Back to Cornwall

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Of course, Premier Inn etc. begin opening at the exact same time as all my clients so I can only go for a few days

Any advance on M3, A303, A30 over the moors?
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[TheIncredible...]

I'm from Cornwall so know it like the proverbial back of my hand so my advice is get on the A39 (Atlantic Highway) as far up as possible, in Devon if you can, Bideford into Bude and follow the coastal road.

The roads are stunning and the scenery more so.

Depends where you're heading though, I may be able to recommend more areas/roads.
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Current Bike:-Suzuki GSXR 1000 - K3
Past Bikes:- ZX6-R, ZX7-R, RSV Mille x2 (1st Gen).

[Ste]

Down the 303 at the end of the road, flashing lights, exclusion zones.

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[Riejufixing]

[Irezumi]

Depends how long you want to take?

If you catch it when its quiet going from Exeter through Moretonhampstead (B3212) to Two bridges then Tavistock (B3357) can be nice, quite shaded around Moretonhampstead so be careful if its rained as doesn't dry so quick. Then join the A390 and onto the A38 or otherwise to finish. This is by no means a quick road though, particularly if you're behind a car as its hard to find anywhere to pass in places.

To do this can do A303 or M5 into Exeter.

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Checked: brake fluid & pad thickness, tyre tread depth & pressure, oil level, oiled the chain. Packing a puncture repair kit and some basic tools. Got bottled water & snacks for the journey...

Anything else?
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Riejufixing]

Petrol....

Bottle of oil.

Weather gear.

Clothes/shoes.

Money.

Cleaning rag/tissue.

Bicycle pump.

Washing kit.

Towel.

Swimming trunks.

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[Riejufixing]

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Funny I noticed more of a temperature drop on some parts of Bodmin Moor than Dartmoor. Microclimates or some such.

Definitely need a bigger bike if I do this again.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Riejufixing]

Are you there now? You lucky thing. I hope the weather is nice, and the work is easy.

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Back home now....

Weather wise it went sorta okay. Lovely sunny day for the ride down, the Downs parked themselves in a cloud while I was there and then nice day on the ride back

Rain I can handle but there's something singularly depressing about incessant drizzle

Anyhoo, outward bound I went M3 (boring) A303 (not too bad really) A30 over Dartmoor (super boring) onto the A30 through Bodmin Moor (spectacular scenery!)

On the way back I went A390/391 > A38 which is great fun when there's no traffic and then A3052 > A35 > A31. The A31 was shut down around Farnham so I went on a bit of a magical mystery tour of country lanes even helping out one of the locals who'd got lost in the diversion! At this point you appreciate a bike, any bike, is the best thing ever... well at least compared to a lowered BMW that the aforementioned fella had

Conclusions from my first big outing ever on a bike (>500 mile round trip)

1) I'll never do it again on a small bike! I now fully comprehend the value of a nice R1250 or even a Goldwing!

2) Decent gloves (which I had) and a decent seat (which I didn't have) are your best friends. Honorable mention for the new mirrored visor I'd just bought.

3) Never sit in the middle of an empty layby an' chill as the poor lorry drivers need a break too! Park at one end or the other

Needless to say the Rebel couldn't give two hoots - the expected reliability of a Honda - but I didn't feel comfortable cruising along much above 65mph on it. It does get a bit viby and an hour or so of that is not feasible. I spent most of the journey doing 60, mostly to take in the scenery On the country roads though it was fine.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[chickenstrip]

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Well I did do the trip back to Cornwall this Bank Holiday Weekend.

Half way down the heavens opened so mostly miserable and cold. Dried out after crossing the Tamar so the views over Bodmin Moor cheered me up.

On the way back I went through the centre of Dartmoor. 40mph limits were necessary otherwise I would have run over a few sheep! Before that though I went through the Tamar Valley - "carving up the twisties" as Yammie Noob would say Overall I managed to somehow pick the best time/route as I had zero hold ups, not even a tractor or a caravan

Made the right choice getting a bigger bike 'cos even on the motorways, in bad weather, high winds, twisty lanes and steep hills the XSR DID. NOT. CARE. Definitely a case of the bike > skill of rider
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[doggone]

I haven't really done more than day trips on my XSR did you find the seat Ok or have you changed it?
Because to me it feels as much as anything rather thin though haven't exactly been uncomfortable on it TBH

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Forgot to mention: I calculated the first half of the trip down and managed 75mpg That's a touch more economical than my "eco diesel" Skoda... or the Shit Triple as I've taken to calling it (1.2L 3-cyl engine!)
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter