Norway June 2009

[Hawkins]

hey dudes, wanted to share this one cause i'm so stoked about it. In Norway on business and decided to rent a VFR800. Had a great ride today, lots of great roads, there's almost no such thing as a straight backroad over here. Another day of it tomorrow. 20h of light every day. Only down side is the huge speeding fines. I was running the risk of a $2000+ fine several times today, but when the sign says 70 and the bike says 120 please, who you gonna listen to? Might even be more expensive, I got one in car last year, 70 in a 60 and it was nearly a grand. I know, HF! I know they go up quickly the more you break the limit. Double is automatic jail i think + a huge fine. Gonna try to find a mountain road tomorrow, lane or lane and a half tops, few cars, less cops. Check out the twisties on this road. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.065918&z=15

That's probably down a 7% grade or something. To be honest though, not sure i'd tackle that one yet, not until i get more used to this bike anyway. Finding the different seating posture a bit hard to get used to, and the limited of audio feedback from the engine is throwing me off too. The old XS still compares though. You'd think going from a 30 year old bike to a brand spanker would spell instant lust for a new one, but not yet anyway.

All for now. I'll post anything interesting that happens, and maybe a few pics.

[3Phase]

... there's almost no such thing as a straight backroad over here. Another day of it tomorrow. 20h of light every day.

Oh, no! That's terrible! How can you endure such a thing!

Only down side is the huge speeding fines.

Okay, that sucks pond water through a miniature swizzle stick. Have fun but don't have any spontaneous conversations with the local gendarmes.


Regards,

Scott

[Geezer]

And I thought the speeding fines here Oregon were crazy. Here they lock you up and i,pound your bike for going over 100 on the freeway (assuming they catch you.)

I think ever state should have a section of Autobahn style freeway...

Geezer

[Hawkins]

well, it was probably the best ride of my life. Lots of narrow twisty roads, great weather, no speeding tickets. Managed to put on 800km (500mi) in a day and a half. I was surprised it was so low but the Norwegians thought I pushed the edge of waht you can accomplish on such roads. if you can keep up with these lunatics I must be doing ok (or not, depends on perspective).

VFR800 is a nice bike, lots of power, good handling, excellent brakes. Beats the XS on all counts, but considering the age difference, the 11 can still hold her head high.

Only one negative - I made a CRM (classic rookie mistake) of trying to get over an edge of pavement at a shallow angle. needless to say I quickly found myself saying 'f¤ck' quickly followed by the bike saying 'bang'. $3000 mistake. But, the ride was still worth every dime.

[DGXSER]

Thats why you get the rental insurance!! Sounds like your none the worse for it at least, so a good learning experience.

[Hawkins]

oh, I had insurance, but the deductible was high. Here in Norway that VFR is about $30,000 US, so the deductible was 10% of replacement value. When I signed for it i wasn't thinking I'd do anything stupid like that, it was either a total write off or nothing at all. But like you say, i'm ok, I still had a great ride, and was able to continue riding after the drop. And if I had been caught doing the speeds i was doing I'd be looking at a bigger bill. Lesson indeed learned - I pride myself on keeping feet on footpegs for anything above 0 speed, but some extra support would have saved the day there. Feet down and not dropping your ride is slightly cooler than the alternative.

But I wasn't the only idiot in Norway this weekend - another guy rolled in on his VFR as I was returning mine, with the same damage except on the right side, but also damage on the left. Here's his story - parked on the center stand on coarse asphalt, took gear into hotel, returned to see bike lying on the right side with fairings scratched, mirror busted off, and brake lever in a nice C shape. Picked it up and started it to move to a safer parking spot, tried to execute a sharp left, the freshly bent brake lever connected with the fairing, brake locked and he laid it down on the left side.

[3Phase]

well, it was probably the best ride of my life.

Right on!

$3000 mistake. But, the ride was still worth every dime.

It's only money and metal (okay, there was probably some plastic involved, too).

At least you had fun!


Regards,

Scott