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Well, for several reasons, I don't do facebook or any other social media except browsing youtube, this is a welcome chance to keep up with old friends. Hope everyone's doing ok

My current Versys which is about 70 miles short of a 100,000 miles and not a chance to ride it at the moment unless they call me back from working at home. My non running 107,000 mile Africa Twin that I will be flogging off for spares when the world settles down. Had to pump the tyres up to get it outside to photograph. Been standing for about 9 years I reckon.

You must be about a 110 by now?

And this one once my mate has finished fettling it with a new black tank and a load of goodies.

Just a pic of the trusty Himalayan out and about on the local trails. It’s ideal for south east Spain.

On a trip across the mountains to Benidorm with a pillion I came a cropper on a very steep descent on a gravel road and yes I now hate ABS, and yes I will buy new tyres and yes I did cry a bit, However luckily only minimal damage to both humans and machine and we did manage to continue to our destination. There is an article on here about heavy dual sport bikes what I will say is "When is a bike too heavy for off road use?" When you can't pick the dam thing up ...!

one of life's simple pleasures was taking a motorcycle turd and polishing it to my liking, and it's been a while since I had the bug in a big way. Mostly because we moved and bought a house that has been an ongoing project since we moved in and is still demanding some work, but here in the lesser 48 the project bike market is much larger than in Alaska and it's finally game on! Picked up this ummmm, BSA as it is recorded on the title, with several tubs of various bike parts, mostly from a Honda CM400 it appears. The motor is the same as the CM400 I rescued many years ago and that we still have, it's now pretty the spare bike. I've always had a desire to build a chopper, and here is the start!

This isn't meant to be a commiserations thread, but riding my bike has literally saved my life over the last two years. I lost my wife to be months before we married, two years ago on February, and life hasn't been easy since. Riding a motorcycle is great therapy, and riding the motorcycle that we both shared on trips all over takes me somewhere special. I wasn't feeling sad on these days, riding the bike. Last year I spent Christmas week drinking wine and crying at home, this year I pushed myself to do something different, and I was feeling like going on a trip. The weather was crappy during Christmas Eve's day so I stayed in, but coming the 25th I couldn't wait anymore, and took to the road, taking small roads from my home in Azambuja to Faro, going the long way through deep Alentejo. Look it up in google Maps using locations I name, and it'll make sense. Woke up late, and got on the bike even later, slightly tired and hungover, it was the 25th so everything was closed, I fueled the bike the previous day so I could ride for more than a day on slow roads, but my body was lacking an expresso. Found one after 11AM in Mora on a typical Alentejo lazy Xmas morning: Rode on, and stopped exiting Mora to say hello to local farm animal life, the great thing about riding the December 25th is that I stopped for 10 minutes and no car came by: My pictures are too big, I'll continue right away

Your yellow R1150GS was the first BMW I ever rode, and that made me think of my previous very unreliable R1150GS, which made me buy this one. They simply are on another level when it come to handling rough roads with a passenger. I've got a new set of shocks ready to go on this one, waiting for my mechanic to be open.

The previous day, arriving at Faro, went for dinner at a friend's restaurant, and got properly drunk. Got home late and slept like a stone, just what I needed. The day after I woke up refreshed, and decided to go and see something new, got out of Faro via some great twisties, and made my way to Almodovar where I got out of the N2, Portugal's most famous road (and overhyped like all most famous things) and made my way West via some more interesting roads: I pondered crossing this, but visions of being stranded on a riverbed and a burned clutch, made me not do it: Instead, I made my way to Monchique using small tarmac roads, and was lucky to find the restaurant with the best view ever, some great food for a hungover stomach, and a free table outside: Monchique hilltop is 900m high, with a straight view to the ocean. Makes for an amazing view, amazing experience, and if you are into it, amazing biking roads: In the distance you have Sarges, the most south-eastern spot in mainland Europe As always, had a coffee, nothing else to do and carried on back to the seaside, heading to Lagos: And then back to Faro on the motorway. Took me 3 hours on small roads and dirt roads to get to lunch, and 45 minutes riding fast on a motorway to get back. The next day I was really tired, so took to washing the bike, and taking a short ride to Vilamoura, to dry the bike and a spot of lunch: As always, sunset on the beach, this time with a friend before some great sushi:

So, carrying on with Pete's help... Stopped at Arraiolos' Castle ruins, can you say vista? This is Alentejo in it's best. It's known as being hot and dry, and indeed a lot of people only travel through it on motorways going to the Algarve in the summer, and see yellow dried out plains through a car window, to me both the Alentejo and the Algarve provide the best motorcycling roads Portugal has to offer, and although I'm from the north, I feel at home only with big horizons. Shortly after, I stop for lunch. Knowing I would find little offer for lunch on the 25th December, I packed a lunch from home and found a stop to enjoy my crackers, spicy tuna, apple and almonds: Shortly, back on the road: Stopped at the Alqueva dam, huge manmade water reservoir, an amazing sight: And stopped for another expresso next to the water. The lack of cars is refreshing. Heading south from Alqueva: Sun was starting to set, so I decided to stop and check booking for somewhere to stop. Although it wasn't late, this is deer and wild boar country, and it was starting to get cold: Found a nice place to stop and sleep for quite cheap, parked and enjoyed hot shower: Headed out for dinner and walked the deserted streets looking for somewhere open, after a nice unfruitful walk came back to the cafe closed to the hotel, and settled there. No pictures of the food, but I found it funny that their definition of "just a little more wine" was this: Had an early night, cold deserted streets were not inviting so went to bed and watched some TV. Early on, got on the bike and headed out. A lot of night moisture made for a wet bike with a wet cold seat. Made quick work of it with the hotel's towel since sitting on a cold wet seat wearing jeans is a nice way to ruin your morning! I slept a little north of Mertola, but instead of heading straight there, took what looked to be the scenic way there, and wasn't disappointed. This was a dead end, but well worth it This reminded me of Morocco: Except you have nicer roads here, heading to the Guadiana river: Damn brits, they're everywhere: Made way to Mertola via a really nice dirt road. The kind of dirt road you don't find often, grippy, moist, compacted well maintained dirt that is fun to ride but doesn't even get your bike dirty: After Mertola, a little ways down, road was too good to stop for pictures, lunch stop in Alcoutim. On the other side of the water, you can see Spain: Had some nice Biqueirão for lunch (don't know the name for it in english, small fish, with olive oil, garlic and vinegar, little bit of bread and there you go! We are after all arriving in the Algarve, so you have to go Mediterranean: As soon as my plate arrived, these guys came asking for their share: After lunch, I followed the Guadiana river south, but didn't feel like taking pictures. Starting to get closer and closer to the sea, I stopped in the hills a few seconds after crossing the top to see the ocean in the distance: In the distance, you have Tavira, which is a charming Algarve town. Made my way to Faro where I would spend a few days, and went to the beach to enjoy the end of the afternoon while sipping something cold: More to come...

Yo Pedro!

I know that you said it's not meant to be a commiserations thread Pedro but that's so sad. I'm sure I remember a ride report in the past where you were just starting to take her out on the bike you had back then (Transalp? ) I hope life is treating you better now.

Carrying on,

7 days concept with 5 days off-road on KTM 450 EXC, fuel included. 6 nights hotels with all days dinner breakfast lunch. 4x4 support team following with your luggage.

finally sold the transalp after 17yrs and 140000km and switched up to this a couple of yrs ago.

Don't tell me when it's Dell's birthday.. wouldn't want to fuck up and go through that shit again..??

Ha Ha.. evening all... thanks for the welcome..hope to keep you all entertained..?

OMG !! A bit scared to ask but are any of your dogs still with us ?

That bike has been owned by 3 other mates now and even lived in Swansea for a while ?

Fucking leg still hasn't grown back

Hello Ren, how's it going? good to see you here as well ?

That and the baying crowd with pitchforks threatening to burn you at the stake for being ginger.

Ren on a ZRX, good to see some things don't change.

My 2015 R1200GSA, now with 50000km. Riding it is therapy. Pictures below taken on February on a ride to the south, I love to go south.

You will probably end up shitting yourself as a result.

Hello guys, I'm back!

Renegade, who the fuck is that? LOLOLOLOL!

I hear hes a cunt!

It's my heritage! Kinda. I like a minimal style of bike and the original "chopper" was from the days when you would chop off anything everything that was deemed unnecessary . Much like a Cafe bike, but more straight line or flat track. A true chopper is as individual as you like, no rules, annd......the frame and parts were only $250 and thats a cheap start. You can actually build a nice checkbook chopper right out of the catalog, but I'm too cheap for that

We were on a trip through the US desert southwest right before the whole world ended, a whole lot warmer and nicer than this damn icebox! Better days coming as long as the covids don't attack.

I've still got the red ZRX. Bought the Triumph Trident then sold it and bought the blue ZRX, I love these bikes but don't get out much these days to ride them.

My ‘everyday’ bike...and my ‘project’ bike...

I bought this Last June, waited 3 months for Yamaha to supply it and now with lockdown I can't ride it ?

Thanks. Good to be here. I might take a ride to the shop before long so that I can post a ride report. ?