I set off on another solo trip on the Rising Star not long ago, but it ended up being a 300km excursion in the rain, which wasn't much fun at all.
There were still moments of pure riding joy as the machine handles so well and is just so cool, but all in all it was not the most satisfying experience.
With no front fender, as soon as the road is even slightly wet, the front wheel shoots up a plume of water droplets that must be at least 2 meters high, much to the horror, confusion and delight of oncoming traffic. It also provides a refreshing, tickling sensation on my face and beard, but eventually you get soaked to the bone and it's not that much fun. Or all that clean.
On the plus side, I think I've figured out an improvement I can make to the luggage using the enormous, yellow Touratech bag, or even the Famsa. I think I might also have a pad made for the rear fender, to match the seat and provide extra support for luggage.
Other than that, I have rediscovered the SR666 that goes from the town of Sora all the way to the border with Abruzzo and eventually leads to Opi; don't let its satanic designation fool you, this is a beautiful road with a rich and varied scenery that's well-suited to a slow bike. I will make another attempt whenever I can, as the itinerary I had in mind should make for a fun three-day outing.
For now, time to rearrange the workshop so I can bring the Rising Star in for the next part of the upgrade, hopefully soon.
