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VTR is back, and how. Noise was the front CCT, now replaced and sounding normal again. Excessive underseat heat was being caused by excessively filthy air-filter now replaced and not heating seat (gives me an idea for winter though!).
Much better all round now. Headed down to Alton last night with Mikey and some of the Boxhill peeps. Went dark earlier than expected but it was still a nice evening all round.
Well happily passed the 100 mile barrier on Saturday last; went down to Eastbourne with some peeps from the Boxhill site. There was an air show on at Eastbourne, which considering that you got to see pretty much all of what is on at the bigger air shows display-wise was pretty good seeing as it was free!
We've been off this week and it's been so nice to reacquaint myself with that pastime called a "lie-in" I think I'm actually beginning to lose those shadows under my eyes too. Course the problem is I don't want to go back to getting up at the crack of dawn next week!
We've bought a secondhand Abbastand.... no it has nought to do with the group! It's a center-stand for bikes without one. Yes I know my GPZ should have one but the chap who had the bike before me had fit an ER5 two into one exhaust meaning the stand had to go to make room for the Y-piece. We bought all the fittings needed to fit the GPZ, VTR & Mikey's ZX10. The fittings cost us more than the stand did, however the chap at Abba was very good and did us a discount as well as being really helpful, which seeing as we had bought a secondhand stand I wasn't really expecting. So they get a big thumbs up from me as top chaps to deal with.
Added another photoslide from pics I took yesterday just outside Ockley. Spotted a nature reserve on the map and figured there must be a way in so we spent a pleasant afternoon tramping about in the woods with our cameras.
Yay! The Brat is home at last. Cost
me a fair bit more than I'd budgeted for but then I'd completely forgotten to
allow for parts....! Feels very strange after being on the VTR for so long non
stop. So much lower to the ground and upright. Feels good though. Just have to
be nice to it for about a hundred miles then back to thrashing it 
VTR is now in for full seeing to and hopefully figure out what that noise is.
I agree with Beakys first though that its something to do with the drive chain I
just don't know what. I just hope its not too expensive to fix! Think I'll buy a
lottery ticket this weekend. 
Gonna fit the new ignition switch I've been sitting on to the GPZ as well as the foot peg that fell off and might even clean the brakes as they feel a bit soggy after the Honda's responsive pots. Well that's the intention anyway but then I am know to be a bit lazy!
Been out an about with the RoSPA gang today, met at Petersfield McD'S for breakfast and set off on a roundabout route to have lunch at Ogri's (Wessons bike shop & cafe) in Horam. The VTR behaved well considering it's still making odd noises. I'm hoping a good service will sort those out.
The GPZ should be home middle of this week when the VTR will go in for service. I'm quite looking forward to getting the Brat home and giving it a good thrashing!
Took the ZZR out (yes, really!) briefly last night, oiled the chain etc. Started without any hassles of course even though its been sitting there for months. Felt odd but good to be on it, remembered all the reasons why I liked it, feels very solid and planted, very comfy as well, just not sure if I can ride it well or if like in the past it would drag my riding backwards again...
Just heard from fellow ZZR enthusiast Jim about his current trip which I though I'd share with you as it's pretty cool to be off biking in foreign parts I think..
"Well I'm here again clocking up the miles (or Kilometers as they are round here). I've been on the road a week and done about 2300Km. Now I'm back in the big(ish) city
in the north, Chiang Mai.
This CB750 is a heavy machine and a bit tired but its got a lot of grunt and in the mountain twisties I can hold off all but the most determined
cars. The driving culture round here is very reactive rather than predictive so planning braking points, turn in and exits usually wins. Cars are driven fast but that's not always the best strategy. The only problem is that
Buddhist culture is a bit fatalistic so driving round bends on the wrong side of the road is all to do with Karma and scary biscuits for on-coming Christians.
Every road has a hidden third middle lane so you can easily find yourself facing two on-coming cars, one of which is in your lane. You are expected to move over, which of course you do and therefore the expectation is reinforced. No defending a right of way over here.
But, it's a great place to drive. Fantastic scenery and some amazing routes and roads. It rains a lot so sometimes there are long sections of repairs going on and they can be tricky on a top heavy machine. Thailand has a very good infra-structure; roads, telephone system, internet stuff so it's very easy to 'get around' and look after yourself. Money goes a long away not just because of the exchange rate and the lower cost of living but the basic things like food really are cheap.
Everybody is as friendly as the advertising says and if you smile you will always get a smile back. The culture of
liaison is quite prevalent but mainly at the tourist places like the big cities and the beaches. I get asked a lot where my girlfriend is but luckily I'm married to my
motorcycle! 
Copyright © 2003 by Girlie_Biker/Girlie-BIker. All rights reserved.
Revised: 07 Jul 2012 11:45:22.