This is the best GoldWing 1800 ever to go on sale this decade….. any test, any trial.

1832cc – 20,000 miles – Red – 1 Owner – Immobiliser – Full Service History.

Here we have the ultimate in touring machines…. airbag, heated seats, heated grips, ABS, built-in SatNav, spot lights, rear top box lights, Honda HISS.

Plus some chrome and CB aerial.

09 plate. Excellent condition. 9 months tax. MOT until July.

£15,500
…….Now reduced to just £14,500 for quick sale!

Contact Dave on 0792 761 9787 or Elaine on 078 177 626 44.

The bike is in North Wales, near Mold.

Mini wing

So there I am thinking I am going to enjoy the Easter weekend off from work and get stuck in to some nice relaxing painting and decorating and maybe even clean the windows outside and wash the car BUT NO! Q says she wants to go out for a bike ride in the snow! I mean how silly can you get! In this terrible weather and all that salt, but I had a cunning plan, the GoldWing is on SORN I tell her as I started to put my decorators overalls on and un-stiffen my paste brush. That’s OK she says we can go on the Scooter, I never saw that coming – Q on a scooter instead of a GoldWing, she will be wanting to go on the BSA next…. wearing goggles…. sitting side-saddle.

So the next thing I know the Winter riding gear is coming out and she tells me she wants to go to the Ponderosa cafe for breakfast as it has been shut for 6 days due to snow and has only been reopened for 1 day as the roads are now clear. So we set off and it was 2 degrees but she was not put off at all and it was a very chilly ride but the sun was shining through, the scooter managing two-up no problem.

Ponderosa now open

Highest point

The roads up to the Ponderosa were fantastic I have to say, but I was thinking ‘I would have been onto my 3rd roll of wallpaper by now’ but we have to do as we are told, don’t we, to keep the peace? There were a few other bikers at the Ponderosa and I had a chat with some of the riders who were in the same position as me – forced out by partners to ride bikes instead of going to B+Q with 10% off at Easter, a wasted opportunity for all.

The breakfast she made me eat was a Full English one with milky coffee as well, can my day get any worse, a cold bike ride, hot greasy food and other sad bikers sat around me. She was so proud of what she had achieved, she even boasted about it on Face-twit while drinking her coffee.

Breakfast time

‘Never mind’ I thought… once I have eaten breakfast we can go home and hope my paste has not gone stiff, BUT NO. Llangollen is where she wanted to go next so after a few photographs of the snow and her looking all happy we set off across the highest part of the Horseshoe Pass and even there she made me get off the bike to look at the view and take more pictures, the views were stunning but no B+Q in sight anywhere despite being able to see for miles and miles.

Scenery on the move

The roads were mostly dry but now and then the snow was melting a bit so the odd water patch was running across the roads but the bike was rock solid, probably due to the amount of salt that was stuck to it.

Into LLangollen and had no trouble parking as all the other bikers had managed to get to the DIY shops so we had the bike parking all for us – and it was free! Chance to get my own back here I thought so I made Q stand on the bridge for a photograph and the snow was melting and dripped down her neck which shocked her.

Water drip down the neck

Then she got revenge on me and said we had to go into the old railway station cafe and have a cup of hot chocolate, a cake and sit near the coal fire and get warm, I was gutted now as I knew my wallpaper paste would be all stiff and no use to anyone, you can’t stick anything up if it has gone stiff can you!

Eventually she agreed we could go home so I thought “get straight onto the Wrexham road to get home quickly and I may just catch B+Q before it shuts” BUT NO! Q wanted to go back the way we came to see the views of all the hills covered in snow yet again. So back the way we came looking at snow covered houses, lambs jumping in fields, blue skies and all that stuff you see on these TV programmes about how to enjoy the countryside etc.

Just as we were coming towards Buckley she tells me we have to call and see Jan and Dave Turvey to see how they are, something about caring for the elderly in the cold weather I think, BUT NO! When we get there Jan is out getting her Tattoo finished off and Dave proudly tells me he has managed to not ride for over a week as all the snow is in front of his garage and he cannot open the garage door. So what does Q do? she only makes me shovel the snow from his doorway so now he can open it, so now poor Dave has to get his bike out and go out in this snow as well.

So happy

That was it I had enough by now so I told Q we were now going home, we have been out for 6 hours and I was putting my foot down – so home we went. Once home I thought I will sit and listen to radio 4 as there was a programme on about polystyrene tiles and how they are making a comeback for decorating BUT NO! Q makes me light the log burner in the living room, makes a plate of sandwiches and coffee and I have to sit and eat while she tells me what a wonderful day she has had, she was not put off with the cold and wants to do it again tomorrow.

That was it, I’d had enough! So, I put my foot down again and told her straight…….Where to??

Another satisfied Appleyards customer

We’ve just heard that Appleyard’s popular annual GoldWing Open Day – due to be held this coming Sunday (24th March 2013) – has been cancelled due to the bout of bad weather which has suddenly engulfed the North of England.

There is no word of a re-arrangement yet – their website does use the word cancelled rather than postponed – but I’d be surprised if they don’t try to hold it once better weather returns.

History

Every year just before Easter, Appleyards hold a GoldWing Open Day at their Keighley showroom – where they invite customers and members of any GoldWing Club to join them for a free lunch (£1 donation to charity) and, providing the weather is good (!), they normally expect up to 500 GoldWings to show up.

Current conditions in Keighley

In 2012, they announced a new feature, the GoldWing Club Village:

Mercede Green –  Registered: 5^th  March 1999  (T reg) – 23,350 miles

6 Months MOT – 7 Months Tax – Very Good Condition

Both tyres replaced: Front tyre (Metzlar Marathon) at 17,903 miles – Rear tyre (Avon Venom) at 19,883 miles.

It has been regularly serviced by myself and comes with these standard Anniversary Edition features :-

•  4 speaker stereo with handle bar mounted front to rear fader.
• Distinctive white dials.
• Radio/cassette player with integral intercom.
• Adjustable windscreen with air vent..
• Height adjustable passenger foot rests..
• Cruise control.
• Electric reverse.
• Drivers Back rest (with small pocket)
• OEM  luggage (3 bags)

and has the following additional enhancements :-

• Twin Rear Progressive Air Shocks (A Standard GoldWing has one Air and one Coil-over shock)
• Hagon progressive front springs.
• Front fork brace.
• Kevlar brake lines throughout,
• Tri-colour ‘Ring of fire’ with spoke reflectors,
• Heated grips,
• Cruiser style forward foot pegs,
• Smoked wind deflectors,
• Euro style headlight/ Position lights
• Luggage rack (Top box lid reinforced)
• Spotlights,
• CB interface, (CB also available)
• Two open faced helmets with J & M intercom headsets

The bike is now sold, but I still have these items to go:

• Frank Thomas Aquapore Boots Ladies size 6 (39) hardly worn, Waterproof & Breathable – £40
• Frank Thomas Ladies (L) textile waterproof trousers , elasticated waist, closeable air vents above the knees, internal pockets for knee armor – £45
• Frank Thomas gloves, mens small, hardly worn (Fits small ladies hand) – £10
• Akito Python 2, textile waterproof trousers large – £20

Please contact Stu on either:
Landline:    01978 313293
Mobile:      07952963921
E-mail:       stu•sorrell©hotmail•co•uk

Yellow Snow?

In 2012 we had a slow riding day to learn a few skills and it seemed to go down well and nearly everyone had a good time. I am lucky as i seem to find this kind of riding easy and i was wondering why? I have never had any form of training in it. I now think it may be down to the amount of time i have spent commuting over the years, i only got a car just over a year ago so i have been riding since 17 years old. When you commute you do it in all weather and simply get used to it as you have no option if you want to get to work.

On a GoldWing??

So what has this got to do with GoldWings? well nothing really BUT are you missing riding time which may benefit your GoldWing riding? When the weather turns bad GoldWingers may think of how long it will take to clean the bike, what if i drop it and it gets damaged,how much money will it loose if it starts rusting etc etc.

I am also lucky that i enjoy any Motorbike no matter what size, make , model etc so over the years i have had quite a few bikes and i have had some fantastic rides on bikes that have cost hardly any money.

Where is the grass?

Take away the fears mentioned about riding your GoldWing in poor weather and you can relax and enjoy the ride more on a bike you are not worried about dropping, getting dirty etc.

This picture was taken in January’s snow and what a lovely day, i had warm hands due to heated grips, chunky tyres for the snow and just look at the smile on the mudguard, even the bike enjoyed it. I am sure some of you are thinking WHAT! idiot, and you may be right but i saw some wonderful scenery, and what was i worried about? nothing! just happy to be riding.

A smaller bike also can get you to places you may not think of going on your GoldWing, when we had the floods i went out for  ride again to see what the country looked like in this poor weather and i made a point of picking the smallest roads i could.

Can i cross it?

WHY? because i could, there was no restrictions on my riding, no Sat nav, no map i just wandered about that day and saw some great places.

This River had swollen nearly to bursting point and the nearby Bridleway had to be closed, i would not have got this close on a GoldWing due to the soft bank but it was easy on the little bike.

Smaller cheaper bikes also are a lot less cost to run than a GoldWing which with today’s fuel prices is something to keep in mind. I am not saying get rid of your GoldWings here – just there is a benefit to alternative riding.

Happy in the rain

Wrap up well in your winter gear and with no worries about damaging the bike get out and enjoy it as it beats staying in to watch repeats on the telly.

Just look how happy this idiot is in the rain! GoldWings are fantastic bikes and hopefully i will never be without one but if i had to pick my top 5 rides they would not all involve GoldWings. In my own life this sort of riding from the pillion’s point of view is “just stupid” you make your own mind up but i am sure you will have more confidence in riding your GoldWing when the time comes.

Ed Quayle

Wet – but happy – Wingers

This event was held on Sunday 9th December 2012. Trevor and I set off from Wolverhampton on our GoldWing Trike at 9.30 am and it started raining a little. By the time we got to the Britannia Stadium in Stoke it was quite heavy, but I was well dressed: long thermals, thick socks, leg warmers, trousers AND motorbike trousers as well. Plus long thermal top and warm T-shirt, 2 – yes 2 – thick jumpers, body warmer and big motorcycle jacket. I must have looked like the Michelin man but I intended keeping warm!

As if it had been ordered, the rain stopped about 5 minutes before we all set off, and all the way through the run the weather kept dry – we were lucky with that.

Police dogs were present – just in case of trouble!

It was a good run – about 15 miles – and some people braved the colder weather and came out to watch the bikes. Some of the bikers collected toys from the public on the way.

A lot of people were waving through the windows from their houses. People were also waving from their cars as they were forced to stop or slow down to make way for us. It was well organised and there were a lot of Marshalls and the Police blocking off the roads especially for us.

I should say a few hundred bikes were taking part: all sorts – like liquorice allsorts – with different colours and makes. If the weather had been better I expect a lot more would have turned up. A few Scooters were to be seen as well.

I’m the real Santa…….no I’M the real Santa!

We saw quite a few Father Christmases and one was even dressed up as a Tree! The Police even took part in the spirit of things and one of them was dressed as a Police dog – keeping order no doubt. It was great to see.

Some people decorated their bikes with tinsel, parcels, trees, lights etc. and it looked quite festive. Trev put his lights on and it was nice to see a few other GoldWingers taking part in the run as well.

We did not hang around too long after the run ended at the King’s Hall. We could have stopped to see the live band and had a drink. However, we decided to take a quick look around the bikes, took a few photos and then headed for home.

This was our first Toy Run, and you can see some of the photos we took in the Stoke Toy Run 2012 Photo Gallery. We have previously been on the Egg and Pet runs in Stoke and enjoyed these runs as well.

Jean

P.S. Here are some videos of the Toy Run found on YouTube*:

Scotland 2012

Hi,

I am rather cheesed off with the cold and wet weather which has prevented me from getting out and about on the Wing recently.

It has even stopped me from getting out on my little bike and I am happy to take that out in most weather conditions.

The Wing is sitting all unloved in the garage because I’m too nesh to go out there and work on the bike at the moment, and there is much work waiting to be done to the Wing when I can get down to it.

Reverse Goldwing Trike – er – yes- maybe

My rat’s nest of wiring needs to be tidied up and a few gadgets need to be fettled to work properly ready for the next proper season of riding.

I have a list of ideas that I want to try but cannot get around to it until I have completed the existing jobs.

I have several thoughts on where I would like to visit this coming year if I can sort out a few things to let Jan and I do them and I can get the time off work.

I would love to re-visit Scotland, particularly the North West corner up from Ullapool and the Northern edge from Cape Wraith to John o’Groats.

Another look – no -still not sure!

There are some really super roads in the very north of Scotland which we didn’t get to sample this year as we were based further south. It is an ambition of mine to visit these areas, though I’m not sure that Janet is quite as ambitious.

I would also love to revisit parts of Germany that we passed through at highish speed over the last few years while on our way to other destinations.

Some of the best riding roads are to be found in Northern Spain and I have yet to visit the Pyrenees area which is another ambition of mine.

Unfortunately I am unable to make the long term commitment to booking any of these yet.

Harz Mountains 2011

I was able to visit the Motorcycle Live show at the NEC recently and saw many travel stands there to help people to achieve similar goals in life.

I was quite jealous of those obtaining details of some of these trips and could not cause myself to visit them to get the brochures, as I would have been quite depressed reading them all and knowing that I didn’t have the time to visit them yet.

The main purpose of the show visit was, of course, to look at the latest offerings from the bike and equipment manufacturers, and there were some vary tasty offerings at the show.

Victory Vision complete with reverse gear – at long last

A serious contender for comfort in the big tourer stakes was the Victory Vision range. This bike is as big as, if not bigger than, a Wing, and now comes equipped with reverse gear as well – at long last!

Triumph have also put together a very nice looking tourer which, while not in the same league as the Wing, will likely be a very capable machine for long distance touring.

The BMW k1600 drew a rather large crowd of visitors and very tidy it looked indeed, as well as very capable for touring.

There were some smaller bikes which were also rather interesting, as well, to those who don’t need or require to use a Wing all of the time.

Alternative trike with Virago engine

The new BMW F700 series looked very versatile and affordable, along with the new BMW1200GS. (I even entered the raffle to win one!)

Other big names had some very nice looking bikes there as well, but you really needed to go to the show to compare them all.

The GWOCGB stand was well staffed this year and I was able to chat to some old friends.

I was also able to look at the new three wheeler on the stand, which Appleyards were displaying on the GWOCGB stand.

This was a ‘reverse’ three wheeler, in that it had two front wheels and one rear wheel.

Very capable BMW tourer – many say better than a Wing.

Appleyards will be agents for the conversion, but to me as an ex-owner of a GL1800 trike of normal format, I found the Wing converted to the same format as a Can-Am Spyder a bit more than strange.

Perhaps it will grow on me in time.

The show had more stalls from traders than in previous years and I was surprised at the number of ‘bargains’ that were on display.

It is a pity that the ‘show’ prices could not be maintained after the show finished as I feel it would boost the sales of kit and accessories and help the industry to continue to grow.

I enjoyed the show and would recommend it to you next year.

Trying out a new pan for size

The number of events to attend this year appears to have been reduced compared to previous years, but there will always be events where Goldwings in numbers can be seen.

It is great to hear that Llandudno is going to host another light parade in 2013. There are also other light parades scheduled- especially in Scarborough and possibly York.

It is also good that GWOCGB are holding their Treffen at Kelso again this coming year.

Kelso is very welcoming to the Goldwing Club and is a great location with the town being an easy walk from the show-field.

Picos De Europa, North Spain

I have been to 2 previous Treffens there and really enjoyed both.

On top of this the area is a great area to visit and tour.

If you want to consider hotel accommodation you need to book early – very early!!

As always I am interested in any new places to visit and if anyone wants to make suggestions then I will take a look and see if we fancy visiting. I usually do get fired up with new ideas presented to me so bring them on!

Next instalment due in a few weeks time, especially if we get snow.

Dave T

Paul Begin from that club has just sent in a link to their 2011 display and parade, so I am attaching the video below.

Paul notes that their 2012 event will be taking place this coming Saturday, so I will also add any videos of that which he is able to share.

Chilling out at the hotel

Really sorry about the delay in getting this second part of the holiday report to you, but there is no Internet allowed in prison anymore!  But now that’s all behind me I can carry on with the story.

So we are in the Lake District for part two of the Scotland holiday….. and how did that happen I hear you say (I bet somebody said it!)? Well, a number of reasons really…… when we arrived at the second Scottish hotel, Elaine and Dave realised they had been there before when they were in another “bike club” and they had done a different style of “riding”!  So rather than risk getting recognised we decided to move to another hotel where they would not be known.

Wandering around Hawes

As Derek has been a truck driver all his life – and therefore has an immense and vast knowledge of the country – we thought he would be the ideal person to lead us on some nice country roads to another traditional Scottish hotel. And that’s how we ended up in the Lake District!

But what a beautiful hotel it was though. It had a clean swimming pool and a steam room which I had never been in before – apparently you go into it with complete strangers, dressed only in minimum clothing, and just sweat it out till you cannot take anymore…. rings a bell that does!

I thought Nigel only liked blondes?!

The food in the hotel was lovely with a huge choice of cereal for breakfast – even the Coco Pops never ran out the whole time we were there, despite some of us having 3 small boxes per bowl! One evening meal we had fish and chips and it was served in its own little wire frying basket and a very tiny bucket with peas in it.

Hanky panky amongst the Wingers!

One of the days there had a wedding reception taking place, so with lovely ladies everywhere Nigel was very happy to photograph them and let them sit on his pride and joy! It was a nice treat for the wedding party to sit on his bike with all the lights on, but I am not sure who was more pleased – Nigel or the bride.

We had a couple of nice rideouts despite the rain as the Lake District is lovely whatever the weather – and it changes so quickly so the waterproofs are on and off all the time, but such lovely scenery really makes up for it.

How can you tell that the famous ‘Really Really Fast Lake District Sneak Thief’ has just struck?”

As with all good holidays, it was over so quickly and it was time to pack up and head for home…… strange how when you are leaving a hotel you seem to have so many white towels in your luggage and you don’t remember bringing them in the first place – or is that just Jo?!

Hartside Summit – a famous biker meeting spot

Q and I were heading over to Darlington to stay with friends for a few days and the rest headed home to North Wales with Derek leading, taking a lovely route past Edinburgh I believe.

Next year may see us going to Cornwall for the annual Morris Dancing championships because after Ian saw both Daves Morris Dancing in Scotland he wants a go at it now…. so the winter evenings will be busy for those three until the GoldWinging season starts again.

Don’t forget to wave and smile if you see me out at work – most speed camera pictures are so boring!

Ed