Thank you.

The figures are at the side of an old airfield. More here

Friday the 13th - Video Dailymotion

I no longer commute (they made me have a company car again), so the features that make the NC a really good every day bike make it about as interesting as a dishwasher when you get 5 days to prep it and less than 2 to ride it.

Following the trend for relaunching far eastern brands under old British names I have decided on a re-brand as Hurley-Pugh. This also may give me an excuse to take the **** out of a few chaps who take it all too seriously. I think a clothing line is a great idea. Watch this space https://sites.google.com/site/hrpvindaloomotorcycles/ As a true classic bike fan you will of course need a direct link to the tech specs https://sites.google.com/site/hrpvin...specifications

Bad luck on the Ducati. I'd be going loopy without a ride for a month!

Ted, I wish I had your self control!

Andy

No worries, I've still got my trusty Suzuki DR650. Still going strong at 60K mi.
The DR650 isn't worth much so no point selling it.

I'm hopeful the shop Monkeys will do the Duc up right and it will go a bit longer.
Most all the important bits are being re-newed ... so a lease on life for this
20K mile Ducati. (new front piston, cams, bearings, valve gear, new front cylinder
and all new pulleys, bearings and belts. Now just need to upgrade clutch to 2016 one, then all good. (until something else goes bust! )

This my "travel" bike at the moment. I couldn't ask for better off road and I cackle like an idiot while riding it out of joy in the dirt. I've made some improvements this past winter in an attempt to keep this as my primary travel bike but ultimately the tire shredding is its downfall (1500 miles on average per tire - rear). It is perfect for long weekends in the mountains and desert regions of the US west though. Since this photo was taken I've added a wind screen, Wolfman Expedition Dry Saddles bags and racks, a RotoPax on my larger rear mounting plate (for a fuel or water can), plus a PDM-60 for electronic gadgets (in process). We'll see how longer road rides go this year.

Since you never told us what bike that is ... and you've got so much Shit piled up on it, it's hard to tell.
no worries!

Yes, I know it's a KTM ... and if it says "950" on the side panel (???) ... then I'd guess perhaps it's the long discontinued KTM 950SE? A great bike and still the best big twin bike KTM have made when off road is on the menu.

Are you brave enough to take it out of the USA?
How many miles done so far?

Tires
If doing mixed surface long distance tours you have to go "Mullett" on your tires. That is, a mostly street biased, tough rear tire and something knobby up front that works well enough on wet paved roads. (be careful with choice here).

Rear tire
You could go with the German 50/50 Heidenau, Mefo or Mitas. Expensive, terrible handling, but last a LONG time. Or go with a more street biased rear like a Tourance, 705 Shinko, Distanzia or Kenda. Tire pressure is the trick many riders forget about. Even a street biased tire works MUCH better at 18 PSI vs. 37 PSI. Huge difference.

I go cheap & cheerful on my DR650. Either TKC80 or IRC TR-8 up front (the Conti being the better handling tire) and a Kenda K270 on the rear. The K270 does everything well ... on DR650 went over 6K miles of mixed fast highway (70 mph plus) and lots of Baja dirt and Mexico dirt back roads. Ran it at 16 PSI on rough Baja rock sections. GREAT!
All this on a $60 tire.

I don't Roost it up coming out of every corner like in Race Days ... I take it easy. Going from pass to pass in CO, no problem ... you can get a new rear tire in just about every town you come to.

Mongolia? Bolivia? Not so much.

Since almost 4 years I have been riding a BMW F800GS. The bike used to be a faithful companion on my trips in the last years.

Before, I used to travel with my KTM 640 LC4 - I still own my lovely Kati and she still gives my pleasure.

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After the trip is before the trip!

5 years on and after selling the first R1200gs Adv and owning a Harley Fatbob (great for kicking about with the club) I`m back on a R1200gs Adv
A triple black this time.
Last of the twin cams

BMW, love em. So glad to be back on a proper bike. The Harley was a joke to travel on.

There she is.



All the camping stuff fits into the panniers with room for clothes, food, and a laptop to spare. 8) On longer trips the camping stuff goes into a speedbag on the pillion.

But thinking of getting something a bit more dirt-comfortable next. Although if it's dry, the VFR will easily do forest roads, sandy beach roads, etc. Just gotta be a bit slow and careful.

I'm currently on the fence between two. Larger and slightly heavier, but with more power or about 45lbs lighter, less power but more of a 50/50 bike for that (someday) trip. But, for now, my Benelli naked streetbike that punishes me daily on the gnarly roads of Tegucigalpa.

I just picked up, late last year, my travel bike. Honda CB500X, full suspension kit and more farkles on the way.

Went to the Helsinki Motor Show this weekend, sat on a bunch of bikes including the Tenere 700, the 790 Adventure R, and the 1250 GS.

The one I was most excited to see up close, though, was the 2019 CB500X. Loved it. The right size, the right feel, 19-inch front wheel, better dash with the nav-holder loop above it.

To be honest, it's the first ever vehicle that I am seriously considering buying new from the dealer.

I've had my CB500f for 11 months now. The CB500X should make you smile.

Andy

The 2019 X has a ton of little updates that make it a fantastic bike. If I didn't have to pay the massive taxes here in Honduras for a new bike I would have held out for one.

The X is turning out to be a great bike. I'm setting it up for my ergos and getting it ready for travel. Been trying to get the windscreen right. Then it's on to lighting and auxiliary toolbox.

Unless you are the Snap-on/Harbour Freight rep or your mates all ride shaft drive twins, this seems a little superfluous

Andy

I love the looks of the Honda Cb500X and it was my first choice when shopping for a bike last year, but with the luxury tax in China it was just so much more expensive (almost double the price) than the Benelli TRK502X I eventually bought.

Done 6,000km now on my Benelli and what a great bike. A bit heavy, but quick to get used to, economical, and the parallel twin is so willing, with lots of low end torque. Performance specs almost identical to the Honda, but to be honest the Honda felt a bit small and cramped to me.

Another two months and the first votes in the poll are ten years old

Anyone still got the bike they voted for?

Rough guess, I think I'm on #5

Should have voted Honda, it'd be closer to the average of the five.

Andy