Viva la españa - 10 day tour
Discussion
Can't believe how it can go from being so hot to absolutely freezing as we rode up the mountain
Temps dropped from 20s to the point there was snow as you can see here
Coming back down the guy on the left riding the 'fatbird' blackbird slid off. Dented the tank with his knee as he got stuck under it
Annoying I didn't have the gopro on, was about 20mph on tarmac that had lifted from the weather. He's OK and bikes rideable so all good
Doing so many miles and all the chatting on the coms you notice some funny stuff and geeky things for sad people like me
For starters an MT10 over reads by near on 10mph at higher speeds. I reset my trip computer at the same time as his and at 220km I hit reserve. I filled up at 235km give or take. His bike doing exactly the same journey was reading 254km
Also the fuel range on all the different bikes and performance. I'd never have thought a £1100 70,000 mile blackbird would be such a good all rounder tbh. It does on average 70 cents less on fuel each tank unless we both ride hard then it uses a fair bit more
The performance is also so on par to my 1100 its unreal. Off the mark he can keep the wheel down a touch easier and maybe get half a bike on me, soon as he changes to 2nd I'll get maybe a bike on him and it stays that way until 140mph when he reels me in quick
Anyways enough geeky talk I'm going for breakfast
Temps dropped from 20s to the point there was snow as you can see here
Coming back down the guy on the left riding the 'fatbird' blackbird slid off. Dented the tank with his knee as he got stuck under it
Annoying I didn't have the gopro on, was about 20mph on tarmac that had lifted from the weather. He's OK and bikes rideable so all good
Doing so many miles and all the chatting on the coms you notice some funny stuff and geeky things for sad people like me
For starters an MT10 over reads by near on 10mph at higher speeds. I reset my trip computer at the same time as his and at 220km I hit reserve. I filled up at 235km give or take. His bike doing exactly the same journey was reading 254km
Also the fuel range on all the different bikes and performance. I'd never have thought a £1100 70,000 mile blackbird would be such a good all rounder tbh. It does on average 70 cents less on fuel each tank unless we both ride hard then it uses a fair bit more
The performance is also so on par to my 1100 its unreal. Off the mark he can keep the wheel down a touch easier and maybe get half a bike on me, soon as he changes to 2nd I'll get maybe a bike on him and it stays that way until 140mph when he reels me in quick
Anyways enough geeky talk I'm going for breakfast
So hot today... Touching 35c right now, heat from the bike and sun is doing me in
Gone through Andorra, never seen so many petrol stations in such a short distance. Then through the boarder to France. Some great roads along the way
Stayed at an amazing place, swimming pool, food galore and costs as usual bugger all
Now going through Cote d'Azur to Nice then through Italy and up through the alps to Switzerland
The bike is brilliant, takes on everything and anything. Seen 240km and no reserve light before filling where I was barely on the throttle down some of the mountains. The Spanish open sweepy roads were just amazing. Big lean angles, 3rd gear tapped knee down being a topbox w*nker
Anyways had some ice cream so I'm doing the next 100 mile stint
Gone through Andorra, never seen so many petrol stations in such a short distance. Then through the boarder to France. Some great roads along the way
Stayed at an amazing place, swimming pool, food galore and costs as usual bugger all
Now going through Cote d'Azur to Nice then through Italy and up through the alps to Switzerland
The bike is brilliant, takes on everything and anything. Seen 240km and no reserve light before filling where I was barely on the throttle down some of the mountains. The Spanish open sweepy roads were just amazing. Big lean angles, 3rd gear tapped knee down being a topbox w*nker
Anyways had some ice cream so I'm doing the next 100 mile stint
Loving the updates Birky. Very jealous. Only done one road trip around the Alps and it was fantastic.
Know what you mean about the heat. Think there's a reason you don't see the locals in full leathers! I'd get some lighter textiles if I did it again. Honestly thought I wasn't going to make it out of a tunnel beneath a town somewhere that was just getting hotter and hotter as we rode through it.
Know what you mean about the heat. Think there's a reason you don't see the locals in full leathers! I'd get some lighter textiles if I did it again. Honestly thought I wasn't going to make it out of a tunnel beneath a town somewhere that was just getting hotter and hotter as we rode through it.
Zarco said:
Loving the updates Birky. Very jealous. Only done one road trip around the Alps and it was fantastic.
Know what you mean about the heat. Think there's a reason you don't see the locals in full leathers! I'd get some lighter textiles if I did it again. Honestly thought I wasn't going to make it out of a tunnel beneath a town somewhere that was just getting hotter and hotter as we rode through it.
Could not agree with this more having done near 400 miles today at 35+ degrees in full leathers. You see YouTube and FB videos of people riding in no kit and taking their skin off etc but I can see why so many ride without kit. I honestly have never ridden in heat like that. Even my bike (you learn your own bike) which runs about 69c winter and mid 80s summer was constantly at 100-105c... I've never seen it above 105 in the UK even in summer in trafficKnow what you mean about the heat. Think there's a reason you don't see the locals in full leathers! I'd get some lighter textiles if I did it again. Honestly thought I wasn't going to make it out of a tunnel beneath a town somewhere that was just getting hotter and hotter as we rode through it.
The rare time I wasn't moving at 70kmh-150kmh it went upto 110c and cooked my legs and everything in between - fortunately I have 2 kids and don't want anymore as that part of me got cooked
Following on from that today was hot... Really really hot. Just cracked 20,000km on the dash today bless
Went over some of the nicest flowing mountain roads today. Got a few pics but mainly with mates and I try to keep posts on here as bikes where possible
Road into St Tropez got dinner, beer and some creme brulee which I really need to lay off as its making me muffin top which the wife's going to definitely notice
Then got to Cannes... Wow how the other half live. As said all pics are with mates so just this below but the night life, the women, the views (did I mention the women?) it's amazing that's all I can say about that although parking up and walking around like a gimp in leather when everyone around you is half naked was a bit awkward
After maybe an hour of perving and ice cream we went through the coast last all the casinos, night life etc to our motel
Just as we arrived and you need to picture it. Our bikes are on a pavement designed for bikes to be locked up that's 5ft away from the main road built up on a high kerb we saw a car come bombing past us a parked up unloading... Feet away at atleast 70mph
It went through the red light and about 50ft further on screeched its tyres just as I said to my lot about him being a douche for going so quick on a 30km coast road... Bang...
Next pic don't look at if you don't like twisted legs. I didn't go over, I thought they just went into the back of another car so took my stuff upstairs thinking what an idiot and thought nothing of it however my mate an ex marine went over to see if all ok (that makes me sound a bit bad now) and took a few pics in case they needed for insurance. It looks like a scooter rider pulled out as the car come down. Either ways the riders leg was a mess and the car was hit hard at the front
Again I got more but you get the idea
Anyways now we're drunk and getting ready for shut eye until 7am leave tomorrow for Italy and Switzerland
My bum is very sore...
Went over some of the nicest flowing mountain roads today. Got a few pics but mainly with mates and I try to keep posts on here as bikes where possible
Road into St Tropez got dinner, beer and some creme brulee which I really need to lay off as its making me muffin top which the wife's going to definitely notice
Then got to Cannes... Wow how the other half live. As said all pics are with mates so just this below but the night life, the women, the views (did I mention the women?) it's amazing that's all I can say about that although parking up and walking around like a gimp in leather when everyone around you is half naked was a bit awkward
After maybe an hour of perving and ice cream we went through the coast last all the casinos, night life etc to our motel
Just as we arrived and you need to picture it. Our bikes are on a pavement designed for bikes to be locked up that's 5ft away from the main road built up on a high kerb we saw a car come bombing past us a parked up unloading... Feet away at atleast 70mph
It went through the red light and about 50ft further on screeched its tyres just as I said to my lot about him being a douche for going so quick on a 30km coast road... Bang...
Next pic don't look at if you don't like twisted legs. I didn't go over, I thought they just went into the back of another car so took my stuff upstairs thinking what an idiot and thought nothing of it however my mate an ex marine went over to see if all ok (that makes me sound a bit bad now) and took a few pics in case they needed for insurance. It looks like a scooter rider pulled out as the car come down. Either ways the riders leg was a mess and the car was hit hard at the front
Again I got more but you get the idea
Anyways now we're drunk and getting ready for shut eye until 7am leave tomorrow for Italy and Switzerland
My bum is very sore...
Andybow said:
#topboxw
ker
Hahaha is that you on my instagram? I only got back this morning and already at work so will put the last few days on here shortly...what an experience thoughkerEnded up doing 3000 miles and both front and rear (Front was part worn) are completely dead. Wear limiters on both
So from the bottom of Spain riding in 35+ degrees, going through Monaco and riding part of the track (Bit of advise its very expensive here and busy) we then did our final perving for the day
We need rode through Italy and due to a very journey errors ended up spending very little time here and going straight onto Switzerland
Hours of riding through rural towns then views like this heading for the mountains
That day was quite possibly the hardest day for me. We planned everything so well and the next one Id do very little different for preparation except the miles per day. Id like to think my butt has taken quite a pounding over the years (From biking - poor humor intended) however we all agreed 230-250 miles a day needs to be the max
We were always high 300's and on this day we cracked over 400. I just hurt from that.
We need rode through Italy and due to a very journey errors ended up spending very little time here and going straight onto Switzerland
Hours of riding through rural towns then views like this heading for the mountains
That day was quite possibly the hardest day for me. We planned everything so well and the next one Id do very little different for preparation except the miles per day. Id like to think my butt has taken quite a pounding over the years (From biking - poor humor intended) however we all agreed 230-250 miles a day needs to be the max
We were always high 300's and on this day we cracked over 400. I just hurt from that.
Fortunately the next couple days more than made up for it. Riding over 7100 feet up as the sun set with weather dropping to 3 degrees Celsius having just been only that morning and lunch at 35+ degrees was surreal
Some of the roads and twisties were amazing and the views again are such a great memory for me. Most are with mates and nobody wants to to my ugly chops so you can get an idea from this (and yes my red light is on I had a servo issue)
I would have to say the scenery and buildings in Switzerland out of the whole trip are the most beautiful to look at. There were quite a few bike type restaurants that would have a full size bike outside like this
We kept riding upto the top getting a few pics along the way while slowly freezing ourselves
I slipped off here while trying to climb down and learnt quick that snow and leathers make a very slippery combo!
Some of the roads and twisties were amazing and the views again are such a great memory for me. Most are with mates and nobody wants to to my ugly chops so you can get an idea from this (and yes my red light is on I had a servo issue)
I would have to say the scenery and buildings in Switzerland out of the whole trip are the most beautiful to look at. There were quite a few bike type restaurants that would have a full size bike outside like this
We kept riding upto the top getting a few pics along the way while slowly freezing ourselves
I slipped off here while trying to climb down and learnt quick that snow and leathers make a very slippery combo!
The next morning having recovered from all that riding it was nice to Switzerland in the morning and wake up to again great scenary
I had to say a quick hello and got a mate to try and touch the electric fence...he's quite dense at times but he didn't on this occasion
https://youtu.be/9EcT6HCLG34
We then went for some local breakfast. Given the area nobody spoke any English but fortunately someone retired with the wife picked up on our London/Essex twang and helped out. It made me laugh how every building was all old wood and very christmas looking then you'd have a bike shop plonked in the middle. I see this and 2 Honda shops exactly the same along route.
As my mate slid off the fatbird 'blackbird' a couple days earlier it managed to pop the headlight and rear brake light (Probably due to its half tonne weight) and they were more than happy to help for the equivalent £6.50
For lunch I had essentially expensive cheese on toast although they called it something different. It was a great meal none the less with several meat platters but its expensive in Switzerland. Opposite to me while eating was this very industrial looking building with a face on it. No real relevance but I thought it was worth taking a picture
We headed towards Germany and see this, I found it so funny that I got the blackbird mate (he plays on the campness with me a fair bit) and got a picture. I made it clear I was the 'giver' and so went on the mans side
Oh and I saved a bird...Im good like that
I had to say a quick hello and got a mate to try and touch the electric fence...he's quite dense at times but he didn't on this occasion
https://youtu.be/9EcT6HCLG34
We then went for some local breakfast. Given the area nobody spoke any English but fortunately someone retired with the wife picked up on our London/Essex twang and helped out. It made me laugh how every building was all old wood and very christmas looking then you'd have a bike shop plonked in the middle. I see this and 2 Honda shops exactly the same along route.
As my mate slid off the fatbird 'blackbird' a couple days earlier it managed to pop the headlight and rear brake light (Probably due to its half tonne weight) and they were more than happy to help for the equivalent £6.50
For lunch I had essentially expensive cheese on toast although they called it something different. It was a great meal none the less with several meat platters but its expensive in Switzerland. Opposite to me while eating was this very industrial looking building with a face on it. No real relevance but I thought it was worth taking a picture
We headed towards Germany and see this, I found it so funny that I got the blackbird mate (he plays on the campness with me a fair bit) and got a picture. I made it clear I was the 'giver' and so went on the mans side
Oh and I saved a bird...Im good like that
So the final day we rode to Nurburgring as one of our lot had never been. On the way from Switzerland we did the B500...wow...simply wow!
The BEST roads I have ever ridden. There was a sign before each corner showing a bike and what (to me) looked like a knee down on each corner, so I did and only later while having lunch one of the others while calling me a d*ck said it was a warning for accidents that occur. Im sticking with my knee down corner sign instead and thoroughly enjoyed that
Germany for me has the best roads I have ever ridden in terms of quality, grip and nice sweepy knee down topbox w*nker stuff. I would put Spain a close second on the roads they could be bothered to finish as they were just as good although quite fast in places.
We all said we wouldn't do a lap except the one mate who hadn't been before as all of us had sports touring tyres right at the end of their life and pumped up 36psi+ rear with not much less front.
The amazing Roy & Kim who I met from here last year yet again gave amazing hospitality and a birthday treat for the 'old boy' of my group who I have ridden with for 20 years. He's officially 60 in August but I think I let him know he's basically a pensioner 100+ times
Now Roy knows I like a very crude sticker and have managed to get his very nice custom Ducati twice...but this time it was my turn. May I say I kept that on for the rest of the trip including my YMCA bum bag and road with pride
It didnt take me much convincing to get a cheeky lap in but I was much more apprehensive this time. It had rained overnight and although the track was dry it plays on your mind having ridden some damp roads (it actually started to spit a bit mid way through the lap). I took the 45lt top box off, ignored the servo exhaust error that made my bike ride like an old school turbo with nothing then a huge hit of power and set off quite gingerly...and no I couldn't be bothered to do the pressures either
https://youtu.be/vAsn3EYHYOs
For 30 euros it was worth it. I came back with a smile and felt good knowing I got a lap before home time. Very much cruised in places though so its not a great watch although the v4 sounds good in this
I pulled in and had a very stern and quite yummy German lady tell me off for being too loud...I flirted a bit and got about 5 selfies with her although she wouldn't let me keep the picture taken where I pinged the sound meter
One of the lot then stuck this in my exhaust and being a child I gave it a rev (Yes it was louder)
We all did a lap with Billy (Nurburgring Biker Blog on FB) in his BMW. That was fun although a little after we left he snapped the timing chain/belt
I dont know why he's holding his groin - he's probably just nervous around me
And we finished with a quick selfie
From there with went for one more quick stop to Rotterdam before getting on the ferry and getting very drunk, trying to sleep it off before work the next morning
And thats my trip...
The BEST roads I have ever ridden. There was a sign before each corner showing a bike and what (to me) looked like a knee down on each corner, so I did and only later while having lunch one of the others while calling me a d*ck said it was a warning for accidents that occur. Im sticking with my knee down corner sign instead and thoroughly enjoyed that
Germany for me has the best roads I have ever ridden in terms of quality, grip and nice sweepy knee down topbox w*nker stuff. I would put Spain a close second on the roads they could be bothered to finish as they were just as good although quite fast in places.
We all said we wouldn't do a lap except the one mate who hadn't been before as all of us had sports touring tyres right at the end of their life and pumped up 36psi+ rear with not much less front.
The amazing Roy & Kim who I met from here last year yet again gave amazing hospitality and a birthday treat for the 'old boy' of my group who I have ridden with for 20 years. He's officially 60 in August but I think I let him know he's basically a pensioner 100+ times
Now Roy knows I like a very crude sticker and have managed to get his very nice custom Ducati twice...but this time it was my turn. May I say I kept that on for the rest of the trip including my YMCA bum bag and road with pride
It didnt take me much convincing to get a cheeky lap in but I was much more apprehensive this time. It had rained overnight and although the track was dry it plays on your mind having ridden some damp roads (it actually started to spit a bit mid way through the lap). I took the 45lt top box off, ignored the servo exhaust error that made my bike ride like an old school turbo with nothing then a huge hit of power and set off quite gingerly...and no I couldn't be bothered to do the pressures either
https://youtu.be/vAsn3EYHYOs
For 30 euros it was worth it. I came back with a smile and felt good knowing I got a lap before home time. Very much cruised in places though so its not a great watch although the v4 sounds good in this
I pulled in and had a very stern and quite yummy German lady tell me off for being too loud...I flirted a bit and got about 5 selfies with her although she wouldn't let me keep the picture taken where I pinged the sound meter
One of the lot then stuck this in my exhaust and being a child I gave it a rev (Yes it was louder)
We all did a lap with Billy (Nurburgring Biker Blog on FB) in his BMW. That was fun although a little after we left he snapped the timing chain/belt
I dont know why he's holding his groin - he's probably just nervous around me
And we finished with a quick selfie
From there with went for one more quick stop to Rotterdam before getting on the ferry and getting very drunk, trying to sleep it off before work the next morning
And thats my trip...
[quote=Birky_41]
Hahaha is that you on my instagram? I only got back this morning and already at work so will put the last few days on here shortly...what an experience though
Ended up doing 3000 miles and both front and rear (Front was part worn) are completely dead. Wear limiters on both
[/quote
Yes mate it’s your Instagram stalker, Same here mate, Got back last night, knackered now,
Always great to ps off abroad on the bike, amazing roads, scenery and grub!
Hahaha is that you on my instagram? I only got back this morning and already at work so will put the last few days on here shortly...what an experience though
Ended up doing 3000 miles and both front and rear (Front was part worn) are completely dead. Wear limiters on both
[/quote
Yes mate it’s your Instagram stalker, Same here mate, Got back last night, knackered now,
Always great to p
s off abroad on the bike, amazing roads, scenery and grub!
Living the dream Birky, Just encase your wondering my day was spent with a 3 hour drive in the van with no air con and the rest of the day covered in mdf dust with just short of 28 degrees showing 
, that's no dream mate just reality .
This time next year me and that fat long haired I ride with ( same bike as yours) are going to be posting pictures up of a trip like this 
Happy days .
, that's no dream mate just reality . This time next year me and that fat long haired
I ride with ( same bike as yours) are going to be posting pictures up of a trip like this Happy days .
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