Had a Pootle round the lanes

[Smithy]

Hi all

I took my newly acquired SLR650 around some of my favourite Derbyshire lanes yesterday to see how it compares to my SR400 which is my weapon of choice for pootling. I think different but the same about covers it. Lots more power, but strangely about the same feeling when pulling up the steep hills with tight twisty bends. That's probably more due to me riding at roughly the same speed than the bikes being similar as obviously the SLR has more torque than the SR.

Tha riding position feels more modern as it's part trailie whereas the SR is old fashioned road bike and it is a lot taller which gives a feeling of being on it rather than in it.

I have to sort out a rear mudguard as previous owner had chopped the original to pieces to 'bobber' the back end and I have rigged up a temporary 'guard to try to keep my bum dry when riding. Also Ian Soady warned me of a flat spot just above idle and I think I finally found it so the carb is coming off today for a bit of attention.

All in all though a nice machine and it suits my riding style very well.

Ian

[manxie]

Nice one Ian, both nice bikes!! I missed out on a mint SLR about a year ago, gutted.  At the moment the sun is shining but cold on the IOM, roads are wet but if I get chance I`ll go for a chug around the village on the Guzzi later  Glad you like your new bike, go easy, Steve 

[iansoady]

Good luck with the carb.

When I did mine I had an almighty struggle to get the pipe connecting it to the air filter box back in place. A tip from another forum was to remove the 3 bolts holding the filter box to the frame - this allows you to slide the box a couple of cm backwards which is just enough to make it all slip together nicely.

[Smithy]

Thanks Manxie and Ian. I am not working for a week so have plenty of time to do the carb slowly and thoughtfully, thanks for the tip Ian.

Ian

PS Manxie enjoy the chug round on the Guzzi, I know I would!

[timbo]

Having not been on a bike for a couple of weeks, I too decided to go for a pootle around this afternoon, as weather was great and dry roads. That was until I got caught in Storm Frank, and nearly got blown through a few hedges 

[manxie]

Didn`t get out for a chug....one thing lead to another and run out of time  And it wont be happening in the next 24hrs either....bloody Frank! Glad you got home safely timbo, batten down the hatches again  Isn`t it so annoying when you`re watching the telly, weather comes on and they start talking about Lancashire being hit first.......what about Ireland then us!! I do feel bad for everyone flooded out though, shocking....it`s just a blessing there`s not been anyone seriously hurt amongst this lot .... fingers crossed.

[Andy M]

Had a nice hundred miler this morning on the excuse that Cheryl's oil would be easier to drop if hot. A spot of wading/fording was required up round Thirk/Borough bridge/York. Only other bike out and about was a chap on a Harley.

Oil dropped this afternoon. Didn't even need to fiddle with the valves, just drop the oils ( shaft drive is overated) and do the filters.

Andy

[iansoady]

Isn`t it so annoying when you`re watching the telly, weather comes on and they start talking about Lancashire being hit first.......what about Ireland then us!!

Could it be that the BBC is only for Britain???

[timbo]

Ah yes, so I need to be watching the UKBC 

[Smithy]

My friend Susan was born in NI and brought up in Scotland so has two axes to grind with English telly. They name English towns for example but just refer to Scotland!

Got the carb sorted and things are much improved. Would go for another pootle today but the wind is currently trying to blow my house off it's foundations.

[manxie]

Isn`t it so annoying when you`re watching the telly, weather comes on and they start talking about Lancashire being hit first.......what about Ireland then us!!

Could it be that the BBC is only for Britain???

Last time I looked we were a British island, part of the British isles and part of Great Britain...... Hmmm?? 

[iansoady]

but not part of the uk.......

but actually it seems you do have to pay for TV licences so my apologies.

[manxie]

but not part of the uk.......

but actually it seems you do have to pay for TV licences so my apologies.

No apologies needed  The UK thing is also debatable, sometimes we are, sometimes not?? Although we are allegedly independent we still are answerable to the UK. I`m just having a moan, bah!!! 

[Andy M]

Try working on a forecast for " snow showers on northern hills". Sometimes they mean the top of the Cairngormes other times its a speed bump near Leicester. It's because they don't know.

At least with the flooding the actual warnings seem to be sorted. The Environment agency website and sirens seems to have worked well, just ignore the tabloid jackanory stuff on the main channels or you will have nightmares. The floods are exactly where they usually are, just deeper.

Andy

[themoudie]

Here you go, up to date info for IoM! 

IoM_Coppers_Twitter_link

There is also this Twitter feed that you can view, local, colourful lingo and some very good images and videos of damage up here in Scotland, in case the UKBC misses them! 

WindyWilson_weather_Twitter_link

There'll be no Stornaway Black pudding and steak pies from the butchers in Aberfoyle for a wee while me thinks 

My regards, Bill