Happy New Year!

Snow!

Well, we've not had huge amounts of snow but we have had enough to make driving interesting.  Most of the snowfall was over Friday night and Saturday.  We drove as far as Tesco, the worst moments being people stopping for no apparent reason and the idiots who insist on tailgating.  The road into Ironbridge was closed but we didn't need to go there so weren't too worried.

No more snow fell during the night but it was cold enough that my car was frozen on the inside and there were great clods of frozen snow hanging behind the back wheels.  We'd thought it might be fun to venture out on the two XL185s so we dragged them out of the Green Shed.  Well, to be honest, Gus dragged them out of the Green Shed while I struggled to open the three padlocks on the back gate, two of which refused to co-operate until I'd poured boiling water on them.

Herbert (No 1 XL) started fairly easily but Horatio (No 2 XL) took a little more persuasion but only because he needed me to hold the choke on while Gus kicked him into life.  Gus took Horatio on a recce just beyond the end of the road to check out just how good an idea it was to take the bikes out.  The considered opinion was "Sod that for a game of soldiers".  Having seen the front and back wheel sliding around I think I would have been somewhat ruder than that and using the Bad "F" word........We put the bikes away and headed off in the car for a very delicious Sunday Lunch at the Robin Hood in Ironbridge.

Oh, I'll try to post some Ariel 3 engine piccies over the Christmas break for those who are interested!!!

Selling and Buying Stuff!!

Firstly, I thought I'd share my excitement that I have at last managed to buy an Ariel 3 engine (after a year of looking!).  Once I've sorted out the "proper" bikes, I'm thinking that the Ariel 3 should be "restored" as a rare Military model - just because I want to know how many people will claim to have owned one in the past.....

Next, I'm shamelessly using this blog to try and sell my Yamaha Serow.  It's a reluctant sale as it is probably one of my favourite bikes ever - but I've simply got too many bikes and not enough space (or money!).  Ironically, while I was inspired to buy the Serow after reading about Lois Pryce's exploits (http://www.loisontheloose.com/), I can also attribute the need to sell it to her and hubbie, Austin Vince!  When I bought the two Honda XL 185s to take to Lois and Austin's Twinshock Trailfinder event this year, I had it in mind to sell them afterwards.  Having taken part in the event, I can't bring myself to sell the Hondas and we want to go back again next year.  The Serow, being a monoshock, just isn't eligible so it has to go - in spite of being a brilliant and versatile little bike.

I've listed it on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220698502014&ru=http://shop.ebay.co.uk:80/%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp5197.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D220698502014%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1#ht_1152wt_1139

If anyone is interested - or knows anyone who is interested - please feel free to contact me direct.

The XBR and the Morini are next on the list for selling!

Stafford Show

Not got much time so here are the piccies:

Slideshow - clicky here

Twinshock Trailfinder - photos

Got them loaded at last!

Twinshock Trailfinder Slideshow

Twinshock Ford - film

More piccies

And more piccies!

Or you can just check it all out on the Classic Bike Forum - here:

Classic Bike Forum

Twinshock Trailfinder

We've had an absolute ball!  Totally fantastic time, neither of us have fallen off and the two XL185s did splendidly.  Planning to take them back next year......

I've been trying to upload photos but without success - may have to wait until we get home.  I can't recommend this event highly enough - when you see photos and read about it you may get an inkling of why it is so great.  Certainly beyond my expectations -  I ache all over but I am Happy, Happy, Happy!!!!

More detail to follow.................................................

Fettling

A few months ago I bought an XL185 (Herbert) on ebay for the grand sum of £461 - twelve months MOT & tax and running ok.  I've done a few bits and pieces to him in readiness for the forthcoming trip to Spain - fitted a tool box, new rear mudguard and new rear light.  The plan was to take the Tribsa but it decided to spit out all it's oil via the engine breather.  I was told it would need a top end rebuild and to check the oil pump.  I checked the oil pump, following some advice on the Real Classic message board and the results suggested that the oil pump was at fault so I ordered a new one from the nice chaps at Supreme Motorcycles.  It has been sat on the work bench since then, simply due to lack of time and energy.

A few weeks ago, I spotted another XL185 for sale in Old Bike Mart - same year as Herbert and at a reasonable price. As I was worried whether or not the Tribsa would be ready for the trip to Spain, it occurred to me that another XL would be a good investment.   After a couple of telephone calls, I was on my way to a village near Bath in Somerset to collect a new brother for Herbert.  The trip was great - the seller mentioned having a couple of other motorcycles and asked if I might like to have a look.  Silly question!  In the huge triple garage were lots of interesting motorcycle shapes covered in blankets and a tour of the garage began.  It turned out he was a Norton enthusiast and I lost count of how many there were, including a couple of TT models.  I've been in smaller, less well-stocked museums.  Shame I didn't have my camera!  Eventually, money and motorcycle changed hands and I was on my way home with Horatio.

Soon after, I drained all the oil and started to take Horatio apart, looking for the centrifugal oil filter so I could give it a clean - this is due every 5,000 miles and Horatio has done over 8,000 miles.  The filter turned out not to be too bad but there was some crud so I gave it a good clean.  Unfortunately, the small thimble-like filter behind the drain plug met with an unfortunate end (it got crushed) so I had to order a new one before I could re-fill Horatio with oil.  Finally got around to doing that this week.  He started and ran nicely, much to my relief.  The exhaust and silencer had been bodged together and it was blowing around the join so I took the silencer off and after some hammering, cleaning with a wire wheel and painting, I bodged the assembly back together - it still blows a bit but it has improved and certainly doesn't sound obnoxious. He's all ready to go.

Gus has been a-visiting this week and spent many hours in the back garden fettling the two XLs and the Tribsa.  Herbert needed rather more work than Horatio - some very strange wiring had gone on and the rear light and brake light had stopped working.  This problem was eventually solved although it wasn't particularly straight-forward.  There was then a nasty problem with the head bearing - again this has been resolved.  Herbert has also had his centrifugal oil filter cleaned (he has done something over 11,000 miles) and the drain plug filter replaced.  I'm not going into too much detail - you can read more about it here (with piccies): http://www.classicbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2971

The shakedown run on the two XLs proved satisfactory - Herbert makes a strange noise sometimes when slowing down but we suspect the brake might sometimes be rubbing - it doesn't seem to be anything more serious than that.  It is strange that, although the two bikes are both 1981 models (although one is X-reg and one is W-reg), Horatio feels more substantial to ride and there are lots of cosmetic differences between the two.  I enjoy them both though - I would be hard pushed to choose a favorite.

Now the two XLs were sorted, Gus turned his hand to the Tribsa, fitting the oil pump, repairing a side panel (tapping a metric hole to mount it with - now, that should upset the purists!) - again, you can read about that in more detail here http://www.classicbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3508

With all three bikes fettled, last night was time for the Tribsa's shakedown run so we took him and Herbert out for a quick ride, taking in a flat but bumpy track.  There were some nice deep muddy puddles so I ended up rather wet and grubby.  This was all rather easy on Herbert and I wondered how easy the Tribsa would be "off-road" as he still has road tyres on.  I rode the Tribsa for the second part of the track and the puddles were probably deeper and muddier, but less avoidable, so I got wetter and muddier.  Although the Tribsa felt heavier, it was manageable and coped well and I felt as happy on the Tribsa as I did on the more suitable Hondas.  My main gripe was the throttle grip which seemed excessively heavy and unresponsive - this is a new problem so I have order a replacement from Supreme Motorcycles and should be able to fit that tomorrow.

With all three bikes fettled and assurances that most of the tracks we will be riding are do-able on road tyres, we are taking both the XLs and the Tribsa to Spain.  I've packed lots of tools ready for the trip!

Ideas are afoot for having two sets of wheels for the Tribsa - an off-road set with knobblies for Red Marley and a road set.  I'll be working on that after the trip to Spain.

Watch this space!

Tribsa Update (in brief)

I'll fill in more detail later but it appears that the Tribsa incontinence problem has been solved by fitting a new oil pump.  We're taking it for a shakedown run later but are feeling hopeful that we'll be able to take him to Spain, along with the two XL185s.  (Yes, getting close to Spanish trail-riding time - ferry is next Saturday.  HOORAY!!!)

Italian Porn

While I'm still struggling to find the time to update the blog with reports and piccies from Uttoxeter and the BSAOC Summer Camp, I thought you might enjoy this rather lovely (and very professional looking) website/magazine/blog:

Teambenzina

Head out on the Highway!!!!!

Unfortunately, the little Tribsa is still poorly so tonight has seen me packing and loading up the XBR for the trip to the BSAOC Summer Camp in Aylesford, Kent.

I'm not sure at what point it seemed like a Good Idea to drink wine and wait for it to get dark before actually loading the bike but that is what happened.  After a bit of a struggle to get the fully laden Honda off the centre stand, I managed to reverse it into the Conservatoire ready for an early (in my book) start tomorrow morning.  All the checks have been done - tyre pressures, chain adjustment, oil level, hurried repair to the missing headlight bolt.........make-up, manicure set etc etc (that's just what some of the BSA lot reckon I keep in my tool bag!).

Just need a good nights sleep now.  But I'm just a little bit too excited!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8

Haha!!!

Tribsa Tribulations

Having recently got the new electronic ignition properly wired in and the timing set up properly, I got my arse into gear and fitted the lovely alloy tank and booked the little Tribsa in for its MOT.  Now, to fit the right hand side panel, you have to remove the oil cap.  Which I did, then fitted the side panel and rested the oil cap in position while I screwed the fasteners in.  All ready to go, so we headed off for the MOT station.  This is about eight miles away and we were nearly there when I noticed that my bum was feeling rather warm - I started to worry that some of the new electrickery was getting too hot but decided to carry on regardless.  On arrival at the MOT station, I noticed oil all down the side panel, all over the back tyre and all down the back of my leg.  That is when I remembered that I hadn't tightened the oil cap!  Nice people provided paper towels for me to clean the bike up a bit before the MOT and I was very relieved when it passed.  I was then allowed to use the jet wash to clean up the rather scary looking back tyre before heading home.  The new electronic ignition seems to have had good effect - I was seeing 70-75 on the speedo rather than the maximum 60 it was managing in Holland last year.  Realistically, the actual speed was nearer 65-70 but still an improvement.

I was away camping in Derbyshire for the weekend after that so the next Tribsa ride was to work on the Monday.  On arriving at work, I was somewhat perturbed to find that there was oil all over the back tyre again (and almost everywhere else - but the chain looked well-lubed!).  I checked and was glad to find that I hadn't been stupid enough to leave the oil cap undone again but I did find that there was almost no oil left in the tank.  I spent some time trying to clean up with paper towels and then my friend Myles, who works on the same industrial estate, rode up on his B40 and told me to bring the Tribsa over to him at lunch time so we could investimagate.  The further investimagation showed that oil was returning to the tank but it was also gushing out of the engine breather.   It wasn't possible to sort out at the time so I called on good old Carole Nash recovery to take me and the Tribsa home.  Further enquiry suggested that there might be some problem with the oil pump and there was some helpful information on the Real Classic message board that suggested running the engine until warm then draining the sump and checking the amount of oil that drained out.  I attempted to try this out today but discovered that the drain plug is so bodged about that none of my spanners or sockets will actually fit it.  At this point I gave up.  I think I will have to file some flat edges on the drain plug so that I can get a grip on it in order to remove it.  I'll be ordering a new one from Supreme Motorcycles on Monday.

The plan was to ride the Tribsa to Kent for the BSAOC summer camp next Friday - I haven't given up hope yet.......

Norton Bagging

I mentioned in my last post that I had a trip to Coventry planned and that I was hoping to bag a few Norton's for the Real Classic Norton Challenge Find out more about it here!.  With the XBR all loaded off I set off on a glorious sunny day and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of riding alone.  My first Norton was directly en route on the A5 - Norton Canes.

The next Norton was in Leicestershire and required a slight detour - Norton Juxta-Twycross.  The detour was along a very nice stretch of road and it was nice to be riding somewhere just for the fun of riding.

The next Norton was near to Daventry so I ended up riding beyond my final destination in Coventry.  The ground next to the signpost was rather soft so the bike is actually leaning on the signpost as I didn't trust the sidestand not to sink into the ground.  At this point the weather was still gloriously sunny, with a few clouds beginning to appear.

After this, I headed back in the direction of Coventry, looking for somewhere to fill up with fuel as I don't yet have any idea of how many miles an XBR tank of fuel will cover.  It soon started to rain but as I didn't have far to go and the rain didn't seem heavy I decided to wait for the fuel stop before stopping to pull on waterproofs.  I hadn't ridden in rain for a long time and was feeling a little paranoid so just plodded on.  I found a fuel stop and it seemed as if the rain was easing off so I decided not to bother with the waterproofs.  This proved to be a mistake as a few miles up the road the rain became persistantly heavier and I was torn between carrying on, as I knew I was nearly there, and stopping to don waterproofs.  Once again, I made the wrong decision.  It turned out that Multimap had lied about which roundabout the hotel was next to.  After riding around aimlessly and confused for a while, I pulled into a petrol station to ask for directions.  The cashier claimed not to know where the hotel was but kindly sold me a local street map.  I belatedly pulled on the waterproofs and looked at the map.  It didn't help much other than to confirm that the hotel couldn't be far away. After some more riding up and down and round and round a selection of roundabouts, I spotted the hotel and realised I had actually ridden past it about four times already.  By this time there was thunder and lightning and spectacular amounts of wet stuff falling from the sky and bouncing and splashing off the road.  I had also gone way past the feeling slightly paranoid stage!  It also crossed my mind that if I hadn't gone Norton-bagging I would have arrived while it was still sunny.  I figured that it had been worth getting wet for but was glad to get into a warm, dry hotel room, have a shower, get into some dry clothes and head for the bar.  More drinks followed later with some lovely peeps from the excellent Classic Bike Forum and I eventually fell asleep in the pub as a result of no food and too much drink.  Not my finest moment and the less said about that the better..............I have lots of not finest moments, btw, but most of them don't involve falling asleep in pubs thankfully!

It took the next couple of days for my riding clothes to dry out and I set off in torrential rain which persisted all the way home.  That was fun!  I took the M6 toll road just so there were less lorries and spray to contend with.  As I pulled up at my house and turned the bike around, the rain stopped and it didn't rain again for the rest of the day.  Deep Joy!

Catching up

Lots of changes since last time!

The XBR finally got sorted and through the MOT although strictly speaking it should have failed because there was no damping in the front forks.  Mr sfb had to promise to sort them out straight away.  We managed to improve the damping by adding a few washers but it was clear that still wasn't very good so they now have progressive springs.  Even now, however, they still don't seem as good as they should be.

Following on from that, it became apparent that Mr sfb is no longer to be Mr sfb because he has decided to move on to better things (has been seeing someone else!) Of course, there have been ups and downs since then and Jon (the person formerly known as Mr sfb) has now moved out, although I am still privileged to  be custodian of heaps and heaps of junk that he hasn't got room for.  Unfortunately for anyone who reads this blog, this means you will probably never get to enjoy the delights of Jon playing banjo on You-tube.

To take my mind off all this, I decided that a small trip was needed and made arrangements so that I could set off for the the last night of the BSAOC rally at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

Yesterday morning saw me loading up the bike with newly purchased tent and sleeping bag etc, checking oil level and tyre pressures and trying to make the always difficult decision as to what to wear for the ride.  Jon called round to do safety checks on my luggage loading and seemed to approve of my effforts so off I went, leaving him to lock up behind me.  The ride to Kettering on the XBR was brilliant, warm and sunny and I found myself loving the bike more with each mile. I've suffered a real crisis of confidence over the last couple of years, following a car crash and a very minor fall off the XT225 and I've been really frustrated at how I seemed incapable of getting over it.  I knew I could potentially do so much better but couldn't actually make myself do it.  I started to feel a bit more confident when Jon and I went for a ride last weekend but my trip yesterday gave me even more of a boost and I also enjoyed doing something totally on my own.  I also have to say that Avon RoadRiders are brilliant tyres.

I got slightly lost trying to find Wicksteed Park once I got to Kettering but fortunately there was also a classic show at Stanford Hall so I accosted a man on a very nice Matchless to ask for directions and he was kind enough to offer to escort me to the site.  I got a very warm welcome from lots of the BSA owners, help with putting my tent up and lots of offers of beer (which I had to turn down as I don't drink beer). There was food laid on at the "disco" - roast pork, jacket potatoes so I was able to be sensible and eat my first meal since breakfast.  I'm glad I did this as lots of alcohol was consumed later on, pear cider while in the bar and then wine later when we did our usual sitting around in the dark talking long after everyone else was asleep.  I didn't get to try out my lovely new tent as Myles and Roger decided I needed looking after and put me in my sleeping bag in their tent.  I didn't even take my boots off and I still couldn't get warm.  They both reported this morning that they had been lovely and warm so I think they just stole all my body heat and kept it for themselves.

It rained a bit in the night but was just a bit grey and miserable this morning so managed not to get rained on - just as well because even without rain I have only now managed to warm up.  I rode home with Myles on his B40, mostly at B40 speeds but I did have a couple of moments of tearing off to overtake things.  Jon had stayed at my house while I was away - he's not very good at this moving out thing - so he made us a hot drink and unloaded my luggage.  Myles went home then Jon and I went for a ride to the cafe at Quat. The throttle cable on the XBR has been catching and not closing properly and for some reason this had now got much worse so I just had to nail it everywhere - Jon commented on how much my riding had improved since last weekend!  I got made to ride the Speed Triple - having brakes that work so well scared me to death, I thought I had just touched the brake to slow down a little and it almost stopped dead. Nice bike though - too sophisticated for me.

Will investigate the sticky throttle tomorrow, I need the bike sorted for next weekends planned trip - if the weather is favourable I plan to include bagging a couple of Norton's for the Real Classic magazine's Norton Challenge - I have a route in mind that will take in three Nortons.

Busy busy...

I feel as if I spent the whole weekend tatting with bikes.  I think the only time I got away from the house was for a trip to Halfrauds for some fork oil!

On Saturday, a friend turned up to continue assisting me with getting the new electronic ignition sorted on the Tribsa - that means that he does all the wiring while I keep busy making the plate on which to mount the powerbox and coil.  I don't understand electrickery so I'll spare you any details but the new ignition, from Kirby Rowbotham, is a lovely looking bit of kit that fits where the distributor used to be.  I took the skew drive from the dizzy to Kirby and he built the ignition unit around that.  When I looked at the instructions for wiring it my brain turned to a sort of spaghetti-like mush so I had to call for help.  The mounting plate, which fits under the seat with the coil and powerbox attached underneath, is something I'm quite proud of with lots of bending and shaping required to make the steel fit in as neatly as possible.  I'm so pleased with it that pictures may follow!  Anyway, we spent most of Saturday soldiering away on the Tribsa and at last we were ready to see if it all worked.  I then remembered that I had emptied the fuel tank to use the fuel in one of the other bikes so we went to a lot of trouble to siphon some petrol out of the tank of Herbert the XL.  This involved my friend getting a mouthful of petrol and spitting it out over my hand but we eventually liberated some petrol.  Once we had done this, I realised that it would have been a lot, lot quicker to pop to the garage with a fuel can...........Still, we had siphoned enough fuel to start the Tribsa and confirm that it works both with and without the battery and sounds rather lovely.  There's still some tidying up to do and we want to replace the crimped connections with soldered ones, I need to work out some neat cable tying, replace the spark plug caps as the ones I had were knackered and we had to pinch old ones off other bikes in order to start the Tribsa.  We also found the brake light switch had died a death.  I've therefore had to order various bits and pieces from these people http://www.vehicleproducts.co.uk/ . This is only the second time I've bought from them but they seem very good and sell lots of interesting things, mainly vehicle wiring products but some other parts as well, such as brake and fuel lines and some stainless fittings etc.  Once all the final tweaking is done, we'll set the timing up properly with a strobe and then I'll be ready to fit the alloy tank and he'll be all ready to go (although still rather incontinent).

On Sunday, I needed to carry on with the XBR because it was booked in for an MOT on Wednesday.  We (I mean, Jon!) got the other fork seal sorted, while I drove up to Halfrauds for the fork oil.  We were then able to put the front end back together, then wheel the bike out of the shed, turn it around and wheel it back into the shed to take the back wheel out in order to replace the nasty square tyre with the lovely new Avon RoadRider.  This proved more tricky than expected, thanks to a rounded off nut on the torque arm and the spindle being extremely reluctant to be removed from the wheel.  Once the wheel was out we found that the bearings were seized and it took a lot of effort and swearing to get them removed.  When the bearings were finally out we set about changing the tyre.  Although I can't say it was particularly easy we did manage to get this done without using my fingers as rim protectors or causing me injury in any other way so as far as I'm concerned it was a good result!

Today, I took the bearings into the local bearing man.  They would have cost over £25 from the on-line supplier but I knew he would supply them at a far better price.  As I walked into his shop, I was greeted with the words "Hello Beautiful!"  This is always a good start, I feel.  He quickly found the bearings and then I waited for his favourite joke.

 "Ah, you'll want to know how much they are" he said, looking thoughtful.  After some consideration he said "That one is £32 and that one is £28".

 "Ok" I replied.

He looked disappointed "You've been here before, haven't you?" he asked.

I confirmed that to be the case "Yes, last time you told me £300" I smiled.

"Oh, OK, we'll call it a tenner then" he said.  I paid up happily then trundled off to the sports shop in Wellington to buy some new running shoes.

A couple of weeks ago I started going to a Women in Motion Beginners Running session, nothing very ambitious but I've enjoyed it apart from the pain in the arches of my feet, particluarly on my right foot.  The instructor suggested I go to Seatons in Wellington as they would properly assess what type of shoe I need.  When I got to Seatons, I was asked to balance first on one foot and then the other while the salesman examined what my feet were doing.  The verdict was that I needed more support so he fetched a small selection of shoes to try and then I had to do a short walk and jog on the treadmill.  I was quite impressed when, just from watching my feet, he asked if I had more trouble with the right foot than the left.  The first pair of shoes were better than my old ones but still a bit sore so I had to try another (more expensive) pair and these felt much better.  I consequently left the shop £85 quid poorer but with some decent shoes and an instruction NOT to run for a few days and just to wear them around the house to get used to them.  Running session is tomorrow so I think I'll have to go along and just walk the route.  I'm worried that if I miss one session it will be all too easy to let it slip and miss the next one as well etc etc  I was very unfit before going to the running sessions and, truth be known, I still am.  BUT I have noticed an improvement and it has even made a difference to my riding confidence when off-road, which was one of my incentives for getting fitter in the first place.  I do wonder if my right foot isn't more sore because it is my kick-start foot.

After getting home from work, I found that one of the wheel bearings is the wrong size so I'll have to go back to the bearing man tomorrow and change it.  Never mind, there are far less pleasant places to go.

MOT has been postponed until Saturday :-(

Hurrah for Dremel!

Well, after more tapping away on Saturday without success I decided more drastic action was called for.  I suspected that what I was planning was probably an act of Bodgery but someone on the RealClassic facebook page suggested the same course of action - which made me feel a bit better.  So Sunday afternoon was spent using the Dremel to cut two grooves in the lower steering head bearing race so it would be easier to tap out.  This was fairly time-consuming but eventually proved successful.  The top bearing race tapped out without much resistance.  With the old races removed, fitting the new taper roller bearings was very straightforward and they make a noticeable improvement. 

Next it was time to attack the fork seals and I took the easy option and let Jon do this.  One fork seal done and one to go!  Tyre fitting this weekend and MOT booked for next Wednesday.

More fun was had on Sunday morning.  It was bright and sunny so it seemed like a good idea to go for a ride on the XL and the Serow.  Firstly, we dropped in to see friend Ian from whom I bought the XBR.  He was suitably impressed with the bargain XL but wouldn't try it out as he had been indulging in a glass of whisky!  Ian had already spent the proceeds from selling the XBR and claimed to have "unexpectedly" won a bike on ebay.  I think it was more "unplanned" than "unexpected", the placing of the bid having taken place after an evening in the pub with a mate!  He showed us the ebay pictures of it - a rather nice BSA C11 in "original" finish, rather than a restored example - so I look forward to seeing the real thing in action.

After this, we headed for an easy off road track.  Even though it has been dry for a few days now, there were lovely deep muddy puddles just to make life interesting.  My confidence had grown (and my fitness has improved!) since last time so we nailed the bikes through the puddles and ended up soaked to above the knee, with attractive mud spatters all up our backs.  This proved to be so much fun that we turned around and did it all again.  We swapped bikes this time, so Jon rode the XL and I was on the Serow.  The Serow is only 11 years newer but so much more sophisticated and more powerful - a more noticeable difference than you might expect from the 40cc difference in engine size (the XL top comfortable speed is about 60mph while the Serow is happy at 80+ mph on the road).  The suspension is also much better.  After riding back down the track, Jon proclaimed the XL to be "horrible and stone-age" which I think poor Herbert found rather hurtful.  I enjoyed both bikes and wasn't really bothered by the less comfortable ride.  The Serow is undoubtedly the better bike but it doesn't mean Herbert Honda is any less fun to ride.

I think Jon has been spoiled by the modern delights of the Speed Triple.............he didn't used to be so critical of old nails!

Botheration!

Jon came home from work yesterday and rushed out to the shed/bike conservatory to start stripping the front end off my XBR so we could get on with working on it today.  We got as far as removing the front wheel and forks and decided that was enough work for a Friday evening.  When Jon went to put the Speed Triple away he noticed it had a gurt nasty nail stuck in the lovely brand new rear tyre.  Having just spent all his pennies on the bike he wasn't too happy about having to shell out on a new tyre already so this morning we've been out to buy one of those tubeless tyre repair kits but the instructions say not to exceeed 80kmph afterwards - sort of defeats the object of having a Speed Triple, but it is more of a get you home kit I suppose.  Just out of interest, I checked the price of a replacement on M&P - expecting a rear tyre to be getting on for £180.  They had the exact same tyres on offer at £150 a pair so it seemed silly not to get them (my XBR tyres were £123 a pair and not such a high rating or anything like as BIG).  Jon's gone to get the existing tyre plugged and will keep it as a spare once the new one has been fitted.

While he was out, I've been having a go at drifting out the steering head bearings on the XBR so I can fit the shiny new taper roller ones.  I haven't had much success, the lower bearing has moved a little but doesn't want to go any further.  I've applied heat and kept tapping away at it thinking it must eventually move.  I have now come to a standstill because the head of the hammer flew off, narrowly missing my head and the XBR tank, flying across the room, past the B31 tank and landing neatly on the floor. No damage done fortunately.  Except to the hammer, of course.  I think I'll have to nip to the farm shop and buy a new one.

Seems like a good time for a cup of tea :-)

Parcels!

I had rather an exciting day today - I had three parcels delivered to work!  First was a Haynes Book of Lies for the XL185, brand new from ebay.  Then came a parcel of bits from Wemoto - steering head bearings, fork seals, handlebar grips and a new brake lever for the XBR (plus a free keyring!).  Finally was a pair of Avon Roadrider tyres from M&P for the XBR - they look rather sexy and I'm looking forward to trying them out.  I think they'll be a lot more confidence inspiring than the horrible Continental and Metzeler combination it has on now.  I should now be able to get the XBR to an MOTable state over the weekend and book it in for MOT next week.  Then it will probably rain constantly for the next six months...............

The Daily Puppy

I like today's puppy so much I want to keep him!

Reducing the collection

We've often discussed the need to reduce our collection of two-wheeled vehicles as we have run out of space in which to work on any of them.  As a result it often seems that the shed contents are more of a scrapheap or motorcycle graveyard than a cherished collection.

I can now happily report than Jon has had some success in this regard, having sold the New Hudson autocycle and the BSA B2 (sob....I wanted that!) at the Stafford Show last weekend.  The New Hudson has gone to Southern Ireland and the BSA has gone to sunny Spain.  He has also agreed the sale of the trusty Enfield Bullet to a friend.  The proceeds have been used to buy a 1999 Triumph Speed Triple, citrussy-green bug-eyed beastie that manages to look both slightly deranged and rather gorgeous all at once.  Well done, Jon - three out and one in!

What success have I had?  Well, I've decided to sell the Morini Kanguro.  I've decided to sell it a couple of times and then changed my mind because it really is a fun bike and, having been wired so it doesn't need a battery, it always starts easily even if it has been left for months.  Anyway, this time I really have decided to sell it.........although I don't plan to advertise it at all.  I've decided that if/when I hear that someone wants a Kanguro then I will let them buy it.  If I like them.  If I feel like it.  In the meantime, it is spending some time in my new storage unit - leaving a bit of shed space here.  So, well done me for being so decisive.  On the strength of that, I bought myself a little 1981 Honda XL185 which I'll be taking to Spain in September for some trail riding - I had to buy it as the trail riding is for twin-shock only so I couldn't have taken either the Morini or the Serow.  And it was a bargain.

Earlier this week, I heard that a friend is interested in buying the Yamaha Radian and I'm more than happy for that to go.  On the strength of that and because I have nothing that will go quick enough to not really annoy Jon if he is on the Speed Triple, I've now bought a Honda XBR500.  Again, a bargain.  It's got the nice spoked wheels (not the earlier com-stars) and a Predator exhaust system - sounds fantastic!  I just need to do some tweaking before I can MOT it (fork seals, steering head bearings) and move the footpegs back to the standard position.  The friend I've bought the XBR from will eventually have the NSU Quickly on long term loan so that will leave more room in the sheds - in the meantime, it will be moved to the storage unit.

So, to summarise, Jon has sold three and bought one and I have moved two, nearly sold one and bought two.  I don't think I'm doing very well really.  It's just as well I have the storage unit so I can just move things out of the way and pretend I've reduced the collection :-)

Pictures of the new toys below - I think you'll know which is which! I'm off to clean the XBR and move the foot-pegs.

Fords are Fun!

Wistanstow Show 28 March 2010

Hurrah for French bikers!!

They really know how to make their point:

http://ukfrancebikers.com/2010/03/14/french-motorcyclists-more-angry-than-ever/


http://ukfrancebikers.com/2010/03/15/french-bikers-take-over-the-public-transport-to-express-their-anger-at-the-government/

Love it, love it, love it!!!!

Titch Allen RIP

Sad news to hear that Titch Allen passed away in hospital yesterday.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/books/books07091300.html

NACC Fruitcake Frolic

Happy Birthday Jon!

Jon's birthday today.

Bought him a rather lovely Banjo.

This isn't him:

Must-have sidecar outfit

Click picture to start:

CLEVER AND QUAINT

Classic Dirt Bike/Off Road Show Telford

Very enjoyable show, not too crowded so none of that nasty jostling and struggling to get pictures of interesting bikes.

Slideshow

Knitted Motorcycle

More work by the artist can be seen here.  I love the lace tattoos.

BSA Victor - 92 HOH

Some of you may recognise the above registration number?

I received an email request a couple of days ago asking if anyone can help with locating the BSA Victor 441 with the registration number 92 HOH.

"Im hoping you can help me, or perhaps point me in the right direction.!


My father and his brother used to be BSA works riders and became British Trials Experts in the late 60's, in sidecar. (Derek and Ray Round also known as the Round brothers)

We sadly lost my uncle Ray 18months ago , and my dad (Derek) has expressed a wish that to try and get their BSA VICTOR 441 CC (WORKS BIKE) which they won the title british trials experts on many times back or at least trace it, I have the registration number which is 92 HOH, and wondered if you could possibly point me in the right direction where to start in trying to trace it, we are in the process of putting an advert in the old bike mart, but if there is any other suggesions you could point towards I would be most grateful.

thank you for your time


natalie"

I've looked on DVLA and it appears not to have been taxed since 1978. Derek believes it may be in Yorkshire but can't remember why. Natalie is placing an advert in Old Bike Mart and has contacted Tim Britton (editor of OBM and Classic Dirt Bike) and I made a couple of enquiries on various forums. I also (of course) suggested Natalie contact Kay to see if she can put something in the Star. If anyone can help or knows any possible sources of information please let me know and I will forward all details to Natalie.

I've scanned in a couple of piccies of the bike and riders from Norman Vanhouse's excellent BSA Competition history (you can click the pictures to make them bigger).

The Bugatti Queen

"The thing I like best in the world is adventure" - Helle Nice

I bought this book on Amazon following a recommendation on the Real Classic message board and I am very glad I did.

The Bugatti Queen is the true and utterly engrossing story of Helle Nice (born Helene Delangle) who rose from a poor background to become a successful racing driver in the 1930s, via a colourful career as a dancer, stripper and even a circus performer.

Born in 1900 in a small, shabby home in a tiny village forty miles from Paris, Helene Delangle was beautiful, adventurous, talented and promiscuous. She became very successful modelling, dancing and stripping in 1920s Paris. In 1929 she suffered a knee injury in a skiing accident and this put paid to her dancing career. By then, she already knew that she had skill as a competitive driver. The car-makers wanted glamour to sell their machines, all she had to do was prove herself as a driver and this she did by winning the 1929 Grand Prix Feminin at Montelhery driving an Omega Six.

The book chronicles her successful driving career collecting glittering prizes and enjoying a glamorous lifestyle driving Bugattis and other exotica. It is clear that the author has fallen a little in love with her heroine whose spirit and charm made her irresistible to so many people.

After all her achievements, her downward turn of her life seems tragically unfair.  She was disinherited by her family, her elder sister seeming bitterly resentful of her successful sibling (to the extent she omits her name from the family gravestone), her long term lover abandons and robs her and the famous driver Louis Chiron publically accuses her of collaboration with the Gestapo during the occupation (a charge which was never proved). In 1984 she dies in obscurity and poverty, having been dependent upon the care of a French charity whose purpose was to provide help and support for anyone in the theatrical world whose career had suffered a downturn in fortune.

The author, Miranda Seymour, does not confine the biography to a factual narration but includes emotive reconstruction in her story telling, filling out characters and events in a way that reaches to the emotions of the reader. By the time the book reaches the time of Helle’s fall from grace the events that unfold seem heartbreakingly sad.

The author mentions early in the book that she was disappointed with the lack of convincing descriptions of how it actually felt to be part of the racing scene in the 1920s & ‘30s. The descriptions in this book are beautifully evocative, whether told from the point of view of a spectator or a driver. The descriptions of the inevitable crashes and deaths are shocking and make the achievements and determination of the drivers even more remarkable.

A fascinating book about an extraordinary woman who deserves to be remembered.

You can't believe everything you read

There was a small amount of snowfall during the night so I fancied going for a walk in the snow.   This afternoon we headed for Lilleshall monument.  There was no snow there but we briefly saw the snow on the distant Welsh hills before they were hidden by clouds heading our way.

Lilleshall monument was erected in memory of the first Duke of Sutherland in 1839, a few years after his death in 1833.  On it is the inscription "To the memory of George Granville Leveson Gower, K.G. 1st Duke of Sutherland.  The most just and generous of landlords.  This monument is erected by the occupiers of his Grace's Shropshire farms as a public testimony that he went down to his grave with the blessings of his tenants on his head and left behind him upon his estates the best inheritance which a gentleman of England can bequeath to his son; men ready to stand by his house, heart and hand"

Well, call me cynical but I couldn't help but wonder if the monument had been erected by his grateful tenants or by his son so when we got home I had to do a little browsing on the good old internet.  I didn't find the answer to my question but on the excellent Geograph website I found a few pictures of the monument and noticed a comment someone had added later.  This read "The Scottish tenants of the Duke of Sutherland would not have shared the sentiments given on this monument.  As a major landowner he is seen as responsible for widespread Highland Clearances replacing tenants with sheep farming.  His statue at Golspie causes continuing controversy".

This statue at Golspie was also ostensibly erected by "his mourning and grateful tenantry" to a "judicious, kind and liberal landlord" and stands near the summit of Beinn a' Bhragaidh.  Many people would like to see this monument removed.

At the start of the 1800s the Sutherland Estates amounted to some 1.5 million acres and formed the biggest private estate in Europe.   Because more money could be made from the land if it was grazed by sheep than from the rents of the crofters, up to 15,000 people were forcibly, sometimes brutally, removed.  Some were resettled in coastal communities but more were shipped to North America.

More about the Highland Clearances here.

This still leaves the question "Were the Shropshire farmers really grateful?" I shall continue to look.

Now, I mentioned above the Geograph website.  To quote from the website "The Geograph British Isles project aims to collect geographically representative photographs and information for every square kilometre of Great Britain and Ireland and you can be part of it"

I've not seen this website before today but it looks very interesting - even if you do not want to add your own photgraphs it provides a useful reference as there are photographs from almost everywhere.  Go on, have a look! (Edited 21.44 31 Jan 2010 - have spent some time browsing the Geograph site and have noticed that some of the contributers seem to use it to post opinions about off-road motorcyclists, 4wd vehicles and even horse-riders ruining routes for cyclists and walkers.  Personally, I think that is abusing what the site is about.  I'd rather just see the photos with a factual statement of where and when the picture was taken.  There are plenty of other places to go and argue the toss about who should be allowed where.)

Mmmm, time to attempt to cook Kidney Curry  (Kidney e Kash).

Now that's why I should get the Raleigh Runabout sorted.  And why Jon should keep the NVT Easyrider.

Happy Birthday to me!

Last year I had a crappy birthday on my own because poor Jon was in hospital having his appendix removed so this year I decided I deserved to start celebrating early.  Last night we went out for Birthday Curry (I had kidney e kash, a dish made with lambs kidney, spring onion, green peppers and coriander) and very nice it was too.  Followed that with some wine and some sparkling wine so I needed a bit of a lie in this morning.  Then went out, wearing lovely new Birthday Boots (thank you Jon!), for Birthday Lunch (liver, bacon, onions and chips) which was also very nice.  After that, we spent some time looking around the antique centre in Bridgnorth and for some reason I bought a bugle.  I now need to work out how to get a reasonable sound out of it, rather than just a noise like a wet fart..........I also came home with an 1881 world atlas (in German) and a tiny brass Victorian multi-tool with a penknife, a pencil, a toothpick and a button hook.  See, I spent my Birthday Money wisely!!!  What I really wanted was an antique brass horn for the B31 but couldn't find one of those so I'm now "watching" some on ebay.

Here's the card my Dad sent me:

What to do first......

I started this blog with the idea of just putting bike stuff on but now, instead of just feeling bad because I've done nothing to the bikes,  I need to start doing "other stuff".  My acquiring heaps of junk to try and make them into something attractive and useable isn't restricted to bikes, I have lots of other junk as well!

First to be attacked will probably be a couple of empty clock cases I found in a junk shop in Bridgnorth.  Time to get creative with those, I think.

A recent email from an old school friend reminded me that my lovely Mum used to let me paint all over the wall in my bedroom, not to mention an 8 foot tall "Eddie" (the Iron Maiden mascot) climbing the stairs.  My last house also ended up with murals on all the doors but I've done nothing like that in the current house (and been here over 6 years).  It was always one of my favourite ways of unwinding so I need to make time for creative tatting around!  Putting that in writing gives me something to live up to..............

It won't happen today though.  I might go out this evening, since it is my birthday tomorrow and I've taken the day off.  Hooray!!

I've done sod all........

...to any of the bikes since about September.

I bought a very pretty 21" front wheel for the B40/B25SS project (from a Triumph Adventurer, I believe).

I've had a wonderful looking electronic ignition made for the Tribsa by Kirby Robotham but I need to convert the bike to 12v before I fit it and I am lacking the space and confidence to attempt it at the moment.  I'd wanted to have this done for a while so when I got my insurance payout from a car accident last year, it seemed like a good way to spend the money.  DAM on the Classic Bike Forum spoke highly of Kirby's ignition in his father's 3ta engined Greeves so this finally swung my decision to splash out almost £300. I think it will be worth it. 

Last week, I thought I had managed to find a new owner for the NSU Quickly but, after lots of shifting bikes in the shed so that the NSU was accessible and ready to deliver, this all fell through.  It has to go so the hunt for a new home is back on.  I need SPACE!!  One friend would like it but it would be dependent upon being able to sneak it into his shed without his wife noticing the appearance of an extra bike.

The space problem may be eased soon as I am hoping too be able to rent a storage unit near work, which should take all the junk from the spare room plus the trailer.  This means two things - one, I can try and sort out the garden so I can start growing vegetables, herbs etc and two (prior to decorating) I am planning to move the BSA B25SS chassis into the spare room so I can clean it up and paint it etc.  I think the Ariel 3 will probably find its way up there for painting as well.  I ran this idea past Jon while we were at the NACC meeting last week and he didn't seem at all surprised.  The practicalities of testing out the B25 brakes by riding down the stairs were discussed but, should the brakes prove to be crap, I would end up riding through the back door and into the bike-conservatory and probably impaling myself on some handlebars or something equally painful.  The plan was therefore revised to a more cautious one, which involves disassembling the rolling chassis to transport it down the stairs.  And then there is the engine to attend to, which is still in bits in the kitchen.

While the B40/B25SS and the Ariel are residing in comparative luxury upstairs, there should be room in the shed to take apart the B31 forks which I reassembled way back in August using lots of nice new parts, then, after re-fitting them to the B31 realised I had missed out the circlips.  There is also the rather tricky problem of chain alignment to be solved. And lots of other bits too.  I need to write a list.

The alloy tank for the Tribsa has made progress.  I bought it for £15 on ebay but it had a huge dent in it.  It looked the business on the bike though.  A friend in the BSAOC has had it for....er...probably about a year now.....he's doing a cracking job on it though.  Before Christmas, he had taken the bottom off it in order to straighten out the dents and you couldn't tell there had ever been any dents.  He is currently making a new bottom for it with a narrower tunnel to fit more closely around the top tube which will make the fuel capacity greater too. He's also repositioning the fuel taps.  He reckons I can have it back in another year.  I think it will be worth waiting for.

Then there's the Raleigh Runabout to be sorted because it makes me laugh.

Not much to do then.............................

New link

I've added a new link for an interesting blog about restoring a BSA Starfire, well worth a read.

http://thrashemmotorcycles.blogspot.com/

Essential motorcycle accessory

One of those things you never knew you needed:

Click here

I'm pretty sure I need at least one!

Set off for tonight's BSAOC meeting but there was enough snow to make it seem like a bad idea.  Yes, I know there are worse things than being snowed in at the pub with the North Staffs BSA Owners but I do have to work tomorrow.  Ride/drive carefully everyone!

Isle of Man reciprocal health agreement petition

I have received the following by email today and though it may be of some interest/concern to some of you:
"A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM ROY MADDOX

Support Visitors to the Isle of Man

The UK Government has unilaterally decided to end the reciprocal health
agreement with the Isle of Man

(see http://www.gov.im/lib/news/dhss/ministerwarnsoff.xml ) - this means that, from April 2010, UK residents visiting the island will no longer be covered for
medical care and Manx residents will no longer be covered for medical care
should they be taken ill in the UK. Anyone taking a ferry to the Isle of Man will need to have health insurance.

Anyone living in the Isle of Man (many of whom have served in the British
Armed Forces or are British Nationals) even if they have paid years of
national insurance in the UK, will need to have health insurance if they
visit the UK.

If you don't agree with this and would like to let the British Government
know your feelings, sign the official petition on the No.10 website here -
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HealthcareIOMUK/ and forward this email on
to as many of your friends as you can.

If you feel really strongly about this, let your MP know as it's been kept
very quiet in the UK and most members of Parliament are not aware of the
change.

Regards

Roy Maddox
265 IMAGES http://265images.fpic.co.uk/
155 Rugby Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire. LE10 0QB"

And check out the 265 images link above as there are lots of interesting photos including lots of Bantams!