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Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
It's a discouraging start to Bogger's Feet Forwards French expedition. Not to worry, soon the 2 old men are sneaking around like naughty school kids.
More Wonders, Weird Food
It's another day filled with fabulous things for Andy. Knights and bends in the road, mountains and flat bits, and a posh hotel with a sunset.
Wonderous Wales And Epilogue
The ride home from The Elan Valley gives our Dynamic Muppets some delightful scenery - which confuses Ren. It's also time to wrap up the tale.
Braving Barmouth Bridge
Our brave and heroic editor is bravely and heroically doing something many many riders have easily done before. There's also a lot of reminiscing, oh and some chips.
Feet Forward Prologue
Bogger is organising his next French escapade. It's the who, why, what, and where this time, oh and the how. The why never makes sense, nor should it.
Best Feet Forwards
Title page for Bogger's latest trip with a bunch of people on weird motorcycles.
Back On The Road And Heading South Again
Having mostly recovered Andy's back on the road making big miles through ever more stunning scenery. A few notes then pictures aplenty that'll make you wish you were there.
Bigger Scenery South Of Biggar
Sharon has suggested today's destination with Ren putting in an add-on. It's a part of the UK less explored, which is a shame, but at least it's quiet.
Andy's Local Ride
Feeling a little better Andy's having an easy day exploring The Pyrenees. Scenery aplenty while dodging some rain.
Choo Choos And The Yorkie Disaster
Today is mostly steam powered with a little motorcycling to one side. Sharon experiences another personal loss, a terrible tragedy.
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Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
nab301 said :-
@ Bogger , I'm looking forward with trepidation while simultaneously being careful what I wish for!!
@ Ian ,re airbnb the same sort of thing has happened in my part of the world too.
Nigel
08/01/2026 16:42:56 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Cheers ROD - it's a curious, possible interesting possibility.
As for your kidney Upt' are you in the process of trying to pickle it?
08/01/2026 11:09:45 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
ROD¹ said :-
Link for Ren.
I have not used the app. I was just browsing ready for later this year.
Some hosts have small campsites others just room for one tent. The facilities also very from full showers and toilets to wild camping levels.
https://campspace.com/en...
06/01/2026 19:11:54 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
Upt'North ¹ said :-
On reflection Ed, I think I'd prefer to sell a kidney.
Although who'd want one of my wine shrivelled up walnuts.
Upt.
06/01/2026 17:57:36 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
Bogger said :-
Reference the trip Nab. You'll have to keep on reading unfortunately, to find the depths we sink to.
Bogger
06/01/2026 17:55:49 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
ARGH!! I've fixed the date error Ian, thanks.
06/01/2026 15:57:50 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
Ian Soady¹ said :-
How have you managed to make this trip in September 2026? I hope the flux capacitor is well charged....
Re AirBnB - we used this a lot ten years or so, including a brilliant stay in an arty apartment in Paris's 11th Arrondissement. But it's changed from being somewhere people let out their spare room or full-time home to a purely commercial rental system. Many airbnbs are just short term rentals. But of course they don't pay the proper local taxes or conform to building standards etc. Apart from which there are places like Barcelona where they've driven out local people as they can charge high prices that locals can't afford.
So I won't use them any more but go with legitimate hotel / gite / campsite operators.
06/01/2026 15:18:22 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
nab301 said :-
Bogger, this has all the ingredients of a great trip , bad weather , horrendous traffic , sharing a house with strangers...
Although joking aside , locally , the long term rental market is so over subscribed/ undersupplied I keep reading how potential room renters turn up to view a property share and are informed that not only will they be sharing a room with a stranger , they'll be sharing a bed...
Nigel
06/01/2026 14:52:04 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
ROD - what's the camping app? I figure the owner of the garden has some means by which you can visit the bathroom at ungodly hours should the Delhi Belly kick in?
Just think Upt' - you and Nrs North could be making £50 or £60 a night for having odd randomers using the spare bedroom. I figure 99% of the time your "guests" are perfectly reasonable folks with perfectly normal habits. However I'm sure each host has a tale of the guest that ruined the toilet and was awake all night chanting chakras with bongos.
06/01/2026 14:02:53 UTC
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
ROD¹ said :-
The air BnB system started by someone putting an air bed in their spare room for a guest to sleep on. Hence air BnB.
The system moved on to have the ability to rent the entire property, but the original concept of a bed in someone's house is still the cheapest option.
I have recently downloaded an app to rent a camping space in someone's garden which will give a cheaper option than campsites, this is a similar concept, just not inside someone's house.
06/01/2026 11:42:54 UTC
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nab301 said :-
Good news with the C11 , that is exactly how my Enfield has been since I did a top end rebuild, which is better than it has ever been in the 10yrs I've owned it , including after I rebored it , If only I knew why!
It did however blot its copy book in the last week with a broken downpipe support bracket , I stopped at the side of the road exhaust popping and banging , down pipe at some distance from the cylinder head, scaring sheep and spitting flames from the open exhaust port . Ren would be proud of my fix however , which involved a bungee and lots of smoke from the plastic coated steel hook on the way home.
Nigel
08/01/2026 17:02:47 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Woohoo! And it's not a 2 stroke. Phew.
07/01/2026 21:06:29 UTC
Glyn said :-
Oh well done Ian. A just reward for your endeavours. It’s a great day when you get them started after a long rest in a shed.
07/01/2026 19:57:28 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The C11 runs!
It was a bit warmer today so ventured into the workshop, fitted the camshaft, timed the ignition, set the tappets, poured some oil down the pushrod tunnels and gave it a couple of priming kicks. Switched the ignition on and a cough after the first kick then it picked up and ran very nicely.
So I'm a happy chap!
07/01/2026 15:43:41 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Of course I'm also always available to share my limited knowledge!
05/01/2026 09:56:33 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian , thanks so much for the link, if I do get involved with this I may be bending a few ears. Hopefully it's just a recommission of a previous runner aka cleaning the carburettor rather than a collection of mismatched internals from a previously unsuccessful rebuild!
Nigel
04/01/2026 15:59:21 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Hi Nigel, the C11G is very similar to mine but has as you say plunger rear suspension. It also has the points assembly in the timing cover rather than in the rather quaint distributor type assembly my C11 has, and also an alternator rather than a dynamo.
They're pretty straightforward bikes although havetheir quirks as I've discovered especially when they're just a loosely assembled set of unrelated parts.....
This forum (see link) has been of great help to me and has some very knowledgeable and friendly members.
https://bsac10c11c12.co.uk/smf/index.php...
04/01/2026 09:58:44 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian , in what must be an amazing coincidence , immediately after posting on this thread I received a call from a non biking friend who was asking if I'd be interested in looking at a newly acquired BSA for a friend of his. (he's unable to start it) Just received photos and immediately thought that looks like Ians bike! Some searching suggests it's a C11G (plunger rear suspension) so must be around 1955?
Wish me luck if I get involved!
Nigel
03/01/2026 16:23:41 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Many thanks Glyn, if I can actually find something useful I'll pass it on.
In other news I was rather worried about my welding capabilities as I'll need to weld internally threaded plugs into my struts. I've done a little bit of practice on some scrap and am reasonably happy. This is using a basic stick welder on about 120 amps. My welding has improved immensely since I got a decent self-darkening helmet!
03/01/2026 15:02:50 UTC
Glyn said :-
Mrs Glyn lived and worked in Germany for 26 years and our 2 sons currently live in Munich. So, if you’re after translation Ian, I can almost certainly help. Great work on the C11, there’s a lot of satisfaction in sorting a problem that others couldn’t and even more so when others have created man made faults. Those sort of problems don't appear in the technical manuals.
03/01/2026 11:07:57 UTC
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I object to random businesses spamming the feed in the hope of improving their Google ranking. I've no problem with you trying to find the jacket a suitable home.
02/01/2026 17:46:19 UTC
Glyn said :-
If anyone is a size 3XL I have a brand new RICHA jacket. It’s never been worn but the tags are not there as it was originally a gift. There is some light armour in the elbows and shoulders but it can be upgraded. I’m not even an L size these days so it hangs in my wardrobe unlikely to ever see the light of day. Sorry Ed I know you frown on advertising on these pages (so I humbly apologise ) but it’s a shame to see it languishing unused.
02/01/2026 12:23:34 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Your feet must be even bigger than mine Nigel, size 46 is about UK 11.
01/01/2026 16:11:19 UTC
nab301 said :-
A pity they don't have any mens sizes!
Nigel
01/01/2026 14:35:13 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Anybody after new motorsiccle boots.
Check this out, sizes 42 to 46.
Upt.
*Remember there are fees and vat etc.
https://www.johnpyeauctions.co.uk/Browse?FullTextQuery=Motorcycle%20...
31/12/2025 12:55:19 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes, not bad looking - te tank seat unit has a Triumph Hurricane look about it. I'm not so keen on the exhaust pipe lines however. It might be improved with something like the Triumph's stacked pipes. Although not the comical front brake.
18/12/2025 15:49:07 UTC
nab301 said :-
That looks great and the original so called (I think) Euro styled versions (although I never owned any) were always my favourite looking bikes , CB900f CB750F etc
Nigel
17/12/2025 15:46:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Styling Upt'. As you say it's a modern bike in old school clothing. If you took the same chassis and engine and covered it in fairings it's a sports bike. Cover it in angular body panels its a modern naked. I think it looks lovely just as it is.
17/12/2025 11:35:51 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Is it our own fault? Is it fault? Is it what we really want? I dunno. But some of the latest bikes could at first glance be exact copies of 70/80's bikes with a detuned modern ICE thrown in.
Is it what we want?
Yes, this is what happens when the nights draw in.
17/12/2025 09:12:02 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yes nab301 this is not going to be one of those bikes that takes you by surprise with rapid speed and arm-wrenching acceleration. I daresay if that is what someone is looking for they're probably looking in the wrong place. I think I would wish to try before I buy if nothing else to convince myself there's enough power even for one as humble as my dawdling self.
16/12/2025 18:53:06 UTC
Random Link - North Pennines And Epilogue