Decided I need to make a more determined attempt to sell my Tuono this year so went a dug it out prepared to mutter about flat batteries. But blow me down if it didn't start up straight away after sitting for the best part of a year. Off to Facebook marketplace it goes Bet the bevel will not be so accommodating.
Got my IMI National Observer accreditation soon so thought I’d better make sure my meeting and mid ride stops were still there (and open) and check my chosen route met the criteria I’ve been given. Pleased to say all good but my run out inevitably involved popping in to Moto Rapido I’d finally decided to pull the pin on a garage companion for the V4 Pikes Peak and was looking at 2 nearly new bikes, a Scrambler Full Throttle and a 937cc Monster Both bikes had been in the shop for some months but on arrival I discovered I’d left it a couple of days too late Hey ho, might have to talk myself in to either an 18 month old 937cc Monster SP or a pre registered (2024) Scrambler Icon both of which are a bit more than I wanted to pay 1st world problems. Andy
Fitted some carbon to the new bike. I’m waiting for a PPF kit to arrive, which should be here by the weekend. I’m desperate to ride the bike, but it’d be Sod’s Law that I pick up a stone chip or two before fitting the film, so might wait until I’ve done it, before going out for a proper ride.
Finally got around to looking at my 996 to get a European certificate of conformity (for France)... means I need to have the original exhausts, a 100hp Eprom, and dipped lights that face the opposite way to the UK... Was going to make the dipped "filter" out of a bean can... but on cutting the can up I started to have a better plan... Which was to cut down the left-hand side of the "filter" I already had, then build up the RHS... Voilà... I then Araldite-d a bit of the bean can to build up the other side! (150deg C usable opp. temp - so should be ok) Bosh...sorted! and as I was in there, I re-painted the black mask on the lenses and de-fogged the inside. Successful day again.
Over to Fowlers later on to collect a side panel for the z1000 mine was all scratched up and its cheaper to buy a brand new one than get it resprayed believe it or not. 4 Litres of semi synthetic oil for the gearbox on the SXV550 and an oil filter.
Fitted a new air filter to my MT10.. Then took it for a short run to see if I really do want to sell or keep it a while longer. The ride didn't help the decision
Spent about 5 hours fitting PPF to the RS. What a ball ache of a job. It goes on painted parts much easier than carbon, hopefully the sun will dry all the air bubbles out!
Fitted a new front sprocket to the Gas Gas to replace to one which made a bid for freedom last weekend. It’s 12T rather than 11T and it has transformed the bike. Previously, it was massively under-geared for green-laning and had a more or less unusable 1st “granny” gear which revved out almost immediately, then 4 gears that were basically all the same, followed by a gap to 6th gear and so I’d tend to set off in 2nd then bang through the box as quick as I could all the way up to 6th. However, it’s much calmer now, 1st is useable and the rest of the ratios actually make sense too.
Ordered a new chain for the Multi today. The existing OEM Chain and Sprockets were fitted by Riders of Bridgwater last October before I collected the bike, so only 1000 miles ridden at most from new. Whilst my garage isn't the best it doesn't have high levels of moisture but the chain still doesn't look great. I did lube it before winter storage and it will probably clean up OK with a bit of elbow grease, it's only the side plates that are a little rusty. On my previous Multi I'd fitted a DID Gold chain and that was far better at resisting this. Had a look this morning and spotted that eBay are doing a 20% off until the end of the month with a selection of vendors including The Bike Guys. This made a DID ZVM-X 530 Gold 114 link chain £105.60, rather than £132, with free delivery. Once I've removed the old chain I'll give it a clean and either stick it in a box as a spare or offer it up to any takers, will need a new soft link but will have plenty of miles left in it.
Finally managed to fit the rear wheel to my bevel after realising I had originally fitted the inner spacer the wrong way round In my defence it was a year since I stripped the bearings out.
Been for a wander round SBF Donington, to get ideas for a bigger, slightly more powerful bike for touring, shopping trips with the wife on the back, that the current Versys 650 So far, the options they had in stock are, the Versys 1000 or a Ducati Angry Birds 950
I just had the best biking day I’ve had for a long while. I went and did a bit of green-laning in the local area along a not particularly exciting stretch of only about a mile across the countryside between two towns, with the plan being to ride it in one direction, turn around, and ride it in the other until I either got bored or tired. As I was doing so, I encountered a group of about half a dozen lads on dirt bikes strung across the lane and I stopped to talk to them. It turned out they were Travellers from the local site and they told me that on the other side of the hedges and across the field there’s a huge open area of land where they go to have some proper fun. They asked if I fancied tagging along and I thought I’m either going to lose my bike or have an afternoon to remember, so I mentally flipped a coin in my head and joined the group. My faith in humanity’s basic goodness was rewarded when I found that not only were there acres and acres of wasteland with all sorts of interesting and challenging terrain, persons unknown had built a rough and ready motocross track complete with jumps and berms and whatnot. 4 hours, a couple of tumbles, plenty of aches, pains, bumps and bruises later and down to the last dregs of my reserve tank, I bid adieu to these motorcycle-mounted gentlemen of the road and headed home. It was one of those days where you feel like a kid again.
