Falco to the Outer Hebrides

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The Reverend · #1 Post by **The Reverend** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:16 pm

Hi,

I am taking my Falco over to the Outer Hebrides next week and then doing a bit of touring around the north of Scotland (I ran out of petrol in the far north-west last year so hopefully won't be falling for that one again!). I've never taken her on a ferry before so I was wondering if anyone has any tips?

Andrew

fastasfcuk · #2 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:22 pm

enjoy it mate, just put your gloves under the straps when they strap your bike down, so no scratches appear.

sabestian · #3 Post by **sabestian** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:43 pm

And double check your sidestand (if Euro spec), it can bend if they are overenthusiastic with those straps.
Welcome BTW

morph · #4 Post by **morph** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:50 pm

no tips sorry

just a warm welcome

Samray · #5 Post by **Samray** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:54 pm

Welcome aboard here too Rev.

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:57 pm

Hi Andrew - have a good trip - then tell us all about it.

Cheers

Fausto · #7 Post by **Fausto** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:36 pm

Hi Rev. Have a good trip.

As for the ferry, just keep an eye on them to prevent overtightening of any ratchet type straps. Agree about the gloves (or something else handy) under the straps ( or string in some cases). I leave the bike in gear and if poss chock a wheel to prevent movement. Also try to keep the C of G as low as poss by removing any tankbag and not fuelling up just before getting onboard if this is possible.

Whatever - don't worry over it - I'm sure you'll be fine whatever

Falcoholic · #8 Post by **Falcoholic** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:59 pm

Yeah, ride to Uig on Skye and get the ferry to Tarbert (or Tarbet?). Go Glasgow to Fort William then Skye. You won't be sorry

What everyone else says about lashing the bike down, and use a mini bungee on the front brake lever.

Been on the ferry loads of times with no probs but mind the ramps and car/bike decks can be really greasy when wet cos of the lorries.

Enjoy your trip, wish I was coming along!

Oh and welcome to the board

HowardQ · #9 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:29 pm

Welcome Andrew

Others have covered the tips, so can I just say have a really good trip, wish I was going with you!
Have really good memories of Skye, but never got further north than just above Ullapool, and sorry to say that was by car!

Lets us know how things went, when you get back.

The Reverend · #10 Post by **The Reverend** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:18 pm

Thanks for all the tips. The Outer Hebrides were stunning, fantastic biking weather and hardly anything else on the roads. Probably not the best roads for fast biking (until you get to Harris and Lewis) but worth going for the overall touring experience. The roads on the mainland going to Oban and back from Ullapool are just made for bikes - lots of fast, sweeping bends and the thrills that come from overtaking a long line of traffic stuck behind the obligatory car and caravan.

Unfortunately, I didn't make it on the Falco and had to go by car instead. Grrr! The first time she has let me down, just wouldn't start at all on the Monday morning with the ferry leaving in three hours. Strange thing was, she had been looking fine on the optimate the day before and had even been for her shake down run for petrol, tyres etc. It turns out that it was just the battery giving up completely and now with a new battery in her, she starts again on the button.

Maybe I'll try again next year.....

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:42 pm

Sounds like a good trip - even without the Falco!

There are not many of us that do a practice run by car - but if you do go next year on 2-wheels, at least you'll have a good idea of what to expect.

I keep telling myself that I'll tour Scotland on the Falco (provided that I can gain safe passage through all of the Scottish people on this forum I've upset and are waiting to burn me

).
There again, I also want to take it to Italy and would like to do Southern Spain - oh yes, Ireland as well.

..... And I want to do New Zealand (but clearly not taking my own bike for that one).

Hopefully I'll get round to doing one of these at some point!

The Reverend · #12 Post by **The Reverend** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:16 pm

Well, I can thoroughly recommend New Zealand. I did 10 days in the South Island a couple of years ago....and this time it was on a bike, although admittedly a BMW 1200GS. Great fun.

D-Rider · #13 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:25 pm

The Reverend wrote:Well, I can thoroughly recommend New Zealand. I did 10 days in the South Island a couple of years ago....and this time it was on a bike, although admittedly a BMW 1200GS. Great fun.

Sounds good.
My wife's got relatives over there and a friend who used to work with me lives there too - so this is a possibility at some point.
The hard part will be trying to fit this in - my wife's a teacher so holiday periods are fixed. Don't want to go in their winter - so that severely limits the length of time for such a long journey to a couple of weeks at Christmas or Easter.