|
Dear
all, Welcome to the tenth edition of the Unicorn Adventures Ltd Newsletter! Enjoy your reading! If you need more information about a topic, drop us a line : contact@unicornadventures.com Have fun,
drive safely! Unicorn
Adventures Ltd Team |
|
1. Events
|
|
3.Cultural drops
4. The Ladies news 5. The techie tricks and tips |
| Iceland Raid 2009 Up to now Unicorn Adventures Ltd placed its focus on Premium service on its tours thus having a Premium pricing scheme. Due to the increase in cost of life, exchange rates and gas increase, as we still want our customers to enjoy the most beautiful sceneries, places and roads in Europe and Africa it has been decided to come with a new pricing scheme: the Medium one. There is no change in the quality of service brought to you by the Unicorn Adventures Ltd team but a slight change in the package. What is included in the pricing packages? Click here!
|
Our customers are nice enough to provide us their comments about what they think of the Unicorn Adventures Ltd tours and services. We have collected them and started the Golden Book. You can find it on our web site! Check here! |
|
BMW R1200GS vs F800GS
BMW F800GS &
R1200GS(c) Unicorn Adventures Ltd |
The 1200GS offers space for two and comfort for long distances. Would that tank accept at least 3 to 4 more litters of gas! With the 17 or so liters you get a range of max 300 km which is a bit low for such a bike (not talking about the Adventure version and its huge tank). On the other hand the F800GS, on the same roads and at the same rhythm can easily go for more than 450 km with a nice 4.5L/100km compared to the 6L/100km of the GS.
Comfort wise the 1200 offers two comfy saddles and a great position for both the pilot and the passenger. Climbing on it, if you are at the right size, is easy for the pilot and may require some gymnastics for the passenger. Both sit upright with no special stress to the knees or ankles. The 800GS is more selective and will only accept tall riders. It can come with a lowered saddle but don't expect any comfort from that one. The standard saddle is quite comfy but is in one piece and isn't flat, thus having the passenger slide forward on a regular basis. Seating position is ok and allows for much fun.
Riding! Isn't that the main topic? The R1200GS offers the usual stable and efficient riding! It is always fun to use that torque when getting out of a hair pin, or to enjoy the very stable way that bike rides any roads. The Telelever and Paralever help for fantastic breaking! Lighter, thinner, with a more nervous engine the F800GS is more like a toy! It jumps from one curve to the next with ease and gets you out of the hair pins in a delicious low grunt! Riding the 800GS is like dancing or going down a ski slope. When breaking though, one has to keep in mind the suspension is standard and that breaking hard induces a weight transfer that can lock the front wheel (the ABS is a great idea!).
Which one shall you chose? Both! The R1200GS will tour for ever in a very serious and comfy way while the F800GS will tour as far (and more) but will help you get your playful side come out! |
|
Aigues-Mortes
On the western side of the Camargue, close to the salt production swaps stands like a ship out of the ages the city of Aigues Mortes (the name comes from the latin Aquae Morta - dead waters). Citizens found that name so depressing that in 1248 they asked the king to use a more optimistic one like Bona per Forsa - Good anyway - but without any success.
But before Aigues-Mortes became the magnificent city it is, there were only salt swaps which attracted fishermen, and salt diggers. On the 8th century the "Bénédictains" monks came to build the Psalmodi Abbye and make profit of the salt business. During the 13th century, Aigues-Mortes sees a newcommer: the king St Louis, who like many other kings had that urge to go fight the infidels over the sea (Mediterranean sea). The only problem was that, at that time, France had no port on the Mediterranean sea. The monks gave him a piece of land in 1240 wheer he built his port (which by the way never saw the sea as the 1500 ships that sailed away in 1248 had to take the Vieil Canal to get to Grau Louis from where they could reach open waters. Following 8 years of fight and very little success, St Louis left Aigues-Mortes in 1270. It is only in 1272 that his son, Philippe le Hardi, built the strong walls. The town got rich over him, receiving from the Venetian the monopoly for all French mediterranean business. Unfortunately, after a while the canal got filled with sand. Even though some work was conducted during the 16th century to keep the town connected with the sea. In 1666, the development of the port of Sète definitely cancelled all hopes for the Aiguemortains (people living in Aigues-Mortes) to see their town stay on top. Nowadays, the 550mx350m city is worth walking around to enjoy the atmosphere! Why not do that while you are on the Mediterranean Tour or the Wines Tour de France? |
The Etna Volcano It is the biggest volcano in Europe and still active! Some figures: 3350m high, a total surface of 1250 square kms. It spreads out over 50km from North to south and 40km from east to west and is a complex structure made of four juxtaposed volcanoes.
|
|
|
|
A few months ago I told you about Catherine Birchall, this blind woman to be the first to circumnavigate the world on a motorcycle. What's the status? Did she start her wonderful trip? Cathy and her friend Bernard (the taxi driver as he calls himself) are still getting ready for departure, adjusting the most important elements: the choice regarding the best communication tool on the bike between them, getting the bike ready (after a few modifications, need to pass the Ministry of Transport Test), etc… They're about to leave soon and I look forward to getting more information about this adventure: A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles.
We are numerous to be really interested in security and protection while we ride… but sometimes fed up with the heavy and sticky leather or textile trousers and jackets, mainly during the summer period. Do you need funnier and trendier trousers shapes, as well as lighter, without lowering the protection? Luckily it is possible now to find ranges of products designed like Jeans to be a comfortable wearing, tough kicking, street styled alternative to leather or textile. Each Jean style comes in different leg lengths and incorporates Kevlar lining on all the major impact points. Some products even have additional CE approved armour at the knees. Hurry up girls, still sales period…! ;-) |
 |
Suitcase Holder.
This time we had to present a solution developed by one of our customers. For the first time his wife was willing to join him on a tour. But as he is a very nice guy he promised her that she would be able to carry all she needs for a week. Even though he is riding a K1200LT he had to find a way to get all their stuff on the bike, as there was no luggage management requested on this Unicorn Adventures Ltd tour. How can you fit a suitcase on a bike? Using the luggage rack on top of the top case raises the centre of gravity way too much...
He managed to build a structure, linked somehow on the bike frame, that was able to carry the suitcase. As you can see on the photo the suitecase isn't a small one.
Each curve helped to improve the system!
|