South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Hi folks.

I'm Barry, a recently retired scientist/teacher, and I've been in Somerset for about 15 years now, the last 10 in Taunton. I've been a Quantock and Exmoor club member for ages, and I'm also an Advanced rider, until recently a member of Somerset Advanced Riders. I've been with you guys on Facebook for a long time but thought I'd sign up here too and find out what you're up to.

So yes I'm getting to be an old fogey now, but I've been riding for 50 years and have no intention of stopping! I've had numerous bikes over the years, from screaming two strokes to humungous v twins, and I currently run a Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor for local runs and a BMW R1200RS for serious touring. I've been all over Western Europe but like most of us the last 2 years have seriously cramped my touring style. This year fingers crossed I'm planning another major trip, this time a loop through France and Switzerland into Italy then back up via Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. I'm a member of an international club for old fogies called Ulysses and we have members/friends in most of those countries.

But when I'm home I'll be interested in local runs and such, and I look forward to meeting you.

Hi Barry, welcome to swb.

Sounds like you've got around in the past and have the kit to do it.
We have a few here who like to tour and play on the other side of the road, you'll fit in fine.

Enjoy.

Plenty of rides going on even in the foul weather months (that'll be 12 of them then ) We've one coming up 13th March:-
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=101283

As a retiree you may qualify for the exclusive group on here of the "greyones"

Welcome to SWB Barry

Hi Barry and welcome to the forum, Nice to see the efforts on the Facebook page have paid off.

Glad to have you with us hoping that we get to meet up on a ride out some time soon.

Hi Barry & Welcome.

I did a similar ride back in 2016, but the opposite way around, sort of.
How long you going for?

I think ours was around 9 days but it wasn't long enough to do that distance

Hi and welcome along Barry
The grey one's are taking over

ptolemyx wrote: ↑Feb 24th, '22, 12:27 As a retiree you may qualify for the exclusive group on here of the "greyones"

I'm definitely grey, what's left of my hair anyway

Jug wrote: ↑Feb 24th, '22, 18:46 I did a similar ride back in 2016, but the opposite way around, sort of.
How long you going for? I think ours was around 9 days but it wasn't long enough to do that distance

Our trip will need to be 14 days I think. We're meeting the French for 3 nights near Geneva, then to Leysin to stay with the Swiss for 3 nights, then 3 nights looping through Italy and back, plus 2 days each way coming and going.

bkingalan wrote: ↑Feb 24th, '22, 21:14 The grey one's are taking over

We all get there eventually!

Welcome to swb
You have done loads I'm really looking forward to getting kitted up to do long tours and go exploring.