24-09-13, 11:55 AM
Well, I got back a couple of days ago from my mini Euro tour and Nurburgring experience and for the most part it was good. The accommodation was cheap and quality, the food was good and the bike returned 62 MPG over 1600 miles, including 4 laps and a FULL tank at the ring!
Being quite late in the season, the weather was a mix bag of tricks. We had some sunshine (on the day of the nordschleife
) and some rain (the day we were meant to go to Europa park :rolleyes ) and everything in between.
The scottoiler I bought made NO difference to my need to adjust the chain and sprockets every 600 miles or so. It turns out that it is a racing set up that came on the bike BEFORE I bought it, and it needs constant maintenance. I wont need to worry about that any more as it died at the ring, along with my clutch. Yip, my clutch died before I reached the karussell on lap one. Only 3 1/2 laps of the ring and 6 countries to ride through before I'm home safe.
On the plus side, I did manage to record a full lap of the ring. I will not be putting it on youtube as there seems to be a lot of pressure over there for having the nordschleife closed down. All these internet films do it give the health and safety mob ammo, and I for one will not be a part of that. I did manage a time of around 12 minutes. Not the best, but for my first visit and a focced clutch on an old 600 with a luggage rack, I'm happy enough.
I also managed to come home with over 200 euro, so that has went straight into the Nurburgring jar for next year. I definitely have the bug.
The roads around Nurburg, the Rhein and Mozel are beautiful. The city's of Bonn and Koblenz are well worth a visit too. Brussels I though was a dump and Amsterdam is Amsterdam, love it or hate it (I love it).
We did a mix of motorway and twisties. Around 60/40 in favour of the twisties. I think it might have been more fun stuff if my bike was ok.
The total cost for the trip, excluding any kit required, was around £950 - £1000 for 10 days incl. a ferry crossing. That also included a 50 euro gift for my better half. It could have been done cheaper if necessary, but I enjoy my food and beer and count the cost on my return, not on my holiday.
The bike was great, apart from the afore mentioned items going. The clutch is 13 y/o and 32000 miles in, so I am ok with that. And the chain and sprockets were on the bike when I got it 2 years ago, so 8000 miles of fun and a tour with the ring thrown in for good measure, I am also ok with. It was comfy enough for 500+km days and the touring screen helped with the wind fatigue and the viper seat with the bum. The Maxxis tyres were up to the job and got shredded at the ring. No chooky strips on the right and hardly anything to mention at the left .
All in all, a fantastic experience that will be repeated in one way or another.
Being quite late in the season, the weather was a mix bag of tricks. We had some sunshine (on the day of the nordschleife
) and some rain (the day we were meant to go to Europa park :rolleyes ) and everything in between. The scottoiler I bought made NO difference to my need to adjust the chain and sprockets every 600 miles or so. It turns out that it is a racing set up that came on the bike BEFORE I bought it, and it needs constant maintenance. I wont need to worry about that any more as it died at the ring, along with my clutch. Yip, my clutch died before I reached the karussell on lap one. Only 3 1/2 laps of the ring and 6 countries to ride through before I'm home safe.
On the plus side, I did manage to record a full lap of the ring. I will not be putting it on youtube as there seems to be a lot of pressure over there for having the nordschleife closed down. All these internet films do it give the health and safety mob ammo, and I for one will not be a part of that. I did manage a time of around 12 minutes. Not the best, but for my first visit and a focced clutch on an old 600 with a luggage rack, I'm happy enough.
I also managed to come home with over 200 euro, so that has went straight into the Nurburgring jar for next year. I definitely have the bug.
The roads around Nurburg, the Rhein and Mozel are beautiful. The city's of Bonn and Koblenz are well worth a visit too. Brussels I though was a dump and Amsterdam is Amsterdam, love it or hate it (I love it).
We did a mix of motorway and twisties. Around 60/40 in favour of the twisties. I think it might have been more fun stuff if my bike was ok.
The total cost for the trip, excluding any kit required, was around £950 - £1000 for 10 days incl. a ferry crossing. That also included a 50 euro gift for my better half. It could have been done cheaper if necessary, but I enjoy my food and beer and count the cost on my return, not on my holiday.
The bike was great, apart from the afore mentioned items going. The clutch is 13 y/o and 32000 miles in, so I am ok with that. And the chain and sprockets were on the bike when I got it 2 years ago, so 8000 miles of fun and a tour with the ring thrown in for good measure, I am also ok with. It was comfy enough for 500+km days and the touring screen helped with the wind fatigue and the viper seat with the bum. The Maxxis tyres were up to the job and got shredded at the ring. No chooky strips on the right and hardly anything to mention at the left
. All in all, a fantastic experience that will be repeated in one way or another.
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...