Wasn't too bad as we were still buzzing from the weekend and helps having the lads with ya. Must admit that afternoon when we all stopped for fish and chips with Firebloke / Andy etc (cant remember exactly where) it was quite daunting tbh... as we had done a full day and was still a loooong way from home ha - still, top times and memories ey
Did north Manchester to Assen via Calais early Saturday am then back with massive detour via Rotterdam Sunday pm for BSB few months back, glad of the Honda gel seat.... About 1350 miles in total
Ouch!! it's a proper boring ride isn't it... Bruce rang me up (aka teapotone) one day, B "fancy a ride out?" JV "yeah man. where we going?" B "fancy dover - landsend?" JV "ey? no cant mate, im busy tomorrow need to be home...." B "no... i'm going to do it today!" JV "Feck off - you got no chance...." B "Wanna bet..." JV "Yeah Ok... but I aint coming - sod that!" Bruce rode to landsend and back, all twisties there and majority back until sun dropped. think it was 850 miles all in that day. but he's a little bit special when it comes to riding motorbikes lol
We used to do a 5 day blast to the Pyrenees and back via the Black Forest every year, around 2.5k Always found a hotel when someone could not physically carry on any further Always a hoot, unfortunately life managed to get in most peoples way and we have not run it for a few years now. Most peeps were on sports bikes, although the GS1200 did get passed around a bit Used to hate the commute to work on the 6th day, too many pressure points.
that sounds mega! how many in the group? thinking you'd have to carefully select your comrades for a mission like that, in terms of pace and stupidity! lol
Did Westbury to Capel Curig Snowdon this year and back stopping only for fish and chips etc. took 8 hours 30 minutes using A and B roads I think it was 440 miles remember feeling tired but am sure I could do 60 more no problem.
500 miles a day is no problem. Have done that 4 days running. Clocked up 2300 miles on my NC30 in 4 days recently too. Don't worry about being bike fit, just get on it and ride. You'll be fine. Enjoy
I managed over 150 miles before the light came on. And mentioned that before. So the 120-140 tank range is misleading
In 1996 I left Misano at 9 in the morning with two other Brits, we parted company at Bourg-en-bresse ( they were going via Paris). I had two hours rest in services near Le Mans and arrived at St Malo just after 3 the next morning. I had to push on as fog had been forecast, but never materialised. That's 1060 miles. I've also done Monza in 2 days (each way) a couple of times. If you're going for a spin you might as well do a decent one.
Spot on Jimbo, we did a minimum of 2 of us, and a max of 4. Big groups are always slow, either in riding or stress at fuel stops etc. Been there and learnt that many times. You need riders that really are happy riding fast and close together, and you need a leader that finds the way and for good or worse everyone else follows. I have been around most of Europe just watching the tread pattern on the guy in front It also means that everyone needs to be happy to sit in the saddle 8 to 10 hours a day, because not matter how hard you motor, averaging 50mph over long distances is good going. And it goes without saying everyone needs to be able to ride with a thumper every morning
We had a fateful Monza trip one year, during the age of foggy domination, we used to troll around Europe following the races. We went down a day later than another part of our group, left on the Friday, overnighted in the Black Forest, then on through the mountains and Switzerland, arriving at Lake Como Saturday evening, at that point we got a bit carried away and come Sunday morning was so wa*kered, there was no way we were able to ride anywhere, so plan B kicked in and taxis were ordered, and took us into Como, so we could find a bar, hair of the dog, some slop and watch the race on telly. At that point it all went wrong, as much as the Italians love motorcycle racing, they love F1 more, and it just happened to be an F1 weekend as well, so no amount of pleading worked, we had a 5 day round trip to Italy and ended up watching freaking F1 on the telly whilst nursing the mother of all hangovers and the first time I got to watch the WSB race was when I got home.
Done 500 mile days loads of times from Caen to just north of Andorra - both solo and with a big group. Def. easiest doing it solo but was also lucky with the weather, rolled into town for about 18:30 from memory Start with a full tank of juice, take it steady and have a coffee / breakfast after 150 miles, lunch after 300 with another tank of juice, afternoon coffee at 400 ish and final fuel then arrive for dinner (that's rolling off boat at about 07:00 which gives you the full day) after the 500 miles
Done a few 500 mile days, you need to start early, as has been wisely said 50/60mph is all you are going to average including stops, You Hoon it you get tired, and use more fuel = more stops.... you take it easy (80s) less fuel fewer stops less tired. In my experience you still average the same pace overall. Don't know about others but I get a bloody sore ass after 100Mile on the Blade.. (standard seat). With 4/5 stops you are looking at a 9/10 hour day. Any daft burger can make themselves miserable and tired, start early plan the route tell everyone where the next stop is (someone will get lost) and enjoy the ride. Make a real effort to stay hydrated, its often a neglected thing. You will be less tired and have much more endurance. Mike.
Done a few long rides and a long trip to Italy, found my arse got sore after only a short trip without wearing a base layer, but riding from switzland to London in one hit apart from fuel/food stops fine. Extra things I had to help was. 1. Oxford throttle Cruise Control, small plastic thing that slips onto the grip and saves gripping the throttle tight all the time, can rest palm, thumb and stops hand from aching as in same Position. 2. Base layer, only a cheap Aldi's special, bought both normal and thermo types, but think they are a must to wear under leather or riding gear. Have others found the same. 3. Mcguiness screen, bought it for Italy trip, kept the wind off a lot more than I first thought, as put Honda Racing screen back on as was riding faster with it on and noticed how much I got blown around without it. 4, Honda E Seat. Rode for a bit with std seat, can't say my arse suffered without one, but must of helped. 5. Scala Rider G9. All three of us had them linked up and chatted, had GPS connected or music playing to relieve boredom. 6. Garmin 660 satnav. Programmed trip and stop off points when planning trip. On way back I just put short sections of the trip in satnav. Really didn't fancy watching it countdown from 1100 odd miles !!! 7. Packing. Make a true list of what you need !!!! I did what everyone said I would and took too much and didn't need all the gear!!! 8. Sun in eyes. Have roll of electrical tape a tape off the top bit of my visor to just block out the sun, sounds daft but haven't got a sun visor like you do in a car. I'm no special person or rider just what helped me, most is what I've learnt of people here. Hopefully this might help others.
Earlier this year did just under 500 miles in 1 day, whilst touring Germany Adrenalin kept me going riding the B48 (Jimbo know's it well) also keeps you on your toes. Knakered at the end of almost 500 miles yeah, but what a great day.
. Having heard how some sports bikes can become 'un-ridable' after 100 miles or so and planning to go and see some friends in Malaga on me noo bike, I did this round-trip....... ....from Malvern just after I bought my 'blade in 2013 just to see how far I could get before I seized up. I was going to do it over the shortest night of the year 'cos I like riding at night but the forecast was shite so I went for it a couple of days before, in the daytime and in mid-week traffic. I've got friends all over Wales so at no point was I more than 50 miles away from a safe berth if I ran out of steam. I took a date-stamped pic before I left and another one when I got home and they're just under 11 hours apart. I did the 560 miles stopping only for fuel and to take a piss. You've actually got to really 'go for it' to maintain a 50mph average so I didn't eat or drink anything at all apart from a whole packet of chewing gum. Regular readers will know I'm getting on a bit ( I was 71 at the time ) but my day (maintenance)job involves a lot of clambering all over heavy plant and forestry machinery so I'm still quite fit but even I was surprised how easy it was. At one point, in the evening, having planned to drop in on one of my kids, but realizing she'd be busy tucking her children up in bed I even considered getting back on the M5 and whizzing down to Chepstowe to put another 100+ miles on the journey. Like most bikes the Fireblade is a 'one size fits all' bike and there's not much you can, or indeed would want to do to alter it's 'sporty' character. A Mcguiness screen is a 'must' mind. I think I must be lucky 'cos mine fits me like a glove and I'm only now considering letting it go because I need a more comfortable pillion seat for a new 'friend' I've made. She's a tall gel and if I re-fit the rear footrests she'll only start giving me ear-ache, perched on the back of the 'blade with her knees up around her armpits (A position she's only too happy to adopt in other, more agreeable locations. Which is nice ) for while the bike has turned out to be no problem for solo touring I don't think it's so good for passengers. As a matter of interest, has anyone undertaken a long trip with a passenger on a 'blade? How was it for them?
