Trip to Wales?

[gazman]

Hi all,

I’m not really sure where to put this thread as I have a couple of questions.

I will be travelling to Llanidloes in mid Wales for a week away (15th-21st July) I will be travelling up there from Kent on the bike with the missus as pillion.

Firstly the bikey type question: with the girlfriend & luggage on the bike I’ll be needing to make some adjustments. I’m guessing preload & tyre pressures? So can anyone please tell me what sort of suspension adjustments will I need to make & will I also have to adjust tyre pressures?

Secondly does anyone-one have any recommendations for things to do in Wales? So far we’ve thought of paying Snowdon a visit & the missus would like to do some horse riding? But any other ideas recommendations appreciated?

Thanks all.

Gaz

[valleyboy]

Watch out for some of the roads.. theres an imaginarly line in mid wales that when you cross it, the Z signs for corners actualy mean it! with an emtpy bike you may get away with one or two, but fully loaded its better to stay on the side of caution for a bit...

[Stu]

The recommended tyre pressures are the same 2 up. What do you run? I like 36/42 so wouldn't increase that. You could wind up the rear suspension a couple of clicks (C spanner in the tool kit)

[gazman]

Cheers for the replies so far,

With the girlfiend on the back i'll definatly be taking it easy. I've got Bridgestone B020's on & running at 36/36, but its just the preload adjustments that i'm not so sure about :scratch: so its up a couple of numbers when you got some more weight on the bike

[Warthog]

I just came back from Llanidloes! I heavily recommend Devils Bridge, to the West towards Aberystwyth. There is a crazy good road also going from Llanidloes north towards a tiny town called Staylittle and on over the hills to Macynthleth (sp???), it goes past reservoirs and has crazy inclines, its great. We went quad biking with Madian Quads which was good. Have fun!

[Ed]

Llanidloes (pronounced 'Klan-id-loyss') = nice spot. Horses - plenty of pony trekking/riding places around Machynlleth, which is not very far. The Centre for Alternative Technology at Mach is very interesting, if a bit pricey. Mach itself is a very pleasant small country town, lots of interesting shops. The ride from Llanidloes to Mach is over a terrific mountain road, it's a really exciting ride, you go past Clwedog (a lake) - if you go round the other side you can hire a boat. And I think they do canoes/row boats too. Aberdyfi is the nearest seaside, nice spot with a good fish and chippery on the seafront. A little further on is Tywyn (dismal, best ride straight through) and then on up the road to Tal-y-llyn - or else take the A470 towards Dolgellau and turn left down that road, the views coming down to the lake are simply stunning. Going the other way there are again some pretty places around - Rhayader, Builth Wells and so on.

And if it rains non-stop then get the train to Shrewsbury (my home town) - usual large town amenities...

[Ping]

I've moved this 'ere because it's pretty much a bike holiday post and definitely NOT crapola.

;)

[Luckypants]

Llanidloes (pronounced 'Klan-id-loyss') = nice spot. ..
Close but no cigar. :) The LLan sound is not 'Klan', but is close enough for most folks. 'THLAN' is actually closer to the correct sound. :rolleyes: (I know I'm a pedant)

From Llanidloes try taking the A483 to Welshpool and then the A490 LLanfyllin and B4391 to Bala - it's a cracker. When at Bala, you could try Whitewater Rafting at Canolfan Tryweryn.

[gazman]

I've moved this 'ere because it's pretty much a bike holiday post and definitely NOT crapola.

;)

Cheers :)

[Swiss]

Check the hand book on the tyre pressures. It's been a few years since I owned an SV but 36 on the rear sounds low and I'd expect it to be nearer the 40-42 mark. It should give you the recommended tyre pressure in the owners manual. I may be wrong but it sounds a bit low.

Have a good holiday

[Ed]

Close but no cigar. :) The LLan sound is not 'Klan', but is close enough for most folks. 'THLAN' is actually closer to the correct sound. :rolleyes: (I know I'm a pedant)


Just as well I don't smoke then:roll:

Another brainwave. If you're members of the National Trust - well there ain't a lot of stuff there:D but go a bit further afield and you'll get to Dolaucothi gold mine. It's really interesting, complete with underground tours - quite spooky. And you can pan for gold and keep the little nuggets that come out in the water. I don't think it's pyrites!!!

[Luckypants]

Cheers for the replies so far,

With the girlfiend on the back i'll definatly be taking it easy. I've got Bridgestone B020's on & running at 36/36, but its just the preload adjustments that i'm not so sure about :scratch: so its up a couple of numbers when you got some more weight on the bike

Check the hand book on the tyre pressures. It's been a few years since I owned an SV but 36 on the rear sounds low and I'd expect it to be nearer the 40-42 mark. It should give you the recommended tyre pressure in the owners manual. I may be wrong but it sounds a bit low.

Have a good holiday

Tyre pressures should be 36F 42R (standard and recommended) - worked well with me and my boy on the bike, total of 25 stones.

[Ed]

Tyre pressures should be 36F 42R (standard and recommended) - worked well with me and my boy on the bike, total of 25 stones.

Big bones?;) :D

[gazman]

Thanks for all the cool ideas about things to do & places to see :thumbsup: , it should be a good week (please no-one else mention the R word (sounds like gain):rolleyes:

I checked the owner’s manual & it recommends 33 front & 36 rear, although i believe this is for the standard tyres (Metzeler MEZ4's) & as Stu said no change to pressures with a pillion. However when I had the B020’s fitted the chap said 36/36 after reading a few threads I thought this may be low but the Bridgestone website said 36/36?:scratch:

Also with the preload, the standard setting is 4 according to the manual, so am I correct in thinking putting it up to 6 will have the desired effect? :confused:

Cheers, Gaz

[valleyboy]

pretty much, I would say ignore whatever the books say, its how you think they should be.... when I had me SV and fully loaded it up, I wanted the pre-load up as high as I could take it and put ina few psi on the rear as well... front wasnt so much requiring anything extra... you will get a feel for it then... so just start off at what you think is right, or is recommended and take it from there...

[gazman]

Thanks again for all the tips & advice, had a great week away, heres a few pics:

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=1259682#post1259682