I had a good but testing ride yesterday of 219 miles through the Yorkshire National Park with 6 friends.
Starting off at Barton we criss-crossed Lancashire and Cumbria before heading through the Dales on mainly single track lanes.
The weather was kind to us and the bike would only take 13 litres (2.86 Imperial gallons) of fuel filling up right to the neck. The slower pace on narrow tracks returned better than 76 mpg. Not my usual style!
Maps are OK but.
They don't record just whereabouts you were lost!
Omeo to Ensay return, via the back roads.
Went to watch the local football final.
Wattle is in bloom, road was warm.
Life is good.
2010 delivery Stock Metzlers almost through @ 8k, has taken me <4 months to finish off tyres that had only done 3k in previous four years!
Looking forward to some u.t.d, sticky rubber.
Short ride today, 100 miles give/take. Then I went to the Pocono's and watched qualifying for tomorrows IndyCar race. Took the camera out and first pic was this.
He was not injured, very good thing, but he won't be using that car tomorrow. They did have to repair a section of the catch fence, hard hit.
Not a good update.
As a result of an accident during Sundays race, Justin Wilson was life flighted to a local hospital.
He did not survive the injuries, thoughts and prayers to his family.
Another day living the dream! ..... on the way to lunch in Woodenbong, ran into the "executive" of the BMW Motorcycle Club (Qld) on their way to The Hunter Valley. We had "the baby beemer" amongst the "baby boomers". These pics taken at the Border Loop Railway lookout.
View of the railway loop - main Sydney-Brisbane line climbs around the centre hill and passes under it once, as the gradient increases.
Members of the BMW MC Qld on their way to the Hunter Valley. Only 700km to go guys - better get a move on!
They head down the Lions Rd as we continue up the Lions Rd
A great day and location for motorcycling - all up, 250km round trip
Brief, late-afternoon ride through the Somerset Hills and into Hunterdon and Morris Counties. Visited Round Valley, High Bridge, Long Valley. Had a bison burger and a nice cold summer rye ale at the Long Valley Brew Pub. Beautiful afternoon for lunch at the outdoor patio bar.
Stopped for a quick pic on Stanton Mountain...
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
For Sunday, I did a morning ride to the Cars & Coffee meet up in Bethlehem, PA. Ironically, I did not see anyone selling coffee. I guess you're supposed to bring your own. There were plenty of cars though and I will post a few in the classic cars thread.
Regarding the site, The SteelStacks are the rusted remnants of the massive, shuttered Bethlehem Steel complex. Today, they serve as an arts and culture campus with concerts and events. They are a patina-crusted nod to the age of manufacturing and industrialization..... the age of coal and steel. I grew up in Western New York - in the region where Bethlehem Steel had another massive complex in Lackawanna, NY. The Lackawanna plant employed over 20,000 people at its peak. I recall the constant strife between labor and management. The slow cadence of lost jobs as manufacturing died in the Rust Best. They continue the economic and environment recovery and challenges there.
Here in Bethlehem, they continue that recovery as well. The Bethlehem Plant was an incomprehensively massive complex over seven miles long and employing over 30,000 at its peak. The Sands Casino is now on part of the old grounds. The SteelStacks are the old blast furnaces of the plant. There is an elevated walkway that allows you to get up close and see the structures and the rail lines which fed the plant coal and ore. Following are some pics. Photos do not do justice to the scale of the facilities...
The morning ride out was a fast highway blast as I was meeting my son and his girlfriend. The way home was the back roads of PA and NJ from Easton PA to Stockton NJ along the Delaware River and home. Made a quick bio stop and water at Van Sant Airport. Lots of bikes were starting to gather along the grass airfield. Other than a couple Aprilias, FJ 1300s and an old CB 550 Four - the F8 was lost in a sea of Ultra and Street Glide H-D sameness on this day.
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
I went for a Sunday morning ride today and I never found out why the cow crossed the road. But, one thing is for sure, I will never know because he didn't make it.
On the way home from Alice's Restaurant today I rode down Highway 84 and just about 1/2 mile east of La Honda I came around a sharp corner to find myself halted by a few cars, a couple of motorcycles and lots of CHP. In front of us, blocking the way, was a very large, fat, all-white cow lying across the entire westbound lane. It is a real mystery how that cow could have gotten there as there are no ranches within miles of that location. Plus there is a steep hillside to the right and a wooded creek at the left. The cow was facing the hillside so I guess it must have come out of the creek. Fortunately, the cops were letting us by in the opposite lane, but while we were waiting for the opposite traffic to clear, I and a couple of other riders almost got taken out by a fast-moving bright-red old Ford Bronco that came around the corner and saw us just in time to slam on its brakes, lock up its wheels in a big cloud of smoke, spin completely around, ending up facing the wrong way, turn around in a circle, back-up in the opposite lane before getting straightened out and finally getting back into the correct lane behind us. Needless to say all of that drama caught the attention of the CHP and just as they let us pass the cow (and avoid possibly getting rear-ended again) a CHP SUV turned on its lights and headed for the red Bronco, no doubt thinking about several vehicle code violations that he could write up to make his quota today. Unfortunately, I was not at the scene of the cow collapse long enough to get out my camera and take a photograph of the road cow. Interestingly, I saw no blood nor did I see any smashed-up vehicle that might have hit the cow. Probably the cow was a victim of a hit-and-run driver, or it just fell asleep on the road from boredom. You just never know what will happen next on a Sunday morning ride in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
This weekend's activity was a Coal Region Farm and Mountain ride in central PA. I met my son for a late breakfast in Hamburg, PA on Sunday. We then spent the afternoon blasting through 130+ miles of some very enjoyable roads over to Pottstown, Shamokin and Harrisburg. We met up with one of my son's friends on a CBR 1000 in Shamokin.
I got to entertain the guys when the F8 unleashed its raging fury and surprised the group (me especially) with a rebellious wheelie out of a mountain switchback. We entered 90-degree hairpin and, once in the turn, I saw that the road climbed very steeply coming out the other side. I was in too high gear and knew I would need more drive for the climb, being sandwiched between ZX6R and CBR1000. So, exiting the turn and into the stepped climb, I feathered the clutch, quickly downshifted and twisted the grip to keep my momentum and drive. Hello, sky. Didn't know the old girl had a mean side! Got the front down for quick right-hander. Carry on... nothing to see here.
Made for laugh at the next stop when my son's friend, who got the view from behind me, told me to behave and not do wheelies. LOL.
Fun couple days.... about 370 miles over two days in hot, but beautiful weather.
Last edited by TheMeteor; 09-08-15 at 09:52 AM.
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
Had a bit of a BMW group outing today. Went with neighbour with his K1200R and his friend on an R1200GS. Clockwise circular trip to Hunstanton and around North Norfolk following the coast road back to Stalham. Did 130 leisurely miles with the odd bit of spirited overtaking to get past the slow holiday trippers in their cars.
Parked next to another Val. Orange GT at Hunstanton when we stopped for Fish & Chips. He isn't on the forum and has clocked 10,000 miles in the last two years travelling with his wife. He used to have an R1200RT but traded for the GT as he prefers the lighter weight and handling (and economy).
Line up of the bikes at Hunstanton (Honda Rider at back talking to passer-by).
Stopped for a cupa at Cromer and parked beside a nice Kawasaki 900 (R12GS had gone home). The owner has three classic bikes but uses an R1200RT to tour with his wife.
Bit of a cloudy day with only the odd ray of sun. Temperatures never got above 18 degC so I was reminded how much I will enjoy the hot air from the radiator as autumn progresses !
Ian
Last edited by Norfolk UK; 09-09-15 at 04:46 PM.
Reason: typo
2014 GT Orange. Just the comfort pack and heated grips - not into gizmos.
"Pity the man who wasn't born in the Highlands and hears the pipes"
Last Sunday I had the first ride on the R65LS that I bought a couple of weeks ago. A lot different to the F800 still in the garage but more in keeping with the ethos of the two vintage clubs I belong to.
First stop was at Devil's Bridge to meet up friends on their way to a Classic Bike Show, then on to a meeting of my other club using the motorway there and back, only 80 miles but enjoyable all the same.
Here's the 'new' bike.
Maps are OK but.
They don't record just whereabouts you were lost!
Well, that is about the cleanest R65LS that I have seen in a long time. A lot nicer looking than my daughter's German 1981 model with over 100K miles on the clock. Although her completely stock (except for the seat and crash bars) has an all-black exhaust system, silver wheels and a kick-starter. She even has the same BMW saddle bags. Unfortunately, the inner fairing cover is missing and seems to be no longer available. Nice little bikes. I had a 1982 U.S. model and liked it. It was easy to maintain, but I sold it when I bought my first R1100R. Sometimes I which I hadn't started buying the big boxer models.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Another beautiful September evening so headed out to the Wednesday Bike Night. On the way I stopped to chat up the ladies. Seems the F8 is very popular with gals. It actuality drew a much bigger crowd by the time I got back to the bike. They are faster than I thought. They got very close to fence and just stared at me....creeped me out. Made a slow, quiet exit like Mitch and Tippy in The Birds.
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
Another beautiful September evening so headed out to the Wednesday Bike Night. On the way I stopped to chat up the ladies. Seems the F8 is very popular with gals. It actuality drew a much bigger crowd by the time I got back to the bike. They are faster than I thought. They got very close to fence and just stared at me....creeped me out. Made a slow, quiet exit like Mitch and Tippy in The Birds.
Took the ST out for an evening run last night without a particular destination. 75° and no wind. Stopped for a couple of photos east of the town of Sisters with a view looking west towards the Cascades. Difficult to catch the light just right with the iPhone, but trust me it was just about ideal.
This is a great thread hey! I reckon I might come over to your land and come for a ride with you one day Mark and with TNT Richard too...
'08 Silver F800ST. Hot grips, OBC, ABS, centre stand, tinted screen, wider mirrors, throttle lock, MFW Vario foot pegs + clutch lever extender, hand made side stand pad enlarger, OEM sports cases. Still to go; front forks, seat alteration, bright lights ...
Donnie, you are welcome here anytime. Your choice of bikes in the garage. I'd love to get around the globe and visit the folks on this forum to share a bike ride. Now that is a worthwhile bucket list.
Last edited by TelemarkTumalo; 09-28-15 at 09:19 PM.
I had two rides this weekend, one on Saturday to meet up with some VMCC pals for lunch at Shap, then north to Askham, through Pooley Bridge which was busy, on to Glenridding and home through Windermere and Staveley after riding over the Kirkstone pass.
Todays ride was slightly longer around north Lancs and west Cumbria to meet up with a few other pals on bikes. Both days on the 'new to me' R65LS which is ideal for back lanes pootling about.
Maps are OK but.
They don't record just whereabouts you were lost!
After three weeks off the road due to a belt failure and then a seized adjuster it was great to have it back over the weekend, only did about 30 miles but they all involved a smile! Gave it a proper clean this afternoon and tucked it up back in the garage. It's always good to be without something for a while, realised this weekend how much I like the ST, it just does everything so well.
Out with a small mixed bunch yesterday. F8GT, R12RT, Trophy 1200 & VFR800.
Met the others at King's Lynn and off we went to Market Rasen near Lincoln. Stopped in a picnic area with burger stall. Long talk over tea and bacon bun. Off again for a ride through Skegness and stopped in Boston for another mug of tea and (another) very long chat.
Said Bye to the others at K/L and finished ride home to complete a 260 mile day's run, then realised that would have taken me over 1/2 way home to Scotland !
Bike hit reserve at 195 miles even though we hadn't been hanging about (nothing silly) and displays an average of 66 MPG.
Sorry Flook, had camera - just forgot to use it !
Ian
2014 GT Orange. Just the comfort pack and heated grips - not into gizmos.
"Pity the man who wasn't born in the Highlands and hears the pipes"
It's great to see this thread rolling along. I had a good ride last Monday down to the Hamble on the Solent (south coast of UK). It's where my wife and I did many sailing classes with BOSS sailing school back in the day. I put in 190 miles for the full trip, and I had lunch at Loomies (biker cafe near the southern coast) and then stopped at the Ace for coffee and pastry closer to home.
A view of the southern part of Portsmouth Harbor from Hamble point.
A needed stop at the Ace Cafe on a rainy day.
I was "trying" to use a new TomTom Rider 400 on this trip-- I will post a separate entry in F700 discussions about this gps. (Made it 150 miles on the battery.)
I'm also looking for an A2 bike for my son take on next summer. Currently thinking of a 2013 Honda CB500X. Fun looking bikes.
No need to run your TomTom off a battery, BMW put a neat socket to the right hand side of the battery for you to hard wire a cradle. Much more convenient.
No need to run your TomTom off a battery, BMW put a neat socket to the right hand side of the battery for you to hard wire a cradle. Much more convenient.
Yup-- I even have the plug and adapter now to use the socket, but I think I need to pick up a soldering iron and some shrink tubing to do the job properly. I am also struggling to get the audio into my earplugs withough buying an expensive bluetooth set. I'm used to using earplugs simply plugged into my iphone with the TomTom app talking to me. So far, the TomTom Rider 400 doesn't want to talk to anything unless its a £100 bluetooth in helmet set up, which I don't want because audio ear plugs also protect my ears but the little flat speakers of headsets don't. So it goes.
audio ear plugs also protect my ears but the little flat speakers of headsets don't. So it goes.
I have flat speakers in my helmet and use disposable foam earplugs. Not bothered by noise but still hear the speakers clear as day. I mean - really clear like sitting next radio (or SWMBO !).
That Bluetooth device ^^^^ looks a good solution and some are available for around a tenner.
Ian
2014 GT Orange. Just the comfort pack and heated grips - not into gizmos.
"Pity the man who wasn't born in the Highlands and hears the pipes"
I use the cheap flat helmet speakers hooked up to a Bluetooth sender
Yes-- I bought one of those and spent more to get 15 hours of usable time (£30 model). My iphone connects to it with no problems-- full audio connection. The TomTom 400 unit refuses to attach to it, because it is a not a listed hands-free phone headset model that it recognizes. It won't even recognize it when the adapter is sycned to the iPHone, because it is looking for a specific list of recognized motorcycle bluetooth handsfree headsets:
Brand Model
Schuberth SRCS C3 PRO
Scala rider Qz
Scala rider Q1 *
Scala rider Q3
Scala rider G9x *
Scala rider G9 (Handsfree Profile only)
Scala rider Q2
Scala rider SHO-1
Scala rider Solo
N-com BX5
Sena SMH10
Sena SMH5
Sena 20S
Midland BT Next Conf.
Midland City&Eva
Interphone F3 MC
Interphone F4
Interphone F5
N-Com (NolanGroup) BX4 PLUS
Albrecht BPA 300
Interphone F3S
Interphone F5XT
Midland BT x1
Midland BT x2/x2 intercom *
Midland BT-Ski
Schuberth Schuberth SRC-S2
Schuberth SRCS C3
J&M WLS465
* These headsets may need to be re-connected to the Rider after the Rider has been powered off.
I don't want a handsfree headset-- I just want to hear the fricking audio directions. So, I haven't given up on this yet, but so far it is not plug and play. It makes me wonder if the simplicity of what I had (audio only directions from the TomTom app on my iphone) wasn't easier. I did 150 miles using only the visual interface on the TomTom, but I was looking at it too much when I should have been watching the road.
I've never had problems connecting my iPhone 4s with the cardo Q1, the Q3 and the G4 and also using the BMW navigator IV (garmin) as bridge. now I still use only the Q3 and the G4, the Q1 has died, the battery doesn't get enough charge because I did not use it for more than two year. I've sold the navigator with the K1300S.
"putenza du gibbiuni!" dissi u sceccu quannu vitti u mari... ("what a big pool!" said the donkey when has seen the sea...)
A pancake ride with the Vallat brothers, Marc and Laurent.
I miss US pancakes-- they are surprisingly unpopular here in the UK.
For the second Sunday in a row, I did an early morning ride out to Henley on Thames and then a back road run to Marlow, followed by a ride back to the Ace Cafe for breakfast-- all this and then home to family before 8:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. The on-board thermometer ready 0 degrees C more than once during the foggy and clear ride.
As for the TomTom, I have the power connector cable and I've ordered soldering iron and shrink tubes to finish the on-bike powered mount. I have also sprung £80 for the Cardo Scala QZ bluetooth helmet set up, which looks like it will fill the bill and allow me to continue to use the in-ear plugs for both ear protection and spoken instructions/music that I like. I hope to have all worked out by next Sunday's ride.
I was out in the other direction on Sunday (I met some friends in Banbury for an 8.00 am breakfast) 2 degrees riding through Deddington, bit of shock when I opened my visor, it was bloody freezing!!!
I was out in the other direction on Sunday (I met some friends in Banbury for an 8.00 am breakfast) 2 degrees riding through Deddington, bit of shock when I opened my visor, it was bloody freezing!!!
I did two things wrong on Sunday morning:
1) I fully geared up my Bering jacket with thermal lining and three chemical handwarmers in their special lining pockets (which are great, btw), but I completely forgot to find the thermal lining for my riding pants and chanced it without. My legs were freezing, except for when I was stopped long enough to feel some heat from the engine.
2) Leaving before sunrise, I left my sunglasses at home. My pinlock insert automatically darkens in the sun, but it is no match for a low horizon sun straight in the eyes coming back on the M40:
Next time-- always bring sunglasses. Ride and learn...
What a beautiful day for riding. 68 degrees on Nov 1 in NJ. I actually rode the SV today but had lunch and beverage outdoors in New Hope, PA in a t-shirt. #luvglobalwarming
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
November has been warmer than expected so took a vacation day on Thursday to have one last ride before putting the F8r away for the season.
Rode out to eastern Ontario from Toronto to enjoy the empty secondary roads in Trent Hills and the Marmora area. Beautiful day with very comfortable 16 C.
Managed to persuade a couple of friends out for a run today. Weather was very overcast and a bit windy but at least dry and mild (16degC, very mild for November !). There were some showers forecast to cross the region from lunchtime, but the plan was to head south and hope they passed while we had lunch.
Met up at Thetford at 10.00am then ran across back roads until we ended up on the Essex coast at Frinton on Sea. Stopped here for a cuppa and a bite before venturing on across more back roads till we stopped at Newmarket. Saw some wet roads on the way but no rain - don't you just love it when a plan comes together !
After refuelling (exactly 200 miles since last fill) and another cuppa, we went our separate ways and headed home. Got back around 6.30pm after a total round trip of 210 miles.
At Frinton on Sea - I am the one without the dark glasses (behind the camera) ! : -
Ian
Last edited by Norfolk UK; 11-10-15 at 03:57 PM.
Reason: added text
2014 GT Orange. Just the comfort pack and heated grips - not into gizmos.
"Pity the man who wasn't born in the Highlands and hears the pipes"
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) Richard K7TNT-DN74 IBA #59670, MOA #114372, GS Giant Bighorns & Be the Adventure Billings 2015
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There were plenty of cars though and I will post a few in the classic cars thread.
Orange. Just the comfort pack and heated grips - not into gizmos.
Originally Posted by TheMeteor
Another beautiful September evening so headed out to the Wednesday Bike Night. On the way I stopped to chat up the ladies. Seems the F8 is very popular with gals. It actuality drew a much bigger crowd by the time I got back to the bike. They are faster than I thought. They got very close to fence and just stared at me....creeped me out. Made a slow, quiet exit like Mitch and Tippy in The Birds.
and with TNT Richard too...
"putenza du gibbiuni!" dissi u sceccu quannu vitti u mari... ("what a big pool!" said the donkey when has seen the sea...)
A pancake ride with the Vallat brothers, Marc and Laurent.
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