The Long Way Down - And Back

Hi and welcome to the forum.
That is a hell of a long trip on a Bonnie. Rode my T100 to Germany two years ago - about 4 hours on the bike after 2 hours in the UK to get to the tunnel. You are right, you are in for some pain - mainly in the arse region. Those seats are not comfortable over long distances. Consider the gel pad idea, padded cycling shorts or the old favourite seems to be a sheepskin cover!

 

Welcome.

I have a couple of observations as a fellow T100 owner.

From full tank to the fuel light coming on I get in the region of 125 miles, so not a huge range between fill ups and a chance to stretch your legs.

Comfort, forget it, you are in for some serious pain. In mitigation you should look at a seat pad. A friend of mine has recently done a weeks tour of the Highlands and used an Airhawk seat pad and he swears by it.

Good luck.

 

Good point, I miss timed my fuel stops on my T100 carb model. I used to get 135 miles before the need to switch to reserve occurred. I went to reserve with no sign of a filling station - 204 miles clocked up in total before I found one. Not fir the fainthearted!

 

At some point I'm going to chuck a few litres in a container and run mine to empty to see just how much of a reserve there actually is.

 

Trust me I never want to do it again as I was literally miles from the nearest townwhen I switched to the reserve. Taught me to fill up when you see a filling station even if the tank is half full.

 

Not sure about Triumphs but I wouldn't recommend that as most fuel pumps are cooled by the fuel and running them dry can lead to problems ( can seriously shorten operating life ) when you least want them .

I would fill it to the neck then run it to the reserve light then top it up as then whatever you put in less the tank capacity is what you have left and a quick calculation should tell you how far you might get

 

For handy emergency fuel reserve get hold of a couple of metal screw top drinks bottles. You can then strap a litre or so of fuel somewhere. e.g. under a luggage rack.

I have a solo gel seat on my SE, and a luggage rack, both of which I'm selling separately from the bike. You're welcome to borrow both if you can get over to Bedford, or buy them if you want them long term. Easy to fit at my place. I've some straps and bungees you can have too.

If riding solo, consider an elasticated net for the pillion seat under which you can stuff stuff. Safe so long as you stuff it a tight fit.

 

Michael, if you wanna practice a short-ish 4-day long ride pop up to Bellingham for the GMU this weekend (21st). Still a spare bunk in the bunkhouse cos Paul isn't now able to make it. Figwold and I will be bimbling up from Bedford. You're welcome to tag along.

 

Err, isn't that a Molotov Cocktail...?

Bloomin Trots...