Skippy

Me too mate, the level of work required was well beyond my ability but luckily I have two very talented mates who love doing this sort of stuff.

So, the old DR600S is nearing completion. All that remains is for me to order a new coil and HT leads and collect the seat from being reupholstered. New: coil and HT leads will set me back about €150 including tax and delivery whereas the reupholstered seat will set me back the princely sum of €35 from a local guy who does lovely work for not much cash. I can’t fucking wait.

Thought you had a top box?

I haven’t got any taste in anything

Yes mate

………..because some people are daft enough to believe they actually need one in their life. I test ride one of those when they first came out and it was fucking horrible; heavy, lardy, and frankly all round unpleasant. Most people buy them and never take them off road, using them only for touring about on. There are far better purpose built tourers for much less money and as for off road, they are a liability if the going gets tricky unless you are a very skilled rider. Have to say, the customer service at that dealer was very good and they had my Himalayan in the workshop for an hour and checked it over thoroughly which also means (hopefully) they do the same with all their bikes. Anyway, I’m not old or decrepit enough for a GS (yet!) …………I’m sure @Pedro will be along to defend the GS Brotherhood very soon.

Agreed to swop over next Wednesday so I’ll let you know how it goes.

Yep that’s right so I need to get a good deal. Looks better in the flesh……..the rider that is.

Nope. It’s built properly.

Very true……..anyway I might get it resprayed into the Kawasaki Team France colours of red, green and white. Obviously it will turn me into a riding god.

Don’t panic, it’s not one of those ‘guess-what-I-might-buy’ threads but a simple heads up that now the Suzuki DR600S is almost sorted and ready to take over dirt duties the Himalayan needs to be outed for something more road orientated. Off to Alicante in the morning to see a tidy Kawasaki z750 with not many klms and as pretty as a pretty thing. Plenty fast enough for an old man.

You can have my Himalayan @XTreme for €2,500 before I part-ex it. Very reliable. One careful owner. Never been dropped. Never seen dirt. Never been thrashed (it’s impossible with 25 bhp).

Move to Spain, ride your bike every day of the year. The only downside is that there’s some proper ex-pat wankers down here eh @XTreme?

Thanks mate

Fantastic report @Pedro

Precisely. Resistance is futile anyway.

Earning gold stars to exchange for my week away with mates………so that means putting a gazebo together, making things, fixing leaky pipes and generally being a good husband……….it’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it

That looks epic, thanks very much Pedro.

Welcome, looking forward to hearing about Cannada and your Moto 98 motorbike.

Not sure really, I guess a lot will depend on the weather and how long it takes to make our way over.

Cheers Bob

Nah it’s perfect for it, small roads where 100bhp is pointless, poor surfaces, lunatic farmers in my side of the road. Perfect.

Setting off on Sunday 29th May and heading to Zaragoza to meet up with a couple of UK based mates. They’re riding down from the UK over two and a bit days on a Kawasaki Versys 650 and a spangly new Husqvarna 901 Norden……….I’m going on my Himalayan because it’s the only working bike I have at the moment (might chop it in when I get back so I can start a ‘guess-what-I’m-buying’ thread). The first day is a mere 546 klms for me from home to the hotel in the city centre. Good job I’ve got a fluffy sheepskin. Anyway, the plan is to head from Zaragoza through the Picos de Europa, then south into the north of Portugal (any tips of where to head to @Pedro?), returning home on Saturday evening. It'll be a blast and we’re sticking to the smaller roads so I don’t hold them up. Might even post some photos if I get really bored.

Just realised why you call it the mystery bike. You haven’t got a fucking clue what you’ve bought have you? I bet you’re hoping this poll will jog your memory you daft old twat.

It ain’t mine………..mines even less valuable