Condom Rally

The wind was the biggest hassle this weekend, the Forth bridge was closed due to high winds so we met Bob & Kate and headed North via Stirling before cutting around the outskirts of Perth and then on the back roads to Blairgowrie and towards Glenshee.

The last bit of the journey was good fun but we were all freezing when we arrived.
An evening of banter and much whisky drinking ensued and the evidence was there this morning with many casualties (hangover wise) littering the reception area.

Great crack and thanks to Norrie for putting it together.

The run down the road was marred by wind again and strong sun but hey it didn't snow so that was good.
Great weekend, thanks to all who helped my hangover cultivation (you know who you are!)
If you look at the picture there is snow falling on the hill behind us!

It Passed

Today was the day my Guzzi Le Mans was to be presented again for its re test after failing its MOT last week, its like waiting for the dentist despite the fact that I'd sorted all the issues and checked it over. It passed much to my relief so thats another one sorted out and ready to go.
Now I have to decide what to work on next, I think the Triumph T100 will be next on the bench for a rewire, dynamo fix and a good check over. Looking forward to our meeting at Glenshee this weekend!

Nice day out

So Sunday once again was nice and as always no excuses needed to get the Commando out! I had a bit of pilot error (too early in the morning) and missed the normal turn off for the coast road, we made it eventually but the alternative was very mucky. No complaints as the roads are salt free still, fingers crossed it'll last until after next weekend when we have the Condom Rally at Glenshee!

Failure

Thats what happened this week when I took my Guzzi Le Mans for an MOT! Because of this work thing I never bothered checking the Le Mans closely, I fixed (replaced) the rear indicators as the old ones had more or less disintegrated in a pile of rust and that was it. The bike failed on no less than 6 things, the most serious was the rear wheel bearings were gone, oops and I never noticed it either. Just like my old school report cards used to say " has potential but must try harder" No excuses, just laziness, now its taught me a lesson to check over the bikes thoroughly in future! All the bits were fixed this morning and it goes back for a re test next week, fingers crossed!

Today was a really nice day, the weather is still holding up so I took a ride down to Gifford this afternoon on the Mk3 Commando, splendid dry roads and great fun, not cold really untill it got dark. The picture is in front of the Tea shop there, well worth a visit, friendly and very reasonable food and prices!

Oh Dear

So the bike was running great then the rev counter cable came loose and the rev counter stopped working, then as I was heading along the bypass I thought I felt a misfire so pulled off at the next junction and decided to make for Alex's house, then at a set of lights the bike died, I pulled over and found the electrics were dead then found a blown fuse and yes I had no spares with me!
A call to Alex and he came over (luckily only a couple of miles from his house) with tools, a meter and fuses, we replaced the fuse and the bike started up, transpires the original was a 7 Amp instead of the 35 Amp which should have been there. All seems well and after a cup of tea I wobbled home (avoiding main roads just in case!)
Why do I bother, I'm sure a nice new bike would be just the thing......or would it? Then I'd have nothing to talk about or to write in this Blog!

Mission accomplished

This morning got the single carb bolted on. What a difference its made. The bike sounds sweet no misfire just the way it should be. The only thing is the mikuni leaves a gap behind the barrel as though something is missing. Over the winter i'll decide whether to leave it on and if so figure out a way to keep the original air filter because it looks nicer. Off for a run on it now to see how it goes.

Flurry of activity

Unfortunatley the pursuit of money (to help keep my bikes going) and what seems like my single handed efforts to keep HM government awash with cash to bail out various economies has meant that work has been to the fore this week. Tonight however I had a flurry of activity in the garage, I fixed the Yellow Commando's front brake which failed last Saturday (technical explanations via the NOC newsletter) and having done that, it is now finished, looking, going and sounding splendid so I immediatley ripped the carb (Single Mikuni) off it. The yellow bike will now go into storage till the Spring. The single Mikuni will be grafted onto the 750 Roadster temporarily to see if it cures its ill's. Since I got the bike I've been buggering about with the Amals but enough is enough, if the Mikuni solves the problem then it'll be staying on!!
I have a LARGE box of Amals, all of which have more wear in them than a well used pair of whore's knickers (not that I know about such things) So I've decided that if the Mikuni is the answer then Mr AMAL will get no more of my hard earned cash, they look good, and are easy to work on by by god they last about 1000 miles before issues start to appear. New ones are being sold now which are supposed to be the answer BUT they are expensive. Tomorrow hopefully I'll complete the carb transplant and let you all know how it goes!!

Roadworks

So last night I was heading from Perth to Edinburgh and was astounded at the roadworks on the way. The roads department and the Scottish Executive obviously Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery. There is the 40 mph works at the south of the M90 then single lane 20 mph on the bridge then immediatey after the 40 mph for most of the a90. How is anyone supposed to do their job if it means travelling. And thats not to mention the war zone around Edinburgh because of the works to provide tram's that nobody wants and that we can't afford. So if you want to see roadworks incompetence on a grand scale visit scotland. Our new motto will be -turning your journey into a nightmare, making seemingly impossible incompetence a reality. Thank you from scotlands transport executive.

Still Sunny

November the 5th, Guy Fawkes night and its still nice, a tad cooler today though. Spent the morning finishing off the Yellow Roadster, just as I thought that was it ready for next year the brake failed, I'll check it later, glad it happened 10 yards from the house and not at 70mph on a main road!!!

Out on the Mk3 this afternoon to catch some sun down by the Forth Railway bridge, met a guy with an ES2 doing the same, pleasant enough standing in the sun talking bikes, perfect!

Flashback

I was on the SCMCC forum and saw a new member with a "classic" Honda CB900 had joined, my god a "classic" I raced one when they were brand new, note the orange vest in one of the pictures which must have been taken in one of my first races! OK so now I'm officially a "classic" rider!!!