The adventure begins!

[blue_monkey]

Hi guys apologies if this a bit off topic, but this an adventure forum after all.

I’ve always thought that any bike has the potential to be an ‘adventure bike’. Whatever you have can be adapted for adventures. I’m not a fan of big 200+ kg adv bikes so my plan was to adapt the Husky 801 for that purpose…

Well today is the day. I left home at 4am for the long drive to the Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) and by 11AM i was in France for my first big solo trip on my 801. I’m going to be doing over 1000 miles through France and Spain, ultimately finishing with a tour of the spectacular Picos de Europa in Northern Spain. I plan to post pics here during my trip, so let me know what you think and any recommendations will be gladly accepted.


The bottom pic is my luggage. I was really concerned that the exhaust might melt it but so far so good… I’m just using reflective sheet to keep it cool.

 

[Tom]

Have a great trip and enjoy your ride! and yes, please show pics!
BTW, I like how you've attached the bags to the tail tidy...

 

[blue_monkey]

Okay Day 4 update:

Predictably the bag started melting on Day 2. The reflective tape wasn’t enough for prolonged highway periods at 130kmph+. This was a problem as it was Sunday and nothing is open in France… i was staying near Rennes, and found a motorcycle accessory shop (Dafy Moto) open the next day and i bought a new bag. So far so good

 

[blue_monkey]

I’m now staying for 2 days on the beautiful l’ile de Ré, near La Rochelle. Would thoroughly recommend a visit. You can tour the whole island in less than a day by bike. Some highlights:

 

[Tom]

OK, now we have a melted turn signal, a melted db-killer and a melted bag...
Who's next?

l’ile de Ré seems to be a very beautiful place!!

 

[Dhd12]

Okay Day 4 update:

Predictably the bag started melting on Day 2. The reflective tape wasn’t enough for prolonged highway periods at 130kmph+. This was a problem as it was Sunday and nothing is open in France… i was staying near Rennes, and found a motorcycle accessory shop (Dafy Moto) open the next day and i bought a new bag. So far so good

View attachment 7301

Sadly it had to happen

 

[blue_monkey]

Update: day 7. Los Picos de Europa. Some of the best riding i have ever experienced. Yesterday i did 100 km of twisty roads through the mountains of Cantabria in Northern Spain. Epic! Awe inspiring.

 

[DKE]

Okay Day 4 update:

Predictably the bag started melting on Day 2. The reflective tape wasn’t enough for prolonged highway periods at 130kmph+. This was a problem as it was Sunday and nothing is open in France… i was staying near Rennes, and found a motorcycle accessory shop (Dafy Moto) open the next day and i bought a new bag. So far so good

What size was those Rhinowalk Side bags...before it got melted?

 

[blue_monkey]

What size was those Rhinowalk Side bags...before it got melted?

14L each side from the advert (28L in total), but I think you could squeeze 20L in each side.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7MPZWDK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[animals21]

Give us more pictures

 

[blue_monkey]

Give us more pictures

 

[blue_monkey]

I would advise not putting on the Rhino panniers until you have made a little bracket to keep the pannier away from the exhaust

 

[blue_monkey]

Well, it is one year later and I’m in the middle of another European adventure on the 801.

This year, I am visiting France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. I am currently five days in. I am in a place called Winterburg in Germany. I’ve had an amazing time. Some of the highlights have been driving through pretty villages in Belgium and staying in a mediaeval town in Luxembourg. Tomorrow I’m heading to the Gosler region and some of the mountain areas of Germany and then I’m gonna head to Berlin and meet some friends for a few days… then finally I’m gonna head home via Antwerp in Belgium and then back to the UK. Here are a few photos from along the way I’ve still got about seven more more days of my trip trip left… hope you enjoy!

 

[blue_monkey]

Proper German food via Turkey! Amazing!!

Also, first time on unrestricted roads in Germany. I can legally test how fast my bike is on the highway. I’m not really a fast rider but today I hit 180 which seems like a lot to me but I wasn’t even close to the limit. I am sure 200+ is more than possible.

Oh… and the price of fuel here in Germany makes me want to cry €2.20 is considered okay! And no filtering in traffic. Seems harsh. Other than that, love Germany and excited to explore more.

 

[blue_monkey]

Day 5: Winterburg to Goslar via Torfhaus national park. Epic riding today and thoroughly enjoyed the twisting forested roads. Weather great. Torfhaus has many bikers gathering there.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Looks like a great trip!

 

[Stevepilen]

Proper German food via Turkey! Amazing!!

Also, first time on unrestricted roads in Germany. I can legally test how fast my bike is on the highway. I’m not really a fast rider but today I hit 180 which seems like a lot to me but I wasn’t even close to the limit. I am sure 200+ is more than possible.

Oh… and the price of fuel here in Germany makes me want to cry €2.20 is considered okay! And no filtering in traffic. Seems harsh. Other than that, love Germany and excited to explore more.

Why no filtering? Whats the point in owning a motorbike?

 

[Stevepilen]

How many kms have you got on the odo now?

 

[nampus]

Why no filtering? Whats the point in owning a motorbike?

It's not allowed in Germany. They're very strict.

 

[Tom]

It's not allowed in Germany. They're very strict.

Yes, they are indeed very strict. It's not even allowed in sweltering heat, when you’re stuck in a highway traffic jam. It’s totally absurd. If it gets too bad, we drive very slowly along the hard shoulder to the next exit. It’s not allowed either, but at that moment, we just don’t give a shit...