My First 1000+ Mile Trip
Finally,
after several weeks of planing this trip, I did it.
In fact, I left home in St Pierre du Fresne, Normandy, France for Oslo at the
end of February for a 6 week mission but knew from the beginning that it might
last longer, much longer as this happened to me before.
So, after snow melted and sun was there almost every day, I thought about taking
my Fat Lady up north. Having drive to and from Oslo few time in past months, I
came to know the roads quite well, notably these messy indications around
Duisburg in Germany. For the Germans it is certainly no problem but I'm not
German. By the way, at the beginning I thought, "Why in Germany there are so
many cities named Ausfart, just to find out later that Ausfart means Exit!
The Valk was ready since taken out of the garage few weeks ago when came home
for a weekend. Washed and polished her, took a short ride around the block and
found that everything is OK.
Saturday left home to Dunkirk to find out once arrived there that the riding
jacket and bike documents remained at home. Hit the road again and was back by
10:30PM with 3 times 435km = 1305km, in the butt! We say "The one who haven't in
his head, have it in his feet's". I had it in the a@ss!
Fist thing to do was to pack everything in the Givi hard saddlebags and into a
soft bag on the sissy bar. At 0100AM went to sleep and woke up at 0530AM.
Started at 0600AM as planed. This was the only timing I've planed right! The sky
was slightly covered with clouds, temperature about 10C. Waived and sent kisses
to my LoveOne who dunno liked me taking such a long road after so little ridding
in the last two years (being in Japan and Korea most of the time).
First impression was fine, the engine responded well on the throttle despite
additional load. Second impression was that it is a bit fresh but this I put on
the early morning account and the sun being still behind a few clouds. The more
I drove the more I was thinking doing a half turn home looking for some warm
cloth. In fact, when picked up the leather jacket on Saturday, I've removed the
warm lining thinking that it won't be necessary, as the days are warm and sunny.
We had 25C on Friday but only 15C Saturday and the forecast was that
temperatures will increase. I've stopped for fuel in Belgium and checked in the
service station if they have some warm clothing as seen in several stations in
France. Found none and put on a light jeans jacket my LO gave me the day before.
Took out the rain pants and put then on as well. I felt better but only the
first few kilometres! Damn cold and damn dumb myself!! But eureka! I have
another light leather jacket with a VRCC logo on it! C'est l'Amerique! Felt like
stuffed turkey with all this clothing but warm!
During my last trip home I made a throttle boss out of a stainless steel plate
and this is an excellent add-on for long rides.
Despite trying to keep good distance behind other vehicles in order to avoid
buffeting, car drivers have a bad habit to return to the driving lane just few
meters after overtaking you. Several times I've slowed down to increase the
distance and reduce buffeting but finally decided to ride faster. In Belgium the
speed limit is 120km/h and the best way to go faster is to follow a fast cage!
What is the sped limit in each country I've driven through? The reply is: The
speed of the car I've followed!
In Holland the road is excellent, like in France (except Lille-Dunkirk which I
call "The Highway of Shame", bumpy, potholes, horrible!! Thank you Socialist
Government of the North Region!)
A lot of Germans seen in Belgium and Holland returning home after a long, 4 days
weekend. They have cars without direction indicators. Changing lanes at will,
without letting you know what he is going to do. Now I understand why there are
so many fine cars in Germany which are cheaper then elsewhere in Europe. Once
you learned that you can live with.
Another curiosity, not only in Germany but also almost in all countries: the
bigger the car, the leftist lane they drive! I explain: It has probably
something to do with the superiority. Bigger car, faster car, bigger pockets and
bigger bank account means that the owner can drive ONLY on the far left,
overtaking lane! Even when there is no one on the right lane. Funny people!
Previously I have had problems with the road plan from ViaMichelin and the
actual situation in Germany, around Duisburg: many changes of direction and not
always clearly indicated, from my point of view. To this, add lots of "Work in
Progress". This time decided to go straight to Dortmund ant then north towards
Bremen and Hamburg. It was mush easier!
I am used to drive through Germany and I'm always surprised by the continuous
work going on: you can't made 300km without finding some kind of work going on.
On the other hand service stations are neat, good service, kind people and
helpful. Meet several groups of bikers of which HDs are the most "decorated".
Spoke with some of them and was very pleased when one of them said that he would
like to trade HD hound for more power. I smiled and suggested him to take a Valk.
Another said "But this is a Jap!"
To this, I showed him what is written on the passenger seat "Made in USA" and
asked him where from comes the lots of chrome he bought for his HD. Explained
them my experience from Japan and Korea where most of parts are produced in
China, Korea, Thailand. Few of them didn't believed. I took off my rain pants
and showed it: it is a HD gear with clear marking "Made in Korea".
One said" Jaa, das ist only pants, but das is nicht mit der rad!" (Yeah, this is
only pants but this is not with the bike).
Then he got the last reply: "Certainly, probably not, but your carbs are MADE IN
JAPAN. If you don't believe, ask you dealer". We all laughed, admired each
others bike and parted our ways. Had a feeling they were not ready to ride
together. Anyway, my tempo was 140-150km/h, too fast for the DHs.
Through Germany filled always a Super 95 octane except once a 98 and felt no
difference, expect when paying. Consumption averaged around 9,4 lit/100km
(25mpg).
Realised how drinking is important. On the bike you dehydrate faster than in the
car. I bought a backpack tank, looks like a boss on the moto GP rider's outfit,
contains about 1,5 lit (0,4gal) and is easy to drink through the tube with a
special valve on its end. Didn't get warm even on a sunny day due to wind
cooling it down. Highly recommended.
After Hamburg the traffic was less dense and the speed increased. Since Holland
the weather was very fine and I've tried to take some picks while riding. Found
it quite difficult to do it with my left hand and as have accumulated delay on
my schedule, didn't stopped for picture taking.
The last 30 or so km, drove slowly, about 90 km/h, 'cause hit the reserve and
there was no station until Puttgarden where the ferry will take me from Germany
to Denmark. When finally arrived, after 223,5km (138,87miles) since last full
tank, filled 20,4 litters (5,39gal)! Honda Workshop Manuals says that a tank
capacity is 20 litters. I was really lucky not to drop dry before! This time I
didn't had my 5lit jerry can with me. Foolish.
Didn't waited long for a ferry, it leaves every 20 minutes. A 45 minutes
crossing was a good opportunity to have a rest on the sunny deck. One may do
some tax-free shopping, cigarettes perfumes and shnaps (German) or vodka or
aquavit (Norwegian):
The ride through Denmark was eventless, except that Danes are very shy: Wherever
there was a truck or bus to be overtaken, everybody slowed down, to 70 to
80km/h, and this created a long, long queue. Once the truck was overtaken, off
they go but always remained on the left, the overtaking lane! You newer know
there might be another one to be overtaken! The fastest way to go still remains
a driving on the right lane.
On a ferry from Denmark to Sweden meet a group of HD riders with one Suz or Kawa
or Yam, couldn't tell exactly, she was heavily modified to look like a HD. Once
arrived in Denmark, helped to push-start one of HD. Of course, the Valk doesn't
need this kind of treatment.
Got off the ferry in Helsingborg, Sweden at 0800PM with 4h20 behind schedule. To
be honest, this schedule didn't accounted any rest time and refuelling. It was
based on several voyages made with a Mitsubishi Pajero 4x4. The difference is
significant: with a Pajero used to stop 3 times for topping up the fuel tank,
the Valk needed 8!
The speed limit in Sweden is 120km/h (74,6MPH). My real speed was directly
related to the Audi 6 in front of me. The result I've seen when refuelling.
10,22 lit/100km (23,02MPG). The highway doesn't extend to the Norwegian border,
there are sections of so called National Road where the speed is max 80 and 50
km/h through villages. There are works going on both sides, Sweden and Norway,
of the border to extend the highway and connect Oslo to the European highway
network. In Norway there is only a short stretch of highway. The rest is a
pleasant to ride road with lots of turns and ups-and-down. Beautiful to ride
during a weekend but tiresome after 15 hours in the saddle!
At this time of the year, day are becoming longer and longer and the night
didn't settle down as in my place; there is always a twilight on the horizon,
behind the hills. This will be even more accentuated in June.
The last 30 km were the most difficult. I needed a sleep! Drinking a coffeinated/carbonated
soft drink or getting fresh air in the face didn't helped much. Had to stop for
a while, emptied a bladder and had a short walk in the woods.
At 00:30AM, Monday, finally arrived in Oslo! Phoned to my Love One. She was
happy to learn that everything is fine. In the morning refilled the tank and
went to work. Happy and a bit proud of myself.
Done 1672,8km (1039,4miles) in 20,5 hours from Dunkirk; France to Oslo, Norway,
plus the 870km in 8 hours from Dunkirk-St Pierre-Dunkirk on Saturday, total
2542,8km (1580 miles) in less than 36 hours.
The Valk used 141 litters (37,26gal) of gasoline from Dunkirk to Oslo with an
average of 8,43 lit/100 km (27,9MPG) and 85,3 litters (22,5gal) from Dunkirk-St
Pierre-Dunkirk with average 9,8 lit/100km (24MPG), total 226,3 litters
(59,8gal).
Trip average speed was 81,6 km/h (50,7MPH) on Dunkirk to Oslo, and 109km/k
(67,6MPH) from Dunkirk-St Pierre-Dunkirk on Saturday.
Next time I'll use a trip master to calculate effective riding time and riding
speed.
The main lessons learned:
- Buy
yourself a heated gear or under-gear. I have only Gerbing gloves, but will buy
an under-jacket and under-pants.
- Buy yourself a bigger fuel tank (did it too late, it is in shipment). It is a
PIA to top up so often.
- Never fill up your Backpack Water Tank with a soft drink directly from the
bottle! Shake it well first to get all the gas out of the drink before filling
up your tank. If not, your tank will inflate and there will be soft drink all
over your jacket, pants, bike! The mouth valve is not made to hold the increased
pressure.
- Install a pair of really loud horns! It does helps, notably in Belgium and
Germany: In France as well, to be honest!
- Install a pair of additional lights. Even better, add a Kisan Headlight
Modulator. This is on my "next list"
- Check the suspension's rubber bushings and change them if necessary. Mines are
completely worn out, steel-to-steel. I'm going to change them before this
weekend ride.
- Change the suspensions, front and rear. On my "next list".
- Change the rear tire! Go to "The Dark Side" (see VRCC web site
www.valkyrieriders.com), install a good car tire! My Dunflop didn't made 6000km
(3730miles)!!! A new Pirelli P6000 205/60x16 on order.
- If a GPS is not in your budget, buy an simple "trip Master" to cumulate
driving time and average speed. On my "next list".
- Find yourself a bud to ride with you. Two bikes, or more, is more fun.
- Have a mobile phone. You never know, it may help if needed.
- Made a phone call from time to time to your love ones who cares about you and
your safety. It is hard for them to wait to know if everything goes well with
you.
- Install a camera holder so you can take picks while riding.
- Several days before undertaking such a trip, go to bed earlier and have at
least 8hours sleep per day.
- No alcohol, no bear, no coffee! In fact, coffee doesn't helps at all to keeps
you awake. You only feel dizzy.
- Fresh fruits alternated with dried fruits is what I personally find to be the
best "riding diet". No fat burgers, fries, and sausages. Eventually, a good
non-fat steak and certainly a good grilled fish. A bowl of fresh vegetables is
excellent.
- Don't be afraid to take a long trip! When it is for fun, it is wonderful.
- Last but not least, plan yourself a next long trip!!
Have you all
a nice and safe ride.
Sincerely
Sasha47
(#3742)