revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Short ride today,lockdown rules eased a little.

T'was nice just to get the wheels turning again.

KungFooBob wrote: Wed May 20, 2020 7:34 pm

Just got back from a hours evening ride in the sun, out to the Strines, through The Bradfields and back home via the back roads through Chapeltown and Elsecar.

It's flipping great living on the edge of the peaks.

I've been out again, different bike...



Bought the Guzzi two days before lockdown, then SORN'd it for two months. Taxed it today for the 3rd ride ever!

Parked in almost the same spot too!

My inner OCD wants to move one bike to make the two exact.

The road is closed (but you can get through on a bike) so it's quiet and it's a little layby thing with a bench to look over the reservoir.

Streetview hasn't been updated since the road was resurfaced for the TdF...

https://goo.gl/maps/DzzB1faduJXBTdC98

To celibrate the "sheilded" been let out went for a 230 mile round trip to Hunstanton. Took my Tuono for a change as this was the first ride since changing the rear suspens link bearings and changing the fork oil from 10w to 5w. Went a nice twisty way via Clare - Mildenhall - Kings Lynn and back via Swaffham and Thetford Forest.
Suspension seemed fine on the bouncy roads of the fens apart from comming out of one corner when hit a large bump which smacked the tank into my bollocks. Checking the cable tie that Southern Cross put on when they set up the suspension at the 2nd service, it appears I bottomed the fork out for the first time ever. A lot of people on the Aprilia Forum site AF1 recommend 5w oil but I think I'll be going back to 10w, although I'll do a few more rides.
Suspension seems a lot better though compared to the Le Mans as does the throttle response and acceleration.
First long ride with my new Arai QV as well, this performed well and with all the vents open kept me cool as long I I was moving, although did get several insects through the chin vent and one in the right top vent which I could feel wriggling for a bit on my bald head. Hunstanton had about 30 bikes all parked up on the front maintaing social distancing. Ate a sandwich I'd taken with me and rode home.

I thought the Tuono brakes were a bit crap especially the rear, although the brake is notorious on Tuonos I have had it moded and was a lot better before. I initially put this down to being used to the Le Mans foot brake which operates both front left and rear disks, but it was realy crap and the front was a bit spongy so bled the brakes when I got home, took the rear brake off the disk and tied it above the master cylinder. Got a bit of air out the rear, but nothing out the front, although the fresh fluid has improved the feel of the front lever. May go out for a "test" ride tonight. I've also order a vacuum brake bleeder today which will be especially useful on the Le Mans linked brakes.

Friday, did North London to box hill, then East Grinstead, then onto Bex hill on sea, the Lewes, then Box hill, then Home. Great ride and was shown some cracking roads, same we left it a bit late as hit some Friday rush hour traffic. Absolutely loves it.

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Went down to Poole yesterday taking the wiggly route.



A 1200 monster, an 821 Monster and a 696 monster also an old VFR and a ZX10

I stole a couple of hours today on quiet roads,then home to change oil and filter.

No pics of the ride,I was enjoying it too much to stop!

Skub wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:26 pm Parked in almost the same spot too!

My inner OCD wants to move one bike to make the two exact.

About 6 inches - you're a hard man to please.

Monday night went out on the Le Mans, did abot 40 miles up to Finchingfield and back. Tonight went out on the Tuono, was going to do the same route to "compare and contrast" but realised part of the route from Thaxted to Finchingfield was being resurfaced today, so went south to Burnham, a 50 mile round trip.
Had to be a bit careful with the throttle with twice the power, nearly ran wide a couple of times coming out of corners, the Le Mans yellow line is at 6500revs and I can crack the throttle open as hard as like (nearly). On the Tuono I was just riding the midrange between 4-7K and it realy starts to take off from 6k.
Lots of bikes out tonight making the most of the light nights. Plan fortomorrowas it's raining, is an oil change on the Le Mans, as it's 1200 miles since the last one.

hilldweller wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:49 pm

Skub wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:26 pm Parked in almost the same spot too!

My inner OCD wants to move one bike to make the two exact.

About 6 inches - you're a hard man to please.

A PS to this.......

Your words "OCD" but not that long ago you would have been a "Perfectionist", is this a sign of the times ? Are we no longer allowed to take pride in our efforts ?

hilldweller wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:15 pm

A PS to this.......

Your words "OCD" but not that long ago you would have been a "Perfectionist", is this a sign of the times ? Are we no longer allowed to take pride in our efforts ?

I think there may be a difference between taking a pride in your work and feeling the need to constantly fix things which aren't broken.

Aside from shopping it was nice to take a little bimble down to Torcross last week. This is the Exercise Tiger memorial: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Tiger

About 120ish miles on the Guzzi, longest ride I've had on it.

I think it's the 4th or 5th time I've actually been out on it.

Pretty comfortable for that kind of distance, even if I'm well over six foot.

Stopped to look at some planes through a fence at Elvington...

SW France about 2 weeks ago, binned it in the same fecking place (pathetic walking pace) a few days later. Mostly fixed now, arm still hurts.

I got Lost

Loch Maree

Nice ride through the Peak District today , with a mate on his Ducati scrambler. Thoroughly enjoyed it,much more than I expected to be honest.
Coffee stop.

Paragliders were out in force at Castleton.

I've just crossed paths with a Ducati SM on The Strines, could it have been Bomble?