Trophy Ride around Normandie.

[Vitesse]

Hi All.
Had a 4 day trek around Normandie with some pals and my son. The boys trip away. On the Trophy that wonderful sunshine filled week starting 19th August. What an absolutely blissfull experience.
Third year we have done this. What a difference on the Trophy instead of the VFR800. The upright ride is so much more relaxing and easy. So comfortable and the added bonus of the cruise control to stop the "buzzy thumb" on the throttle hand. Couldn't fault the bike at all. Only issue, but not the bikes fault. Did struggle to keep cool with biking gear on and I wasn't prepared to risk riding without it. Returned 59.7 miles to the gallon over the whole trip. (40mpg tops on the VFR fully loaded) The bike attracted quite a lot of attention. Not surprising when you consider there are not too many about yet.
Hi to the two up rider on the silver Trophy heading North on the A34 near Newberry. Did spot you.

Cheers, Nick.

[Roger]

That sounds like a nice trip,  Like you say very comfortable bike.

Specially that your son went with you.

Roger

[Vitesse]

Hi roger.
Makes you feel proud when your own sons want to go with Dad and his mates on a road trip.

[atuti]

Vitese, thanks for your information. 

I will go to Normandy for three days at the end of september. Is there any problem parking the bike over there? I mean, can you park it on the sidewalks? Are there any kind of special reserved parking places for bikes in the touristic points to be visited? Any specific concern about the security of the bike against "those who love to take other´s things"?   

Thanks in advance for your answer.   

[Verdun95]

tough to give you one fits all answer: pretty much depend where do you intend to stay? Parking on sidewalks in France is forbidden, however if it does not create any hazard to pedestrians it could be tolerated. Very few motorbikes dedicated parking spaces. For the security of the bike it's the same as everywhere else: keep it locked, don't leave the keys on, use any anti theft device you may have.

[Vitesse]

Hi. Never found parking an issue. Wherever we went there was plenty of room and good hardstanding. In town there are plenty of carparks, some with dedicated motorcycle areas. Otherwise motorcycles are parked much as we park them here. In three years we have never had any issues with anybody touching the bikes or attempting to take anything off them. We have used the same place as a base every time we go. The Brit Hotel, Mondeville, Caen. ( Centre Routier - rue des Frères Lumière, Mondeville, 14120, France. ) We like it. It is cheap to stay, clean and does everything it says on the tin. Next door is a lorry park/restaurant/bar where you can get a good meal in the evening and a drink. If you do go, bear in mind that France shuts down on a Sunday. You will need to get food for sunday either on the motorway or the ferry the day before or McDonald's will be open.

[atuti]

OK. Thank you all for your replies. We have already made arrangements for the reservation in different hotels in our way.

We expect to have good weather conditions... If not good, at least not very bad....

We are anxious to start our trip 

[Roger]

Hi Vitesse

Originally Posted by Vitesse

Hi roger.
Makes you feel proud when your own sons want to go with Dad and his mates on a road trip.

I think your right, good on yer

Roger