Bon Jour from sunny France (?).

After forty years of not riding a Bike and being 68 years old I never thought I would ever commit again but recently I could not resist a beautiful BMW K100RS 16v. All I have to do now is get up the courage to ride it.

Bonjour Bluecob,

There is only one way and that is to get up on it and try it. When you do you will start dreaming of some nice trips and some fellow K riders. There are a few in France......and if you feel like travelling further you never know, we might meet up.

Have a look at the section of the home page about what to do if you have just bought a K 100. Some very good ideas on it.

Safe riding too.

welcome bluecob ...steady as she goes ,,,they are a great bike
enjoy !!

Hey David, that was quick! Didn't take you long to join the forum.
Wait till the rain stops and Jude and I will be over on the BMWs to give you some confidence. When I looked at your picture all I could see was a bike almost the same as mine.
Give me a call when the weather is looking dry enough for you.

Bob

If you don't mind be welcomed by a Harley rider in the forum.

Mick

Thanks for the great welcome Guys & Gals especially you Bob. You have really got me going.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Bonjour Bluecob,

There is only one way and that is to get up on it and try it. When you do you will start dreaming of some nice trips and some fellow K riders. There are a few in France......and if you feel like travelling further you never know, we might meet up.

Have a look at the section of the home page about what to do if you have just bought a K 100. Some very good ideas on it.

Safe riding too.

Hi

Must be me but I can't find the section you mentioned. Can you point me to it.

Thanks.

Bluecob

This is the link to it. http://www.verrill.com/moto/newkbike.shtml

Well worth a read and anything you need don't be afraid to ask, even if you think its minor. someone somewhere will have met the question or problem before. You will find everyone very helpful too. I see Bikerboy has already set about arranging a meet up!!! A good start.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Bluecob

This is the link to it. http://www.verrill.com/moto/newkbike.shtml

Well worth a read and anything you need don't be afraid to ask, even if you think its minor. someone somewhere will have met the question or problem before. You will find everyone very helpful too. I see Bikerboy has already set about arranging a meet up!!! A good start.

I have told you Irish guys that I would help out should you want to visit, well now there are two of us!
I tracked Dave down yesterday evening and put him onto this forum. To find another Brit living in France with a bike almost identical to mine - even the same colour is strange, but to find that he lives just up the road in the same department is spooky.

Bikerboy,

You might have cause to regret that offer. You have more than once been very generous in offers too and they are very much appreciated. Just because no one has taken it up yet does not mean it wont happen. It will. Behind the scenes there are some very active and surreptitious plans afoot to make it down your way. You could end up with a horde of Irish Eccentrics arriving on your patch bearing gifts of Irish whiskey..... At least one is eager to try microlighting. A few of our UK members have also expressed an interest....

I have been left to my own devices this year as regards holidays and am keen to factor in a camping trip. I absolutely love the trip down the west coast of France and while motorway runs are not everyone's cup of tea the road from Rennes down to Nantes and on to Saintes and Niort is quite spectacular in its own way and definitely one of the better ones. A straight run in the car from Roscoff to Lacanau Ocean was the order of the day, apart from a stop at Les Ruralies to break the journey and refuel body and motor. A Sunday run is possible on this route too, there are enough open services for petrol.

Suffice it to say I am fully sorted now with all camping gear and the necessary stuff which all fits in the panniers and top box and feel a draw in your direction.

Work permitting that is.

All that's really needed is some company but to be honest happy to go it alone too. I am 10 minutes from a ferry port to Roscoff....arrives at 7am on a Sunday and leaves about 9.30 on a Friday. Plenty of services too from Rosslare. On a straight run and a few stops that would put me in Perigueux for 6pm........and leave Friday morning.......According to my route I head from Niort and it shows up as 7 1/2 hours. We normally made Bordeaux from Roscoff in about 6 1/2 hours driving [at about 120] plus stops and it looks much the same to Perigueux.

I don't really worry about bike problems. I am never more than 100 miles from an airport to fly home from if a need arose. Lorient, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux. The benefits of going it alone with an older motor where its issues are well known and when you can get cheap flights there is little enough risk. The insurance includes a breakdown cover anyway so the bike will get recovered. I am at the moment organising getting a few things sorted, water pump, head bearings, brake pads, rear tyre and fitting a charging point for the phone which leaves everything tip top as they say.

Anytime you want!

Welcome!

Welcome aboard bluecob - I have quite a few biking friends that live in France these days - hopefully will get to visit them before too much longer as I haven't ridden "en France" for four years now.

Krambo you could be another to join us for a trip down to Bikerboy!!! Notts K100 is keen on this too......Could be fun.....

Welcome,  not riden a bike for 40yrs?
well, then you have some cathing up to do.

Enjoy your ' new' bike  

k-rider

Mick Bogtrotter wrote:If you don't mind be welcomed by a Harley rider in the forum.

Mick

Hi Mick.

Want to know why I was tempted again other than the Bike was in such good nick?

Last year I has a call from a friend that I used to go to school with and had not seen for literally years. He asked if he could call in and see me with another Guy and stay the night. He said they would be on their way to the Harley meet in St. Tropez. Obviously I was delighted - but look what they arrived on:



Now you can see why I itched to get back riding.

I know Harleys get some stick but to me they are wonderful bikes and if my pocket stretched to it ...... Maybe one day.

k-rider wrote:Welcome,  not riden a bike for 40yrs?
well, then you have some cathing up to do.

Enjoy your ' new' bike  

k-rider

Yes, you are right, I do. My main problem is confidence plus my good wife does not want me to go on it, in fact she wants me to get rid of it.

krambo wrote:Welcome aboard bluecob - I have quite a few biking friends that live in France these days - hopefully will get to visit them before too much longer as I haven't ridden "en France" for four years now.

It's one beautiful and wonderful Country. Go on, do it!

Go on, do it and don't dream it. Join the greasy ones again and be happy. Since I started riding Evo and TC I never had to get the spanners out apart from the routine maintenance jobs - unlike before.

Make yourself happy,
Mick

Be afraid Bob, be very afraid.......

Les Huns du sud des Pyrenees arriveront.  Lorsque vous y attendez le moins. 

Ils seront sous le radar, comme une Tornado. 

Tackler  

TacKler wrote:Be afraid Bob, be very afraid.......

Les Huns du sud des Pyrenees arriveront.  Lorsque vous y attendez le moins. 

Ils seront sous le radar, comme une Tornado. 

Tackler  

In Ireland we have the Vikings. Bjorn and Olaf will be along....Les Huns du Sud? En mer!!!.

TacKler wrote:Be afraid Bob, be very afraid.......

Les Huns du sud des Pyrenees arriveront.  Lorsque vous y attendez le moins. 

Ils seront sous le radar, comme une Tornado. 

Tackler  

No problem to me - I am half Hun myself!

@bluecob:

All I can do is to offer you a ride in my chair.

Mick

Welcome Bluecob.  I returned to motorcycling last year, aged 56.  It is quite daunting to swing a leg across a bike again after a break of many years, but you know what they say about riding a bike.  I too have an unwilling wife, but I have said that my riding is not negotiable.  Once the seed of motorcycling has been germinated in a man (or woman), it simply does not die.  I never gave up looking on in envy at riders during my twenty year lay-off, and one day I decided that if I were to leave it any longer, I'd be able to ride only something like a twist and go scooter. 

Have you actually ridden your K yet?  If not, then I'd advise you to get astride it as soon as you are able.  Once my wife saw just how sane I became after a ride on the bike, there was a certain softening of her attitude.  The next step is to get her to ride pillion; currently she tells me that she considers it too dangerous.  This is the same woman who will ride helmetless on a motorbike taxi when at home in the Philippines - twisted logic? 

Please tell us how you are progressing.  Bon chance, mon ami.

This forum has been a mine of information and again I would like to thank everyone who is helping me in my senior moment - working out how it 'works' and getting back on it.  

Welcome Bluecob, hope you enjoy this forum as I do.
I am surprised that no-one so far has proffered this advice
so here it is.... Contact your local licensing agency and book into
a refresher course. As a former instructor naturally I would say that,
drumming up business, right?
Worked wonders for me when I trained to be an instructor, not that I needed
passion rekindled, made me question EVERY aspect of the riding experience
and why I did this 'n that. Anyway I recommend regular courses even if only for the Fun factor.

Ghost who rides wrote:Welcome Bluecob, hope you enjoy this forum as I do.
I am surprised that no-one so far has proffered this advice
so here it is.... Contact your local licensing agency and book into
a refresher course. As a former instructor naturally I would say that,
drumming up business, right?
Worked wonders for me when I trained to be an instructor, not that I needed
passion rekindled, made me question EVERY aspect of the riding experience
and why I did this 'n that. Anyway I recommend regular courses even if only for the Fun factor.

Hi Ghost

My problem here in France is, if there was such an organisation I bet it would be miles away, plus I do not speak French which doesn't help as well.

I have a friend coming over in a few months who is an ex Copper riding this bike and then went onto running a Biker Training School. I look forward to it if I have not sold the bike first which the good wife wants me to do.

Bluecob,

88KE and myself have plotted to go to France for about a week in May.....must talk to Bikerboy as we are aiming for his direction....

Don't give up on the K and don't part with it........they bring great people as well.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Bluecob,

88KE and myself have plotted to go to France for about a week in May.....must talk to Bikerboy as we are aiming for his direction....

Don't give up on the K and don't part with it........they bring great people as well.

If this forum is anything to go by they certainly do. I have found some great people here all willing to help.

I will fight to keep the bike!

NO, do not sell it.  If you cannot find any rider training organisations local to you, and I suspect that the other forum members nearby will help with that, then there is always your ex-copper mate.  He should have plenty of wisdom to impart that will get you confident on two wheels again, and if he has gone in for the instructional side of things, he'll know how to get his knowledge across to you. 

I for one, know how contented riding a bike again can make you.  Do not give in to pressure yet - tell her that it's hardly going to harm you if it sits in the garage.

Good to have you with us and good luck withy riding.
Regards,
K-BIKE