What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[Rixington43]

Long old day from Sheffield down to Afan Forest near Neath.
We dodged all but the lightest of showers and managed to stop off at the legend himself (Max Boyce) statue in Glynneath. Just sat down for a drink and some food at the Brynn Bettws Lodge at Afan bike park, praying for dry tomorrow.

[Rixington43]

....

[Upt North]

Parked up for a few days at Santa Maria di Castellabate. Just south, well actually a bit south of the Amalfi Coast. Which we will ride after the weekend traffic madness. And answers on a postcard please.... Are Italians the worst drivers in the world, since before Rome the rules of the road seem to be mere suggestions. Speed limits in KMH are always driven at MPH.
Keepin the mossies off of er.

[graingerblaze]

My wife is half Italian (and half Irish) so I can confirm they are the worse drivers!

I used to live in London so I’m used to drivers pushing their way through, but yes the Italians take it to a new level. The worst driving you will find is in the mountain roads, they love to overtake on blind corners.

Northern Italy is very welcoming to tourists but you may find the further south you travel the less helpful they are. Not in a horrible way, but less happy to see you, although the food gets better and cheaper so enjoy 

[Phild]

I did part of the Amalfi coast in June 2023.

I started from the Salerno end, got as far as Amalfi itself, having taken an age to get there. Then, turned back……. Italian drivers are bad enough, but that coast road was something else…… mainly from the scooter riding locals and mad tourists with no road sense at all.😱

Enjoy the ride👍

[nigel s]

Out at 7 this morning , wet roads 17c ??
Over to Suffolk to try to find that twisty road again.
Failed , though the time was well spent , the b1115 leading to the A1147 is a corker.
After tooling around for a couple of hours on the off chance I found it, I decided to see if I could tie up another loose end and set off for Kings Lynn , B road style.
200 miles in thought it best to get some fuel and grab a bite, a jumbo sausage roll was consumed,  layers taken off ( 23c now  )then onto Drunken Drove. The end of it I went past before had no sign, so I followed the ( grass up the middle ) road to the end,and there was one.Wahey.
Pic taken , I set the Sat Nav for home  just to see what it would come up with. Within 10 mins was lost but having a ball.
7 hours and  just over 300 miles later got home very happy ...a good day.

Ho Hum

[Brockett]

A day well spent.

[mrp192]

Sounds like a good day Nigel. Was that the twisty road from the image you posted last week? If so where was it in the end?

[nigel s]

Sorry, still not found that one , the hunt was made trickier by road closures , but I will post if I do 
The whole area in the Bury/ Haverhill/Hadleigh/Stowmarket circle has so many good B roads it is difficult to narrow it down when you are enjoying the one you are on so much and don't want to leave it.

Ho Hum

[mrp192]

I know what you mean. I’ve definitely found myself off the bigger roads onto the smaller ones more often. Sometimes the slower pace, extra ‘twistyness’ and scenery make it much nicer.
That road is bugging me as I know I know it, if you see what I mean?
Can I use your image to post on a riding group I’m with to see if anyone recognises it and puts my whirring mind to rest. 

[nigel s]

Feel free,I  too would like to have it confirmed

[MilozFolly]

I put the original exhaust system back on.  The 3/4 GPR system that was on there gave me a headache on my recent euro trip and my MPG seems to be a good way below what other are acheiving.  Hopefully the original will be less offensive to my ageing eardrums and magically give me better fuel consumption.  I'll report back if it ever stops raining.

[Rixington43]

Well Wales did decidedly Walesy things the second 2 days of our trip.
Saturday was wet almost all day, the road closures on Rhigos and Heads of the Valleys are a nightmare at the moment so we ended up cutting a part out of our route and still arriving at the overnight quite late.
Yesterday morning we got super lucky and it stayed dry for our last 2 or 3 high passes around Bala but we got utterly drowned for the 4hrs home.
New lid visor is more waterproof than the old one but nothing will survive that kind of onslaught. Man am I glad I bought the RST onesie before we left though.

[Rixington43]

.

[The Doctor 46]

The one piece suit is definitely the way to go. I've used different jacket and trouser combinations but the one piece suit is the only thing that will keep me completely dry in torrential rain. Bit of a faff to put on while standing at the side of the road though.

I bought a as new Rukka suit used for £20, advertised in a the local paper some years ago. 

[nigel s]

 I have levels of wet protection, depending on how wet I am prepared to get. I have a Scott over jacket that lives in the engine bags , very good .Handy for when I am caught out just to keep warm too.
A Richa goretex jacket for winter use. OK. But it rarely gets used due to the above, and textiles seem to flap a lot on me ,making it a noisy ride ( my left ear is foobarred)
But If I know I am going to be riding all day in the rain my trusty Hein Gerike  ( 30 year old) one piece goes over my leathers and has never leaked a drop

Ho Hum

[nigel s]

Nothing much today, we had the corner of the rain that Rixington43 had In Wales.
But by 12:30 it was mostly dry and popped out  on the 650 to run some errands ( order a new rear tyre , Road 6 £175 fitted... ouch ... but what can you do..., Opticians, Waterstones for books) in Norwich.
An hour in the City was enough for me and I took the long way home to wash the "hectic " off.


Ho Hum

[Upt North]

Rode to Paestum and Castellabate on't Hill today, just a day ride.
We head south tomorrow.
There can't be much of Italy Left?
The Greek temples at Paestum are splendiferous and their rum babas are even better.
Upt and Er'Indoors.

[Upt North]

Waiting for the Ferry to Messina. Er'Indoors can just about be made out sitting in the shade. It hadn't even warmed up it was only 88 of you f's. It got up to mid 90's this afternoon. Beer helped apres ride.
Upt.

[MilozFolly]

Very, very jeleous.  Enjoy mate.