Martin Barrett

Lots of riding over the last 5 days to and fro the V11 & Buell Highland Fling. Day 1. Thursday early start leave at 0515. Dual carriageway slog.head up the A1 to the A14 where I stop for fuel. I didn't set of with a full tank. There I chat briefly with Suzuki GSX750R rider who is going to Germany. Continue up the A14 to the start of the M6. All boring dual carriageway. The A14 doesn't have the "benefit" of roundabouts or speed limits through villages and only a couple speed cameras on it. There are plenty of heavies about at this time of day and occasionaly get stuck behind a heavy doing the three mile overtake against the speed limiter having popped outof the slipstream of the one in front. Not a problem as you can then leap the gap once he's cleared. Continue up the M6, I elect to stay on it and not use the new(ish) M6 Toll road. Its still only just past 7 and traffic is light. I can allways filter and I'm not going to pay £3.50 for no discerable advantage, any time gained would be lost having to stop to pay at the toll booth. Fill up with fuel and deal with my first of three checkpoints all a short distance off the M6 before retuning or leaping a junction and heading on towards the next. Third one completed in the southern lake district and head of towards the north yorkshire moors much more intresting roads. The check point (4) here The Tan Hill Inn on its web site directions warns of the dangers of dry stone walls and sheep. Got there for midday thinking nicely timed for lunch only to find a note on the door saying no food as kitchen being refitted! So made do with a cup of cofee and a packet of crisps. From there on to the A66 to head back to the Lake District. A nice blast after the constraints of the moor roads. Catch up with a lorry and slow to stop behind a cue of traffic. about 4 in front is atrsffic motorcycle. Fortuitous timing. We are both hemmed in by the double white lines. After a few minutes he crosses the white lines heads up the outside of the cue of stationary traffic about 100 yds stops for a minute and then does a U turn. Once he's disapeared over the hill behind me I'm off down the outside of the traffic cue. It seems to be nearly 3 miles long for about 400yds of roadworks opperating a convoy vehicle system. I measure the tail back the other way and that stands at 2 miles long. Hit the north lake district point (5), still have plenty of time in hand so head up past Carlisle and in to Scotland two quick points the first in the hills behind Lockerbie (6), a taste of whats to come, reminisant of 5 weeks previous through Wales. Back down to Annan (7). The rain starts and on with the over suit. find the check point and head back south to Penrith where I'm staying overnight with my sister. 510 miles completed by 1800 1 Bate Heath, Pinfold 2 Higher Walton, Kathleen Ferrier memorial 3 levens, Church bells in shelter 4 Keld, Tann hill arms 5 Aspatria, Memorial to W S Clavery 6 Eskdalemuir, Tibeten centre 7 Annan, Burns memorial

Thanks to Chris for organizing the weekend. I had a great time. I was a bit anti social as I wanted to do my round Britain check points so set of early and got back mid evening. But was able to remake old acquaintances with Chris and Jane, and meet Antonio and his friend Dennis. Though I had met them briefly on the road before turning off towards a check point. I didn't really speak with any of the Buell riders till I was setting off Sunday morning. So I might crash their local meeting at Duxford to make amends. The hotel bar seemed to be the local nightlife hot spot. So became noisy and not conducive to talking. But did mean I turned in at a reasonable time so was able to make a good early start the following day.

Please lend me your membership card

The os map has two shown about 2 miles to the north and a third to the east about the same distance out.

Both of mine did it after 3,800miles , rode on for another 7 months. Took dealer 4 months to get the right headers in. They were welded a week before the new ones arrived. The welding was a good near invisable repair and I would recommend it. Tomsp didn't get his welded in time and the pipe split completely very quickly in a matter of days. Brian Robson welded his but he had done loads of miles and continued to do so. If you keep your pipes highly polished the weld mightn't be invisable. But was hidden between my blueing and other discolouration. With the issues of fit of the new headers and balance pipe I wish I'd stuck with the welded repair.

Try the other bits first , then take the caliper off its mount as a last resort. I had mine off when I did a pad change and clean, but can't remember if there would be enough flex in the hose to lift up as I pulled it down and forward to clean.

Thats good, looking up for you trip

Try raising the calliper (above master cylinder) so that the air goes upwards and out, on the bleed nipple have a piece of tube that goes into a jar with a bit of brake fluid in it. You will see if pushing air out and will help prevent suck back of the air. I've used bleeding kits before and still had to shut the bleed off for each pump. you may need to enlist the help of another person one to press and hold the brake, one to do the bleed screw. Oh and chock the pads, and keep the master topped up. It can be a real bugger when you've got air in the lines and not just old fuild. If still doesn't work try with a normal bleed nipple first and then replace the speed bleeder. I did read some where about a deffective one Wildguzzi I think?

Mine is and has blistered very badly , but not all do it. For 2004 they went to a statin black finish. In the two years I've had mine from new I've suffered, oil pressure switch, neutral switch failures, rear shock one of the eyes split (3 times world wide only) both headers cracked( 3 reports on this forum). All sorted on warranty. Still waiting for a definative answer on the paint but not holding my breath. Also one of the mirrors the plastic ball at the bottom split causing it to fall off - sorted that my self. The rubber side stand stop bit fell off- big deal more ground clearance if I ever get over that far.. I've had no issues with the relays or the gearbox spring. I've done 12000 miles love her to death. The wife doesn't she thinks it's a piece of junk. So as long as she doesn't ask me to choose between the two of them all is cool. Going to the V11 and Buel Highland Fling this weekend and doing some Round Britain Rally landmarks at the same time. Probably do over 2000 miles in the 5 days that I'm away. Did 1700 5 weeks ago going to Ireland, same sort of thing. no problems (once the throttle body was put back on - ha) You will see the worse aspects on here, but they're good old busses really

Welcome, The only problem that you might suffer is the gear box pawl spring. A batch of oversized bosses entered the system and afflict various models apparently at random. Loads of information on here but most collected convieniantly at in the frequently asked questions section The other issues seem to be mainly quality control and how the bike was set up initialy. Blistering or flaking paint, dry bearings, some dodgy relays its all on here somewhere. Some seem to have a bigger flat spot than others and many go down the free breathing exhausts, airbox mods and PCIII route. Others don't. Then theres tyres variations on make, and even dropping a size to get sharper turn in, but I think we're unaminous on black. I won't enen mention oil and addatives (bugger thats done it) and suspension........ I hope the previous owner would have sorted out the niggles, or is one thats been sat on a shop floor? As you've come from a previous Guzzi it's no more than you'd expect.

Well I set up the coaxial cable to the wifes PC in its temporary position whilst the building work takes place, and sat with finger poised. Started to record only to get a trailer for another programe so stopped the recording and restarted. Having watched the programme went to check the recording only to find had stopped after 7 minutes. Where I restarted the recording the program had defaulted to its auto stop time of the next hour. So sorry I messed up recording yet again.

Seems tomorrow (wednesday) is the one to go for, tonight its a programme about an African supermodel going back to her roots. I going back to VH1 Classic Best 40 One hit wonders.

Don't forget that we (UK) are the 51'st state of the union

Metric spelling as part of Europe

Just to let you all know Martin ended up being interviewed himself - maybe it'll be a boob job and a footballers wife for him!! Debs!! (aka Guzzi Widow!!)

much more help like this and I can see Joe on a Harley

Some trumpet blowing Debs has started a blog and just doing yearly updates on to the website. A couple of months ago she recieved an email from the Independant on Sunday asking if she would mind if they featured her blog in their new feature blog of the week. It duely featured on the second week following Jamie Oliver's (celeberity chef a bit of a lad) There's more There is a study about to be released creating a debate on whether and at what age should medical intervention take place as babys are surviving been born prior to the legal abortion limit. Obviously there are issues with out comes. One of the forums she posts on tends generally to take the view every life is sacred and everthing that can be done must be done. Debs and I take an opposing view. But the big issue is with the information on realistic outcomes being told to parents, so can make informed decisions on quality of life as opposed to quanity. What we would have actually done is a different hypothetical matter! So today some one from BBC Radio 5 is coming out to interview her, with a view of it being broadcast in a couple of weeks with a debate to follow. She is fast becoming a Media Whore. I supose a boob job and leaving me for a footballer is no doubt next or a TV reality show

You obviously didn't look at mine Washed it down last night during my lunch break and today when I went to go out on it some bird had scored two direct hits on it where it's having to stay in the open as my garage is full of bedroom furniture due to building work. The bird had obviously sought inspiration from either 633 Squadron or Mosquito Squadron as managed to get it under the fairing blade on to the top of the clocks.

I know what you're thinking. Do I fit one K&N filter and leave the air box lid off or do I fit pods? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being this is a V11 Moto Guzzi, the best motorcycle in the world, it would clean suck the heat shield off the bottom of the petrol tank, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky?.....Well,do ya punk?

linking above and uploading below if both work it's you sorry to be of no help Having said that over the last couple of days the site has been a bit slow and had to refresh screens often to get them to display. not just from home but also at work. Jaap & Paul, Hope its all backed up before it goes bang.

The latter comes with "neeps" (is that right?) the other with allsort of exotic additions ( parasitic, contagious and decorative). I'm sure he will make it (and not just with the haggis). Our collective positive thought energy will ward off the guzzi demons.

Great trip, with time to enjoy it all. I just rush about looking at the vanishing point of the curves and don't really take it all in. I must learn to stop and take pictures as well. I enjoy your travellogs and sat there Saturday morning at work hiting the refresh button waiting for the next bit. Now do you type the text direct or do have it all planned out and on another program that you cut and paste from. Or is it that I type like a snail. Looking forward to your next trip.

Jumped at the chance for another day out on the bike. I wasn't going to chance my luck untill after I'd got back from the V11 and Buell. But it was offered on Monday for today (Wednesday). I had allready route planned East Anglia - 350 miles and anything else might impact on how I went to and from The V11 & Buell. Yesterday was a bit of a bad day Though once I'd done the inital action, when the situation became clear I ended up having less involvement than I would of had normally. But still down and uncertain if I'd want to ride today. I did dwell on it a couple of times but was able to snap out of it and concentrate on the task in hand. A late start today leaving just before 07:00am. Managed to catch up a que of traffic with a Traffic car in position 2. was doing 50 where the limit is 60 so was able to get behind it. There was no opportunity to get past before the road opened up and the lead vehicle got up to 60. Did wonder if he would lap the round about to come behind me to give me a tug, but went his own way and didn't double back. No motorway today at all, though some dual carriageway. The A120 into Essex over the last 10 years or so has been made into dual carraigeway and it's dead boring. Unfortunatly once it had run out and reverted back to single carriageway the traffic was too heavy to make much progress into and out of Colchester ( claims to be oldest recorded town) where the first check point was. It's a garrison town and I saw a detatchment of Paras out running. The A12/A14 around Ipswich had road works on it so traffic was well backed up. Most drivers moved over to assist me filtering through So got clear of that, which ment once through the roadworks it opened up nicely. From there on no real heavy traffic problems. Able to take some B roads but not that exciting compared to those of a fortnight previously. Ended up on some small single track roads that had just been dressed with chippings tracking down the third point, Luckily no oncomming traffic to avoid. Then mainly more boring A roads through flat country side. Managed to time my arrivals at speeed cameras with other traffic, so no late shows and just delay the overtake. nice and dull untill finished the last point and head home when the thundr storm arrived. My water proof cordura two piece suit isn't. The rain soaked the visor splatted bugs nicely so they just wiped off with the glove, but still couldn't see. So just slowed and followed lemming like. Back home by 17:20 , only 360 mile today, but seven new check points and 120 points scored. only 44 check points left 1 Colchester, Bourne mill 2 Halesworth, memorial to Zemke's wolf pack 3 Baconsthorpe, manor house 4 Cock le Clay, Icceni village 5 Moulton, Windmill 6 Gretton, Village stocks and whipping post 7 Houghton, water mill

posted speed black numbers in a red circle , will have a repeater every 1/4 of a mile as a reminder except for 30mph where the fact it has lamp posts is enough. Some sneaky local authorities are posting simular signs but with a black circle and the words maximum speed on entry to villages to encourage you to drop a bit down from the national speed limits The national speed limit white circle with a black diagonal for motorcycles are 70mph on dual carriageways 60mph on other roads. :!: Holds for cameras only :!: If you are stopped by a real Police officer he will have the option of arresting you and placing you before the next available court as your Dutch address is not suitable for service of a summons. There are no instant fines, can't take money off you in the street. So if thinks you need more than words of advice has only the one option. If you fail to stop and are caught you will be arrested. This is the worse case senario just so you know.

look forward to meeting you Antonio. Re the rope , It varies from company to company and even boat to boat. Ive used Stenna three time this last year each time has been varied Harwich-Hook of Holland & return - Super Catameran - Box of ropes tie your own Fishguard-Rosslarne - Super Ferry - Chap does it all for you uses ropes Rosslarne-Fishguard - Small catameran - a padded strap with ratchets DIY Not much help but the're bound to have something