First ride of 2010

[slparry]

Just come back from the first ride of the year Over Minera mountain to Worlds End and back

The DRZ impresses with its traction to be honest, although I think it would be nicer in the snow if the seat height wasn't so lofty.

 

[PW Cymru]

Great pictures.

Its very white

 

[BlueBird]

And me

Had a ride up to Llandovery this afternoon,came back through Bleanavon,

 

[Bikerbaz78]

Great pics!

Good work guys,

It's excellent to see the machines being used as they are intended for

I dont know if I fancy the tank range on the DRZ across the mountains though? Wouldnt be the best of places to run out of fuel!

I'm gagging to get out but still got new years friends round... I dont think it would be seen as festive if I were to go out for a ride with out them

 

[longdog]

Had a ride up to Llandovery this afternoon,came back through Bleanavon,
View attachment 141316

Didn't see you there? I got to the West End Cafe around 11:30am, treacherous ride over Crai and down the A40, but a lovely bacon sarnie and mug of tea at the cafe

There were two other GSers there when I got there, (on my Tiger), one on a nice '53 plate R1150GS the other on a GS800

 

[BlueBird]

Didn't see you there? I got to the West End Cafe around 11:30am, treacherous ride over Crai and down the A40, but a lovely bacon sarnie and mug of tea at the cafe

There were two other GSers there when I got there, (on my Tiger), one on a nice '53 plate R1150GS the other on a GS800

I think I was in there about 12.30, no gs's outside,half a dozen sports bikes though,

The west end cafe ain't the cheapest place but,it's top quality food,particulaly the dinners and the atmosphere's good in there as well,and they treat bikers right.

It's a bit of an oasis for me to be honest I love to go up there on a Sunday for about 8am and have a brekkie and chill out and read the papers,it's good therapy for me

I've tried all the other cafe's and pubs (except the Tudor cafe) and they are all dearer and not as good.

 

[slparry]

Good work guys,

It's excellent to see the machines being used as they are intended for

I dont know if I fancy the tank range on the DRZ across the mountains though? Wouldnt be the best of places to run out of fuel!

I'm gagging to get out but still got new years friends round... I dont think it would be seen as festive if I were to go out for a ride with out them

The route from Minera to Worlds End and Llangollen is probably only about 8 miles or so ... given the DRZ will do 100 miles on a tank I think it was a fair bet I'd make it .. were that photo is taken from is not much more than a half mile or so from my home, I just bimbled along at an indicated 5 to 7 mph and fair play it just "worked"

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Had a ride up to Llandovery this afternoon,came back through Bleanavon,
View attachment 141316

Good on you
How lucky were you to bump into Eddie the Eagle on your travels

 

[Bikerbaz78]

Ride out Jan 3rd BLOOOOOMING cold in the Beacons!!!

Hey Guy's,

Today i finally broke away from the chrimbo and new year visits and scheduled dinners etc to go for a ride!

Seeing as you guys like the West end Cafe in Llandovery I though best to head that direction only I kept going past it, up to the Brecons, through Sennybridge, Rhosamman, Brynammen and back to home through Ammanford... A real amazing 77 mile ride and got a few low res phone camera pics of my one and only stop I thought you may like to see?

 

[(RIP) Geriatric Germ]

Great snow pics! To really count though you need six inches of snow on the road you are riding!!!!!

 

[Bikerbaz78]

6 inch's of snow.... hmmm.....

Well I thought the run through some of the vallies was quite a challenge given the fact my front tyre is REALLY not great! A few corners I entered happy with the line then had to pucker up the ring piece for extra traction on the apex

I have never seen so many varnished roads

I'm just about to stuff new boots on the GS and TKC's would really help the "6 inch snow title"! These bloody Tourances dont even grip well on lose gravel and stones etc... Of course if I fit TKC's then I bet I regret it as March 15th there are a few of us doing a Scotland run... On TKC's I imagine it would be like 1400 miles of rumble strips

Whats a TOSSER to do (apart from buy two sets of wheels and tyres )

 

[BlueBird]

cracking pics Bikerbaz
I loves it

 

[Bikerbaz78]

and to think I have slagged off heated grips my whole life

Yes....I admit... I "may" have had my grips on for about 75% of the ride it was a little chilliy in places!

 

[PW Cymru]

Glad to see you enjoyed your ride today.

 

[Bikerbaz78]

Glad to see you enjoyed your ride today.

Yeah it was great! I was trying to second guess the route you made for the ride out on the 28th

I quite fancied heading for the hills but again my tyres didnt fill me with the confidence required. Even if i did get up some of the slopes then coming back down would have been quite... errr.... FAST

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Whats a TOSSER to do (apart from buy two sets of wheels and tyres )

Be careful what you wish for where tyres are concerned, I doubt any tyre would do better in these conditions than a Tourance,if yours are worn give consideration to fitting more of the same-especially if the majority of your riding is going to be on blacktop,whilst many here like and use TKC's they are not for everyone-certainly not for me
I've experienced TKC's on a 2 hour test ride some time ago,among the tyres I have used (and would use again) are Metzeler Tourance and Tourance EXP,Continental Trail Attack and Road Attack,had some Michelin Annakee's too which were great in the dry but less so in the wet,do a search on here before making your choice

 

[Bikerbaz78]

Be careful what you wish for where tyres are concerned, I doubt any tyre would do better in these conditions than a Tourance,if yours are worn give consideration to fitting more of the same-especially if the majority of your riding is going to be on blacktop,whilst many here like and use TKC's they are not for everyone-certainly not for me
I've experienced TKC's on a 2 hour test ride some time ago,among the tyres I have used (and would use again) are Metzeler Tourance and Tourance EXP,Continental Trail Attack and Road Attack,had some Michelin Annakee's too which were great in the dry but less so in the wet,do a search on here before making your choice

Oh 2 wheel, i couldnt agree with you more... I have read SO many forums for details of tyre choices... Im certain I am no wiser now than before I even bought the GS? I want the TKC to go green-laneing and chasing the sheep but I want to do distance and tour places. Before I used to go through towns head down arse up and not see anything but the start and finish of the journey at times touching 130mph on route. The GS is already living up to its expectations and letting me see views along some of my favorite rides that I have never seen before

I digress... lol... Also aside from tyre choice there is the huge argument of balancing! A massive post regarding this on ADV some say yes others no... I think the answer is just pay to have someone else supply and fit the tyres! Job done although my nature is to do it myself with the proper tools... One day I wake up a decide TKC's and the next Tourances then shop fitted then self fitted?

For now at least the extra few quid for fitting is a no brainer! With a Scotland run on the cards for March with two street bikes in tow the Tourances make the most sense.

Thanks for listening Steve... I think I just answered my own questions! (again!!! ) You should do this for a living hahahahahaha

 

[QuickNick]

Nice photos up by Crai there, surprised how clear the road is seeing as mine is still under an inch of sheet ice plus a sprinkling of snow from this morning. Us S.Wales tossers usually meet once a month for a meal somewhere so keep an eye open for the next one and hope to catch you soon.

 

[Bikerbaz78]

Cheers Nick... I was surprised at the roads too! There was the places where it looked like someone had kindly varnished parts of the road for us

Will keep an eye out for the dnner too!!! Cheers, Baz