What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[nigel s]

Run up to Ipswich for a potter round the Waterfront .Last time I was there,20 years ago it was run down and a bit dodgy at night.But since then has been well developed.
While it is no Monte Carlo ,it was very nice.
On the way down I came up on an old Truimph Bonny T 120, could tell that was what it was by the private plate...T120***. The old boy riding it was not hanging around ,nor being silly,if an overtake was on he took it.I was happy to watch him ride from behind till we got to the dual.Then the naked nature meant he was just cruising and I popped past with a wave.
Coming back from Ipwsich 3 hours later ,who do I come up behind again, yep T120***.
We are in a 50 and he must of spotted who I was and waved me next to him,thumbs up and silly grins all round.
Huh!

[nigel s]

Ho....Rusty,
We seem to have turned a page and I wanted to make sure you got my apology from jumping the gun on previous posts.
Sorry.

[Rusty Nuts]

No apology necessary. I appreciate the explanation, it did look like a radical angle. I've just put a Madstad on the KTM. Need to play out now to find the best settings out of all the possible combinations of height and rake.

[graingerblaze]

The rain and wind were horrendous this weekend, couldn’t bring myself to go riding when I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it. So stripped the bike down instead and checked electrical connectors so no surprises this summer.

Removed the handlebar shelf as my wiring wasn’t the best and I never used it. If I keep the bike I will fit the QuadLock wireless charger so no need to worry about USB’s or cables. Selling in the ‘for sale’ section if anyone is interested 

I know Cumbria is green and full of lakes for a reason… but we must be due some sun and dry weather soon! 

[MilozFolly]

Yea I washed and polished the car AND bike on Saturday morning - hence the shite weather for the rest of the weekend.  Sorry about that chaps.

[Phild]

Haven’t had my insurance renewal through yet, but since it’s due on 2nd May I started getting some quotes for my 1050XT.😱

Carole Nash wanted nearly £700! 🤐

[BrunoDog]

Had a ride down to Salisbury to my speed awareness course!

Interesting car park though….

[graingerblaze]

Wow! I know insurance premiums have risen sharply over the past 12 months, but I do hope £700 for a 1050 isn’t the norm. I’ve been looking at 1050’s… might have to do some insurance comparisons before I commit to changing my bike. Ouch 

[Phild]

I’m down to £240 with Hastings…..but a £750 excess.😳

[Upt North]

Why worry about the excess, would you claim for a minor knock anyway?
Upt.

[graingerblaze]

I know insurance is very personal, your location, mileage, age etc. I paid £105 last year on my DL650, just did a quick comparison quote and my premium today would be £125 (with £50 excess).

I put the same details in for a 1050 off Autotrader, a £7k version would cost me £360 (plus £450 excess). Not too bad I guess, must be cheaper living where sheep outnumber people 

[purplebikeunicorn]

Mine is circa £180-£200, I've got commuting on there although I don't commute unless my car packs in...

I wanted to add pillion cover so I could take SWMBO on the back, but that adds a silly amount so that's not happening for the time being.

[NeilM]

I paid £139 to BeMoto for my 650 in January. Fully comp and with annual mileage limit of 8,000.

[MilozFolly]

£177 with Hastings for last year.  Considering that was my first year back after a 15 year break I was impressed.  Must be all the sheep........

[Pete O Tube]

I took out two separate policies last week after letting my Devitt multibike policy expire, the renewal for a 2018 Strom 1000 and 2021 Triumph Street Triple R was quoted as £288 (last year it was £182 so a more than 50% increase).

I insured the STR for £112 with Hastings with 4 years NCB (off of my big scoot and SRAD 750 policy that expired last September) and the Strom for £99.09 with Devitt with 9 years+ NCB.
Total £212 as opposed to £288 that Devitt wanted for a multibike policy.

Bizarrely, it was cheaper to insure the STR with 4 years NCB rather than 9 years+ there's a question for the likes of MCN to investigate.

Add in 2 x £111 VED (road tax) and it's nearly £450 a year before even turning a wheel.

Had something reasonable not been achieved, because there was some stupid quotes like £700 for a multibike policy, I'd have knocked on the head and gone back to flying, it's cheaper.

[Ray1965]

I fitted the Givi PL3112CAM rack to my wee. Just waiting on the Outback panniers to arrive now.

[NeilM]

I went for a ride yesterday.... I know... another one!

It was very blustery, but I'd arranged to visit a campsite near Taunton where I have a group booking arranged.

I thought I'd take the M5 from J21 down to Taunton as that is the way most people in the group will be coming. I whizzed down the slip road to hit 70 mph before joining the motorway and by the time I could see Crook Peak I knew that it would be a miserable ride to Taunton, the wind was battering me mostly from the right, it wasn't dangerous, but it wasn't fun and the way many car drivers (note, NOT lorries, they knew exactly how hairy it was) were driving, I thought it a good idea to get off the motorway ASAP, which I did a J22 Burnham on Sea.

I stuck to the old roads and got to the campsite without any trouble.

Visit done, I headed home through Bishops Lydeard and over the far end of the Quantocks to Bridgwater via Enmore. I had figured I would have the wind more or less on my back and that was the case making for a really great twisty turny 10 mile ride.

Home via the old roads that turn into the A38 and A370, a couple of cross wind blasts convincing me that the motorway would again be a REALLY bad idea.

Home again with another 100 or so miles on the clock, all done in bright sunshine and on dry roads... DRY ROADS!

[graingerblaze]

I long for some dry weather and roads… it was horrendous yesterday and today isn’t much better! I will put my bike back together tonight and keep my fingers crossed for some nice weather. I’m moving house this weekend and next so not much riding planned other than the compulsory ride to rental house (new house won’t be ready till August). Bring on summer!!!!

[Upt North]

Mr.Blaze sir.
You're not on your own. Northumberland is blummin wet at the minute and after last nights frost the roads are also covered in fresh salt, before more rain washes it away.
Perhaps summer will be two weeks in June like 2023. I really need to change countries.
Good luck with the move. I remember ours well and that involved a temporary rental in Wee Bonny Jockland.
Upt.

[The Doctor 46]

Mate, it's going to be a long hot summer, thousands of miles on the bike. If I only have to dream about it then that would be better than not dreaming at all.