Scotland by CB1100EX....a passable tourer :-)

[mhsilverw_imp]

Had some intermittent precipitation.....for a mini tour round Highlands by CB1100EX.
1400miles over a (damp) week in the English summer (lol)

Day1; Mid Lincs to Jedburgh

3/4 way Monday sunny and hot....but amazing how wet you can get, quite quickly....still the aga where I stopped managed to dry stuff, ready for the next downpour! Bike was OK in an old ramshackled garage too.
Bike now needs a wash.
And not just the rain that is persistent and stair rods when it occurs...
Waterproofs (almost!).
Just the job (CB1100) when inclement and torque makes riding easy.
CB great on the A696 & A68 as I traverse the Northumberland National park.

Day2: Jedburgh to Resipole

A couple of showers interspersed with October/November type temperature---well not July temp. Still arrived at lodgings dry this time.
Some mixed roads from MotorWay-Dual Carriageway-smaller A road and then B roads, some with lochs and grass down middle! (Lochs to side too but some undulations would have been good for ducks!)
Bike works well at sensible speeds and being more sit up an beg works well when its damp and the torque makes things quite easy.
A bit heavy at standstill, but on the move easy and manageable.
MPG seems to be around 60-70! depending on type of road. Makes an OK tourer....even if at times am aqualung might be handy!

Day3: Resipole to Melvaig

Dry(ish) for 85% of the day, a bit damp at end of ride but lucky really judging by forecast.
Had a trip round the west coast; called at Applecross and the 'interesting' road to that...narrow track with some serious hairpin bends both going up and down...a little scary at times, especially when it got damp. Still made it there and back in one piece.

Got to my b&b and slowly drying out. Looking at the Atlantic as I type this...
Honda continues to impress it might need a better seat, but mine might be just unused to longer rides.... But maybe something to do some research on.
64mpg still and a nice riding position.

Luggage: Kreiga US20 (on seat) staying dry and just the job for my week away.

Day4 - Melvaig to South of Jedburgh

Don't believe it, shhhhh a dry day and some summer sun too as I meandered across to Inverness and the moseyed south via A9 past Pitlochry, Perth and round Edinburgh, over the (bumpy) Forth Road bridge (next to the rail bridge, lovely bit of steelwork, and the New road bridge on the right which isn't completed yet).

Honda continues to sip fuel (now 63.5mpg after some bigger MotorWay near Edinburgh) and still makes a passable tourer - riding position not sports bike like which helps and knees are not too screwed up.

The 'wee Beastie' (midges) has had a nibble or two, but survived.

Day5: South of Jedburgh to Home

Looked to be going to be damp again, but delaying departure a wee while was best....

Highlights:
Dolphin in sea on west coast
Sea Eagle in same area
Some amazing views, lochs mountains and glens: wonderful
Scary road at Applecross
A dry Thurs
Manageable, comfy Honda
Kreiga US20 luggage
Accommodation
Food :-)

Lows:
A bit damp at times, although riding not too bad except couldn't see the edge of the hairpin at Applecross.
Herr bimmer at Applecross on an RT1200 who forgot what side of the road to drive on....expect he was scared of hairpin in the clouds too!
Brexit....grrr.....Almost escaped brexit, yawn, 'cept for some Germans at b&b who seemed to find it fascinating and interesting....still the footy result may have dampened their enthusiasm for a wee while.

So a good (if damp at times) mini tour. Won't be waking up to lochs or sea for a while

Only mods to the bike: the fork gaiters and the rubbers on clutch and brake lever

[Cormanus]

Sounds a fabulous trip, mhsilverw. Congratulations. I'd love to ride a CB around bits of the UK.

I've moved your post to the Seat Time forum.

[redbirds_imp]

A lovely trip, any more photos?

[emptysea]

Nice report, but we do love pictures here.

[noroomtomove]

Thank's for the write up and photo, all ways interesting to read about road journeys in other lands now I will go get a map to follow the route by the place names in your post.

Welcome, look forward to your next installment.

Regards

[Motogeezer1949_imp]

Enjoyed reading your post. For me, the CB is an awesome touring machine. I put 1200 miles on it the first 2 days after I picked it up in Toledo. i normally make a couple of trips a year, 2,000 to 2,200 miles on average.
Freestyling, with no plan or anything other than a general destination is my favorite. Good luck and keep riding long and hard