First tour of the year.

[Gerrard]

Well we will be off on Tuesday or Wednesday for our first mini tour on the Bird this year, we are going to do about 400 miles there and back as this is the first trip with Oxford panniers and tank bag which have fitted fine on the Kwaks and Fazer but yet to be used on the Bird.
First prob was the tank bag as I could not clip the fastener round the headstock so I've left it off altogether and when we went to Jerez I tried it with just the magnets and it worked fine at 120 mph - never slipped at all.
The second prob is the body line contour where the rear panniers will be, in times gone by on the other bikes I have used tape to cover the side panels to stop any rubbing and thats what I will be doing this time I 'spect, unless you lot have any better suggestions.
Looking forward to a nice ride on this trial run so things will be sorted for the GP in June at Catalynia..... only 6 weeks to go.
Zippo

 

[D.S.]

It's CatalUNYA mate

see you there then :beer: If you fancy it, we could even show ya some of the local roads? :yo:
Have you tried that matting sheet for protecting ya plastics; it works very well in my experience.

 

[RHINO]

Be warned, i found the Oxfords to be a complete pain in the ass in 'Assen' on the XX but in Spain 2000 on my ZX10 they were fine.
In Assen i had to keep stopping and shuffling them about as where they fit was in Emma's way.

 

[Gerrard]

Luggage

Hi Rhino.
We have just been fiddling with the luggage, bloody hell and bugger you're right mate, its going to take a bit of jiggling about to set it up properly for Trudi as well. As Joe has said the webbing is a good thing, its just getting the luggage far enough back under the seat so Trudi can get her feet on the rests that is the problem. We have a Baldrick (a cunning plan) 'cos the luggage has so many d-rings which we have never found a use for Trudi has made a half width velcro strap and using a bungee hook as a sort of belt and braces approach we are going to suspend the back of the panniers just behind the grab rail.. it works well in thoery but the proof will be in the journey to Almeria and back.. will let you know how we get on and if it works OK will post some pictures. (If it doesn't, forget I ever mentioned it!!!)
But you're right in what you said my ZX 6, ZX 9, Fireblade and Fazer 1000 had no problems at all .........but the Bird seems to be a bit of a pain, no doubt we will overcome it though! g0551p :beer:

 

[RHINO]

Mine were perfik for the BASH 2003 as i was alone but taking Emma meant it was a tight operation getting her room for both cheeks.
I have some new GIVI equipment now so i shall be fine :yo: :yo:

 

[Chunky Monkey]

Mine were perfik for the BASH 2003 as i was alone but taking Emma meant it was a tight operation getting her room for both cheeks.
I have some new GIVI equipment now so i shall be fine :yo: :yo:

Know what ya mean john, those on my bike in the picture were fine for the Assen trip ( but i was on my own).....but i must say i was impressed with them though.

:beer: