Dan Hale

Good man - I *think* Chris (the scouser) is going to come too. . . .

Work on the others. . . .

Welshman

Well the HP2 Sport was delivered yesterday so the order of events was:

1. Fit the tank bag

2. Take some photos.

3. Get into my leathers

4. Hit the road

My mate Kyle had taken delivery of his new GSXR 1000 the previous day and he came up and joined me for the ride.

First pics at home:







Kyle's bike:



With him on it:



We headed off over Clee Hill to Bala via Craven Arms, Welshpool, Llanfyllin, Llangynog and over the top of the Berwyns to Bala. On the top, above Llangynog we stopped for some photos:





You have to admit - those are two f**k off bikes





We stopped at exactly the same place we had 3 years ago when we had taken delivery of my BMW K1200S and Kyle's Suzuki SV 1000:



Having stopped in Bala for a cup of tea we swapped bikes and headed South West and then South on the A494/A470 to Mallwyd.

Our first impressions were that we had both got great bikes for the forthcoming BBOT trip to the Dolomites. The HP2 is vibey but the handling is brilliant and although the bike doesn't feel massively powerful the engine is very torquey and you make rapid progress as the Police would describe it. The Suzuki feels like you have a turbine linked to your right hand. It doesn't turn in as quick - probably the gyroscopic effect of having a transverse mounted in line four but you get plenty of feedback from the suspension. It's also very comfortable - you sit in the bike rather than on it. It was considerably more comfortable than the '08 Fireblade I rode last October. I could cheerfully take the GSXR on a long tour.

From the refuel at Mallwyd we stayed on the A470 through Cemmaes Road, Carno, Caersws, Llanidloes and Llangurig to Rhyader for the second tea stop. From there it was back along the A44/ A488 through Knighton, Leintwardine, Ludlow by pass, Cleobury Mortimer to home and then the pub. About 210 miles and an absolutely top biking day - we agreed it definitely ranked up there as one of out top 3 or 4 rides ever.

This Sunday we shall continue the running in process

Dan Hale

Nice looking bikes - have fun

Dan Hale

I've been given a "magazine suscription" for Christmas (I'm obviously very efficient in sorting things out!) for my choice of bike magazine.

Which from the following would you have and why??

Bike
Classic Bike
Performance Bikes
Ride

I'm thinking that Classic Bike is probably not the one for me

pip

I don't really like Ride or Bike. PB is ok though. I quite like TWO, even though I fnid Whitham a bit annoying. But that isn't on your list.

eSeM

Bike - Shite!
Classic Bike - Old Shite!
Performance Bikes - Max Power shite!
RiDE - DiRE Shite!

difficult choice!

Last year when I went on holiday I bought a copy of TWO at the airport

san2000

I subscribe to Fast Bikes and recommend it.

WM - nice pics and write up. Is that an 09 GSXR? If so, I'm very glad they got rid of last year's headlight layout.

Are you planning on tracking the BMW?

Dan Hale

So far.

PB is ok.

The rest are shite.

Thanks

PB was the one I was thinking of.

Anymore inputs?

eSeM

Does it still have a photo of a semi-naked tart on every second page?

Welshman

Thanks. Kyle's bike is an 08. Fantastic buy -