Ha, ha. I revisit my ideas on the French on a daily basis mate, I have about twice as many French friends and family as I do British, but nothing will ever convince me that they are going to get any quicker at getting things done. That's not to say they are not lovely people otherwise, I married one after all, but let's be honest eh? Every nationality has their own faults don't they? No need for a that assumes our only experience of the French comes from a Jeremy Clarkson programme

Yours truly

(I assume you're French or an ex-pat are you?)

The French are great people.
I broke down in Rouen last year on my way back from the south of France and I was given the use of a workshop, tools and a lift in a main Yamaha dealership to fix my bike and they would'nt take any payment!
My experience is that if you treat people with a little respect then they will treat you with respect.
Unfortunately having said that, some people are just so ignorant/dumb, that all they do is throw stereotypes around.
I hope it all works out for you down there, I have a feeling it will.

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My trip to Millau (France) and back 2009.http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...u-france-43474

My comments are based on extensive experience of life in France, being married into a French family, and of working in the UK for a French company. 900FantRider lives in France. Ignorance nor lack of intelligence come into either opinion. The French do in general take a long time to get things done. And BobtheBiker's comments couldn't be more tongue in cheek if he tried. Your experience is of one breakdown? FFS get off your self righteous high horse.

WTF?
Ralph, My comments were not directed at you or anyone else on this thread!
And if you or others have been offended by what I wrote well then I appologise, they genuinely were not aimed at any of you, and why would they be?
They are just my opinion some people I have met over the years who have a bad opinion of France, these people usually have never even visited the country and this is why I said they were ignorant/dumb.
My opinion of France comes from a couple of short family breaks there and a bike trip I took there last year, and of course the breakdown in Rouen!
Im heading over there again in a couple of days on the bike.
I also spent about 4 years working for a French company, good times.
I suppose I could have worded my post a little clearer so as to be clear as to who I was referring to.
Anyway, I hope thats all cleared up now.

P.S I could do with a high horse, Im quite short you see

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My trip to Millau (France) and back 2009.http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...u-france-43474

Ladies and Gentlemen,
My apologies for the lateness in my replies but I've been a bit of a busy chap since my last foray on here but here goes with the catch-up!

The bike needed a rebore due to the Nickasil lining in the bore having come away. The cylinder had to be sent to Paris (from Toulouse) to be recoated. This took 10 days as apparently it not only needs boring to remove the old lining but the new one needs 'tempering' and that's what takes the time. Whether this is true or not I wasn't really in much of a position to argue as I was getting pissed in Toulouse on my enforced 'garage' time, the mechanic couldn't get a hold of me and progressed with the job anyhow.

When the cylinder came back, the refit was with a new piston, rings, cam chain, valve seals, oil, filter, blah blah blah. I did ask for some of the extra stuff to be done for I thought, if the bugger is in bits he might aswell do the lot and be done with it. The return was as boring as hell. Only able to do the B roads as I had to settle in the new cylinder and after the 1700kms back to Scotland It's been in storage as I had to fly immediatly to South Africa. Where I managed to make up for a shit France trip with a ride to Cape Aghulas in ZA and finally finishing the Africa trip on my old XT!!
Since then I've seen the bike once, last week as I had 2 days in Edinburgh before flying out to the Middle East. It starts at least, LOL!!

Looking back, it could have been a warranty job but that meant I had to get it back to the UK and piss about with the issues that would have raised. I didn't have the patience and had the money so thought F**k-it and got the job done there and then. Its actually cost me the price it would have if I bought it for the 'right' price, so I don't think I've lost out but have gained SOOO much knowledge and now have a 'new' engine. We live and learn and I'll chalk it up to experience.
I'm comfortable the bike is running perfect after 1700kms getting back home and I'll be shipping it down to South Africa in the New Year and get some exploring done on it...... finally!

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Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'