Discussion
No need to fixate on the juicy bits, Bobby. Also, don't jinx me!
Today was another enjoyable day.
Departed from my overnighter
Loads of traffic on the autobahnen. I think that filtering is illegal in Germany? What a load of b
ks, as though I would sit there roasting my arse off without air con!
Parked up at the Basilica of St Aposteln in Köln to watch a choir.
Zipped to the Nordschleife and hit 260kph on the way, with an M8 failing to match me for acceleration, which is nice. Increasing the preload by two clicks deterred the weaving until about 150mph, at which point I could feel the front getting light. The higher speed was achieved without panniers, but the top box was fitted.
For the laps around the 'Ring, I dropped the tyre pressures by six psi. First lap was rubbish, second lap itty-bitty and third lap slower, smoother and satisfying.
No more chicken strips now
There may be a little too much wear, I'm not certain. Could be the rear rebound needs softening for harder track work or the pressures were too low. Handled well though (once I'd got my body positioning sorted).
I love the place and it's such a great track. After an obligatory feed at the Pistenklause, home took me via a river crossing!
Tomorrow's a break from the bike and then off to Provence.
Today was another enjoyable day.
Departed from my overnighter
Loads of traffic on the autobahnen. I think that filtering is illegal in Germany? What a load of b
ks, as though I would sit there roasting my arse off without air con!Parked up at the Basilica of St Aposteln in Köln to watch a choir.
Zipped to the Nordschleife and hit 260kph on the way, with an M8 failing to match me for acceleration, which is nice. Increasing the preload by two clicks deterred the weaving until about 150mph, at which point I could feel the front getting light. The higher speed was achieved without panniers, but the top box was fitted.
For the laps around the 'Ring, I dropped the tyre pressures by six psi. First lap was rubbish, second lap itty-bitty and third lap slower, smoother and satisfying.
No more chicken strips now
There may be a little too much wear, I'm not certain. Could be the rear rebound needs softening for harder track work or the pressures were too low. Handled well though (once I'd got my body positioning sorted).
I love the place and it's such a great track. After an obligatory feed at the Pistenklause, home took me via a river crossing!
Tomorrow's a break from the bike and then off to Provence.
Edited by bolidemichael on Wednesday 29th June 09:17
Edited by bolidemichael on Wednesday 29th June 09:18
First day with the boy and a big day crunching the miles from Bonn to Besançon on the motorways.
We hit high speeds and encountered lots of roadworks. He kept dozing off as he is so tired due to a lack of sleep in the dorm of his school trip (seven of them in there and drunk sixth formers kept waking them up!).
We determined that German Mcnuggets are preferential to French or English. We encountered a biblical rain storm after searing 31°C heat. Thankfully I checked the weather as we were closing in on France and we donned our rain gear.
Now arrived, there's a handful of Dutch bikers that we can chat to over dinner.
We hit high speeds and encountered lots of roadworks. He kept dozing off as he is so tired due to a lack of sleep in the dorm of his school trip (seven of them in there and drunk sixth formers kept waking them up!).
We determined that German Mcnuggets are preferential to French or English. We encountered a biblical rain storm after searing 31°C heat. Thankfully I checked the weather as we were closing in on France and we donned our rain gear.
Now arrived, there's a handful of Dutch bikers that we can chat to over dinner.
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 30th June 17:28
Glad you got there but that is a long way for you, never mind a young pillion. Good though. You must be smooth too if he nodded off so kudos too. I used to crack up seeing my mates missus slump into his back on the Autostrade. It was always the cue to speed up and make some progress whilst she was nodding.
Enjoy the rest of the trip
Enjoy the rest of the trip
I'm usually getting 230km from 13L -- after some liberal application of WOT on the autobhanen, significantly fewer KMs we're returned for 13L!
A comment on the V4 -- as you're aware, mine has been adulterated by Hilltop motorcycles with the ECU work -- however, it is a lovely engine which is a continual participant in the journey. It thrums away at 5k revs in sixth at 150kph on French autoroutes, yet when opened and allowed to drive unrestricted on the autobahnen, it really sings. The power delivery in fourth and fifth up until the red line (all the way to eleven
) is linear and continuous -- there's a fantastic amount of power and it flies. Even in sixth, it's relentless in its drive to the red line. In short, a very adaptable engine that is equally happy at both extremities of the rev range. Fabulous!
A comment on the V4 -- as you're aware, mine has been adulterated by Hilltop motorcycles with the ECU work -- however, it is a lovely engine which is a continual participant in the journey. It thrums away at 5k revs in sixth at 150kph on French autoroutes, yet when opened and allowed to drive unrestricted on the autobahnen, it really sings. The power delivery in fourth and fifth up until the red line (all the way to eleven
) is linear and continuous -- there's a fantastic amount of power and it flies. Even in sixth, it's relentless in its drive to the red line. In short, a very adaptable engine that is equally happy at both extremities of the rev range. Fabulous!We took our time in the morning -- ten hours sleep for the little one was a suitable remedy for a few days being a young lad on tour with chums.
Given the departure time of 1100hrs, we opted to enjoy a short stretch of D roads, break the back of the journey with an autoroute and finish with the D road from Grenoble to Briançon.
The tyre was looking healthier post-Nordschleife, after a days fast run on the autobahn etc. After all, my 'finger-in-the-air' deflation of the tyres by c.4psi was untried and for a relatively heavy bike (and much heavier than the CBR954RR3 that I was accustomed to having ridden around the 'ring) perhaps a couple of psi too much.
Travelling with a twelve year old is amusing. The little fella was hot and needed a stretch after the motorway, so took the opportunity for a stretch as I stopped for a wazz
The intercom is comedic and adds such a humerous dimension to pillion journeys -- chatting away whilst we're temporarily separated is funny.
The road from Grenoble to Briançon is great.
A vista shot as we're entering Les Hautes Alpes
We arrived at our final destination at 1730hrs and enjoyed a prepared dinner. Tartiflette! My Mum told my aunty that I liked it -- my cousin was baffled as to why we were eating a winter dish in summer
Given the departure time of 1100hrs, we opted to enjoy a short stretch of D roads, break the back of the journey with an autoroute and finish with the D road from Grenoble to Briançon.
The tyre was looking healthier post-Nordschleife, after a days fast run on the autobahn etc. After all, my 'finger-in-the-air' deflation of the tyres by c.4psi was untried and for a relatively heavy bike (and much heavier than the CBR954RR3 that I was accustomed to having ridden around the 'ring) perhaps a couple of psi too much.
Travelling with a twelve year old is amusing. The little fella was hot and needed a stretch after the motorway, so took the opportunity for a stretch as I stopped for a wazz
The intercom is comedic and adds such a humerous dimension to pillion journeys -- chatting away whilst we're temporarily separated is funny.
The road from Grenoble to Briançon is great.
A vista shot as we're entering Les Hautes Alpes
We arrived at our final destination at 1730hrs and enjoyed a prepared dinner. Tartiflette! My Mum told my aunty that I liked it -- my cousin was baffled as to why we were eating a winter dish in summer
Edited by bolidemichael on Sunday 3rd July 21:09
bolidemichael said:
I'm usually getting 230km from 13L -- after some liberal application of WOT on the autobhanen, significantly fewer KMs we're returned for 13L!
A comment on the V4 -- as you're aware, mine has been adulterated by Hilltop motorcycles with the ECU work -- however, it is a lovely engine which is a continual participant in the journey. It thrums away at 5k revs in sixth at 150kph on French autoroutes, yet when opened and allowed to drive unrestricted on the autobahnen, it really sings. The power delivery in fourth and fifth up until the red line (all the way to eleven) is linear and continuous -- there's a fantastic amount of power and it flies. Even in sixth, it's relentless in its drive to the red line. In short, a very adaptable engine that is equally happy at both extremities of the rev range. Fabulous!
I get nowhere near 230km from 13 litres on mine!!!!A comment on the V4 -- as you're aware, mine has been adulterated by Hilltop motorcycles with the ECU work -- however, it is a lovely engine which is a continual participant in the journey. It thrums away at 5k revs in sixth at 150kph on French autoroutes, yet when opened and allowed to drive unrestricted on the autobahnen, it really sings. The power delivery in fourth and fifth up until the red line (all the way to eleven
) is linear and continuous -- there's a fantastic amount of power and it flies. Even in sixth, it's relentless in its drive to the red line. In short, a very adaptable engine that is equally happy at both extremities of the rev range. Fabulous!We started the day in Les Hautes Alpes.
Took a ride to the highest village in Europe at 2,040m -- Saint Veran.
Then, after a rather lovely BBQ followed by an amble to spot some 'Marmot'. There's an area outside Eygliers, where there is a prescribed walk circulating their habitat. Funny little buggers.
We left relatively late, so opted for a stretch fo autoroute to break the back of the journey, once again.
The entire ride was pretty much incredible -- the type of ride that bikers love for. The road to Lac du Serre Ponçon is wonderful with a majestic backdrop, as the exit from the Ecrins national park (home to the high Alps) gives way to Provence. The azure blue waters of this man made lake feel like a genuine transition point into the Mediterranean south, punctuated by the activity of watersports activities and the thrum of life and activity.
Okay, so the end of the journey was a little excessive -- beeline did a good job and gave me an interesting road, but the requirement for chasing fuel (thanks to incredible high speeds maintained of the virgin stretch of the very, very rapid A51 killed some time and the final 'interesting road' was excellent in usual conditions, but at the end of the day we just wanted a shower and pizza.
However, I would have no hesitation in recommending this route to a biker with a big bike, the empty autoroute on a balmy, hot evening was scintillating.
Interestingly enough, one of our petrol-chasing cul-de-sacs took us outside ITER -- the global project for plasma engineering in nuclear fusion energy.
Finally, at 2000hrs, we arrived.
Pizza ensued. The boy done well -- he later reported that he was hanging on for dear life on the A51 -- helmet buffeting like crazy and grip rails vibrating faster than a washing machine on full spin. He loved it, though.
Took a ride to the highest village in Europe at 2,040m -- Saint Veran.
Then, after a rather lovely BBQ followed by an amble to spot some 'Marmot'. There's an area outside Eygliers, where there is a prescribed walk circulating their habitat. Funny little buggers.
We left relatively late, so opted for a stretch fo autoroute to break the back of the journey, once again.
The entire ride was pretty much incredible -- the type of ride that bikers love for. The road to Lac du Serre Ponçon is wonderful with a majestic backdrop, as the exit from the Ecrins national park (home to the high Alps) gives way to Provence. The azure blue waters of this man made lake feel like a genuine transition point into the Mediterranean south, punctuated by the activity of watersports activities and the thrum of life and activity.
Okay, so the end of the journey was a little excessive -- beeline did a good job and gave me an interesting road, but the requirement for chasing fuel (thanks to incredible high speeds maintained of the virgin stretch of the very, very rapid A51 killed some time and the final 'interesting road' was excellent in usual conditions, but at the end of the day we just wanted a shower and pizza.
However, I would have no hesitation in recommending this route to a biker with a big bike, the empty autoroute on a balmy, hot evening was scintillating.
Interestingly enough, one of our petrol-chasing cul-de-sacs took us outside ITER -- the global project for plasma engineering in nuclear fusion energy.
Finally, at 2000hrs, we arrived.
Pizza ensued. The boy done well -- he later reported that he was hanging on for dear life on the A51 -- helmet buffeting like crazy and grip rails vibrating faster than a washing machine on full spin. He loved it, though.
Today was a mission to enjoy the Lac de Saint Croix. After being rebuffed for an electric boat (due to some recent insistence by the police for two adults to be present in case of capsizing), we opted for the hard work pedalo and enjoyed the cool, cool water and opportunity to test our nerve with high dives. I discovered that the key to conquering 'overthinking' is to pick a spot, jump and remember to hold hand by hips for a clean entry. Winning.
PROTip (for future readers): find a shaded spot to park, lest you burn your bks after a cool dip!
After that, we headed to the rather characterful tourist village of Moustieres-Ste-Marie for some lunch. Parking was a little steep, but at 38°C, the priority was finding a largely shaded spot and getting food and water asap.
Riding in this part of the works is heavenly torture. Too hot for protective gear and too hot to not ride properly. Absolutely top drawer, this place is chock-a-block with motorcycles.
PROTip (for future readers): find a shaded spot to park, lest you burn your b
ks after a cool dip!After that, we headed to the rather characterful tourist village of Moustieres-Ste-Marie for some lunch. Parking was a little steep, but at 38°C, the priority was finding a largely shaded spot and getting food and water asap.
Riding in this part of the works is heavenly torture. Too hot for protective gear and too hot to not ride properly. Absolutely top drawer, this place is chock-a-block with motorcycles.
bolidemichael said:
myvision said:
I get nowhere near 230km from 13 litres on mine!!!!
Perhaps a suitable endorsement of Geoff at Hilltop's ECU fettle? That's interesting to know, thank you. I must say that on the hairpins, the controllability in second in the throttle is wonderful.
carinaman said:
bolidemichael said:
myvision said:
I get nowhere near 230km from 13 litres on mine!!!!
Perhaps a suitable endorsement of Geoff at Hilltop's ECU fettle? That's interesting to know, thank you. I must say that on the hairpins, the controllability in second in the throttle is wonderful.
230/13*4.546*0.62 = 49.866 miles per imperial gallon
Really interested to hear your perspective on comfort, noise but, most importantly, wind protection?
I’ve always loved the look of the VFR1200 and thoroughly enjoyed my Blackbird which is a variation on a theme.
However, most bikes I have owned only offered limited protection and lots of buffeting (I have changed helmets, screens etc and no joy).
I was deciding between an ST1300 and R1200RT for my current nine and went for the BMW as a mate has had both and recommended it. The bike is great but I do lust after another Honda but not if it does not offer the right protection!
I’ve always loved the look of the VFR1200 and thoroughly enjoyed my Blackbird which is a variation on a theme.
However, most bikes I have owned only offered limited protection and lots of buffeting (I have changed helmets, screens etc and no joy).
I was deciding between an ST1300 and R1200RT for my current nine and went for the BMW as a mate has had both and recommended it. The bike is great but I do lust after another Honda but not if it does not offer the right protection!
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