Shetland 2012
- Thread starter Ian M
- Start date
Fantastic pictures and write up ... thanks for sharing that with us all.
Steve A
Registered user
How did the bike fare on the ferries
As master of high speed Catermaran running between UK and Channel Islands, very interested to know how the bike was treated on board during your trip. Sounds like the weather was less than ideal, and believe me there is nothing worse than having to break the news to someone that their bike has gone down in heavy weather. The GS does have the advantage that is has a good centre stand, as opposed to the weedy prop stands found on sports bikes. but we have had had problems with placing the GS into our front wheel clamps, because these are designed to hold the bike with straps attached to the handlebars. If over tightened the bars car move in the clamps, unlike the cast arrangement found on other bikes. Sorry to go on but we do put a lot of effort into getting this right inboard.
As master of high speed Catermaran running between UK and Channel Islands, very interested to know how the bike was treated on board during your trip. Sounds like the weather was less than ideal, and believe me there is nothing worse than having to break the news to someone that their bike has gone down in heavy weather. The GS does have the advantage that is has a good centre stand, as opposed to the weedy prop stands found on sports bikes. but we have had had problems with placing the GS into our front wheel clamps, because these are designed to hold the bike with straps attached to the handlebars. If over tightened the bars car move in the clamps, unlike the cast arrangement found on other bikes. Sorry to go on but we do put a lot of effort into getting this right inboard.
Being a fairly frequent user of Isle of Man Steam Packet fast craft and the ordinary boat (Ben My Chree) as well as Northlink and Cal Mac, I think I am qualified to answer this – and thanks for asking, it’s good to know that people do care.
IOMSPCo has 2 different modes: TT and non-TT. Outside TT, there is usually a few bikes, but they are not totally mobbed as they are at TT time. On the cat, their usual routine is for a deck hand to tie the bike over the seat and down onto the right hand foot peg from either a bulkhead fitting or a deck divider. They provide a cloth or foam pad for the seat, which is perfectly adequate for the job. This tie down method works fine and as you say, the GS (and my previous VFR) have decent side stands. Very occasionally you get a new guy who wants to bike on its centre stand – no, thanks, it’s more stable on the side stand and it can be a total nightmare getting it off the centre stand if the deck is wet and slippery. If someone wants that, I play dumb and just use the side stand anyway. You untie your own bike on arrival, which is fine.
Ben My Chree has the front wheel clamps which you mention, 6 in total. I don’t like them because as you say the restraining force is on the bars and compressing the front suspension, I much prefer the tie down method of the cat (and indeed the Ben when the wheel clamps are full). As an added bonus, the clamps are slightly too close together, so a fully panniered up GS really needs 2 spaces which pisses off the staff and the guy who’s being forced to squeeze his bike in next to you!
TT time, everything is tie on its side stand and to be honest they do a great job in a short period of time – manpower is the key.
Northlink: they also employ the side stand and tie it across the seat method, but somewhat worryingly they don’t tie it down immediately, they leave you to go upstairs and hope that the bike is actually tied down. On my recent northbound trip, I came down in the morning to find the bike still standing, but not tied. Southbound, I was down a bit quicker to see a guy tidying up the strap, so I assume their policy is to both tie and untie for you. It’s still a bit disconcerting to walk away from you bike in the hope that they do remember to tie it down before departure. I much prefer to see the job done.
Cal Mac are a bit different. On the Mull route, you tie your own bike down, whereas on the Outer Hebrides and Mallaig to Skye runs, the crew do it and I have had both the bulkhead tie and a ratchet strap across the seat from 2 floor anchors. Either works OK.
In all my ferry travels, I have never had a bike damage or fallen.
Just followed the link from your thread in the 1200 section! 
Brought back a lot of memories from 10 years ago, when I spent Christmas in Brae. Standing at the northern tip of Unst on a frosty December night watching the northern lights will stay with me forever.
Nearly went back this year but went to the Hebrides instead the week after you came back ............ 29c and sunny I kid you not!
Great post - Enjoy the Honda but stick around!
Brought back a lot of memories from 10 years ago, when I spent Christmas in Brae. Standing at the northern tip of Unst on a frosty December night watching the northern lights will stay with me forever.
Nearly went back this year but went to the Hebrides instead the week after you came back ............ 29c and sunny I kid you not!
Great post - Enjoy the Honda but stick around!
rce
Registered user
Not on all sailings, they were annoyed that our bikes didn't have centre stands which is how they wanted to tie the bikes down. On arrival at Shetland noticed my mirror had moved but thought nothing of it until having left the boat checked the bike and found a dent in the petrol tank (under bagster so not noticed initially) we worked out that wifes bike had fallen into mine at some point. Northlink did sort everything out though without fuss (Sorted through Calmac who are partners in Northlink ?) to my satisfaction.
Coming back we had an older deckhand tie the bikes down, he was brilliant and gave us heaps of confidence in his ability, strap over seat and down to a deck chain on either side then a second strap from sidestand side to right foot rest.
Great trip
Good RR and photos, many thanks. Hotel looks a real find. Am looking forward to touring God's country again when our exile ends.
Re tying-down bikes; a good tip is to carry a ratchet strap to loop round bottom left of fork leg to sidestand then tighten - stops the stand folding back even if bike "walks" forwards. Or buy a Kawa GTR1000 - you could key-lock the centre stand in the down position - not sure if any other bike ever had that feature but always thought it a brilliant idea. (I know, still not ideal for ferries).
A
Good RR and photos, many thanks. Hotel looks a real find. Am looking forward to touring God's country again when our exile ends.
Re tying-down bikes; a good tip is to carry a ratchet strap to loop round bottom left of fork leg to sidestand then tighten - stops the stand folding back even if bike "walks" forwards. Or buy a Kawa GTR1000 - you could key-lock the centre stand in the down position - not sure if any other bike ever had that feature but always thought it a brilliant idea. (I know, still not ideal for ferries).
A
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