Specs

Brilliant. I enjoyed that. Thanks!

Would only rev to 3k and it felt and sounded like on one cylinder. Much clutch slipping and first gear for the quarter mile home . Engine seemed very hot but fluids ok. Tried it again next day and had the second warning. When the recovery rocked up It was ok briefly before the first warning came up again and it wouldn’t rev, but I’d managed to ride it up onto the back of the truck by then. Good thing that I wasn’t in the middle of the Sahara. I bailed in Spain because of the heat! My mate and his son were in Atar, Mauritania last night. I’ll eventually get round to getting a ride (failed) report done!

Looking. They get the new Transalp in before the end of the month.

I’m somewhere in Portugal now, not far from where you went I think Pedro. In a place called Pinhel. Staying in a little village just up the road. Fantastic scenery and roads. Was going to Morocco and then Dakar, but realised that I begin to spontaneously combust when it approaches 30°C, so bailed out.

Great stuff agin Pedro. Thanks!

Bike is there somewhere. The one under the lights I believe. MAG Fred Hill run yesterday.

Must have been from the North Wales part of the line to Holyhead. Learnt something new. Had always thought that it was only GWR here in Wales.

Great read. Thanks.

Great read, thank you, and a great idea for a business venture. Good luck!

A great ride report Pedro. Thank you. All very inspiring, great photographs, and very brave of you to relive and share your grief here. Respect. Unfortunately it seems to have got me looking at bikes and maps. I keep fooling myself that I still have one long trip left in me! The aches and pains might disagree.

Yes. The messed up a front spindle for me at Bristol when I had the K12GT. Said that it was already knackered. I’ve not been there since. I can’t remember what I heard about M & P but know that it was negative. Maybe mechanics not having been on BMW training courses, that sort of thing.

I hope that they’ve done it! They’re supposed to. I’ll see in a few hours when I pick it up.

No. It was in Ryders Cardiff which closed. M & P have a dealership here now but I heard that they weren’t great. Cotswold Motorrad in Cheltenham or the place in Bristol were the two nearest dealers, and it’s a far more pleasant run to Cheltenham on a nice sunny day, and to date I have no complaints.

This morning I braved the elements and took my bike over to Cheltenham for its annual service and MOT. It also needed an inspection of the final drive, a recall warranty issue. My brain fade made me leave the motorway a junction early but it was a pleasant enough detour. Bike dropped off and given a BMW S1000XR courtesy bike. Fortunately the wind had been behind me heading east and the only place I noticed it was on the New Severn Bridge, so I had a bit of a shock when I realised how blowy it was. Plan was to take the A40 to Brecon and then A470 home. Diversions the other side of Gloucester so had to go through the Forest of Dean up to Monmouth. At some point I noticed some unsettling noises from the bike so I stopped for a look. Chain was pretty slack so I convinced myself that it was the problem and it would be ok! Getting off I painfully realised that the bike’s ergonomics didn’t suit me, nowhere near as comfortable as the GS. The seat wasn’t very comfortable, it’s sort of dished, and pushed me forward making my hips ache. You sort of sit in the bike - all a bit strange. A hell of a job getting off and took me a while to loosen up before walking about. Not good. The engine is a peach though. Revs to about 11k rpm and once past about 6k rpm it takes off dramatically. My arm sockets are still aching from hanging on. Drop down to 3rd or 4th gear at about 50mph, blast past three cars, glance down and shit myself when I see the speed. Brilliant brakes so easy enough to slow down. Had rain and strong winds over the Beacons so not the best of conditions to enjoy it, and because of the aches and weather issues, no photos. Ok. I forgot! Tomorrow I do it all over again.

Harris I think.

I’d nominate Ren or at least his teeth if he can find some. At least he’s got a better bark than a bite, and he’s from Cardiff.

You've not heard about his Xmas works dos then.

Not just yet!

Yes. Looking north over Orkney.

That's the place. A new Welsh record caught there way back if I remember correctly.