Le Carnage weekend to Normandy

[metalhead19]

Regarding underseat space....I've got nothing at all. Room for a credit card and some chewing gum.
But i do have a small torque wrench up to 60NM that i can take.

[Specialone]

I use my calibrated hands as a torque wrench tbh.

Me and danf have zero under seat space as well.

[metalhead19]

Was just a thought, might be useful as a breaker bar, or just to use to vent our anger at the useless french tosser who nearly knocked ya off your bike

[-Ralph-]

No I'm happy to be a torque wrench too, just undo it again and re-torque properly with your wrench when you get home.

[metalhead19]

Fine by me, one less thing for me to carry

[Specialone]

I'll no doubt be criticised, but I only torque crucial stuff like cylinder head bolts etc, everything else I do up to my calibrated hands.

I've been doing this for 25 years and it hasn't caused a problem yet.

[-Ralph-]

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=2659563

[christian1000]

In addition to the list you posted I was planning on taking a pair of spare levers (SV) and a fixer peg

[MisterTommyH]

fixer peg

Excellent suggestion! Can't imagine trying to do 1000 miles with a bodge job.

[Specialone]

Excellent suggestion! Can't imagine trying to do 1000 miles with a bodge job.

It is an excellent idea but as I've told mr numbers, crashing or binning of bikes is strictly forbidden on my weekends.

A fixer peg if brought by christian and used by someone else would obviously be replaced by the user, so one should suffice.

[christian1000]

It is an excellent idea but as I've told mr numbers, crashing or binning of bikes is strictly forbidden on my weekends.


OK ill put that on my things not to do list :)
Obviously I don't have any immediate plans to need one, but better to have and not need than the other way round and all that

[Specialone]

If you have the levers and fixer peg then fine but I wouldn't buy them tbh, I'm sure someone will have them already.

I've got a slightly broken clutch lever from my old pointy which would get someone out the sh1te if we need one.

[christian1000]

Aye got them already

[danf1234]

Pizza menu?

Directions to the local supermarche - Thats me sorted then!

[Luckypants]

A fixer peg if brought by christian and used by someone else would obviously be replaced by the user, so one should suffice.

I always carry one of these too, so covered. I also carry spare levers, but these are bike specific so only helpful to VFR riders (or maybe Honda riders). For fixing crash damage I will also have gaffa tape and cable ties. If it's worse than levers and fairing rash you will be using your breakdown cover anyway.

[Specialone]

Nice one mike, just need to confirm you're coming now ;)

[-Ralph-]

Mike, just book it in your diary and when the time comes you say to your boss, 'oh sorry, I thought you'd approved the holidays. I've booked everything now'. ;-)

I got carp today for booking a hotel for this evening that was outside the policy budget, when they've reduced the budget by £25 quid so I can no longer use a hotel I've stayed in for 3 years. I just said I was either staying in this hotel or I was going to drive home again, sleep in my own bed, and miss tomorrows meeting.

[Specialone]

Another member joins our great trip, rusty has added his name and booked the ferry, fizz will update the list when he's got 5 mins.

[-Ralph-]

Nice one Russ!

Should we get the campsite booked Phil?

EDIT: Errrrm, something Russ isn't telling us? ;-) What bike is he taking?

[Specialone]

Yeah I'll fire off an email to the campsite this week and tell them we have 10 defos with possibility of a few more.

[rusty76]

I'm on the Tuono dudes.

20mpg if i'm lucky..,

[ravingdavis]

Great to see your coming mate! I thought you had sold the Tuono?

[rusty76]

Great to see your coming mate! I thought you had sold the Tuono?

Something i never got around to mate...;-)

Must admit, i had'nt had it out for 6 months before i took it for its mot last week

Can't wait for Normandy. Something ive always wanted to do

[-Ralph-]

Something i never got around to mate...;-)

:smt041

[metalhead19]

Finally got round to booking the ferry.

[Specialone]

Finally got round to booking the ferry.

Nice one young man :)
Ive just fired off an email before seeing this confirming 10, now its 11 lol:rolleyes:

Currently working on day 1 gps file, 9 POI's on day 1, but its the furthest away from the ferry port at Le havre so this maybe another days route yet.
I'll put all the POI's into areas along with a route then we can decide which day to do what.

[Specialone]

Ok first one, fecking pc crashed so lost the lot, had to redo it :smt093:compcrash:

Im open to improvements, this is just my first draft really.

Normandy west route (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Rue+de+Tierceville%2FD93&daddr=La+Perrouze%2FD29+to:D29+to:D5+to:49.31099,-1.25664+to:49.40859,-1.31522+to:49.46089,-1.30687+to:49.47952,-1.29558+to:Bd+des+Dunes%2FD421+to:Hameau+Road+to:D 329+to:49.34306,-1.02675+to:49.39323,-0.98930+to:49.37938,-0.90269+to:49.35749,-0.85285+to:14480+Rue+de+Tierceville,+Creully,+Fran ce&hl=en&ll=49.272285,-0.762177&spn=0.481161,1.448822&sll=49.315275,-0.947571&sspn=0.120186,0.362206&geocode=FYAT8AIdVd33_w%3BFRJa8AIdBIfy_w%3BFU088AId-Yrx_w%3BFShH8AIdr3rv_w%3BFQ5t8AIdQNPs_w%3BFU7q8QId bO7r_w%3BFZq28gIdCg_s_w%3BFWD_8gIdJDvs_w%3BFToq8wI d5r7s_w%3BFX7m8QIdzxXu_w%3BFYOC8QIdCsHt_w%3BFVTq8A IdQlXw_w%3BFU6u8QIdjOfw_w%3BFTR48QId3jny_w%3BFbIi8 QIdjvzy_w%3BFfIT8AIdiN73_ynDWCD9UVcKSDEg2LtSlR0IBQ&doflg=ptm&mra=mi&mrsp=3&sz=12&t=h&z=10)

[Nick_69]

Just seen this thread, you can see how long a go i went into this section, If i could get the time off work would there b room for one more

[Specialone]

Just seen this thread, you can see how long a go i went into this section, If i could get the time off work would there b room for one more

Of course mate, I would try and confirm ASAP though cos the ferry needs booking ASAP as there is only one that day.

[Nick_69]

Well i will see if i can get time off work over the next couple of days, Is everyone getting the same ferry or getting differerent time ones

[Specialone]

ATM, everybody who has confirmed are on the same ferry, there are other routes but would be better if you got the same one.

You only need Friday and Monday off btw as were not getting the ferry until 11pm.

[Nick_69]

ATM, everybody who has confirmed are on the same ferry, there are other routes but would be better if you got the same one.

You only need Friday and Monday off btw as were not getting the ferry until 11pm.

Thanks that makes it easier. Quite a late ferry thou

[ravingdavis]

Thanks that makes it easier. Quite a late ferry thou

Yeah its an overnight jobbie, so bring a sleepingbag or something.

[rusty76]

I paid £53 for the ferry crossing on Sunday, which I thought was a pretty good price.

There was no indication of how full it was, but since most of the overnight cabins have already gone then I assume it's already quite busy.

[Specialone]

If some of you want a bed why don't you club together and share a cabin?

It's cost me £170 for a 4 berth cabin and crossing for two.

[metalhead19]

The ferry cost me £53 in total, which was good.
Who needs a cabin, by the time you've found it the boat will be docking anyway :p

[Dave20046]

Yeah its an overnight jobbie, so bring a sleepingbag or something.

Probably worth bringing a sleeping bag anyway, am I right in saying we're camping?

[Specialone]

Yep, just sorting the campsite ATM, just emailed them back saying we only want standard pitches not electric ones.

[Specialone]

The ferry cost me £53 in total, which was good.
Who needs a cabin, by the time you've found it the boat will be docking anyway :p

Tbh, if wifey wasn't coming, I wouldn't have bothered with a cabin, I would've roughed it with you guys.

[Dave20046]

Tbh, if wifey wasn't coming, I wouldn't have bothered with a cabin, I would've roughed it with you guys.

You mean we ain't all sneaking in on the floor????:confused:

[Specialone]

You mean we ain't all sneaking in on the floor????:confused:

**** off :thumbdown:

[Dave20046]

Fine, might try sneak the tent up then

Going to have a crack at getting the bike going this weekend. I'm ****ed off with work so have approved the holidays, all looks good to go.

[Specialone]

Fine, might try sneak the tent up then

Going to have a crack at getting the bike going this weekend. I'm ****ed off with work so have approved the holidays, all looks good to go.

Nice one, I'd already got in the mindset you was coming anyway.

[Dave20046]

Well yeah, ferry's booked and I'm tight so guess it was inevitable.

[metalhead19]

Fine, might try sneak the tent up then

I call the pitch closest to the bar in the ferry ;)

[Dave20046]

I call the pitch closest to the bar in the ferry ;)

We'll see what Dan says about that...

[Specialone]

Were keeping mr fieldhouse well away from the bar ;)

[metalhead19]

Were keeping mr fieldhouse well away from the bar ;)

Sod that, Im not bringing the drinks to him :p

[Bri w]

Tbh, if wifey wasn't coming, I wouldn't have bothered with a cabin, I would've roughed it with you guys.

You could always stay with the guys, and let one of them make sure wifey is safe;)

[Specialone]

You could always stay with the guys, and let one of them make sure wifey is safe;)

Err, I thought you was a mate bri ?

I'd really go for that wouldn't I ;)

[-Ralph-]

You mean you and Clair don't do bike keys in a pint glass? :confused:

;)

[Specialone]

You mean you and Clair don't do bike keys in a pint glass? :confused:

;)
We do, but not when there's 8 blokes keys in there too and no other womans lol

[danf1234]

Sod that, Im not bringing the drinks to him :p

Haha Don't worry, I will find beer even I have my legs chopped off!

[Nick_69]

Im properly been an idiot but I cant find the ferry everyone is getting cld someone post a link on here please

[Nick_69]

Might of just found it, is this the ferry https://ssl.directferries.com/ferry/secure/multi_price_detail.aspx?stdc=DF10&grid=0&rfid=89&psgr=1&curr=1&retn=True

[Dave20046]

We can't see which boat you've selected in your session from that link. Go to the details thread I think for the info and possibly link. that site looks different to the one I bought from (but I'm viewing by phone)

[-Ralph-]

http://www.ldlines.co.uk/

[Specialone]

I put a details thread up with everything relevant on there, including the ferry link :rolleyes:

Nick, did you manage to get the time off then?

[F4LL3N]

Hey guys, I have decided I will come along :). Where's the main thread? I'll start sorting out what I need :) be good to meet some of you first though ! :)

[Specialone]

Hey guys, I have decided I will come along :). Where's the main thread? I'll start sorting out what I need :) be good to meet some of you first though ! :)

Nice one :)

If you look in the details thread in this section, it's got everything you need to know.

There will be at least a couple of rides before then so you'll know most of us beforehand.

Book your ferry ticket ASAP or it will sell out.

[F4LL3N]

OK cool, will get on that later when I get back for Basketball training :)

[F4LL3N]

Actually, I'm doing it now - noone is bothering with a cabin right? Just a seat on the ferry?

[-Ralph-]

Not quite no-one, Specialone booked a cabin, but all of the real men are roughing it on the reclining seats or on a sofa in the bar ;-)

[F4LL3N]

Not quite no-one, Specialone booked a cabin, but all of the real men are roughing it on the reclining seats or on a sofa in the bar ;-)

Lol reckon that'll be me too then, I am a student so i'll try do this on as small a budget as possible - but don't worry not so small that I won't have some fun out of it ;)

[-Ralph-]

Lol reckon that'll be me too then, I am a student so i'll try do this on as small a budget as possible - but don't worry not so small that I won't have some fun out of it ;)

There's a few on a budget mate, we'll be catering for that with some home cooking at the campsite and beers from the supermarket.

On the subject of cooking though, we are going to need more pots and burners on our supplies list, or people are going to have to fend for themselves unless we just run a couple of the big disposable BBQ's every night. We are getting to the kind of numbers that to cook breakfasts/meals for the group using burners and mess tins is going to be no easy task!!

[F4LL3N]

I can try and bring what I can, will look up what I already have or if I can help by getting something cheap let me know. OK Ferry is booked! Quite brave of me I reckon ;). So what are the numbers? Anything else I need to sort out at the mo, or is camping and stuff done on the fly?

[-Ralph-]

No, Specialone has a campsite booked. Not wanting to speak on his behalf or volunteer him for stuff, but I think he'll add you to the booking.

[F4LL3N]

Cool, all is good then :) looking forward to it. I think I will just pack a bag, get a rack and pop the tent on it. I am sure for the few days I can make it work :)

[Specialone]

I can try and bring what I can, will look up what I already have or if I can help by getting something cheap let me know. OK Ferry is booked! Quite brave of me I reckon ;). So what are the numbers? Anything else I need to sort out at the mo, or is camping and stuff done on the fly?

Big respect to you mate, it is brave to book a weekend euro trip with 11 people you haven't met yet :)

But don't worry, we will have a brilliant time, most of us are good people ;)

[Specialone]

No, Specialone has a campsite booked. Not wanting to speak on his behalf or volunteer him for stuff, but I think he'll add you to the booking.

No worries mate, I only heard back from the campsite this evening based on 9, 45 something euros a day, so it's roughly just over 5 euros each per night :)

I'll send them another email tomorrow adding dan metalhead and fallen on.

[-Ralph-]

Big respect to you mate, it is brave to book a weekend euro trip with 11 people you haven't met yet :)

I was about to suggest a get together Saturday 25th around Solihull for anyone who is based near Brum?

My son and I are getting kicked out of the house for the evening, so I was going to go over to my mothers. We could have a few pints and pour over the map a bit?

[F4LL3N]

That sounds good, this month yeah? Give me the address where we are meeting and I am there :) btw do you need a full name or anything for the campsite or just numbers?

[-Ralph-]

Col, ive done one days google map, what do you think?

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=2663344#post2663344

[-Ralph-]

That sounds good, this month yeah? Give me the address where we are meeting and I am there :) btw do you need a full name or anything for the campsite or just numbers?

Yes, would be this month mate if any of the other guys are up for it.

[metalhead19]

Yes, would be this month mate if any of the other guys are up for it.

Sounds good to me.

[F4LL3N]

Cool stuff, just keep me posted on address, time etc. Although I am in Northampton too so I can either meet you in Northampton or just in Solihull :)

[MisterTommyH]

Suits me.

[-Ralph-]

Phil?

[Specialone]

Possibly, cant commit yet hence not putting my name in last night, i only put my name down for stuff ive got a good chance of making.

[Specialone]

Just for info , fizz has kindly updated and stickied the details thread, so there's no excuse now you lazy gits.

[-Ralph-]

Possibly, cant commit yet hence not putting my name in last night, i only put my name down for stuff ive got a good chance of making.

If we are going to do any pouring over maps, and organising stuff, then as the main organiser you'd be pretty critical. Not much point us doing it if you can't make it :rolleyes:

How does it feel to be the main man anyway? ;)

[Specialone]

Well, not many lazy cnuts in here ever organise anything so I have to ;)

Downside to being a senior member I guess.
I realised tonight I'm gonna be the eldest again on our trip:(

That is one advantage of the abr and sprint forum, few older guys on there so I don't feel like a dinosaur lol.

In fairness col, what pub would be quiet enough for us to huddle round a map on a table? Be better at someone's house wouldn't it?

[Specialone]

Hey dudes, just realised, 10 weeks tonight :)

[-Ralph-]

It's OK, we'll help lift your panniers on and off the bike, and wait for you whilst you have a few extra toilet stops.

Depends on the pub I guess. Don't suppose there is such thing as a quiet old mans pub in Solihull town centre, but we could always grab a table in McDonalds or Nando's for an hour before going for a few pints.

Be better at someone's house wouldn't it?

Well volunteered mate! Is Clair cooking?

[ravingdavis]

Downside to being a senior member I guess.
I realised tonight I'm gonna be the eldest again on our trip:(

Haha you old git :)

[Specialone]

Haha you old git :)


Ssshhh[-X


On a different note, who would be up for a blast down to Mont st michel on the monday before our return?

Linky (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Mont+Saint-Michel,+France&hl=en&ll=48.629311,-1.508173&spn=0.000227,0.181103&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.014358,46.362305&oq=Mont+&hnear=Mont+Saint-Michel,+Manche,+Lower+Normandy,+France&t=h&z=13&layer=c&cbll=48.629311,-1.508173&panoid=eRvDSg3gbToaRRkMJJll8g&cbp=12,0,,0,0)

[metalhead19]

Yeh, i would be happy to do that. Unless its pouring with rain, then i might be dissuaded somewhat.

[-Ralph-]

Ssshhh[-X


On a different note, who would be up for a blast down to Mont st michel on the monday before our return?

Linky (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Mont+Saint-Michel,+France&hl=en&ll=48.629311,-1.508173&spn=0.000227,0.181103&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.014358,46.362305&oq=Mont+&hnear=Mont+Saint-Michel,+Manche,+Lower+Normandy,+France&t=h&z=13&layer=c&cbll=48.629311,-1.508173&panoid=eRvDSg3gbToaRRkMJJll8g&cbp=12,0,,0,0)

Yes, would definitely be up for that.

[Specialone]

We would at least need to use main routes there I think as it's 87 miles direct from the campsite so we could pack up stuff and head straight from there to le havre, we will need to be at the ferry terminal by 4pm.

[rusty76]

Peeps, bit of advice please. Ive just realised that ive very little in the way of touring gear. Ive hopefully sorted textile jacket, trousers, & waterproof boots. What i really need now are some warm & waterproof gloves. I have some leather insulated akito jobbies but i hate them, they have very little movement in them. Can anyone recommend some good textile ones which are cheap as chips?

[Specialone]

Eh?
I'm wearing my leathers as normal, the weather will be mild enough.

Gloves, I'd stick to leather personally, much better abrasion resistance.

[danf1234]

Ssshhh[-X


On a different note, who would be up for a blast down to Mont st michel on the monday before our return?

Linky (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Mont+Saint-Michel,+France&hl=en&ll=48.629311,-1.508173&spn=0.000227,0.181103&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.014358,46.362305&oq=Mont+&hnear=Mont+Saint-Michel,+Manche,+Lower+Normandy,+France&t=h&z=13&layer=c&cbll=48.629311,-1.508173&panoid=eRvDSg3gbToaRRkMJJll8g&cbp=12,0,,0,0)

Yeah defo up for that;)

[Specialone]

Quite fancy a pick of my bike with mont st-michel in the background for my photo album :)

[-Ralph-]

Peeps, bit of advice please. Ive just realised that ive very little in the way of touring gear. Ive hopefully sorted textile jacket, trousers, & waterproof boots. What i really need now are some warm & waterproof gloves. I have some leather insulated akito jobbies but i hate them, they have very little movement in them. Can anyone recommend some good textile ones which are cheap as chips?

I'll be in a textile jacket and kevlar jeans, with a pair of waterproof over trousers to go over the top of the jeans if needed. My boots are leather gore-tex. I'll be taking a pair of leather waterproof breathable winter gloves and a pair of leather summer gloves. I don't want to be walking around the tourist attractions for hours in full bike gear. Plus it's France we are going to, not Scotland.

I could recommend a pair of gloves for £20, but unless you get to a motorcycle show between now and the trip, I can't tell you where to buy them. They are a Swiss manufacturer http://www.schoeller-textiles.com/ and I've never seen them for sale anywhere else. They are dead warm and stay dry in a rainstorm for about 2 hours which is pretty good going. I owned a single pair of the winter gloves which I wore all year round for 3-4 years and over 20k miles, I know this because they were the only pair of gloves I owned in that period, I replaced them with another pair when they started to let rain in too quickly. They are now nearly 6 years old (bought Scottish motorcycle show 2006 before I bought my SV) and last week I gave them a clean and rub up with baby wipes (contains moisturiser good for leather) and they looked like new, my father-in-law now has them as winter gloves for his quad biking and loves how warm they are. Every time I go to a motorcycle show I buy a pair of either summer or winter, if I need them or not, and they go in the draw until I need them. Unfortunately I only have a pair of summer ones in the draw at the moment so don't have any waterproof winter ones I could sell you.

My recommendation not being able to tell you where to buy Schoeller, would be to go to either MCA Leicester or J&S in Birmingham, and choose yourself a pair of gloves. MCA have some Spada textile ones for £24.99, but I'm with Specialone on protection. In a crash your hands are often the first thing to hit the ground and when I highsided the SV in Ireland, I wore a hole in the palm on a pair of Schoeller leather summer gloves, and they definitely saved the skin on my hands.

As you have no waterproof gear I guess you haven't done much wet weather riding? You don't need textiles for a four day trip, you could just get a one piece suit to go over your leathers (in fact I have one I could lend you but it'll be a bit big). Waterproof boots are probably a good investment.

Important to remember that very few waterproof garments are totally waterproof (I've only ever seen two riders stay totally dry in all day long bad weather, and they were wearing Spada and Hein Gerike textiles), and none will resist more than a few hours of constant driving rain before starting to leak somewhere. I've never heard of gloves that stand up to more than a couple of hours of rain on a bike where the bars are exposed. Touring does sometimes mean getting wet!

I think we'd be very unlucky at the end of April heading south, to have even one full day of rain, but hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I will be treating my jacket, gloves and tent with Nikwax before we go, because once you are out there, if it does pi$$ it down for 4 days, there will be nothing we can do to change it. It's just part of the trip if it happens.

[-Ralph-]

They don't sell the oversuit I have any more, so I can't 'recommend' one, but this is the kind of thing you could make do with for a weekend, over your existing bike gear.

http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/shop/motorcycle-clothing/textile-clothing/ftw290-aquapak-suit-black.html

[Specialone]

A mate of mine bought these recently and thinks they are very good, he uses his 125 for getting to work in the cold days and he says they keep his hands warm and dry.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermal-Leather-Motorbike-Motorcycle-Waterproof/dp/B006EJ5SIU/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1325539774&sr=8-30

[Specialone]

They don't sell the oversuit I have any more, so I can't 'recommend' one, but this is the kind of thing you could make do with for a weekend, over your existing bike gear.

http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/shop/motorcycle-clothing/textile-clothing/ftw290-aquapak-suit-black.html


I got a IXS oversuit from J&S for £70 and on our way down to Somerset last july for our camping trip and had to put mine on at the side of the M5 as the rain was so bad, it never leaked a drop of water, but as Col said, i doubt many will sustain hours of really bad rain.

[-Ralph-]

Motorways in the rain are a nightmare, as it's not just the rain falling from the sky, but the spray off the ground too. Hitting spray at 80-90mph, you might as well stand in the road whist somebody points a jet wash at you.

Russ - get yourself some kind of anti-fog treatment for your visor too. I use pinlock, but it ain't cheap if you rarely ride in cold or bad weather it's hard to justify.

[Nick_69]

I put a details thread up with everything relevant on there, including the ferry link :rolleyes:

Nick, did you manage to get the time off then?

Have got the time off work and have just booked the ferry

[Specialone]

Have got the time off work and have just booked the ferry

Nice one mate :)

I'll update your name on the list in a bit :)