Trip to España, June ´06.

[RichieW]

Hi ya´ll,
Just thought I´d write you a little story on my ride down to Spain last June. If you´re unlucky enough to suffer from insomnia, this should cure it!

Having lived in Spain since April ´06, I managed to make it to June without the Duke. However, I´d only ridden her once in the UK since I bought her and I was near breaking point. Spanish roads and no bike...not good. So I flew back to the UK especially to ride her back before I started my new job.
I didn´t ride through France this last trip as I was in a rush to get back to Malaga. I sailed from Pompey (Portsmouth) straight to Bilbau. 11pm crossing on the Thursday evening spat me off in Balbau at 8am ísh on the Saturday morning.

I made the necessary checks on the bike such as tyres, chain and sprockets, oil levels and all other fluid levels.
I was however having fueling problems on the Duke, probably due to the fact that she had been stood a while. She was only running on one cylinder so I had to clean out the fuel tank, change the fuel filter and lob some newer fuel in. Drop of fuel additive also if I remember correctly. After that, she was back on track! Took her for a test ride as I hadn´t been out on her for a while. All felt well. Incidentally, it was scorchio in the UK at the time. Almost as hot as Spain.

As regards luggage, I rode with a tank bag and a rucksack. That was it.
In the tank bag I had:
Allen keys
2 new spark plugs
a small bottle of engine oil (in case of top-ups)
2 stroke oil for the scott-oiler
a spare fuel filter (just in case!)
waterproofs (I got the odd serious drenching in Bilbau!)
maps
4 Fray Bentos pies, a copy of BIKE magazine and a can of Boddies!

In the ruck sack:
passport
2 years supply of ear plugs
clothes

The ride down to Portsmouth went without a hitch. Beautiful sunshine (bizzarely!) and not too much traffic. On arrival at the port there were bikers everywhere, many of whom were heading for Los Pecos I think in northern Spain. Marvellous roads I here.
The ferry trip was a very enjoyable. Knowing that we had all of Friday and Saturday morning aboard, most people got stuck into the beers on Thursday evening. A few hen nights and many bikers made for great entertainment. Although travelling on my own, I was never stuck for people to talk to, especially about bikes!
My route through Spain took 3 days. I wasn´t out to break any records so was determined to enjoyed the experience. I had only ridden the Duke once before properly so I was still learning all about her and was seriously looking forward to the trip ahead!
I arrived in Bilbau to a very wet reception. Picked my way through the puddles leaving the port. Waved at an MV and it´s rider, also looking at the rain in disgust! I decided that at the first service station, I would put the waterproofs on. That proved to be an inteligent move. Apart form the rain, the scenery around northern Spain was lovely. Good ride and the Duke ran flawlessly.
I spent the first night in a hotel between Segovia and Avila. My progress had been haulted by a severe shower and by then my arse was calling the shots, not my brain. I´d ridden for four or five hours so decided to call it a day. My posterior needed to build up some resistance to the slab of granite it was to be pearched upon for the next few days. I asked the lady in the hotel reception whether they had a garage as many hotels do in Spain. This one didn´t. However, there were a few bike fanatics working in the hotel and they were only to pleased to have the FE staying in the wine cellar overnight!
The following morning I went down for breakfast and one of the lads stuck the Moto GP on for me on the restaurant TV! Top banana!!!
The second day was much drier. Made mental note to AVOID MADRID!!! I left Avila and headed for Toledo and then Cuidad Real. The roads were great and I was really enjoying the lazy torque of the twin. She is so easy to ride it´s staggering. The noise eminating from the race cans kept me smiling mile after mile.
The second evening´s stop was in a small town just north of Cordoba.
It was at about this point that the first problem arose! On arrival at the town, I was hearing strange graunching noises coming from somewhere. Whilst pottering around looking for a hotel, the ride was beginning to feel a little snatchy and jerky. I had a quick look at the bike once at the hotel but due to fatigue, decided I would look at the problem first thing in the morning.
I checked into the hotel, had a shower, went down to the bar and had a beer. Had a few more beers whilst chatting to the spanish barman who knew of a mate with a motorcycle garage. Might be useful in the morning I thought. Promptly had a few more beers. A group of Northerners from England checked into the hotel while I was at the bar so we got chatting...over beers. We all went out for dinner and yep, a couple more beers. It was then finally decided that we´d round off the evening back in the hotel bar, having a few beers.

The next morning, I felt like ****! My not so early start had me examining the bike whilst cursing Cruzcampo. The engine sounded good. It was only on the move when the graunching was heard. I decided to find this mechanic in town who was extremely helpful. He took the FE round the block (no helmet, big grin) and then had her up on a paddock stand. It turns out that the rear wheel bearings had all but disintegrated. The ball bearings were not so much circular as half-mooned! He then kindly pointed out a whopper of a nail in the rear boot! Bugger...more expense!
New bearings and new rear tyre fitted. It was now 5pm on the third day and I wanted to be in Malaga by 10pm. I bid the mechanic farewell who advised me to let the rear tyre bed in and to also watch out for impulsive deer who like to jump out onto the road, especially around dusk. Nice!
Last leg of the trip went superbly. The ride was awesome. The new rear tyre was awesome! I arrived in Malaga at just gone 10pm, tired but very contented.
The Duke went really well. The trip must have been around 680 miles in all. She didn´t let me down once, not even in the rain (which was at times torrential!)
Since then, I´ve had to change the fuel filter again and the spark plugs but otherwise, the SS has been terriffic.

A few pics of the Duke and I leaving the UK.

Cheers,
Richie.

[ENGAKATS]

Spain is one of my next destinations (for riding I mean as I have already been there many times). I was thinking though to ride through France and not taking a ship to Bilbao (33 hours in a ship !?!? Going from Greece to Italy was 19 hours and I could just stand it...). What made you avoid riding in France?

Do you have any pictures from the trip? Oh! I forgot! You didn't mention any photo camera in your tankbag-rucksack

I hope you are having fun down to Andalucia!! I bet you don't have salt on the roads there (check my last posts... )

Keep your SS on the road and have fun!!

[Primul]

Glad you got her home Richie!! I have been very pleased the few times I've gotten stuck in the rain on my SS. Hope to hear of some of your other rides in Spain!!

[RichieW]

Hi Engakats,
I didn´t have time to ride France last trip. New job was calling!
If you have the chance, it´s a must-do. Gorgeous scenery and roads. Great food. If you don´t like boats, Dover to Calais is probably the quickest route, unless you take the tunnel. Portsmouth to Cherbourg is an overnighter on the boat. When you get to the south of France and see The Pyrenees on the horizon, that´s quite something...very cool!!!

Yeah, couldn´t fit the bloody camera in the tankbag, too many pies!
Having lots of fun down here though. The roads around Ronda are fantastic. Lots of fast riders though so you have to keep your concentration levels up! I had to tell myself to slow down a couple of times when trying too hard to stay with those guys. I found myself going too quickly for my own comfort and felt out of my depth. Gave myself a quick talking to and then I was off again at my own pace. I then started to ride alot smoother and safer.
It´s funny, I´ve been riding 13 years on the road and I still have to keep myself in check occasionally. Probably always will have to.

No road salt so far mate. The coldest it´s been at night here is 10 degrees C so lots of riding at the weekends!
Hope you get your SS rinsed off soon.

Cheers,
R.

Hi Alex,
Good to hear from you. I´ll try and get some pics of Ronda for you. Beautiful!

Regards,
R.


[QUOTE=ENGAKATS]Spain is one of my next destinations (for riding I mean as I have already been there many times). I was thinking though to ride through France and not taking a ship to Bilbao (33 hours in a ship !?!? Going from Greece to Italy was 19 hours and I could just stand it...). What made you avoid riding in France?

Do you have any pictures from the trip? Oh! I forgot! You didn't mention any photo camera in your tankbag-rucksack

I hope you are having fun down to Andalucia!! I bet you don't have salt on the roads there (check my last posts... )

Keep your SS on the road and have fun!!

[jack]

The roads of Europe on an SS, red no less!!! Nice trip, I'm jealous!!!! Would there be snow in the mountains, crossing over from France to Spain now?

[RichieW]

Hi Jack,
Yes, I´m sure there would be at the moment. If you wanted to avoid the snow, you would have to stay on the west coast of the south of France and head over the border towards San Sebastian. That area is fairly low, altitude wise.
I don´t fancy ice on the SS! Haven´t got any spikey tyres!!! Madrid is five hours drive by car north of where I live. As of yesterday, it´s covered in snow. I have just been for luch in our central Plaza, sat outside in a shirt and jeans! Balmy!!!
I swear, if I had enough money to spend the rest of my life touring on the Duke, that is what I would do...no question!!!
We can but dream!!!

Regards,
Richie.

[Primul]

Richie, it's funny that you mention spiked tires. My mom just very recently asked me since we had snow & ice here in the Pacific NW of the US, if there were chains for bikes. She was very serious about safety & thought it was a grand idea. I had to calmly explain to her that wouldn't be a good idea & that one had to use spiked tires. She thought about it a moment and then suggested I get a set for my SS. I just shook my head at her and smiled.

[whirlybird]

that sounds awsome. I just took a ride from Huntington Beach to Joshua Tree last weekend. About 400 miles round trip. Lots of fun after you get off the freeways.

I was thinking about taking a trip to New Zealand this fall and if I do I will have to ship my bike over there, maybe Spain will be put on my list also.

[jack]

Oh sure, rub it in, lunch outside in balmy weather!!! Actually we've postponed winter here till just the other day, 1/2" of snow, but it'll get to single digits this weekend. Always loved the roads in Europe, which is why they emphasis handling over HP. Sound like you need to hit the lottery or find someone that's rich! Spain is on the list of places to go, but France, Italy and Portugal have some great roads as well. Maybe you should open a touring center, rent nice bikes, maps of places to go ...... need a partner?

[RichieW]

That balmy warm weather has just changed to torrential rain! That´ll teach me for being smug!!!
I seem to remember spikey tyres in one of the Bond films, "For your eyes only" I think Alex! Mums, you´ve gotta love ém!
I´ve ben speaking with a lad in England on another forum and he has had some sleepless nights worrying about salt corrosion due to the snow over the last couple of days! Nice not to have that problem out here.
And my wife wants to go back to England!!! WHY??? ¡No entiendo!
Last weekend in Ronda, Juan (my mate with an R1) and I pulled into a cafe full of parked bikes to grab a coffee, arse break etc. I was sat inside eating a sandwhich and this english fella came in and asked whether I was english and whether the Ducati outside was mine. I said, "If there´s only one out there, it´s mine!"
He said, "That´s bloody gorgeous that! Is it an 851 or an 888?"
"Allow me to retort," I retorted. "She´s a ´98 900SS."
"Oh, bloody gorgeous it is that!"
This went on for a while! Turns out that he had a 749 parked up outside so we waffled about his new SHARK exhaust system for a bit. Very loud and higher pitched than my FE´s Laser cans. Sounded great though!
I then had to leave as Juan was ready to undertake some severe tarmac scratching! This fella said that he wanted to hear the SS as we left. He said that she sounded the biz. The SS sounded much deeper and throaty than the 749 come to think of it.
The cafe seems to be a regular meeting place for bikers as it´s on such good roads so we´ll probaly run into the same faces weekly!

I must take the camera next ride out!

Cheers,
Richie.