Wee Smokey

Well Eric managed it again, despite the forecast being of biblical rain it was a dry day for the meeting. Fi and I took a couple of Interstate Commandos, MVD which is recently been put back on the road and the Mk3 which has had major work over the winter, neither have done more than 200 miles since the various work was carried out. MVD was fine for a while but the vibrations are bad, normally on a Commando you can get a sweet spot to sit in but no, this vibrates more than it should, I have adjusted the Iso's (The rubber bushes) but to no avail, it vibrates and handles like shit, that plus I seem to be getting rust from the inside of the tank which then blocks the needle valve and then either pisses out all over the place (Dangerous) or makes the throttle very jerky (Also dangerous) That said it is looking well but I'm afraid its coming apart again to fit new Iso's (again) and to check a couple of things I'm not happy with, this has been my go to bike for decades and has taken me all over Europe so it's a bit disappointing but I will get it sorted before next year! On the way to Dundee Fiona asked if we could go a bit slower (not like her) so I slowed down to 60 - 65mph then along the Kingsway (The Dundee bypass) she said there was something wrong with the throttle and could we stop. Transpires for some reason the top of the carb had vibrated off and the slide and spring were visible at the top, I managed to eventually screw it back on but not before I'd dislodged the fuel pipes! Looks like the fuel pipes have gone soft with the Ethanol in modern petrol, now where possible I put the best low ethanol fuel in but even then it seems to be corroding some rubbers. So to all you eco warriors F**K you and thanks for making our hobby a bit more dangerous and expensive!! I though about getting a "Just stop Oil" T shirt and adding "Leaks" to the end (Danny's idea)

Eventually we got to Arbroath and met John T and Budge who had also arrived just before us. A large breakfast was called for and a calming cup of tea. We talked with countless old friends and to be honest there wasn't enough time in the day to get round everyone which was disappointing. It is a wonderful friendly meeting and long may it continue (Especially if Eric can keep the weather gods happy) Of course time to go home and both bikes were reluctant to start (mines because of the flooding carb) and Fiona's was just enjoying playing to the crowds! We did make it home without further mishap but I had decided by then that MVD should be better and deserves to be better so another major strip down is planned! Budge followed us home and his recently restored BMW never missed a beat.....funny that!!!

Enjoy the Photos I probably missed half of the classics but you'll get the picture..

Ex Norton Owner Johnny T thinking thank god i bought a new bike!

The Rondelli Nortons looking nice (despite their bad behaviour)

Loop Guzzi

Hona 400 4

Nice Panther

Norton Electra

Older Two strokes

This was interesting

I think its based on a newer 900ss

A10 with very new panniers

Tidy Triumph

Bsa A65

Norton ES2

I think this is Andrew's Square 4 (I recognise his wiring)

Tidy MV

The theme was triples

and again

Mellow Yellow

Comet

I raced one exactly the same

Not sure the blue mudflaps go with the colour scheme

Very tidy R60 with the big tank

Very nice series 2 T3

Tidy

BSA

Tidy pre war HRD

A Used Le Mans

Two stroke RE

Panther

And another

Dereks very nice RGS

Great to see it getting an airing

Old photos, younger people!

 I found some older photos and thought I'd post them, most were taken with a digital camera back in the days when the files were tiny, there's a photo of me on my Original Guzzi Le Mans that was scanned from a very small Instamatic camera which is also poor quality but thats what we had then, Happy times with great people (We are lucky to still be having happy time with great people), enjoy the nostalgia and marvel at our hair and the fact our clothes seemed smaller!

Looking forward to the Wee Smokey this weekend at Arbroath where I hope to get some more photos and some crack!!

With Philly and the gang heading to Ireland (I think)

Defo Ireland, tea stop

Checking out the bikes

My Lemans

In a carpark somewhere

Bill Reith about 25 years ago ( he hasn't changed)

I'm assuming in Holland

Belgium?

There is a clue in the sign

Norway

Norway

Norway

Not sure

Not sure

With Wolf and Arno in Norway

France ( at a French Rally near Paris)

Horrific winds getting back to the boat, we had to park the bikes at the side of the building to stop them blowing over (We were all picking sand out of the switchgear for years after)

Alex, Phil chilling, having a Guinness

The Run in Clonakilty, this couple were regulars and sadly no longer with us.

David and Anne looking Younger

Alex and I

This was a very dodgy campsite we stayed in....

Not sure what was going on here

Lochearnhead

And finally my original Guzzi on a trip to the Isle of Man, just before I started racing and traded the bike in for my Honda. We were practicing "getting air" on a back road near Peel 

Lochinver and very wet

We decided to have a run up to Lochinver to see Kenny and Sheila at the Culag Hotel, two reasons, one its been a while since we have been there and two to get some miles on the V85TT's. Now here's the thing, we had them serviced at just over 6200 miles last year at the dealer and then only used them briefly before we went to Morocco this April. The problem is they then quickly reached 11000 miles and the next service is due at 12400 miles and by the time we get back from our next trip they will have been well over the mileage for the next service so we were in a quandary. The bikes are still under warranty until May next year but of course they have to be dealer serviced until then, now I can hear you saying but why not put them in early but its not as easy as that because the service light will come on at 12400 miles regardless. Such are the vagaries of modern Euro 5 bikes, they have made them tamper proof. I say that but of course the V85's are easy to service but Guzzi want to keep you on the leash and provide the dealers with a never ending source of income. Of course after the warranty period is up I will service them myself and bollocks to Guzzi, so now we are just putting miles on to get them to the 12400 mark in time for the next service, so we are wearing out our new bikes instead of wearing out our old bikes (mind you at this rate they will soon become old bikes)!!

Lochinver is a 400 mile round trip and despite the recent good weather it had changed, we stopped to put the waterproofs on in a heavy downpour just South of Pitlochry, the weather never got better getting down to 8 Degrees at Drumochter and very strong winds making riding in the wet difficult. The Traffic calmed down a bit after Aviemore so at least there was less traffic ie Motorhomes to contend with, how I hate them!

We stopped at Dingwall at Tesco for fuel and the cafe, we had sandwiches with us and tea but we were wet and frozen so we needed a break. The ride to Ullapool and then onto Lochiver was hellish, the wind and torrential rain was actually painful through the bike gear. We have Intercoms so the rain battering on our helmets meant it was amplified in Stereo times two , how we laughed!

We were very happy to see the Culag hotel and get checked in for the night, watching the rain and wind battering against the windows in the bar whils enjoying a nice meal and a wee dram and thinking, we have to ride home in this tomorrow!

As it was we were very lucky on Sunday, we managed to complete trip with only a small amount of rain and unlike Saturday it was a very enjoyable trip. we never stopped and managed to get back in well under 4 hours, that's what the v85 is great for , just keeping going. On balance a great weekend, improving our wet riding skills and seeing friends, motorbikes, don't you just love them?  Only 2 pictures thanks to the weather......

The rain was heavy and painful, only 20 miles from home!

You couldn't see this the day before!