ESA sets the preload mate- stick it on rider plus fatty and it jacks the rear suspension up, plus I think it does other things to the suspension too by electrickery. Once she's onboard it's no higher than with just me on-it's just the extra weight high up behind me causing the issues. I had them last time we went away on it in May and was hoping now I've done a few thousand miles things would be better but I still struggled at times

 

We sat on the R1200RS before I got the GS and she doesn't like being sat back away from me- I think it's a bit of a throwback to the Fireblade which she hated and went on twice in the 5 years i had it. I'm considering trying the R1200R as it's a similar riding position but lower, in reality I'm not sure what to do other than I need to do something to make sure she's as safe as possible when on the back so any (sensible) suggestions gratefully received. 

 

Apart from that she said she noticed how much better a rider I am now I'm out with the IAM and said she was more confident in what i was doing  :clap: She's obviously bought into it as she was commenting on other riders poor positioning and antics on the back via the intercom which made I larff!

 

Have you tried something from the Triumph range, Tiger 800 or the larger Tiger or even the Trophy SE or Sprint GT SE, cracking deals available on the Sprint GT SE if you can find one and you're buying new!

He is too titchy for the Tiger.   Have you tried platform heels Ade?  Oh and no I don't want to be in your gang!

 

Seriously though Ade I feel for you (genuinely) because it must be a worry for you and dropping it ith the good lady on the back is a worry and I do get that.