Forum

[jacobia stig]

have agood trip!
i dont see many enfields around liverpool, but i wonder if your one of the few i have!
have a great trip, super jelous ! ive been sat for a week with my gearbox in bit just as i was hoping to be heading out!
ric too, safe trip chaps.

[ric]

Cheers. Opted to take some very uneven forestry roads today when the temperature reached 40c. in the hope it might feel cooler with the tall trees providing some shade. The difference was instant if only for a brief second as I went through each shady patch provided by each tree
Not without its downside though, which was to break a pilot bulb filament on the left hand nacelle unit. This was spotted by an Escort Gendarmerie on his approach from the opposite direction a few miles after joining the main road. Guess I was lucky he was escorting two log cabins on a massive flatbed. Quick warning to repair before he disappeared to join his partner.

[AndyMc]

Wow rik that seems very harsh. Did you have your headlight on?
Anyway, I have arrived in Krakow. Very tired and sweaty. After the considerate drivers in Germany the Polish ones are a bit of an eye opener. I used the A4 motorway? (2 lanes) and it was like being in death race 2000. Thankfully the roads were dry. I tucked in a safe distance being a truck travelling at the regulation 56 mph but was still overtaken by drivers using my lane, cut up with feet to spare by drivers leaving and entering junctions. I wonder what the life expectancy of a biker is over here.
No oil use since I spent 45 mins off rout and 12 quid for a litre of 15/50. Typical.... But not complaining really. Yesterday's run returned 94mpg. I have noticed the rear suspension bottoming out over some bumps. I'm 14 stone and not carrying too much luggage. I increased the preload before I left and as this has the effect of compressing the spring, I wonder if this has made a difference. Few says with a hire car now as my wife is joining me. We have an apartment via airbnb. Krakow is a fabulous place. Well worth the journey and i saw another RE last night. I was rushing for the last bus so didn't stop to find the Polish owner. TTFN

[ric]

Headlight was on (as required) but I'll take a friendly warning over a fine Eight days a week Unfortunately my box of bulbs were deep inside my roll sack and due to my over indulgence in securing it to the bike wold have taken a good ten minutes to access. I now have a couple in my pocket just incase. Was nice to have a bit of rain this morning along with a drop in temperasure
may have to put Krackow on another of my yet to do list!

[MattH76]

Great thread Andy! We had a great time in Krakow, it's such a lovely place! Auschwitz was quite sobering. We've visited twice, I think it's one of those places that everyone should visit, it's certainly an education!

I'd love to go off on my RE on an adventure; visiting the D-Day beaches and WWI battlefields would be a cracking ride!! Maybe one day....

Thanks for the updates! I look forward to reading more!

[AndyMc]

I'm now on my way home after a very poignant visit to the Auschwitz And Birkenau camps. Karen my wife flew to Krakow via easyjet and joined me for 4 days. We had a great apartment on the bus route into town. We also hired a car as we needed to get back from the Scorpions gig and she won't get on the bike. I used the A4 to and from the German border, it is a toll road but worth the 10 quid. I had a few sojourns off doWN minor A and B roads but wouldn't recommend this as the Polish drivers seem addicted to overtaking in the most unbelievable places. The surfaces and not as good either. An interesting run comparison.... on my way from the German border to Krakow I took it very easy and kept between 55 and 60 I averaged 97mpg on the run. Today the roads were less busy, I was more confident so kept to about 60-65. Today I only achieved 77 on the return journey. I also nearly ran out of petrol as I had been using a daily trip meter on my GPS I was in a world of my own,looked down so see the fuel light on 30 miles before I expected. I didn't know how long it had been on so I jiggled about a bit expecting it to flash but nothing. I was on a long straight road going through farm land miles from anywhere and there had been no signs for services. Thanks to the satnav I got off the main A4 and found a little village with a petrol station. I made it but only just. When I looked there was about half a pint in the tank. Phew. I also have a nasty burn on my leg from leaning against the bike having changed into shorts to go round Auschwitz. I normally stand on the other side. Ouch! I met 2 Indian guys there and had a great chat about the bike. They were on leave from the army. It is always a good talking point everywhere I go. I have another long leg tomorrow of 230 miles then 150 a day until the ferry. I will be sad to get home. Rik, I hope your trip is going as well as mine. Are you travelling alone also? TTFN

[ric]

No, had the wife on tow ;0 and we got back late Sunday night
Her bike has a good 30mph over mine but with a raked front end was absolutely no match through the hairpins but she'd eventually catch me up on the straights.
We decided on sticking to the totally relaxing maximum speed of 70kph while abroad and the B5 recorded an incredible 111MPG (although I do intend at some point to verify the accuracy of the Odometer to obtain a true figure) I'm taking 2 meters of fuel pipe next time so I can disconnect my fuel line and pump fuel from my tank directly into hers. I'd be putting 4 or 4.5 litres in and she'd be hitting reserve - so frustrating having to stop in the heat to refuel.
We did two 350 mile runs, once when travelling from southern France to the Picos mountains and again on our return from Spain to France before heading north for Cherbourgh.
We both absolutely enjoyed it and she's already planning a much shorter trip for this September to include the Italian lakes and Switzerland but also wants to take a different bike so she has a better chance of keeping up with the Enfield!