This hurts most when it comes to small routine maintenance/repairs, which can be done easily with a little courage and only one left hand ;-).
This starts with changing brake shoes and ends with changing fluids (except brake fluid!).
What is needed for this?
– Sufficient time,
– Youtube 😉 and/or a workshop or service manual as a guide and preparation for
o The work steps,
o Necessary spare parts to order and
o Required tools
– a flat parking surface,
– when changing liquids, an absorbent pad or a closable collecting container,
– Workshop gloves,
Most motorcycle manufacturers now have spare part drawings on their pages,
These make it relatively easy for us to identify spare parts and to shop online. Alternatively the good old visit  to the next brand workshop/dealer works as well.
First, you should be looking for a quiet place. With short repairs it can also work in a normal parking lot, but it is better to have your own place like a garage, a parking space or a workshop etc., especially during the first attempts.
Weather surprises must be taken into account.
It is best to arrange the workplace in such a way that:
– Its clean and as dust-free as possible.
– The probably needed tools are ready in an orderly way
– There is a shell (ideally magnetic) for screws, nuts and washers, so that they do not get lost (place the shell so that an accidental knocking over is unlikely)  😉
– All spare parts and gaskets, checked them for completeness and put them close. Detto all new liquids.
– Gloves and cleaning paper, as well as a waste bag or waste bucket are within reach.
Prepared in this way, absolutely nothing can go wrong.
So courage, let’s start the first operation.
As teaser: oil and filter change!
In the service manual on the last pages the required quantities and the type of oil used are indicated.
Motorcycles, with the divided lubrication circuit of gearbox, clutch and engine, are very sensitive to deviations from the specifications (primarily because of the clutch!).
Other companies/brands are OK.
Personally I have had great experiences with MOTUL oils, but this may only apply to my motorcycle, so no guarantee 😉
If also the oil filter is to be exchanged, the data for it can be found at any time in the Internet.
If all parts are available, it is time to prepare everything. Ideally the motorcycle should be warmed up before (the oil becomes thinner), or the engine should be warmed up briefly at the stand. (Caution: the exhaust will be warmer than the engine)
A suitable screw- or ring wrench is required to open the oil drain plug (normally on the underside of the engine/gear block) or very low on the side.
In order to collect the oil that is draining off, a sufficiently large collecting vessel should be placed underneath, which ideally should additionally stand on a mat in order to collect unavoidable splashes.
Take care with the screw that it does not fall into the tub in the final unscrewing (which should go quickly – because: hot and greasy) and is drowned under the oil. Otherwise: Have fun searching!
The oil will now drain off. Towards the end, it is recommended to tilt the motorcycle slightly so that as much of the remaining oil as possible can drain off.
Excursus filter exchange (skip if this is not necessary. In any case it is recommended to change the filter at least every 2nd oil change.)
Loosen the oil filter counter clockwise with an oil filter key (Attention: small one, not the one for cars!).
Normally the filter should not sit too tight and go off. If it is quite stubborn, or if there is no oil filter key at hand, a more resolute method also helps:
Simply pierce the filter with a large screwdriver (using a hammer) and use the screwdriver as a lever to open the filter. This always works.
In any case there will be another short swall of oil, therefore attention and put something beneath to catch the oil.
Drain off the oil, clean both openings with cleaning paper and screw on the new oil filter (attention: remove any protective cover from the seal), a little more than hand-tight.
End Excursus Filter
*Here it goes on if the clutch facings have to be replaced, but that’s another story. 😉
Then also screw in the oil drain plug and tighten it firmly.
Now you can fill in fresh oil again (pay attention to quantity and type). Take a little less into account with the quantity, because residual quantities always remain despite all the work and so the actually required filling quantity is smaller.
In the finale set up the motorcycle as straight as possible and check the oil level in the oil sight glass.
If the bike is relatively new, you can use the lower mark (little loss of oil to be expected during operation), otherwise you can use the middle mark, or in between 😉
Never fill it up to the upper mark. As the oil expands as a result of heating and can therefore easily exceed the upper mark. That would be bad again.
I.e. check the level after the first test run. (Switch off the engine, straighten the motorcycle upright, wait a while so that the oil calms down and coagulates).
If it was too much, let it go a little bit.
Otherwise. Have fun! That was your first successful oil change!
For the 4th time, the meanwhile well established Ladiescamp, founded by the motorcycle magazine Austria, took place, on the last June/July weekend The venue: The Wachauring in Melk, which houses the Supermoto race track as well as the ÖAMTC’s driving technology centre. The participants: Female Motorcyclists from Austria and Germany, who have not shied away from the sometimes long journey (Tyrol, Carinthia, Frankfurt). And so, once again, both days were fully booked with 100 participants each. Â
It is always a pleasure to see the enthusiasm of the participants. In the murderous heat on both days (somewhere between 39° and 41°, and that in full motorcycle protective clothing, it was impressively shown who the weaker sex really is. 😉  Â
The Ladiescamp 2019 had the following stations to offer for us:
– Braking and cornering technique incl. elimination for the competition “Austria’s safest motorcyclist”.
– Fun Park and Track Race sniffing
– short laps with exotic vehicles
– Travel and Safety Clothing Workshop
– Trial and Offroad
– Picking up and manoeuvring a motorcycle
– racetrack
– and, the very special extra goodie: test driving current motorcycle models in the near surroundings (unfortunately again without Triumph, Aprilia and this time also Harley Davidson)
The build up was already on Friday, I was of course on site again to help out a little, and the Wima-Austria and the WRWR banner were prominently placed.Â
The weather forecast for both days was fantastic, almost too fantastic. On Saturday it was 38° and on Sunday the temperature reached a fabulous 41°, on an asphalted terrain, no shadows. The motorcycle outfit, it couldn’t be that thin that day.
The Ladiescamp is rich in various stations, and this time it was also enthusiastically taken up by the participants. It was uncanny how much energy, fun and joy could be seen throughout the day. In the evening there were the first signs of fatigue here and there, but the majority remained upright until the last station.
Fantastic result of the 2nd day: Petra Oberger, won the preliminaries for the competition of Austria’s safest motorcyclist and will participate in the finals at the end of August! The rest of us, will cherish our experiences and are already looking forward to next year. Â Â Â Â https://youtu.be/Xcr8ZDl9KFE
I announce my deregistration from Erzbergrodeo XX5, unfortunately I lack simply the training possibility at the moment and the whole situation was intensified by:
It is surely a sign to let it be good for this time 😉
Hello, here is the latest information for participation in the Czech and Austrian sections of the WRWR
Please consider that in case of bad weather conditions the goal is to reach our target destination in time and we will then avoid pass roads if necessary. All routes have been chosen so that this is also possible.
On April 15:
The 2nd part of the Czech WRWR route is already suitable for the journey from East Austria to Upper Austria.
On 16. April, 1st section:
Meeting with the Czech girls at about 9:30 directly behind the border crossing in Weigetschlag, short photo session and continuation to Mattighofen/Munderfing.
As an event (not yet fixed); the participation in a factory tour or testing of the e-Freeride at the eCross site is planned. (Offroad robe is available for rent on site)
2. section: For Guardians of the 2nd section the journey continues soon to Bischofshofen, over the lake area (Mondsee, Attersee, Hallstätter See) up to Hallstatt and via Gosau to Bischofshofen. In the evening a cosy round in a nice restaurant.
17. April, 1st section:
Via the Dienten saddle, direction Zell am See and Mittersill to Krimml. From there it goes on over the Gerlos and the Zillertal to Hall in Tirol (last stage on the motorway).
April 17, 2nd section:
Continue on the motorway to behind Landeck and then via Arlberg Straße over the pass to Vorarlberg. Continue on the S16 to Bludenz, where we might just be able to cheat our way into Milka Lädle in the early evening. 😉 In the evening another happy round in a restaurant.
18 April,
The Finale! A short stretch on the main road to Feldkirch and then to the border crossing to Liechtenstein.
As every year, bikers from Vienna, and the surrounding area, come together to present the children in the St. Anna Children’s Hospital a little joy for Christmas. Of course Versya is also involved in something like this. You can find the report from 2017 here  That’s why Voodoo was transformed out of its matt black world and festively decorated for this occasion.
So Versya and Voodoo were ready for the special occasion. Since the southern meeting point is close to my workplace, I turned into a marshmellow Christmas woman within 5 minutes, as the temperature was especially fresh with humid and cool 3°. Only good that the dress was purchased in XXL, but so I can at least offer the worthy Santa Clauses in the body size paroli 😉
From the meeting points, it was a merry rally from the north and south of Vienna to the meeting point at Schwarzenbergplatz. Due to the weather situation there were a little less participants than in 2017, but still the crowd of the assembled Christmas women and men was big enough to take care of enthusiastic drivers and pedestrians, who welcomed our spectacle very often positively with smiles and waves. Voodoo had its own surprise for the children along the way. A specially converted tank bag fugated as a candy store, which was diligently distributed to the children. After all, the motorcycle offspring must also be encouraged 🙂
Of course the most important target of our trip was the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Hospital. Arrived there, the presents were unloaded, which were bought with the donations of the FB group (Christmas biker Hallowheeler…). Then there was the obligatory Christmas singing and the punch brewed by the kitchen of the St. Anna Children’s Hospital. After the carols in the inner courtyard of the hospital, we returned to the starting point at Schwarzenbergplatz with our bike convoy.
The children we were allowed to meet were in various health conditions, but everyone was happy about the spectacle, which brought a little variety into their everyday life. and so it should be. 🙂
At the end, but not last, a lovingly cutted video of Koshro Kashanipour, which he made available to me for this post. Thank you Khosro!
It’s the 25th Erzbergrodeo, and even though I only accompanied my brother at the beginning, I’ve been actively involved more often than he has been in the meantime. 😛 And I infected Junior with the EBR virus,. So you might say the EBR is some kind of a family tradition.
So what could be more logic than participating in the 25th Erzberg Rodeo? After all we are quite married in the meantime.
Actually, I was reasonable and have declared my resignation in good time (2 years ago), but this, it must be – once – again. 😉 A little masochism resonates there probably too, or vapidnes, or winter depression, or….. but actually no matter why, I have registered as rider again!
EBR Logo
So now it’s time for training ! Eh well, since the Christmas festivities are just around the corner, not so bad at all for loosing weight . 😉
Americans! More precisely: US Americans! Why dear God, why?! That was my first thought when I was sitting in the compartment and got surprised by the three young Interrail backpackers. You might think, Why is she so negatively surprised? OK,
First: I did make some experiences in the past
Second: Everything was so nicely planned: An EICMA visit in November. Everyone will fly, and I will travel comfortably and solo in a couchette, or sleeping car. Basically a brilliant thought would be said by God, but did you also expect Interrail? And, like my old friend Don Camillo, I would have to agree. Apropos Don Camillo: The Eicma takes place in Milan annually and is located in the Po plain, the Italian landscape that Guareschi had chosen for his stories.
And 3 (read on) ;-): But back to these Interrail Teenagers. Not that they’re not nice, or that they smell. But I was so excited when I left the train station and entered the empty compartment. Yeeesss…
After all, I already have the seat at the window and thus control over the power socket, but still: Americans? The young people are obviously starving, because they order the – not exactly cheap – menu straight  through. Since my wild travel times a lot has changed as it seems.  I’ve always been shopping in the supermarket, only to enter the tent, or the train wagon, with supplies for the night and the next day. But Daddy’s credit card makes travelling more comfortable. A couchette car compartment is not the cheapest way to spend the night. No matter,  enough bitched, we talk briefly, then I continue reading. The book: “In the net” with my favourite cook/detective/editor Mira Valensky, by Eva Rossmann. I love the earthy, Austrian way of writing in the book series. The characters are lovingly worked out, the en passant submerged recipes are an inspiration, and the cases are always tricky.
Somehow I like criminal stories, spiced with food, it seems I have something in common with my dear Svenja. I soon faded out the Teens and read for the next hours until it’s time to fold down the beds and go to sleep. Still brushing my teeth quickly and evening toilet, and up into the sky (I’ve wisely reserved the uppermost bed for myself, getting out in a full compartment is annoying and the suitcase compartment, above the door, is pleasantly within reach.
But it seems that the three of them are just getting started: Skype calls with the states are being made. Worried parents are reassured to see their children helplessly at the mercy of the hordes of terrorists and criminals in good old Europe because of the rigid weapons laws. There are lively discussions about the new priest (Chaplan) in the community. Really? In between, a radio commercial for a company is recorded for Thanks Giving. Meanwhile I know the text by heart, because the speaker always gets muddled with the word “perseverance” and repeats the text about 50 times, until it is recorded in her smartphone and starts electronic the journey to the US. And then they say prayers together! It is 11:30pm and they want to get off in Padova (planned arrival 5:00am), and have breakfast before? Hello? I just turn off the central light from above. A while murmuring and smartphone flickering goes further on and then it really gets quiet, or I fall asleep?.
That ends this short day and the next one starts at 4:40, when I get woken up by the knocking of the crew at the door to get rid of the wake-up call and the three breakfast tablets. Unfortunately, down under is dead silence, so after a while I open the door from above and let the crew meber in. Now she stands in the corridor and says in a muffled voice: “Padova? But even repeating it several times does not trigger any reaction. I point out to her that the breakfast belongs to the three lower beds and turn myself back into the ceiling. Shortly afterwards, down under really comes to life in the compartment, backpacks are packed and transported to the corridor. As the train stops in between, panic breaks out and one of the coffee cups flies through the compartment and distributes its full contents over the benches and floor.
With a paper napkin they  briefly tried to minimize the damage, but then jump up quickly and with a nice good bye they aim at the exit of the wagon.
Yes, go with God, but go! I hope you’ll catch up on your morning prayers at the platform and visit a priest to have at least 100 Hail Marys given to you at confession. 😉
I climb out of bed, get dressed and start to clean the floor and the benches as much as possible of the coffee with paper towels from the train toilet. The last thing I need now is the smell of cold coffee in the morning, or a cleaning crew sweeping through the compartment. After the worst has been cleaned up, I climb back to sleep. Sidenote: the train is still in the station since 30min (Splitting of the train to Rome and to Milan). I have to get out of bed at 7:45, the train arrives in Milan at 9:12, so no morning stress, because I hate that.
Punctually at 7:40 I am awake, collect the 3 breakfasts together and prepare a small breakfast menu feeling in the compartment. The 3 obviously didn’t even try to pack anything, so everything stays with me. I know a mouse that would certainly not have been too angry about it. It’s too much for me, tea is just coming. So I pack a part for the day and the rest I enjoy greatly. Today I will surely need nothing to eat until in the evening. The train goes past Lake Garda and one station on the way is Brescia, a place just 80km northerly from the Don Camillo town of Brescello.
Moderately rested, but fully saturated, I arrive almost on time in Milano and start my search for the metro. I found it, bought a day ticket and took the M2 and M1 to the fair. At the exit point, a crowd of inspectors is already waiting for us, well aware that the core zone of Milan has come to an end two stations before and that an extra ticket would have been necessary for the last station. The fine of 36,- € due for this will certainly ensure the redevelopment of the Milan Transport Services (ATM) on trade fair days only. I recognize the situation very quickly and choose the inspector with caution and, I am lucky in misfortune, I get away with a friendly warning. 😉 Milan, 09:45, the hairstyle sits…. With the knowledge that many years of wandering around in the Viennese public transport were not in vain, and a broad grin on my face, I continue to the exit. Where the grin freezes immediately, because in front of me there is a queue of surely a thousand visitors, who are prevented from making progress by 5 – age-weak – luggage control apparatus and X-ray controls. Austria you happy country, where a fair is not a potential assassination area (probably not here either, but what could be done for the good mood of the visitors?) MINUTES later I stand behind such a lock and discuss with the operator of such a device  whether I have a Swiss knife in my luggage or not. He expects me to hand this over, and I really have no idea where that could be in my backpack, if there is one at all? (I didn’t find it at home either, so either a false alarm, or the false backpack – since they roll through the scanner almost simultaneously, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all).
For unpacking the overfilled rucksack there is an area of approx. 30x30cm available, I start to spread my dirty underwear and female toilet items, because this always helps in southern countries. As expected, the operator hurry to wave me away……..
Finally, I think to myself, finally the fair! Yeeessss! 🙂
But shite, the access from the metro side is definitely the wrong one. The relevant part of the exhibition is at the other end of the huge exhibition area and so I march in dawdling groups another 400-500m further until I finally, finally! get to the reception, which guards Hall 22 and 24. I pick up my free admission ticket, deposit my superfluous clothes and luggage (incl. virtual pocket knife) at the cloakroom and enter the huge halls dressed in a WRWR T-shirt and armed with a selfistick, smartphones, powerpacks, cables and stickers.
Now the game commences, because that is why I am here: WRWR (Women Riders World Relay) and to interest the italian Moto Amica’s for the event taking place in 2019. I also have stickers and a WRWR Protoyp T-Shirt with me, if one of the italian FB members. Therefore I regularly post photos and texts about my coordinates in the FB event discussion. Catch me, if you can…
That’s pretty exhausting. To find striking points, to post them on FB, to draw close circles around them for a while, to post a new point foresightedly and to repeat the game there and distribute stickers in between.
In this way I move through hall 22, look at the stand of Benelli (Leoncino!), Alpinestars, SWM , ……………..
In between I briefly meet Elsbeth, our WIMA friend from Switzerland, who used her participation in the olive harvest in Tuscany to give me some encouragement today. We take some photos together, and, although she is the first one to find me, for reasons of fairness (she had insider knowledge! ) no T-shirt will be given out and we forget about the stickers because of all the stupid stuff, of course…
We split up again, my pace is so slowly with the stop and go game, and arrange a meeting for lunch.
It is then almost 13:00, when I can finally have a winner! The T-shirt is rewarded to Emily, who is the lucky winner, she caught me at the Beta booth, we’re both happy. Me, because I don’t have to carry it around anymore, she, because it fits well and the visit of the Eicma is twice as great! We do a photo shoot together, then we  separate our ways. 🙂
I meet afterwards, as agreed with Elsbeth, not without photographing the most prominent points on the way in advance, after all there is KTM and the new Adventure 790 is a must stop.
Since I had a good breakfast, I only need a small lunch and a short stop at the toilet, then I continue through the halls and I continue to distribute stickers to Italians, to test the motorcycles and to post my location. Finally, arrived at the KTM booth, the Adventure is besieged from all sides. I’m also lining up, but somehow it might be unimaginable for the male Italian Amici that I really want to ride this bike as well. I am passed over from left, right and opposite several times, so I take the initiative, beat a macho and show with a courageous kick on the footrest that climbing on such a high bike, in contrast to what I saw before, can also look elegant. I toil myself sitting and standing!! (none of them did it!) on the machine before I leave it again just as elegantly. Well, gentlemen once you’ve learned something it isn’t forgotten. See you at Erzberg! Gngngn…
Due to the long wait for the seat/stand I had enough time to have a good look at the machine. A lot of plastic, which isn’t immediately a minus on fairing parts (especially on an Adventure machine, which is actually ridden that way), but what about the plastic tank reaching almost to the ground, which protrudes to the left and right of the skid plate, like a bump from the side of the motorcycle? Low center of gravity, so, so… but how can the tank really survive rough terrain or falls, not to mention to be repaired in the steppes? And, if I want lateral dents on the motorcycle, I buy something else. I have to hope for a 390 Adventure or buy something completely different. The competition doesn’t sleep either, starting with SWM, there were a lot of other motorcycles that also have the Adventure character, but this one is an Austrian bike …
So the search will go on.
And of course my round, and the scavenger hunt, continues through the exhibition halls from stand to stand and also very briefly at the outdoor area. At about 17:00 I finally post my last location, then I leave the fair and, walk back to the M1. I buy an outer zone ticket (1,60) and drive back to the center (Duomo). There I take a look at the beautifully lit cathedral and stroll through the old town towards Milano Centrale.
On the way I get hungry again and since I still have bread rolls from the morning, I buy a few gramms prosciutto crudo in a supermarket on the way, very delicately cut, as it should be.
As soon as I’m out of the supermarket Junior rings me up with tips for a Pizzeria Ristorante near the central station, where he ate wonderful pizzas with his class.
So, now I have to decide? Roll and prosciutto, or pizza? I solve it somewhat elegantly when I meet two Barbones I leave them my mangiare, and make them and me happy with it, because the pizza is really fantastic!
I arrive at the station in time to get on the wagon comfortably and visit my compartment before the return journey begins.
This time the tactic works out. I am and I stay alone in the sleeping car compartment. The day was exhausting and long. So I fall asleep relatively fast and wake up again with the wake-up call at 7:30 am. Until 9:00 the journey still lasts. So I can admire the old Semmering route and the Rax in the most beautiful sunlight before the train enters the classic fog wall in front of the Wr. Neustädter bassin and does not leave it until Vienna.
Conclusion: If Eicma again, certainly not with sticker, but gladly only with train (up to the fairground).
Oh, là là ! What was that? Somehow I still tumble from one curve to the next. Doesn’t that stop at all? With that I could finish the story about the participation in the French Wimas National Rally. Everything is said. Everything?
No, just like a Gallic resistance dwelling (but that’s another story) the Wima Frankeich rose from its remains and set a strong signal for a new beginning. Their invitation went to all countries and of course who was there? Me! 😉
Can I speak French? non
Have I been there before? non
Do I have maps of southern or western France? non
French Franc? non,
but thanks to Euro I don’t need it anymore 😛 , finally a Qui! We are going!
Col de I Iseran
So the decision process came about, a “little” curiosity was of course also there.
The first part of the journey was for time reasons with the transporter in which our motorcycles were stowed, but starting from the Swiss border we were on our two wheels on the way and stagger since then on endless mountain routes over one mountain pass after the other. We decided to take 4 days to complete the journey to Embrun. That’s why we can now take full advantage of the route. Klausenpass, Furka, Gr. St. Bernhard, Kl. St. Bernhard, Col de Iseran, Breakdown 😉 , Col de Telegraphe, Col de Galibier, Col de Izoard, Col de Vars, Val de Ubaye, L’Adroit de Pontis, Embrun,
We arrive there in the late afternoon and are already received by the other participants. The rooms are quickly distributed and we explore the hostel and the surrounding area. The dinner is classic French and tastes delicious. The atmosphere is very good and we are looking forward to tomorrow’s program. The day was long and so we soon crawl into our bed. The next day a good breakfast and the spirits are back. The route is similar to the day before, but in the opposite direction. Therefore I decide to choose the “direct” route (la voie directe) and shorten it over the Col du Parpaillon. The Col has a difficulty level of 3-4 and I have road tyres and a Kawasaki Versys at my disposal? But one point I can count as a plus, my Hardenduro practice. It will probably take some time, because there will be no fast riding on the 35km gravel road, I leave the suitcases on the bike, so that it doesn’t rest completely on the ground in case of a fall, I don’t want to lift 220kg from the ground, I take enough clothes, food and drink with me and I deactivate the ABS on the Versys (pull the fuse 😉 )
The first section, the approach to the gravel passage, is wonderful, the villages are getting smaller and smaller and the mountains in front of us are getting higher and higher. And suddenly there is the gravel road. While driving the first 200m I feel sorry for the Versys and wonder if the idea was really good? It’s not a gravel road, it’s already a marked wild track. I could still turn around quickly and take up the ride around the mountain range? I would also be so sure to reach the meeting point in time….. But then the ambition and the curiosity about what’s to come wins, it’s clearly only the beginning, there’s sure to be something more to come. I just want to know now, basta. And of course there is still something to come. Of course the “way” doesn’t get any better, on the contrary, but with time the Versys get used to the unfamiliar terrain and I get calmer and more relaxed again.
And so we crawl comfortably (average 10-20km) and evenly up the mountain. The prologue experience clearly helps here, the foresightedly driven line saves many surprises and there are many of them along the way. It takes about 45 minutes which I drive up the mountain standing on the footpegs, before the tunnel hole below the ridge appears. Besides me there are two Swiss with two CRF 250L and worthy stubble tires on site. Their looks show a little wonder as the Versys steamboat appears. When I take the helmet off to – maybe 😉 – put a Wima sticker on the mountain pass sign, they are finally amazed. I smile silently inside my helmet and start with the passage through the tunnel. The reports on the internet about the passage are all very poor. This is a nature tunnel with alternating dry sections and then again water passages, to the finale also still with loam mud at the “ground”. Now it’s simply a matter of riding evenly and with momentum. Getting stuck or slipping away wouldn’t be any fun here. The sun shines from the other side into the tunnel and is a pleasant contrast to the blackness of the 500m long tunnel. And so after a few minutes I stand on the other side of the tunnel and have a breathtaking mountain panorama in front of me.
The sun is very intense here at 2600m and it is unusually warm. Actually a good base to take a short break before the announced, even worser downhill route and taste a little of the packed lunch I brought with me? Very bad idea Versya, very bad. When I open the suitcase my “food” runs towards me. Briefly summarized: It looks as if it had thrown up. I quickly close the suitcase again and try to forget what I have just seen and smelled. So I have to be content with the water from my camelback. Note to me: Store food vibration-protected safely! In the meantime also some Swiss riders with Honda Dominators have arrived and I ask them to take a picture of me. Finally I would like to have a proof that I really was here.
After a short rest I start the downhill run and I am glad that I have switched off the ABS. Here I would just rattle over the next crest, but so the rear tires always find enough grip to keep the track with engine brake and fine rear brake.  Until, yes, until I, being careless, look around for a moment and not concentrated, choose the wrong lane which leads me too close to the edge of the curve. There lies very loose rubble and for all evil I reach briefly into the front brake, in order not to drive over the hilltop. It happens very fast, the front wheel slips away and the Versys tilts inwards. At 220kg there is only one thing left to get away from the bike ;-). I roll a bit over stones and dust to get up and have a look at the situation. The Versys lies with the wheels uphill in the curve inclination, thanks to the suitcase – as planned – at least not completely unfavorable. With my Hardenduro I would turn it first on the ground, so that the setting up is easier, but I do not want to pull the Versys over this stone floor, if it is not absolutely necessary. Now, take a deep breath, look for a good hold on the ground and on the Versys, and get the machine back on its feet. With my first jerk I manage to bring it up to my thigh and support it in this way. Unfortunately, the shoes slowly slip away on this ground. I feverishly look for a new support with my second leg, find it and with a second jerk I bring the machine so high that the weight is taken up by the wheels, so that I can finally bring it into a vertical position. Phhhhhhuhuuuuuuu, the blood rushes in the ears, the lungs gasp, but the Versys is standing. Once again it proved to be a good idea to use the adrenalin rush for action immediately after a fall. 😉 I was looking for a place to drive out the stand and take a deep breath. Damage assessment: The left suitcase looks badly scratched and a few stickers are offended, the handguard also, otherwise nothing happened to the Versys. Perfect! How does it look with me, briefly one check: Garment? Ok. Helmet? Ok. Camera? Running! Ah, I got it on video! Yesss! 🙂 On the left palm of my hand a first bruise, I must have had fallen onto a stone. So I climb up again and simply drive on. now of course more careful again! Too bad, because the area is still worth seeing. Further down I meet Enduro riders again. But too late, gentlemen, too late. Actually well so, nobody has seen my mishap. nobody will ever know, hrhrhr.
With a nasty grin on my face I drive downhill again more quickly, the road slowly gets better and then suddenly changes into a quite well constructed gravel road. Actually this side is a lot nastier, because coming from here the wide gravel road pretends that there is nothing (worse) coming. 😉 Now I’m racing downhill again and after another 10 km I reach asphalted paths again. It was nice and due to the short break at the mountain there is still so much time left. So I study the maps and find a pass that we didn’t make yesterday due to lack of time. The Col de Bonette. It is the highest alpine pass of France with approx. 2800m and has another special feature. Its summit is completely surrounded by the pass road (the last part was blown out some time ago and thus the one-way around the summit was created. I rush up the mountain and then immediately down again, because it is now time to drive to the meeting at the Col de Larche, but as I know the route from the day before, I am ther almost punctually. The picnic (which I get shared sisterly by others) at the pass is wonderful, the weather is simply unimaginable! again a Wima miracle, it’s the end of September and we sit here on over 2300m and it is pleasantly warm.
I disposed the contents of my suitcase at the parking lot and washed out the suitcase with a bottle of mineral water, I’m just afraid I can’t get rid of the smell anymore….
Wima France Meets
Of course there is still another group photo with our almost 50 head group and then we start again in small groups back over the Col de Vars and Guillestre home. There is again a wonderful evening event.
But today we keep it rather short, too, as tomorrow we return north towards Albertville, and the next days (now with cool weather) further to Chamonix, Martigny, Gstaat. On the way there are again many passes and cool routes like: Saint de Appollinaire, Col de Parquetout, Col du Glandon, Col de Fer, Col de la Madeleine Col de la Croix, Sustenpass, Pragelpass, and some in between, which I have already forgotten again….
Once more we meet a Wima France group and spend the lunch break together, then the way separates finally. In Glarus the search for a Schoggi shop begins, because finally we have to bring a compensation for the last 10 days for those who stayed at home and of course we do find it 😉
Hello, will many readers be thinking now? Gentlemen? Versya is everything, but not a gentleman? Yes, unfortunately I must agree with you, but can I really resist the temptation of a ride through Vienna, surrounded by flashing vintage motorcycles (new and oldtimers)?
Who does know me, knows the answer: No!
And why shouldn’t I also think of my father, or brother, or my sons, true to the slogan of the DGR? Exactly! 🙂 So, the alibi stands. What do I wear? OMG, what wears a distinguished gentleman?
I study old photos of the DGR and make a decision. No jacket, no Bowler, but I do thunder up. Leave my trousers at home this time and get on my motorbike in a skirt or dress.
A bit sniffed in the fifties movies, then Amazon boarded and voila, the wardrobe is already standing. Hopefully the fumble arrives in time! :-0 In the meantime 2 weeks have passed, I have donated diligently, because in return for many participants my participant account does not have a round 0. #Proudofmyself
I am therefore entitled to ride with a clear conscience, and not only for fun in the DGR, and I also get a day in advance (a little bit scarce, dear organizers!) the dates for place and time of the first meeting point. The motorcycle is washed – hmm the washing utensils are really so far down? And extensively polished, because the weather forecast promises cool/warm weather and sun.
Apparently once again the weather god of my Moto passion is friendly! 🙂 Then it’s my own outfit’s turn. That goes at least a little faster, because the clock is ticking, and too late would be a first (not gentlemen like) faux pas. Arrived in time on the spot, I’ll be moved to the first row together with the other girls. This year the ladies drive up front, yeaaahh (ops – Hurray) . There is still a short speech and then the impressively large (the organizers speak of approx. 800 participants) convoy with police escort pulls first the Wiental city outward and after the Gürtel turns back again across the city up to the Danube island.
Many astonished faces at the roadside. A good mood in the convoy. Heart (or better: prostate) what do you want more ? 😉 Maybe, a video? 😉 Â
Take care with the screw that it does not fall into the tub in the final unscrewing (which should go quickly – because: hot and greasy) and is drowned under the oil. Otherwise: Have fun searching!
Normally the filter should not sit too tight and go off.
In the finale set up the motorcycle as straight as possible and check the oil level in the oil sight glass.
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