Featured Touring On A Non-tourer

Steve Hill · May 11, 2020

How it stayed on there I'll never know.

The following year I traded it for a sprint and used a Rentec on that as well, trouble with that was the underseat exhaust melted our air bed The year after that I gave in and used the panniers that had come with the bike and got a Givi top box, I hated doing it but life was so much easier.

Steve Hill · May 11, 2020

Privateer said: ↑

Here's my old girl. Gone but never forgotten. View attachment 94708
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The bloke that bought mine ran it into the ground, it was painful to see. I'd buy another one now if I had the spare cash.

fzr162 · May 12, 2020

When I competed at the Belgian Classic trophy in Gedine I was talking to a photographer who had made the trip from Bradford in West Yorkshire on a Honda 90. A round trip of over 1000 miles, so you can tour on anything as long as it's reliable.

XCaTel · May 15, 2020

In my 30's I could travel abroad on my Daytona 1200 with full camping kit and clothes for a week with a cheap set of throw over panniers and a bunch of bungee cords, no bother at all. Now I can't go for a weekend without a set of aluminium pannier/top box, a tank bag, heated grips, seat, heated vest...........wtf happened! Age is what happened, age. Forget about what everyone says about travelling light, just take what you want, there is no right or wrong amount of anything.

Cape Cod Carl · Jun 28, 2020

Privateer said: ↑

Here's my old girl. Gone but never forgotten. View attachment 94708
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I had one for 23 years and 63,000 miles. ! A great ride . Finally the load it put on the old body got to much. Riding a 2016 T120 now . Love it.

Doc Strange · Jun 28, 2020

fzr162 said: ↑

When I competed at the Belgian Classic trophy in Gedine I was talking to a photographer who had made the trip from Bradford in West Yorkshire on a Honda 90. A round trip of over 1000 miles, so you can tour on anything as long as it's reliable.
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When and what were your racing at Gedine?

Been over to watch a couple of times, would have been going this year. and always had a great time

DS

fzr162 · Jun 28, 2020

Hi I raced there in 2016 and 17. I raced my fzr400 in the Evo class. Probably the best organised race meeting I have ever been involved in.

Doc Strange · Jun 30, 2020

fzr162 said: ↑

Hi I raced there in 2016 and 17. I raced my fzr400 in the Evo class. Probably the best organised race meeting I have ever been involved in.
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Would have seen you in 2017.

Yep, a lovely event - and bloody strong beer available

DS

Bad Billy · Jun 30, 2020

meepmeep said: ↑

I'm intending to take a small tour once lockdown has passed, possibly ferry to Spain then across the Pyrenees and back up through France.

I love watching touring vids on YouTube, but most are understandably done by people on GS's or other touring bikes.

My last tour was on a CBR600FX around 15 years ago. Looking back, my mate and I were woefully unprepared. Luckily the bikes were reliable and we had a great time. This time I'll be on my own and want to be more prepared.

Do any of you have any hints, tips, stories about a trip you've done on a non-tourer? Any videos? Sorry non-tourers, I just wanted to approach from a different perspective.

The things I noticed were:

1. It's bloody cold in Spain at night. Didn't expect that when blatting back from Benidorm to Santander.
2. Hot roads make the back wheel spin up easily.
3. No mobiles or sat nav back then. We only got separated once and found each other by following the road signs to the destination.
4. Needed better ear protection; essential on such a long trip.
5. The N623 was a brilliant introduction to riding in Spain.
6. Old people in villages raise their walking sticks. This means pull a wheelie!
7. Stick out the foot to say hi to other bikers.
8. Look out for dusty crap at the edge of roads. It's slippy.

Stay safe all...
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Hi Mate,
Did Spain via ferry into Santander then down to Andorra on N623 via an overnight stay in Jaca on the way down & Pamplona on the way back, did it on a Street Triple as per the photo, great trip, fantastic roads & really cheap in Andorra where we spent 3 nights, just using hotel as a base to explore.