748 goes to belgium

**jay748** · 04 Jul 08, 07:10 PM

im off to France then Belgium in the morning , not exactly a major adventure i know , but i cant wait

the 748,s all prepped and all systems are go !!

**Rich900SL** · 04 Jul 08, 07:53 PM

Bon voyage as they say where you are going

How long are you away for? Hope you have a blast!

Cheers

Rich

**Douglas** · 04 Jul 08, 09:04 PM

Have a great time!

Look forward to hearing about it on here!

**jay748** · 05 Jul 08, 05:17 AM

cheers All

heading to Ashford for the 11.20 euro tunnel followed by a short ride up to belgium .i try to get over there yearly on the 748 , its such a nice place and its nice to escape the Rat race !! if all goes well hope to be sipping a Leffe and enjoying the Chav free environment this afternoon .

hope it stops raining though

**moto748** · 05 Jul 08, 10:33 AM

I like Belgium; must try to get over for a few days later in the year.

Great beer, great chocolate: lovely old towns, what's not to like?

**jay748** · 06 Jul 08, 06:10 PM

pleased to report the old 748 got me home safley , i must of had to stop 4 times plus to get our water proofs on or off , at one stage in france im sure the rain was moonsoon ish ,

any way 390 miles covered with out any problems , such a great place , any way i wont go on , here's a picky of ypres belgium this morning .

**jyak1974** · 10 Jul 08, 04:55 PM

Hello there,im very interested in your trip to belgium because im taking my 748 to paris in september,my mates laugh when i mention im taking the 748,and was wondering how you find it for long distance,have you got heli bars fitted or just hard core,thinking about fitted them for the trip to save my wirsts and neck,thanks

**jay748** · 10 Jul 08, 06:59 PM

hi mate .

why would your mate laugh

all i can say from my experience [ im biased anyway

] for a maintained 748 a trip to Paris is a breeze . mine has standard bars fitted with no complaints from my wrists , however ive so used to it after 6 years i actually find it comfortable

if any thing it felt spot on doing 80 90 ish just chugging along . just check your oil / water take a spare key and make sure all your alarm clickers are working , i used r.a.c. euro recovery for a bit of piece of mind .i found it a great bike to do a bit off distance on !!

go for it

j

**higgy748** · 10 Jul 08, 07:28 PM

Went to the South of France a couple of years ago with the wife in a Triumph TR6 (car not bike) We satyed at a place called St Maxime near St Tropez. Set off home at 8am. On the Motorway it wasn,t long before we were passed by a 748 two up rider and passenger both with big Rucksacks and a tank bag on it We then spent the day passing and repassing each other all the way to Calais. The bike was stopping for fuel 2 or 3 times to my once I suspect. Anyway got to Calais 9.15pm and never saw them again I doubt if they would have got to Calais like that if they weren't comfy

**jyak1974** · 10 Jul 08, 08:23 PM

Cheers everyone,think i was being a girl,i like to prove to my mates that it is possible to do a trip abroad on one without breaking my back,i bought my 748 a month ago after 7 years off the biking seen and always wanted one when there came out,so slowly getting into it again,i did a 500 mile round trip in 2 days the other week and found it bloody hard,hopefully it is because i've been off biking for so long,my body needs to get use to it again,thanks for the peace of mind

**moto748** · 10 Jul 08, 11:15 PM

Ieper is a lovely town. They did a great job of rebuilding it (German money!).

I fancy a weekend over there myself later in the year.

Glad you had a good trip.

**jay748** · 11 Jul 08, 07:22 AM

Thanks Moto .

yes do . as you say its a great place to visit . book your hotel early to avoid disappointment , the Araine is highly recommended . a friend on ours lives in iper [lucky sod] he mention next years the Cat festival . 10th/1th may its only on every 3 years , there's a major festival parade / fireworks .e.t.c. hotels are getting fully booked already .

**moto748** · 11 Jul 08, 12:11 PM

Ah yes!

They don't throw real cats off the tower now, though, do they?

**jay748** · 11 Jul 08, 01:39 PM

knowing them they might do

you got to love them

, apparently one of there local sports around iper is a vertical bow and arrow firing competition

?

the drink drive ban last for 2 weeks in Belgium

so i was told .and the no smoking in public places .. they don't take any notice of that either !!!

plus they love a Ducati

**ptbacf** · 16 Jul 08, 10:28 PM

Nice pics!! Ive been to that exact spot myself back in the good old days when i was in Air Cadets. Took part the war memorial at the gate.
please say you stopped at the chocolate shop oposite the cathedral. its amazing!!haha.

Mike
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04 Ducati 748e
04 Husqvarna 450smr