Ah, them was the days!

Hang on a minute, I was only 7 when that was made .

Very enjoyable vid.

Aside from the fuel issue and the mechanical faut pas (rounded off allen bolt) the bike was actually ideal for some of those conditions.

More power (per litre) generates more heat. Engines also used to run much richer which helps cool the top end but with FI and the need for better fuel efficiency nowadays run a weaker mixture. Liquid cooling also enables the engine to run at the optimum temperature so that such things as valve clear...

Redsoul wrote: Is it possible some people on this site are miserable old gits and need to be a little more tolerant lol.

I don't think miserable old gits are exclusive to this site but touring with a group is definitely about tolerance and fitting in.

Yes, completely agree, but you know how it goes - friend suggests we do a tour round Spain, for example, we work out a route, fix some dates, cajole a couple of others to come along and then someone pipes up saying another mate of theirs has never been abroad before and could he join our group. We g...

I must say that I'm not much of a group rider. I've done group tours dozens of times over the years, even organised tours making myself responsible for the route, booking hotels and suchlike. But there is always one and sometimes more than one, who at the outset seem to be amenable but after time go...

We are benefiting from the good exchange rate at the moment plus hotels in the UK have always been expensive. IBIS budget is fine if it's just a place to kip but I always like to find the quirky places even if they're a bit more expensive - stayed in a chateau on the Loire booked at the last minute ...

So how much do you actually take or need for cheap digs tours... Panniers and a top box or just as you stand plus a toothbrush...maybe a brew kit for english tea ...after all thin clothes dry overnight... To answer your original question: If it's just me,I use an old tank bag (perhaps 20l and reaso...

Depends what I'm doing but I can survive (comfortably) for a 3 or 4 day camping trip with just my giant loop coyote with my tent strapped across the back. I've only just started doing this sort of thing and filtered a lot of advice from here and elsewhere. I like to be entirely self contained so tak...

French kids are still on holiday but the holiday season begins to tail off after the bank holiday on 15th August, so you'll probably find that most campsites have space. The roads shouldn't be too bad but there will probably be a lot of oversized motorhomes wobbling about. The weather can start to t...