Greetings from malta

[jolly green giant]

Just joined the forum so its time to say hello. Was in the UK last May and bought myself a new Varadero. You can well imagine the sales rep's face when I offered him cash - it was amusing but at least he gave me a good deal on the bike and on the helmet. Had it shipped home to sunny Malta. Not much country to play in so off to Sicily for a couple of days just after running-in of course. Brilliant - went up the long and winding road to Mt Etna and then down an equally winding road to reach the motorway with lots of hairpins on the way. Managed to notch up 210 km/h on the Autostrada and then it was just ecstatic driving over some of Europe's highest bridges located in southern Sicily. Weather was champion although still hot allowing one to wear just t-shirt and shorts while driving along those excellent Sicilian roads.

Anyway, enjoy your rides.

[StumpyFingers]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
The bit about riding with just Tee shirt and shorts is a bit cringe worthy, if you read the other posts about the accidents and see the damage to the body with full protection.

[Tony M]

Welcome, indeed!

Riding roads like that sounds great - just don't fall off if you're wearing tee shirt and shorts (and gloves, I hope??) - even a short and slow slide on gravel or tarmac wears out a whole load of skin!

[jolly green giant]

You're quite right on having your skin permanently tattooed if you come into contact with the ground. But at that speed I doubt if you're still in one piece if you happen to fall off.

On the other hand I do have a pair of good gloves, boots and armoured jacket. I'm still looking for trousers as at 6'7" and a half I'm slightly vertically challenged which makes it somewhat difficult to find trousers with an inside leg size of 38". But thanks for the advice.

[©-©]

Dear JGG,

What about the ADT and the importation?

Are you waiting, also hoping for a November change in the regulations?

Know the right people to get Maltese insurance?

Riding in bare essentials here probably promotes a far higher level of rider care and concentration on the task in hand, than ever there was when I was wrapped in leathers back of beyond the temperate shores of that jewel set in the silvery grey North Sea.

Sure that my old RAC/ACU instructors would scowl most censoriously if they could see me now.

©-©

Nanny ... please don't bubble-wrap me up any more.

[Sharribee]

Welcome to the site JJG.

Got my fingers in my ears and I'm just singing la la la la la to the bits about the riding wear.

Just don't tell me and I won't nag or post up lovely pictures of some of the people I have picked the gravel out of thier road rash

[jolly green giant]

Hi C-C,

Incidentally, I was at ADT only last week and paid the registration fee. I opted for a personalized number plate - XLV 996.

The cost of the bike, transport costs from UK to Malta together with registration is still much less than having bought the bike from the local Honda dealer. I have insured the bike at Atlas insurance, cost of which was reasonable.

Ey sharribee, I don't want to enter into any controversies regarding clothing. I didn't join the forum for that. So for each his own. But I would like to ask you if you know anyone who supplies bike gear for tall people, considering that most Varadero riders are normal (tall) people.

Safe riding everyone