27 December 2015
Day after Boxing Day - Blogging Starts Again!
BOWKER`s at Preston
In October, Bowker Motor Group opened a new Motorrad Dealership in Preston replacing Southport Super Bikes. I`ve got a few friends and acquaintances at Bowker`s so I thought I`d pop along to catch up with some familiar faces and a pre-opening tour of the workshop.A big WELL DONE from me.
New bike - LC1200GSA
First impressions:
- More power....I don`t really need it, but it`s noticeable over the old GSA.
- Seems lighter on the front end at slow speeds; probably the 30 litre tank and steering geometry helps.
- Fancy gearshift assist thingy....OK, but tootling along country lanes with pillion, the assist is not that useful; on open roads in dynamic mode just press the button and hold on.
- Windshield is a bit flimsy compared with my old GSA and flutters on the top edge when travelling fast. Turbulence around the cut out edges on the screen is quite noticeable on the shoulders.
- LED driving lamps are lower and less intrusive for oncoming drivers. I`ve had a lamp replaced under warranty at 800 miles by Bowker`s at Preston.
- Hand guards do not give adequate wind deflection
- Engine guards..tube ends look un-finished, not any more there not!
- Main stand..is this me or do I need to put my back into it. It seems like more effort is need to put the new bike on the stand compared with the old GSA.
THE BIG ISSUE (no not the mag)
- OK.....here goes with the main issue with this bike. The Michelin tyres want sacking by BMW, they are bloody terrible and a crime to humanity. Being ex-BMW it`s quite hard for me to be hyper critical, but, I am when my ears are getting this sort of bashing. I`ve hunted the interweb and popular blog sites...one Australian guy told me to sack the Michelins and go back to Metzler or something else if you`re riding in the "Outback" .....no chance of that sort of weather in Lancashire at the moment!
I`ve completed BMW online surveys, gone to the MCN bike show and spoken to those in the know; no one employed by BMW is going to openly admit to this, but quietly, everyone knows the issue.
What`s the problem?
- Above walking speed the noise generated by the tyres passes up through the head stock area and hits you with an incredible howl, generally, the faster you go the more noise until the wind rush drowns the tyre noise.
- On part throttle and engine over-run it`s possible to get a noise similar to a truck back axle whining, I`m an ex truck driver so I`ve got plenty of experience of unfriendly noises.
Solution for now
- The option I`ve found best is, to go back to using ear plugs, my choice is "Ultimate Ear Protection" and my new order should be with me in early 2016.
- Run off the Michelin Anakee`s and go Metzeler or possibly Michelin Pilot.
OK...gripe over. The wet and cold winter months lend themselves to a bit of tinkering in the garage, so a few modifications have been carried out. Why bother? I counted the cost of all the bits and bobs I fitted to the old GSA and came to the conclusion that, I could have probably bought a new Suzuki on the never never, I not knocking Suzuki, just the price of the BMW bits.
With toolkit at hand (rarely used) and battery drill charged (always on charge), the garage doors were shut and the halogen lamps were on, the lamps providing enough candle power to give the police helicopter and the thermal image camera a promise of a shout, or even, a large enough image for the international space station to spot. Why halogen you may ask...with failing eyesight and cold fingers you need to know where you dropped the bolt, and with warm hands you should n`t drop it again! I hope the accountant (her in doors) does n`t count the cost of the electricity, I could have probably bought all the bits from Touratech and still have had change for a Spanish holiday!
Mod 1
The un-finished engine bar and frame tube ends now sport a varied selection of rubbers bungs... no, not Touratech or Nippy Normans, just walking stick rubber ends at 60- 90 pence a go; use a little super glue and the job`s complete.
Mod 2
Panniers and Top Box - solar panel and ram mounting on the top box...Lidl solar panel at £11 is good enough to charge you phone and other electrical bits and bobs, it even comes with its own waterproof cover...essential in Lancashire. I`ve found it useful to use the none slip mat on all the lids....secured by BMW fabric woven insulation tape; it`s a bit costly, but it is the best by far.
Mod 3
Side pannier drinks tube or map holder..take your pick. Whilst not thermally insulated from hot weather, I find it useful to put an aluminium water bottle in there; it`s to late when you`re suffering from dehydration. A useful tip is to secure the screw top with piano wire and a caribiner to prevent loss in windy weather.
Mod 4
Hydraulic cylinder protection cover. I used a local company who manufacture truck pickup bodies to supply me with the aluminium plate and a hardware shop with the 15mm aluminium angle strip and fasteners. OK..this is the first run so the finish is not the best, when my other half lets me go back in the garage I`ll do a better job.
Materials:
2mm plate - 15mm angle - central heating plastic pipe clip - small metric bolts.
Fixing:
The original cylinder bolt and plastic pipe clip over the frame.
Mod 5
Reflective tape on box and panniers supplied by 3M. You would be suprised just how noticed this gets you in the dark.
3M reflective tape cut down to strips and fitted on the back of the hand guards and mirrors
Mod 6
The foot pegs on the GSA have a nasty habit of chewing my soft summer boots, a lesson learnt well in Copenhagen with wet feet for a couple of days. Nippy Norman did a nice little kit for the old GSA but unfortunately these don`t fit the new one; solution......make my own for a fraction of the cost.
I used 3mm aluminium plate for the top and bottom of the foot pegs with long through bolts to secure the plates. The shoe repairer in town glued some new rubber to the plates and I put a small sheet of rubber underneath the plate to rest on the serrated foot pegs to prevent slipping...they`ve worked so far!
Mod 7
The rear end of the bike always gets nasty in filthy weather, so I decided to try a 3mm aluminium backing plate behind the registration plate. The supplier cut to size and put a slight lip on it at the bottom to stop the dirt on the plate and rear lights, I could have done with a slightly bigger lip, but, I think it`s working so far...cost £10. I put three rubber tap washers between the BMW plastic framework and my mod just to stand it off the pannier tube at the rear.
Mod 8
I fitted a plastic covered tow rope on my old GSA which nicely fitted around the top box framework, not so lucky on the new bike because of the lack of side supports for the top box. My supply of 15 x 2 mm aluminium angle did the job for this one; I did however, need to spend time cutting slots for velcro fasteners and drilling the alloy angle to secure to the plastic corners on the top box.
Trip to Kirby Lonsdale (KL)
Enough playing around in the garage...time to ride! A visit to Kirby Lonsdale prior to the Christmas break seemed like a good idea; no rain, so a chance to head over the fells via Slaidburn, Bentham and then the short dash down the A65 to Kirby. I`m not a big fan of "the bridge", so most visits terminate in KL town square with free bike parking if you can manage to slot it in.
The Sun Inn next to the church is always popular; must stop over sometime and have a right go at the beer.
KL Church - visited. a number of times. If you pass through the graveyard to the rear of the church you will come across a view of the River Lune, the scene was painted by TURNER... called RUSKIN`s VIEW.
Google Image Hyperlink: Ruskin`s View
St Mary`s Church - KL
My favourite shop in KL - all the stuff you`re likely to need.
Top box full of presents, time for home.
Christmas & Boxing Day
Then the rains came! Whilst Cumbria had the downpour in early December, we got it Christmas and Boxing Day, it never stopped. Technically, I`m on the Lancashire flood plain, if I`m under water then it`s time to start building the Ark. Forget the bike, it was time to get out the wellies and have a look round the village.
The stepping stones to the pub are 3 feet under water
Watching our flooded neighbour villages on the BBC close to the River Ribble and Calder makes me feel lucky, at least the waters receded quickly.
Waddington
The village stream takes the water off the gathering grounds on the fell and eventually drops it into the River Ribble about 3/4 of a mile out of the village. The water rises quickly in heavy rain and previous to the Environment Agency raising the bridges the houses at the bottom of the road always flooded.
The stepping stones to the pub are 3 feet under water
If we had this amount of water for "The Duck Race" in May it would be over in minutes; you never know with global warming, it could be a reality sooner than we think!
I`ve seen it rain harder, but the non stop rain over two days started to flood local roads.
Some of the low structures crossing roads and drives gathered floating debris and water took the easiest path.
Edisford Road was flooded, but passable.
Watching our flooded neighbour villages on the BBC close to the River Ribble and Calder makes me feel lucky, at least the waters receded quickly.
River Ribble between Chatburn and Grindleton
I travelled on this road with the bike on Sunday 27th and the river was down substantially, but still high. We made our way to Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to have a look at Gordale Scar, the roads were fine, only large puddles here and there!
Gordale Scar
Turn over the bridge in Malham, past the pub that is slightly set back off the road, and head up the narrow road which is signposted ....no through road. Follow this narrow road for approx 1 mile and you will come to a parking area and site for camping, now an under water camping facility. Walk approx 1/2 mile to the scar.
Limestone country..this area is known for pot holes and underground caverns that St Paul`s Cathedral would fit in. The limestone is porous, but the volume of water is still present and fast flowing.
The compacted limestone footpath was washed away by the re directed water flow.
At the head of the scar lies a rock formation, I have climbed this a good number of years ago but not in such a fast flow of water. After the initial climb you approach the limestone window (waterfall) and bear left up a scree slope to the top.
After the rain!
A grand day out - weather warm and brightish, what`s the fuss?
Another Fine Day - What!
Trip to Masham in North Yorkshire over the tops via Pately Bridge. Always time for a brew and a walk about the place
Masham square - a few people milling about and a small number of bikers venturing on the quiet roads.....GREAT!
BMW...me and my little friend!
Triumph 1050 sprouting horns...looks like he rammed Ruldoph where the sun does n`t shine and Ruldoph morphed into a Tiger!
On my lonesome!
They just can`t resist getting the word "Yorkshire" in there....Merry, Yorkshire and Christmas in one sentence, whatever next!
OK..time for "getting the fudge out of Rodge", my pillion is getting cold. The trip back from Masham via Middleham to Leyburn and Hawes was a little more tricky, the rain water in places was deep and generally pooled just behind blind bends, but again no problem, you just had to ride accordingly.
Stop for a break in Hawes and a brew before heading back home.
We`d been riding in RAIN mode all day, but with pillion wanting to get home and the prospect of rain on the horizon, I thought, press the go fast button and hold on.....with the BMW go fast clutch thingy doing its work we made good time on empty roads.
SEE YOU LATER, Cheers E
