OV9

Holding post pending updates - I have none.

We've got some half decent weather predicted for next week, might commute in on my 'bike.

Nearly got knocked off my bike this morning. Luckily I was in the car instead

I can't even begin to decode that one.

Nearly got sideswiped by a van, but I wasn't on the bike.

Had two fuckers just pull out of side roads on me this week. I am confident I got my displeasure across to them.

I’ve failed in rebuilding the front calipers on the GSXR as the pistons are well and truly seized, and my thinking is that if the pistons are that bad, the bore is almost certainly fucked. So I’ve bought a set of 6 pot calipers from a GSXR1000 as they bolt right up. £150 off eBay which is the same cost as a rebuild kit for the 750 calipers.

My BMW K1200R let me down today. The starter has always seemed a bit lazy and it could never be left more than a couple of weeks without needing a charge. Every now and then it would almost fail to start but then just spring into life just as it seemed the starter would run out of speed. Until today. It started at home OK, I rode the 5 miles to the petrol station, and it just failed to start after I’d paid.

I think it’s the battery, I’ve stuck a meter on it and it’s showing 14.3v when running so it probably isn’t the alternator or reg/rec so I’ll be sticking a new battery on tomorrow.

The worst part of this is that it meant taking the car to work, which meant driving along the M56 towards north Wales on a Bank Holiday Friday night...

Beautiful day for riding but cba. MIght try and get out on Monday.

Losing that rear seat has changed the whole bike.

Is it finished then?

For now, yes. Out for a test ride today.

Good skills

I can definitely see the appeal of starting with a cheap, rough bike and working through the issues, upgrading as you go. You probably know the bike and have checked it all over far more thoroughly that you would if you’d just bought a 5 year old (supposedly) well looked after one.

I think it looks great, and I bet it was fun spannering too.

Cheers, it’s been great sorting it all out. Financially it didn’t quite work out as intended, but it’s mechanically spot on now. I’ve learned loads, number one being that cheap Chinese pattern bodywork doesn’t fit very well.

Great test ride but I have a couple of issues to fix:

- The fuel warning light flashes constantly even with a full tank
- The clocks cut out a lot

I’m hoping both are just loose connectors.

Matlock tomorrow.

Feel feel to

Broccers wrote: ↑Sun May 06, 2018 10:43 pm Matlock tomorrow.

Feel feel to

Popped to the Ponderosa for breakfast, too many jobs to do for a proper day out

Had someone over to look at the CBR yesterday - the plan to sell it to my ex fell through as she's off home for a bit.

Anyway this (very pleasant) lass turned up as she was looking at the Honda as a replacement for her FZ - ummed and ahhed and wouldn't offer a price, stating that she'll wait until Ramadan and see what offers the dealers are pushing out, and so on.

I said that was fine, but whatever they offer, the price for mine is not going to change much and that should we ever get around to agreeing a price, she should control her expectations that it'll be cut in half or whatever.

I also said no test rides until we agree a price - I'm not in the habit of offering free bike rides to strangers.

All very convivial so not a whinge as such - I just find it odd that someone wants x, knows the asking price for x and x is pretty much a perfect example of an x - and then goes cold on the idea.

Also I find it odd to ask for a test ride without really knowing if she wants it or not, but this might just be me. She's tried a CBR before so knows what they're like.

Do you lot just chuck the keys at a prospective and ask that it gets brought back a) at some point and b) in the same shape in which it left? I just can't make my peace with that.