Classic bike and Spain.

[twolitre]

I am hoping to visit Spain and Southern France on one of my Classic Triumph Speed twins. 5T or 5TA - not decided yet.
Has anyone any useful tips on any aspect to offer?
I expect to cover between 1500 and 2000 miles from home and back.
On past bike performance I am not anticipating trouble. But......................................?
Jim.
 

[RichP]

If you're riding in Spain, be very polite to the traffic Police. They unholster and make ready to fire quicker than a UK Bobby can lick his pencil.

[twolitre]

I have just neen warned not to stop the engine of my bike in the highest parts of the Pyrenees or I may find it difficult or impossible to start it again!
Is this a problem due to altitude or just a scare story?
Any experiences?
Jim.

[Revband]

Any engine will require a different air/petrol mixture at high altitude, most makers of the time would publish figures for bikes used constantly at different heights above sea level, the reason being that the air becomes less dense.

In reality unless you are spending a few years there then just ignore it, the bike will start but perhaps wont run at it's best.

[rogerwilko]

Just do a roll start!

[twolitre]

Thanks Revband and Rogerwilco,
I already realised that intake vacuum would be less at altitude and so would the atmospheric pressure in the floatchamber and that there would be less MIXTURE intake, but I could not  decide whether the result would a mixture of similar to normal ratio or significantly weaker or richer. I rather suspect weaker.
I had already decided there ought to be enough downhill from a col to roll start!
 Only twice have I ever had trouble starting my bike and that was in the car park of the Cat and Fiddle Inn in the Pennines on different occasions. Not as high as the Pyrennese, but it has now made me think!
Jim.

[twolitre]

Just thought an update on this was called for.
I never got the chance to take note of the comments above. My Spanish adventure was a disaster.
I got 3 miles from home on my 5TA before the clutch cable snapped and only 5 miles on my 5T before it siezed up. I talked my friends into continuing without me.
Three days later I had a stroke! Cannot make up my mind whether fortune was in my favour or not!
Still not allowed to ride my bikes nor able to make the effort to strip and rebuild the 5T. Though mending well.
Jim.

[Bomber]

Ouch!

[Mr B]

Bad luck Jim. Here's to a full recovery and your next attempt to conquer the Pyrenees!