SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum

My first RAF posting was to RAF North Luffenham which is on the edge of Rutland Water or the Empingham reservoir as it was known when I arrived (they had just started filling it). The base, (which is now Army) is just outside Stamford which is where I bought my first house.

I thought I'd take the GSX on a ride to see how the town had changed, and how economical the GSX was at speed limit speeds, it's a roundtrip of 170 miles. From Lincoln it's a straight southward run on the A15 (the old Roman road known as Ermine Street) until you reach Bourne when you break off for Stamford.
This takes you into Stamford via what used to be the "dead" part of town, no shops just the hospital a little further in, it also takes you past my first house. Now there's a giant Sainsbury's, Halfords etc on the opposite side of the road - big changes but it has been 30+ years.

Stamford seems to have lost it's small, sleepy market town feel and feels vibrant with many unique shops (bearing in mind my current comparison would be Grimsby and decay is more apt than vibrant). House prices have risen dramatically - I couldn't afford to move back there.
I had forgotten how much more friendly people are in that area and within minutes of parking (dedicated bike parking - free), someone struck up a conversation (in Cleethorpes they can barely utter Good Morning).

Large latte and homemade carrot/walnut cake £6 (a good price for Lincs), very tasty.

How was the GSX's mpg? I am suspicious. I filled up before leaving and filled up on my return. The receipt says 9.39 litres (which matched the pump - I have received someone else's receipt before) and it was 170.1 miles on the tripmeter. I usually multiply litres by 0.22 which gives 2.0658 galls or an mpg of 82.2. Like I said, I'm suspicious - the speed limits were down to 50 at times and I only did what I'd call rapid overtakes 3 times. It's a torque-y engine and you don't need to shift much but still... (60mph is 4k rpm and it gives a soothing droning noise at that speed) I suppose being short and a lightweight must help.

What else? The seat which had seemed fine on shorter journeys was firm and unyielding by the time I got back (my bum hurt!). I need to investigate handlebar risers (I have them on the SV) or grow longer arms. My body is reminding me I'm old by aching in multiple places but the bike ran flawlessly and, apparently, economically.