What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[Barbel Mick]

You were concerned, how do you think I felt?   

I let the cafe down, I let myself down, but I also let the forum down!   
 

[The Doctor 46]

I dropped my V-Strom yesterday and couldn't pick it up. there is deep mud (4/6 inches) on my drive leading out to a more substantial concreted drive to the road. Riding at about 5mph the front started to slide, as it sometimes does on my road tyres. I was turning left but the front was going in a strait line at full lock. Stupidly I thought I would get to the concrete and recover the slide but when I got there the front stopped dead and I lay the bike down while stationery.

Now the embarrassing part, I couldn't get grip in the mud to be able to pick the bike up and had to get my landlord (84 but 6'6) to give me a hand. I felt sick thinking about the damage I had done but didn't look until I had turned and parked back outside the house.

Someone or something was looking down on me yesterday because there was no damage at all to the bike. The crash bar had rested gently in the mud and when wiped off there wasn't a mark anywhere and nothing broken. I then went out for a ride as the roads were nice and dry and it was a lovely clear day.

After filling up with petrol I went for a cup of tea and a natter in my local biker café then went home.  I had wanted to ride for at least four hours but the sun was bright and low making it very difficult to see so I wasn't having safe fun as I had intended.

When home I put some heat shrink on the wires to my indicators, when the garage fitted them they used bullet connectors and in heavy rain the indicators started to do strange things so they needed waterproofing. When that was done I turned my attention to fitting and zeroing my new Pard infrared scope on my rifle. It was so easy to zero it. It's good and I'm not disappointed but when a infrared torch was used it was terrific. I have a torch mount on order and should be with me in a couple of days then watch out bunnies.   

[pstm]

Or, What was you doing on your V-Strom on the 26th September?

Answer: 104 in a 90 officer. KPH not MPH that is.

Missus got one too! Only 99 for her. Still the same fine - €100 or €50 for prompt payment.

 

[graingerblaze]

It’s been a few years since I last rode in Spain, I didn’t realise they were sending speeding fines outside of Europe. On the spot fines were common, but to fine you abroad is a new one on me. Probably been a thing for a while, I don’t get out much these days!

[pstm]

Had literally just renewed my car insurance a few moments before the fines plopped through the letterbox (£105 with Saga, bloody Saga!  ). So it's turning out quite an expensive day.

Or, What was you doing on your V-Strom on the 26th September?

Answer: 104 in a 90 officer. KPH not MPH that is.

Missus got one too! Only 99 for her. Still the same fine - €100 or €50 for prompt payment.

 

[nigel s]

Phild,
I would add pigs in blankets to the list of " not just for Christmas "  .....burp...

You can keep the baked parsnips however...

Ho Hum

[Barbel Mick]

[quote author=nigel
Any further tips to help streamline the search would be appreciated from those more knowledgeable on sat navs  , I rarely use it to actually go to a set place ...
[/quote]

Nigel, what Garmin Zumo are you using?
On my XT, entering a post code is quite easy  .....
Where to ....
Address ...
Enter Post Code .....
Type it in & press Done, then, other than the direct route, you get a couple of choices to edit the route if you wish.   

[Phild]

Finished giving her a good clean and oiling…… 😁

[pstm]

Parked next to this little monkey today.

[nigel s]

Ta Mick 
It is an XT , and just tried it and your advice worked ...dead easy ..lovely.
I hadn't found that....doh...

[Barbel Mick]

Can't see the wood for the trees?   

I don't know if you've ever looked at it (or even if you would find it useful, with your type of riding) but MyRouteApp (MRA) is an online route generator, (free for the basic version, that works fine for plotting routes, paying gives you a few more options). I use it all the time. I look on Google Maps for the area I want to ride in, check out the roads/lanes (you can use street view if you wish) then use MRA to plot the route, save the .gpx, then send it to the XT.
Maybe not as much fun if you're 'wild & free', but if I'm in a strange area, to me, I prefer to know where I'm going & the roads/lanes I'm riding.   

[nigel s]

Ta again Mick 
I have been having a play with the MRA  and it is a useful tool to add to the kit.
I tried it in my local area and it gave some routes I know to be good.

I have ( so far ) used , in no particular order, as well as the XT ,

Google maps ,good for pinning off road points ( used for the CRF ) , and also combining with street view for the Strom , then sending via the Garmin Drive  app to the XT

The local council byways map , good for cycling . https://maps.norfolk.gov.uk/highways/  for my local one , your area will have something similar. You have to zoom in a way for the byways/ footpaths / bridleways etc to show. Surprising how far you can go without touching tarmac 
 
Sygic app , a one time purchase  ( £17  when I got it years ago  for UK and EU  coverage , but often on sale , free life time updates )  Sat Nav that works off line on the phone , as a handy back up to the Garmin ( the rare times I don't have it ) and google maps when there is no signal out in the boonies. Often uses different routing to google and Garmin.

The TRF Green Road Map ,  THE resource for green laning.  You need to be a member for £56 a year . Not a route planner though. But super useful , even on the Strom . Based on Ordnance Survey maps it has lots of info and points of interest ( churches , windmills and old ruins ...say  )  that google misses .

And the real Rider app , not a Sat Nav as such and hope to never need it ...but... £3.50 /a month for peace of mind 
https://realrider.com/

 Add the Myroute app to that lot and plenty of scope for planning while the ...hisss ..booo ...snow falls ....

Ho Hum

[graingerblaze]

Awful weather so time in the garage. Finished fitting the new sprockets and chain and cleaning every crevice. Replaced the clutch fluid and reassembled everything, at least that’s all done now.

I was going to start taking the brakes apart, ready for a fluid change… but it’s too damn cold (even in my garage) and I fancied cooking my arse next to the fire while watching crap. Happy days 

[Joe Rocket]

Not sure about the sentiments of your last full sentence there.........

Unhappy thoughts. 

 

[graingerblaze]

Yes, apologies that sentence didn’t paint a pretty picture 

[Sir Trev]

Yesterday I gave my 800RE it's annual bath.  It should be fully dry by next weekend when it'll get a good spray down with ACF50, just in case the mood takes me (and the weather is kind) for a winter ride.

I have a basic Karcher K2 pressure washer and recently bought a longer hose and adjustable nozzle/lance thing. Wish I'd done that years ago as the thing is so much easier to use now. Cleaning the bike and then both cars took no time at all compared to before.

[MisterDavey]

Fitted a new(ish) riders seat.
I'd had my seat re-upholstered, which didn't actually work out so well. I get pressure points after 20 minutes.
Anyhoo, I spotted this seat on eBay, it was being sold by a dealer but for a MY 2020-2022 model.
I called the seller which turned out to be Fowlers, the chap said it had been removed from a new bike and left in the stores for a few years. He also said I'd get a free return and a full refund it it wasn't right.
 It looked the correct colour and shape, and at £127 I snapped it up.
A very slight difference in shade of grey, otherwise perfect. Happy days.
This means I'm free to butcher the already butchered original to try and maybe, get it comfortable.

[numptynut]

Needed to replace blown number plate bulb - what could possibly go wrong!!!?
Only one fastener left over after dismantling the rear of the bike ffs!!! (Any ideas?)

[MisterDavey]

You don't have to strip the back end, just pop the lens off...... Naaah, only kidding, I have no idea, and nothing of value to add. I'll get my coat.

[Rusty Nuts]

Is it the standard (read bastard) vstrom light unit, with the 2 nuts that get covered in crud off the back wheel and the 2 studs pressed into the plastic housing that spin if you over tweak them?