Driving France
Discussion
Yes Peter, it comes off again easy enough £29
With that on the bike I feel more confident.
200M black and white
I also got a tyre valve extension for the rear as you can't get a pump on the end of it because of the sprocket and small wheel, cable ties are in my tool wrap, gaffa tape,,, I've just added that, cheers.
I've been worried about the ride,,, I'm now starting to look forward to it.
My mindset is clear, steady Eddie, I'm not in a race so I'm going to soak it all in and take things with a calm attitude.
Everyone I've spoken too has shook my hand and said goodluck as if they ain't seeing me again..
It's a massive task really but as long as the bike runs well I'll be happy.
With that on the bike I feel more confident.
200M black and white
I also got a tyre valve extension for the rear as you can't get a pump on the end of it because of the sprocket and small wheel, cable ties are in my tool wrap, gaffa tape,,, I've just added that, cheers.
I've been worried about the ride,,, I'm now starting to look forward to it.
My mindset is clear, steady Eddie, I'm not in a race so I'm going to soak it all in and take things with a calm attitude.
Everyone I've spoken too has shook my hand and said goodluck as if they ain't seeing me again..
It's a massive task really but as long as the bike runs well I'll be happy.
Them shaking your hand made me laugh!
Actually, I take my hat off to you, a bloke of your age, it's amazing.......
Have a great trip Alun, you will enjoy it.
Going solo? I would, I love my own company, go where you like, stay as long as you like, perfect.
Now if I can retire a little earlier and all my hangers on, cough, children leave home.........
Actually, I take my hat off to you, a bloke of your age, it's amazing.......
Have a great trip Alun, you will enjoy it.
Going solo? I would, I love my own company, go where you like, stay as long as you like, perfect.
Now if I can retire a little earlier and all my hangers on, cough, children leave home.........
Once you roll off the ferry you'll feel fine, I've been going down there solo for quite a few years and I always feel a little apprehensive and a lot of excitement.. but once I'm rolling along towards reims it's great .. you'll have a great time and France is nice country to travel through ..
Just one more thing, if you're travelling on sunday, don't run too low on fuel, quite a few garages don't open and it's mainly self service with cc's or supermarket self services with only cc's.. my cc did work this year but a few times it did not... I managed to get a local to use their card and I gave them the cash .. all in sign language .. so if in doubt fill up ..
have a great time ..
Just one more thing, if you're travelling on sunday, don't run too low on fuel, quite a few garages don't open and it's mainly self service with cc's or supermarket self services with only cc's.. my cc did work this year but a few times it did not... I managed to get a local to use their card and I gave them the cash .. all in sign language
.. so if in doubt fill up .. have a great time ..
I'm about ready, even stripped down my bags to big but I'll have to live with it.
I just want to get going now!
What an adventure, I can't see me doing this again soon so as you say Peter, I'm going to enjoy doing what I like when I like for once and go where the wind takes me.
I'll test ride the bike with all the kit on it, make sure nothing moves before I set off.
Thanks for the advice 200M,,, really given me a feel for the ride so I really appreciate it.
Alun
You can just see the spare key tied. Under the right hand side panel, just in case I loose my key!
I just want to get going now!
What an adventure, I can't see me doing this again soon so as you say Peter, I'm going to enjoy doing what I like when I like for once and go where the wind takes me.
I'll test ride the bike with all the kit on it, make sure nothing moves before I set off.
Thanks for the advice 200M,,, really given me a feel for the ride so I really appreciate it.
Alun
You can just see the spare key tied. Under the right hand side panel, just in case I loose my key!
Edited by ClassiChimi on Wednesday 2nd September 22:48
I rode some mad motorbikes as a youngster, got into cars and carts and didn't really ride many bikes for at least two decades.
Considering I only got my full bike licence three weeks ago this might seem crazy to some but I've been aware from a bikes point of view for a long long time. I've covered hundreds of thousands of miles over the years, this is a huge undertaking but I did ride on the roads a lot as a youngster, rode a trail bike with motor cross tyres to Wales (in the rain all the bloody way) when I was 18 and trailed many times. Even learnt to ride a 500cc Grasstrack bike in my teens and raced for three seasons.
Non of that prepared me for this but I hope I'm wise enough to stay out of trouble and second guess every driver on the road!
Alun
Considering I only got my full bike licence three weeks ago this might seem crazy to some but I've been aware from a bikes point of view for a long long time. I've covered hundreds of thousands of miles over the years, this is a huge undertaking but I did ride on the roads a lot as a youngster, rode a trail bike with motor cross tyres to Wales (in the rain all the bloody way) when I was 18 and trailed many times. Even learnt to ride a 500cc Grasstrack bike in my teens and raced for three seasons.
Non of that prepared me for this but I hope I'm wise enough to stay out of trouble and second guess every driver on the road!
Alun
A picture of my trusty steed Graham 
pee shooter pipes roar louder than my Tvr, re jetted carbs, two teeth bigger front drive sprocket ( higher top end speed) custom Avon Fairing and clock arrangement. Norman Y
Hyde bar ends etc etc.
air cooled so I put an oil temp gauge where the oil filler bung goes and so I have some idea how hot the oil is.
Bikes fully serviced so here I go
I've packed some polish
I've also had to remove rear tail section for my bag to sit on,
Alun
pee shooter pipes roar louder than my Tvr, re jetted carbs, two teeth bigger front drive sprocket ( higher top end speed) custom Avon Fairing and clock arrangement. Norman YHyde bar ends etc etc.
air cooled so I put an oil temp gauge where the oil filler bung goes and so I have some idea how hot the oil is.
Bikes fully serviced so here I go
I've packed some polish
I've also had to remove rear tail section for my bag to sit on,
Alun
Edited by ClassiChimi on Wednesday 2nd September 23:51
ClassiChimi said:
A picture of my trusty steed Graham pee shooter pipes roar louder than my Tvr, re jetted carbs, two teeth bigger front drive sprocket ( higher top end speed) custom Avon Fairing and clock arrangement. Norman Y
Hyde bar ends etc etc.
air cooled so I put an oil temp gauge where the oil filler bung goes and so I have some idea how hot the oil is.
Bikes fully serviced so here I go
I've packed some polish
I've also had to remove rear tail section for my bag to sit on,
Alun
Lovely. pee shooter pipes roar louder than my Tvr, re jetted carbs, two teeth bigger front drive sprocket ( higher top end speed) custom Avon Fairing and clock arrangement. Norman YHyde bar ends etc etc.
air cooled so I put an oil temp gauge where the oil filler bung goes and so I have some idea how hot the oil is.
Bikes fully serviced so here I go
I've packed some polish
I've also had to remove rear tail section for my bag to sit on,
Alun
Edited by ClassiChimi on Wednesday 2nd September 23:51
Cheers Oldred, she's a beauty and I'm very proud of her.
Just sitting drinking my last coffee at home, looking at the bike,,,
Nervous, excited, stomach churning, and it's raining.
Wish be a Bon voyage.
TTFN
Fully loaded and ready to go, that bag is heavier than it looks, I've upped the dampers,
I have one riding position,,,and that's uncomfortable
This is actually a test of my ageing stamina as much as anything.
s
tting myself but can't wait at the same time.
Just waiting for my son to arrive to see me off,,,,
You can't see but I have straps going across the the bag to stop it slipping.
I'll need to keep my eye on it!
I'm going to smile as I pass French towns with my exhausts omitting a very English noise,
Best of British to you,,, so where's my passport AGAIN
Just sitting drinking my last coffee at home, looking at the bike,,,
Nervous, excited, stomach churning, and it's raining.
Wish be a Bon voyage.
TTFN
Fully loaded and ready to go, that bag is heavier than it looks, I've upped the dampers,
I have one riding position,,,and that's uncomfortable
This is actually a test of my ageing stamina as much as anything.
s
tting myself but can't wait at the same time. Just waiting for my son to arrive to see me off,,,,
You can't see but I have straps going across the the bag to stop it slipping.
I'll need to keep my eye on it!
I'm going to smile as I pass French towns with my exhausts omitting a very English noise,
Best of British to you,,, so where's my passport AGAIN
Edited by ClassiChimi on Thursday 3rd September 15:53
That is a lovely looking bike, my immediate thought is my back/wrist in pain .. It might be worth popping a pack of nurofen in your pocket, I use them and they help .. at least you won't get bored keeping that clean
It will be a great trip and all your experience is relevant even if the ink is still wet on your license ..
The French are particularly good to motorbikes , better than here and although you're on the wrong side of the road it's only a few feet from riding over here ..
If you have any problems when you are down there drop me a line as my parents are there at the moment and they might be able to help ..
Have fun and as has been said some updates would be good ..
Graham
It will be a great trip and all your experience is relevant even if the ink is still wet on your license ..
The French are particularly good to motorbikes , better than here and although you're on the wrong side of the road it's only a few feet from riding over here ..
If you have any problems when you are down there drop me a line as my parents are there at the moment and they might be able to help ..
Have fun and as has been said some updates would be good ..
Graham
Chaps, thank you indeed. Will do Graham, will do Peter.
Yes Anthony (dad ) it's all in order,,,,I think
Suns come out to give me a confidence booster.
I've got enough pills to last me a month,,, I suffer with back and left shoulder injuries so yes my right arm takes some stick.
5.45 pm I'll leave so I better say goodbye for now.
Yes Anthony (dad ) it's all in order,,,,I think
Suns come out to give me a confidence booster.
I've got enough pills to last me a month,,, I suffer with back and left shoulder injuries so yes my right arm takes some stick.
5.45 pm I'll leave so I better say goodbye for now.
Alun, have fun and keep the pics and up-dates coming.
You mentioned coming back in three weeks. Mrs B and I (and 30 other TVRs) will be somewhere a bit behind Paris three weeks today, so let me know if that's on your route back. We haven't booked a return yet and may stay till the weekend or come back on the Wednesday or Thursday.
You mentioned coming back in three weeks. Mrs B and I (and 30 other TVRs) will be somewhere a bit behind Paris three weeks today, so let me know if that's on your route back. We haven't booked a return yet and may stay till the weekend or come back on the Wednesday or Thursday.
602 miles and I Made Macon. Bike ran faultlessly and I actually stopped loads of times, this morning it was freezing!
Arrived here about 4.30pm, traffic was light and I managed about 80 mph most the way.
The French love my bike, one guy pulled along side me at 80 mph, I looked over and he's taking pics of the bike.
Followed me until I stopped then we had a really cool chat.
The roads are really good, smooth, fast. You'd have to be some berk to get lost, my bikes filthy due to it raining last night on the M20, bd!
I could easily get there tomorrow so I might take a detour but something tells me to just get there first.
I've not collected any fuel receipts but the bike seems good on fuel virtue of the fairing,,, thank god I have it, sit up and I'm buffeted around, get down and it all goes quiet and instantly I gain 10mph on the same throttle setting.
The bike is the star, I just ride it.
No pics as my phone us permanantly flat,,, I'm just at the side of the A6 to Lyon so not much to see.
I feel good, the bikes flying, I'm upto 95 here and there without trauma,,, it just goes roaring on.
The French are very friendly, they openly admire the bike, it's a breath of fresh air.
Oh and the suns come out at last.
My only issue was being very very cold and having to stop to warm up again, 3 times, spoke with another rider and he agreed! By 1pm it was ok and I cracked on then.
I might leave it until 9ish tomorrow morning,, depends on the sun
Arrived here about 4.30pm, traffic was light and I managed about 80 mph most the way.
The French love my bike, one guy pulled along side me at 80 mph, I looked over and he's taking pics of the bike.
Followed me until I stopped then we had a really cool chat.
The roads are really good, smooth, fast. You'd have to be some berk to get lost, my bikes filthy due to it raining last night on the M20, b
d! I could easily get there tomorrow so I might take a detour but something tells me to just get there first.
I've not collected any fuel receipts but the bike seems good on fuel virtue of the fairing,,, thank god I have it, sit up and I'm buffeted around, get down and it all goes quiet and instantly I gain 10mph on the same throttle setting.
The bike is the star, I just ride it.
No pics as my phone us permanantly flat,,, I'm just at the side of the A6 to Lyon so not much to see.
I feel good, the bikes flying, I'm upto 95 here and there without trauma,,, it just goes roaring on.
The French are very friendly, they openly admire the bike, it's a breath of fresh air.
Oh and the suns come out at last.
My only issue was being very very cold and having to stop to warm up again, 3 times, spoke with another rider and he agreed! By 1pm it was ok and I cracked on then.
I might leave it until 9ish tomorrow morning,, depends on the sun
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