New Helmet - Schuberth C4

Just a blog report on my latest purchase. For sometime now I've been interested in getting another flip-front helmet as I miss the Shark Evoline I used a few years ago, but I found it way to heavy and was literally a pain in the neck after a days ride. This lead me to switch to a  much lighter full face Shoei Hornet Adventure style helmet, but with the recent visor crack and scratches I decided to have another look at what was on offer (Shoei wanted close to £100 for a new visor). Last year while in the Alps a few of the guys had the Schuberth C3 flip-front helmet and I was impressed with the lightness and build quality. I do like to pair a headset to my Garmin, Phone and iPod with occasional intercom so one option was to fit the cheap BT system I already have to the outside of a C3, but with the flip front this would push the control unit further back making it less accessible and I was concerned it would catch on my jacket collar.

Another option was the Schuberth E1 adventure style helmet, this is also a flip-front with a detachable peak - more expensive than the C3 Pro with the option of fitting the cheap BT system or purchasing the £180 Sena based 'collar' system. I like the E1 and was close to buying it, but fitting the collar system seemed a pain, as I understand they are hot to wear in the summer. My cheap BT system was now coming to the end of its life - battery life is getting shorter these days and the battery is part of the comm's system so cannot be changed. Another consideration - would there be buffeting at Motorway speeds with a peak helmet ? The Hornet was a winner at avoiding this, but the E1 was a bit of an expensive gamble that might lead to me having to change  the screen on my bike. Bit of a worse case, if the E1 had an integrated comm's system I may have taken the gamble, but it would also suffer with having an exterior mounted system pushed back like the C3 problem too.

This led me to another option ... recently Schuberth have released the C4 range to supersede the C3's going forward and it does look a bit sleeker, smarter (IMO) with Schuberth and indie reviewers claiming it has better visibility with a wider field of vision. It also has ability for you to plug in the really small form-factor integrated SC1 Intercom option developed by Sena ( probably the leader in bluetooth bike intercom systems). A separate battery and comm's unit is slotted into the rear opposing edges of the helmet. The helmet comes with integrated speaker, antenna and microphones built into it's shell. The SC1 system does have all sorts of VOX activated options too and can group pair with other SC1 systems as well as the popular Sena 10u systems. It can even pair with generic blueetooth comm's like my current cheap BT system too.

Great looking Schuberth C4 - in Pulse Silver

I have been really sold on the integrated features of the C4 for three reasons;

1. The intercom system is discrete, not a bulky separate add on to the exterior of the helmet and you don't have to pull all of the lining out to fit it either. With a none integrated set up I have found the ear phones irritate the edge of my ears after a while because they are not properly recessed.  
2. Since I rarely use the Intercom or phone feature the integrated microphone would be there if needed but not in the way all of the time like on the boom sticking out of the cheek pad. Also, in wet weather the boom mic can get wet, it's difficult to tuck out of the way. 
3. With the C4 you can purchase an additional battery and a separate charger so charge the battery independently of the helmet and comm's system e.g. leave in a hotel room on charge for the next day etc. Also when the battery loses efficiency you simply buy another one - not the whole system again.

The Schuberth C4 comes with a 5 year warranty on all parts so after getting a great deal at Moto Central an official dealer in Leicestershire, I bought one with the SC1 kit combined. 

I have been out on a few rides with the C4 with SC1 now and have to say I am really impressed. I think it looks sleeker than the C3, the sun visor is a great feature and has wide peripheral vision, very comfortable and warmer on Autumn days than the Shoei.  A very quiet helmet too, something Schuberth are renowned for and is a favourite with Police motorcyclists. I found pairing with bluetooth devices like my GPS and phone really easy. There's even a Schuberth SC1 Android and iOS app to help with configuration. I'm getting used to the two button function now - can be a bit fiddly learning the button combinations  though e.g.

Pause Music - Hold the + key for 1 second

Skip Track - Hold the + key for 3 seconds

Up Volume - Tap the + Key.

.. but after yesterdays local ride with Lindsay I was really getting used to  operating it with gloves on. Great sound quality and bass notes on audio too - even with ear plugs. Haven't tried the comm's yet apart from a quick pair with my generic bluetooth BT system at home, but so far I have to say I'm really pleased. The air flow has been improved over the C3 - not sure what the net effect is, but the 3 position settings allow varying streams of air you can really feel the effect (the Shoei was useless for this) - hopefully it will be cool in the summer now. I may consider getting a spare battery along with the charger now too, roll on next years touring - can't wait!

Autumn Ducati Sunshine

Today (Sunday), the day started off with bright sunshine, an ideal Autumn morning for a ride down to Quatt Truck Stop (local bikers cafe) to meet  up with Ron, my ex-Harley mate I hadn't seen for a while. Great to catch up, and the first time I'd seen his shiny white Ducati Multistrada 1200. It seems he and Pip were finding the Fat Boy (Harley Softail 😉) a bit uncomfortable while touring around Spain last year, and fell for the Ducati after a few test rides. Great colour and a bit different than the obvious Ducati red I think, the build quality is really quite something on the Multistrada, with plenty of suspension settings and ride modes, and fantastic looking multi function display too, I'm well impressed. 

  

It was great hearing all about his excellent trip riding the Alpenstrasse in Bavaria earlier this year too, a route I did in the opposite direction a few years ago so we were able to share our experiences, and he also got to ride the full route, though unlike me, West to East instead. I love that Alpenstrasse  and wouldn't mind going back, full of interesting Bavarian villages, lakes and forests with plenty of places to stay en-route. Ron took an interesting approach to touring, without a predefined route they (Ron and Roy) set an 'intended' end destination for the day instead, and simply made up the detail along the way, relying on their GPS's to keep them heading in a basic general direction. I like the sound of that type of freedom giving you the chance to really explore and discover without following someone's pre-defined idea of how the day should turn out.  I have done something similar myself on odd days while on my own in Austria, and while alone riding  in the U.K, but not for the entire trip away. He explained they had no definite hotels booked either, relying on a daily 5 pm hunt for accommodation wherever they were at that time. Sounds like a lot of fun, but might not suit everyone's idea of touring without the comfort of knowing where you are heading and having a hotel pre booked to aim for. I can think of one person I toured with in the past who no longer rides bikes who would have simply 'gone mad' not knowing where he may end up, but 'horses for courses' as they say. I would like to try this type of trip in the future, but I'm usually on a timescale - a holiday from work, and often have a 'sight-seeing' or 'roads I must ride' agenda in my mind before I set off. It seems Ron managed to do this by choosing the Alpenstrasse, yet satisfying the wander-lust aspect of an adventure ride too. How refreshing, I really think I might have to give it a try.

After a brew and chat we both headed off for a ride around parts of Shropshire taking a back road Ron knew down to Much Wenlock, one I hadn't ridden before. Following behind he did look comfortable on the Multistrada, it really is a nice bike. Later, we stopped off in Craven Arms, and got chatting to a couple out on their 16 plate BMW RT, having ridden it twice down to Italy and the lakes (hmm, now there's a place I must go back to, maybe I could make it up n the way?). Later, we set off on a pleasant ride towards home saying our 'byes' in Bridgnorth.

Ride outs are shorter now as Autumn sets in, with time to get back and clean bikes etc.

Cheers for the meet Ron, a good afternoon with a balmy 17 degrees sunshine too. A real bonus for October. 👍

Cotswold figure of eight

The weather looked promising for the weekend, and Sunday being the best option forecasting a high 18 to 20 degrees with rain coming in from the west later in the day, so an easterly ride for a ride out in the Cotswolds seemed the obvious choice. I logged on to that very good on-line route plotting website MotoGoLoco and did a search through all of the "Cotswold" routes, settling for an interesting figure of eight ride as far south as Bibury and almost as far out to Banbury. The route description suggested a stop at Hook Norton Brewery and a ride around Charlbury too.  I modified the route slightly to place a start waypoint near Feckenham and ending in Henley in Arden then emailed the exported route files (both GPX and ITN) to Lindsay to load on his TomTom Rider.

 

With a 9am meet arranged somewhere in Feckenham, the biggest challenge for the morning would be finding a route from home to avoid the Birmingham Velo cycling event that looped around Kidderminster and parts of Droitwich with closed roads that affected parts of Bromsgrove too. Thankfully the A422 down through Rushock and Droitwich remained open so I soon pulled up at the village shop in Feckenham after a spirited bright sunny ride along those twisty lanes past Hanbury Hall, arriving around 8.50. Lindsay arrived a little after 9.00.

The intended Cotswold route shared on Motogoloco

While on the bike, it suddenly occurred to me how I hadn't started out with a ride in an easterly direction in a long time. With it being late September the sun was tipping below my helmet peak, almost blinding me at times as I lined up for an upcoming bend so I needed to give the old visor a good clean before we set off again. The route took us down through to Honeybourne, with Lindsay leading as he's more familiar with these parts to avoid the A roads cutting across country. Sometime after I took the lead again and the Garmin's interpretation of the route meant it cut corners between waypoints using country lanes running through the Cotswolds I had never ridden before. These incredibly scenic roads were quite 'choppy' even on my GS, poor old Lindsay on the Bandit was suffering more though, and just as I was thinking how uncomfortable it might of been on my last bike - a Harley Davidson Low Rider, I was quite surprised when at Burford Cafe, parked outside was a very nice looking 16 plate Low Rider in a blue and white two tone colour scheme.

 

Almost 'stock' Low Rider

Just as I was taking a photo, the owner, a guy with what sounded to me like an Australian accent appeared and we swapped a few stories of Low Rider ownership. This later version was slightly different to the one I owned with a black not chrome clock surround, different battery and filter box as well as bigger capacity engine. He had fitted T-bars and a two into one screaming eagle exhaust system. I do like the new Low Rider, and if I could own one again as a second bike for sunny days I would. They handle well for a heavy bike because of the Low centre of gravity and a lot of fun but could never swap one outright for my GS though!

My Low Rider near Riano in the Spanish Picos 2012 (click to enlarge)

 

After our full English, and despite my dodgy u turn on the crossroads in Burford apparently (oops), and Lindsay's dodgy guts (urghh), our route just kept getting better and better as we took turn after turn across country up and down dale, passing through all of those farm tracks and valleys to more chocolate box villages. I don't get to visit the Cotswolds so often on the bike these days as they do get congested, yet this route has proved if you can avoid the main roads and get off the beaten track you won't see much traffic at all even on a sunny Sunday.

Hook Norton

Later in the afternoon after dodging squirrels and pheasants again in secluded forest areas (what is it with me and squirrels eh ?) and after seeing the most amazing Red Kite hovering over us, we arrived in Hook Norton. We settled for a drink at the Pear Tree next to the Brewery, and a rare thing on a bike ride I decided to make an exception and try a swift one of the local brew, while Lindsay tried to tame his grumbling constitution with a posh pot of Coffee. While sat outside the pub we got chatting to a young chap who showed us a You Tube video of his mate having a confusing 'off' while riding his GSA in Spain. We all agreed he was a lucky chap, and couldn't work out how he lost control of it.

Our route home via Stratford Upon Avon was accompanied by what seemed like the cast of bikers from the Mad Max film. I had been watching the original film in the week for the 'umpteenth' time and was sure I would see 'Toecutter' amongst them as these riders were overtaking cars at great speed causing the car drivers to brake sharply as two or more tried to get into the gap between cars. Personally, I think this is reckless, and gives the biker community a bad name, so best to hang back and let them get on with it. Never mind, apart from a crowded one lane Stratford town, a very pleasant day out, and made it home around 5.30 without getting wet this time and thankfully the Velo road closures had lifted too. 

I'm definitely going to ride that route again - maybe in reverse next time. The Cotswolds are great and almost on my doorstep so there's no excuse. Thanks to Lindsay for his local knowledge too. 209 miles.

  

A new bike ride to Aber..flickofthewrist..wyth

Due to a recent family holiday at the end of August and other family commitments I hadn't been out for a ride since the Snowdonia trip, and was chomping at the bit to get out. Last week, via social network I noticed that Mark had finally taken delivery of a new bike. He'd been test riding quite a few big bikes of the Adventure genre throughout the year but couldn't quite find the right machine to match his silky smooth Bandit. None of the twins he tried quite did it it for him and although he liked the four cyclinder BMW XR, he settled on the very nice Kawasaki Versys 1000 stopping short of test riding a GS that was next on his list. Last Sunday we were both free for a ride, so a good ride out west into Wales was the obvious choice to put the Versys through it's paces.

Crossgates Cafe

After loading up an old trip I had lying around the internal memory of the Garmin to take us out through Knighton then round to Llandovery via Lampeter and back in the direction of Brecon, I met Mark at Cleobury Cafe and parked outside was this 'cracking' looking Versys in a very sexy black with red trim (stockings and garter colour scheme maybe? 😙 ) We set off towards Rhayedar, with a stop at Crossgates Cafe for an all day breakfast where the Versys was drawing quite a crowd, before heading on down to Aberystwyth. Mark had to keep the Versys under 4K revs for the first 500 but you really wouldn't know it. A very nice machine I have to say and following behind he looked much more comfortable on it than he did on the Bandit. 

Mark ... very pleased with his new Versys in Aberystwyth.

From Aberystwyth we followed the route, first down to Lampeter, then on to Llandovery stopping at the bikers cafe there. Even late in the afternoon the place was full of bikers as usual. I overheard someone mention Fire Engine and Accident but didn't pay too much attention. As we left Llandovery on the A40 toward Brecon we noticed bikes waving us and car headlights flashing and eventually came to a halt at a long traffic queue. As we understand there was an accident and the Air Ambulance had landed nearby. A guy at the head of the queue was directing traffic to an alternative route, and advised us to take the forest trail road up and over a quarry that would bring us back on to the A40 past the accident. Not sure if Mark fancied taking his shiny new bike on a dirt track so I was pleased when he jumped the lead and headed straight up the gravel track entrance. 

The forest trail diversion just outside Llandovery.

The forest trail was great fun, Mark testing his traction control settings almost immediately. I found this quite amusing, a brand new bike straight out on to the dirt 👍. Not sure I would have, but I guess when faced with an adventure on an adventure bike you can't refuse! 

Kawasaki Versys 1000 on its first trail road.

The view from the forest trail was amazing, you could see for miles toward the Brecons as the road wound round up and over a quarry and across the valley. The surface was gravelly and churned up in parts, not too difficult, just right for my liking and Mark was enjoying the ride too it seemed. We stopped to take a few photos and were passed by cars pulling horse boxes and all sorts who it seems followed us up the trail. I wouldn't mind riding this trail again I thought, so on my return home I logged the 'route tracks' using base camp. 

The trail road winding around with traffic in the distance.

 

Our ride back led us over the edge of the Brecons as the sun was starting to drop long shadows on the valleys creating quite a a stark contrast in the light from one side to the other, bathing the sides of the valley in a golden glow. We came back in to England in Herefordshire via Whitney on Wye passing by that spooky looking Baskerville Hall before parting our ways in Leominster. 

The total route track loaded into Basecamp.

Really pleased Mark has now got his new bike sorted and I have to say I really like the look of the Versys - a very good choice. I can see it fully loaded with the supplied panniers and roll bag next season as he heads off on a few trips away. Good day out, 246 miles door to door, sadly one of the last of the season I guess, roll on next year I hope to ride with Mark again soon.

A weekend ride around North Wales

Last weekend I was all set for a trip down south riding around Devon and Dartmoor but the original plans changed so with my camping gear ready packed I decided to head off anyway and visit Snowdonia, some of the Castles of North Wales and combine it with a circular route around Anglesey Island.

I was pleased after a quick phone call on the way to work when Lindsay confirmed he was able to join me, this time with his annual mileage up on his 'wee Strom' he'd be riding his trusty Bandit 1200 instead. We arranged to meet outside my place of work in Worcester at 2.30 Friday afternoon to ride up as far as Snowdonia National park to stay two nights at a pre booked campsite near Beddgelert recommended by Brayf' (who sadly couldn't join us). 

The route up from Worcester 144 miles

After a good run down the A44 to Leominster, then on to Rhayader before tracking North up the A470 avoiding the Friday afternoon traffic, we took a quick stop for fuel on the edge of Snowdonia national park. Fuelling up and  looking up the valley we could see rain over the the mountains in the distance so decided get our rain gear on, a good decision as 3 miles out we hit the real wet stuff, however, within 20 miles from Beddgelert the rain stopped and we had a great ride through that twisty section on the A4085, a tree lined road with mossy stone walls as we passed through Aberglaslyn and the very tempting smells coming from the chip shop by the side of the road. We made the campsite by 6.30pm and decided to skip an early tea to ensure the tents were pitched in the dry. 

   

Later, we took a short walk to town and settled in the popular Prince Llewelyn Hotel and pub for a cracking veggie curry and Lasagne with a couple of pints of the rather more'ish 'Dizzy Blonde' ale before a walk back to our interrupted nights sleep as the rain hammered the tent for a few hours before finally getting off to sleep about 2am! 

Early up Saturday morning, we took off on a ride through the Llanberis Pass , a bit wet on the road but a cracking ride up and around a dry but cloud shrouded Snowdon. Loads of bikers out, we met what must be the Triumph owners club with a token R1200RS leading as it seemed. We took off ahead of them, and followed the road down the pass. A nice run, a bit like a mini Alpine Pass, but uniquely Welsh.

Llanberis Pass A4086

 

From Llanberis we made our way to Caernarfon and parked our bikes right outside the Castle in the town, pulled up next to a local guy by his Triumph Tiger who was joined by his mate. Got chatting about bikes and stuff and how the English built the castle to keep the Welsh under control so I avoided asking where we could get a good full English breakfast and asked for a good cafe that serves a fry up instead! They suggested the place over the road so we headed over there to fill our bellies, by this time mid morning and nothing more than a biscuit and brew at the campsite we were both ready for the large breakfast with black pudding (Lindsay donating me his pudding as he's not so keen), washed down with a mug of tea.

  
Caernarfon Castle

After brekkie we left Caernarfon to head over the Britannia bridge crossing the Menai straight on to Anglesey island following a pre planned clockwise route where the first point of interest was an Iron Age burial chamber called  Bryan Celli Ddu. We parked up and walked about 15 minutes down a narrow path to a field with the chamber encircled by stones a bit like a mini Stonehenge type barrow. 

Burial chamber entrance. 

  

Other 'barrow' rock formations.

   

Roll that slab across now!

View of Snowdon from Anglesey

Always amazes me how these Iron Age folks moved great slabs of stone to form the roof above the chamber. Looking out you could see a great view of the Snowdonia mountain range. The weather over on Anglesey quite clear and bright, yet the micro climate of the mountains suspended in a layer of cloud filled rain.

The next stop on the planned route was Newborough Warren, the beach South West of the island. Cars pay 4 quid to drive down the road to the beach car park, we were allowed to ride the path around the barriers for free.

Newborough Warren

We didn't stay at the beach for long, back on the bikes for a ride on to Holy Island and to South Stacks (named after the cliff rock formation) on the north west side. Parked at the RSPB reserve and ordered a cup of tea at the cafe. The Garmin took us a strange but enjoyable route, crossing country one minute, down narrow lanes and farm tracks. I was forgetting Lindsay was on the Bandit not the V-Strom, he did well on the looser stuff, luckily the route took us on the main dual carriageway through the island for the next part, I guess it  was due to not enough way points on this section of the route forced my Garmin to 'make it up' using its own interpretation of 'fastest'. Lindsay had his TomTom fitted to the Bandit and it was trying a different route, but I guess we are both aware of these differences now, so just go with the route of the leader without too much fuss. 

The cafe was quite busy during school holiday season and plenty of cake on offer, but we resisted and after tea to refresh the lull of the afternoon we were set for the next leg, stopping at South Stacks Lighthouse briefly to grab a quick 🤳 selfie .... !

South Stacks Lighthouse

Next stop Beaumaris to see the Castle there, and what a ride. Superb coastal route getting a good run on through the twisties on the east side of the island as we headed for Amlwch, the most northerly town in Wales. The ride south was free of traffic, the Garmin choosing a most satisfactory route this time down to Beaumaris along the B5108 and B5109. We both commented on how it seemed we were riding on the Isle of Man the kind of roads similar to some of the TT course.

Beaumaris Castle  

A busy time in the town on a Saturday and we struggled to find a parking space and ended up having to buy a parking ticket for a few hours, never done that before on my bike. Lindsay amused me with his idea of photographing the tickets against our license plates in case someone nicked our tickets - very obvious when you think of it. It's about tea time as we arrived,  so the obvious choice was Fish and Chips in a very busy chip shop over the road. Not bad, but strange batter though. I like Beaumaris, I'm going to come back one day and have a good look around. The view of Snowdon across the Menai was sublime, and we were well aware the cloudbase in the distance was positioned right over our tents. The weather on Anglesey was so different, those Welsh bikers in Caernarfon said it would be better despite rain storms on the Welsh mainland and they were right. The Castle is credited with having perfectly formed round turrets on each corner, we didn't go in and visit it closes at 5pm but managed to get a good look from the fence outside.

 

Rain over Snowdonia?

 

The Saturday Route around Llanberis, Snowdon and Anglesey 146 miles.

Heading back to the campsite we crossed back on to the mainland over the Menai Suspension Bridge and then it became clear I had entered the coordinates of the campsite incorrectly, realising something was wrong as we headed back through Caernarfon again it looked like we were heading too far in an easterly direction, so I turned up toward Beddgelert and asked Lindsay to take the lead. Back at the campsite we changed and headed out for another pint, before turning in for the night after that long dark walk back up the unlit lane. 

The following morning we were dealt a lucky hand with the weather, and no rain so thankfully we got to pack our gear away in the dry before heading across to Porthmadog for Breakfast. Another great run out to the coast, typical quiet Sunday morning following Lindsay through the valleys and farmlands, I spotted the cafe at the railway station in Porthmadog centre that runs up to Snowdon e.g. the famous Ffestiniog rail line, so where better to get our second fry up of the weekend! Very nice spot and a good breakfast too.

  

Porthmadog Harbour

On our way home we decided a run down through Bala and across the Bwlch y Groes pass to Lake Vrnwy. I have ridden this pass before a few times and I love it. It's one of the highest roads in Wales and featured in Adventure Bike Rider magazine quite often and has the nickname Hellfire pass. Years ago it was used by Midlands motor manufacturers (Austin) for road tests, and BSA for bike testing too. 

While parked up I spotted a bird of prey fly on to the stone wall rising up the valley. I wipped out my binoculars from my top box to spot the feather markings, mainly brown with a lighter breast markings, not sure at the time and thought it might have been a Marsh Harrier, but looking at books since my return  I'm now convinced it was a Buzzard. 

Lindsay pointing toward the pass

 

Looking back down Bwlch y Groes

After a tea break at the Cafe on Lake Vyrnwy our final route home took us back through Welshpool, Montgomery, Ludlow and over Clee Hill. Great weekend, great company - cheers Lindsay. North Wales is a great substitute for missing out on a bike trip abroad this year, certainly put a smile on my face, look forward to our return some day.