This years jaunt was a trip down to Spain to see the La Baneza GP. To swing this past SWMBO I had to include a visit to Madrid, just to sweeten the deal.
As with most of my trips it was ill planned and poorly conceived, but usually turns out for the best. The idea was to catch the ferry to Santander, loop around to Leon, up through France and le Havre to Portsmouth and home. So after booking the tickets, she informs me that she's working on the friday so we have to catch the weds ferry instead of the thurs. This also means we have 1000 miles to do in 3 days, not 4.
So after fabricating a wingrack to fit, cobbling together a starcom intercom, kicking the tyres and changing the oil we were ready to rock'n'roll.

Now those of you who are seasoned tourers/adventurers will run through your checklist before leaving, me on the otherhand is a good 5 miles down the road doing the
passport    check
tickets        check
e111 thingy    check
documents    check
euros        ..........bollocks
so we have to about turn and lose a good 20 mins, which was a blessing as SWMBO had changed handbags and left the Nationwide (the account with the holiday funds in) card behind.
We make Plymouth (152 miles) in 2 hours, which leaves us a good 5 mins to unwind before getting on the boat (Pont Aven. very nice but book a cabin as the recliners were designed by the Marquis de Sade)
So it's the mountain roads from Santander to Burgos, lovely flowing corners and marvellous scenery. After a little tapas in Burgos, it was the monotony of the autovia to Madrid. At least things got exciting trying to find the right exit off the ringroad.
We were booked into the Hotel Lusso Infantas (reasonable, well positioned, bit dodgy with the offer of extra's) in the Chueca area, which is best described as 'lively'. Now Madrid has an interesting, and totally unique, rhythym to work to. Nobody eats dinner before 10pm (avoid the plaza major), everybody has a siesta (2pm-5pm). Once you settle into it, it all makes sense.
What can you say about Madrid! Well it's a great city if you have a motorbike. Plenty of on road bike spaces, or just bump it up the kerb. Judging by the amount of policia about (never seen so many), I was wondering if there was a problem with crime, but didn't see any myself.
Back to the lively Chuecha area.......it's home to the 2nd largest gay community in europe, and boy (or girl) do they like to party! more importantly, the local council decided it would be a good idea to dig up the road outside our bedroom.........at 7.30am..........every day we were there!
After 4 days we bade farewell to Madrid, heading west to Segovia. Thankfully found a winding road to give the ever flattening rear tyre some more work to do.
Segovia....stunning. just about sums it up. best off getting there early on in the day as there are alot of steps to climb and it was bloody hot when we got there.

Headed off to Torresedillas for the night. Stopped at the Hostal del Prado, cheapish and cheerful. We went to the main square for dinner, but got messed about by snotty spanish 'puta' who told us it was too early for dinner, then promptly served the table next to us with exactly what we had tried to order!
More motorway to the edge of La Baneza where we see the trogladyte villages of la Torre de Vallee. We search for a Hostal, but to no avail. We end up at La Hacienda, 75€/night!

So your meant to replace the gasket when you remove the CCT!! Thought I'd try and get away without replacing it and guess what, gotta take it all off again!!
Words of advice, if you remove the CCT replace the gasket!
DOH!

I used to be an irregular member on here but I tended to just drop in and out now and then. Think my old name was brightsparking or brightspark - can't remember and could get the linky to work to mail admin and gave up.


Anyway I just sold my 03 plate with 13K miles privately for £2K. OK so the new owner hasn't quite got a complete bargain, but he's getting a great bike, marvellous condition and first to see it bought it.


However, I am truly feeling bereft of something that was part of my life for more than 9 years. I only sold it as it wasn't getting used.


Just shows how these bikes hold their values.


Oh well, best get the campervan sorted out - it's onto the T25 forum from now on... :'(

Need some parts for my FZS600


Front fork assembly (or pair of tubes sets), radiator, right footrest, Front fender

As I have returned for help, I thought I should inform of a project I set myself on buying my second Fazer.

Having a belly pan and crash bars.





We have standard Yamaha crash bars, bought and fitted from a local Yamaha shop with a Skidmark belly pan.
Now the bars did have to have a flange grinded to a more suited rad and some of the belly pan needed a tad bit of removal.

But has given the fazer a nice look and splits it away from the others down here.

my rear tire is dead, and i hate bridgestones, so gonna upgrade to my old fave the pilot power 2ct's

however.

they only do fronts in 120 section

but what do other people use, 120/60 or 120/70?

the rear is fine as they do the 160/60.

its gonna happen really, i used to cover 45000 a year on my bike, and now i still manage to cover upto 25000 annually.

diesel all over the road (2nd spill accident due to someone elses carelessness.)

the bike, damaged gen cover, smashed one of my led DRLs, scraped hell out of the end of my raask bars. and cracked the side of the fairing.

me, broken wrist.

was back on the bike two days later, and done 750 miles since the accident, it really doesnt bother me riding bikes with bits busted off, although i still need to cable tie the crached plastics back together properly....

gonna get rid of the knackered headlight fairing now, and go for a bandit headlight and vapour dash, no matter what screen i have, i seem to get buffeting, and found it better standing up to talk to my mate on bike intercoms!

and its getting a new wrap for its new look.. keep your eyes peeled...

if anyone needs to borrow a 32mm socket for their front sprocket in the south/west/mid wales area, send me a PM. its the big impact driver version.

So I had a minor incident about a month ago - it was wet and I wasn't looking where I was going, and braked too late, skidded all over the place and finally stopped against the rear end of a BMW 1150. Damage to BMW was the tail cluster and the metal carrier - about 250 to replace. My poor Fazer on the other hand, had the front fairings pushed back a bit, some new cracks - wonky looking over all. Bottom of the MRA screen has shattered etc.

However, since the tip, the headlamps are always on. I can not seem to turn them off - there was no damage to the on/off switch or anything, but lights come on as soon as turn the ignition on. It's not a big deal as I always ride with the light on anyway, but just wondering what could be the reason? I would have thought there is nothing behind the lamp/bulb itself that would decide when the ligh comes on off - and there was no impact or damage to the switch part either.

Any thoughts?

thanks a mil!

My son no longer rides so his leathers are up for sale.

Excellent condition, Blue / White / Black. Jacket UK 48 Euro 58, Trousers UK 38 Euro 58.

£150 ( open to offers ). Located in North Somerset, would prefer collection but will post at extra cost ( please remember...they are heavy ).

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