Tenere test ride
 

Right guys and gals:chevil

As some of you may know i use to have an XTR for about 4 years, ive now had a Triumph Tiger 1050 for about a year and although i havent been able to use it as much as im at work now and ive a work van and only really get to use the bike at the weekends i still put a good 6-7k miles on the tiger this year. Now dont get me wrong it is a cracker bike and i love the way it handles, has the power, torque etc but i still yearn for the off roading feeling/being able to off road properly, that and i dont ever feel like im using the tiger properly (i still ride it like a motocross bike, short shifting, elbows out and i even stand up on the pegs ever now an then to car drivers funny looks).

As im now in Glasgow, Scotland i have plenty of mountains etc for that off roading experience but the Tiger is just not really the bike for it (even though ive tried off roading on it and was a good success at it).

So whats all this drivel about..... Well what im wanting to do is get a wee ride out with someone from the Glasgow/Scotland area at a weekend on the basis that i could "aquire" there beloved Tenere for an hour or so (yes ive insurance to cover me third party only) just so i can get a feel of what they are like compared to the likes the other bikes im thinking of which are

XTR (use to own one so know what it feels like)
V strom 650 (both older version and newer version, test ridden both)
XTX (with the idea of getting off road wheels for it still searching on this idea as there seems to be more X's than R's about. Havent test ride but pretty much same as R)
Versys (i know not really an off roader but if i can get a Tiger to where i was a Versys will be a piece of cake. Test ridden old version and was like riding a washing machine on full spin, newer version 100% better only test road one with 33bhp restrictor on!!!)

Hit me back or suggest other bikes/options to me (looking at the 600cc range as i really dont need 1000cc power/torque as i ride solo 99.99% of the time)

What a plank!:021:

Why didn't you say something at the Lakes doo?

You could have had a go on mine with pleasure, or was it the wrong colour?:unibrow:

KTM 950 or 690 enduro, dont bother with the 990 as they have fuel injection issues . More about fun per gallon not miles per gallon and the ktm kicks everything else out of the water

If you are up this way you are welcome to have a shot on my ten - long way for a test ride tho!

SteveD- i was thinking about it but im looking at trying someones bike which has had that many mods done to it yet so i get a feeling of what a standard bike is like (would be looking at fitting cans/can, stg2 air filter for performance mods the rest would be cosmetic type). I know i really should have shouted but now give me an excuse to get out and about!!!!

Jasxt- ive looked into the Ktm 690 and it is nice, but i still want something i could do a far bit of milage on and i did sit on one in a show room once for all of about 5 mins until i had to pull the seat from my rear:smilielol:. 950 would love to but license looser for me (ive a heavy right hand and PC plod would like that combo:016: as they are not liking it on the tiger 1050 now as well!!!)

Fiddich- this is scary i just looked at google maps 2 secs ago before i looked at this post to see where you lived and thought, ah 4 hrs to aberdeen on the bike after work on friday, meet fiddich on sat and get a go on a ten, then ride home via twistys to glasgow on sunday!!! And no its not a long distance for a test ride its an adventure to see a friend:112:

I might take you up on that offer. Hows the foot going anyway? What are you like for Sat July 28th? (ive quiet alot on between now and then with knockhill BSB, weekends in scotland on bike if weathers good and italy for two weeks:SpinHappy_15XK8L:) Any good but cheap places to stay in Aberdeen part from the standard Travel Lodge/Preimer Inn?

Fiddich- What mods has your bike got?

I think from the Lakes meet i seen you had a 2 into 1 MTC can, Stg 2 air filter, metal top box......... not sure now what else:rockwoot:

Yup - its got the st1 & 2, kev fuel mod, pegs, chopped rear end, MTC single can, diy front mud flap, GIT sump guard and bars, rear brake lever extender and snake, rear rack and ali top box - oh yes not forgetting my much loved map holder. TKCs too.

Cast comes off my foot on Thursday -that was the plan anyway - hopefully back to work and more importantly back on the bike on Saturday.

Can return to standard air intake for a ride if you wish.
I should be working nights 28/29th July - can arrange things if you do decide to come up this way.
You are welcome to kip on the couch at my place but if you prefer - bunk house in the village and B&Bs close by.

No, the bike the way it is sounds grand, performance wise those mods is what i would be looking to put on the tenere or any other bike ie air filter that can be reused/cleaned and a pipe for the sound more than anything really (hate bikes that you cant hear while riding)

What time do you call night shift? (I work in construction and this can mean anything from 6pm start till 6am finish or anything in between!!!)

Have you got a 6ft4inch couch?? Any links to the bunk house or B&B so i can check prices/avaiability?

Oh i like it when im planning weekend trips for the bike

Forgot - its got 25mm bar risers too - should be better for you.

Got blow up beds so NO PROBLEM if you do want to stay.
This is a link to the bunk house - click accommodation - 100m from where I am.

http://www.lochpark.com/

B&Bs

http://www.dufftown.co.uk/accommodation_bandb.php

Davaar is run by a biker called Andy Cameron who is connected to our local bike club.

My night shift is 11pm - 7am, I'm usually out of the sack for 1pm or earlier is no problem.

Especially when viewed from your rear view mirror......

Ohoooooo..... Sounds like the beginnings of a ride out. I could be up for that.

Nice one.:thumbsup:mmmmmm wonder if that man Keith would fancy it tooooo, personal tour of Balvenie thrown in!

DONE.

I'll head up Friday, catch up with Max somewhere and look forward to the tour.

Nice little weekend out.


:sbike:

Good stuff:bcake:

But that was the ****e 990 fuel injection one, the 950 has the carb so it is much better

Not to put KTM down but a guy a use to work with use to have one of the 950 adventurers, as he said fantastic bike, crap dealer back up (espically in Northern Ireland as dealers had changed hands and pretty much no one over there for a while apart from off road guys who havent a clue what an adventurer is) and quiet a few issues with seals in the engine leaking, carbs playing up and jetting fuel onto his leg and near catching fire etc (he had it from new, about 6 years old then and 25k miles)

Oh hasnt this post been busy while ive been working (cough cough at a training course today and near fell asleep).

GULG/possibly Keithblade sounds like we have a nice wee weekend ahead of ourselves (im off on holiday to italy from July 9-22, no internet, phone, homing pigeon, cup and string!! Just for your info encase i forget to mention and your trying to get in contact with me).

Thinking its going to take around 4-5hrs from Livingston (where my office is and where im leaving from on Friday 28th July) to get up to Fiddichs place, or unless you want to stop at say Dundee or somewhere inbetween on Friday night, then we take a wee ride to Fiddichs on Sat morning after a feed in the morn (hopefully Fiddich will be up then) and we have a wee ride out, i get a go on a ten, Fiddich gets or someone gets a go on a tiger 1050 if they want, then we stay at either the B&B or Bunkhouse sat night (:happy:more drink), then sun head back home (your more then welcome to stay at mine on the sunday night in centre of glasgow or drop in for a tea, coffee, cheese board!!!)

How does that sound like Fiddich, GULG and Keithblade?

Thanks Fiddich for the offer of the blow up bed would have done me nicely but i think seeings as GULG and possibly Keithblade are coming we will stay out of your hair!!!:hello2:

Bring on the :sunny: and :rockwoot:

Just contacted both Bunkhouse and B&B to check avaiability and prices for 2/3 people for 27 and or 28th July 2012, will keep you's all informed.

Weekend bike trip:eusa_clap:cant wait

Just what i need after 2 weeks in italy on a hire bike on the wrong side of the road, not knowing half the time where im going, what im going to see and im surely going to get pulled by the police:014:!!!!

Ride safe in Italy and enjoy - some stunning roads (in the small bit I've seen) - got a parking fine sent through ten months after we were there so behave!

Let me know abooot accommodation if you don't sort - you are all welcome to kip here plus camping close by.

[quote=maxwell123455;174881]

Thinking its going to take around 4-5hrs from Livingston (where my office is and where im leaving from on Friday 28th July) to get up to Fiddichs place, or unless you want to stop at say Dundee or somewhere inbetween on Friday night, then we take a wee ride to Fiddichs on Sat morning after a feed in the morn (hopefully Fiddich will be up then) and we have a wee ride out, i get a go on a ten, Fiddich gets or someone gets a go on a tiger 1050.


If you are coming up via Dundee be prepared for a boring run - I know Ive said this before but if the weather is ok Perth, Glen Shee, The Lecht, Tomintoul and Dufftown is more enjoyable by far - if you have the time and energy.

Oh god no..... Hate that road, drove it far too many times in the past.

I'm planning to take the Friday off, and ride up the nice route (whatever that may be).

I'd prefer to camp than a bunkhouse, I like my own space. It'll be the week after a weekend in Dent too, so I'll need to dry my tent out anyway....

I'll be back up in the Highlands a couple of weeks after that too, in the car with the missus, in B&B's for a fortnight - so I need my fix of outdoor life.

Just heard back from the B&B and no avaiability due to highland show being on this weekend:smilies0119:.

Right camping it is then?? :bounce016:

I will have to bring the bike back home after the italy trip loaded up :naka:(but no issues there) and it means i have my camping gear here for the crack and possibly last minute sunny weekend blasts away:glasses1:.

I think the bunkhouse place had camping avaiable so will enquiry there first see what they have unless Fiddich knows of any recommended spots (possibly the front garden!!!:Worship_9TRHEA:)

Planned route so far if im heading directly to Fiddichs on the Friday from work would be

Livingston to Dumfermline direct via forth bridge, off through Dunfermline to A823/A826 to Aberfeldy, then Aberfeldy to A9, A9 up around Cairngroms forest park to A95, A95 to Aberlour, then across to Dufftown and Fiddichs place/campsite.

How does that line up with your plans/route GULG?

Plan for Sat- someform of a run throught the Cairngroms forest park possibly?

Plan for Sun- Dufftown, Fortwilliam, Inverary, then Coast route to Glasgow (home) (last section ive found a cracker wee tight twisty hilly section about couple mile long that GULG or any biker will love and exits out near the army barricks, a motoX riders heaven but in tarmac!!!)

Max, Yup the campsite is run by the same organisation that runs the bunkhouse - camping �7 per night - check the same website. I do have a small bit of lawn at the side of the house tho!
If you want to go really wild I'm sure we could find you a nice spot in the woods.
Run on Saturday - can suggest a good route but where ever you guys want. I will get up from my beauty sleep early.:sunny:

Ah bunkhouse does do camping but only for very large groups of people ie 20+.

Wheres the really wild camping? im up for it if GULG and Keithblade is up for it:devil[1]:

Suggest away Fiddich as for the route on sat, i was thinking something around the big forest area to the south of you as the road seem pretty twisty or single cyliner heaven.

Dont worry about getting up early Fiddich you will have been working so we will let you get your beauty sleep:blob9:

Thats sh.te - Max/GULG I am working on this - will get back to you next week so forget it for the moment.

Okey Dokey.


Max - I'll probably take the Friday off, and have a sedate run up, I do have a route that takes me past Selkirk, Edinburgh, Perth then Glenn Shee as per Fiddich's suggestion earlier. I'll look to make Duftown-ish area by tea time. Most of my roads are B or C roads, with a few unclassified's to make it interesting.

Saturday & Sunday, I have no preconceptions, other than the personal tour.

I will need to be home for mid afternoon Sunday though.

hmmm mid afternoon sunday could mean an early rise:angry3:.

What time i leave on Friday just really depends on work really, normally work till 6pm on a Friday, but might be able to whisper into my boss's ear and get a few hours off, either that or i just jump on the bike and bugg** off. "Sorry was on the bike so didnt hear the phone!!!:nutkick:"

I will be back from Italy for about a week before the Friday we head so we have plenty of time to finalise things

What time i leave on Friday just really depends on work really, normally work till 6pm on a Friday, but might be able to whisper into my boss's ear and get a few hours off, either that or i just jump on the bike and bugg** off. "Sorry was on the bike so didnt hear the phone!!!:nutkick:"
[/quote]

An early finish is the way to go mate, even if you end up having to bugg.. the boss to get it.:moon:

An early finish is the way to go mate, even if you end up having to bugg.. the boss to get it.:moon:[/quote]

But when ever youve had to say to your boss the previous monday i need to work from home (ie norn iron) and take about 4 hrs off work as i have to do to a driver training course (yes caught speeding now have to few the PSNI shafting me for �90 and hrs of my life:box:)

Fiddich

How you getting on with the camping

Keithblade

You coming up to Dufftown for a wee neep, some haggis, the cracker secenry and general tom fooliery:chevil.....oh and did i forget the biking!!!

Still waiting to hear from my neighbour - said it shouldn't be a problem but will confirm - I will enquire at the alterative site just in case tho.
Spoke to Keith - he MIGHT just make it but unsure due to other commitments.

Sweet keeping up to day as im just in the middle of booking the next weekend back at home for a sat night in galway with a mate and a few ladies!!! and possibly to see a bit of the cliff diving they are having on an island off galway in conjunction with red bull but its tickets only unless you have a boat to watch from!!! Dont think the Triumphs a good swimmer even with water wings.:ytiller:

Jeez you've got a good social life - how come all I seem do is sleep eat and work? Oh yeah, three kids might just explain what I do with the rest of my time.

Thats it Fiddich im young, free and single, no ties, no off payments, monthly bills etc Plus i pretty much worked from june last year to christmas with 5 days off work and i was basically forced to take them, forced to take 2 weeks in christmas and then just before easter said to myself stuff it load of holiday days left lets book them now before they try and pay me for them and i loose a load of paid holidays and get some good holidays in before another year of head down!!!:headbang:

Camping sorted and it looks like a full house - GULG, MAX and Keith.:thumbsup[1]:

And thanks to Fiddich's advice, a nice route north too.

Even got a nice new bungalow to live in for the weekend.

Have a good ride - take it easy on the way up, some cunning little roads that can take you by surprise if you haven't been up that way before.:023:
A week of continual rain at the moment - Never mind Summer must be coming soon.:icon_scratch:

Guys any space for another? i am in aberdeen so not too far away, if you are stuck on the way up you can crash at mine in aberdeen, its only a bedsit but your welcome.
Regards,
Jim

Yup. More the merrier

It'll be good to see you again mate.:clap: