This blog started when I owned and MZ Skorpion Traveller and a bike magazine dismissed it with the phrase 'you can't tour on a single'. The Skorpion's gone and I now have a Triumph Bonneville, but I can't be bothered changing the title of the blog!
This is an extra bit leading on from a post on my brother's blog. I can't add a picture in the replies to his post, so I've posted it here.
Firstly, read his post here.
This is what happened next:
When we got to the campsite I laid my bike on its side and took the clutch cover off It was clear what the problem was - the primary gear was missing about a third of its teeth! They must have broken off when I dropped the clutch and there was no way the bike was going any further under its own steam. I used to have a photo of myself standing over the dismantled bike - if I find it I'll post it later.
Lacking recovery insurance (a big mistake!) I had to leave the bike at the campsite and Stuart gave me a lift home. To make room for me he had to leave his 'luggage sack' behind. The following weekend I headed down in a hire van to collect my bike and Stuart's luggage. I was nearly at the campsite when the clutch in the van failed! This meant that it had to be recovered on an even bigger low loader, and I returned for the bike the following day in a replacement van. The bike was repaired with a spare gear from my 'huge pile of spares' and continued to be used for many more years.
The bike rally was organised by the Cossack Owners Club (for Soviet built bikes that were marketed under the Cossack name), and they gave me this wonderful 'Special Award'.
As regular readers will know, I went to the Coupes Moto Légende
back in 2012. It was probably the best, and certainly the biggest, motorbike
event I’ve ever been to.
For those that don’t know, it’s a huge classic bike event
held every year at the Dijon-Prenoir circuit, just outside Dijon in France.
There are lots of trade and club stands, old bikes being taken out on the
track, stands selling all sorts of spares and accessories, as well as former
racers taking bikes out for demonstration laps. They usually get about 30, 000
visitors so there’s plenty to see.
I’ve been meaning to return and as next year’s is the 25th
event, they might put on something special. There’s nothing on their website
yet, but I saw this reply on their Facebook page:
(Note: it automatically translates 'coupes' as 'cuts'.)
Now that the date’s been set I can start planning my trip. I
haven’t been for a proper holiday for a number of years, but I’m a bit more
financially stable, have a nice Bonneville I want to go on, and my current job
is very generous with holidays.
I’m intending going for 2 to 3 weeks taking in the Coupes
and anything else that takes my fancy. There’s going to be an MZ rally at Ballacolla
in Ireland round about that time. I’ve been previously and have been meaning to
return for years, ironically on the first non-MZ I’ve had on the road in 28
years!
A previous Ballacolla Rally - you don't often get that many Skorpions together!
I had planned that if the MZ rally is the weekend before the
Coupes, I could get the ferry from Rosslare (Ireland) to Cherbourg (France),
ride around France for a week, go to the Coupes, then make my way home.
However, I discovered an interesting car racing event in Pau (France) that is
usually held the weekend before the Coupes.
Poster for this year's event
Cars are raced on a circuit laid out on the streets through
the centre of Pau. I rather fancy the Historic Grand Prix, as there are classes
for 60s and 70s sports cars, Minis, etc.
As you can see from this video, lots of interesting cars.
So the plan has been hatched – if everything works out and
the events are on consecutive weekends, I will go to the MZ rally in Ireland,
get the ferry to France, ride about for a week then go to Pau, followed by another
week of riding about then going to the Coupes. After that it’ll be an easy ride to Zeebrugge
(Belgium) for the ferry home.
OK, the events might not work out as planned, some could
clash and I’ll end up only going to two, the Pound could collapse more against
the Euro and I’ll have to ‘trim’ the trip a bit, But you’ve got to start
planning somewhere! If anyone else is going to any of these events, come up and say 'hello'!
Useful stuff:
Coupes website here. Coupes Facebook page here. Grand Prix de Pau website here. Grand Prix de Pau Facebook page here.
Triumph have just announced the Bobber which uses the 1200cc 'High Torque' engine from their T120. Very neatly done with an adjustable single saddle, a fake 'hard tail' style rear end, and lots of stylish details.
Love how the fuel injectors look like Amal Monobloc carbs with 'pancake' air filters! There's also a 'battery box' on the other side complete with steel retaining strap.
Triumph have announced hundreds of official accessories and no doubt all the aftermarket suppliers will be producing them as well.
Not sure about the bars on the one on the right!
What amazes me is that despite its stripped down look, it still has ABS, traction control, 'ride by wire' throttle, etc - where do they fit all the bits?
Delivery should start in the UK in March 2017 and I found a dealer listing them with a guide price of £10,500 = 11,800 Euros = US$12,800.
Here's a video with a couple of Triumph promos and an impression of the bike:
I'm always interested in bikes that are a bit 'different', so here's the Indian market Honda Navi.
It's an unusual scooter/bike mixture with the engine and transmission from the 110cc Avtiva scooter married to motorcycle type styling.
I think it's quite funky looking with its small wheels and the very noticeable space below the tank...
... makes the idea place to carry luggage, as on this trail tyred version.
As it's aircooled and uses a carburettor it's very unlikely to pass European noise and emissions regulations, But who knows, we might get something similar one day.
Dimensions (Length x Width x Height)
1805 mm x 748 mm x 1039 mm
Wheelbase
1286 mm
Kerb Weight
101 kg
Ground Clearance
156 mm
Engine Displacement
110cc single-cylinder air-cooled
Power
7.83 BHP @ 7,000 rpm
Torque
8.96 Nm @ 5,500 rpm
Transmission
CVT (Automatic)
Top Speed
81 km/h
Suspension
Front – TelescopicRear- Spring Loaded Hydraulic
Rear- Spring Loaded Hydraulic
Brakes
Front – 130 mm DrumRear – 130 mm Drum
Rear – 130 mm Drum
Another new bike I really like the look of, the Yamaha SCR 950. Powered by a 942cc V twin engine with belt final drive, (based on their XV950), the SCR has a sort of 60s 'street scrambler' look. Yamaha use the phrase 'Sports Heritage'!
It's been on sale in the US since the summer, but will be coming to the UK, and probably other European countries, in February next year. Price in the US is $8,699 = £6998 = 7785 Euros, probably be different when it arrives due to local taxes and the continued decline of the pound.