Mods on the Cheap – Now with Gaucho!
As an update to previous posts I thought I would post gaucho/apron/tablier pics for you all you adventurous types to drool over…
I fitted this in Cornwall at the ½ way point of my recent trip and then gave it a 1000 mile test. It initially was fine for comfort but a bit of a PIA as it could get in the way of the foot levers when it felt like it. A quick trip into B&Q’s for some fixings and hey presto… it is now fixed to the cyl head guards with clips and reusable cable ties!
Sheffield to Aberdeen proved a test as it pissed it down all the way culminating in flooding Borders region and flooding/flooded Dundee upwards… oh joy!
It rained so much that I was soaked whatever the gear. The jacket was best but even that leaked up the arms and through the zip and it zips up like Arnie (Belstaff Discovery). Saved by the heated waistcoat and grips!!
The gaucho thing kept my troos dry until Jedburgh (225 on a tank) and then warm if a bit damp from there on. I made the mistake of stopping for a coffee (how stupid!) and water leaking down as I stood.
Still the gaucho was excellent even if the Bagster/ABriant style is a bit tight on my long legs. It is heavyweight, well made, doesn’t flap and will last. With the mods it works fine and extends below your feet so keeping rain off your boots for longer (not so good riding through 1 foot floods at 30 ish!).
I hit Aberdeen only to find the ferry had been cancelled, no-one had left a message, and I then had to ride another 135 miles back through the floods to “accommodation”. A 500+ mile day in the pishwheet. In several hundred thou miles of year round riding I have never had it quite so wet for so long!
I am sure the gaucho sold on the forum is just as good and they are well worth it for the (fool) hardy biker.
Happy Winter Riding!
