Holiday memories: Soil investigation

Auto Motor Klassiek » Column » Holiday memories: Soil investigation
Purchasing classics there

I lie on my back and watch the bright blue sky on vacation

I turn on my side and see that my bike is next to me for a meter or so while the front wheel is turning gently. The warm asphalt below me smells convincingly of diesel. I suddenly remember having seen that greasy, shiny oil trace in the bend. I could just puncture my front wheel. That was just before the rear wheel took the oil and caught up with the front wheel. Then I reacted instinctively. I kicked the falling engine from under me. Something physical or something happens with speeds and opposite vectors. In any case, you swirl down like a fallen rose leaf and land lightly on the asphalt. The metaphor is limited for rose petals of one hundred + kilos.

But everything still did it

After analyzing the case, it is handy to step out to get man and machine out of the lane of possible other traffic. Once again I curse the unfortunate idea of ​​buying a VX800 as a 'car'. Such a thing is almost a sort of classic, costs nothing, has been proven to be reliable and easy to maintain. But we will never get anything but the relationship between a Greek donkey driver and his donkey. Oh yeah; the center of gravity of the old VX is approximately at the fuel cap level. And emotionally he weighs 1340 kilos. Almost impossible to put up! My previous 'car' was a Guzzi Cali II.

That was just a motorcycle!

More than four tons on the clock before it became terminal. Treating myself - despite the correct lifting technique - to a double hernia, I decide ASAP! again to score an old Guzzi as a 'car'. Apart from the fact that those stupid tractors have conquered my heart, their center of gravity is roughly at the height of the solid white line in my just discovered bend. You can lift a fat Guus with two fingers. If, by the way, you have such train of thought after you have done a soil test, you turn on the autopilot and you have to look at your helmet to see if it has caught the blow.

A crumple zone

The dark blue track slide is placed on its jiffy and the side case appears to have worked well as a crumple zone. In the trees in shrubs all kinds of birds are laughing to death for that stupid motorcyclist. The other glove goes out. Helm check: no damage. So the blow has been caught and I feel that tomorrow. Jack? Some planed and smelly of diesel. Fortunately I didn't ride my "The KGB is watching you" T-shirt.

My knee has some plate damage

Everything under control. A Prius with caravan passes by. The extension cord dangles after it. Children swing from the rear seat. Time for a cigar on the roadside. While I am feeling quite satisfied I hear motorcycles. I walk around the corner and see three Supermotards in full testosterone trot. I walk towards them waving. They stop. We look at the oil trail and are fifteen minutes busy with sand and branches while the pompiers have already been called. They have an oil removal agent with them and everyone has a great time. We motards bravely manage the scarce traffic and feel Batman and Superrman at the same time.

Cozy!

Gendarmes, pompiers and motards. Everyone is fraternized and says goodbye with satisfaction. We as knights go on horseback for a pint in Oignies. Fry a plate. A steak. Very nice. After lunch I step on my lightly battered steed and feel like a divine ninety year old. After all the adventure, the muscles have massively decided to acidify convincingly. But the weather is still perfect and I call home that I will stay another night.

In Olloy I find accommodation at Hotel Rolinvaux

There you can relax while you look at lamas and steam trains. A bowl of snacks. Pint with it. Let the muscle aches come. There will be a van from which the crew will also order. One of the men shouts: "Eyyy, c'est le motard tombé!" It is that fallen motorcyclist. It is the burger van of the pompiers of a moment ago. A couple of Dutch motorcyclists also arrive who only have thick necks hanging from the wind. They are not cozy.

It becomes very cozy and very late

The next morning I have no headache, but all my muscles are locked. And my asphalt eczema is playing up. I am satisfied. It was a nice weekend. And as a motorcyclist you always come across the nicest people.

 

REGISTER FOR FREE AND WE'LL SEND YOU OUR NEWSLETTER EVERY DAY WITH THE LATEST STORIES ABOUT CLASSIC CARS AND MOTORCYCLES

Select other newsletters if necessary

We won't send you spam! Read our privacy policy for more information.

If you like the article, please share it...

2 comments

  1. VX800, this lady also drove it for a few years ..
    Always did it, only an incidental malfunction where a fuse broke and the engine stopped.
    Solved by replacing the relevant fuse with an automatic one and placing it in the cockpit.
    At Pats it was click and drive on ...

    What was, on the West Frisian dike in the area I was waiting for the frame to start to stir ...
    Imers, my former Z1000 (1977) did that when you approached the limit.
    If not the VX, all iron to the ground without a problem ...
    Only the front fork was a bit weak and it literally ate brake pads ...
    Once fallen, also on a line of oil for a traffic light.
    Light jumped orange at 6 o'clock in the morning and since by definition I do not run a red light and could still brake it in the anchors.
    The next thing I know is that I am sitting on my asphalt hole and see the VX a few meters away.
    So I get up and immediately flip over twice….
    So I still had speed ...
    Picked up a dent in ego and the VX and again doooooorrrrrrrrr… ..
    No misery other than a somewhat painful elbow.

  2. Last winter I went on my plate with the old army side clapper about road salt, please ...
    A motorist came to take a look, but there was no more than a scratch on the crash bar and my soul pride was not there.
    That's part of it; once in a while. not too often of course .. well on your mouth you put literally and figuratively again with both feet on the ground.

Give a reaction

The email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Maximum file size of upload: 8 MB. You can upload: afbeelding. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here