SuperFalco: Scotland in a Day!

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Falco Frank · #1 Post by **Falco Frank** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:47 pm

Ok, ok - Scotland and BACK in a day.

Not quite as impressive as it sounds since I'm in N.E. England anyway but 350miles on the Falco is about the limit of what I can take even after all the comfort mods I've made.

I'd booked a Ducati suspension setup day for my Ducati with ERS Racing, who are based at Knockhill. Well, the Duc does not need it really so I figured I'd get Amadeus checked over instead.

I've never rode the A697 up to Coldstream so now was an ideal time to try and what a canny road it is:

First fuelstop at Coldstream itself & I was told of an interesting tea-rooms in the The Hirsel Estate:

http://www.dandaestates.co.uk/

What a smashing find!

I'm still not sure why my SatNav took me through Dunfirmline instead of the M90 to Knockhill but, that was the next stop.

Eddie (The Shop Owner/Guru) not only did a class job sorting the bike suspension but fettled the front brake fault I had too!

I really wanted to ride back via the B709 (2nd longest in the UK!) but it wasnt to 'B' (ouch!)

Plenty of other deserted roads though...

Sadly, most of the A68 was ridden in the dark and my night-time speed isnt what it used to be so it was 10.30pm by the time I got back, 12 hours out the road and loved every minute.

Chabby · #2 Post by **Chabby** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:54 pm

Welcome to my playground .

blinkey501 · #3 Post by **blinkey501** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:17 am

I quite like the run up through Jedburgh.
I went up in the car to collect my futura panels.
Problem is though as soon as you in Scotland it I plagued with speed camera's on that stretch.
Nice roads though, and very scenic.

jonnie_r · #4 Post by **jonnie_r** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:26 am

Lovely roads, but you sir are a pussy

I did Basingstoke to Carnoustie in one hit(493 miles and just about 7 hours I seem to remember), back in February when it was snowing.

Falco Frank · #5 Post by **Falco Frank** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:35 pm

jonnie_r wrote:Lovely roads, but you sir are a pussy

LoL, very True! I am trying to be more 'dog'.

To be fair about the speed cameras, most are in plain view and in reasonable enough places on the main stretch of A697, oddly except where it runs towards the A68 at the very north of its run, where some are hidden and misplaced.

Falco Frank · #6 Post by **Falco Frank** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:26 pm

I did forget to mention that the handling was TRANSFORMED after the setup had been altered for my weight.

Sadly, winding in the rear Ohlins preload adjuster all the way to get sufficient ride height caused something in the hydraulic to 'give' and couldnt be sorted so I might take that off to remove a complication I can work around and probably dont really need.

HisNibbs · #7 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:23 pm

On an Ohlins why not use the ride height adjuster to get ride height?

D-Rider · #8 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:32 am

Falco Frank wrote: Sadly, winding in the rear Ohlins preload adjuster all the way to get sufficient ride height caused something in the hydraulic to 'give' and couldnt be sorted so I might take that off to remove a complication I can work around and probably dont really need.

The preload adjuster is used to set the sag.
The ride height adjustment is done using the ride-height adjuster.
If you try adjusting the ride height with the preload adjuster, you'll just cock it all up.

Falco Frank · #9 Post by **Falco Frank** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:24 pm

Apologies, my bad - never a good idea to type in a hurry.

When I built the shock I didnt dial any static sag into it at all thinking I could do it all with Hydraulic adjuster.

Sadly, the same hydraulic unit locks the adjustment ring into place meaning I'll have to pull the shock out anyway if I want to be able to alter it so I think I'll pull the hydraulic unit off, unless its an easy fix.