in planning » Escaping COVID lockdown, Road trip to the Scottish Borders

A planed week around Southern Ireland in May was cancelled due to Covid-19, so once restrictions began to lift plan B was formed. Four bikes plus myself on the RS with our Peg on the back are heading up to Dumfries for four nights, it’s a short one but the best we can do all considered, even then it was nearly cancelled due to a family bereavement. The chap in question is the main organiser/ route planer he’s arranged to go a day early so he can get back for the funeral. Up until a couple of months ago he was running a 1200 Multistrada nice bike, he’s now taken a leap of faith and bought a Zero, again nice bike, he commutes from home to work every day but touring the Borders is slightly different, there’s been talk of taking a rope in case he needs a tow!!
The roads in Scotland are absolutely fantastic, I really do love the place, so really looking forward to this trip, two years ago we did Central Scotland , part of which was a run from Ullapool to Kyleakin via Applecross, only very slightly spoilt by Ken Barlow type twats, you know the ones,
sweaters draped around their necks with the sleeves crossed in front, they rent big open top sports cars in Inverness to do the NC500 and are turning it into some sort of canonball run!!
Our route up is meet at Pool in Wharfedale - Pateley Bridge - Lofthouse- Masham- Richmond and meet another lad at Scotch Corner then on through Barnard Castle- Alston, skirt Carlisle- Gretna and finally digs in Dumfries. Next day we’ve a 170 mile loop through Wanlockhead - Cumnock- Moniaive and back to digs, more of the same the next day with a figure of eight loop over to Ayr. Day after it’s south of Dumfries to Kirkcudbright. All great stuff, let’s hope the weather is kind!
The way back is via Whitehaven then East over the Lake District passes to Windermere- Kendal-Kirkby Lonsdale- Settle and home.
All that’s needed now is a few final preparations......
I’ve a 1250 exclusive with all the toys apart from SOS and the alarm, payed for the rack to give our Peg ‘a bit more room’ and to strap a Kriega US30 to it, no bike I own will EVER have a top box. Panniers are BMW and came off my previous R1200RS and fit without adding scaffolding, a trip to Bournemouth in torrential rain suggests they are waterproof, no leaks, but you use plastic vacuum clothes bags to make sure!
Tyres are what it came with Z8’s, it’s a simple equation really, more sticky means more wear, so unless your on track any current sports touring hoop will do, it’s nearly all two up so I do two rears to a front, pressures as the book says.
Sat nav is a Vi bought for the 1200 now on Moto mate mount far better, all piped through the TFT as is iPhone and iPhone music, works ok but I’m on a bike with standard screen, so some noise is inevitable because I’m on a bike!!! My car has a very nice built in BOSE system, i don’t drive around while playing tunes wearing my crash helmet with all the windows down!!!
Now more techie stuff, I’ll be using the shift assist as much as possible I think it’s great but common sense must prevail, again if your on track and wringing the bikes neck fine, but 2nd to 1st at slow speeds!! You’ve two 600cc pistons doing a dance together, give the bike a chance.
Seat is standard, I’m 5’11” ish but probably shrinking due to age I’ve arms and legs although the latter have serious battle scars, in my youth I was very stocky with broad shoulders so a big area catches the wind, helmet is medium, so you couldn’t say I’ve a head like a 50 bob cabbage, so wind noise on the bike is probably because I’m riding a bike!
Bars and pegs are standard, before going BMW had ZZR1400’s 08 plt then a generation 2 on a 13 Plt so for my old body I find the RS spot on.
Think that’s about it, oh! nearly forgot, standard tools under seat with a tyre plug and gas bottle kit also a few fuses, if the tyre is that fucked it won’t plug or a simple blown fuse replacement it’s a call to BMW.
Can’t wait to get going, ride safe.

Enjoy! I missed my annual trip to Dumfries scheduled for the late May Bank Holiday weekend. A real shame that - Always the best biking weekend of the year.

Mind you I am on Day 2 of a European jaunt at the moment so, like you, I don't give in to this Covid bug! This is my first proper trip with the 1250RS. So far no problems apart from the weather. Tomorrow I head down the B500.


Chris

Enjoy the B500.
My first trip on the 1250 also since buying it late September 2019, this year’s been ruined in just about every way!