woohoo ...!

sounds like you irish mob are well on the way to a joyous meet and greet .

got my fingers crossed for the good weather

I was looking to see who we migh have and this looks like my list now.....

Comberjohn (me)
92KK K100LT 193214 (Olaf)
88KE (Will)
sgmayhew (Stephen)
Trapper (Alan)
GMCQ?
Bjorn [Cork]

Am I missing anyone?

92KK

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:

Am I missing anyone?

92KK

ReneZ was makin noises about joining in....maybe we could tempt him over with the promise of an Ulster Fry?

88

That would be a very excellent idea. This is sounding better by the minute. I have a small gas bbq that fits on my top box......Any more takers for the trip?

92KK

Comberjohn, have we a rendezvous point/time yet? - I need to start making my arrangements for the night of the 21st.

88

88KE wrote:

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:

Am I missing anyone?

92KK

ReneZ was makin noises about joining in....maybe we could tempt him over with the promise of an Ulster Fry?

88

Would that be 6 county or 9 county Ulster fry...

In deference to ComberJohn maybe a six county Ulster fry. Either way with a traditional Ulster hospitality and welcome I think we will have a ball.

I thought we might have the company of a certain lady who rather liked the K1 but that is not happening. I will check with Bjorn as he is coming up from Cork. I would happily sleep in a tent on Friday night! Have a neat 2 man and good sleeping bag. I think I have about 500 miles return just to make the start. A good breakfast place to start from would be perfect.....

92KK

electric_monk wrote:

Would that be 6 county or 9 county Ulster fry...

A sizzling cross border initiative

88

In Cork we have famous Clonakilty black pudding....for those that like black pudding...

92kk.

Olaf, I'll send you PM in the next couple of days - seems to me a colleague of mine, Luke is joining us (and yes, he's a K-man). The pullback though that more than likely we'll be working until 3-3:30 on Friday evening so even if we go right from the depot we cannot get there before half past 7

Bjorn,

Depending on whether you bring gear etc the timescale is achievable in a straight run. Killeagh to M50 would be about 2.15, M50 to M1 about 15 and M1 to destination about 1.30 plus petrol stop. Might be 8.30 arrival. Alternative is to bunk in at the Travelodge at Swords and its a bare hour on Saturday morning to start point.

Good to see an extra K bike and I am working on another one here too.

92KK

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Bjorn,

Depending on whether you bring gear etc the timescale is achievable in a straight run. Killeagh to M50 would be about 2.15, M50 to M1 about 15 and M1 to destination about 1.30 plus petrol stop. Might be 8.30 arrival. Alternative is to bunk in at the Travelodge at Swords and its a bare hour on Saturday morning to start point.

Good to see an extra K bike and I am working on another one here too.

92KK

Petrol stop for less than 400kms??? We're talking about BMW tourers

We do our best anyway

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:I was looking to see who we migh have and this looks like my list now.....

Comberjohn (me)
92KK K100LT 193214 (Olaf)
88KE (Will)
sgmayhew (Stephen)
Trapper (Alan)
GMCQ?
Bjorn [Cork]

Am I missing anyone?

92KK

Thom "Flynn" Foley might make it though not 100% sure yet.

At the moment it looks like I should be staying in Dublin on Thursday night, 20th, so will probably head up Friday evening but not yet confirmed as to time.


Also decided to do the head bearings and track and also oil/filter change next week. Handling was becoming suspect so this will be an improvement.


92KK

Okay. The Irish Eccentrics Autumn Run 2012 is on!
I propose we meet up in Hillsborough Square anytime from nine o'clock on Saturday the 22nd of September(put the month in for Olaf )

There is a place called Cafe Chimes in the square where we can get a bite to eat before we head off about ten?

Hillsborough is a small village just off the A1 near Sprucefield and is easy to get at if you are coming up from the Freestate.
Hadn't heard that expression for a long, long time.
Thought it would be easier than trying to guide travellers into Lisburn.
From there, its just a short hop down the M1, across Belfast on the West Link and up the M5 to Carrickfergus where we start the run properly.

From there we follow the road up the coast as far as Portstewart. Its about 100 miles from our meeting point in Hillsborough.
We can be flexible and stop where we feel like it.
Some of the places I had in mind were the Causeway Centre, Carrick Na Rede rope bridge and Bushmills Distillery (don't tell the Aussies!) although I'm sure nobody would be interested in the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland.

Between Portrush and Portstewart we will be riding on the NW200 course for a few miles along the coast.

If we get tight for time we can head inland at any time and take the main road back. Its about an hour and a half on the main road from our finishing point in Portstewart back to our starting point.
Or you may want to turn and go back down the coast road again!
Like I said nothing carved in stone.

Everybody welcome, even if you don't have a K.

If anyone needs help with arrangements, let me know.

Hope we get weather like yesterday. Came down the Antrim coast road, fantastic!
Not much traffic, just one bend after another and looking across to Scotland over a flat sea with the sun shining.

Comberjohn wrote:(...) from the Freestate.
Hadn't heard that expression for a long, long time.

Yeah, it's called Bust State these days

Sounds great John. All new to me, and really looking forward it.
Stephen

Got it John...right opoosite the courthouse (best behaviour boys ) Cafe Chimes Plenty of Parking in the square. Plenty of parking!

All lights are green for go here still!

88KE

This is sounding better by the minute.

Bjorn has a friend Luke who also has a K.....I believe he is coming too. That makes 3 from Cork! As ComberJohn said, its a long long way.

Breakfast arrangement is excellent and a trip to Bushmills would indeed be welcome place to stop for a coffee.....I have a feeling my trip to Dublin on the Thursday may not now be on so I will sort that out at this end. I would like to try to make it up early on Friday. As for the final route weather may affect that but Johns proposal seems perfect to me.

I suppose some time next year we should look to the west or southwest......we are spoilt for choice down here but already ideas are festering. We have three lovely peninsulas here.....first we have one with the Healy Pass...then we have the ring of Kerry, then we have the Dingle Peninsula with the Slea Head drive. They cant all be done in the one day.......but there is a large bike fest in Killarney on the June bank holiday weekend [first Monday in June] draws anything between 5 and 10,000 bikes. Its a good centre and there are lots of hotels, Holiday Inn and more or self catering.

92KK

Yes, Luke said he would definitely come - even though I warned him to leave half the engine (K1300S) home as this will be no speed trip . I may need to take his gears too as the S has no panniers. No problem, still got the space reserved for the wine and the axe

Yesterday I did the Healy pass again and almost got killed by a motorhome coming up against me from the Adrigole side - the driver apparently thought it was a one-way system and never expected anyone else on the road.... The weather was diabolical plus I had to mind the wife following me so pretty slow but still we enjoyed ourselves.

But as Olaf said we have plenty of beautiful places around, well worth visiting - we can talk about that later.

"Yesterday I did the Healy pass again and almost got killed by a motorhome coming up against me from the Adrigole side - the driver apparently thought it was a one-way system and never expected anyone else on the road.... The weather was diabolical plus I had to mind the wife following me so pretty slow but still we enjoyed ourselves."

Best way to drive the Healy Pass is when it is a one way system, with a time clock at each end of it.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:

I suppose some time next year we should look to the west or southwest......we are spoilt for choice down here but already ideas are festering. We have three lovely peninsulas here.....first we have one with the Healy Pass...then we have the ring of Kerry, then we have the Dingle Peninsula with the Slea Head drive. They cant all be done....

92KK

Looks like you just volunteered yourself as route planner! Sound man Olaf

The kingdom is lovely but it's 3 days on a camel from anywhere. Would be good for a run including a spot of camping.

I suggest we bang up a new thread on it after the Autumn run and we can work on it over the winter.
88

I think 88KE has the right suggestion. I only posted that as a thought but it sits quite nicely. I dont recall volunteering as route planner but.....these things happen.

The trouble is as is said, Kerry is a long way down. But using somewhere like Killarney as a base may be ok. It is about as central as you will get. I am ok with camping and there are plenty of camp sites.

92KK

I think the 9am breakfast is a great idea too, good planning on that one John. I hope we can get a few more out too.

We must keep eye on weather www.met.ie forecasts 5 days forecasts is good and we will get a good idea by next Monday/Tuesday as to what weather will be like. It gives a rainfall moving map for 5 days ahead.

At the moment I am good for Friday night...Bjorn and Luke, keep in touch we might just manage a threesome for the trip. I am watching budget and plan to bring tent/sleeping bag. I have full panniers too so can bring extra gear.

92kk

At the moment I am good for Friday night...Bjorn and Luke, keep in touch we might just manage a threesome for the trip. I am watching budget and plan to bring tent/sleeping bag. I have full panniers too so can bring extra gear.

92kk[/quote]

Hi Guys,
Speaking of a sterling budget, I suspect there will be entry fees to the key tourist attractions like Giants causeway, Rope bridge and of course Bushmills - any idea how much??

Best
trapper

Trapper wrote:

At the moment I am good for Friday night...Bjorn and Luke, keep in touch we might just manage a threesome for the trip. I am watching budget and plan to bring tent/sleeping bag. I have full panniers too so can bring extra gear.

Sounds well, I'll check with Luke - I suppose going by Waterford and the M9 would not be a big extra for either of us, if you come from Wexford. How about that? We'll see how Olaf manages Friday; more than likely I will have to take a lieu day as rostered for late

I reckon 50 quids should do for the tourist attractions and the eventual (Bushmills-)coffee. Accomodation is a plus. This is my cash stock anyhow, hope I won't need to milk an ATM on the way.

Just had a quick sconse on the Discover Northern Ireland sight. The Rope bridge is a fiver with free gull and ganet droppings and I can't find a price on bushmills but none of their drops are free (Only Cork people will understand that reference to drops!!!).

I may travel friday night also and do the Rellies thing Saturday night as my old back injury is plaing up at present and won't do the ride and return in one go without Chiropractic intervention

Edit....just found it, Bushmills Distillery Tour. Seven Squids. Some pundits on trip advisor rate it better that the Guinness Storehouse, if that says anything meaningful to y'all!

Have you found a place to pitch a tent Olaf?

88KE

Avenger GT wrote:

Best way to drive the Healy Pass is when it is a one way system, with a time clock at each end of it.
]

Missed this post Avenger...looks like a blast!
88

Cork version of Irish English - English English Dictionary.

A drop: wee dram....generally refers to a whiskey [coll].

Bushmills and Carrick a Rede would be brilliant.

Bike now undergoing new head bearings and oil/filter change, possible new tyres.

Any recommendations on tyres? Current ones are Michelins and I dont like them. More interested in adhesion and good grip than longevity. Metzeler being recommended to me. Last time I actually had to buy tyres myself I got Avon Roadrunners, long since gone.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:
Any recommendations on tyres? Current ones are Michelins and I dont like them. More interested in adhesion and good grip than longevity. Metzeler being recommended to me. Last time I actually had to buy tyres myself I got Avon Roadrunners, long since gone.

I've just got the Road Pilot 2 for the front and compared to the Metzeler it made a hell of a difference. Have almost new Avon at the rear but consider changing it to Michelin: now with the good one at front I sometimes feel a slight weave movement which makes me feel uncomfortable.
The tests I was going by were done by Motorrad - I am not sure I can post a link but if you google "Motorrad reifentest" you get that as the first find (you can translate it then with any suitable program).

I have the PR2s on mine and they are certainly good. I have done near 10,000k and they are barely worn.

Olaf, not to turn this thread into a tyre discussion, I can personally reccomend the Pirelli sport Demons for price availability handling and wear. Have a read of this New tyre time thread which has great info on many choices and running pressures.

Also do a google search on the portal page and you'll find even more on the subject.



88KE

Not thinking tyres just now. Forks job is gone wrong, stanchions half way out and stuck, need to heat top nut also. Triple tree also suspect. Struggling to get parts and get it back for Thursday next week. Aaah. Will keep posted. Getting tempted to leave it as a parts bike and get a replacement.....

92KK

Sorry to hear that Olaf.

I was frightened by the bloody bike this evening myself: after having my lunch she never started, the EWS (immobiliser) sign displayed and no joy with either key. At only 9 days to go I wouldn't fancy to take her to a garage.... Luckily it turned out to be just wacky electonics: when stopping the bike, I do not normally take the key out this quickly but now I had to (nature's call...). Just found on another forum that the system needs about 0.5 sec for all the self-checks and electronics sorted to go to stand-by. Well, I knew that I needed to wait about 3 seconds at startup but never anything about stopping. Ended up in the cage coming home by the peak hours... Solid queue from Jack Lynch tunnel to Mahon....
When these things occur I really get why you keep up with the classics

But to be on-topic: any of you ever heard of the Dark Hedges, Bregagh Road near Stranocum, Co. Antrim? Stunning pictures, I am really tempted to have a look on the way home, it's not far from Ballymoney or Bushmills. On the other hand, still haven't decided whether my ice heart as a father should be melted by the begging of the little viking to take her with me...

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Not thinking tyres just now. Forks job is gone wrong, stanchions half way out and stuck, need to heat top nut also. Triple tree also suspect. Struggling to get parts and get it back for Thursday next week. Aaah. Will keep posted. Getting tempted to leave it as a parts bike and get a replacement.....

92KK

Drop HoverK100 a pm. I remember him posting that he'd had found a couple of parts bikes in Kerry. Sorry to hear you've run into difficulties Olaf. Bandaid is also breakin an RT (see forum buy & sell section ). Hope we'll see you in the North.

88

Björn wrote:
But to be on-topic: any of you ever heard of the Dark Hedges, Bregagh Road near Stranocum, Co. Antrim? Stunning pictures, I am really tempted to have a look on the way home, it's not far from Ballymoney or Bushmills. ...

Wow - never heard of that before Bjorn. I think we have some flexibility in the route time/plan so maybe we could all go for a look see. I would certainly like to see that.

88KE

Forks back on and chassis rolling again.....Should be mobile tomorrow evening.

Scary stuff, a lot of little problems sorted like brake caliper bolts so all the better for it. Old head bearings pitted and in poor order.


My sons Bros is parked here while he is in Budapest. The thought crossed my mind to use it if all failed but I dont think I am up to an endurance test like that.


92KK.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Forks back on and chassis rolling again.....Should be mobile tomorrow evening.

Scary stuff, a lot of little problems sorted like brake caliper bolts so all the better for it. Old head bearings pitted and in poor order.


My sons Bros is parked here while he is in Budapest. The thought crossed my mind to use it if all failed but I dont think I am up to an endurance test like that.


92KK.

Good work Olaf, a little persistence can be the key to unlocking the possibilities.

If you had taken the bros you would be missing the fairing now the temperatures are dropping.

88

88KE

You are so right about the Bros.

We did a long trip up the west coast in 2010 that took in Connemara, the Burren and the Ring of Kerry. The biggest thing about the Bros was the small petrol tank. Other than that is was fine, apart from being naked and lacking luggage. My sons licence became unrestricted in July and he is looking out for 'something a little faster'. He admitted having had a Fireblade last weekend....Ouch.

Before I got the K I had a 1973 Honda 500-4 out for a run as I was thinking of buying it having had one for two years before. I quicky realised that a naked bike was not for me as I had kitted out the original one with a full fairing etc.

Bros would be fine for short run but since I have almost 500 miles round trip to the start point plus our run I wasnt going down that road.

Anyway 92KK should be mobile around lunchtime so as far as I can see my trip is on.

92KK

Something a little faster? I am just getting somewhat anxious about my ST which now I feel might have been a bit of an overkill. She really IS putting my licence at risk.... Just asked the wife as to when I learnt to slow down with the RS (just to know what to expect with this now) and she said I had never done.

I absolutely love the ST but may think it over and make the move towards an RT / LT. Nothing under 100Nm though

MOT booked for Thursday, bike still in workshop! Cutting it a bit fine I think!

G

gmcq wrote:MOT booked for Thursday, bike still in workshop! Cutting it a bit fine I think!

G

You'll be grand
88

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/5day-ireland.asp

That link will take you to the weather forecast page. When I posted this it went up as far as Thursday midday.

It looked a bit wet up at the north coast but keep an eye out as that may well change over the following 36 hours.

92kk

Looks like its going to be a good trip. sometimes I wish I had wheels on my K . Maybe next year some of you will get down to Kerry.
BTW while other people are arguing about some pics in an obscure French mag there's a pic my K in the Sunday Times on page 5 of the Life section, Should have been one of the bigger ones!!!!
Perhaps I'm an eccentric after all

Hover K100 wrote:Looks like its going to be a good trip. sometimes I wish I had wheels on my K . Maybe next year some of you will get down to Kerry.
BTW while other people are arguing about some pics in an obscure French mag there's a pic my K in the Sunday Times on page 5 of the Life section, Should have been one of the bigger ones!!!!
Perhaps I'm an eccentric after all

Surely you are There are some ideas circling already about visiting the kingdom next spring - so nothing to prevent you from having a cup of tea (whatever you mean by the name "tea" ) with us at some stage. At least for that one I can take my aide-de-camp with.

And after doing the North and South of Ireland, we should seriously consider Norway for 2014 Spotless clean campsites at reasonable prices around every corner even with huts for the overcivilised men like myself, good (reindeer) sausage and beer / meade.

I think Bjorn is having a good time....Norway indeed. I suppose they do own the days of the week too, with Tieu's Day for Tuesday, Odin's Day for Wednesday and Thor's Day for Thursday.....less said about Friday the better.

Next we will be having Bjorndays instead of birthdays.

I have added a pillion passenger so definitely camping, staying Friday and Saturday night!

Looking forward to it!!!!

92KK

That's for sure, and to make it up both Björn and Gerda Björnsdóttir were born on Tórsdag - so who do you guess is our patron God ?

Vishna hey what a guess

I was born on Tieu's Day......Did I mention my parents went to Norway for their honeymoon.......having got married on Odin's Day...

92KK

And nothing important happening on Freyr's day (it IS Freyr's, even though many of us are inclined to believe it's Freyja's)???

Oh yes, there is. We head up North Ask Thór to be good to us and provide clear weather.

Freyja is everywhere.....like Macdonalds fries.

I have checked out the camp site..link below.

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/forestservice/forests-in-northern-ireland/forests-in-the-east-region/tollymore-forest-park/camping-and-caravanning-at-tollymore-forest-park.htm

92KK