Stew

Super cool. And those wee hedge lined lanes are what make up most of the roads around me (yes, it is rural) , so you get used to it. Can't exactly go fast, and there is usually gravel and mud all over the place, but you just relax and enjoy the sights and sounds and smells and cover the front brake all the time This time of year pheasants are all over the place, and they are horrible , cos they are idiots, and have not realised that they do not in fact own the road.

They don't build them like that any more, eh. Must have taken decades to build. It is even more impressive from the other side, but I was stuffed from cake from the wee cafe next to it, and couldnt be bothered to walk round

The US Naval war hero. I only realised after I posted the photo I should have maybe put a date to the cottage

I am thinking I mibbe give Michelin a wee shout, ask them their opinion.

Oh, and I appreciate the feedback @texscottyd . My brother in law is a head mechanic in a big car dealership, so next time I am up visiting , we are going to rip the tyre off and whack an old one on just to see what happens, cos we are inquisitive about things like that.

He was so stunned by how out of balance it was, just from putting it up on a stand and spinning the front wheel. It was hilarious. He was so convinced that the tyre must have something inside it that he took the tyre off. He said the tyreless wheel needed 10g to get it balanced. There is one small nasty scuff on the rim from where the tyre guy removed the single balance weight that was there before. Because it took all the paint off with it. All I know is that the bike is vibration free again. And that I won't be using the mobile tyre guy again. (And here was me in fantasy land thinking I might get 2 rears to a front with these tyres, but I'll replace the front when the rear is shot, just to lose all that weight off the front end. Wheelie control, primitive version, slap 100grams of lead on your front wheel.

Damp leaf strewn back roads today, but the rain stopped. Did a tank full today. The 3rd photograph is the cottage where a certain John Paul Jones was born, a name that will almost certainly be well known to the American lads and lassies here.

The entire wheel was thoroughly checked, as the mechanic guy that did it (I dont have a garage and it is raining a lot) was as stunned as I was. He thought maybe some old slime or something, but he said everything was fine, just a badly fitted tyre, badly balanced. (Probably been sitting on a shelf for a while and got permanently out of shape or something along those lines) And looking at the photo's , I think there may be 60 on the left and 50 on the right. It's pouring rain and dark outside , and the bike is undercover, but I will double check tomorrow. It is horrendous though, But, as HGP61 said, I'll whack some black paint over them to try and hide the mess

Photo's of the hugger on my bike for you guys. I couldn't find any identifying marks on it at all (pre ride!) , and sorry, I have no idea if it is a stock 2015 one or not...

Shocking eh! The wheel was fine before, it's all tyre. Vibration is all gone. The guy reckons that it was 2 things. 1 , the tyre is waaaay out of balance, and 2 , the tyre fitter made a right mess of it, and had balance weights in completely the wrong places. Now I need to find a new tyre guy now. Telling you, the pilot road 5's are awesome in the wet. I just am stunned that I managed to get one that is so out of balance. Such good feel, confidence inspiring, I mean look at the photo, the grey strip is the chicken strip, and it was wet and greasy most of today's ride Oh, and I can confirm, there is no vibration, although I only tested to around 130. Oh and I can also confirm, 113 is when you hit the limiter in 3rd gear. (kph on a closed private road of course officer)

Just home from having the new anti wheelie system fitted.... (I cannot wait to read the comments about this, but believe you me, I am as upset about it as anyone! 50grams, on each side of the rim!!!!!!!)

Be interesting to see the Tuareg version.

I know, right. Let me know when it's finished Yamaha!

Here is a photo of it from the advert I bought it from, it may give you guys a better view / perspective on whether it is std or not. I have no clue

I thought it was the stocker, came on the bike . I'll have a close look at it tomorrow if it is dry, see if there are any identifying marks.

I had actually intended to head over there yesterday, but got distracted and ended up somewhere else. If it isn't too vile weather tomorrow I might head over that way. I have only seen 1 spitfire this year, and that was early march, literally days before the lockdown, when I was up at Kelvingrove Museum, where there is 1 hanging from the roof. They are such a beautiful shape.

Another grand day out around Dumfries and Galloway. The photo's may say otherwise, but it was raining almost the entire time, and I was loving it. Started with a traditional Scottish snack, then headed to the coast , where the sun came out and made everything look great....

Get a couple of skateboard wheels and some threaded bar, easy peasy and dirt cheap, just won't have a fancy blingy name

I was exactly the same , I was so impressed that I couldn't wait to get out in the rain. Perhaps you are on to something regarding the rider weight, perhaps us featherweights just cant get the best out of some tyres (tires) I won't be changing to anything else for a while now, I'm hoping for a good old fashioned 2 rears to a front.

Just was one of those days where you can smell the freshness in the air, and a sense of just wanting to glide along. Still, you can't know some time on the floor with the cars. I was a fiend for matchbox back in the day, then hot wheels came along and blew them away

Wet roads, 50mph winds, leaves everywhere. Had a brilliant ride though today, and found an awesome wee road, which unfortunately was so bad with wet leaves that, since it was getting dark, I decided on discretion, and will be exploring it tomorrow.

Which is exactly why I am so impressed with the Michelins. I can feel the grip, with the dunlop's there was zero feel, so I had a constant sense that they could break away and throw my bike down the road any time they felt like it. With the michelins I can feel what is happening underneath me. I have zero tyre loyalty, I haven't used Michelins on a bike for probably 20 years, but these are superb. If I get more than the 4000 miles out of the rear than I got with the Dunlop tyres, that will make them a bargain anyway

Stunning, thank you. I always know when I see you post a ride report there are going to be some delightful photographs.

Very interesting perspective there @texscottyd , which got me thinking, why is it that some people love those dunlop tyres (tires) and others hate them. I would say that the biggest single improvement I have made to my bike, in handling, feel, faster riding, more confident riding, better lean angle, wet/greasy/damp grip etc. was getting rid of the Dunlops (not oem, Sportsmax) , and getting the Michelin Pilot Road 5's fitted. More than the K-Tech shock, more than the front end revalve and spring work, more than the booster plug. All down to the fact that I couldn't feel anything from the Dunlops. Which begs the question. Why? I know we are all different, riding style, weight blah blah. Because for 1 thing, I am not that great a rider, normally any old tyre does me , until it squares off. But with the Dunlop tyres, I had zero feel. I would go so far as to say that I have more grip/feel/confidence in the worst of road surface conditions with the Michelins than the best of conditions with the Dunlops. Could it be a temperature/climate thing? Since I got the bike, I have not ridden in temperatures more than about 70-75f, and mainly between 45-55f If it was generally warmer, I wonder if the Dunlop's would give better feel. Just putting it out there , I may be miles out, but it would be interesting to hear from others re the temperatures they normally ride in.