1000 mile run planned

[Fearghas]

28 year old 1100 Sporty. Doing a run down to London and back, starting Sunday 1st Aug I think.
far north Highlands to London, via Edinburgh. And Chester, maybe. About 1400 miles in all. Sh****t...

Anyone recommend anything, or any preferable roads to motorways? A1/M1 or M6? Any spares I MUST take? (don't say "a spare bike"). I'm carrying a fuel can cos that stoopit wee tank takes me 60 miles to reserve. Maybe carry 2 fuel cans. Tools. Cable ties. Wire. Tape. Emergency train ticket.

The 1100 Sporty just hit 75,000 on the clock - that's in Km. Done 10,000 this year and all's pretty much well. Double checked my AA membership!

Wish me luck - I'll effen need it.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by fearghas

28 year old 1100 sporty. Doing a run down to london and back, starting sunday 1st aug i think.
Far north highlands to london, via edinburgh. And chester, maybe. About 1400 miles in all. Sh****t...

Anyone recommend anything, or any preferable roads to motorways? A1/m1 or m6? Any spares i must take? (don't say "a spare bike"). I'm carrying a fuel can cos that stoopit wee tank takes me 60 miles to reserve. Maybe carry 2 fuel cans. Tools. Cable ties. Wire. Tape. Emergency train ticket.

The 1100 sporty just hit 75,000 on the clock - that's in km. Done 10,000 this year and all's pretty much well. Double checked my aa membership!

Wish me luck - i'll effen need it.

RAC!!!! :d

[Penfold]

Good touring seat and a camera!

[PhillSpace]

Passport - Phrase book - Folding money that shops in England will accept

Enjoy the ride and take each mile as it comes

[banquo]

There is a psychological barrier about travel over distances, that's completely unjustified by common sense. We do thousands of miles between services, and we don't expect anything to go wrong, so 1000 miles in a shorter period of time should pose no extra problems than 1000 miles around your own location, unless you intended to blast down, and blast back, which it sounds like you don't.
Apart from a good toolkit and a pair of plugs (fit the new ones, and carry the pair you already know work), the only thing I wouldn't travel without is an effective recovery service (provided by my insurance in my case) so if the worst happens, you can at least get you and bike home.
For distances like that, I usually take the motorway for the bulk of it, because the alternatives just take so much longer, but for a more leisurely approach you could take one of the Borders routes (A7, 68 or 697 maybe, but watch the cameras) or cross over from M6 via A66 to Scotch Corner, which is a fantastic road in good weather. I have yet to find a non-motorway route through the Midlands that makes any sense, and prefer to travel it late evening, when the traffic's light(er). That fuel range would worry me though....
Hope it goes well for you, and make sure your spare fuel is leakproof and secure....

[Mole HD]

Good luck dude, Banquo's advice is good (as usual) one thing to add if you haven't already is an inner tube, or get some fitted. Gets you out of a mess with some assistance from friendly folks. Jake is also right about the mileage thing, most of us do 1000 miles in a month or less faffing about on local runs, but when viewed as a one trip run, it always looks daunting.
I was the same when I fired up to Skye on a camping trip...pointless worries about breakdowns that rarely happen. You'd be undaunted doing the same trip in a car, regardless of it's age so enjoy and try the A6 instead of the M6, it's not that bad a road.
A697 from Edinburgh through the borders is nice if you're going that side but you're left with the A1 after that. I'd prefer the A6 toward the midlands via Preston etc then work it out from there.. good views from Shap

[Charlieharley]

Its all been said.
As always ride free and safe
Aye Charlie

[Mrs T]

Originally Posted by PhillSpace

Passport - Phrase book - Folding money that shops in England will accept

Enjoy the ride and take each mile as it comes

Aye

[Steppenwulf]

Originally Posted by Fearghas

Doing a run down to London and back, via Edinburgh. And Chester, maybe.

Well if you do make it to Chester then carry on going along the A55 to Llandudno, probably the coolest dual-carriageway in the country if you've never ridden it before.

Then hang a left at Llandudno Junction and take the A470 to Cardiff, cuts out the shitty bit around Birmingham and gives you some ace A road to boot!

[michael]

Originally Posted by Mole HD

Good luck dude, Banquo's advice is good (as usual) one thing to add if you haven't already is an inner tube, or get some fitted. Gets you out of a mess with some assistance from friendly folks. Jake is also right about the mileage thing, most of us do 1000 miles in a month or less faffing about on local runs, but when viewed as a one trip run, it always looks daunting.
I was the same when I fired up to Skye on a camping trip...pointless worries about breakdowns that rarely happen. You'd be undaunted doing the same trip in a car, regardless of it's age so enjoy and try the A6 instead of the M6, it's not that bad a road.
A697 from Edinburgh through the borders is nice if you're going that side but you're left with the A1 after that. I'd prefer the A6 toward the midlands via Preston etc then work it out from there.. good views from Shap

you lot get 1000miles without anything falling off...?????

i'm off to London this weekend i'll be taking a spare pair of socks an AA card and a spare bottle o Morgans....

best o luck with the trip Fearghas.