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Normandy April 2019

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winz
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PostPosted: 14:15 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Normandy April 2019 Reply with quote

Story time... Skip to the pics if you don't want to ready the backstory and prep.

I've just got back from 5 days in Normandy. This was my first big ride since my accident slicing my tricep and an artery in September, so I was a little out of shape and practice.

Got the Fireblade ready for a service and a checkover from my local garage with a week to go and I get a call 30 minutes after dropping it off.

"Hello Mr Winz, this is Pete Robson, calling about your 'blade, ermm long story short. It's a fucking lemon, I'm not going to take your money, just get rid of it. Don't take it to France."
"Cheers, nice one"

All paid up for the trip, it was bike shopping time. Found a place in Bristol that sells bikes in the 2k-10k range, most around 3-5k, so perfect for my budget. Managed to punt the blade on for a real cheap price so that softened the blow.

Was torn between an R1 or a 954 blade or a 1050 Sprint, but after showing their stock to my whatsapp biker group, they saw a K1200S, 30k miles and super clean. So I popped over to the garage. R1 was a bit rough and I talked myself in to having a go on the BMW, plus it had heated grips. After having a blade I dismissed the 954.

The morning before we are meant to leave for an 8am ferry to Portsmouth, I stroll to the garage again and hand over the money for the BMW, it's been there for a couple of months and I'm trusting it on taking me away for 5 days riding. They fitted a new battery and off I went.

5am wake up call I'm ready to get on the bike after riding 2 miles home through Bristol traffic. Meeting place is Chievely Services to meet my mates who are coming from the Midlands. It was sleeting, 0 deg and I was thankful for the heated grips. An hours blast in horrific conditions along the M4 and I arrive, then we start the hours ride to Portsmouth.

https://imgur.com/qAn5KED.jpg

Our airbnb was just outside Liseaux
https://imgur.com/OmpBVe0.jpg
https://imgur.com/o2BPgUq.jpg

After an early start we had an evening in, cheap red wine and loads of meat. Our plan was to see the landing beaches of WW2.

Day One:
Sainte-Mère-Église
https://imgur.com/6Jdp4CH.jpg
https://imgur.com/vdqPhmp.jpg
https://imgur.com/UsSDheP.jpg

Utah Beach
https://imgur.com/NhncTz4.jpg
https://imgur.com/gXUdghr.jpg
https://imgur.com/oXVy2gK.jpg
https://imgur.com/ppMXnhl.jpg
https://imgur.com/WWTbJPB.jpg
https://imgur.com/muh7YrD.jpg

Omaha Beach
https://imgur.com/MJMdr3r.jpg
https://imgur.com/u795Adw.jpg
https://imgur.com/3RJBih1.jpg

American Cemetery
https://imgur.com/NIV3haN.jpg

Day Two:
Pegasus Bridge
https://imgur.com/CW8p6ja.jpg

Sword Beach
https://imgur.com/iDzNGGs.jpg

Arromanches
https://imgur.com/8NkLrUc.jpg

Mulberry Harbour
https://imgur.com/Zv0shp4.jpg
https://imgur.com/6jXJqOZ.jpg

Day Three
https://imgur.com/fCB5QtM.jpg
https://imgur.com/ldfhrp9.jpg
https://imgur.com/zeitglQ.jpg

Cut the day short as we had a 5am wake up call (and we had drunk an horrific amount of red each night, decided to take it easy.
https://imgur.com/hAQ9kUa.jpg
https://imgur.com/ZOGZAUr.jpg

Tour bastard Sheen on his 900 Tracer
https://imgur.com/19cVYMB.jpg

Fatty on his Z1000
https://imgur.com/xBxMgap.jpg

Massive prick on an K1200
https://imgur.com/i8R5ZiR.jpg

On the evening of day two we ended up eating in Liseaux and were rather thirsty. So we nailed it back to our airbnb and I was fed up of going 70kph on a very quiet, long straight which we went along twice a day. Decided to overtake Fatty in a let's say spritely manner and the sky lit up. Got done by a speed camera. We went past the next day and noticed that something wasn't quite right with the camera...

https://imgur.com/adOGz3A.jpg
Bloody Gilet Jaunes had made a sacrifice. Cheers!
Was hoping if they sent a photo they'd have us side by side.

That's all for now. Great 5 days, arm was fine. Bike was great. Although it's going to the shop after noticing a knocking noise at low speed, so hopefully that'll get sorted asap under warranty. Got the taste for more tours, but with the little ones arrival I doubt I'll get away with buggering off for anything longer than a night.
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Yeti
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PostPosted: 16:28 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very good,

I will be repeating this trip in June for the 75th Anniversary. We have 6 days over there with 5 of us going out.
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Howling Terror
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PostPosted: 17:46 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

You massive prick.










Cool
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 20:29 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

winz wrote:
Got the Fireblade ready for a service and a checkover from my local garage with a week to go and I get a call 30 minutes after dropping it off.

"Hello Mr Winz, this is Pete Robson, calling about your 'blade, ermm long story short. It's a fucking lemon, I'm not going to take your money, just get rid of it. Don't take it to France."
"Cheers, nice one"


I shouldn't laugh...but I did Laughing
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THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 20:30 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:












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THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!
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winz
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PostPosted: 21:56 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:
winz wrote:
Got the Fireblade ready for a service and a checkover from my local garage with a week to go and I get a call 30 minutes after dropping it off.

"Hello Mr Winz, this is Pete Robson, calling about your 'blade, ermm long story short. It's a fucking lemon, I'm not going to take your money, just get rid of it. Don't take it to France."
"Cheers, nice one"


I shouldn't laugh...but I did Laughing


That's all I could do too. It worked, but I must have only done about 600 miles on it in 2 years ownership. Bought sight unseen too..
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 22:03 - 09 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

winz wrote:
Bought sight unseen too..


And the moral of the story is... Razz
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THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!
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winz
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PostPosted: 07:47 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:
winz wrote:
Bought sight unseen too..


And the moral of the story is... Razz


https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/52800759.jpg
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ocatoro
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PostPosted: 15:45 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

air bnb looks great, could you post a link for future reference?

looks like a nice little run out. was hoping to get to france this year too
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doggone
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PostPosted: 16:41 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

Probably best not go back to that first B&B after burning the furniture Thumbs Up
It looks so quiet, good time to go with decent weather and dry roads.
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winz
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PostPosted: 19:47 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

ocatoro wrote:
air bnb looks great, could you post a link for future reference?

looks like a nice little run out. was hoping to get to france this year too


Of course. 6 Bedroom place with a heated pool (between April-Oct). It was pretty sweet although a little "rustic".

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/8375594?location=Caen%2C%20France&adults=4&check_in=2019-04-04&check_out=2019-04-08&guests=1&s=SDzmVXzj

EDIT: It was quite a way away from the coast, we had quite a slog every day to get there and back along some nice, but straight roads.
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Last edited by winz on 19:57 - 10 Apr 2019; edited 1 time in total
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winz
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PostPosted: 19:48 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

doggone wrote:
Probably best not go back to that first B&B after burning the furniture Thumbs Up
It looks so quiet, good time to go with decent weather and dry roads.


Was a little soggy on the first day, but Sunday was delightful. Will be busy come June with the 75th anniversary.
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winz
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PostPosted: 19:56 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:
You massive prick.


Cool
Wub
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Howling Terror
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PostPosted: 20:51 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

That BMW suits you. Take that with the contempt I am unable to hide. Very Happy

Grand way to get the biking year rolling Mr Winz, It's something I need to do again. A week/few days is just about right. Thumbs Up

Aside; I wasn't aware that you'd been accidented ..Sheesh! Sliced tricep….on toast please. Sounds like you're not only a BMW (cuntystained fukker) owner but you're a lucky one at that.


Ok ok ...I like the yellow wheels....The rest of it stands.
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winz
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PostPosted: 21:55 - 10 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:
That BMW suits you. Take that with the contempt I am unable to hide. Very Happy

Grand way to get the biking year rolling Mr Winz, It's something I need to do again. A week/few days is just about right. Thumbs Up

Aside; I wasn't aware that you'd been accidented ..Sheesh! Sliced tricep….on toast please. Sounds like you're not only a BMW (cuntystained fukker) owner but you're a lucky one at that.


Ok ok ...I like the yellow wheels....The rest of it stands.


It's an effortless missile, doesn't have much character though. Yellow does make it stand out a little. No big red Italian bastard though...

Oh yeah, did a little nasty https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=4598365

https://i.imgur.com/ajZdFAO.jpg
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A100man
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PostPosted: 21:38 - 16 Apr 2019    Post subject: Re: Normandy April 2019 Reply with quote

winz wrote:


Got the Fireblade ready for a service and a checkover from my local garage with a week to go and I get a call 30 minutes after dropping it off.

"Hello Mr Winz, this is Pete Robson, calling about your 'blade, ermm long story short. It's a fucking lemon, I'm not going to take your money, just get rid of it. Don't take it to France."


OK I'm going to bite.. what was wrong with it?
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wr6133
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PostPosted: 21:49 - 16 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

I scrolled along that first BnB photo and thought you were burning the artwork. Laughing

Few times I've been there I always found those graveyards really hit it home at the sheer scale of the slaughter. The German ones are even more depressing.

Curiosity..... what was wrong with the blade?
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winz
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PostPosted: 12:19 - 17 Apr 2019    Post subject: Re: Normandy April 2019 Reply with quote

A100man wrote:
winz wrote:


Got the Fireblade ready for a service and a checkover from my local garage with a week to go and I get a call 30 minutes after dropping it off.

"Hello Mr Winz, this is Pete Robson, calling about your 'blade, ermm long story short. It's a fucking lemon, I'm not going to take your money, just get rid of it. Don't take it to France."


OK I'm going to bite.. what was wrong with it?


He didn't go into much detail. From what he said the wiring was a mess, battery terminals were bent in all sorts of directions to make the wrong battery fit. There was play in the rear suspension which was as advisory, but he knew the garage that MOT it and didn't want to badmouth them. But the play was shocking (ahem). He said everything that had been done was a bodge.

I noticed that it was originally blue according to the DVLA (it was black) and when I bought it (unseen, delivered from Redcar to Bristol) the fairings were held on by a mix of different bolts. I went for a ride when I first got it and it wouldn't start, leaving me stranded in Wells, so I got it to a garage and it started arcing from the fuel tank to the frame. When that happened the fuel light wouldn't work. Which left me stranded on the M5 once... I think they said they found a scouring pad in the tank. I also got stranded on my first ride as the stator/reg-rec was fried. Alarm bells should have started ringing then as none of the correct fittings were there.

Luckily I still had the Blackbird which was more comfortable, so the blade only got used for the odd countryside blast.

Teaches me to not buy a blade for £1400... Although I did about 1000 miles on it, obviously not trouble free.
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winz
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PostPosted: 12:22 - 17 Apr 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote

wr6133 wrote:
I scrolled along that first BnB photo and thought you were burning the artwork. Laughing

Few times I've been there I always found those graveyards really hit it home at the sheer scale of the slaughter. The German ones are even more depressing.

Curiosity..... what was wrong with the blade?


Yeah, it was a rather humbling experience. I didn't have that much of an interest before I went. Although Tour Bastard Sheen and a friend who had to leave early did go on a trip last year (Fattys Ducati he had previously shat itself, leaving him stranded on the M25) and Ben found out his Great Grandad was buried in a cemetery in Belgium.

There was plenty of more to see which I'd like to do again, but I was in cider country which we skipped, so that's now top of my list.
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