weekend debrief

[guest7]

Saturday was quite bikey for a change. I left home at 7.30am to deliver a CG125 and a set of XL forks to Rog, who lives some 40 miles away. I arrived early and got the bike off the van and parked outside his shed before he showed his face. This was no hardship as a CG is a doddle to move around, you could almost tuck it under your arm and carry it around. He made me a nice cup of coffee and I was reintroduced to his two lads, Seb and Nat. They are good lads and lots of fun.

On the way home I called over to my brother's house to discuss separating the Jawa and sidecar that we had picked up the night before. We agreed to do the job that afternoon and after some time spent back in the bosom of my family I set off again with a van full of tools. The split went well and in no time we had the job done and the bike in the back of the van. I will be dropping it off at the mechanic's workshop tomorrow. The seller assured us that it had been running until recently and the fact that it is taxed until the end of this month suggests that there is some truth to this. I will report back tomorrow evening after its autopsy.

This morning I was up early again to push my Sorned CB500 half a mile to BJ's house. He has agreed to garage the bike for me whilst i work on the XBR and GB. With the CG and CB out of my garage I've finally got some room to move. I got there early too so to kill time I rang Simon Morgan to see how his Elefant trip is going. He said they were on the ferry and so far so good.

On Friday I had picked up the XBR's forks from the engineer who had removed the seized and snapped bolts. I intended fitting these today, but my wife works on Sundays and i was stuck in the house with my two lads. I will get the XBR back on its wheels tonight. Once it's rolling I can finally offer it up to the Velorex sidecar chassis and look at what mounts need to be made.

There's also the little business of filling in my tax return     I can see a long night surrounded by receipts ahead of me.

GC

[squirrelciv]

Saturday morning was spent writing out a schedule of works for the impending extension project and listing all the quotes I've received against the relevant tasks. Spent the afternoon starting some of the background jobs I need to do before the projecy starts in earnest (moving a patio area and plumbing the shed for the washing machine).

I took myself over to the Cowbridge cafe on the XT sunday morning and met up with Jethro, RobG, Furry John, BJ and others. Lervly way to idle away a morning, drinking tea and chatting bike and the general opinion was that the XT is OK. The afternoon was spent fettling. The bike backfired on me in the week and I'd noticed a leak where the down pipes meet the Produro manifold. Whipped off the exhaust, cleaned it up and replaced it using exhaust gasket sealer. Job done. Next was a clean up of a very, very cacked chain and re-lube it, check the oil (not lost any from last week, Phew), and try to get the plug out. However, the last job got me stumped! Could get the plug spanner on, but it didn't want to turn! Backed off at this point as I didn't want a sheered off plug stuck in the head, I'll worry about that another day.

Just put a casserole in the oven and waiting for wifey to come home with wine, ready for a chilled out evening. All in all a good weekend.

[guest868]

A mate came down from Derby yesterday, having picked up a Tenere on the way. We went out for a little 60 or so mile blat around the lanes-



Cracking stew and dumplings and a few too many beers last night (first time I've had more than a pint since Oct...curse being ill). He set off this morning and so I decided to give my Ten a clean to get rid of the winter crud. ACF50 had done it's job and everything is nice and spangly under there. Dug the garden over whilst we've still got frost to break the earth down and kill the slugs, did a test erection (sailor) of my tipi on the common, ready for the Dragon-



then had a surprise visit from my mate Al with the top yoke he's made for my DR/SR project. Chuffed as it means I can get the thing on it's wheels and really get cracking...

[robG]

Nice weekend really.
Few drinks and a chat at Gc's on Friday night led to a very relaxed Saturday morning pottering about. Saturday afternoon saw Bj and his lad arrive just as I was removing the coils from a VF500 I'd been given. Vf is pretty good but having been stood for a while will need a full overhaul prior to recommissioning. In the interim I've whipped off the coils to fit to the Xs and try to sort out the wet weather gremlins. If successful another set of coils will be fitted.
Having looked at the coils decided to utilise part of the existing wiring from the originals. Mistake as despite a lot of tinkering the bike would not run on all four. Managed to flatten the battery and left it on charge overnight.
This morning saw a good turn out down Cowbridge cafe. As Pat said earlier, good chat and some nice sights at the cafe which was quite busy.
Later this afternoon revisited the Xs.  >:(The battery was on charge alright but buffoon boy had left the ignition on   overnight. Decided to review the mods thus far and quickly traced the problem to a broken wire on one of the coils. Soldered up new connectors and wires and rigged up a temporary fuel tank along with car battery. First press all four running and sounding sweeter than a long time.
Few minor jobs to top and tail then off for MOT and as much running in all weathers between now and the Dragon.

Rob .

[steveD]

Working all weekend getting a shower job finished but later on today, Sunday, decided to get the bike out as I haven't ridden her since last year!
New TKC's to scrub in and new rear pads likewise. I have now repositioned my two small tank bags that I use for the compressor and small tools / items down to unerneath the tank protectors. These now sit in a much better position and have made space for two small rucksacks that I have bought (£2.99 each!). These fit nicely over the tank and can accommodate my Tarp, Poncho, Inflatable bed roll and Gortex bivvi bag, all reasonably bulky but not heavy. The two rucksacks now sit in front of my knees and keep the rain off, Nice!.
Earlier on I also installed one of the HID lamps into the dipped beam, this was the first time to have a ride in the dark, what dark blooming brilliant. I must put the other in the main beam now. The beauty is that they only draw 35W which means more capacity for heated socks!
Went out to see if I could get cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything works well and Toasty warm plus I now have space in one of my panniers for food and beers! Result. Picked up some fish and chips on the way home. Just need to find time to fit the other HID kit now!
New helmet is warm and comfortable, flip chin piece, flip visor (of course) flip down sun visor and Integrated Bluetooth. Nice! Button on the side swthes it on and I can charge the helmet from the bike. No more wires hanging around and much easier to put on with specs.

Roll on the Dragon.

[Ian]

Saturday morning went to local bike shop and ordered a rear tyre and rear brake reservoir for the SRX. Would have loved to go on the Bonnie but had to take the wheel so it was 4 wheels there.  Had to go out on the bike in the afternoon didnt I, so I went the few miles to the town centre and drove around just admiring this beautiful countryside we have here in Shropshire. Sunday I woke up and actually saw a big glowing object in the sky..well I couldnt miss another opportunity, so the Bonnie came out again and went to the local bikers cafe, met a few friends there and spent the morning generally chatting about everything and nothing, came home and decided to turn the SRX around so I can hopefully finish the wiring this week. Had a bit of a tidy up as well and then the rest of the family came for lunch. This afternoon carried on making a list of things to do and in which order so I can hopefully press on rapidly now with getting the SRX finished. I will lose a week in February with having to go to Hamburg with work...ah such is the pressure of work  

Ian

[guest27]

Saturday was quite bikey for a change. I left home at 7.30am to deliver a CG125 and a set of XL forks to Rog, who lives some 40 miles away. I arrived early and got the bike off the van and parked outside his shed before he showed his face. This was no hardship as a CG is a doddle to move around, you could almost tuck it under your arm and carry it around. He made me a nice cup of coffee and I was reintroduced to his two lads, Seb and Nat. They are good lads and lots of fun.

GC

Now that makes it sound like I hid away - rather than neither of the dogs kicking off when you got there and also that I have had a knee op and could not have helped anyway....

Thanks for the delivery - Mrs Rog cannot understand why I want more tutt - guess she is right - but we shall see.

Cannot do anything with either of them as yer as knee is still painful to walk, bugger more looking at innapropriate sites on the internet then.

So a laid back weekend.  Got iTunes networked across some of the house so I can wind up Mrs Rog but listening to crap in more places, and fight with the noise from the boys.  Still trying to work out how to mount a camera on the boys Lego Mindstorm, want a robot to drive about taking photos, Mrs Rog says if we sort it she will not be wearing skirts.  Cannot think what she means!

R

[tj63]

Found out that I still remember how to ride the bike!  Got the SRX fired up for the first time in what seems ages (although it probably isn't that long).

Right leg, hip and back knew about it - I almost considered getting the other (electric start) bike out instead after about 30 kicks.  It's got a nasty habit of firing up, running for a few seconds then dying.  It did this about 5 or 6 times on Sunday before it would carry on.

It only does this when it's been stood for more than a week, so I know what the solution is - ride it more!

Anyway - had a nice ride over to Matlock Bath for breakfast, then a wet ride back as it decided to rain while I was in the cafe.  Roll on Friday - I've got the day off so should get both bikes out with a bit of luck.


Trevor

[Steffan]

> " did a test erection (sailor) of my tipi on the common, ready for the Dragon-"

I would strongly recommend that you put that tent up again before the Dragon and fabsil the seams inside and out - once done if will be totally totally brilliant. Otherwise take a bivvy bag to be safe ...OK..dry.

Steffan

[Steve H]

Right leg, hip and back knew about it - I almost considered getting the other (electric start) bike out instead after about 30 kicks.  It's got a nasty habit of firing up, running for a few seconds then dying.  It did this about 5 or 6 times on Sunday before it would carry on.

It only does this when it's been stood for more than a week, so I know what the solution is - ride it more!

Try draining the float bowls before you start it. My SRX does this and I had the same problem with an SZR660. Doesnt seem to effect everyone but does the trick for me.

Steve

[guest868]

> " did a test erection (sailor) of my tipi on the common, ready for the Dragon-"

I would strongly recommend that you put that tent up again before the Dragon and fabsil the seams inside and out - once done if will be totally totally brilliant. Otherwise take a bivvy bag to be safe ...OK..dry.

Steffan

Have you used the Go Lite tents/shelters before then Steffan? Only ask as info is scarce on them over here. Cheers.

[tj63]

Try draining the float bowls before you start it. My SRX does this and I had the same problem with an SZR660. Doesnt seem to effect everyone but does the trick for me.

Steve

Thanks, Steve

I'll give it a try.

Trevor

[Steffan]

Have you used the Go Lite tents/shelters before then Steffan? Only ask as info is scarce on them over here. Cheers.

Oh yes. I have a couple of these, one with a floor and the other with a nest - fan-bloody-tastic but you need to pitch them tight and then repitch and seal the seams - believe I know. 

Fabsil spray will do the job nicely

Steffan

[guest868]

Have you used the Go Lite tents/shelters before then Steffan? Only ask as info is scarce on them over here. Cheers.

Oh yes. I have a couple of these, one with a floor and the other with a nest - fan-bloody-tastic but you need to pitch them tight and then repitch and seal the seams - believe I know. 

Fabsil spray will do the job nicely

Steffan

Cheers, I found that it was necessary to peg out the nest first, then the fly in order to get the tension right. I only had 5 pegs spare though to do the fly, which is why it looks baggy in the pics. I'll turn up some fabsil for application this weekend.

[Richard]

I can second the quality of the Go Lite having borrowed Steves before.  Fast pitching, small and light.  I thought rather expensive but then I am a known cheapskate and went for the Warsaw Pact equivalent made from two canvas ponchos buttoned together without a groundsheet.

And he is right about doing the seams properly before use, always a good idea in any event.

Same reasoning behind my liking for MZs I guess.

Richard