An Adventure

[GettinBetter]

So...an old school friend is getting married, and wants everybody there.

So I've agreed to turn up can't wait to embark on a new adventure

Now it's 250'ish miles from Folkestone to Stoke on Trent (on a 125 ) so I thought I'd start Friday evening after work, stop off somewhere about half way, and crack on in the morning & pray it doesn't too much.
Go to the do on Saturday night, come home on Sunday... hey ho what could possibly go wrong

[stinkwheel]

On a honda twin? You'll be fine. 4 to 5 hours riding. Just keep alert, don't forget to eat and drink.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[kgm]

It'll be fine. I used to tour about Scotland on a CG125, doing about 200-250 miles a day. It was no bother for the bike, I just looked for interesting routes, preferably avoiding dual carriageways. Not that the bike won't do dual carriageways all day but it is more tiring and the smaller roads suit it better.

Your attitude is more important, you have to be content taking your time, but just stop regularly to take photos, etc. And it's quite enjoyable. I actually also found myself overtaking cars a lot more than you might expect as well. Even managed an overtake for 6 once with a truck at the front 😂 Longest overtake I've ever performed, in terms of time.

[stinkwheel]

Also, on a cruiser, you'll not have the option of taking some of your weight on your legs. Seems comfy to begin with but it can kill your backside after a while. Wear cycle shorts if you have some.

Strap your gear to the bike, wearing a rucksack is really fatiguing too.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Riejufixing]

[pepperami]

[doggone]

We always reckoned on longer trips you could rarely average over 50mph regardless of bike engine size or style.
Comfort may be another matter.
More than once we were on a long run with touring bikes, and every time we stopped for a fuel [the same] little 125/250 overtaken 30 miles back would buzz past before we even got filled up

[GettinBetter]

[Riejufixing]

[Easy-X]

[GettinBetter]

[Easy-X]

[willis1337]

Ensure you do not get so wasted on the Saturday at the wedding, that you're over the limit / tired on the bike on the return ride on Sunday.
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Current bike: KTM SD1290GT
Previous bike: BMW K1300S

[CorriganJ]

[Tracey Suntan-King]

Respect for agreeing to go but you're focussing on the wrong bit of the "adventure". The journey requires far less consideration than the destination.

Stoke on Trent?

Its a shithole. You might not even have two wheels or even a bike to make the return journey on. Even if your bike isn't nicked or vandalised you won't be able to make it home because your very soul, your joie de vivre, your faith in the beauty and fairness of the world will have been sucked out of you by the place.

I'm allowed to say this, I lived & worked there.....and escaped.

Good luck, maybe the train?
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Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right

[Tdibs]

That is a very good point
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[GettinBetter]

[Tracey Suntan-King]

GettingBetter wrote:

[pepperami]

[GettinBetter]

You were all correct, it was a doddle.

Left Friday after work 16-00, through London.... Satnav took me through the Dartford Tunnel, arrived at Hemel Hempstead (Holiday Inn) for about 20-30. Locked bike to lampost removed contents for saddlebags. Still dry.

06-20 Checked bike was still there, it was, else I'd have gone back to bed. Breakfast at 06-30 on the road for 07-30. Up the A5 was a breeze, talking of which that was the only issue, I had a crosswind all the way.
Arrived in Stoke about 10-30'ish visited daughter, and then went across town to the venue. Still dry. Covered bike in front garden (using the out of sight out of mind theory) and within the hour the sky open up. Got my head down around 02-00 only a little

Departed Sunday around 09-30 down the A5 again, loads more traffic on the road. Three 10 minute stops and was home by 16-30 and would you believe still bone dry. IIRC google declared it to be about 270mls + trip to daughters, I'd say a total of ~550mls or thereabouts for my second trip.

With hindsight I'd have stopped more often, and I now realise I want a dedicated Satnav so that I can use my phone for photos, I couldn't be arsed disconnecting it from the USB charger and removing from handlebar case to take photos. I also want more control over the route rather than letting the Satnav dictate.

I gonna get this test business out of the way (hopefully), then the next trip is Devon, before the weather closes in.

[Easy-X]

I always liked Sat-nags for work. When you need to get to a place at a certain time they're invaluable but you can end up being a slave to the things and not really taking in the journey.

Great thing with a bike is getting lost! Ending up down some dirt track and checking the map is no biggie whereas blocking some high-hedged C-road in a car while you squint at an O/S map or Google could be fraught with danger.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[pepperami]

Glad the trip went well and you’re positive about the whole episode .
Long trips on smaller bikes rock!
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[jeremydixon21]