Due to issues I have had with my Asus EEEPC netbook using the Maui blog site I have had to relocate the blog, I've chosen to go with the Horizons Unlimted supplied one.
Future entries for this trip can be found here
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Bit the bullet, bought the flight tickets.
Setpember 8th 2010 is the day we fly out to Toronto to start our 3 Americas trip.
Now we just need to get the panniers made for Jean's bike, buy lots of stuff to live off, sort out paper work so we can get through borders, starting with Canada. We have bought one way tickets, we expect to be be questioned at immigration. Better practice our smiles.
For those that don't know us, its not our 1st bike trip across the pond, we were there for 3 months, back in 2007
More stuff we have done at my main homepage.
I don't expect to make many blog entries, just as and when the urge takes me. So, I suggest if anyone is floowing us at all they should use the "subscribe" settings (RSS/Atom links at the bottom), and you should get notified when we do write anything,
Also, I hate the way blogs usually start with the latest 1st, so expect to see this as a more linear trail of events.
Not a major change, (but an expensive one) decided that my XJR was not the right bike for the trip. uses lots of fuel, tyres expensive and if I "ding" a wheel (alloy) I'm stuffed. Getting a replacement will be expensive, at least with spoked wheels I should be able to get local repairs done.
Dallied with the idea of an XT66Z (Tenere), had a ride of a mates and really liked it. Then after some sensible converstaions with Jean, we decided that a bike she could ride was a better idea.
So I went and bought another Aprilia Pegaso, same as Jean's. Except grey, on "56" plate and pre-unloved (not the worlds best body work). This way we only need to carry 1 set of spares.
Sweet eh ?
I'll get the panniers put on this bike instead, so Jean does not have the extra weight or width to deal with.
Now I just need to add some "touring" bits and will be on a role.
06/06/10
Pannier preparation
Spent a few hours with Vern (Project VND) trying to work out how, where and what size panniers to stick on the bike. There was a lot of hmmming and arhhhing. Much measuring, re-measuring, head scratching and discussion.
Finaly a decision was made, he will need to make a cut out around the exhausts and there will be relatively flat tops with hooking points.
What I could not decide on was 9 inch or 10 inch wide, so both sizes will be cut with the intention now of fitting 9 inch ones to Jean's bike and then if I don't like 10 inch, trim them down for me. As this now means panniers for both bikes, another change to plan, we will not take top boxes due to the extra storage space we now have.
While riding my Pegaso last month I heard a vibration, so I crawled over the bike and noticed the radiatior was loose. On closer insepction the 2 top rivets were missing. I popped into Pitstop and Paul had a look, then started to fix it by widening the hole and adding a pop rivet. The 1st one went in OK, the 2nd punctured the rad :-(
When we looked more we realised the radiator was slightly bent (from previous owners drop). After checking a new one was 300ukp ! I went to see a local radiator repair shop, only to be told it was knackered.
After a bit of ringing around we sourced a new one for 160ukp. so I was a touch happier. The bike was still off the road for another 2 weeks though.
While waiting for the repairs, I was researching the Pegaso forum for possible faults, and could see the most likely trip stopper would be the fuel pump. On all the websites a new one was listed as 750ukp ! I queried it with a dealer and he discovered it was a mistake, they are only 207ukp, so that was added to the spares to be carried. I've stopped looking at possible faults now, as too much knowledge is an *expensive* thing.
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