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Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:46 pm
by Bogger
Well done lads. Glad you had a good time :D . Back to reality now :( :lol:

Bogger

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 1:12 pm
by knapdog
BenB wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:59 am
Ferry, camp, camp, camp, camp, train, ferry.
Lots of good accommodation along the way, mind....
Thanks.
Didn't realise you were ferry camp.
:?

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 4:33 pm
by remmington
Photos please?

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 5:07 pm
by BenB
remmington wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 4:33 pm
Photos please?
BenB wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:43 am
We're home!
Awesome trip. Loved it. :D
Over 1600 miles and the bikes did great.
If you get chance to do it, don't hesitate.

Route:
Day 1 - https://goo.gl/maps/6tCAroGARaR2
Day 2 - https://goo.gl/maps/n1xAydCW4yw
Day 3 - https://goo.gl/maps/aUMzyPc976t
Day 4 - https://goo.gl/maps/gkUxFkYNBZp
Day 5 - https://goo.gl/maps/oBfcMsAv1ev
Day 6 - https://goo.gl/maps/Mga9T6twGaT2

Photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bTYASJ3g51OEtbPI2

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 8:29 am
by remmington
BenB wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 5:07 pm
remmington wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 4:33 pm
Photos please?
BenB wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:43 am
We're home!
Awesome trip. Loved it. :D
Over 1600 miles and the bikes did great.
If you get chance to do it, don't hesitate.

Route:
Day 1 - https://goo.gl/maps/6tCAroGARaR2
Day 2 - https://goo.gl/maps/n1xAydCW4yw
Day 3 - https://goo.gl/maps/aUMzyPc976t
Day 4 - https://goo.gl/maps/gkUxFkYNBZp
Day 5 - https://goo.gl/maps/oBfcMsAv1ev
Day 6 - https://goo.gl/maps/Mga9T6twGaT2

Photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bTYASJ3g51OEtbPI2
Thanks... Looks like you can get a lot of dry bags on a Honda Grom.

Any breakdowns or punctures?

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 10:53 am
by BenB
A snapped throttle cable on the XL, and the (pictured) screw in my tyre. Luckily it didn’t puncture!

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:53 pm
by remmington
BenB wrote:
Sun Jun 10, 2018 10:53 am
A snapped throttle cable on the XL, and the (pictured) screw in my tyre. Luckily it didn’t puncture!
So...?

Where you equipped? Spare cables - routed to normal cables - with tie-wraps?

Inner tubes - tyre levers - inflation kit?


How far where you going between fuel stops?

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:13 am
by BenB
Newt had an entire spare bike in one pannier, just in case. The throttle cable was a specific spare.

We were carrying basic spares for the newer bikes (chain links, tyre fix kit, fuses, etc) and basic tools.

We all had Euro breakdown cover.

We were riding at no more than 55mph. That dropped in the mountains, as you'd expect.

Fuel range on the VanVan and XL was a little over 100 miles. We were aiming to find a fuel station at around 130km. We'd also stop (for photos, comfort and/or food) at around 65km to allow a break.

The first day we did nearly 400 miles. This was motorway and an intentional slog to get us to the Alps. From there, we did between 200 and 250 miles a day through the mountains. Most mornings we were on the road for about 8:30 and at our next campsite at around 6pm.

We had a 'fixed' riding order. I lead, as I was navigator. Mark was second on his Grom, then Darren on the Van Van and Newt at the back on the XL. The latter bikes are slightly quicker, meaning that any gaps which opened could be more easily closed. Also, it allowed us all to get comfortable with the way things ran - I knew to look for Newt to make sure the group was together, and we all got used to the way the person in front or behind rode.

The whole thing worked really well. :)

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 5:58 pm
by Tranberg
400 miles on a Grom in a day :o

Re: Little bikes do the Alps.

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 7:20 pm
by knapdog
Tranberg wrote:
Tue Jun 12, 2018 5:58 pm
400 miles on a Grom in a day :o
I've heard of the white finger syndrome.
This could be a case of white ringpiece syndrome coming up.