Scottish Highland Tour

  

Recent tour of the Scottish Highlands

Click here to read the 2020 - Scottish Highlands Blog or click the tab at the top

 

Bwlch y Groes Mountain Pass and Tywyn bay

Having collected my new bike earlier in the week and covered a couple of hundred miles riding around local roads in the evenings, it was time for a longer ride out somewhere more interesting. Ron and Lindsay were up for a ride too, the weather looking good for Sunday so all that was required was for us to decide where. Out West in to Wales was the obvious choice, so many great roads to ride and I started thinking I hadn't been out to Lake Vyrnwy or Bala in a while. Looking at the map I fancied a run out to the two lakes (reservoirs) that are joined together by this wonderful mountain road known as Bwlch y Groes that roughly translates to 'Pass of the Cross'. Its one of the highest mountain roads in Wales linking Dinas Mawddwy, Llanuwchllyn and Lake Vyrnwy with views across the Dyfi valley and Cadair Idris.   

Years ago British Motorcycle and Car manufacturers like BSA, Austin and Triumph used the pass as a formidable test road, and in 1926 BSA won the ACU Maudes Trophy for 60 ascents of the pass - a kind of endurance test award to prove machine handling and reliability. So where better for me to ride my new GS I thought, I soon plotted out a route on the Basecamp software to take us through some nice country roads in Shropshire, across the border near Welshpool and around Lake Vrnwy toward Bala then along the pass. The ride out was fun, and some great roads but I must confess I was spending too much time playing with my new bike and made a right 'pigs ear' of leading us along and kept missing turnings or leaving Ron and Lindsay behind in the distance where they didn't have the route loaded to follow... oops sorry gents!

Ron on his Versys

As we came closer to Vyrnwy the roads became more and more congested and the narrow road around the lake was full of cyclists, walkers and other vehicles. Not the best ride around there this time, but we soon picked our way out into the valleys and found the Mountain Pass road.

By now we were getting hungry and ready to get tucked in to our packed lunches. I pulled up in the middle of the pass near the gate and soon after sure enough a British car club consisting of mostly Austin Mini's came along, obviously re-creating one of the test runs like a scene from the Italian Job.

 

Picnic lunch

Later, we all took a look at the map and decided to head off to the coast. Ron tempted us with a visit to  Tywyn where apparently there is a shop that sells honeycomb ice-cream. Sadly and much to Lindsay's disappointment the shop was closed here's a link to Holgates Ice Cream Shop .

Tywyn Bay

Lindsay and his very tidy looking V-Strom. 

At Tywyn sea front here's Lindsay a little downbeat asking: 

 

"Awww.. won't someone buy me an Ice-Cream?" 

"Oh no, they are shut !" 

Ron had us so tempted I guess we will have to go back and try again another day.

I have to say I was well impressed with the condition of Lindsay's V-Strom he bought in 2015 just before our epic Spain/Portugal tour. Over 30 thousand miles now and still going strong. I always admired his highway pegs straight out of the accessory catalogue and new for that year. Touratech - please take note !

 

Very good fuel economy on the 1250 - 64.2 mpg

Great ride out today, and as a footnote would like to say a big thank-you to Lindsay and Ron for putting up with my poor navigation skills and being so preoccupied and such a 'show off' on my new bike. Always good to ride with you guys at last, the first time this year for the three of us together. Cheers 👍 

Shift Cam? - I'm Sold !

Prior to the test ride on a new R 1250 GS I had already considered forsaking this years unused (due to Coronavirus) touring budget in favour of the new GS I had fallen for at the NEC show last November. It was Chris's suggestion to us before he passed earlier this year that I get one - life is too short he said, so with this in mind and after Helen's lengthy phone-calls with many other dealerships across the country a great trade-in deal was soon struck with the chaps at Rybrook Motorrad to supply me with new Exclusive model subject to a favourable test ride. 

I had not actually ridden the 1250 at all, but at least the deal was there if I felt the upgrade from the 1200 to 1250 was worth it. Helen had also negotiated new engine bars and pannier / top box key re-code too, so since the test ride went really well (read my last post) I placed the order for the latest 1250 Exclusive model on a 2020 plate - superstition always has me going for even number years!  

 

My order went in to include the SOS system as I have on my current 1200 Exclusive with the 1250 Exclusive being dressed in Night Storm black metallic paint with the 'Wolves' gold livery. I went for the black 'cast' wheels instead of the gold spoked wheel option Helen reckons looks way too 'blingy' for me and something from the 1970's as part of the F1 John Player Special team! I have to say I agree, and prefer the black cast wheels over spoked wheels and so much easier to keep clean and smart too. 

A week or so to wait for Howard to contact me and let me know she had arrived at Rybrook and I was straight over like a shot the next day to introduce myself to her, taking my panniers and top box with me to get the barrel locks re-coded too. By the time I had arrived the engine bars were fitted and would be ready to collect and do the trade in a few days later (July 14th). Couldn't wait but this would give me chance to remove the accessories from my 1200 e.g. fog lights, fender extender, rear top box plate and radiator guards. 

 

The new Shift-Cam engine, with two cam lobes displayed in the cross section and moving camshaft that shifts in and out. This engine is such an improvement over my 1200 where power is up from 123 bhp to 134 bhp at the same 7750 rpm peak, and peak torque is up from 92 lb.ft to 106 lb.ft, 250rpm lower than before at 6250 rpm. My last two GS's have come with end of line engines, the first was the oil cooled boxer I bought new in 2012 a great engine but BMW replaced it later in the same year with the liquid cooled boxer, and then in 2018 I bought the liquid cooled Exclusive model that was soon replaced with this Shift-Cam model later in the same year. Both have been great and the flat twin boxer engine is so good I couldn't resist getting even at last. The extra power and torque with this is fun and should do me now for a while.  

Click for Bennetts Review

So here she is, on arrival at home fitted with the panniers. Stunning! Can't wait to get touring on her, I think on Andy's suggestion maybe name her 'Wolverine' too with Gold and Black colours.

Our first ride together, as is my tradition the usual photo shot on top of Clee Hill shortly after fitting the accessories:

.. cheers Chris, well pleased !

R1250 GS - Test Ride

So, with this lockdown still in place, though gradually easing but with no realistic chance of a tour ride abroad this year, I decided to take a test ride on the latest BMW R 1250 GS just to see what it was really like. As a big GS fan for some years I'd avoided taking out the 1250 Shift-Cam model since its introduction in late 2018 and wanted to give it a few years to avoid the usual media hype and wait to see what issues if any may arise with the new engine. Also, I was a bit concerned I might 'want one' Little Britain style but two years on with mostly positive posts on Internet forums and Facebook Groups the time is right to get a ride on one at last. Also, I've started following 'User Kate' on her YouTube channel, so was intrigued to find Kate's hilarious review on the 1250 as she blasted her way around the roads somewhere up and around the North West near Manchester. She really piqued my interest, and this young lass doesn't hang about:

I've now owned two big GS's starting with the 1200 Twin Cam Oil coiled I kept for 6 wonderful years and 30k miles touring around Europe, followed by 10k miles on my current 1200 Liquid Cooled I bought a couple of years ago equipped the latest Dynamic Suspension, TFT display, SOS, quickshifter and Hill Hold Assist, so saw this as an Engine test exercise on a model with the same level of spec' as my own. 

I'm happy with my current GS, so went into the test ride with a very critical view. I'd read how much of an improvevemnet the new engine was, then read how some people couldn't tell much difference. Last year while on tour with Motorrad Tours in Northern Spain and Portugal Kevin turned up on a 1250 Exclusive, and his honest assessment after I contacted him recently - one year on, suggested it was much better fuelled, smoother with loads more torque than the 1200. The actual displacement has improved by more than 80cc (the 1200 is actually 1170cc) with a longer stroke and bigger bore, and the then on top there's the Shift-Cam technology that shifts in a different Cam lobe profile at certain revs. I contacted Steve, our Motorrad tour leader who has now ridden 5k miles using the GS and RT models with the 1250, and he agreed with Kevin, and suggested it was more 'evolution' than 'revolution' and would be surprised if I didn't notice the difference.

 

With a quick call to Rybrook Motorrad, I went across to Wolvo' to throw my leg over their Rallye demo model (pictured) resplendent with the HP livery and white hanguards. I'm not too fussed about the Rallye model, and prefer the Exclusive model, but with pretty much the same level of spec' this will do I thought. Everything seemed familiar, no changes in the TFT layout or software, switches etc. Heading down toward Halfpenny Green and Bridgnorth within 10 miles I could feel oodles of extra torque coming out of the bends. Even more of a kick in the butt power, and yet it all felt smoother and more refined as I cracked on up past 4K revs. The quickshifter was definitely slicker, in fact the whole gearbox too. Coming down the fast straight into Bridgnorth I was up to the ton before I knew it. The handling seemed better too for some strange reason, it could be the new tyres, but I don't think so since my bikes were fairly new too. I guess the engine / gearbox smoothness improvements also improve the handling too. 

My main concern with new engine performance was if BMW kept the Boxer twin character I love so much? The roll on - roll off power and engine braking for the twisties that make touring around mountain roads such a delight on the GS fully laden with panniers had to be preserved, and it was, without fault. Perhaps for this reason I felt many would claim to find not much noticable difference when ridden in touring 'sight-seeing' mode, but the versatility of this new engine to change character when ridden quick really put a smile on my face. I felt the same with my first test ride on the 1200 LC some years ago, not being able to tell much difference between Road and Dynamic mode until I realised you had to change your riding style a bit first, get the revs up, hold them longer and get with the 'flow'. It seems now with the 1250 the Dynamic mode has shifted performance to Road mode.

Back at home with a cuppa I did a quick check to make sure my current after market accessories would transfer across without issue e.g. mudguard extender, Radiator guards, and LED spots. It's essential this is the case if I ever  considered a trade in in the future to avoid added cost to accessorise the bike. One thing BMW have really got right is the pannier mounting systems haven't changed since 2013 so I'm pleased to discover my current Vario cases and Top Box would transfer across albeit with the dealer re-coding the locks to the new key. 

I returned the bike back to Rybrook after another hour of spirited riding flipping between Dynamic and Road modes to confirm what I had discovered about the new engine earlier. There has been a lot of talk on social media about BMW changing from Brembo brake calipers on the front wheel to the Hayes BMW badged ones, and I have to say the Hayes ones were definitely sharper in a similar way to my Twin Cam model.  My current Brembo seems spongier even from new so a big plus there and I guess BMW really do try to improve all the time and I'd have to agree with Steve's assessment of Evolution of a bike that needs very little improvement in my eyes!

Is it Spring or Summer?

With Spring Bank Holiday on the horizon I decided to book the remaining week off work and so glad I did, I put the word out in the hope I could find someone to have a ride with on a quieter weekday, and Ron contacted me to say he was up for a run out somewhere too. We are still in Coronavirus lockdown and following the rules of one other person to meet outside our homes so meeting up with Ron was a great idea, and I haven't ridden with him for a few years now, so a Wednesday ride was arranged over the phone. I re-configured an old GPX route I had that looped around Herefordshire, originally across the River Wye to Skenfrith Castle, but seeing as the castle was in Wales and they have different lockdown rules I adjusted it to skip Skenfrith and ride the Wye Valley keeping to English roads via some real picturesque villages e.g. Peterstow, Garway Hill, Kentchurch, Tram Inn and Pontrilas before heading up through the Golden Valley past Arthur's Stone and Abbey Dore toward Leominster with a great view of Clee Hill way in the distance as we came down Dorstone Hill. 

Shady looking Ron

Kentchurch

 

These days I'm used to riding a few lanes, and the route change I made ended up taking us down some narrow gravelly roads for a few miles. I was concerned the route might not suit Ron's choice, when we used to ride together in the past we both had Harley Davidsons and kept away from the more choppy roads, however Ron now rides the Kawasaki Versys like Mark, a very capable bike down the lanes, so no worries it seems on that score. Ron has the GT version with a nice throaty Scorpion end-can that made the Versys sound different to Marks stock exhaust. Today was the first day out with the new Puig screen (see previous post), and I wasn't disappointed, loads more protection and a bit quieter too.

  

Its great to meet up with old mates and ride some new roads together, and the weather was superb, peaking up to 25 degrees later in the afternoon. I spotted a narrow lane as we passed through the village of Kentchurch with a great shady tree next to the church ideal to eat our packed lunch and catch up on our recent adventures. Ron had been across to Spain to ride the Pyranees last year somewhere I've yet to ride so good to hear his thoughts on how good it was. While eating I did marvel at Ron's curry Pip had prepared for him in a Tupperware box, and I was really jealous only having a ham sandwich in tow with a bag of crisps, but it seems there was no curry offering at all, it contained two orange coloured moist flannels instead!

 

Later, we took off toward Mortimers Cross finding the twisties on the way ending up on top of Clee Hill for a drink on the bench to admire the view. While sat there this chap - Pete as I found out his name later rode past a few times before pulling up and joining us. Nice to speak to fellow GSers, he was on his way home to Stafford on his very tidy 13 plate, and I guess needed a bit of company. A native of North Wales who moved to Stafford recently so good to swap stories for a bit while keeping our distance as best we could. This social distancing thing can make life a bit awkward sometimes. 

Great to ride with Ron after all of this time, and glorious weather too that continued for the rest of the week. After a bit of work in the garden Thursday, Friday and Saturday I decided to go out for a ride on the Sunday too. For this one I wanted to get out early while the air was still cool and the roads quiet. I left home at 7:40 am toward Bridgnorth past the closed Quatt cafe passing a few bikes with a few sportsbike riders out having fun passing me near Alveley. This morning was great. I connected my phone music app via the helmet comms to get some tunes playing that had to be the Doobie Brothers to get me in the rhythm of the ride.  No GPS this time just make it up as I go, first down toward Craven Arms before switching across to Ludlow via the racecourse road, then down to Richards Castle and traversing up and down toward Leintwardine before doubling back to Tenbury Wells then on to that brilliant twisty road down to Clifton on Teme, doubling back again to Caynham to Clee Hill and Clows Top. So good to get in the groove and just continue riding for a good 3 or 4 hours. 

Somewhere out near Clows Top

 

The new screen, loads more protection now.

View from Clee Hill towards the Malverns in the distance.

What a great week off and some brilliant local roads to ride. Such glorious weather too, is it really Spring? This week has been more like Summer.

Bimbling about at last, catching flies

With lockdown now relaxed to allow unlimited travel to meet with one other person, myself and Mark enjoyed a long awaited ride out last Saturday afternoon up and down the English side of the Welsh border (Welsh roads are still forbidden) starting out in Tenbury Wells, we took the scenic route down through St Michaels, and then out via Leominster back up past Shobdon and on to Mortimers Cross before heading up in to Shropshire before winding home via Morville and Kinlet. It was so good to get out and ride after all of these months. A sunny day today but unfortunately the flies weren't keeping to social distancing rules, I couldn't believe the splatter on my screen and helmet visor. For sometime I've been thinking of replacing the stock GS screen for a taller, wider aftermarket one that might offer better protection and really fancy a 'smoked' colour to better match the bike too. I quite like the Puig screen Mark has fitted to his Versys, and found they produce a nice tall touring one for the GS, so perhaps now was the time to try one?

One advantage of working from home is the immediate freedom to finish work and quickly take off on an evening ride out before tea, so on Tuesday this is what I did, heading up and over over Wenlock Edge and out to Church Stretton before continuing over the wonderful Shropshire summit top of Long Mynd. A good two hours riding pleasure as the sun came down casting long shadows as I head home using a similar route as Saturday but this time along the now quiet twisty Bridgnorth road down through Quatt. On the way I was forced to stop outside Bridgnorth to clean the splatter off my visor again, bemoaning how I do miss the protection I had on my last GS with that Givi Airflow screen, but unfortunately that screen isn't an option for this later model, so on my return I started sourcing a Puig 6486 Touring screen. They do several colour varieties ranging from clear, light smoke, dark smoke and black. I sent my order off to Will who has an Amazon Prime account, he ordered me the 6486H - light smoke hopefully delivered in time for fitting at the weekend.

 

 On my headlight and some in my teeth!

The new screen arrived Friday evening, well packaged and excellent quality with the edges bevelled nicely, and no apparent distortion and was well protected in its wrapper with very clear fitting instructions. I removed the lower cowling first, and then four screws to remove the old screen and the reverse to fit the Puig by reusing the rubber grommets from the stock screen.  

 

So, here's the stock screen (left) for comparison with the new Puig screen (right). The new one is 13cm taller and a good deal wider too. No doubt it will offer more fly protection. While sat on the bike on the lowest setting I can still see clear over the screen which is a good thing and avoids the top of the screen distorting the view but it's always a concern when fitting a new screen we don't introduce buffeting on the helmet, so I accept it will be a trial and error affair getting the correct height to match my height and helmet profile. Its possible to get some additional support brackets to firm up the screen flexing too, both from Puig and Cymarc, but for now I'll try the new screen without the brackets until I have test rode it this week during my week off work. 

 

So, here's the new Puig light smoked screen fitted. I do like the colour and think it matches my bike well. Can't wait to get out and try it sometime this week, but for today I'm just happy to look at my clean bike instead, without the dead fly splatter all over the front!