Suzuki 1050 V-Strom GT
The cover photo is from when I went to Rhayader in mid Wales camping hence the excess luggage, needed to take everything to allow for any weather condition Wales could throw at me. And I used it all.
Another Thunder Road purchase, I part-ex’d my Triumph Tiger Sport for this one and a couple of days later set off on holiday to Rhayader. I got to the site and pitched my little tent, a nice 2 man with a blackout lining that I had used in France last year, unfortunately I had packed it away wet and the lining wasn’t so blackout anymore, or, as I was to find out later, waterproof.
Anyway, I just got settled when my camping neighbour arrived back, on his bright yellow Suzuki 1050 V-Strom(not the GT version though). We got chatting and went out for a couple of rides together later in the week and shared a couple of beers in the evening.
It was on this holiday that I discovered Biscof ice cream in a wonderful little ice cream shop in Aberdovey. Yum yum, I’ve never tasted anything nicer in my life. I must go back there one day.
The bike itself is a nice comfortable bike, that has proven great for touring equipped with cruise control and nice torquey engine. The GT comes as standard with aluminium panniers and top box. Quite a poor digital display given what it could have been, just a monochrome LCD display but I suppose it does show what you need so why complain eh!
I covered a lot of miles traveled to France 3 times, did quite a lot of trips for work and John passed away so needed to travel to Leyland a couple of times too.
The long and short of it is, I was getting close to exceeding my allowed mileage for the PCP plan, so off to Thunder Road again, I put down a deposit on my next bike, a Honda XL750 Transalp. We agreed a part ex figure and also got them to agreeing extra mileage so I could go on another holiday trip to…you guessed it…France.
So I would go there for a fortnight and then collect the new Transalp when I returned.