First tour ... advice please

[Sam]

Mrs Sam n me have done a lot of miles with her riding pillion since I began riding last year (at first on a Fazer, but since June on my Bird - which is MUCH better )

I got a Givi luggage system, ready to go off for a few days in August...but it didn't happen for various reasons. Now, we've got three nights booked in the West Highlands of Scotland next week (just north of Oban). If it's blowing a gale and lashing down, we'll have to go in the car...but if we're lucky enough to have a calm spell, the plan is to go on the bike. The roads up there are fantastic - I love them in the car, but expect they'll be amazing on the bike.

Any advice for first-time bike tourists? Not how to cope with a pillion - she's very well trained already What I'm interested in is - advice on packing the luggage (is it better to put heavy stuff in the top box or the panniers?), any pre-tour checks I should do (tyres - only done 500 miles, scottoiler full, brake fluid, tyre pressures...what else?), what emergency kit I should take (apart from the Green Flag card ), how far we can reasonably expect to get in a day, etc. etc.

OK ... all advice welcome, tho I reserve the right to take some of it with a pinch of salt

[birdinflight]

time up there if the weather is good for you. I used to live in Taynuilt near Oban.

Well, as a pillion mostly myself, sometimes a rider, like to wear both hats!!!

For the luggage side I would recommend you put all clothing within bin liners. You never know when your luggage, hard or not, might spring a leak. Best safe than sorry. Plus you have something to put your dirty laundry in!!!

Put the things you may need into the top box. Waterproof trousers, neckwarmers, spare gloves, spare jumper. Easier to get at than in a side pannier.

Derek and I tend to split the panniers. One for him and one for me. That way when we get where we are going its like having our own suitcases. The top box is for maps too, camera etc etc. I would even out the luggage personally.

Derek and I tend to stop every two hours or so when we are on our own, stretch the legs, have a coffee, something to eat. Mileage is really up to individuals. Just be aware of your own tiredness. You are the one that is doing the concentrating etc. So don't think, 'just a little further'. Pillions do get tired too. Can be very boring sitting on the back and you also get very stiff and sore too........the pillion does, no rude jokes there!

As for bike checks? Shall leave that to the experienced bunch on here, def green flag or any other breakdown service card, charged mobile!!! Oh, and money for a phone box as there are still someplaces up there where the mobile will not get a signal. I know that my Orange phone had problems a few years back. Not sure of coverage for other networks.

Derek and I have done Scotland on the bird, plus most of europe too. HOpe some of this helps. Hope you have a lovely time.

[richard]

When ya packaging ya clothes its best to roll them up tight then when you take them out they are not so creased..

R

[BossBob]

has all been said really............
Travel as light as poss, it helps a lot.
Really warm and waterproof clothing, and don't wait till you are wet to put it on
A puncture repair kit, small tool kit and a torch.
Plan 2 scenic routes for in and out, consider Dunoon /Inverary /Lochgilphead or perhaps moffat / A701 / Forth bridge/ A823 to Crieff /A85 to Oban ......... just to be different
They are a bit more interesting than Thro Glasgow and up the side of Loch Lomond.

Enjoy

[canary]

Only thing i can add to whats already bean said, is i find that to get a ballance in the weight and improve handling is have tank bag on as well. I ride a VFR, and if i carry all the weight on back + our lass, the front end gets a bit light and wants to weely when you dont want to weely, handling goes off etc.
Have a good trip.

[skippy]

Pump up the tyres, fill up the tank point in the general direction and enjoy

[gypsy]

Originally Posted by Skippy

Pump up the tyres, fill up the tank point in the general direction and enjoy

dont forget to torque your tax disc ?

and take as many spare keys for the Givi luggage as you can - and don't lock them all in one of the cases either!!

Try to let someone know where you are and where you are going and what time you expect to be there. You dont want to be having an 'off' over some cliff and no one knows you are missing for weeks?.

Make sure your mobile phone is on you and not in your luggage, if you part company with your Bird and cant move at least you can get to your phone. Phone companies can triangulate to phones so theres a good chance of finding you.

Plan your route each day before you leave, saves having to keep stopping to look at maps, better still get a gps, I use one, voice hooked up to my helmet, brill.

Allan.

[chuck]

can't add anything to good advice already given. (Cept maybe keep top box as light as poss as you don't want weight high up and 6inches further back than the bike!! Add a bit of weighty things to tank bag.

Tell us about it on return Keep warm! Keep Safe.

[ianrobbo1]

if you go into a city with a "congestion" charge, make sure you pay it before the "bill" gets sent to you,!!

[CbrDavE]

Go in the car this time of the year

Dont forget to take your snow shovel

Wait until spring and take a week on the bike

[chuck]

Originally Posted by CbrDavE

Go in the car this time of the year

Dont forget to take your snow shovel

Wait until spring and take a week on the bike

cbrDavE you wimp!! Autumn tourung..fantastic

[Sam]

Originally Posted by chuck

cbrDavE you wimp!! Autumn tourung..fantastic

mmmm....but he's got a point The forecast looks $%3un


Maybe we should just plan an overnight for the first time. Maybe 4 days at this time of the year was a bit ambitious.

Thing is, we spent a night at Easter at this really nice hotel that we've been past lots of times, but never stayed at (The Holly Tree at Kentallen - you know it BIF?). Right beside the sea, great food, very relaxing.... Anyway, they sent us an Autumn offer - 3 nights for the price of 2. Well, we couldn't resist. We've off-loaded the kids n animals, and we're really looking forward to escaping for four days. Going on the bike would have been the icing on the cake, but it's looking very doubtful now. We'll watch the late forecast, then decide whether to get the Givi boxes out of the loft, or the suitcases.


Thanks for all the good advice - duly noted for the day when we DO go touring on the bike, if it's not tomorrow.....

[Wolfie]

what is the problem???

yer skin is waterproof you know!!!