Motorcycling – roll on Spring and heading for better weather
It’s just about approaching that time of year when I get back onto the bikes.
I know there are all sorts of views about biking throughout the calender year. Sometimes to the point that some bikers are of the opinion that you’re not a ‘proper biker’ if you put your bikes away for the winter.
If that’s a view you subscribe to then I guess I’m not a proper biker – in fact I haven’t sat on a bike since returning from an excellent trip to Spain and Portugal in November.
My bikes tend to stay in the garage between November and the pretty much the end of February, covered up and plugged into optimate chargers.
The sound and the smell
But as surely as winter arrives then so does spring and the milder weather.
Given we are now in the middle of February I spent a little time in the garage, removing the covers and running each of the bikes for a few minutes. The sound and the smell of the bikes was welcome and I’m really looking forward to the ‘biking season’. Looking back it was around April last year before the weather started to turn and improve.
The weather was so mixed up last year, which was the reason I cancelled a planned trip of a couple of weeks to Ireland and Scotland and headed off on the Spain/Portugal trip instead (I mentioned the cancelled trip in one of last years posts – see this link.
Despite last years weather
Despite the generally poor weather last year I did manage to make short trips to both Ireland and Scotland
Both of those trips were pretty short but both very enjoyable but undoubtedly the Spain/Portugal trip was the biking highlight for me last year.
What about this year
Well I’m not so certain about just where I’ll get to and what I’ll do – but one trip that’s lined up for later in the year is another solo trip in Spain and Portugal and I’ll be really looking forward to that.
I’m also hoping to get out on the Moto Guzzi V7 and get a decent amount of miles in on that this year – as that bike was pretty much neglected and underused in 2023.
I’m more than happy with the bikes I’ve got and it will the F900 XR for the euro trip and I guess the beautiful RnineT for plenty of local riding – and if I can manage a short trip to Scotland, then I’ll probably stick with the RnineT for that one.
Picture gallery
Pictures from the garage. Clicking any of the images below will open a picture gallery that can be clicked or scrolled through
Hopefully the weather will be decent and you’ll get a few decent days out.
Hi Tony, hope you’re well. That’s a very well organized garage you’ve got! I do tend to leave my bikes uncovered so at the very least I can look at them. Although I may just be torturing myself! When you store your bikes, is it just the battery tender you put on? Anything else? I hear people talking about draining fuel, additives and all sorts, or is that just for bikes with carbs? Roll on that good weather! All the best, Matt
Hi Matt – yes it’s only the battery tenders that I put on (they are Optimates). In all the years I have had bikes I have never drained the fuel or anything else. I always take care to check the bikes over before first use once the better weather arrives and throughout the winter I tend to start the bikes up every three or four weeks. I also take a reasonably steady ride out after the winter on each of the bikes to make sure they are OK and for me to get back into the feel of it again. Hope all is OK with you and bring on that better weather – it feels so overdue
Thanks as well Matt for the email you sent me – mentioning those couple of issues I’m planing to have a look at that today, it wasnt something I was aware of. Thanks again.