Dave Lee
Registered user
ring ring
"yeah"
"mate, fancy going to Portugal next year for the Faro Bike Rally?"
"ok"
"great"
Hardly most the auspicious start to an adventure. Twelve months later it was planned and ready, bikes prepped, new tyres, brake pads, serviced etc etc. Thanks to everyone for all the advice on here as I have never been out of the UK on a bike. Ther eshe was 55 plate R1200GS sat on th edrive with a full set of Vario panniers and top box full of clean shiny stuff.
Day One. Set off to mate's house down south and guess what? RAC to the rescue with a new fuel pump relay. Yes I read the thread but I am to spannering what a hand grenade is to fishing (it can be done but it aint gonna be pretty) and decided to skip that replacement. Big mistake.
Day Two to Day Sixteen. - ferry to Dieppe, 3,850 odd miles, millions of laughs and we are back having done our bit to recycle as much Portugese / Spanish / French beer and wine as we could safely lift.
The plan was to stay off the toll roads and split the journey between fast A roads and slower more scenic B roads. I would definately reccommend this as we saw so much of France Spain and Portugal. What an awesome way to see a country or three as you pass by on your way to a party. Spent a grand total of ten and a half euros on tolls, most of which was a six and half euro charge we incurred on a wrong turn off a roundabout!
Bike never missed a beat despite the ferocious heat and some ham fisted riding on tired hot days. I reckon me SuperTed mascot bungeed to the screen frame kept me and the trusty steed in relatively fine fettle.
Memories are many, regrets none. Dont even have a sore butt and that was using a standard GS seat. Brilliant.
The only thing I need to do for next time is try to get the weight of the bike and kit a bit lower if possible. Any marvellous ideas for this gratefully received.
The only question I have yet to answer is why I didnt buy a GS years ago. My VMax riding mate was so impressed with it he tried to talk a spanish traffic copper into doing a swap one day on a petrol station forecourt, but the copper wasnt having it for some strange reason. Me previous bike was a GSXR750 - can you imagine trying to get to Faro overland on that with two to three weeks gear? No neither could I!
"yeah"
"mate, fancy going to Portugal next year for the Faro Bike Rally?"
"ok"
"great"
Hardly most the auspicious start to an adventure. Twelve months later it was planned and ready, bikes prepped, new tyres, brake pads, serviced etc etc. Thanks to everyone for all the advice on here as I have never been out of the UK on a bike. Ther eshe was 55 plate R1200GS sat on th edrive with a full set of Vario panniers and top box full of clean shiny stuff.
Day One. Set off to mate's house down south and guess what? RAC to the rescue with a new fuel pump relay. Yes I read the thread but I am to spannering what a hand grenade is to fishing (it can be done but it aint gonna be pretty) and decided to skip that replacement. Big mistake.
Day Two to Day Sixteen. - ferry to Dieppe, 3,850 odd miles, millions of laughs and we are back having done our bit to recycle as much Portugese / Spanish / French beer and wine as we could safely lift.
The plan was to stay off the toll roads and split the journey between fast A roads and slower more scenic B roads. I would definately reccommend this as we saw so much of France Spain and Portugal. What an awesome way to see a country or three as you pass by on your way to a party. Spent a grand total of ten and a half euros on tolls, most of which was a six and half euro charge we incurred on a wrong turn off a roundabout!
Bike never missed a beat despite the ferocious heat and some ham fisted riding on tired hot days. I reckon me SuperTed mascot bungeed to the screen frame kept me and the trusty steed in relatively fine fettle.
Memories are many, regrets none. Dont even have a sore butt and that was using a standard GS seat. Brilliant.
The only thing I need to do for next time is try to get the weight of the bike and kit a bit lower if possible. Any marvellous ideas for this gratefully received.
The only question I have yet to answer is why I didnt buy a GS years ago. My VMax riding mate was so impressed with it he tried to talk a spanish traffic copper into doing a swap one day on a petrol station forecourt, but the copper wasnt having it for some strange reason. Me previous bike was a GSXR750 - can you imagine trying to get to Faro overland on that with two to three weeks gear? No neither could I!
