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[lastdegree]

 

Apologies, no pics.  Too much fun and seen the route more times than I see my own momma.



I'm back from a trip leaving from Manchester, England to Malaga, Spain and back again.

3800 miles total leaving the UK under the channel tunnel, down through the whole of France into Spain down to Malaga.   Stayed a week and then set back home.  Went there with Max on the back taking 3.5 days and came home on my own (Max had lost interest) in 2.5 days and 800 miles on Friday alone. 

We had a great time on the way down and I had a wail of a time on the way back.  Stopped for speeding and extreme noise pollution just outside of San Sebastian, Spain doing 110mph and ended-up with the bike cop escorting me to a bike shop to replace my well and truly illegal (but cool) megaflake Biltwell for a EU spec open face.  No fine, just wanted me to be safe     Stopped at customs for possible drug trafficking (i was looking rather down and out by then) and another cop stop in UK for smoking on the bike (bad habit from being in Spain for a week).   He could not believe that a bike had a cigarette lighter. 

The only mis hap was a blown tyre on a rickety old caravan just outside of Le Mans just before sun set that nearly took me out - aside from this pure joy.  Oh, and a torrential down pour just outside of Madrid had me worried. 

I've never done more than 100 miles in a day so had little understanding of what to expect.  We travelled light with just the saddlebags, two back rests, a few cd's, a new corbin solo and passenger, a new freedom 8" tinted screen and not much else. 

When I left and for most of the way down there I'd mentally committed to undertaking the following mods on my return:

- Hidden aerial
- Headwinds passing lamps and new HD bezel
- Chopped tour pak, rack and 4pt kit
- New MBB bars
- Painted SR inner fairing
- Handlebar mounted mirrors
- Highway pegs and possible new engine guards
- Possible new foot boards for rear

On arrival I'd not changed my view.  My wrists hurt from the extended miles, Max was pissy due to the low back rest and I'd felt as though she was taking my space.  A tour pak is necessary.

On the way back, (back in wanna be Playboy mode) I'd almost decided against the passing lamps, new bars, painted inner fairing, highway pegs etc.  Just thought that the SESG was good enough as it was and was really enjoying the ride.  Plus everyone was looking at me in t-shirt, jeans and my fresh Air Force 1 sneaks. 

The bike was pure joy.   Used no oil (none at all), never missed a beat, the J&M upgrade was well worth the money.  The moustache bars sort of works when your tall and helps against the wind through the legs during fast blasts for endless miles - I really dig them.  The Freedom shield was great, good value, well made albeit not entirely custom.  The Corbin was a life saver as I'm not sure neither one of us would have looked at the bike again had we not changed it in time.  Originally the seat placed me high and back, now it's low and back = perfect for my gorilla body.  Now that the bike has loosened-up, the power duals and hi-outputs rock and now IMHO it's surprisingly quick and mucho fun. 

I'm now back at work, taking a moment here and there to look at this site guess what?  I'd committed to my original list less new foot boards or so I thought.     

There's lot's that's great about the SESG as I have it now (for me anyway). The bars allow me to rip the arse of the bike around the lanes and work on the long haul.  Changing the inner fairing does not quite make sense for me at the moment as I really like the black and the fairing mounted mirrors.

So, where am I now?

- Headwinds passing lamps and bezel ORDERED
- Digital Antenna ORDERED
- PM contour mirrors ORDERED
- 19" front wheel ORDERED
- Chopped Tour Pak ORDERED
- Corbin back rest for above ORDERED
- 4pt and rack ORDERED

The inner fairing is still in the US and could be for sale and the 8" custom monkey bagger bars that I talked Yaffe into making are now redundant and he's going to throw jelly babies at me. 

As I said before, my fascination with this site is similar to that of my 16 yr old and his joystick.  I cannot leave it alone.  I've had lots of fun looking at other's bikes and ultimately, what works for one does not necessarily work for another.   

No PICS yet.  Bike looks like it's been to hell and back.  Will report back with pics shortly.

Thanks everyone. 

Cheers   

[ice6900]

Thanks for the report and no pics, glad you had a great time

[BobFarmer]

That sounds like an amazing trip!  You've inspired me to plan a trip here in the Southwest US on my 2-day old bike.