Ceredigion

[JohnnyBoxer]

Quick trip to Pembrokeshire and West Wales to meet up with a friend from UKGSER, for a trip on the smaller bikes - me on the Tenere700 and him on a Tuareg 660

Never been to that area before (quite like north Cornwall) and yesterday visited city of St David’s in the far west of Wales, which was a gem and we mostly had dry weather all the time - which was lucky and seemingly better than the heavy rain in the rest of England

We met up at Llanwytrd Wells on Tuesday lunchtime and then rode over Lyn Brianne to Lampeter

Stayed in a remote cottage that could only accessed on foot - through woodland & no phone reception/4g or Wi-Fi or TV either - only a woodburner, gas cooker, and water from a well - but it did have electric for us softies

Off grid it was-but good fun for a couple of nights

700 miles in 56 hours and the Tenere 700 didn’t miss a beat - the bike gets better and better - just right for the wee roads of Ceredigion

Much better now I have got the seat and suspension changed and finally sorted

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

The cottage

 

[Tinytim]

Nice photos JB and that cottage looks lovely. Where is it?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Nice photos JB and that cottage looks lovely. Where is it?

Just west of Lampeter near Llandysul
Very off grid

 

[Tinytim]

Just west of Lampeter near Llandysul
Very off grid

How did you get to know about the place?( I was going to say "how did you find it?" ...but it's Friday night and there'll be sarcy buggers lurking here)

 

[MartinK]

Looks fantastic JB.... Hope you have a fab trip

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Looks fantastic JB.... Hope you have a fab trip

We did have a good trip

However there were one or two minor glitches that our friend will tell you about

All adds to the adventure and all’s well that ends well and creates memories to look back on, in your dotage

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

How did you get to know about the place?( I was going to say "how did you find it?" ...but it's Friday night and there'll be sarcy buggers lurking here)

I didn’t book it - the other inmate here, had kindly done it all and like you, I never knew these places existed-but they do!
PM me for more info

 

[ikkje]

And JB’s T700 getting better and better is in contrast to my Tuareg 660, which kept on refusing to start and on the day we were due to head north, so JB could return home, he left alone whilst i waited 4 plus hours for the RAC to turn up. Other than that the T660 is great.

 

[Davey B]

Good write up and pic, cheers; can I ask what you've done to the suspension JB ?

 

[steve hughes]

Looks like a cracking part of the world and a change of scenery from the Dales Enjoy

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Looks like a cracking part of the world and a change of scenery from the Dales Enjoy

It was a cracking couple of days and mid Wales is a lovely area to ride a bike in
Far west Wales is quite like north Cornwall in terrain with small lanes and seascapes - you can see the Celtic connection

 

[timeandtide]

Great pictures JB!
Lovely part of the world and not overrun wi’ folk!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Good write up and pic, cheers; can I ask what you've done to the suspension JB ?

As I usually do (and have it on both my GSA’s) I have gone down the Ohlins suspension install
New Ohlins rear shock, with spring to match my usage and new Ohlins fork cartridge (& normal Ohlins spring - set up for weight to match my usage)
Professionally installed and set up taking all relevant measurements for sag and damping rates
Ohlins fork cartridge has preload adjustment, hydraulic bump stops and bigger 30mm pistons for better oil damping flow (stock Yamaha KYB are 20mm) - so much better than most oem fork set ups and side by side, on the bench, you can see where Yamaha have economised in that area
The bike rides now like a different machine and combined with the addition of the Corbin seat (I tried Cool Cover and/or Airhawk to no avail on the stock seat) it makes the bike so much better for me

 

[Davey B]

Cheers Johnny....sufficiently set up for 2 up with a bit of luggage? I did like my few days on one but felt it way undersprung..even solo and at c 14.5st. But the thought of chucking £10k at a new bike (or nearly that for a nearly new one) and then having to spend £2k on suspension doesn't sit well.....for it to then not really work for us.

 

[G&T]

Lovely pics. That cottage is just missing a big fat moggy cat

 

[ikkje]

Here’s another couple to add to JB’s

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cheers Johnny....sufficiently set up for 2 up with a bit of luggage? I did like my few days on one but felt it way undersprung..even solo and at c 14.5st. But the thought of chucking £10k at a new bike (or nearly that for a nearly new one) and then having to spend £2k on suspension doesn't sit well.....for it to then not really work for us.

You are welcome to try mine, 2up when you are back in Yorkshire to see if would work ok
The suspension has made a big improvement and one I debated for many a while
Mine would be perfect for your combined weights and with luggage, as there is plenty of scope with the spring weight installed to increase ride sag
I picked up the Corbin seat for half price on eBay last year and the chap had only used it for one, 6 day trip to Scotland and therefore was ‘as new’ & unmarked

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Lovely pics. That cottage is just missing a big fat moggy cat

There were a few cats lurking in the woods - from the 2 nearby farms

 

[jags]

There were a few lurking in the woods - from the 2 nearby farms

maybe they were duck hunting?