F800 Updates

I took the BMW over to South London Motorrad yesterday for a set of factory mandated checks and updates. These involved re-routing the ABS connections, checking various fasteners on the brakes, replacing the fuel pressure sensor and a software update.

Not unnaturally, I have not noticed any difference as the bike was running fine beforehand anyway. What I did notice was just how different the 650 GS loan bike I used felt (I had to leave my bike there for most of the day, and I needed transport). It seemed very low in the seat, rather underpowered, or at least lacking in the torque department and contrary to my expectations, the steering seemed very slow and the bike reluctant to tip in at corners. I didn`t check the tyres closely but they were road tyres, not TKC`s like mine - how much and what kind of difference this makes, I don`t know. I do know that I vastly preferred my own bike to the 650. Perhaps this had more to do with familiarity than anything else but the difference surprised me, I had thought the two bikes would feel much the same.

The weather was absolutely dreary and in the morning, cold with it. The heated hand grips are great but particularly my thumbs get cold even with them on. I guess it`s time to don winter wear.

Still No Joy From Tomtom

I have had a couple of emails from TomTom in response to my moaning, with a promise to do something - so far that represents absolutely nothing. I am getting very cross with them. After all, they have been sitting on my money, surely it`s easy enough to let me have the maps?

TomTom Woes

If you are thinking of getting a Tomtom GPS unit, my strong advice is not to bother. They are inherently less capable than Garmin units, notably in their inability to be programmed via a PC for routes etc. and Tomtom`s convoluted update process using the most awful piece of software this side of PC hell (Tomtom Home) is enough to cause you to lose the will to live.

Being at some stage naive, I bought two of these bloody units - a Tomtom Rider for the bike and a Tomtom Go 910 for the car. I no longer use the Rider, having switched to a Garmin on the bike but I still use the Go 910 in the car. As it is now a couple of years old, I decided to buy a new map for the 910. It turns out that I can pay for the map over the web that`s nice.. but I can only download it through the Tomtom Home program and then only if it recognises me. Well it kind of recognises me but only as owning a Rider unit so it won`t let me download the map I paid for using an email address that is associated with the Rider unit.

I spent an age trying to find out how to email Tomtom support but they are one of these companies that deliberately set out to make it hard to email them unless you have been through every bit of irrelevant useless "online" advice that they have hidden under various icons more suited to TeleTubbies than thinking adults before finally emerging on the other side a gibbering idiot.

I have managed to use their contact form which was finally revealed to me after a sort of D&D quiz, to ask for help. An automated reply tells me to expect a response in 2 business days. Well, I understand they have more important stuff to deal with but I am naturally concerned about the £60 I just spent with nothing to show for it.

I`ll keep you posted!

New Tyres and a Plan

When lubing my chain after my trip to Wales on the GS, I noticed that my rear tyre - a TKC80 was split between a couple of tread blocks. It wasn`t catastrophic looking and it had brought me back from Wales in one piece, but not wishing to tempt fate, I had the tyre replaced this morning at South London Motorrad. I must remember to measure the tread block before using the tyre. My last one seemed to wear down quickly, particularly in the centre section but as I hadn`t measured the blocks when new, I had no way of actually measuring the wear.

Now to the plan - I am aiming to go to northern India and the Himalayas next year! SWMBO has kind of given me her blessing...

The trip will be aboard Royal Enfields - the best bike to have in India if you need repairs apparently. Best of all, buddies from my Patagonian adventure are also planning to come - should be a great trip.