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| 24 June 2004 |
Got a cheap flight to Newcastle and went to pick the bike up from M and S Motorcycles. A very good deal and a good bunch of people made the trip very worthwhile. The advantage of being a bigger dealer is that they had a choice of colours, including in all-Black, with bikes in stock and experience of selling a number of bikes. Also ordered a tank bag from them. Also booked the first service with them (for July 7th), but given the likleyhood that I would need the service fairly quickly, I might have trouble getting back up to Newcastle in time. |
| With the weather somewhat inclement, I set off from Newcastle for the 300 mile trip back to Hereford. Mainly motorway (A19 --> A1M--> M18--> M1 --> M69) back to Coventry, then across country via the A46 passed Stratford and then the excellent B road via Inkberrow to Worcester. Last stretch was the 30 miles of the A4103 back to Hereford, all excellent road and my old bike commute to Coventry. Kept the revs below 6000 and changed pace at a regular basis. Got home at about 7pm (about 5 hour trip), throughly impressed. The Bike magazine write up of the KTM's motorway performance might have been a little harsh, it was really stable in the strong winds and handled well with not too many vibes. The seat is hard, but not so much as many other big trallies (like my Honda Dominator). |
| 28th June 2004 |
Trip to the office in Guildford, another 300 miles to test. Still running in so continued to keep the rev's below 6000. Again, pleasantly suprised at the performance on the motorways. Also good handling through the twisties, feels solid. |
| 30th June 2004 |
First service at AMS Motorcycles in Cheltenham (my nearest KTM Adventure dealer/service). 5 of 8 valve clearances were out of tolerance and shims were changes. Leave Cheltenham at about 7pm (work:-), back to Hereford to pick up some clothes and have some food, then off to Fishguard. Arrive at 1am, with the odometer show 1000 miles exactly. Knackered, but an excellent run down through mid-Wales. Headlamp on the KTM is ok, but not as bright as some, but maybe twas the lateness of the hour. Cracked a tin when I got to Fishguard and chatted with some other guys on the bikes. |
| 1st July 2004 |
Left Rosslare at 6.30am, good blat up the N24, with the run-in period now complete. Engine sounding really good and made good time to Cahir (for breakfast) . Then up through Tipperary and over the humpback bridge at Limerick Junction (both wheels off the tarmac there) and onto Limerick. Got soaked in Ennis, but got to Lahinch just after 10am. Then off to work in Galway....in the car. |
| 2nd July 2004 |
Unplanned run back to Rosslare, with an amazing downpour in rush hour Limerick. It then brightened up through Tipperary, again stopped at the cafe near Cahir for a nice fry-up. Got to Rosslare in plenty of time for the 9pm ferry. Impressed with the pace of the bike over a longer journey, without feeling too knackered. |
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| 8th August 2004 |
Excellent, excellent day. A very rare Sunday run, which saw me in Cardiff by 10.00am to meet up with Graham. A blat down the M4 to Swansea and then along the A40 and a few back roads to Carmarthen and up to Pencader. The aim was to watch the Vale of Towy trial, which was very interesting and encouragement for me to get the Gas Gas into action.
Onward to Lampeter, for fuel and then after a couple of fuses blowing on Graham's Tenere, on the road towards Tregaron. More fuses blowing saw an about turn toward Lampeter and a trip to Motorworld for more 35amp glass fuses, a fuse holder and electric tape. All wired in and the onward through Tregaron and past the bog (largest raised bog in mainland UK) and to Penrhydfendegiad. From here, off up a single track road to the Teifi Pools, until the 'Road Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles Sign'. Without too much detail, some excellent tracks, streams to cross and 10 miles off road past the Elan Valley reserviors. Superb. In the rain, through Rhyader, down the A470 to Builth, then on the unclassified road on the left bank of the Wye, across the board bridge into Llyswen. Back through Hay and the B4348 to home. A cup of team and Graham headed back to Cardiff, in the now very heavy rain. |
| 9th August 2004 |
Early start, in the pouring rain, as I had to be in London by 9.00am. Used the visor on the Arai TourX helmet as the rain hurts at 80mph with goggles. Made good progress, getting to Heston Services by 8.15. First time for the bike in London, although going down the Fulham Palace Road was more offroad because roadworks. Bike handles well and being thin gets through some really narrow gaps. Although wet, it was tropical, so the fan was in use through Wandsworth, Putney and Fulham on the way back. Left the bike near Heathrow, then off to Munich.... |
| 20th August 2004 |
Took bike to AMS in Cheltenham for service (mileage 4780). Total cost of 160quid, so not too cheap. Bike sounds a lot better for the prescense of fresh oil. Had a chat to the mechanic about some of the issues with maintenance (ie it uses oil) which was well worthwhile. Once again this summer, got soaked in a shower, this time near Newent. |
