Road Trip From Hell
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From: Fareham, Hants
Road Trip From Hell
My best mate has bought a 125cc motorbike, and today we went to collect it from Braintree, Essex.
He's only recently passed his CBT, whereas I've been riding larger bikes for several years.
The plan was to share the driving from Portsmouth up to Essex in his MX5, as I'm also insured for it. Once he'd paid for the bike, I'd ride it to his Uncle's in Chipping Ongar, stopping for lunch, then back along the A12 and M25, down to the A3 where he could hop on and complete the rest of the journey.
It started to rain quite a bit when we left, and it turned out the rear tyre was made out of nylon, which had no grip whatsoever on the wet surfaces. To make matters worse, all the roads the Satnav made us take to Chipping Ongar were incredibly twisty and unfamiliar.
I made the decision over lunch that the M25 was just too dangerous, the wind was picking up and his bike offered no protection at all. So I chose to take the A12 to Clayhall, then follow the north circular to Chiswick and pick the A3 up there.
Approaching Chiswick, the headlights in the MX5 failed. With light rapidly diminishing, we made the decision to head our separate ways and not follow one another. He would fly down the M3, while I would take the A3, then M27 back home.
I am absolutely shattered. My arse is still numb and my entire body is vibrating. Riding full throttle for way over an hour, reaching a maximum of 68 MPH (downhill) is by far one of the most draining things I have ever done. It is soooo frustrating seeing a sign for an exit that is 2/3 mile away, and taking nigh on 2 minutes to reach it!
Never, ever am I doing that again!
He's only recently passed his CBT, whereas I've been riding larger bikes for several years.
The plan was to share the driving from Portsmouth up to Essex in his MX5, as I'm also insured for it. Once he'd paid for the bike, I'd ride it to his Uncle's in Chipping Ongar, stopping for lunch, then back along the A12 and M25, down to the A3 where he could hop on and complete the rest of the journey.
It started to rain quite a bit when we left, and it turned out the rear tyre was made out of nylon, which had no grip whatsoever on the wet surfaces. To make matters worse, all the roads the Satnav made us take to Chipping Ongar were incredibly twisty and unfamiliar.
I made the decision over lunch that the M25 was just too dangerous, the wind was picking up and his bike offered no protection at all. So I chose to take the A12 to Clayhall, then follow the north circular to Chiswick and pick the A3 up there.
Approaching Chiswick, the headlights in the MX5 failed. With light rapidly diminishing, we made the decision to head our separate ways and not follow one another. He would fly down the M3, while I would take the A3, then M27 back home.
I am absolutely shattered. My arse is still numb and my entire body is vibrating. Riding full throttle for way over an hour, reaching a maximum of 68 MPH (downhill) is by far one of the most draining things I have ever done. It is soooo frustrating seeing a sign for an exit that is 2/3 mile away, and taking nigh on 2 minutes to reach it!
Never, ever am I doing that again!
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From: On a street corner
Originally Posted by loftust,Jul 19 2009, 08:21 PM
My arse is still numb and my entire body is vibrating.
And with your avatar too
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From: Peshawar
Originally Posted by loftust,Jul 19 2009, 08:21 PM
Approaching Chiswick, the headlights in the MX5 failed. With light rapidly diminishing, we made the decision to head our separate ways and not follow one another.
Now if I had GINGER hair I could light the way forward
with the glow..
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From: Nottingham
Originally Posted by loftust,Jul 19 2009, 08:21 PM
I am absolutely shattered. My arse is still numb
Next week I am doing that again!
Next week I am doing that again!
PS you're nuts.. I would find 130 miles on my CBR hard work in one go.
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From: Newquay
Originally Posted by loftust,Jul 19 2009, 08:21 PM
My best mate has bought a 125cc motorbike, and today we went to collect it from Braintree, Essex.
Surely motorbikes aren't that rare he has to travel half way across the country to find one!?
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From: Fareham, Hants
There were only 3 bikes in the country that he wanted, and within his price range, Essex was the closest. He wanted it sooner rather than later too 
That's what mates are for though.
I regularly did Plymouth to Portsmouth (180 miles or so) and back every weekend my ship was alongside. That was on a VFR800Fi though.
Nottm S2...stop it!
That's what mates are for though.I regularly did Plymouth to Portsmouth (180 miles or so) and back every weekend my ship was alongside. That was on a VFR800Fi though.
Nottm S2...stop it!
