Our trip to see Mumford And Sons yesterday was canned due to organizational chaos, so just after lunch I was left with 4 unwanted tickets. So, I thought, I could ride over to the Hammersmith Apollo and sell them. As it's 220 miles, I thought I should take a few spare clothes, slung them in the tank bag and set off.
Tank was empty, so got to the filling station and heaved it up onto the centre stand - 1150gsa not getting lighter with time..A complete fill got 25 litres in, so should be good to go. About 1.45 now
The run out of south Devon is A roads to the A 38, then the M5, A30/303, M3, then detail into Hammersmith. As ever, the bike is great. There is a bit of turbulence, but the saddle is fine. Handling is easy and brakes are great ( once I work out that the satnav needs to be unplugged for the voltage check to work).
Once I've worked out how to get to the front of the Apollo, I unload the tickets, which was easy, and call home- surprised to see it's 5PM. On with the helmet, back to the drag through west London, back to the M3. I have to stop for fuel on the M3 at the services, some 256 miles after I set off. And, as even, 10 miles per litre, so I put another 26 litres in.
With dark approaching, I'm going for speed not beauty, and try hard on the 303. The dip beam is OK, but a call to Les Wassel is on for the morning. Main, with a high power flood light, is fine, but the contrast is hard work.
At about 350 miles, I'm getting uncomfortable, moving around a bit, but not actually sore. A great pair of leather jeans is a big help here.
At 420 miles, I'm home. 8pm, just in time for a plate of food and the x factor.
Reflecting on this today, it's a credit to an 8 year old bike that it can pull a stunt like that, with a high degree of rider comfort, on a single in journey fill, and leave me untroubled in the evening.
No wonder I can't find anything to replace it!
For my own reference, I need to do a HiD dipped beam; change the screen and get it to adjust, get some new tyres. And that's it...
Tank was empty, so got to the filling station and heaved it up onto the centre stand - 1150gsa not getting lighter with time..A complete fill got 25 litres in, so should be good to go. About 1.45 now
The run out of south Devon is A roads to the A 38, then the M5, A30/303, M3, then detail into Hammersmith. As ever, the bike is great. There is a bit of turbulence, but the saddle is fine. Handling is easy and brakes are great ( once I work out that the satnav needs to be unplugged for the voltage check to work).
Once I've worked out how to get to the front of the Apollo, I unload the tickets, which was easy, and call home- surprised to see it's 5PM. On with the helmet, back to the drag through west London, back to the M3. I have to stop for fuel on the M3 at the services, some 256 miles after I set off. And, as even, 10 miles per litre, so I put another 26 litres in.
With dark approaching, I'm going for speed not beauty, and try hard on the 303. The dip beam is OK, but a call to Les Wassel is on for the morning. Main, with a high power flood light, is fine, but the contrast is hard work.
At about 350 miles, I'm getting uncomfortable, moving around a bit, but not actually sore. A great pair of leather jeans is a big help here.
At 420 miles, I'm home. 8pm, just in time for a plate of food and the x factor.
Reflecting on this today, it's a credit to an 8 year old bike that it can pull a stunt like that, with a high degree of rider comfort, on a single in journey fill, and leave me untroubled in the evening.
No wonder I can't find anything to replace it!
For my own reference, I need to do a HiD dipped beam; change the screen and get it to adjust, get some new tyres. And that's it...
