Tales from the Road

Saturday, 17 September 2016

Featured Bike - Yamaha Tracer 700

I saw (and sat on) this bike at my local Yamaha dealer today. It's the new adventure-styled sports tourer from Yamaha. This is a logical bike for them to make. Just as the Tracer 900 was based on the MT-09 triple the 700 is based on the MT-07 parallel twin (read these as FJ-09, FZ-09 & FZ-07 in the US) There seems to be uncertainty whether the 700 Tracer will be sold in the States.

I've spent this summer riding my SV650 and I've come to appreciate the qualities of a middleweight bike. My SV is light & nimble but with plenty of power when needed. The Tracer 700 feels similar in size to my SV, a little taller perhaps and with a wider tank and an adjustable screen. This should make for an agile bike with touring ability.

The Tracer will compete with the Suzuki VStrom and Kawasaki Versys but it isn't an exact equivalent. The VStrom is quite large and bulky (the Versys less so) but the Tracer is a much more compact and sporty looking package.

Yamaha have listed a wide range of extras for the bike including luggage, engine bars and a comfort seat. The seat is only £130 but I'd hope that a bike designed for touring would already have a good seat. The bike I sat on had the comfort heated seat (£294) I doubt the value of this. I've ridden in a lot of cold weather and lots of bits of me got cold, but my backside was not one of them!

The only drawback is the sadly fashionable lack of centre stand. SW Motech make one for the MT-07 which has the same frame so it's likely that an aftermarket one will be available.

But there's more. Yamaha seem to be working on a dual purpose bike using the 700cc engine.

Spy shot of a disguised bike

(Another) Run to Dumfries & Galloway - Part#3

The final part of today's run.

I came across this drinking trough. It was to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. I wonder how many travellers notice it today?

Another commemoration in Dalbeattie - a drinking fountain & lamp to mark the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign.

Nearby is this impressive gatehouse.

Hestan Island in Auchencairrn Bay

There can hardly be a town or village in the country that doesn't have something connected to Queen Vic. Here's a lamp in the village of Auchencairn.

The Kelpies in Kirkcudbright. 1:10 scale models of the sculptures constructed at the east end of the Forth & Clyde canal. These guys seems to have been on a tour of Scotland (and the rest of the world) in recent years.

Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright Bay. My photos of the sea in recent posts are missing…eh... the sea. I seem to always be there at low tide.

(Another) Run to Dumfries & Galloway - Part#2

Loch Ettrick - popular with fishermen.

The village of Ae has a totem pole. Fun fact - this is the place with the shortest name in Britain.

Drumcoltran Tower. Early 16th century tower house. The farm built around it dates from a couple of centuries later.

The small church at Kirkgunzeon.

This impressive tombstone belongs to a wealthy merchant

I'm delayed for a short time by a farmer herding his beasts along the road.

The remains of Wreathes Tower near Southness. 16th century. Thought to have belonged to James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton. He was regent (ie ruler) of Scotland when King James VI was a child. He was later executed by "The Maiden", a Scottish version of the guillotine. This may be ironic since legend has it that it was he who introduced the device into the country. The Maiden still exists and can be seen in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Southness lighthouse. Built 1784 and still in use (I think)

Friday, 16 September 2016

(Another) Run to Dumfries & Galloway and a bit of research needed - Part#1

(Run on 29th August)

I've spent a lot of this summer in southern Scotland. The regions of Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders have some great roads and lots to see both natural and man-made. It's not far from home and the roads seem to suit my recently acquired Suzuki SV650.

There was a theme to the photographs taken today but I'm not quite sure that that is. Maybe "things I've seen before but never took that much notice of" or "things that I had to research later to find out about them". Anyway here they are.

Memorial to those killed in locals mines in Kirkconnel. A reminder of how dangerous getting coal out of the ground was.

The mines are gone but the signs remain. This is the spoil heaps of Gateside Colliery (I think) near Sanquhar.

The Tollbooth/Townhouse in Sanquhar.

It has shields painted by (I assume) local schoolchildren. This was for the "Riding of the Marches" ceremony where the locals ride round the town on horses recalling the lawless days when this was necessary to protect livestock etc from theft.

Also in Sanquhar there is this obelisk. It is to commemorate the "Sanquhar Declarations". This was a speech by the Covenanters disavowing allegiance to King Charles II. This eventually led to the overthrow of his brother, King James VII, in the religious wars of the 17th century.

Again in Sanquhar there is this very modest church. It looks like a corner shop and is home to the Apostolic Church of God. I hadn't heard of them before but apparently believe in "the total depravity of humanity" Yeah, well, you speak for yourselves.

At Thornhill this roundabout has a stone column topped with a statue of Pegasus. This seems to act as a market cross (although not a cross) and signified that the town was allowed to hold a market.