Went away for a few days to Suffolk on the trophy. At one point I'm struggling to keep the enthusiasm up for touring on a bike. Maybe I've gone soft over the last few years? We were 2 up with kit for 5 days away, 2 cameras and long lenses some food and drink as we like wandering around wildlife reserves. That's the reason for the 2 cameras and long lenses. So a couple of collapsible rucksacks and as it was hot (for us in the UK, it cracked a whopping 31 deg cel - no sniggering at the back), plenty of drink. The other half had a litre of water tucked down her jacket straight from the petrol station fridge... Packing/unpacking at the reserves etc was just a real pain, I need more storage. Panniers are 26l I think, top box 36l, tank bag(?). That tops 88l plus tank bag (which has to be unpacked and left empty when we leave the bike). Had bad thoughts on the bike and started to dream of huge 37l panniers and 56l topboxes...130l in total. Yeah that'll do it. Maybe a GS1200? then I hit the dreaded southern England traffic jams, filtering was easy with the trophy, but I think could be a pain on a GS with panniers as wide as a truck. So moved onto a BMW R1200RT, 32l panniers 49l topbox. Oohhh 115l, yeah... But what about a 56l topbox on my trophy, hey that's 108l... maybe I'll do that. Oh look I'm home... Oh yeah, and who moved the feckin A14, my sat nav had me traveling over open country, and who took away the all the exits until the A1? WTF, long detour around huntingdon and lots of traffic and heat...
Congrats, @Neil Gunn! My suggestion is to post photos for us!! Additionally, I'd suggest changing the seat. Check out the custom seats this guys makes. I had one on my 2012 Thruxton 900 and loved it. Just in case you're wondering, you can fit 5 bottles of beer in the cubbie. And when the compartment door is closed you can't tell at all that there's storage space under the seat cowl. And when I traded my 2012 for a 2016 I bought another seat from Wilder for that bike. Both in black. He does all sorts of customization--colors, stitch patterns and colors, etc. https://wilderfactory.com/products/cafe-compartment-seat
Took a trip to Hunstanton today - beautiful weather. A wasp decided to join me through one of the helmet vents - he left with a sting in his tail. Went up via Peterborough & A47 (roads were chocker) and back via Ely and Cambridge (A10, A14 and A428). Good bunch of peeps up there to chat to - from Cambridge, Mundesley, Cheshunt and Lincoln. Made an arse of myself by nearly dropping the bike leaving the car park but, hey ho, got a sun tan and a sausage bap - what more can you want?
Decent size tank bag plus 2 x 36ltr panniers and 1 x 36ltr top box proved sufficient capacity for 2 weeks in France (Auvergne and Marne Valley - a week in each location) for the two of us, and has proved to be enough for several week long jaunts, in the past (France, Scotland, Wales etc). Those were the days, SIGH!!
I agree, for me it was the easiest setup I ever packed. I'm talking about my first trophy, a 900 that I had triumph luggage installed. That was basically 3 givi 36l bags with triumph stickers replacing the givi badge. Guess what that total is, 108l, exactly what mine will add up to if I add a 56l topbox. One problem with that setup was filtering though, those mothers were wide. I remember the first time I hit a bad traffic jam was around Lyon, I thought no way am I getting through this, then the cars just parted for me, gotta love the French car drivers... Bit different back in London though...
Today, I had the distinct pleasure of returning home, after more than halfway to work at 5:45am with a broken clutch cable. I had noticed some strange feeling in the clutch for a few days. Unknown to me, it was the cable breaking strand by strand. This morning, I felt another tang, and it was hard to downshift. Stopped at the little cafe' and had a look. One strand left. Decided to retreat home, instead of braving town traffic with no positive method to stand still. Shifted all the way without clutch and killed it in the drive. Rolled Blue into berth, and set sail on Lucifer instead. After work investigation showed the clutch end ball frozen in the handle. Should have been greasing, as I know better, but.... At any rate, the ball was covered in a plastic sheath and it was the devil to get it out. Good news is that trusty Baxter Cycle has a spare and is sending same. Lesson of the day.. Inspect and grease the clutch cable end in the lever, before it is too late.
Finally after a three and a half month wait for Motone to restock the new indicators for my Bonneville arrived this morning So that will be my afternoon job... Also, this morning I took a ride on the Street Triple down to On Yer Bike again, for a test ride on a Monster 821.. what a great fun bike , so agile, easy to ride, and comfortable.
I almost bought a used Monster, but I didn't like the maintenance schedule for it. I'd rather ride than change timing belts.
My Triumphs are 12 & 13 years old and neither of them have done 18000 km yet, although my Street Triple is very close
