I don't think I have ever organised a trip in such a small space of time I have got a headache from it all, OK so yesterday morning dawned Lorni got home form work and off we went ....tot he bank where I had so much trouble trying to transfer some money to pay for the bike, ended up just taking cash, eventually we started our trip up north to pick up the bike, nearly 4 hours late and we were there, the bike was outside ready for us all shiny and gleaming. I managed to leave without stalling her and it didn't take long to get used to a "proper" bike The weather however had a little ambush waiting for us, the heavens opened and it didn't take long before i couldn't see very well and I was testing my shower proof suit to the max, the lightening was incredible and it wasn't long before my nice shiny bike looked like someone had thrown a bucket of muddy water over it...
We got back after dark and had been pushing it a little I was surprised to see that after Neal 190 miles the fuel gauge was still showing there was a fair bit left between quarter and empty, so what did i think of her, well she does vibrate at slower speeds a high frequency vibration but as a Harley rider this was nothing to worry about and was expected as I had been reading a few articles on the Diversion forums, a slight whine form the drive shaft but again having owned Goldwings and Valkyries I expected this too, I will get used to the riding position , What I liked was the fact that she will pull form 25mph in top and if you ask her nicely she will pull her skirts up and pull. the brakes weren't brilliant but adequate the seat was rather comfortable, back in the garage I could see how long it was going to take to clean her up again.
So up this morning early and with the polish and cleaner then I had to take the bike apart just to get to the battery this is the first negative thing I have found with this bike, I wired up the power supply I was going to use for charging my phone and running the sat nav but after putting everything back together again , the unit failed!!! grrr!! So after another hour of taking it all apart again and this time wiring up the Garmin cables just for the sat nav and...everything worked, phewww! Next was putting the tank bag on this is one of those that fits on a ring over the fuel filler
So after a lot of cleaning and swearing, knocked knuckles and few cuppas she was finished ready for the trip all I had to do now was figure out how to get all my stuff in her, back to the domestic stuff lots of ironing and some rethinking on my packing techniques no matter what I do I can't fit everything I want to in the bag,...never mind I'll just have to make do.
Another early start tomorrow just to finish off the one or two little things I need to do like wash kit strap everything down and get some Euro's, then a little mid day nap then it will be time for the off around 7:30 down to Newhaven ready to catch the 11:00 pm Ferry to Dieppe, the adventure has started!
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