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I was working in Essex in 2011ish and got woken by the hotel fire alarm in the early hours. Got out of bed still pissed to see what was going on and found myself in the corridor outside my room with a locked door and bollock naked while the hotel was being evacuated the drunken twat i shared a room with didn't wake up for the fire alarm or my frantic shouting and banging on the door for what seamed like forever. A couple of weeks later same room on my own this time got up for a piss in the early hours and again found myself in the corridor outside my room with a locked door and bollock naked again. this time i had to take the lift to the reception to get another key i'd like to think the girl at reception was laughing at my predicament not my winky ?

This is the other photo i have of that Bob. I almost rode it on the way up this year but my belly was rumbling so went the quick way.

I had a go on my mate's GT250, but he was running it in so I didn't wring it. Never really liked the looks of those Ram Air Suzukis. This amber and black YDS7 though is a thing of beauty. I still think the Japs had bike aesthetics just right in the 70s and it's been hit and miss since then.

So it's a slightly less smelly turd then Fred?

My present DR650 is an Australian model 2012, I've got all the aussie paperwork with it . Guy was a Brit who worked in the mines near Perth , bought it back to the UK with him when he moved back, I was lucky enough to snap it up when he put it up for sale. Here's the Aussie bike in the foreground with my 1996 UK bike behind............ Once i had them both I began the process of swapping over all the 'adventure' parts onto the Aussie bike...... Once it was all done I put the '96 UK bike back to almost o/e spec and put it up for sale.........

And me

See this picture, this the Baia de Espinho, my hometown: I never go to the beach in this spot because it's too crowded. Nowadays, if you walk the walkways at night you have a nice view of the beach, courtesy of some spotlights, like on the picture above. These spotlights were first turned on (first time, ever) around 18 or 19 years ago, at around 10 or 11pm on a summer friday night, while me and my girlfriend were getting out of the water, naked. Made it easier to find our clothes, though. Edit: it's the Atlantic, cold water

I;ll start, i got a job with the US defense department when i was 17. So i went to work, they told me even the lowest private out-ranked me. Not like i cared i could quit at any time, the private couldnt...lol Butt Privates, (funny, thats what most were) at the time were mentally deficient types thankful the military gave them the only freaking chance they ever would have to get a pension paying gig. So one day, a full Bird Col comes in with a big research thing about hyperbaric chambers could cure infections?. Everyone is on their toes! I couldnt give a chit, the Col was my father...lol I just dint tell anyone. So one private just happens to criticize my work in front of the Col. No big deal until he walks away and tells the master sergeant in charge of everything, that's my son that private was talking about....For the rest of my contract i could do no wrong...LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLL!!!

On a FB Group for mainly older guys......which can make quite depressing reading at times with everybody listing their health conditions, and complaining about their low Pensions......the talk went to old vs new bikes. A lot of these guys have classic bikes or modern retros like Bonnies etc......very few seem to ride my type of bike or do that type of riding. So I said......."I love looking at the old bikes but I have no mechanical ability whatsoever, and they'd end up being a money pit. And also if I rode one I think I'd be disappointed compared to modern machinery. Probably find out my H1 500 triple from 75 wasn't quite as rapid as I remembered it". A guy replied....."If you are 65 + you would probably think your H1 is a hell of lot faster than you remember". I asked him......"How exactly does that work given the Strom does 0-60 in 3.6, and the H1 does it in 4 seconds? Standing quarter of the Strom is 12.5 seconds, and the H1 13 seconds! Top speed on the Strom is also higher as well". The irony is that the H1 had the reputation of being a fire-breathing monster, yet it's totally blitzed by the 650 Strom which is considered an old mans' bike in this era. The world has moved on.......and because I never stopped riding (I think a lot of them there are BAB) my perception of things has moved on incrementally over that period. But it seems like some people just can't move on! Don't get me wrong.....I'd love it to be 1973 again........but it ain't gonna happen. What you say?

My diary reads :- Tuesday 5th Sept Onwards towards Trondheim. Did Trollstigen in the wind and rain. A shame. Lovely lower down though. Took coast road to the Atlantic road. A lot of it very spectacular. Stopped short of Trondheim and stayed in a hut for 35NK and also had a meal and a beer. Beer not so good. Waiting for the ferry Looking back towards where I'd got off the ferry, on the way up to the top of the Trollstigen. Excuse the quality of the video but it was a godawful day and I didn't stop for many photos. Wind and rain weren't very pleasant, freezing cold and under the circumstances the hairpin bends were 'interesting' when the wind caught me side on. Lower down it warmed up, the sun came out and it was quite pleasant. Then it was the Atlantic Way with it's spectacular bridges. Not so great heading north in the rain. Another few hours and it was a hut for the night. Basic, but warm and dry. The restaurant.

GoPro Hero 5. Limited image stabilisation compared with the newer ones. The bracket I had it on kept vibrating at low engine revs!

Following day diary reads :- Wed 6th Saw the ferry pulling away as I came down the hill. At least the next one won't be long, every half hour. — checked in to Eidsdal Ferjekai. Got to ferry late. No one in digs. Asked woman who said go down road. Lovely old wooden farmhouse. 800NK though but worth it under the circumstances. I was following the costal route north which had several ferry crossings. Surprisingly cheap for a bike. Stopped regularly in bus stops for my breakfast of porridge and coffee. Interesting place I'm sure. Random photo stops. Another ferry ride. Weather still not good. I found this guesthouse and had the place to myself. Lovely traditional home.

Superb Alan! Fantastic quality vid.......what camera is it?

That is not an ok thing to do, @Specs

This is another bike I've been lusting after. ticks every box for me except for the Husqvarna/KTM badge and the rear fuel tank

If buying new, I would agree, but there's something to be said for saving 6 or 7k on a second bike dedicated for once or twice a year offroad touring and buying a big tank TTR or XTE, or even KTM 690R

Only one bike I'd consider.....

I’m half drunk and about to call my brother, who went to school with AJP’s owner’s son if there are deals to be made. are you sure?

I would want none of that except in a warm Range Rover

BMW 320d sales rep vs. E30 M3, the result is not good for the soul

No big deal going round without your underpants Fred! @Renegade has gone round without his teeth for 40 fucking years!

There's a recurring theme going on here Fred, something to do with you drinking methinks ?

My mate had a test ride on one a while back, apparently it had terrible fuelling .

Chinese motors? ?

@Muddy.......given the choice of any classic.....I'd choose one of these: a red GT380J from 1973. Why? Well it's certainly not because it's the best bike I had in that era......that was my GS750. It's because it was my first NEW bike.......April 18th 1973......the week before my 19th birthday. When I got that it felt like I'd finally become a real biker so to speak. Don't forget, that was considered a big bike back then. If I had one now......how would it improve my life? I certainly wouldn't have young birds eyeing me up as I went down the street cos they don't do that anymore. And if they did I'd probably get put on the Sex Offenders Register. And thinking back was it so great in 1973 really? A month after buying the bike......My alltime hero Jarno Saarinen got killed at Monza, and a month after that I met my first wife. Then it was downhill all the fucking way! Mistakes like that last a lifetime.

Where I lived there was kid who used to scream around the town on his Yamaha YDS7. I just loved the look and sound of that bike, but lost my license before I could graduate from Fizzy to a 2 stroke twin and my passion turned to sex, drugs and rocknroll. Naturally, at that age, we were all enthralled by those classic powerful bikes, the 2 stroke triples and the 4 stroke 4's. But as you say Pete, most mid-capacity modern bikes would trounce those monsters. My TDM 900 would've left any of those classics standing. The only thing I'd say is that there's something about the way a 2 stroke sounds and that sudden surge when it hits that sweet spot. I would still love to have a 2 stoke, but can't see it happening now.

DR650 is a good bike.......but they were never imported after about 96. So very rare. The one I had in 2010 was a German import to the UK.......then it was imported into Spain. 650 Strom is what you want Ray!

Yeah, not sure really. I'll pop up to the sanitorium for a catch up that's for sure but I've decided to sell the Himalayan and have a couple of possible buyers so first thing will be to get the bike sold so I can replace it with something else. The Himalayan is great but I'm just missing the extra oomph of a 650 sized engine. Quite fancy a DR650 but it'll depend on what's available and at what price. The other thing I'll be doing is getting my TL1000S over here from the UK as soon as possible.

I cant remember what i had for dinner last night.... 19 when?

This is the Abergwesyn Pass Pete, the bridge my bike is on is about 50 yds from the one yours is on

I'm pretty certain that's on the Abergwesyn Pass ???

It was the Brighton bash weekend so crawling through the town to the sea front. Why can"t I get rid of the video?

I hope to return there some time. Which reminds me, I must resume my RR.

I have lived a sheltered life. ?

It all depends on when I’m let loose, and where will be available for travel. At the moment Norway is beckoning, subject to escape being early enough in the year. Would need to leave early in August if I’m to see the early aurora up north before heading for home. Middle of September last time and I could have been a couple of weeks earlier. If I go south, travelling back before the snow hits the alpine passes has time constraints. But I’m definitely going somewhere!

Just remindered me, got bet I couldn't"t drink a bottle of whiskey, I was in my teens too. I drank it, woke up 4 hours later in someones front garden. Apparently I tried to fight everyone so they pushed me over this garden wall and left me there. Felt rough for days.

Well, either Wednesday or Thursday I’m riding down to Ericeira for dinner, then home for two or four nights. I am missing my little corner. No amazing pictures because I have posted about most of it already, except a couple just to make jealous.

If you pick the wrong bike it will be exactly like dog ownership you'll be picking up shit every time you take it out ?

Water crossings without getting the tyres wet!

I had a feeling that your vocabulary would be somewhat limited without them Phil!

I can post again now the proper smilies are back.

Me and my mate picked up 2 slags in another guy's Anglia Van Xmas Eve 1972. Going round remote lanes trying to find a place to park up and I overturned the van......while my mate was getting it on with one of them in the back. We had to get a mobile crane out on Xmas Day to rescue the van!

Where's Little Guy when you need him? And he's brought his mates!