Didn't We Have a Lovely Time on the Way to Calais

This dear reader is my first real continental travelogue by motorcycle: The meeting in Calais had been agreed some months before when the new owner of the R1100R had announced that he would be waiting at Calais with a trailer to meet me to take the bike onto Germany. The sub zero conditions prevailing were not anticipated some months before however.

Part 1 - Camberley - dressing up:

Essential riding gear for January - 5 layers and Maplin electric insoles to boot (haha).

Part 2a - Buffoonery on the M20:

With 20 miles to run to Ashford I switch off the heated grips by mistake due to the faulty ergonomics of "off" being between 100% and 50%.

Part 2b - Arrival of hypothermia au mains.









Part 3 - Arrival at Ashford Travelodge

Part 4 - Some 20 minutes later having managed to remove my helmet:

I drink the best cup of tea.....in the world....ever: Thanks nice receptionsist Travelodge Ashford.








Part 5 - The next day at 07:30:

Sub zero start - almost failed - thanks for the push by the helpful motorist obviously not from Surrey.



Part 6 - Installed on the Euroshuttle:

I become an object of curiosity to the folks from Surrey heading to the ski slopes - why bother to drive all that way I muse - you can have frostbite on the M25 just as effectively as in Verbier. I tell the Euroshuttle staff that I live near Manchester - they look incredulous.

A Case of Fettling and a New Nose Job

The wobbly front fairing has gone and has been replaced with a simple MRA screen with natty spoiler that during proving trials at 1.5 miles per minute (erhem officer the speedo of my aunt appears to overread too much) at it's "up" setting directed a turbulent (and noisy) but low pressure air blast at my helmet and at it's low setting ensured my head was in clean but fast air: In other words pretty pointless. The replacement battery strap that Vines of Guildford failed to produce after 3 weeks but Williams of Manchester russled up with 12 hours notice (well done Claudine Customer Service Advisor) proved more of a challenge in key hole plier and spanner techniques.

Hand Protectors

£22 well spent.

Out with the Delphi flasher

..and in with the self cancelling /same button cancel Kisan wonder.

Cockpit Fairing

The lower brackets do not seem to fit - Not so clever Wunderlich!

To Begin at the Beginning

Umm err...a chronicle of improvements to a 1998 BMW R1100R. The story so far encompasses lowered foot pegs, extended gear lever and built-up seat.

The Missing Link

Hopefully I can now change gear with a sensible area of my foot.