John I think we share similar tastes as ex ST4S owners, now Multi's and enduro bikes (plus I think being members of the Provisional IAM) The old river crossing avatar is still there on the DSC and Ducati up North. Maybe I should replicate it here. I'm glad/impresssed you remember it.
For me it's the beginning of a 2 week trip so while I could take the 660 Tenere that's sitting in the garage the only place it would be more suitable than the Multi is the Stella so it'll be staying at home. I'll knock the power down to the lowest setting and turn off the ABS then just take it nice and steady. I've no intention of doing the river crossing and if it stops at about the same point as last year there are only one or two short stretches where I might be paddling it along. We took 3 bikes in a van last year and I was all set for some lunacy on my 250 but it blew a fork seal on the Saturday so the ride to the top on the Sunday wasn't much fun.
Interesting tendancy for Multi owners to have dirt bikes as well, with you, John W, myself. What a pain blowing a fork seal last year on the 250. I'm hearing reports of the there still being a lot of snow higher up above 2,000 metres because of late snow in the winter. Could be fun. I'm sure I'll be wishing for the Multi at times especially on the trip there and back to the Alps but our plan is a week of off road once we're there
Apart from about 4 days of really hot weather - 30°+ about a week ago, it has been unseasonably chilly in Switzerland this year. Snow line was only about 1900m a few days ago, 0° at 2000m. Plenty of the passes are above this altitude. I haven't looked into the state of the high passes, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are closed to summer traffic still. You'll want to check on the net what is open if you are planning to go over them. This week temperatures have struggled to get above 17° on the plain. That's probably about 10° lower than they should be at this time of year.
Another confirmation of what I'm hearing, as the stuff we plan to do is off road it'll be down to nature to clear it as I don't think the authorities are bothered. Should make for an interesting trip and maybe time to head further south for the Ligurian Border Road, hopefully it's warmer near the Med
I've got a couple of hundred screw in ice studs at home but I'm not sure Scorpions have enough meat on them to take them properly. The other issue is that while they work well enough to be able to wheelie a 660 Tenere on ice the Multi might just overpower them in sports mode so they'll probably stay where they are for now.
Where have you been to need ice studs? Sounds very interesting. I know we're well off topic now but what the hell
We launched an assault on Norway in January a couple of years ago and the E6 is just solid ice from before Tronheim onwards so decent tyres and a few hundred studs is the only way to go. It was great fun nailing a bike on ice and it not going sideways but then another time the bastard would just go from under you for no apparent reason and you'd be sliding along the road behind your bike waiting for it to stop. The great adventure halted about 30 miles south of the Arctic Circle when being stupid enough to set off in the morning with the temperature about -25c led to frostbite. That was after my visor froze up on the inside so I took my heated gloves off to clean it and 5 minutes later the tips were nipped. Two others had minor frostbite on their cheeks or noses because of riding with their visors up and another two of us didn't suffer any damage at all. No, I'm not trying it again on a Multi
Respect that sounds mental. I wouldn't fancy that at all, give me the heat of the desert anytime instead. Then again I've been stuck on a ridge that became an island overnight in a flood in the desert.
No shit! I still think I'll go back but it'll probably be with an enduro sidecar stuck on the side of something suitable orange and I'll not be camping either.
The latest idea is buying a couple of Ural outfits in Russia then going mental up there for a fortnight in winter before flogging/burning them and flying home. 4 go mad in Russia could either go really well or we end up in jail.
That's not a very appealing idea. I suppose I'd never be short of home made vodka so trying to blank things out with alcohol wouldn't be too hard.
They're not Russians, they're Scottish oil workers on a Sunday afternoon piss up while they're supposed to be working by the Caspian Sea.
Well my 2 up hour long ride on the KTM 1190 was fine! I found it slimmer, lighter and smoother than my 1200 Sport T. U sit on the KTM, 'in' on the Mutley. All the controls felt lighter on the KTM which was nice. Power felt a bit down compared to the Mut (in street mode). Bird found the pillion footpeg/seat distance more cramped on the KTM. I felt the bars and seat for me were very similar to my friends Triumph 1050; which isn't a negative. All things considered I'm happy with my Mutley. I just wish it had the KTM's rear brake. On it's 3rd bleed and counting. Yes it is the moded set up. As for price difference, on paper the Aprillia is an even better deal. Wonder how many of those they'll sell?
Bike packed, off for the ferry and Col du Sommellier on Monday. Lets hope I'm not wishing for Andy's ice studs.
