Almost ready

Socks, check.  Pants, check.
Atlas, check....

In the last month, I have managed to get the Chinese Visa without too much of a problem. It seems daunting at first as you have to provide made up itinerary's and bogus flight details.  Of course the "agent" we are using to cross China provided the former, while the latter was given to me by a good friend in the travel business.

I have been shopping for the various bits and pieces I think I will need, and no matter how long you sit making a list, as soon as you get home, you think of something else.




Bike preparation got underway in earnest a few weeks ago, and the first job was to replace the plastic Honda panniers (which were cracking already) with some stronger Aluminum Givi boxes. Naturally every manufacturer uses their own mounting system, so that needed changing too.

Where does this bit go ?

Once fitted, I have to say the Givi's are a well thought out design, and look sturdy enough to protect me in a fall.   The downside is that the bike looks a bit like a 747 aircraft now, and noting that they are wider than the handlebars; well, I'm going to have to break some of my bad Thai habits of splitting two lane traffic with gaps just a few cm wider than the bars.

The Puig engine bars fitted well; the Touratech Sump guard plate fitted well .... trouble was, the two manufacturers talk to Mr Honda but they don't talk to each other. Consequently the plate fouled the engine bars which meant a load more improvisation .... learn from my mistakes and buy matching accessories.

With it all finished, I took a test run up to Newbury .... The dash cam came flying off within 10 miles to land in my lap, and one spot light fell off somewhere on the Basingstoke bypass, luckily to be saved by hanging on its wire. So, back over every thing I fitted, this time with copious amounts of Locktite.

And now with two weeks to go, with the exception of fitting a new back tyre, I think the bike (but not me) is ready to roll.

Please note that due to my Welsh roots, I wish to clarify that the sheepskin on the seat has been fitted for comfort, rather than sexual reasons !