Riding a motorbike into Paris (France 04)

[@GEORGE18610]

You have resurrected my love for being on a bike. I have ridden bikes for 43 years; having finished on a BMW 1150R & Honda CB 1300s. I stopped 5 years ago. But, I am now, guess what?, going to my local Honda dealer to get a CB125F !!! All down to missing the freedom of what I knew for so long and lost. Thank you for waking me up !!! to making the most of what we have in life . Great to watch.

[@sataomm]

That's great to hear and thanks for watching! If you liked your CB, do check out the CB125R as well, if you want a bit more speed. I love the simplicity of the CB125F though.

[@lmazeas]

really do enjoy watching your vids. Hats off Richard.

[@sataomm]

Thanks, that's very nice. I've put more work into these France videos. Editing takes ages but I like the result. Still finding my feet on YT. The maintenance ones seem most successful. I've got a few in mind - hoping to change the brake fluid in the next few weeks.

[@stevetaylor8698]

Takes me back. In the seventies/early eighties we would tour northern Europe, mainly France. But planning started in the depths of winter, going to the pub on a cold, perhaps snowy evening and spreading the Michelin maps out, weighed down with pots of ale. Flicking through the Michelin camping guide to choose our campsites. The cars in France were a lot more interesting back then. as were the roads - and the toilets. Loved it.

[@sarahpeaker8404]

Love your videos. Really impressed how you dealt with the riding in Paris. Made my head spin with all the riding on the other side!!!

[@sataomm]

Thanks! It was OK, I tried to think about nearside and offside instead of left and right, which helps a lot. I think it'd be harder in a car.

[@tyenicholson6152]

Subscribed, fantastic watching your journey! Perhaps you could do a breakdown of all costs leading you to Paris? From fuel costs, camping and anything in between? I'd be curious to know how much it would cost me as I'd be very interested in attempting this!

[@KevinSimpson_576]

I’m loving this series of videos, what a fun trip.

[@sataomm]

Thanks! It's odd for me to have an adventure in one week, then spend ages editing and releasing one day a week and talking to people about it. Very nice actually to remember it all.

[@davidmatthews3093]

I’ve been enjoying these videos, thank you. It’s lovely seeing somebody enjoying the French countryside as so many KZbinrs seem intent on blasting through the north of France to get somewhere else. You are also showing how a small motorcycle can be perfect for touring. My own ‘touring’ motorcycle is small by most people’s standards being a CB500X but it’s the best touring bike I have ever owned. I’ve done a bit of touring recently on an elderly Suzuki DR125 including a weekend away at the Millevaches weekend, camping at 1000m in the Massif Central in December. Unfortunately(?) I gave the DR125 to a friend only last week, I bought a Voge 300 Rally last December and couldn’t justify having the three bikes. I now ride with it not on it. 🙂 Thanks again.

[@sataomm]

Thanks, I do like the look of the CB500X. Funny, to me that would seem like a big bike. Could you comfortably carry two on it? I need to be able to take the Mrs. on these trips some day.

[@derosabike]

“I’ve turned into one of those people” - remember that it all starts with posting a little bit of Latte art on Facebook😮

[@stephenmundane]

Lovely video thanks Richard. I've often wondered what exactly is "All the Gear"? I've been happy the past 40 years riding in a leather jacket, gloves and stout boots and even though I've had a few crashes (I'm that good) at varying speeds involving an open road (too much speed) and other vehicles (not enough observation) I've never been seriously injured -- am I just lucky? Is what I've been wearing the minimum? Should I be stuffing bits of foam down my trousers and in my jacket? How about an air vest? Or a neck brace. Saying all that, the only time I have broken anything (an ankle) is when I collided with a pile of rocks hidden by long grass in a paddock riding a dirt-bike. I was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt, so perhaps those stout boots would've been a good idea eh ;-)

[@sataomm]

It's a really hard question to answer. I think by 'all the gear' people mean helmet, jacket, boots, trousers, gloves. But proper bike versions have both impact resistance (armour pads) and scrape resistance (Kevlar). All depends on your attitude to risk. Riding a motorbike is many times more dangerous than driving a car, but every time I see someone riding like a total prat I like to think they're taking up a lot of that statistic for me. The deal I make with myself is proper gear and attitude, and biking is still plenty fun enough. Riding down the street half naked in flip flops may be more fun, but not enough more. Just my humble opinion!

[@davidmatthews3093]

Like Richard I wear appropriate gear all the time. One of my motivations is that a few years ago a young motorcyclist was knocked off his motorcycle while stopped at some traffic lights in the small town where I lived. He died from his injuries. He and his wife had been at the swimming pool and he had ridden home in t-shirt and shorts to pick up something they had forgotten. He lost so much skin through abrasion the doctors could not save him. Modern protective clothing is great. I have a mesh jacket that I wear during the summer months that keeps me cool and I recently bought an air bag vest. I must admit I don’t always wear that locally but I always use it when touring or riding on busy roads. Perhaps it’s overkill but why wouldn’t someone want to protect themselves? Unlike you I’ve had very few incidents while motorcycling altho riding at least a few days per week all year.

[@ralfhoffmann2487]

You are just so unflappable!

[@BN1960]

Nice video Which Knox jeans are they RIchard - think I need some Cheers

[@sataomm]

Thanks! They’re the Shield Spectra jeans. I liked them a lot - cooler as a single layer jean, the microlock armour is very comfortable and thin. I’ve also got the Richmond 2 pair, and I do like those too, they’re just warmer as they’re lined.

[@maxturner3604]

Enjoyable video and narration as usual, that's a handy little temperature gauge do you mind if I ask where it's from?

[@sataomm]

It's a pocket sized BBQ thermometer from ETI. I couldn't find it again on amazon, sorry!

[@maxturner3604]

@@sataomm Thanks for looking Richard much appreciated

[@spanners73]

Great uploads 😊. What satnav app are you using on your phone if you don't mind me asking 🤔

[@sataomm]

Only google maps. I did download the offline map in advance, just in case.

[@spanners73]

@@sataomm thank you 😊

[@ShaunKelly-c1f]

What camera on you using on the bike for the view of the road ahead thank you Richard

[@sataomm]

Pretty much all shot on a DJI OSMO Action 4. Except a handful of shots on camp, from the ferry windows, etc. All helmet and handlebar shots are the DJI. It's such a great camera it feels like cheating.

[@ShaunKelly-c1f]

@@sataomm it’s look really good quality of the video cheers

[@ShaunKelly-c1f]

Is it that dji osmo action 4 adventure or standard

[@sataomm]

@@ShaunKelly-c1f I got the standard kit, so I've actually only got one battery but it doesn't seem to matter. It lasts for 2 hours of 1080p recording, and when empty, it charges up to 90% in just 30 mins with a fast charger. Barely any need for additional batteries. I might add a 2nd camera some day for more angles, but I'm doing fine for now.

[@eddradcliffe]

Did you leave your tent behind?

[@sataomm]

Yes. Nothing valuable though.

[@ShaunKelly-c1f]

Have you done you full bike test or a CBT test and also can you ride on a cbt test in France because that’s what I have only got thank you Richard

[@sataomm]

@@ShaunKelly-c1f I've got my full A license, I'm just riding my 125 because I like it. I believe the CBT isn't valid in France, you need a full licence, and if you have an A1 or A2, the same restrictions apply there as here.

[@ShaunKelly-c1f]

@@sataomm thank you Richard

[@ripmax333]

@2:23 I once saw a video on KZbin with a channel like yours, what he did is to put a sticker of an arrow on his wind deflector or on top of the Tank to remind himself to stay on the correct side of the road, simple but effective😅. I would definitely do the same, I'm from Malta😅, roundabouts would be my biggest fear 😆

[@sataomm]

@@ripmax333 That’s a good idea. Yes it really felt like fighting muscle memory going anti-clockwise! All good after a while though.

[@tomford5495]

I heard about 150 people met during life, not 1000. Majority peple lived in small groups without changing teritorry. Who knows?

[@fuglbird]

You must let pedestrians pass in a crosswalk. Once in a while you ride like a typical British hooligan. You would not get away with that in my town.

[@howardcook5416]

Very boring