SWPSR

[Scootabout]

I notice that entries have just opened for the 2025 South West Peninsula Spring Rally.
I enjoyed this one last year, and will be entering again. It's the only Rally left that has both (some) manned checkpoints and a communal start and finish point - with a meal at the end.

Anyone else doing it? If it's your first time, note that, unless you live locally, it's more important to book your B&B early than to enter. It probably won't 'sell out'.

https://www.somersetadvancedmotorcyclists.org.uk/swpsr/

[Nordboy]

Looks like a good rally? I did a local one to me this year (weather was shockingly bad) on my Xmax 300 scooter and got totally looked down on by the so called 'biker' brigade.

I did end up passing a load of them on the road mind you, which was quite satisfying. Bloody amateurs!!

[Tarmacsurfer]

I thought the Welsh National Rally was still going?
I haven't done it for a few years but was looking at it for 2025

[Scootabout]

I thought the Welsh National Rally was still going?
I haven't done it for a few years but was looking at it for 2025

Yes. 10th May this year. It's run by the ACU these days. It also has no manned controls* and is app-based. It's still worth doing, though, IMO.

* A certain number of controls are special in that you have to include a few of them in your route. These are often cafes, so you can chat to fellow participants if you/they like.

[Scootabout]

Looks like the ACU has pulled out of organising all three rallies - Welsh, English, Scottish - this year. So it looks as if they aren't going to happen. Disappointing. These rallies have a long pedigree. At least there was continuity when ACU took them over.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I did the Welsh in 2007 (I think), a big scooter would be the ideal thing to do it on, a Husqvarna 610 was not.

[Scootabout]

I did the Welsh in 2007 (I think), a big scooter would be the ideal thing to do it on, a Husqvarna 610 was not.

Depends on your route choice. A big scoot might not be ideal for the (many) roads with grass down the middle. For the primary routes, yes. Having said that, I did it on a TMax several times.

Were you alluding to protection from the rain?

[Scootabout]

For those that are interested, the Welsh, English and Scottish rallies are back this year.
Welsh: 9th May
English: 4th & 5th July
Scottish: 12th, 13th Sept.

[Nordboy]

For those that are interested, the Welsh, English and Scottish rallies are back this year.
Welsh: 9th May
English: 4th & 5th July
Scottish: 12th, 13th Sept.

Have you got links for them? I've just tried searching for the Welsh rally and got absolutely nothing back??

[Scootabout]

Sorry, no. It's based on an announcement on a Facebook group by a guy who says he's taken on the role of organising it on behalf of the ACU this year. His name is Mike Tizard.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nationa ... ?ref=share

[Scootabout]

Update. I'm signed up for the SWPSR. Two routes planned, both bronze. The first is my preferred route, for good weather. It involves going west across Exmoor to Ilfracombe, then back on a parallel route along the coast. Should be scenic. The second is a contingency plan, in case I feel sub-par or thethere's a storm blowing in. It's a loop around Dorset, basically. I planned both routes on the BeeLine app. As usual I've listed out distances and estimated times between checkpoints, so I can see if I'm making the expected progress.

I'm staying in Ilchester - 'The single most popular cheese around here, sir.' 'IS IT?'.

[Nordboy]

For those that are interested, the Welsh, English and Scottish rallies are back this year.
Welsh: 9th May
English: 4th & 5th July
Scottish: 12th, 13th Sept.

Have you got links for them? I've just tried searching for the Welsh rally and got absolutely nothing back??

Forgot to update this. I've signed up for the Welsh Rally. Hopefully the weather will be ok, or I may turn into a fair weather biker and stay at home

[Scootabout]

I've signed up too. Staying near Welshpool, the traditional start point, although you can start anywhere, of course. I'll probably go north and west this time, subject to how the checkpoint layout looks when I receive it.

No ducking out is allowed, once you've signed up

Will you do it on the scoot?

[Nordboy]

I've signed up too. Staying near Welshpool, the traditional start point, although you can start anywhere, of course. I'll probably go north and west this time, subject to how the checkpoint layout looks when I receive it.

No ducking out is allowed, once you've signed up

Will you do it on the scoot?

I'm South so will start here somewhere and probably do South, West and Mid Wales.

It'll be on my XADV as that's all I have bike wise now, probably a good a machine for this sort of thing as I've ever had?

I did a charity rally last year on my 300cc scooter, it lashed it down all day and was grim to say the least so I reserve the right to be a shit out!! And I'll be doing it on my own so there's not a lot of fun being miserable on your own, that's a better team sport!!

[Nordboy]

So, the Welsh National Rally is today. I'll be heading out soon to have a crack at a Gold award. I'm not taking it seriously, just using it as an excuse to get out on the XADV for the day.

And hopefully, the weather will be ok, looks alright at the moment.

[Count Steer]

So, the Welsh National Rally is today. I'll be heading out soon to have a crack at a Gold award. I'm not taking it seriously, just using it as an excuse to get out on the XADV for the day.

And hopefully, the weather will be ok, looks alright at the moment.

Good luck, have a good day - full report awaited.

[Nordboy]

Great Day, pretty much 300 miles. Had to plan a route to achieve the required control points, without falling foul of the rules, can't visit the same one twice etc. I think I got it right?

Anyway, the weather was great, almost perfect for a day out. It was my first full day, extended run out on the XADV. I'm finding it really hard to criticise it tbh. There were times I left it in auto, normal and sport modes, then there were plenty of times I had it in manual mode and I was riding it like a full geared bike. the gear changes are so quick and smooth. It's exactly the same, and why I now enjoy the cars with auto/ paddle gearboxes.

It was comfy, I could change my feet position, as I don't need them to do anything apart from stop me falling over when I stop!!
I chucked all my crap under the seat, so didn't need to take the topbox.

The handling really surprised me, there were only a couple of occasions that in a higher speed bend, when the road surface was rubbish that it felt a little unsettled, but I think most bikes would have struggled with that, maybe just to a lesser extend. It never felt dangerous though, and I always felt in control. It's much closer to riding a 'real' bike than I thought it would be.

I wasn't riding as quick as i normally do, mainly, and maybe the only criticism I have, is it does feel a bit underpowered. I knew this of course, as it only has 58bhp. It just meant that higher speed overtakes took some planning, and there were plenty that i would have taken on a 'real' bike, that I didn't. i was thinking though, that the more I ride it, and learn what it can do, maybe that'll get easier? I was more cautious as it was new to me.

Overall, probably one of the best days riding, and I include my old job bike stuff as well, that i've had in the last 10 years. As Tiepin says 'it's a keeper'. Honestly, for what I want and need right now, it's brilliant. I found myself looking at all the many bikes in the car parks today, and not once thinking that I'd rather be on anything else.

[Scootabout]

I'm interested by how impressed you were with the XADV. I think I'd be seriously considering one if I didn't live in central London with the theft risk / insurance cost that goes with that.

I, too, went for a gold, but somehow managed to plan a route that qualified (I think!) but only required 185 miles of riding. Maybe because it was in the north? Here's a link to it:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rDjZZ9F1FE8EiKgE9

I picked a route that included some roads that I knew I'd enjoy, notably the unclassified road between Lake Vrynwy and Bala. Fantastic views.
One surprise pleasure was taking 20 minutes out to look round the Llangollen motor museum, which was one of the checkpoints, although I suspect many riders didn't see it as the app clocked it at the top of the track it was on. Pics: https://photos.app.goo.gl/27F3BDuH6NaxJ8Rs6

The V85TT was running like a dream, thanks in no small part to the new Shock Factory rear shock I've fitted recently.

Next: The English rally, 4th &/or 5th July?

[Nordboy]

Seriously impressed with the XADV. Tbh, I can't see why more aren't sold in the UK? Maybe the theft/ insurance thing is an issue?

And I used this ride as my first real ride out on this, after it's 600 mile service. I only did a couple of hundred miles, mainly local before this day.

As I mentioned above, it handles more like a motorbike than a scooter, I've owned two smaller cc scooters previously, and this is nothing like them handling wise. Tracks long fast corners really well, and copes with the tighter bends with no issues. I rode some really technical roads (upper/lower chapel if you're aware of it?) and I was making much better progress than I thought I'd be able to.

I probably could have left it in sport/ auto mode all day tbh, it's such a good gearbox and rarely (not never though) feels like it's selecting the wrong gear. Me being me, I used sport/ manual mode for portions of the ride, using the gear selector buttons on the left handlebar. If I'm being picky, the buttons are not in the perfect position, but there's quite a lot going on on the left side. This is one thing that will probably become more natural the more I use it.

Storage was great, I took loads of stuff such as locks, extra kit, gloves, waterproofs etc and managed to get it under the seat, so the topbox didn't make it out of the garage. Not that it would have been an issue if I'd had to take it. I also ran a phone lead from the under seat USBC to power my phone which was on the handlebar quadlock system, worked really well all day. I also used it to charge my cardo headset while I was riding between a couple of checkpoints as I was listening to music a lot of the day. Maybe being critical, it could do with an extra usb power socket around the cockpit area ideally.

58bhp can be a challenge, not 98% of the time, that mostly enough, the only time I thought it could do with a few more horses is the faster road overtakes. I chickened out of a couple as, because It's 'new' to me, I just wasn't 100% confident in it's ability. I'm again sure that the more I use it, the easier this will be.

Comfort. From riding my 'job' bikes for 20+ years, and being short in leg length, both, especially my right hip are buggered. It's one of the reason I started riding scooter style things. The XADV was no issue all day, I could move my legs around into different positions, not that I needed to much, and I have fitted the extra 'off road' rider footpegs which I can flick down, stand for a bit in a more natural position, then tuck them back away as they are like pillion pegs and stay pointing upwards. Tbh, and maybe disappointingly, I didn't use them at all.
Overall, really comfy all day, absolutely no issues.

I can't see me replacing this for many years tbh, I now have the best of both worlds, a scooter and a bike. It really is a true hybrid.

I know people will look down on me, they did on this event, but do I give a shit, nope. I have nothing to prove riding wise, I have nothing to prove biking wise. I'm just out there to enjoy myself, and enjoy myself I did. That's what it's all about.

I know few will read all this as it's a bit long winded, maybe it needed it's own thread? Most will read XADV and immediately switch off, that's fine. But all I'd say is maybe don't knock it, until you try it?

[Scootabout]

Great supplementary write-up. Thanks.
I used to ride maxi scoots, hence the username. The Burgman 400 and TMax mk 1 that I had were competent machines, and underrated by most bikers, but the XADV sounds like a step-change. And that's very much underlined by your view of it, in the context of your riding pedigree.

As for theft risk, if @maccecht 's account is still on here, it illustrates the lengths some thieves will go to to get hold of one.

Did/does @Taipan have an XADV? I can never keep up with his bike ownership