POTD - Norway calling....

[Martin C]

i believe a couple of TC stalwarts recently "did Norway"...?  Unfortunately, i haven't read the book (and the film is presumably still in post-production editing).

Nevertheless, I've booked a mid-August ferry to Stavanger, and will ride solo across Norway & Sweden to Stockholm for a friend's birthday party.  The blonde goddess Anna will fly direct to Stockholm, then we'll ride 2-up through central Sweden, cross the Arctic Circle (mainly for the photo opportunity), and ride down the Norwegian coast and both return on the ferry.

Unsurprisingly, we'll not be using my single-seat R.E. Bullet cafe-racer for this jaunt!  The Guzzi was in pole position as the steed of choice, but I'm now searching for a Ducati ST4 to replace it.  Needless to say, we won't be camping, as I can't afford a tent.

I last rode (the Bullet) in Sweden 5 years ago, and drove through Sweden & briefly into Norway many years ago, but would welcome any up-to-date advice on Scandinavian riding and scenic Norwegian fjord routes from Martyn, Boyd,etc. 

[Mart]

Hi Martin, To save clogging the forum with info re Norway you can email me  direct srxist@blueyonder.co.uk . Mart

[mav617]

The Guzzi was in pole position as the steed of choice, but I'm now searching for a Ducati ST4 to replace it.  Needless to say, we won't be camping, as I can't afford a tent.

How about this then  mart, he's even throwing in a tent!! - ebay 300116225083

[mav617]

Try again  - ebay 300116225083

[themoudie]

Aye Martin,

Caveat emptor with Duke S4!!!

A friend had one and found the ignition electrics fragile in the rain, the head lights spread the rays over the countryside rather than where you're going and going slow (touring) wasn't easy! He sold it and is now the delighted owner of a MZ Skorpian Tour. This man knows his Italian machinery and it's foibles, but was very disappointed. Had owned both a Guzzi 750 S3 and a Duke 750 1991 and was delighted with them.

However, I also knew a couple who toured Norway and Sweden on an 860 GTS with clip-ons, rearsets, 40mm Dellortos and Contis in the early '80s, with no problems apart from a rear tyre to the canvas and interesting handling on the dirt roads.

Hope you have a great journey on whatever you choose.

Regards, Bill

[Andy M]

 with no problems apart from a rear tyre to the canvas and interesting handling on the dirt roads.

Been there, done that, bought the tyre!

The roads in Norway come in two surfaces. Hard/grippy/frost proof and stone chips. Both will shread a standard rear in about half the distance our own pot holes disasters will. Good news is the hard/grippy/frost proof is super smooth, so stick to the speed limit and you'll get insane MPG's. I didn't believe 80 mpg from an F650 until the second leg it did it. Still managed to come within a stove bottles worth of running out, but that was incompetance (too lazy to go back to a petrol station I missed).

On my own trip the F650 was fine on the gravel, but I did feel for a guy on a full dressed (is that the term? Tourer anyway) Harley, two up with stacks of gear coming the other way. I'd done 50 km on the gravel and he was riding with his feet down. Tried to flag him down, but he was either too busy riding or one of those Harley types that don't talk to the likes of me. Wonder if he made it?

Andy