Hein Gericke deal weekeend

So, took the XT out for a ride loaded up yesterday. All was fine except
it weaves in side winds when slowing from a little over 100. Up to 90
it feels stable enough.

There was a period when I thought it was really suffering from the wind
and then discovered the effing throttle grip had slipped. How did that
happen? I epoxyed it. Will have another go and put some lock wire over
the top.

I passed HG in Bristol and thought I'd have a look at the jackets since
my old Voyager (almost five years old) has a couple of holes under the
arms (design flaw, velcro from pocket rubs) and a rip to the lining.
Had looked on eBay and there was a decent one but it was 145 quid which
I felt too much.

HG were offering a 'trade in' on your old kit this weekend which did it
for me... Hooked.

They only had three jackets with storm collars and to be honest the
MasterV at 750 quid was far too much for my occassional use. And the
(whatever) was Shelltex rather than Goretex so didn't want to take the
chance.

Ended up selecting the Voyage Goretex at 410 quid and then negotiating
the trade in price. Initial offer was 10%, I told the story about why I
wanted it and said I wanted to pay 250 quid. We eventually settled on a
20% discount.

So... bit more than I wanted to spend but it's a decent jacket and
seems similar to the Voyager it replaced.

Just checked; bought the Voyager in the sales for 174 quid. Got 82 quid
when I traded it in. So that's 92 quid for almost five years use
(including three elefantreffens). Not so bad, 20 quid a year. It
didn't ever leak and apart from the pocket velcro catching under the
arms I can't really fault it. If I'd had the opportunity I would have
liked to have bought the same again. Damn this continual product
innovation.

HG plan to clean up and repair the trade in kit then either punt them
out on eBay or take them to the BMF show.

 

I was in HG looking at jackets to replace my worn out HG all-season
jacket, and they mentioned the trade in thing to me too.
..

Hmm, only 20%, and you lose a spare jacket.

Ha. Mine came 2nd hand from a BMF show about 5 years ago. It was a
factory return because of a bust cuff zip (which I never repaired).

Again, it's never leaked, but it is becoming a health hazard

Paul.

 

I've got two spare textile jackets plus leathers already. Really viewed
the getting rid of the jacket as a bonus to be honest.

 

I was in HG Stockwell yesterday and they didn't seem overly keen on
discounts over about 30 quid. So I kept my old boots as spares to sit
alongside my new Daytonas.

 

I got myself an Explorer Goretex jacket with a 10% off for trading in my
old one. As the old one leaked like a sieve (Shelltex)I was happy with
that. I wouldn't have been happy selling it on ebay and a jacket that
leaks is no good to me, even as a spare. No storm collar but I have one of
those anyway (the type that goes under the jacket and up around the
neck)and also a thin balaclava that doubles as a neckpiece to keep out the
wind.

 

That might be the tyres because mine feels evil at speed with
Trelleborgs fitted.

I've just about finished loading mine and will shortly be taking it
for a quick spin to see how it feels. I've proven yet again that it
doesn't matter how big your panniers are you'll still fill them with
junk.

I'll be making do with what I've got. I'm going to be wearing one
piece waterproofs over the top of everything else so should be fine.

 

wrote in :

I spent £500 on a new helmet & jacket in HG Cardiff. I got 10% off without
any trade in.

 

You forget I've been using Trelleborgs on it for about two months. It
definitely feels more weavy with the panniers loaded.

Of course dropping the forks through the yokes and dropping the rear
suspension might have had an impact also.

 

Same here. Felt OK (ish) without panniers.

 

Mine's a bit bouncy at the back because of the extra weight but the
shock is a twat to pre-load so I'll not bother.

**** it, it's done now and that's it. I've loaded the panniers with
probably much more than I should have done but I've worked on the
basis that relying on someone else having something I need could be a
very bad mistake.

 

Yeah. You can get 10% just for smiling at them. Or being a first time
buyer, or a long time customer, or a geezer, or a local, or a SPCA
member, ffs. If you're doing a trade-in with anything usable, the
discount should be _at least_ 20%.

 

<sticks fingers in ears>

Lalalalalala I'm not listening.

I spent over £500 in the new HG in Oxford last week and couldn't do any
better than a couple of bottles of Nikwax(sp?) crap. Circa 3%. On top of
that they couldn't even accept any of the points I had on my HG card as
part payment. I was pretty pissed off tbh. But, #1 son had just been
made redundant from his first proper job and had ridden 60 odd miles to
come and see me wearing nothing but a thin jacket and jeans. Didn't feel
right to let him ride back wearing that.

 

Mine just feels evil, irrespective of the speed - and I haven't tried it
loaded.

It's the tyres because it was a hoot with the half knackered Bridgestones
it had.

 

Wonder if I should refit the barely used Tourances I removed...

 

I have other issues to concern me at the moment.

 

<looks at date>

 

I still have clutch problems but I can ride round those it's the loss of
10-20mph top end that's a concern with 48 hours to departure.

 

Clearly you and Alex are in some sort of competition.

 

I'm on the verge of loading the luggage into the pickup and chucking
the ramps on the back together with the WR. Could carry one other
bike and a single passenger.

 

I'm confused. You are either driving to a point closer to the ferry or have
almost given up on getting the bike running?