Well what a great weekend that was, Snib's birthday party on Friday night started it off and good to hear the Little Wolves again its been a while since I heard them.
Saturday was a bit of a write off due to over indulgence on Friday but breakfast outside in the sun was superb and just the thing to lift the spirits. At least I didn't have to return to my bed to sleep it off eh Bob? Sunday the Sun was out again although it can't have gone much above 3 degrees C it was an excellent day to get the bike out and enjoy it. Full marks to the ACF50 for keeping most of the corrosion at bay on the Guzzi.
I was pointed in the direction of this last week, well worth a look, complete madness and respect is due!
Monday, 22 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
Capper Rally
Well thats it finally, the first camping weekend (bike rally) of the year, the snow dissapeared and was replaced by incessant rain instead which is preferable. A bit soggy putting the tent up but no complaints, Alex arrived on the Commando around five PM so that he could put his tent up in the rain and the darkness! The usual suspects including Fi, Ali and Ian and of course gran and grandpaw McCracken as well.
An excellent night (which went on into Sunday morning) and a very good band playing with maturity well beyond their years (they all looked about 17!)
Ian seen here making the most of the shelter afforded by the kids swing enjoys a beer!
An excellent night (which went on into Sunday morning) and a very good band playing with maturity well beyond their years (they all looked about 17!)
Ian seen here making the most of the shelter afforded by the kids swing enjoys a beer!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Alex at work
Busy day today moving bikes around and preparing some parts to go away for modification. Alex in his fully equipped workshop cleaning the parts before posting. The snow is back again which is a right pain in the ass.
Friday, 29 January 2010
TGIF!!
Yes thank god its Friday! Despite my lack of "conventional" employment its still good when Friday comes around. This week I've been busy working on my old Commando MVD. I felt it was long overdue a front end rebuild, the seals were weeping and the chrome was starting to dissapear from the fork legs. I aslo read good reports on a damper kit for the front end from Landsdown engineering which actually gives controllable damping both compression and rebound which has to be an improvement on the original setup.
So all new parts ordered including the damping kit, I renewed everything and put in extended top bushes from RGM motors. Its taken longer than normal as everything was meticulously cleaned, checked and built and polished where neccessary.
So this afternoon (Friday) I was quite chuffed to finish it roll it of it's stand and check the new improved suspension, guess what, I now have an almost rigid front end!! Bugger!! I reckon I haven't got enough clearance in the new bushes and fork legs so I'll probably have to start all over again on Monday. Not so happy at the moment about that but its the old moan I suppose, why is it when you buy bushes or any other critical part you always have to engineer a fix yourself, I even had to grind part of the new fork spring with the Dremel to get it to fit past the damper. The damper kit is excellent and in no way to blame. Moral of the story don't buy a Norton unless you are a bit handy with the spanners, grinding wheel, emery paper, lathe, milling machine and welding equipment, joking of course (about the milling machine)
So thats it I'm going to immerse myself in Alcohol now in an effort to blot out the mental anguish. Hopefully get out on the Guzz this weekend though!
So all new parts ordered including the damping kit, I renewed everything and put in extended top bushes from RGM motors. Its taken longer than normal as everything was meticulously cleaned, checked and built and polished where neccessary.
So this afternoon (Friday) I was quite chuffed to finish it roll it of it's stand and check the new improved suspension, guess what, I now have an almost rigid front end!! Bugger!! I reckon I haven't got enough clearance in the new bushes and fork legs so I'll probably have to start all over again on Monday. Not so happy at the moment about that but its the old moan I suppose, why is it when you buy bushes or any other critical part you always have to engineer a fix yourself, I even had to grind part of the new fork spring with the Dremel to get it to fit past the damper. The damper kit is excellent and in no way to blame. Moral of the story don't buy a Norton unless you are a bit handy with the spanners, grinding wheel, emery paper, lathe, milling machine and welding equipment, joking of course (about the milling machine)
So thats it I'm going to immerse myself in Alcohol now in an effort to blot out the mental anguish. Hopefully get out on the Guzz this weekend though!
Saturday, 23 January 2010
When the boat comes in
Queensferry for lunch today (well a late breakfast actually) so good to be out on the bike again and managed to watch the Ferry from Zeebrugge , Belgium coming in. It always reminds me of holidays, sometimes I think if I had my passport with me i'd just head over and jump on to start a tour, a tour to anywhere!
Friday, 22 January 2010
At last
Managed to get out on the bike last Sunday, the 17th of January, thats the latest first ride of the year for a long time. And it felt brilliant, great to be back in the saddle and grinning from ear to ear which makes a change from me being crabbit! (Crabbit = Bad tempered in Scots)
Now just looking forward to a gradual warming up, some lighter nights and eventually Spring!
One thing I've noticed is that due to the bad weather and the fact the local authority's are running low on salt and grit then they don't seem so keen to waste it on non icy roads which means less cleaning of crud from the bikes after a run, result!!
This brought a smile to my face last week also...enjoy
Now just looking forward to a gradual warming up, some lighter nights and eventually Spring!
One thing I've noticed is that due to the bad weather and the fact the local authority's are running low on salt and grit then they don't seem so keen to waste it on non icy roads which means less cleaning of crud from the bikes after a run, result!!
This brought a smile to my face last week also...enjoy
Friday, 15 January 2010
Summertime and the living is easy........
So enough of this winter talk, here's some summer photos from 09 to remind us what it looked like!
Alex hiding from the Sun under a daft hat in Steyr Austria
The Cafe Racer (BBA) meeting in Belgium
Fiona and the bikes waiting for the ferry to take us back from Asia into Europe and Gallipoli
MVD at the side of a river in Austria
A gaggle of Nortons navigate the coast road from Applecross
Not be long now, I can almost feel the heat (or maybe thats the central heating kicked in)
Alex hiding from the Sun under a daft hat in Steyr Austria
The Cafe Racer (BBA) meeting in Belgium
Fiona and the bikes waiting for the ferry to take us back from Asia into Europe and Gallipoli
MVD at the side of a river in Austria
A gaggle of Nortons navigate the coast road from Applecross
Not be long now, I can almost feel the heat (or maybe thats the central heating kicked in)
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