photos from Elefant (CSP)

It's also completely outdated, as there's no such thing as the
'volunteer' reserve any more.

Also notice the use of the past tense in my post, and the reference to
the fact that I may actually have been sailing on said ships.

A good topper should always know his limits.

 

But I *like* riding older stuff... and there's no way I'm stumping up
thousands of pounds for a newer motorbike when I've got three BMW K
series, a GSXR1000 and a ZXR750.

 

You have grasped the fact that the list of parts/spares mentioned
were solely for trips like the Elefant? Trips where you're
multiplying the chances of having a problem by the fact that you're
doing a lot of miles in very bad conditions for a number of days
without the chance to carry out any basic observations (1) during the
trip. I never take spare levers because I never go out expecting to
crash.

(1) Kick the chain to see if it's still ok, check the oil every 1000
miles or so, make sure all the lights are still working etc.

 

I don't think you've quite grasped the reason for taking shite old
bikes to the Elefant.

 

Personally I don't get much joy from the whole "wonder if I get home on
this, wonder if I get to work on time, wonder if I'm stranded by the
motorway" mantra going on in my head for 2000 miles on this trip.

My reason for taking the K is I don't think there's a better bike for
sticking a sidecar on. Oh, and because I know them pretty well by now
(think I've owned 6 and have done around150k miles on them).

Really, really, hope that the K series spare supply keeps going for the
next 30 years or so...

 

another mong-fight!

 

<AOL>

Should do, if the ShiteOldBoxer spares situation is anything to go by.

 

What I'm getting at is... you don't need three BMW K Series, a GSXR1000
and a ZXR750 if you rationalise what you have and buy one decent bike
for everyday and touring, and then a couple of others for playing on.

At the moment I'm clearing out my garage. Obviously the Versys will be
staying, but I have no need for the SpazzTrakka any more, so that's
going[1]. The CBR600 is staying as my race/trackbike, and the TS250
will be filling the classic/trailie/2-stroke slot. Three bikes is all I
need.

The RD400 can't be counted because I don't remember where alot of the
bits are and it hasn't seen the road since 1990

[1] Sold, just needs to be MOTd and delivered.

 

Forget not knowing what to call it, it would seem the vast majority of
people don't even know which way up it goes.

TV shows, magazines, clothing, furniture (the Union Jack is very popular
ATM - I've not yet seen a single one where the flag wasn't back to
front) ... if you see the flag it's far, far more likely to be backwards
than shown correctly.

--
Veggie Dave
http://www.iq18films.co.uk

"To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim
that Jesus was not born of a virgin." Cardinal Bellarmine

 

Exactly. They're an ideal bike for the job in that they're easy to
maintain, the early 8 valvers aren't in any way over-stressed, they're
readily available and they're cheap.

Buy now and sell at a profit...

 

Nice one. I really shall make an effort to partake next year. Probably
with an outfit.

 

There aren't enough days in the year for you to either build an outfit
or (more importantly) ride it from Holland to Bavaria.

 

Oh, but I do!

One Sidecar for winter foolishness (K100).

One touring bike for summer use (K1100).

One bike for winter use in the UK that needs to be reliable but not
something that gets lots of maintenance or cleaning... (K75)

One sports bike for summer usage (GSXR1000)

One bike 'cos I like it as a garage ornament (ZXR750).

Maybe the K1100 and K75 could be combined/replaced by a Pan but had one,
didn't like it lots because the weather protection isn't as good as a K.

Maybe the ZXR750 could go.

Hmm... so I could have:
- Pan Euro
- Sidecar
- GSXR1000

Think I'll stick where I am though...

 

or care

 

I don't think I actually care, TBH, the stories would be just as good
(from my PoV) whether you go on the latest whizz-bang, a moped, or a
WW2 BSA M20/21.

 

My spares comprised of the fuses that came with the bike and a surprising
hoard of bulbs that I didn't know about - which came in handy when the
tail lamp blew. Oh, and a set of coils for another bike but that was
less "spares" more "delivery".

I should have remembered to pack the bloody universal cable kit.

 

For things like the Elefant having a certain amount of disposability is
handy. Anyway, I like being able to make lashed up ancient old POS
travel long distances.

 

If you don't care then why did you say it would be "bor-ring" to use a
newer, more reliable bike?

 

On Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:52:13 +0000, "sweller"

snip>

You just wanted to go for a ride around the Regensburg red light area.

There's no way you'd have got away with using a broken cable as an
excuse when I had a universal kit 40 odd miles away and would have
brought it out to you.

 

You must really miss driving for Southern.