The big white bus.

[singlesman]

For Gods sake don’t Google anything related to clutch issues on one of those things

[KungFooBob]

It's an LC, they have a proper wet multi-plate clutch, that is behind the front engine cover, no more splitting the bike in half.

[Dodgy69]

Pilot road 6, brand new set already on. You'd never know the brakes were linked, just felt normal to me. I will look at clutch adjustment in the morning. I swapped with my mates oil cooled MY 2013 adv gs and his clutch felt a lot better.

Went to Crossgates cafe and yes, they were there in numbers and a few super adventure aswel, but who cares. I felt like I was slouched in a chair it was so comfy, effortless riding, the bike just does everything so well. Panniers won't get used unless absolutely necessary, very heavy bmw vario ones. Top box will get used plenty though.

It has dynamic, road, rain, and enduro settings, previous owner kept it on road and so did I. AFAIK, no power is cut, just throttle response, will have a play at some point. Damping can be set to hard, normal, soft. I liked soft. Preload is one rider, one rider and luggage or two riders, I used one.

Heated grips on low, only 2 settings but fine. Not used CC yet, waiting for motorway. Seat set to low, almost flat foot, 5 9. It has an mra screen fitted and worked well, also got oem and a puig.

I also found there's no need to rev out through the gears, just get it in 6th as soon as you like and go from there. Shaft is a bonus and I don't notice much difference from chain on mine, but on my mates it does feel a bit different, his drive is on the opposite side.

MT is for sale and will be looking for something sporty for trackday parties.

[Count Steer]

After 4 bikes in a row with linked brakes it was a bit of a shock going to one without (and boingy forks and no shaft drive). Someone got on my GS and said the back brake needed adjustment...I couldn't remember using it apart from dragging it doing slow pirouettes in car parks.

Metzeler Tourance are worth a try if you fancy a change when new tyres are needed.

I hated the soft setting on the ESA system, particularly with a pillion (and luggage) on board...felt motion sick and the back end felt squishy on hard cornering.

Their CC is pretty good, I was surprised to find it's more fuel efficient than me when holding 70 on motorways, autoroutes etc, I guess the adjustments are finer.

[Bigjawa]

Road 6s are utterly ridiculous in the wet, I've never felt a tyre with so much wet grip. My K12 has linked brakes and I've never really noticed them.

BMW have a problem with wet clutches, I much prefer the dry ones, any BMW with a wet clutch has felt snatchy as hell.

[wheelnut]

If you want to charge it via the Hella/DIN socket, you need a CANBUS one. The ECU turns the socket off after a couple of minutes of the ignition being turned off.

I can't think of any issues charging the battery directly via an optimate cable wired to the battery terminals.

That’s what I do on mine - can’t think why it would be an issue.

[Demannu]

Will you just look at all that moss!

[Dodgy69]

Will you just look at all that moss!

I'll get her on it.

[Taipan]

Will you just look at all that moss!

I'll get her on it.

Too much information!

[Dickyboy]

My mates adv does well over 300.

Have you seen how much to fill up at the pump though? A full tank on my adv is over £50 at today's prices

[Dodgy69]

Yesterday I treated the BWB to some lovely acf 50. Recently bought a new bottle and pump from SBS. Chuck the filled pump sprayer in hot water for a few minutes and got a real nice spray. Helped with a 2 inch paint brush and it's come up lovely. aerosol can I had, squirts and makes coverage shiter, not much left and bin it went.

Got Monday off so I'm having a day out with the GS. It's gonna smoke from acf spray, not started since last week. Adjusted rear brake lever last week, too much slack, however, went for fuel and brake was binding big time, had to back off at station, bike would hardly move. Must be as it warms up and with my adjustment, it all went wrong. Loads of lever play and it's fine.

Garmin nav 5 set with all my favourite thing's at a glance and ready to roll. Report and pic's to follow.

[Dodgy69]

205 miles of relative comfort. Still had enough though. Got wet early on but turned out nice again.

Headed out to Crossgates cafe for a full English, got to be done, via the back roads of Much Wenlock and passed Ludlow race coarse, Bromfield, Knighton and Breakfast. Yum yum.



From cafe to Rhayader and Elan valley and the mountain road to Aberystwyth, very scenic bit of road this. Parked on Aberystwyth prom for a cuppa and photos. Sea was looking pretty angry with some proper waves.

On to Borth , Machynlleth, Cemaes and Mallwyd, then it's the run home through Welshpool to Shrewsbury. Bike ran great. Really getting used to it now and so far very happy.

Just to add, the first 5 bikes I saw today were fellows GSers. Common as muck. Only 3 bikes at the cafe today.

Next Scotland.









key test

[weeksy]

Did they run out of brown sauce?

[Count Steer]

Did they run out of brown sauce?

Dunno, but I'd give that place a miss on the basis of the photo. The bacon looks raw, the sausages look like classic 'ears, nose and arse-holes' budget bangers, the eggs have been thoroughly abused and the hash browns (? I assume that's what those puck things are) look like a freezer->deep fryer abomination. The least said about the obligatory half cooked tomato the better. Bleugh.

Nice ride though. That Aberystwyth road is Nice area for biking (used to work in Ruabon and had a week up there based in Pant a while ago).

[Dodgy69]

They don't cut the fat bit off the bacon, but otherwise pretty tasty, Got to have pepper on beans and brown sauce on everything.

I don't know what it is about Aberystwyth, but I always have difficulties finding the promenade.

[Supermofo]

Wales is definitely on my to ride list but it's just so bloody far away for me I'd need a good 4 days minimum and 2 would be spent on the there/back. Looks worth it at some point though. Funnily enough I just watched the Bikeworld video of the 5 best Welsh roads only at the weekend.

[weeksy]

Wales is definitely on my to ride list but it's just so bloody far away for me

That's actually really really funny.

If you get up at a decent time in summer you can be there before breakfast.

Heck I could cycle it from yours before tea time.

[Supermofo]

Wales is definitely on my to ride list but it's just so bloody far away for me

That's actually really really funny.

If you get up at a decent time in summer you can be there before breakfast.

Heck I could cycle it from yours before tea time.

If I went to Brecon that's 195 miles/near 4 hours. Aberystwyth is 240/5 hours. And that's if you use motorways and I'd prefer to go a nicer route if possible. Sure I could do it but personally once I've been riding for 4-5 hours I'm pretty much done for the day as a pleasure prospect. Hence thinking it's best part of day there as I'd probably not want to do much riding after I got there.

I've ridden to the South of France before in just over a day and it wasn't much fun.