Helga is spot on. I know they have a reputation, but she makes life so easy. She is a big German girl, top heavy when fuelled up, a bit like a big fraulein carrying 5 steins of lager at Octoberfest, and can be tricky at slow speed. Once on the move though she is sublime. I’ve had 4 long days so far and I’ve stepped off her feeling brand new. No aching knees, hips, legs, arms, head, back, teeth, toes and anything else you can think of. The only strange thing is that the circumference of the grips seems smaller than the Ducati’s and Aprilia and I can get numb small fingers at times. Larger grips would sort it. Oh. And it was bucketing down 1st thing this morning, I put it in rain mode, where she feels awful. On every other bike with modes, I just leave it in full power as I’m old school and my right hand is my mode selector. From now on, it’ll be in road mode full time whatever the weather So in summary. The bike that does (almost) everything
We have travelled up to Ayr today, rained from Lancaster onwards hope it’s better for the rest of the week, I look out for a top heaven German girl!
As someone who has enjoyed trips to the Highlands in the past, and has always done the 'normal' route, through Glasgow and via Loch Lomond, I shall bookmark your useful advice, thanks. I haven't given up all hope of doing it again, but I am ten years older now and the 748 is perhaps not the ideal touring bike! I was idly looking on Google Maps the other day, and even though I live a lot further North now than I used to, Applecross (say) is still over 400 miles away.
Oh, I have done it. A couple of times. It was a long haul from Wiltshire! And as I say, it was a while ago.
Left Ballater through Braemar to Perth to come home this morning. It was glorious all day . The A93 military road to Perth was one of the best roads I've experienced with nice swoopers and whoop-de-doos.
Sorry about the lack of pictures, but I wasn't on t'interwebs much during the trip. Here's a selection.
