"Just got back form the mini-meet. Great weekend, fantastic company & sharp banter. Top stuff! I even had my own mini-adventure on the way home."
Oops! Posted the above in the wrong thread when I got back.
Probably should post all or part of the stuff below in a different thread too, but its all part of the story of my trip, so .....
I wasn't on the list for this as it was a last minute decision to go - kind of.
I have been looking to upgrade the DRZ to suit longer journeys - improve seat comfort, some way of securing luggage, accessory sockets, longer range fuel tank .. etc. I was part way there when I saw the mini-meet thread and thought "Lets go.", I needed a target to aim for.
Improve seat? - a Sweet Cheeks seat expander on order
http://cycle-analyst.com/sweetcheeks
Securing luggage? - looked at loads of bolt on racks, but most had a really small loading area, and , in my opinion, were pretty expensive, instead I am using some long bolts, spacer tubes and repair washers to create tie down points in 4 places - 2 where the seat is fastened, another 2 through some spare lugs on the rear sub-frame :idea-013: . Any luggage should then sit on the rear of the seat and on the rear mudguard. Cost less than £10!
Longer range fuel tank? Expensive, wouldn't have arrived in time, and not essential for this trip. So maybe later?
Accessory socket? - Running out of time to mess about with this, but I have got a powerbank that is also a torch and a jump starter. If I pack that I should get away without needing to charge on the move.
Everything was in place by Thursday when the Sweet Cheeks arrived. So just packing to do and I'm off! Packed down into 2 x dry sacks and one waterproof backpack. The 2 sacks strapped down to the home made tie downs and feel secure.
Set off Friday lunchtime and had a fairly uneventful journey to the meet. Apart from the speedo stopped working just outside of Shrewsbury!
Verdict on the Sweet Cheeks seat - excellent. Really made a difference. Pop bottles were mildly pressurized by putting empties in the freezer (lids off) for 10 minutes before sealing them. Then they pressurize as the temperature goes up. :idea-013:
Verdict on the tie downs - also excellent. No luggage loss! Which was nice
Friday evening chatting, chilling and catching up. Loved Hudders first words when I arrived, "Mick. It's been a long time, couldn't you have made it longer?"
Saturday, after a group trip to Tuffins in the Vaders' APC* for breakfast - excellent call thank you, I left camp to go visit some family who live nearby that I haven't seen in a while. One in particular is in the early stages of dementia, so I wanted to visit while there is still a chance that she remembers me. Had a nice chat with her, nice to know that its not too far on and she is getting some treatment for it. While I was out and about noticed that the starter was getting a bit weaker as the day went on
, luckily I had my powerbank gadget with me so when it dropped out completely I could still start the bike and get back to campsite :ugeek: 1 start used.
Saturday evening - more chatting, chilling, some excellent food thank you, and a trip to the pub.
Sunday. Time to go home. Packed up and luggage back on bike in record time - for me! The joys of minimalist packing?
Problems: No speedo - set the satnag to display speed and hope it doesn't run out of charge too soon
Lack of battery charge / no electric start! - use the powerbank gadget for starting, plan minimum stops to reduce chance of gadget losing charge, ride for max mpg to keep stops to minimum, and don't. Didn't quite work out as smoothly as I hoped - only got a mile from camp before I needed to switch to reserve - 1 was too slow and the engine stalled! 3 starts used. So had to find fuel soon and stop again! 4 starts used! But, as I packed the starter away, she stalled! Repeat start, 5 starts used! How many starts can a powerbank do? OK, now need to follow the satnag from Shrewsbury to Chesterfield while riding for best fuel economy. Made it all the way to Swanwick services in Derbyshire before deciding to risk one last fuel stop. Better to be recovered from somewhere rather than the middle of nowhere? Filled the tank, noting ruefully that the amount left in would probably have got me home
, paid for the fuel and bought a snack. Then I pushed the bike onto the far corner of the forecourt to eat my lunch. Start from the powerbank? Yes! 6 starts used! Made it home from Swanwick with no further drama. Phew!
So. great social weekend
May need to put the long range tank on the back burner until after the speedo and charging issues are sorted.
Carrying a pre-charged powerbank is probably better than having accessory socket(s)
Either the hotter weather on the return trip over inflated the pop bottles, or I was too tense and reduced my own comfort!
Wow. Posts nothing for years, then won't bloody shut up!
*APC = Armoured Personnel Carrier, for those that don't already know and have persisted thus far!