I find it looks disconnected front to back...the rear wheel is 'hanging out there'.... It almost looks like a bobber rear end.
I actually like that as it makes the bike look taut and aggressive, but then I also love bobbers so much so that I have built two of them and bought a third. I think huge 90s style overhangs where there’s a foot of bodywork sticking out beyond the rear wheel look dreadful (IMO).
Well I was expecting one of my Ducati pals from the North West to come and visit for breakfast this morning, and he duly turned up at 11am. Along with another 6 of my Ducati pals from the North West and West Yorkshire!! It was a very pleasant surprise to see everyone and I am ever so thankful they took the time to come up and see me. Ps. Doris knew they were all coming but couldn't tell me and so consequently we didn't have enough bacon, sausage or eggs in to offer them all breakfast!!
Converted to what? It is not a campervan, it will NOT be a campervan, I use it to carry motorbikes to shows, I am looking at getting it sound deadened and Insulated, with solar and electrics inside because I live/sleep in it at the shows, I took it on holiday to france, put a bike in the back for getting around on whilst there The reason for the expensive quote for the solar installation is, the dc-dc charger with built in mppt The one i want, the solar panel will charge the leisure battery, when the leisure battery is full, the solar will switch to trickle charging the vehicle battery, it will also allow the vehicle to charge the leisure battery when the engine is running The actual panel is not that expensive, the lithium battery and the mppt are the costly items, plus around £700 for the fitting, giving the total around £1800 It is unlikely that I will be able to buy one like that ready made, hence me getting prices for the bits I want As for the total cost, not a clue The 'fake' windows were fitted on the van by the previous owner, it has actual opening windows on the side loading door, and the panel across
This is pretty much what my van is for, carrying bikes, i want it sound deadened and Insulated for comfort, and the solar to power some 12v electrical stuff
I drive a van year round, I’m used to the noise created by the panels. Oddly though my Euro4 Vito is much more comfortable than my Euro 5. I won’t be ‘wildcampervanning’ enough to warrant the outlay on the extras, if the van comes with them then it’s a bonus.
Today should have been the last day of my trip, but with yet another delay from the clowns at the Eurotunnel, decided that I won’t be sitting around at Calais for 3-4 hours, so am staying another night. It’s been an epic trip, and I’ll be buggered if I’m ending it on a low, so have booked in to one of my favourite hotels for the night, and will get a train in the morning.
Had an interesting few days. Drove up from Southern Spain to just south of Milan. Almeria was absolutely awful covered in plastic and what wasn’t covered in plastic looked like the surface of the moon. I kept my foot down. The further north I got the nicer things got. Around Barcelona was good, the south of France was really attractive and then into Italy. The Autostrade clung to the mountainside next to the sea or cut immense tunnels through it. It was a long journey and I was happy to cruise. Although I find the Italians always seem to think they’re in a race. The locals loved to whip through the tunnels despite my satnav telling me I was at the speed limit and there were cameras everywhere. They obviously knew the roads and I didn’t. I’ve never been along that stretch of road before and I’d never been up the Autopista del Mediterraneo in Spain either. Two things that drove me nuts coming up here: 1: Every time I got to a tollbooth I had to get out of the car and walk around it, to take a ticket or pay, given that I’m in a right hand drive car. I made a point of putting all four flashers on as a warning and apologising to the people who found themselves behind me for keeping them waiting. A Spanish shrug and a raised hand translated perfectly. 2: At each and every one of those toll booths they emit a signal which completely fry’s the Bluetooth Waze signal, meaning that I have to switch off the car the entire bloody phone and everything and then try and reboot it all to get my signal back. Not easy when you’re on your own. If anybody knows a way around this for God sake let me know. I’ve got to drive back. I headed northward to a beautiful area just south of Milan. I’m staying in an Agitourismo hotel where despite the kitchen being closed on a Sunday evening they produced a delicious plate of cold meats and cheese, with bread and wine so good I went back for a 3rd glass. Just before I got here a classic car rally went past me at a junction so I followed it into a vineyard and had a good look at the cars. As I said to the owner of the Mercedes Gull-wing, as far as I can recall I’ve never actually seen one of these being driven on the road. Although I’ve seen several in classic car museums. Inevitably he was a suave rich Italian complete with obligatory smart jeans and cleanly pressed white buttoned down collar shirt. Well he should be smart considering he was driving a car worth a couple of million quid. Doubtless he’s got several more classic cars tucked away and several more women to go with it. Probably also tucked away. I wonder how much his insurance premium is on that thing. Today should be an interesting day, more about that later.
Nice looking car and engaging owner. Pretty car and very pretty young female driver. I think daddy was driving one of the other classics. Views from the farmhouse hotel.
I just can’t eat that much any more, which is a shame because it looks delicious and so does the white wine.
