Re: 18/06/16 Normandy
Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 8:14 pm
Just some info from my recent France experience...
Packing all the hotel gear into a single bag for the topbox was inspired, one grab and it was unloaded and ready for the stay! It did make it more top heavy though, so slower corners and more careful handling. Clothes are at least a soft load however, so road shocks are not as bad as the static load suggests (as the clothes at the bottom act as a spring).
Under the seat was for the lid, gloves, lock, glasses, drink etc, so when I stopped the scooter was neat and unencumbered. What I did need and was glad to take was an umbrella and waterproof over trousers - for both rain and cold.
Also both ear plugs and ear covers (3M type U shaped plugs), plus some liquid soap to clean/ease the plugs. After a while one needs something new on the ears - no plug is comfortable for hours...
My big screen with extension was a star, reducing rain and wind noise, it was magnificent.
The Tomtom again proved best, coupled to a pre-journey route plan so I went the way I wanted, not the satnav. But follow the signs too - some towns I got stuck in the middle as I'd ignored the much faster ring road on the way down as the satnav sent me through the middle.
I took a little spare oil that wasn't needed, a spare belt just in case, a huge bonus was on-bike USB charging - both under the seat and in the topbox.
A ferry-note about the underseat storage - make sure you've finished with the contents _before_ they strap the bike down as they do this over the seat.....
Any scooter than can do 90kmh actual is way fast enough for all of France, my Joyride would have been fine, except for it's low fuel range...
... france don't have much fuel, but there is more petrol than diesel. A (securely mounted) ready can might be useful, or a plan B - although I got fuel fine in Le Mans and Dieppe I did have to queue and it may be worse/better when you go. My range is 300-400km depending on speed, giving yourself 75km grace may be wise...
Packing all the hotel gear into a single bag for the topbox was inspired, one grab and it was unloaded and ready for the stay! It did make it more top heavy though, so slower corners and more careful handling. Clothes are at least a soft load however, so road shocks are not as bad as the static load suggests (as the clothes at the bottom act as a spring).
Under the seat was for the lid, gloves, lock, glasses, drink etc, so when I stopped the scooter was neat and unencumbered. What I did need and was glad to take was an umbrella and waterproof over trousers - for both rain and cold.
Also both ear plugs and ear covers (3M type U shaped plugs), plus some liquid soap to clean/ease the plugs. After a while one needs something new on the ears - no plug is comfortable for hours...
My big screen with extension was a star, reducing rain and wind noise, it was magnificent.
The Tomtom again proved best, coupled to a pre-journey route plan so I went the way I wanted, not the satnav. But follow the signs too - some towns I got stuck in the middle as I'd ignored the much faster ring road on the way down as the satnav sent me through the middle.
I took a little spare oil that wasn't needed, a spare belt just in case, a huge bonus was on-bike USB charging - both under the seat and in the topbox.
A ferry-note about the underseat storage - make sure you've finished with the contents _before_ they strap the bike down as they do this over the seat.....
Any scooter than can do 90kmh actual is way fast enough for all of France, my Joyride would have been fine, except for it's low fuel range...
... france don't have much fuel, but there is more petrol than diesel. A (securely mounted) ready can might be useful, or a plan B - although I got fuel fine in Le Mans and Dieppe I did have to queue and it may be worse/better when you go. My range is 300-400km depending on speed, giving yourself 75km grace may be wise...
