TMAX 530 + Picos de Europa + Sunshine = Heaven

[Jedburgh]

Just got back from hols in Northern Spain. Tmax was rather good whizzing around the mountains. Cheated a bit transporting it in the back of my van but all the travelling in Spain was done on the bike including a 400mile round trip in 2 days with Mrs J on the back. Sailed from Portsmouth to Santander. I've done this trip before on several different bikes but the Tmax power delivery is spot on for those mountain hairpins and its always in the right gear which allows you to concentrate on a smooth line round the corners - lovely! 3500 miles done now and like my old Mk3 I like it more, the more I ride it.

[poldark]

Without pictures it didn't happen!

[Bluebottle]

I'm jealous.
I'd like to do more travelling around there, it's a very beautiful area, the wildlife is interesting and its very easy to get off the beaten track - where English doesn't get you very far and life works to a different beat.

[Jedburgh]

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Finally, figured out how to post pictures!

Apart from the Alps this is my favorite destination for holidays/biking what with the sea and the mountains being so close. Weather very similar to south coast of England. 'Proper' Spain.

[wozza]

We could do with a few more pics......I'm totally jealous..

[tmaxrobbo]

Nice ! Glad you are enjoying your Mk 4 . Has it been reliable ? Hows the belt drive , is it more direct / better accelaration over the Mk 3 ? Great scooter

[Jedburgh]

It's been totally reliable and I've had no problems on that front. The belt drive did whine but it turned out to be overtight and was sorted on first service. It is faster and sharper than the Mk3 and more front biased which has quickend up the steering and made it much better to ride two up. Only couple of issues I've had are the mirror position not as good as the Mk3 but I've got used to them now and the seats a bit hard other than that I love it. It's good for about 108mph and the acceleration is pretty brisk up to 95ish, most impressive is the stability, feels unflustered no matter what your doing. Like I said in my first post above I been through the mountains on various bikes but I don't think I've enjoyed it more than on the Tmax, no up and down the gears like a fiddlers elbow, just concentrate on the line, lean it in until a) with Mrs J on the back, the centre stand grinds or b) On your own you run out of bottle. Not that I'm suggesting Mrs J is at all hefty! Even after a 200 mile trip, apart from a sore arse (no jokes please), I felt pretty good.

[tmaxrobbo]

Good to hear !! Looking at getting one at some stage , as I sold my C600 Sport . I did not really gel with it , unlike the T max . It had a few niggling problems which were sorted out very promptly , but it was like being a test rider . I fancy a White one , having seen one last year at P and H in Crawley . You live and learn !!

[PD110961]

i think the idea of going abroad in a van or with the bike on a trailer is the best of both worlds.. you can take all the luggage you need, then enjoy the roads etc on the bike when you get there.

[Jedburgh]

Exactly, It's a long old run from Cleethorpes to Portsmouth or worse Plymouth. Taking all the luggage we wanted was a bonus also bringing back the goodies - cheap wine & beer from Spanish supermarkets, not as cheap as it used to be but good Rioja about £3 a bottle and 1.5ltr bottle of San Miguel about £1. I've got a Toyota Hiace SWB van in which the Tmax just fits with the screen off. I've fitted a winch to pull it in - works a treat.