Retreat from Moscow

http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/Elefantentreffen2008/

I'm having to use a knackered laptop, can't make out the pictures and I
can't be bothered to check so I've just slung up all my crappy phone
shots.

I fucking hate Joe Lucas (British electrics on an Italian bite) and I've
got to write a little report. However, I have a washing machine to fill
and a tent to air.

 

So someone went on a newish model Pan? lunacy.

 

Brrrrr...... Well done that crew.

Looks like the UK could be in for some wintery action towards the end of the
week.

 

There was an RT just like mine in one of those photos. Bravo!

 

Fitting Lucas (Rita?) on a Guzzi/BMW etc has always seemed a bit
troublesome. The 4 I've repaired failed apparently due to vibration causing
dry joints on the pcb. I only use Pirhana on my Guzzis. They are easy and
cheap to repair if they ever go wrong, which they don't seem to IME.

JB

 

They don't break when you drop them on ice. I like my Pan.

 

The Rita box had been on there for 10 or so years and never given any
trouble. I have another Pirahna unit so may fit that.

 

...and for the record - to clear up some inaccuracies recorded earlier - I
didn't drop Mike's Pan. Certainly not whilst riding it.

 

I notice you're not denying the cartwheeling down hill whilst still
having a piss.

 

he's not known as "The Prince of Darkness" for nothing.

 

Any idea I might have entertained about going has disappeared completely
looking at that snow.

I've only ridden in proper snow half a dozen times, never by choice, and
it's terrifying until my brain goes snowblind and I start laughing and
enjoying riding along with my feet down waiting for the bike slip and
crush my leg and/or ankle.

Great respect to everybody who went, even those who braved a one-nighter
in the hotel.

<waits for more photos>

 

You should have had it in your mobile spares kit really.

 

I don't think carrying two coils, distributor, wiring harness and
electronics box would be that practical. Especially as the Rita unit
hadn't given any trouble up until that point.

 

Huh, amateurs.
...and where was your spare tyre and inner tubes.

 

I had levers and a repair kit.

 

<remembers>

#1 TS185 on the way back from my Saturday job, where the slush froze
to the legs of my jeans. Not nice.
#2 Z650 up the M20, before it conked out and we were rescued by a
Tesco lorry full of mushrooms.
#3 CBR1000 back to Acton from TCR in a blizzard. Fell off five yards
from the front door.
#4 CBR1000 back to Acton from Reading, M4. 3 points and £40 fine.

I think that might be it - light dustings don't count.

 

SD says...

Larkhall to Bedford. Snowed all the way down the A74, M74, M6 until I
got to Birmingham. I was in leathers too IIRC, not textiles.

Before that I'd ridden every winter that we've had snow since I started
riding.

 

Here to Heathrow at dawn with freezing fog and temperatures at -5c. I
too was in leather and I cried real tears of pain as I thawed out.

Last time I rode in snow I was having so much fun I fell off. I made
myself a promise that day: next time I do anything as stupid I will use
a more suitable bike.

 

steve auvache says...

Soon after I first started riding me and my mate Gus went out for a
midnight ride on the snow, him on a Honda XL250S and me on a Kawasaki
KE175. I hadn't laughed like I did that night in my entire life. It got
off to a bad start, I fell off trying to start my bike, then as I waited
for him to try and back his bike up the steep drive I slid sideways down
a road leading to some garages - anyone who knows the link road between
Mallard Hill and Larkway in Brickhill, Bedford will know where I mean.
We rode over a pond on the green, and fell off so many times it was
embarrassing, but we had fun.

We were only out for about an hour and a half, but it took me all night
to dry and thaw out.

 

"A tenth the speed, a hundred times the fun."