Hello from the Vienne

[Snorkel]

Just a few words to introduce myself. Although I’ve had a licence since 1962 I have really only been back into bikes for the last 7yrs. I live in France and bought a new Bandit 650 three years ago. Not really my first choice of bike but I chose it because it was on offer, reliable and I had to gently build up a French no claims bonus. I also have a toy, a Dax ST70 which I use on occasions, and which I can put in the back of my car and take with me for exploring new places.

The roads in France are excellent but, as I live in a rural area, there are a myriad of tracks and lanes to explore. Most of the time these are in poor condition and covered in mud or gravel. Although the Bandit is not heavy it certainly is not a first choice for exploring.

For this reason, when offered the opportunity to purchase a 1981 XTR 125 with only 6500k on the clock, I thought that this would suit my needs nicely. I like its retro look, it seems to go with my age. Although I find that it has a serious lack of power out on the open road, I have found it more than suitable for what I want it for. I have travelled for miles on all the tracks and back roads hardly meeting a soul. The bike is light, easy to manoeuvre and I worry not when suddenly encountering the occasional Frenchman blasting home towards me for his lunch. In short I have not had so much fun on a bike for years.

I do have a few niggling problems but I will post these in the correct section in due course. Hopefully one of your number can advise me on what, and what not, to do.

Safe biking to you all.

[Lutin]

Hi Snorkel, and welcome to the mad-house.

I'm sure the knowledgeable folk on here will sort you out with answers to your questions. Just don't expect to understand some of them.

If you haven't taken any pictures of your bikes yet, best to get some taken pronto, as there's a bunch of mad people on here that will request (read "demand") pictures of them. You have been warned!


Oh, and whatever you do DO NOT LET ANYONE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!! That is unless you want a whole pile of adventure bikes parked on your lawn (or other suitable grassy area). You just had to say that you live in France, didn't you.......................

[StumpyFingers]

Welcome to the Forum.
Let me be the first to DEMAND photos of your bikes.

[PHILinFRANCE]

Hi Snorkle
Yet another expat member i,m in the LOT near Gourdon !!!!! where abouts are you !!!!! maybe a meet up some time if we,re not to far apart
Phil

[moon]

budge up Phil, make room for another member of the foreign office...

welcome in, Snorkel.

If he's in La Vienne Phil hes a coupla O hundred K's north of you I reckon.

[PHILinFRANCE]

budge up Phil, make room for another member of the foreign office...

welcome in, Snorkel.

If he's in La Vienne Phil hes a coupla O hundred K's north of you I reckon.

BUGGER still iv,e never been up that way looks like a spring time run out
Phil

[Snorkel]

A couple of photos as requested. I've not bothered with the Bandit, I think we all know what that looks like.





This one is just a couple of years old.

[Snorkel]

Phil – Yup, I’m afraid as moon said I’m a good couple of hundred miles north east of you. I live in a small town called St Sauvant 86600, it’s about 20 miles south west of Poitiers. For those others whose French geography is not up to much I’m about 80 miles inland from La Rochelle which is basically halfway down France on the left.

I have been down the A20 on several occasions on my way to see friends in Spain. Every time I get to your area I think how wonderful it looks. Where I live is quite the reverse. It's very flat, mostly arable farmland and to be honest quite boring. It does have some advantages, namely that property is cheap, that’s why I’m here, and it’s also only a days run to the ferries.

I did arrange to go camping near to you this summer with my other half, I wanted to see the Gouffre de Padirac and have a butchers at Rocamadour. Unfortunately there was a slight disagreement (to put it mildly) and we never got under way. I have since been buying camping gear that will go on the bike. It’s all for one man only and I will make the journey next spring on my own. Perhaps we could meet up then?

A friend of mine is buying a place near to St Flour in the Cantal. The terrain there is I imagine much the same as yours, hilly with very twisty roads. I’ve got a trailer and when we go to stay I shall take the bike with me. Having driven on some of those roads in the car I can’t wait to start exploring on the bike.

Should you ever want to travel up this way for whatever reasons, do drop in, there will be a warm welcome waiting.

[StumpyFingers]

Very very nice bikes.

[Lutin]

I live in a small town called St Sauvant 86600, it’s about 20 miles south west of Poitiers. For those others whose French geography is not up to much I’m about 80 miles inland from La Rochelle which is basically halfway down France on the left.

Ain't that just typical! We cruised through Niort on the way to Saint Jean de Monts earlier this year to visit my niece.

If only we'd known..........

See, it's dangerous letting people know where you live.