Discussion
Just got back from a weekend camping in mid Wales with 4 mates. We had 2 Sprint STs, GS1150, GS1200 and a CBR600F. Tanking it along empty, twisty A and B roads was superb and we didn't have to put up with any of the poor road surfaces we get in the south of England.
We had to do a spot of off-roading to get down to our pitch by the lake which was easy enough for the GSs but required 2 people pushing my ST to get back up the muddy slope the next day. The tables were turned on the roads though as the STs devoured the twisty bits.
It's easy to get a bit complacent and bored commuting on the congested roads down south and you forget what what riding should be all about. You also forget what great roads and scenery are only a couple of hours away without travelling miles to the continent.
On the way back the GS1200 developed a servo fault which put a bit of a dampener on proceedings but that's what happens when you buy a German tractor.
"Ooooh.... you've got a GS. Long way round?"
"Err...no. Shortest route to the nearest BMW dealer actually please."
Special mention has to go to the South Wales police. There is a biker cafe in Llandovery as the A40 is such a good road and there were a number of police bikes mixing with the civilians on the Sunday(looked like they might be doing Bikesafe courses or similar). Because it had been a bit wet overnight a number of bends hadn't dried out but the police had been out putting up temporary road signs warning of slippery surfaces. These weren't randomly scattered but only appeared where there was a genuine problem and that meant you could adjust your speed accordingly. We got to one loooong straight where you could open the taps a bit and anywhere else in Britain you would expect a camera hidden in a cows arse half way along. No such problems here - just one of those yellow signs with a picture of a bike and a friendly warning to ride carefully.
The villages were great too. 300 yards before the start of the village would be a sign telling you that in 300 yards it would be a 30 limit. When the village started it was 30 and as soon as it ended it was back to NSL.
All of this just encouraged appropriate and safe riding. I didn't see anything stupid and everyone stuck to the limits through the villages.
Once I got back into Wiltshire / Dorset on the A350 the contrast was remarkable. The 30 limits started about a mile before the villages and ended a mile the other side. You would be on an open bit of road and all of a sudden it would be a 50 limit. 500 yards later there would be a minor road joining an arrow straight bit of the main road then 500 yards later it would be back to NSL.
It just seemed to encourage poor driving as everyone switched their brains off, no one used their own judgement and just drove to the posted limit no matter how inappropriate that was.
The South Wales police deserve some sort of medal for their sensible and safe attitude to roads policing and other forces should take note.
Anyway, mild rant over. Can't wait to go back!
We had to do a spot of off-roading to get down to our pitch by the lake which was easy enough for the GSs but required 2 people pushing my ST to get back up the muddy slope the next day. The tables were turned on the roads though as the STs devoured the twisty bits.
It's easy to get a bit complacent and bored commuting on the congested roads down south and you forget what what riding should be all about. You also forget what great roads and scenery are only a couple of hours away without travelling miles to the continent.
On the way back the GS1200 developed a servo fault which put a bit of a dampener on proceedings but that's what happens when you buy a German tractor.
"Ooooh.... you've got a GS. Long way round?"
"Err...no. Shortest route to the nearest BMW dealer actually please."
Special mention has to go to the South Wales police. There is a biker cafe in Llandovery as the A40 is such a good road and there were a number of police bikes mixing with the civilians on the Sunday(looked like they might be doing Bikesafe courses or similar). Because it had been a bit wet overnight a number of bends hadn't dried out but the police had been out putting up temporary road signs warning of slippery surfaces. These weren't randomly scattered but only appeared where there was a genuine problem and that meant you could adjust your speed accordingly. We got to one loooong straight where you could open the taps a bit and anywhere else in Britain you would expect a camera hidden in a cows arse half way along. No such problems here - just one of those yellow signs with a picture of a bike and a friendly warning to ride carefully.
The villages were great too. 300 yards before the start of the village would be a sign telling you that in 300 yards it would be a 30 limit. When the village started it was 30 and as soon as it ended it was back to NSL.
All of this just encouraged appropriate and safe riding. I didn't see anything stupid and everyone stuck to the limits through the villages.
Once I got back into Wiltshire / Dorset on the A350 the contrast was remarkable. The 30 limits started about a mile before the villages and ended a mile the other side. You would be on an open bit of road and all of a sudden it would be a 50 limit. 500 yards later there would be a minor road joining an arrow straight bit of the main road then 500 yards later it would be back to NSL.
It just seemed to encourage poor driving as everyone switched their brains off, no one used their own judgement and just drove to the posted limit no matter how inappropriate that was.
The South Wales police deserve some sort of medal for their sensible and safe attitude to roads policing and other forces should take note.
Anyway, mild rant over. Can't wait to go back!
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