WW1-bimble. Look who i ran into today!

[Franc]

Pirate with his side panels off in public yet again... this is getting too regular!

Strange, when I owned the bike I never had a problem with reliability issues.
Must be down to operator error.

[moose]

Just got back about an hour and a half ago

What a trip !

Well done for everyone on a trip of around 1300 miles in France and Belgium and not one breakdown

Well thats complete BS!

Apart from Blue Monday when we drove all day in the rain the weather was superb and all the different trips to WW1 sites was amazing, interesting, sombre and unmissable especially last night at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Bridge - something you've got to do if your down that way

Big thanks to Pirate and his best friend Garmin for the Navigation and Grant aka Blitz for organising all the accomadation and brian and Dave for another Mt European Adventure!

And last big up to the Flying Dutchman for making the extra effort for a rideout from Holland to Belgium just so he could see another mt - next year he says we can do a Stafford type meet at his house in Holland - watch this space

[Minter]

Nice one mate.. Wish i could have made it...

Apart from Simons Reg rec what else went wrong!

[moose]

simons reg rec goosed the battery and he amanged to strengthen his kicking technique

Luckily with the help of Throb via the phone we managed to fit a spare 604 regrec and a spare coil and along with a trip to our local Yamaha main dealer for a new battery Simons bike again eventually was charging correctly and he had the leccy boot

My bike had a sticky front caliper which led to boiled brake fluid and sudden lack off all front brakes at a couple of occasions ( brown trouser moments) which after a clean up and removed my buggered dust covers appeared to sort it

We had filled up with some poor 95 unleaded which caused some poor carb running a couple of times and Grants carb suffered with it seems a blocked jet causing a lack of top end but credit they got us back to the gite every night

I was almost home and my bike appeared to be running on deaths door popping and banging and one inspection at home both nuts on one exhaust header had disappered somewhere on the m3

Appart from that my and Brians Sportax refreshed motors performed as to be expected!!

[CADMAN]

I got home about 7 o`clock had a hot bath and am now going to bed I am shattered but I have had the most amazing time in France and Belgium. I will post more when I recover. Big thanks to Pirate for taking us all to see so many different things, and for sharing some of his knowledge of the area and the events that took place during the two world wars . And also thanks to Grant,Kevin and Brian for making it such a great trip. , but tired.
I hope you all got home without any hick-ups.

[moose]

Also don't mention the toilet and the washing machine

[Pirate]

I got home at 20.15, which considering the hold-ups around Reading and Newbury, was good going. Had a great time and look forward to the write up from Brian.

Not counting the reg/rec destroying the on bike nave charger and battery. The only failure I had was when my centre stand springs gave way 300 yds from the entrance to the French tunnel. So out came the old cable ties, Moose did one side and me the other.

Found the French drivers always move over when a vehicle is joining a motorway, the only twat we found was coming home when a English Land Rover didn't.

So a good week made all the better by the company.

Pirate

[bth2bth2]

just got in at midnight. apart from the carpark which is the m25 ,not a bad run home. still got a mysterious tightening cam belt issue though.
more to follow when ive had a hot bath and a good kip.

brian

[bth2bth2]

great trip. fantastic itinerary.i don't think we missed much. weather great ,apart from blue Monday
really good to see Jan,our flying dutchman.
big up to pirate for the first class itinerary , the educational talks before each point of interest visited and for being lead rider.
thanks for the cooks and washers up.we defo didn't starve.
thanks to grant for booking the accommodation which was spot on.
thanks to moose for being interpreter. he will have to start learning dutch for next year
good to see all got home ok.

my figures are 1811 mls , 36.9 gals = 49 mpg ish.


brian

[Flying Dutchman]

Great to read that you all made it home safely! Even Pirate with his habbit to ride on the 'wrong' site of the road

At first it was confusing to see other MT's than mine, the only one i had ever seen properly. Almost felt like i suddenly saw 5 copies of my own girlfriend.... (With other men on it.... ) Confusing!

Hopefully i can meet you all again.... In Holland?