new exhausts as recommended by the Mingle and a belly pan as would have been recommended by the Dude if he'd thought of it - loving the sound and look of the TDM
Nice bike, but you know that P. Loving the rally mud flap on the back.
Just got back from Hoots, mon ! 4 closures on the M5 last night. Added 2.5 hrs to our journy home, bastard highways.
Hoots was cool, first trip in the campervan, 2200 miles in five days. Got to Cape Wrath (right up top) and Skye.
It would have been cool to do a similar trip by bike, but B&B, not tents. The roads are excellent. But out of all the bikes seen, 90% must have been fancy looking GS's Beemers. Common as muck. Also Triumphs and KTM's like Mingles.
Fort William is gearing up for the Scottish six day trials at the moment, lookes to be a great week.
Went to Norfolk on Friday for a ride and back Sunday.......900 miles in three days and have been walking like John Wayne all week. the Katoom may be lightning quick, but the seat ain't much better than the one on a 400EXC!!
So no better than the 950's Mingle ? Saddle that is !
I may be getting old, but is Norfolk a hot biking destination ? Or were you looking at the ladies ?
Dudey - I don't remember the seat on the 950 being this bad over distance, or maybe my arse is more sensitive these days....
I have a spare seat from the 1290 which is more padded and also a sheepskin to try. Used one in Norfolk for most of Saturday and it kept the pain away for longer. I was looking for some roadkill to skin and use that for the return journey, such was the discomfort.
Norfolk roads are similar to the Somerset levels - fairly narrow, bumpy with good visibility due to infrequent hedges. Felt very claustrophobic coming back into the Devon lanes with overgrown hedgerows making a 2 car width lane into a single one.
The 950's were ridden for long days Mingle. Maybe that was the cause.
I've been looking at the 990 ADV's. More in my price bracket. I'm aware that the fueling is a bit shart. Have you ridden one Ming ? Any good ?
P, I was living further south than Northumberland, just above Whitby. But Northumberland is a cracking destination. It's the most sparsely populated area of England. Not a lot of peaple know that !
Tried the 990 before I bought the 950 as the carb'd one was better sorted for fuelling. I think the later 990's had the fuel issue sorted. Good bikes with a loyal following and plenty of aftermarket bits available. KTM went a bit mental with the 1190 and later 1290 models - you'd be a brave or talented man to take one off road in anger, but they're fine for gravelly tracks.
Tried the 990 before I bought the 950 as the carb'd one was better sorted for fuelling. I think the later 990's had the fuel issue sorted. Good bikes with a loyal following and easie aftermarket bits available. KTM went a bit mental with the 1190 and later 1290 models - you'd be a brave or talented man to take one off road in anger, but they're fine for gravelly tracks.
The only thing that puts me off the 990 is the ball ache to do an oil change. Like the 950, it takes a lot of work to strip down to get to the filters/screens. I expect the newer models are a bit easier to do (engine not so hidden).
Paul, fit the pipes on the Blackbird, it would sound great !
