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Upt'North ¹ said :-
If we head for the tunnel of excitement Ed there will be a stop. The last time we rode North from France to Wooler we stopped in Cambridgeshire....Elton I think. When we went from Portsmouth we stopped in Leicestershire on the way down. My brothers is an option in Derbyshire. But it's family innit!
We have ridden from Staffordshire to Northern France in a day, it's doable but a bit of a jaunt for two ageing two wheelers.
Changing the headlight bulbs in the STrom today, blummin nightmare. Decided it's better done in the garage than at the side of the road somewhere. Long life Bosch replacements going in. Now where does that screw go?
Upt and looking despairingly at a lot of bits of Suzuki.
04/06/2026 13:24:18 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
The good news is the lights work and all back together. One broken/lost plastic fastener. I'll take it.
Pffffffftttttt. Upt.
04/06/2026 16:22:02 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
So much plastic!
04/06/2026 16:23:40 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I know many cars are the same but roadside changes are sometimes a thing of the good'ol days. Although the lights were yellow and didn't actually illuminate anything. I seem to remember Cibie did a replacement unit in't day.
I've got no experience of the Bosch replacements so fingers crossed.
04/06/2026 16:27:30 UTC
nab301 said :-
My DL 250 single headlight is considerably easier than that but the worst bike of all is my CB125F , front and rear bulb require some fiddly stripping .
I sure you'll be fine now with long life bulbs ,(was it the older model that had stator failure issues ?) they really do make a difference on cars and more so commercial vehicles. I've always found H4 bulbs were fine but the likes of H7 / H9 needed regular replacement.
Nigel
04/06/2026 18:26:51 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
The H4's on the Pan would normally fail on a long trip, at least one dipped beam, maybe two. The manual adjuster was a godsend to lower the beam so I could use the mains. Folks said there was something up with the wiring/alternator etc but I checked it all out and found nowt. On switching to Osram Longlife jobbies it was cured.
Upt.
04/06/2026 21:11:10 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I was thinking "eeee wen i wur a lad it wur ded eezy". But then I recall the headlamp in a bowl things from back in the day (ie bates style).
First off you'd be fighting the (probably JIS) crosshead screws that would always be corroded and have mangled heads. Once you'd removed them with pliers and a hammer the headlight wouldn't just come out the bowl, it'd pop out under the immense pressure of 47 miles of wiring and 224 block connectors stuffed in there. If you were lucky the three wires connected to the H4 would prevent the headlamp crashing and smashing on the floor. Changing the bulb at this point was a doddle. However getting the 47 miles of wiring and 224 block connectors stuffed back into the tiny bowl was another thing entirely. Once you did this you'd search the nuts and bolts drawer but end up replacing the mangled screws back into the bowl-cum-headlight. Ignition on - now your dip beam no longer works, when you indicate left your brake light flashes and right - the starter motor clicks, and there's a smell of burning plastic from the wire you've trapped between the bowl and the headlamp.
Yeah, the good old day's weren't quite as good as we seem to think they were.
04/06/2026 22:17:50 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
The good old days may not be as good as we seem to think they were, but an average home mechanic could sort these problems out without worrying about confusing the can bus system or frying the ECU.
05/06/2026 10:33:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Rod, my point above.
Who will have the knowledge to fix these things?
Mechanics change parts these days, or entire assemblies, paints shops are only interested in Insurance work.
05/06/2026 11:04:15 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
We had a little chat about travel insurance and cover for motorcycling a while ago. For various reasons I'm considering using the shuttle for a short trip to France in the autumn (not on the bike). I was surprised to find that they offer short trip insurance, and for us for a couple of weeks this would be only £35. There aren't any health restrictions and they're happy to cover people up to age 85 - both of which usually costs a fortune even if available.
More germane to the previous conversation, there is no mention of motorcycles in the policy document so one can only assume there is no restriction. Unless I'm missing something. Which I often am.......
You have to go through the booking process to get the price, but obviously not actually paying yet!
https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/travelling-with-us/before-you-go/insurance/polic...
19/06/2026 13:54:00 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
That's interesting Ian, it would be good to see the actual policy document rather than the dashboard page though. If you take it out and get to see one please post it for a perusal. I haven't taken a yearly policy out yet because any trip abroad, if it happens will be in August or later.
It's only the health cover that I'm actually that interested in, the rest is just handy I spose as a just in case.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
19/06/2026 18:50:03 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've downloaded the policy documets and T&Cs and can see no mention of motorcycles in either. There is a list of sports and activities which are excluded although motorcycling is again not mentioned. Of course it's only if you make a claim that you'd find out...
I've put a copy of them on a web page. First link below.
https://www.iansoady.org.uk/pdf_documents/shuttle%20travel%20insurance%20T%26C.p...
20/06/2026 10:07:59 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Second link:
https://www.iansoady.org.uk/pdf_documents/Eurotunnel-Travel-Insurance-IPID-May-2...
20/06/2026 10:08:25 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
This the AI answer....
Personal Travel Insurance HighlightsThe core travel policy provides comprehensive protection for the rider and pillion:Medical Emergency: Up to £10,000,000 per person, which includes hospital stays, ambulance costs, and emergency repatriation.Cancellation & Curtailment: Up to £5,000 per person for unused and non-recoverable costs if you must cancel or cut short your trip.Baggage & Personal Items: Up to £2,500 per person (with sub-limits of £350 for a single article and £500 for total valuables).COVID-19: The policy includes specific coverage for coronavirus-related claims.Motorbike Cover DetailsWhen selecting the combined Motor Breakdown Cover, specific details and vehicle protections apply:Roadside Assistance & Recovery: RAC provides roadside repairs or recovery of your motorcycle to a local garage in Europe.Repatriation: If the motorbike cannot be repaired in time for your return, the policy covers the transport of the vehicle and passengers back to the UK.Legal & Licence Requirements: To be fully covered, you must hold the correct, valid driving licence for your engine size, wear an appropriate helmet, and ensure the bike is in a legal and roadworthy condition.Full details regarding the policy’s geographic limits, excess fees, and claims numbers are available via the Eurotunnel
20/06/2026 13:12:41 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
As far as vehicle cover is concerned, I rely on Britannia for which the policy covers me (and wife) in any vehicle whether driven by us or not, throughout UK and EU. I've used it a couple of times for bikes in the UK and they've been great, sending out a proper bike transport vehicle (except once when a dirty great low loader arrived which was a bit of overkill for the B'Zuki).....
20/06/2026 14:20:20 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I am reading this with interest, the whole insurance thing sets me on edge with the ducking and diving, dodging and weaving. So far it seems a good policy Ian and while £35 isn't "cheap" for 2 weeks I'd say it's manageable.
One of my occasional friends is 82 and just been informed by his motorcycle insurance that they will not be offering to renew his policy when it expires. He's not made a claim this century, just got older. Yikes!!
21/06/2026 06:05:22 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I agree it's not cheap but when I compare it with £500 and upwards for an annual policy (quotes via comparison sites) it looks like a bargain.
I'd never previously considered the shuttle but have been treated very shabbily by Brittany ferries. Briefly, I originally booked a crossing for last year but knew we'd probably have to defer due to various health issues so chose a flexi ticket. Defer we did a couple of times but when I tried to do that again a couple of weeks ago I was told I couldn't. The small print said there was a 12 month limit for rescheduling. All I could get was a 50% refund.
Had I known this I would have amended the booking earlier to remove expensive options like cabin etc so the hit would have been much less than the £300 or so we actually lost. So I've gone from a Brittany enthusiast to a wouldn't touch them with a bargepole sceptic. I still remember when I boycotted them for some years after they banned motorcycles over a certain age. Ostensibly because they were ridden by hell's angels......
The shuttle actually may make a lot of sense but we'll see. Haven't booked anything yet.
21/06/2026 10:01:30 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Yes, I heard from a motorcyclist a few days ago. He ran various Suzuki hyabusas from 2002 and was refused renewal on this bike just under two years ago at the age of 81.
He sold the bike and got a 400cc scooter, but it did not go well. He missed the riding experience of the big bike, and has given up biking. He still really misses the bike.
I have been wondering about this scenario as I am also reasonably healthy, getting old,(am old)and love larger capacity bikes.
If I was to move to Spain I believe that the bike is insured, not the rider. Could I still ride at over 80 in Spain, or is there an age restriction like vans insured for any driver in this country, eg over 25?
21/06/2026 10:06:03 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ian, if you haven't used the tunnel before don't worry about it. In my experience it is way easier than ferry travel, even with a butler. If I still lived in the midlands it would be my default option.
The only reason we've used the Amsterdam ferry is we literally have to ride the length of England to reach Ashford, whereas it's 50 miles to North Shields. But obviously you pay for the privilege, but it's only money.....sorry Ed. Plus, you have to plan well ahead which can be tedious.
Regarding getting old, no I'm not quite there yet, but from speaking to friends, relatives, neighbours etc if you haven't done it by 80 you might as well not bother as travel and transport just becomes too difficult because of the dreaded insurance premiums. Some neighbours have had to change fairly mundane vehicles to even more mundane types to get cover. Getting old ain't for cissies.
Upt.
21/06/2026 13:03:00 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
With regard to Rod's friend, I think if he's missing a bike he could do worse than look for a smaller lighter machine. Possibly dare I say like my Herald? Very cheap, weighs only 130kg (it is far far easier to move around the shed than the "lightweight" Norton Electra) and insurance should be available. My broker has even added it to my classic policy! I've been pleasnatly surprised by its quality and have just bought a Gold Star type silencer on ebay which hopefully will give it a deeper exhaust note as the one fitted is a bit high-pitched. Or maybe just louder..... As Ren will testify, small bikes can be just as much fun. I'd rather ride a Honda 50 than get the bus (even with the bus pass).
Re the tunnel: the main things I've held against it are the dreadful M25 car park to get there - although I confess I haven't been that way for a long time - and the fact it disgorges in the Pas de Calais which is not my favourite part of France. Although have been looking at the Alabaster Coast and in particular Dieppe which is a place we've never been to as a potential for our next trip.
My torn meniscus seems to have miraculously improved over the last 2 or 3 days although not nearly back to full functionality and I'm now feeling much more positive after resigning myself to a long slow recovery. Is that a light at the end of the tunnel? Don't be daft....
21/06/2026 14:08:39 UTC
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