Ledany are you still out there?

[Robert]

Was wondering about you since you haven't posted on the board lately or I have not seen it. How are things in France with all this terror stuff? Heard they stopped a attack today, hope your ok.

Last Active:    March 21, 2016, 07:54:52 AM

[ledany]

@Robert, it's awfully nice of you to wonder ! 

Fortunately I'm fine and I don't post that often because I don't see what I could add to what you say about the Valk !  (Maybe that I didn't have to change anything on mine, except the windshield, the front brake pads, the levers for adjustable levers - my hands are not as big as yours  - the Givi trunk, the winter gear ; I totally agree with you about the maintenance costs : 24,000 miles on the clock, went three times at the dealer's 10' km/20'km and 30'km = less than 400 US$, probably three times less than with my former bmws which were reliable too).


I can't really tell about the atmosphere here since the killings in Brussels because I work too much, never watch TV - newspapers only - and  I never use the subway. I was told though that the subway this morning was empty - 3 days break - and otherwise that you can feel that people in the subway seem very cautious, sometimes changing cart whenever they feel unsafe - don't ask me on what ground 


If you've ever been in Brussels, you may know how cool the city and the inhabitants are, often friendly as you are. They have a large sense of humour, it's not a legend. The city hall in Paris has belgian calicots on every window, sure they are cousins   

[Robert]

In your daily commute do you have many stop and go or is it pretty much highway situations and what about the tight streets and traffic. Good to hear your ok and maybe its about time to stop working so much and get out and enjoy the country side 

[ledany]

Actually my job is fun ! And the traffic is no problem at all for me. The Valk is easy in the city (probably not as fast as a scooter or a bicycle but who cares ?). I enjoy Paris a lot (movies, theaters, museums, opéras, ballets, concerts etc.), I was born here, I don't really need to relax elsewhere 

[Robert]

Looking good, great shot  glad all is ok and life is good when I heard about the problems I wondered. I would love to go to Brussels some day have been to England and stayed awhile. A few countries I would like to go to are Israel, France, actually to tour Europe maybe on the train would be great. So much to see and do it takes time.

[_Sheffjs_]

Ok, went over the pond in 2008 and 2009. For me Paris was awesome and I did not care for London much. Did 8 night cruise to the Fjords of Norway. Wow! 

  What I do remember about Paris was the Arc de Triomphe. Ledany you say traffic is no problem? The traffic in the circle around it was insane! Stupid me! I did not know there was a walking tunnel over to the Arc!  Needless to say I took the tunnel back. 

[ledany]

Maybe I shouldn't say that but to tell the truth the traffic jam in Paris is real ... when you intend to drive a car during the day. Not only because of the other cars but you must often pray to find a parking lot and wander for +/- 20 minutes ? But I don't have any car since 1999 and the fact is that bikes in Paris don't follow the rules. Of course we stop at the red lights but the rest of the road regulations is open to one's interpretation. The cops know that and usually let it go, unless you behave in an obvious arrogant manner   

[Kidd]

I was in Paris 10 years ago and I remember , as we were walking the streets , cars would stop at red light and seconds later a bunch of scooters/motorcycles   would make their way to the front of the cars , light turns green , the scooters/motorcycles would take off first and cars would follow.
Light turns red , cars are first stop ,  and scooters/motorcycles , weaving  between cars  making  their way to the front , light turns green  and scooters/motorcycles are go first , followed by the cars
this happens
over and over

[havoc]

looking good Ledany! 

[ledany]

I was in Paris 10 years ago and I remember , as we were walking the streets , cars would stop at red light and seconds later a bunch of scooters/motorcycles   would make their way to the front of the cars , light turns green , the scooters/motorcycles would take off first and cars would follow.
Light turns red , cars are first stop ,  and scooters/motorcycles , weaving  between cars  making  their way to the front , light turns green  and scooters/motorcycles are go first , followed by the cars
this happens
over and over

It's still accurate. The fact is that who don't abide to the legislation, we don't respect speed limits, we cross the white line as often as necessary, pass on the right of cars, behave like real barbarians or aliens 

Car drivers in Paris are used to it and very often they give way, sometimes fold their mirrors to facilitate the way in the compact jam. We skip the speed limits and don't fear radars (no license plate on the front, for some heavy criminals  very bright license plate at the rear  ???). I heard of a 1190 KTM driver caught at 199 km/h for 90 km/h (124 miles/56 miles), sentenced 6 months driving license ban, lucky one !  I swear I'm not the one, I only had a 990 SMT 

Otherwise we do have our rednecks as you do, using their telephone while driving, texting, drunk, stupid, blind, too old etc. Outside Paris and in the rest of the country the situation is different and you have to be really careful.
I read today in the french BMW GS forum that an experienced bike driver has died recently in a bike accident. The risk to die in a bike accident nowadays here is one to seven (optimistic ratio) or one to twenty (pessimistic ratio) 

With the Valk, I am lowering the ratio !