As you may have gathered, after the Radnor Rally I was thinking that the TTR600 was becoming difficult to get around on. All those little injuries from past indescretions are taking their toll a bit these days and the event caused me quite a bit of discomfort ... during and after. It was also getting a bit tiresome watching people press those little magic buttons as I was standing on the pegs of the Belgarda thinking "I need to put some weight on to get this bl**dy kick start to move!". Having tried to put a wooden magic switch on Gem pointed out that wood is not a good conductor and besides I also needed a starter motor, a replacement oil tank, a battery and so on . I started to think that the dual start TTR250 was a very attractive proposition.

I budgeted £1500 before looking on the assumption that if necessary something that needed a bit of attention or an import would do the job. Rob put some links up and I missed what appeared to be a great low mileage bike just down the road from him so it was time to sort the finances and get shifting. In the mean time I kept a close eye on ebay and nothing seemed quite right. One evening out of frustration I did a google search and after a lot of trolling aroud a low mileage 04 bike popped up and smile appeared on my face ... just one problem ... Glasgow ! Did I really want to drive 300 miles to collect a bike and then drive 300 miles back ... hmmm . The Cambrian was looming so bookmark and keep an eye on it; before I knew it would be gone and the dilema with it. Spoke to Rob and Todd at the Cambrian and Todd says "go to Glasgow for a bike ??". He was right, it was a stupid ... idea wasn't it .

Well, after some negociation, at 00:30 yesterday morning Sammy stired and woke Gem and I and off I went ... 300 miles to Glasgow ... in the wind and rain ... to look at a TTR250. I arrived at the chaps house to be met with "oh ... your early, I was going to have you a breakfast ready, will toast be OK" . Basically, I was met by a cracking family who were as concerned about my journey as me !

To top it all I returned home at about 4:30pm with this;


The bike is as it came out of the show room minus the graphics with 1480 miles on the clock .

Was it worth going to Scotland? Very much so, and I'd be happy to go again, particularly having been treated so well

Looks v clean Mike - I am sure Rob will have some plans for graphics for it !

Does seem a long way for a breakfast - though not so bad if you get the bike you want too !

Think you have now beaten even Glenns distance record for buying a s/h bike now - congratulations !

Are you going to use it for rallies then ?
Look forward to seeing it in action - enjoy ..........

Woohooooooo!!!

Well done that Man!!

Congrats Mike..

I can see a yamaha belgarda appearing on ebay soon.....

If its down to the wire Ian I actualy did 602 miles all in

Its definately going to get used for rallies and trail. Needs a bit of prepping; guards etc. Really looking forward to not ripping me guts out

Cheers Todd. Got some decisions to make re the Belgada

Thought I was daft going all the way to the Lake District to buy my new(ish) Land Rover.

The fact that I was on holiday at the time I saw it and did the deal but had to come back the following weekend did sort of rack up the miles.

As I did the journey four times in all, that's 257 miles each way, so 1028 in total.

But as I got both a weeks holiday and a weekend away in the Lakes out of it it's not quite the same.

Nice looking bike by the way

It actually looks a bit taller than the 600.
I'll get over soon for a play on the tiddlers

Ah .. the lengths we go to to get vehicles

Its slightly lower than the 600 Rob. I think its just parked a tad higher.

Ah! The old optical illusion. Got ya
You may like this link Mike, flexi number plates. I've had a few off them. http://www.craigsplates.co.uk/flexible- ... plate.html

Thats handy. Ta Rob

Think you need to swap the tryes over between the bikes as those on the TTr look like they will be preety useless in the mud.

I reckon the back would be ok on the trail Todd as long as its not too muddy but the front ... no chance . Its got to go!

I think new shoes will be the order of the day.

Stick to wearing boots Mike, far more protective

Looking good Mike

Cheers Gwyn. Blank canvas to pley with

How was the Hafren?

These graphics look good Mike.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-TTR250-TTR ... 2ea8ba1710