Modern Vespa

Yes, except it now takes 79 hours.

Ugh. I envy those who manage to get a second, EU, passport.

Yes they do because that's when it's cheap.

I'll be going back over on Sunday.

Passport check and sometimes security have a quick "once over" but that's it.

Maybe 15 mins each way.

I envy you.

At least we're managing to get to Provence this year with the VCdM.

I really miss tootling (and occasional hooning) around the byways of France and Belgium - so much to explore, such great people (apart from Paris in the main...).

The Channel Tunnel is so much better than the Ferry and it's only 45 minutes from my house so rather than explore my own country I'll often spend long weekends in Europe.

In December I was in Amsterdam, June I was Holland and Belgium then a few weeks later back to France for Le Mans. I had an aborted Iron Butt ride 2 weeks ago so I rode to Rouen and Oostende instead. However I'm off to Germany next week and then I'll be back to Le Mans in September and Spa in Belgium in October.

Currently looking for somewhere to spend Christmas but it's looking like Gent.

Sorry.

Don't be sorry, I'm delighted for you! Still envious though.

My GTS is off to its new owner next week. I'll be sad to see it go as it's a lovely looking thing, but it doesn't make sense to keep it and not have the time to ride it.

Last edited by Dr Zoidberg on Tue, 11 Jul 2023 06:04:33 +0000; edited 1 time

I dropped unto my local BSA dealership on Saturday and there's a sales incentive on the Goldstar of around £300 until the end of August.

Just sayin.

Just adopted a 2014 Kymco Downtown as an antidote to buying a new bike this year.

The Burgman and the BSA are going to have to wait.

After having not used the KLV for a while I thought that I should take it out for a few hours to see if it's worth keeping in the stable.

A couple of hours later I've decided that it's not going anywhere as it's bloody brilliant.

Lighter, easier to ride and so agile compared to the BMW.

Yeah, it's staying at least until 2024.

Took the BMW out today.

It's got a heavy throttle, a heavy clutch and an awful gearbox. It redlines 2000 rpms before the KLV. It weighs a tonne and costs the earth to maintain.

Having said that it has brakes that could stop a Ferry and it handles like a Sports Bike plus it cruises at 85 all day long helped by a range of at least 220 miles.

I bloody love it.

I did a couple of hundred miles to Wales at the weekend.
It would gave been more but it started chucking it down with rain at about 95 miles.

It always does just as you cross the border...

I made it to the Elan Valley visitor centre before it really kicked in.

Very lucky!

I love going round all those dams and reservoirs - wonderful roads.

and you'll have to slow down to 20mph soon!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62134399

Strange as it may seem, I'm not opposed to that. I thought I would be, but a month or two back in Blighty in West London convinced me that although it may seem like a crawl, in fact traffic jams and stops are far fewer and last less time than before - journeys take about the same amount of time, regardless! So *if* you can get yourself into a more relaxed mode while trundling along, you're not really inconvenienced at all.

Then let it rip once you're released. The great thing about Wales is that they rarely extend the speed limit way beyond the town or village - as soon as that last driveway is passed the national limit applies again.

Last edited by jimc on Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:05:55 +0000; edited 1 time

20mph roads are already quite common in Wales anyway, and not a problem when I'm out for a days ride.

Try the Peak District next time you are over this way, over 50 reservoirs in the National Park, very good roads and less rain than Wales.

Off to Bike Shed Moto tomorrow

I'm off to Wales on the Trumpet, no doubt it will rain.

A brilliant visit to Bike Shed in Shorditch yesterday.

The BMW's fuel gauge fell off the inside of the fairing on the way home.

Standard.

Sad face

I'm back with the brand.

All serviced etc?

I have some unexpected time off work, so went for a ride while it's sunny.

New belt, rollers, sliders, air and fuel filter, plug and battery charge.

Mot also although it does need a new rear tyre.

The traffic in my home town is getting so bad these days I'm planning to use the Downtown as much as possible.

With my GTS still up on the lift in the garage, waiting for me to get some more ambition, and my Triumph Rocket 3 in the shop having it's rear brake bled so I can haul it down better when the deer jump out on front of me, I had to resort to stealing Trixie's Speedmaster for this morning's 70 mile coffee run...

White Walls.

Hilarious.

They don't get nearly the laughs the trombone strapped across my Vespa's seat does.

I bought them for Trixie's last birthday, I probably wouldn't have chosen them, but it's what she wanted so......

I have no inclination to put them on my Triumph Rocket.

Some things are just NOT to be done, and that's one of them.

Like putting White Walls on motorcycles.

I'd rather be Divorced.

To me, It depends on the bike..

They came as standard on my two Indian Chiefs and Trixie's Softail Deluxe, as well as the beautiful Honda 1100 Shadow Aero I had some years back. Those bikes had quality Dunlop's on them, and those kinds of tires were visually appropriate for that type of casual cruiser, and performed very well on that kind of bike, within the expected limits of those relatively slow, heavy types of machines, of course


As you know, Bill, I have them in my GTS300, but I will be going back to a quality blackwall brand on it as soon as they wear down a bit more, certainly by next spring regardless.

Last edited by JBacklund on Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:11:22 +0000; edited 1 time

American Classic Cars of the 50' and 60's should have White Walls and nothing else.

It's the Law.

"I'm a loner, Bill....a rebel"

I doubt that very much.

It's a bit like putting a tinted sun visor with your names in an Escalade.

No one tells you that it's wrong, you should just know.

10 years ago this month (correct me if I'm wrong)

A fine looking bunch there

Vespa w@nkers 😆