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Chippy

@meetmobility.com
642 followers 121 following 768 posts

I'm Steve 'Chippy' Paine. I write about mobility as it relates to tech, camping and motorcycles. I'm planning a 10000 km European tour in '27. My linktree can be found at chippy.meetmobility.com

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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 30/09/2026
The "uncanny valley" is something I won't forget. Thanks for the write up.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 30/09/2026
Exactly. A real 100km/h, currently 107 for me. I don't have major buzzing but in general it's just too noisy, inefficient and bufferty (is that a word?) at higher speeds. I might push it up a little on the German Autobahn!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 30/09/2026
The shakedown tour, DE to UK, went perfectly. 1200 km. What I learnt: - Yup, I took too much. - Motorway cruising best at 100 km/h . - Most efficient on country roads - Great lights for night riding - People like the V85! #motosky #v85tt #motoguzzi #motocamping #meetmobility
Black and white image of V85TT being ridden awayA person mounting a motorcycle Four motorbikes at a campsite V85 and KTM 890 Adventure with luggage
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 20/09/2026
"Metric Cruisers" 😂
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 16/09/2026
Designed to keep the loudest people quiet. The Spotify model will be accepted eventually though, leaving small scale experts with nothing. The only upside is that bodies of good, original, breaking, expert, deep research could go up in value on the open market.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 13/09/2026
Very much looking forward to my trip via Hoek van Holland to UK next Sunday night and the camping the following weekend. I just love that moment when you ride onto the ferry and strap the bike down. This time with the Guzzi, not the VFR, #motosky
A VFR800 motorbike strapped down on a ferry
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
Yeah. Weather and fatigue will always play a role in changing day to day plans.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
I'm really loving it to be honest. VFR to go on the market!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
This could be the answer for planning the major and minor waypoints with Calimoto (I'm a long-rime user) handling inter-waypoint route styling on the day. Maybe I'm overthinking this!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
Out in the Eifel region today on an oft-riden, but always fantastic route. The pace was high so I had to push the V85 hard. #germany #motoguzzi #v85tt #motosky
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
Yes, My Route is one I want to try on the desktop, too. I love the idea of the map layers on that one.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
Kurviger keeps coming up. Very similar to Calimoto and I think both of those are good for the finer details of a day ride. Set the style between the waypoints and off you go! Thx for the feedback.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 12/09/2026
Long distance, multi day tour planning. I have been happy with segmenting a long route in Calimoto. But... Others seem to think that MRA is the way to go. The challenge is exporting waypoint routes to navi and then setting the desired riding style between waypoints. Image: How it started. #motosky
A map showing Europe and a rough diving route hand drawn over the top.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 09/09/2026
Haha. Truly bringing new life to old photos.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 07/09/2026
Interesting. Over 25 years in Germany I've noticed how desirable English has become. More people than ever want to speak English and I think (without any proof) that it's YouTube and social media that did it. It's a generation since that all started.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 06/09/2026
Colour-matched luggage. I spent 4 years looking for them, to no avail. I will miss the VFR. Nearly 40k km of pure fun. But it's a terrible bike in the city and not something I can take on my planned European tour in 2027. What did you get after the VFR?
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 06/09/2026
Getting back on the VFR800 after three months on the V85TT was crazy. It sprang to life first go and sounds so, so nice. Alas, it will go on the market soon. Germany, NRW If anyone is interested in a huge amount of quality sports tourer, for very little money. #vfr800 #rc46 #motoguzzi #motosky
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 06/09/2026
Respect!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 05/09/2026
I've been there. Tie-down straps to haul a bike up from the side of a hill! I also have some stretch cord. I don't like to think about having to use them, but...!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 05/09/2026
I've never been there on 🏍️. Wonderful area. Have a great day. I can almost smell the schnitzel you're going to have at the end of it! My heatmap. Eifel region is worth a day if you're heading back up to Calais (easy onward journey via Lille.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 05/09/2026
The sewing kit will be nothing special but, yeah, some strong threads would be a bonus. Tent, sleeping bag, zips etc. What would you recommend?
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 05/09/2026
Emotions, route and too many luxury items. Here's an update on the planning, 9 months out. #motosky meetmobility.com/news/9-month...
meetmobility.com
9 Months until the 10000 km Tour. Status Update.
I've just, a few minutes ago, finished watching Long Way Home, the classic round-the-world trip done by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. They weren't the first to do this but the story they told ins...
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 04/09/2026
Enjoy. Where are you heading?
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 04/09/2026
I feel very at one with the bike. With your words and my affinity for this tractor, I'm sure it's going to be fine, and fun
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 04/09/2026
That's a good sign!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 03/09/2026
Scary stuff. How did you feel afterwards? Did you have to stop?
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 03/09/2026
9 months until the 10000 km tour. I feel confident about the #motoguzzi although the rest of the team have gone for #KTM. 890, 1190, 1290 variants, all over 100 PS Vs the V85TT with well under 80. IT vs AT First though, the shakedown tour in 3 weeks in UK. #motosky #meetmobility
Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel on a road in front of forested hills. Clouds in the blue sky.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 01/09/2026
No but I just realised that this song has been extremely well covered over the years.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 01/09/2026
Thank you for all your help. I wrote about the setup in a new article on MeetMobility. I'll be testing it in a shakedown tour in the UK at the end of September. meetmobility.com/information/...
meetmobility.com
A 120 Liter Hard / Soft Luggage Solution for the Moto Guzzi V85 TT
I'm not a big fan of the side-opening luggage on the V85 TT Travel because as soon as you open it, everything falls out but there is a better way to use them. Treat them as destination suitcases. This...
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 01/09/2026
There's not much left of it here in Bonn!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 24/08/2026
A cool project!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 24/08/2026
Yeah, got that covered. I learnt that the hard way!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
There are a lot of variants around. I paid about €35 for mine. Search for telescopic stool.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
I've had this for many years. It was expensive, but back when the quality was very good. I use this for repairs, as a small table and it packs down to the disc underneath the cargo bag.
A collapsible stool.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
I've done some camping this year so I've already got my pillow tested. "FLEXTAILGEAR Neck Contour Inflatable Camping Pillow." I need to decide on a new sleeping bag and I think I'm going for something very lightweight, plus a liner.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
Trash. Very good point. I've got a bunch of bags i'll use for clean / dirty but I forgot about trash. Thanks for that tip.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
I still need to work out a toolkit for the V85 TT. I'll do some servicing in the next quarter and work that out. @nevada-stray-cat.bsky.social Yeah, there's a few bits, i'm sure.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
Good point. I have a location in mind in the side pockets of the cargo bag. I also have to remind myself to suit-up ASAP. I always leave it too late.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
Seriously? That's a huge undertaking. Was it a like for like BMS swap?
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
Tourers, your feedback will be helpful. Day / hotel luggage on top. Camping and tools on the sides. Side opening luggage works well in this setup but what am I missing? Max:110l, more than enough space #motosky #v85tt #motoguzzi #motocamping #mototouring #swmotech Secret collapsible stool, too!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
I'm very sorry to hear that. Stay safe everyone.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
My pic, Gemini styling. (Wahnbachtalsperre, Bonn)
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 23/08/2026
For V85 TT owners - my shortlist of tyre choices for the 10000 km tour (and other options.) I figured if I was making notes, I might as well make the public. #motosky #motoguzzi #V85tt meetmobility.com/information/...
meetmobility.com
A list of tyres for the Moto Guzzi V85TT, and my choices for the 10000 km tour.
90/10? 70/30? What's the best strategy for my 10000 km motorcycle adventure in south east Europe? I've worked my way through all the possibilities and have listed every tyre I can find below. I've add...
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 22/08/2026
Real world testing. Part 1: Shopping in the rain. ☂️ #motosky #v85tt #motoguzzi
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 21/08/2026
Funny, I'm doing similar research. Currently testing Moto 2 for day routes. It has some good GPX import features. Testing Calimoto and Beeline for planning. Loving the real topological maps on that. New web based planner too.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 21/08/2026
Ok, that makes sense. Getting the time off work has been one of my challenges too. I'll probably end up doing unpaid leave, which I'll have to save for! Sponsors are difficult I know. I'm working on that too.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 21/08/2026
Another question. What are you using for planning. I'm currently using Calimoto to do day plans on a general route set in Google.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 21/08/2026
Why did you cut out the Balkans? Time? I'm doing a 10000 km tour, with Balkans, starting next June. See you on the road!
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 21/08/2026
Keep us posted. My HJC F70 is comfortable but noisy so I'm looking to upgrade.
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Chippy @meetmobility.com · 21/08/2026
A little background: I'm not an influencer but I know what makes products appear in search. Quality writing, a focused mature website and a digitally connected author. I have a list of things I need and the tour will be the best place to give them a real-world, no BS test.
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