Fun day on a g/s

The first photo shows my 1986 g/s. This is a 30 K original bike that was imported by the previous owner from Austria. It is pretty much laid quiet and relaxed in the garage for the past eight years. Having bought the bike at the beginning of April I’ve used it a fair bit , perhaps say 1500 miles with the longest trips being about 100 or so, just in the locality. So I wanted to feel how we get on together for a good days ride. I was planning to stay off high-speed roads as much as possible enjoy A and B class stuff. So the plan was to ride across mid Wales and try and get to the coast and then come back all in a day. Unlike taking a modern bike it was what tools do I need and have I got oil , cable ties etc.. all the stuff fitted in the panniers from my r 90 S.

Leaving the house at 6 am my trip starts with a 40 mile ride from home in Shaftesbury travelling north along the A 350 and then into Bradford-on-Avon and picking up the M4 at Junction 17. At that time in the morning madness is happening on the motorway until I get past the M5 intersection then crossover the old seven crossing and back to my native land. Leave the M 48 at Junction 2 and travel on the outskirts of Chepstow before branching off on are B-road to Usk
I finally picked up the a 40 at Abergavenny and then travelled to breakfast at Brecon. Having thawed out over tea and scrambled eggs I then reset the satnav for Beulah . The B4519 road over the Eppynt mountains is wonderful with a chance to see our army in action in the valleys and hillsides before dropping down into little village of Beulah.
Now comes the purpose of the trip, the 15 mile trip on the singletrack road through to Tregaron which includes the Devil Staircase. . This was just brilliant and the bike has enough grunt to really enjoy it.
I was a hell of a long way from Dorset, however it was only midday and only 15 miles from the Welsh coast at Aberaeron. I decided to take the B4343 down to Lampeter and then cut through some back roads to Llyn Brianne. The road around the lake is amazing and then I came over the top back to top of the Devil staircase and then down to Beulah. I decide to take the quickest route home so A40 down to Monmouth and then follow the Wye Valley and have coffee and cakes at Tintern. Travelling to Chepstow is normally a fairly straightforward proposition from here but unfortunately the road is closed and I had a 10 mile detour to factor in to my now aching body. Anyway I made a non-stop ride home for 6 pm. So the first full trip on this lovely bike with now 2000 miles under it’s belt with me and yesterday was a trip of 380 miles in total. In the remote parts of Wales I travel for almost 40 miles without seeing a soul and of course no phone reception, which is great if you break down on an old bike!! . The upsides was it perform spotlessly and I’m now ready for my slightly longer tour next month .

A few more pictures,

Sounds like a great way to get to know each other. I only got the registration for my Canadian import 2 weeks ago and have been using it to commute ever since. Done a similar mileage to your day trip but without the beautiful scenery!!
What's the next trip you have planned?

g/s trip

Hogie said:

Sounds like a great way to get to know each other. I only got the registration for my Canadian import 2 weeks ago and have been using it to commute ever since. Done a similar mileage to your day trip but without the beautiful scenery!!
What's the next trip you have planned?

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I am hoping to do a trip to west and north Wales over 3 days in mid August

Good one Byron

What a gorgeous bike and nice scenery.


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That single track road looks beautiful - can't think if a better bike for a trip like that personally.

really lovely looking bike....very jealous!!

Nice bike,

That sidestand is a great improvement,

I must get mine back on the road.

80g/s

ianboydsnr said:

Nice bike,

That sidestand is a great improvement,

I must get mine back on the road.

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The bike is really lovely and it keeps making me smile everytime I stop and look at it. That big tank just looks so purposeful and well designed . The bike has got 100 GS front forks with a larger brake caliper so it actually stops , which is a real blessing compare to my 1989 80 GS which seem to glide on forever when you wanted it to stop . The side stand works really well . When I bought the bike the previous owner had collected together replacement forks, yolks ,front wheel and caliper together with all the consumables such as bearings and gaters so I could turn it back to original any time .
Next trip out is 150 miles along the Devon Dorset coast on Wednesday as the weather is rather lovely. I’ll try and post a few pictures

Nice pics and a nice bike

Nice pics and a nice bike

This is my idea of a fun day out on my Air head

byron said:

The bike is really lovely and it keeps making me smile everytime I stop and look at it. That big tank just looks so purposeful and well designed . The bike has got 100 GS front forks with a larger brake caliper so it actually stops , which is a real blessing compare to my 1989 80 GS which seem to glide on forever when you wanted it to stop . The side stand works really well . When I bought the bike the previous owner had collected together replacement forks, yolks ,front wheel and caliper together with all the consumables such as bearings and gaters so I could turn it back to original any time .
Next trip out is 150 miles along the Devon Dorset coast on Wednesday as the weather is rather lovely. I’ll try and post a few pictures

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I have. 320mm disc fitted to mine and a four pot calliper, I now need to sort out the forks.

Pinch bolt needs attention! Connecting the hose would probably make a noticeable difference too, as would aligning the caliper so all of the pad was in contact with the disk!
Matching bolts on the caliper would look nice too.
Don't often see a floating caliper with the 320mm conversion, is that a proprietary kit or a home brewed conversion?
These forks need a lower brace as they are unbushed so as they wear they just slop around.
he SJ tubular type work fine and no need to align it, you actually want to pull the lowers over to one side to stop the slop.
The flat plate top yoke is not up to the job and needs to be replaced with a billet type, and again the low priced SJ one works fine, although the Toaster Tan one is easier to fit and he has a better designed center nut too.
Then you need a decent shock, I like a soft spring around 400 lbs and the softest factory springs in the forks work ok with this.
Gives me around 65/60 rider sag , F/R which looks too soft but actually works well if you have a decent shock.
5 wt suspension fluid in the forks works well too, Belray or Maxima full synth if you can find it.

Nice to see the Paris-Dakar GS Byron !

One of my dream bikes for sure !

Nice little write up too