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1980 GS550E Electronic ignition .... issue

Worst case :

What would be the result of driving
the bike on just springs with rear shocks bust ?
I have one side gone at mo.

I drive it from Munich to Zurich not knowing !
No issues.

As I have to get out of here to France what is
My worst car scenario ?

Other than this bike going like a dream !
My top end rebuild must have been good .

Haha, Zurich with its open drugs policy years ago... Junkies came from all over Europe, reckon there must be plenty left there when they discovered it mightn't'v been such a good plan, place is a dump, do all the public loo's still have blue lights to stop junkies jacking up?
What do you mean shock is bust? Leaked all it's oil? If that's all just carry on but bear in mind that you've lost some damping.
The cool thing about what you're doing is getting to a cross road sighn and just going that way because you like the sound of the name. When you get to the South of France, Try to get to a place called Soarge, stunning roads, it means going into Italy to Ventamiglia then turn left straight North for a few miles. It's a middle ages Eagles nest town stuck to the side of a mountain, you will not regret it and it isn't the kind of place you would find without being told.
 
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En route to checz - Prague a week ago.
I'll try and upload some pics but need WiFi ....
and doing it via mobile phone.
 
I think it's right hand shock absorber .
Only works on spring. It is as if leaked all oil , seal gone.
No sign of leak.
Bike feels springycay back. Remember I'm loaded up.
Don't know what is the issue internally butwill
Check more tomorrow but I must flee this hell hole.

Countryside is great in Switzerland.
Avoid Zurich. Pointless going.

Will check that location in Lyon and if bike is ok to do it.
As you say I have lost some damping
 
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Ended up in Zurich town centre.
Not a great idea but not one horn blown at me.

Note to self: avoid cities and big towns from now on.
Of have too stay on outskirts.

Bike parked but with rh shock rear only on spring.
(Not lh as previously said)
 
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Happier time getting g to campsite in Prague.
Not great times but so much better than Zurich.

At 9am I flee for a campsite in Lyon, to good weather
and possibly south of France if suspension holds.
Perfect sun for at least 7 days .
Enough for a parts drop if required.

Bike running like a dream bar known issues.
I even pushed to cruise at 70 !(5000 revs)
I have 1/2 hourly bike breaks behind lorries slip streaming.

Check the BBC website for weather in nice.
It will make you jealous if I make it. But the suspension .....
Not even sent from eBay to UK address yet.
 
There is a route from Zurich south to this place, Ventamiglia.
A longish ride but doable if bike was ok.

Downloading Italy map as basically with one
Hop I get the good weather and the entire south
Of France run.

I have no idea what my suspension will do over
The alps but I might try it.
Anything is better that Zurich even wild camping on Mont blanc
Awaiting eBay delivery.

340 miles from where I am due south past Turin.

BUTjust checked and route meant to be bad online. Is that route bad ?
Is driving in Italy so bad ?
So its Lyon. If I had bike a1 I'd do it but I'm fleeing
So not the time to go south.
If bike ok then I'll do the short east trip there as suggested.
 
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Looks beautiful to me!
 
The roads tend to bumpier the further south you go in Italy and you will notice the difference as soon as you cross the border after Menton but it's fine. If it's ok for those scantily clad girls that zap past you on their twist and goes (And they will) I'm sure it'll be ok for you.

You know the suspension is bad so ride accordingly, the alps are something worth riding, you will get shocks in France easily.
 
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Zurich with its open drugs policy years ago... Junkies came from all over Europe, reckon there must be plenty left there when they discovered it mightn't'v been such a good plan, place is a dump, do all the public loo's still have blue lights to stop junkies jacking up?

Sigh...no, they don't, and the junkies are long since integrated back into society through various programmes.

Have a read here: http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/extern/storytelling/needletrauma/ (Warning; not a 5minute read)

I recognize the place ukjules was staying, it's not a bad neighborhood, but it's far from posh as well. There are bars there which are older than me. It's a fun district to trundle about drunken once in a while.

Two to four streets over, the environment changes drastically.
Edit: I was wrong, the thumbnail picture threw me off. It's absolutely fine there.
 
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Sigh...no, they don't, and the junkies are long since integrated back into society through various programmes.

Have a read here: http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/extern/storytelling/needletrauma/ (Warning; not a 5minute read)

I recognize the place ukjules was staying, it's not a bad neighborhood, but it's far from posh as well. There are bars there which are older than me. It's a fun district to trundle about drunken once in a while.

Two to four streets over, the environment changes drastically.

Good, place is still a dump. Lots of old bars about. Even being 2-4 streets over from a dodgy spot being foreign, alone and far from home is way too close and an unnecessary risk when you have everything to lose.
 
I recognize the place ukjules was staying, it's not a bad neighborhood, but it's far from posh as well.

Had to correct myself, the thumbnail picture threw me off. This place is absolutely no problem. I pass it often.

Good, place is still a dump.

By 'place', you are referring to...?
 
I have had to leave Italy as took off at 8am for lyon .
Management decision 're state of bike.
Arrived safely but take it easy on rear shocks.
It was a test can a old bike take pouring rain
For half of the way. I endured it .
Main roads but what scenery through the rain !
And tunnels.


I stayed in the awful area in zurich.
My picture is not where I stayed .
I thought mysellf in a scene from taxi driver.

It is awful. Building works everywhere, rain makes it even more awful.
I will never go there again .
I must learn to leave the big cities unless they are like Venice , Prague .....
On this trip the good times all have been in small towns.
I long for the rolling hills of the Somme again in summer.
What history , what scenery , what nice people.

Lyon now on outskirts in cheap hotel..
Too tired to go to cebtrer and too mu h bother tonavigate
Buses. There is no way I'm riding in after Zurich.


Decision now , home via central France to cherbourg
Or via Barcelona and santandwr.
I long for Spain and the sea.

260 m radius is the max I can ride now in a day.
Easily but that is it now after 23 days out.
 
I have had to leave Italy as took off at 8am for lyon .
Management decision 're state of bike.
Arrived safely but take it easy on rear shocks.
It was a test can a old bike take pouring rain
For half of the way. I endured it .
Main roads but what scenery through the rain !
And tunnels.


I stayed in the awful area in zurich.
My picture is not where I stayed .
I thought mysellf in a scene from taxi driver.

It is awful. Building works everywhere, rain makes it even more awful.
I will never go there again .
I must learn to leave the big cities unless they are like Venice , Prague .....
On this trip the good times all have been in small towns.
I long for the rolling hills of the Somme again in summer.
What history , what scenery , what nice people.

Lyon now on outskirts in cheap hotel..
Too tired to go to cebtrer and too mu h bother tonavigate
Buses. There is no way I'm riding in after Zurich.


Decision now , home via central France to cherbourg
Or via Barcelona and santandwr.
I long for Spain and the sea.

260 m radius is the max I can ride now in a day.
Easily but that is it now after 23 days out.

Your bike is fine, you got support, you'll get shocks (if you must have them) I know what I would do......
 
I must admit being told by owners club site to continue is helpful !
I would have gone under / over the alps to Turin and then
Onto places informed of to nice , but I thought the suspension would
disintegrate.......
I chickened out as have never done that and it was gored goal rain in Zurich.

It is like both shocks lost all oil and seals but as you say
it is fine , iv done 500m with them like this.

New being sent to base at UK. Will be there by Wed.
I am aiming for a rioutous place to get them sent too.
Barcelona .... So I can await them in peace and beers.

But. As always I follow the weather. Nice is perfect now
Montpelier is perfect.
Montpellier it is then, then I can go either way.

It is just down here in s France I can't think of any place to go
off the motorways .... Like the history up north.
No military sites.
My ideal would be to spend a week holed up in the perfect village awaiting parts.
I'll think when I get to Montpellier.
Again not booked anything down there and will just leave to fate ....

My lack of knowledge down here makes me go on .motorways chasing sun.
Also campsites are closing as out of season.
Mad as like a English summer weather !

2370 miles so far over 26 days
 
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I made the decision and went from Lyon to Montpellier , camped , then immediately to near Barcelona.
Picture is a celebration I made it to Spain in tossa de Mar.
Oh and its sunny ! Went snorkling.

Bike ok and wackednthe suspension up 2 notches .
Tested today asbstayong in hotel here fornfewbdays to rest up
And went for burn on bike unloaded.
Oh you should see these roads !

My mind isbset on Gibraltar now .
Mad qhatbhappens on this site. I only asked about electronic ignition
And ended up in Spain !
 
Just to say that the suspension should've been up on their hardest with the bike loaded up like it is.

You will be going along the Costa Del Sol and the main road that runs along the bottom is dubbed the most dangerous in Spain, its ok just be aware. The best places to stop are a couple'v miles back from the coast, serene and delightful little places in the hills.
Gib is one big traffic jam and the border is a busy place all the time especially at rush hours with workers crossing to and fro, so bike is the way to go, plenty of military history there, the mountain is honeycombed with caves 37 miles I think, also I think you can get guided tours there now. Top of the mountain is worth a visit if you can round all the tourist busses. There are some ok bars in Gib but Spain is better I think. Also keep your eyes open the immigrants from Africa have a bad reputation, round Algeciras and La linear keep your wits about you. It's ok but just keep your eyes open. UK currency is legal tender there as it is vice versa however, in UK you will find it difficult to pass off Gib pounds.
You're in a good place to cruise via Portugal from Gib or Tarifa.
 
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Herbs (motorbikes name ) half way up Montserrat today.

I am heading south . Big jump of 270m tomorrow for herbs.
But will be in alicante and then easy jumps down south.

Sounds horrendous down there but I'll keep ready to attack anyone
Who looks suspicious .
Valencia , almeria , Malaga , Seville , Gibraltar and algrave
are the targets.

I'll up the suspension am tomorrow.

Glorious sun and warm here !
Sea lapping on shore with beers . To he'll with work
ifnibhad a job that is.

Advice taken !
 
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