Touring report

[bluesman]

I'm just back from my yearly France tour...did about 4000 km in 7 days, covered twisties in Alsace, above and under Grenoble, as usual rode around lake Serre-Poncon, went to Cold du Bonnet at 2802 meters etc. but had to take toll road on way back from Grenoble to Belgium for first time ever...why? Well...who said that Storm brakes are bad? I managed to block front wheel with one finger and had spectacular crash, broke right engine casing, broke plastics, broke right footpeg holder, dented tank by magnets in map holder I had attached and rode remaining 2000 km on bike held together by epoxy "welding substitute" and wire Fortunately with epoxy plug in engine cover I was losing not more oil than Yamaha's usually use for normal engine work
Got off lightly myself - just bumped knee and crack in finger bone. Scuffed trousers, jacket, helmet, gloves. Protection was worth every penny, specially helmet, gloves and Dainese body protecting shirt with built-in protectors. Crash pads did not help much because bike got thrown on right side with high force, so bad that my knee been only just saved by heavily armoured leather trousers and still hurts and all blue...
Good that I was with group of friends who were really stars in helping me out.
Here is some photos of "team" and my bike repair.

Corner where I went down. Stones marking about 2 liters of oil that came out of brocken engine case cover. Above you can see some strange road surface damage with water in it. I crashed at lunch time, couple of hours later roadworkers did show up and finished filling it with asphalt - can't blame them, it was my fault and they have incredibly huge area to look after very difficult roads.... Nobody could understand where from water got into that damaged surface - there was no rain at all for few days,
Next photos after we disassembled bike...
Then - Col du Bonette, 2802 meters above sea level.
More later
http://www.4sure.info/june_ride/IMGP1261.JPG
http://www.4sure.info/june_ride/IMGP1265.JPG
http://www.4sure.info/june_ride/IMGP1276.JPG
http://www.4sure.info/june_ride/IMGP1280.JPG
http://www.4sure.info/june_ride/IMGP1282.JPG
http://www.4sure.info/june_ride/IMGP1298.JPG

[RedStormV]

Hey,
Sorry to hear about your tumble mate, especially on brilliant roads and so far away from home / AA / RAC.

At least you're OK and the Storm got you home.

Very resourceful of you and your friends to repair the casing even if it wasn't 100%.

Post some more pics soon I love the look of the roads - never toured in Europe yet but friends have done all over. Any chance of you posting general route etc?

Keep us posted on the repairs too.

Graeme

[BarryH]

Seems they filled that hole in the road pretty quickly...........!! France is well worth doing. I missed out this year due to work stuff.

[VTRgirl]

Sorry to hear about the bike, but good news that you were okay!

Do the council workers over there only get one orange uniform per two workers? I guess if they're anything like our council workers, that would be fair, because they barely do the work of half a man

[RedStormV]

Hi,

Engine casing on fleabay at moment.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-VTR1000-FIR ... dZViewItem

Also Right Hand fairing:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Honda-VTR-1000-Fi ... dZViewItem

Front Mudguard:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-VTR-FIRESTO ... dZViewItem

HTH

Graeme

[LotusSevenMan]

Bluesman.
Sorry to hear that especially when far away from home enjoying yourself. Must have really fcuked up your memory of a good holiday.
Glad YOU are OK if a bit bruised etc.
Hope the repairs go well!!!
LSM

[bluesman]

thanks guys! To be honest - I am not so bothered about bike damage, I am quite good mechanic myself and alltogether there is not more than 300-400 euro worth damage (using fleabay). What worries me - it seems I start to take more liking in idea of future touring with my wife on my Suzuki DR800 with panniers, tents, camping gear etc. Can't really nail it, may be it all caused by the fact that last 10 years I rode exlusively road/sport bikes and took lot of joy in speeding, taking corners etc. Seems that I now want more real travel rather than blasting through.
Anyway, I am going to post routes and roadbooks as soon as I will have a bit of time. Overall I'v done about 35000 km in France over last 6 years on the bike, so it's time to share

[Jaglifter]

Nice pics Bluesman. I guess if you do that much travelling sooner or later something like thats going to happen.

Impressed by your calmness!!

[sirch345]

Hell Bluesman what happened I take it that the water on the otherwise dry road caught you out

Nice road side repairs and good photo's Very fortunate that you didn't brake any bones and were able to carry on with the bike trip

Chris.

[bluesman]

Cheers guys
It was combinations of factors - I was tired and almost did not sleep night before, guy who lead that part took a bit too high tempo for bad surface road we took (he was on 650 Aprillia trailie converted to supermoto), then we all almost missed right turn so I started to brake, caught bit of water with front wheel, blocked front wheel with one finger braking and went down. Water on the road have been left by roadworkers, who prepared holes in the road for filling with "cold asphalt" which sets by reacting with water. I should have gone straight without any braking - worst case I'd have to turn back and rejoin group, but concentration was not really there.
I must give credit for roadside repairs to my friend - I was a bit "slow" after fall for couple of hours (shock I guess - I did not have falls for 2 years) and he was quick - took initiative, stopped me concentrating on i"let's drop plans and I go back home". After hour or so asessment we disassembled bike together, he sent 2 other guys for oil and cold weld. and there were no space for looking down We removed side cover from engine and plugged it from inside with this "cold weld", then he used about 3 meters of wire and 2 alien keys to attach broken off footpeg, then I put plastic back on and off we went. Alltogether 6 hours from fall till leaving.
Outcome: never ride difficult roads when did not sleep enough, never push it too far when surface is not 100% clean, carry epoxy "cold weld" and 3 meters of wire with you + few bits from DYI shop. And always wear decent protection. It took lot of hits in my case.

[bluesman]

Cheers guys
It was combinations of factors - I was tired and almost did not sleep night before, guy who lead that part took a bit too high tempo for bad surface road we took (he was on 650 Aprillia trailie converted to supermoto), then we all almost missed right turn so I started to brake, caught bit of water with front wheel, blocked front wheel with one finger braking and went down. Water on the road have been left by roadworkers, who prepared holes in the road for filling with "cold asphalt" which sets by reacting with water. I should have gone straight without any braking - worst case I'd have to turn back and rejoin group, but concentration was not really there.
I must give credit for roadside repairs to my friend - I was a bit "slow" after fall for couple of hours (shock I guess - I did not have falls for 2 years) and he was quick - took initiative, stopped me concentrating on i"let's drop plans and I go back home". After hour or so asessment we disassembled bike together, he sent 2 other guys for oil and cold weld. and there were no space for looking down We removed side cover from engine and plugged it from inside with this "cold weld", then he used about 3 meters of wire and 2 alien keys to attach broken off footpeg, then I put plastic back on and off we went. Alltogether 6 hours from fall till leaving.
Outcome: never ride difficult roads when did not sleep enough, never push it too far when surface is not 100% clean, carry epoxy "cold weld" and 3 meters of wire with you + few bits from DYI shop. And always wear decent protection. It took lot of hits in my case.