Pirate
Well travelled
- Location
- Aldershot, UK
Did a round trip of 170 miles from Surrey to Wiltshire and back today (no sniggering at the back please!) on my 2019 Himalayan. I understand that for many of you this is absolutely nothing and last December I rode to Northern France and back (froze to death, got a puncture therefore missed my ferry home...) but I was simply so impressed with my bike (and most of my kit) I felt I had to make a brief report.
I had Oxford Adventure Hot Grips fitted at the weekend so this was my first test of them - absolutely brilliant, wish I'd had them last winter. My local bike shop, Normandy Motorcycles, fitted the grips and did a fantastic job, wiring them into the ignition. I have a very slow pulse rate so my fingers freeze easily. My fingertips remained cold, but not so I couldn't feel them (like before!) and my hands were certainly warm. The outside temperature didn't rise much above about 8 degrees (minus wind chill of course) and I had the grips set at 75% most of the time. A pair of Spada winter gloves were pretty effective which, together with the RE handguards, kept the wind off.
My bike, which is stock mechanically, save for an Iridium plug, performed faultlessly. The roads were a good mix, mostly 40-50mph with a little motorway and a few villages (30mph) thrown in. Cruised nicely at 70mph, hit almost 80mph once or twice without much effort, but both the bike and I felt more comfortable at 60-65. 40-50 is what the bike does best I feel. I never thrash my bike but it certainly did everything I asked of it and usually had a bit in reserve.
I have Oxford Montreal 3.0 trousers and jacket, both with liners in and all zips fastened. Pretty good protection but could still feel a bit of cold air coming through despite long johns, long socks (Oxford thermal) and three layers underneath the jacket. Nothing unbearable though and although my feet were cold by the end of the journey I wasn't particularly aware of them en route.
Overall, a highly enjoyable ride but I'm darned if I know how people like Nathan the Postman go from Lands End to John O' Groats on a Himalayan. Motorway cruising is for bigger beasts I feel.
I know we are in lock-down but this was a work trip, before you all call the police...!
I had Oxford Adventure Hot Grips fitted at the weekend so this was my first test of them - absolutely brilliant, wish I'd had them last winter. My local bike shop, Normandy Motorcycles, fitted the grips and did a fantastic job, wiring them into the ignition. I have a very slow pulse rate so my fingers freeze easily. My fingertips remained cold, but not so I couldn't feel them (like before!) and my hands were certainly warm. The outside temperature didn't rise much above about 8 degrees (minus wind chill of course) and I had the grips set at 75% most of the time. A pair of Spada winter gloves were pretty effective which, together with the RE handguards, kept the wind off.
My bike, which is stock mechanically, save for an Iridium plug, performed faultlessly. The roads were a good mix, mostly 40-50mph with a little motorway and a few villages (30mph) thrown in. Cruised nicely at 70mph, hit almost 80mph once or twice without much effort, but both the bike and I felt more comfortable at 60-65. 40-50 is what the bike does best I feel. I never thrash my bike but it certainly did everything I asked of it and usually had a bit in reserve.
I have Oxford Montreal 3.0 trousers and jacket, both with liners in and all zips fastened. Pretty good protection but could still feel a bit of cold air coming through despite long johns, long socks (Oxford thermal) and three layers underneath the jacket. Nothing unbearable though and although my feet were cold by the end of the journey I wasn't particularly aware of them en route.
Overall, a highly enjoyable ride but I'm darned if I know how people like Nathan the Postman go from Lands End to John O' Groats on a Himalayan. Motorway cruising is for bigger beasts I feel.
I know we are in lock-down but this was a work trip, before you all call the police...!
)
