2011 Bike Trips

[Lonewolf]

Does anyone out there have any trips planned for next year on the GTR, either at home or abroad? I got talking to the Missus last night about going away for a few days, maybe upto a week and doing some touring up in the Scottish Highlands. The West coast of Scotland is terrific and after my little teaser earlier this year when I went via Port Patrick to Girvan it seems like a definate possibility.
On the same token though, Cornwall, Devon etc, has a lot to offer too. Has anybody done either and can offer any pro's or con's to either one or the other? Its a long time since I've been camping but I bought a small tent suitable for the bike a couple of years ago and I'm afraid to say it still needs to be christened!!
If it were down to me I'd venture further afield, France, Spain etc, but maybe that will have to be the year after. I have a very protective wife who worries constantly when I am out on the bike in any case, she's be a nervous wreck if I was not even in the UK :)

[Lonewolf]

 :) ok nobody then.

[Rusty]

I missed out on last years bike trip to The Highlands due to work commitments but the pictures were just as the guys described it .... fantastic ! I would think you would need some time to do it justice and certainly in the summer months to take advantage of the longer days and any possible dry weather!
Cornwall and Devon ?? ... done them both with the family over the years when the children were small but not on a bike ... it's all lovely down there, you won.t find anywhere that you dont like.. obviously no mountains but the scenery and the ragged coast line is just lovely not to mention the local beer and the cream teas !
Take a look at www.pitchup.com  .... that may guide you in the right direction, but with a tent you could find yourself in a top notch site or a farmers field, depends what you want.
Done a little bit of Spain ( years ago ) and France more recently ... Into Flanders, WW1 sites and then down to the south east... a bit of Germany, Baden Baden etc and then back up ... last year, Portsmouth to Caen down to Beynac ( just east of Bordeaux ) Milau bridge etc, blessed with filthy hot weather and it was great. I can't be specific with sites as we just turned up and paid, almost nomadic type of riding but I think sometimes the best way.
You can keep in touch with Mrs Wolf on the mobile etc even if you just tried yourself out in Northern France for a few days that would be worth it ... on the continent bikers are treated in a completely different light ... they love them... lorries move over, drivers wave you past and pedestrians give way !!!
Get out there and try it !

[Lonewolf]

Rusty, many thanks for that. Pre Mrs Wolf days I did travel abroad on two wheels, got as far as St Tropez, didnt book anything just set off and turned up with my tent. Great times.  :)
I was born in Cornwall and lived for many years in Scotland. I'm a Forces brat so we had a tendency to move about a bit, as you do ;D

Ae you still in the market for a GTR or have you bought one now? Its a good time of the year to buy, there are lots going pretty damn cheaply at the moment. If not already bought, get one sharpish and then get a biking holiday booked and planned. You know you want to..... :D

[Rusty]

No GTR in the garage yet ...as you say it's all in the timing. To be honest it may have to be next year, early part, when the dealers are dead and its freezing cold outside with snow on the ground... I shall make an announcement when the time comes !!!

[Kwikasfuki]

There's a few popping up on eBay.

I'll have to see what the 2011 model offers before changing my bike.

[Rusty]

Oh it will happen one day ... I hope that Kawasaki will do 0% finance .. that would be the clincher for a new bike out the box. BUT as you can see on Auto trader or MCN there are plenty of good deals out there and some lovely bikes for sale. Wait and see. 

[Lonewolf]

If my memory serves me correctly, Kawasaki were doing interest free credit on the GTR a year or so ago. I'm gonna stick with the machine I have at the moment and possibly in 18 months or so I'll look at upgrading it. I wonder what accessories it'll have as  standard by 2012?

[Rusty]

Yes I wonder too !! I hope 0% finance comes back in the depths of winter ... especially with all the financial cutbacks that are being made... who's going to have the money to spend on a bloody bike eh ???

[Kwikasfuki]

You could go for the new BMW 1600 which is rumoured to be 19k

[Rusty]

Too cheap

[Mr Blek]

Nothing planned in the immediate future but on the list is Route 66.



I'll probably end up hiring a cruiser spend a good few month touring the states. Not in 2011 but definitely in the near future.