February 06 Happenings

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26/02/06

Well its all in my head I guess, Beaky (Ian) kept the bike for the week and says he can't really fault it. So I figure its just down to me and some practice. Took him out today, down to Wessons cafe in Horham. Was terribly windy and hailing at times. The whole thing was such hard work I had to take the GPZ out when I got home just prove to myself I can ride bikes and it doesn't have to be such hard work!

I'm almost resigned to thinking about selling the ZZR and maybe the GPZ too and getting one to replace them both - a good commuter and up to the job too, but I'm so fussy I don't really know where to start looking. I still don't think I'm ready to see anyone else on that biker either... but we'll see.

Speedo is sorted on the GPZ anyway, just wish you could do that job without removing the clocks. Tried my hardest but you just can't get pliers in at the right angle

Oh, now that I have the new style MOT certs I taxed the ZZR online on Thursday night, disc arrived Saturday morning, top service! Link added to Bike Links.

23/02/06

Shock arrived and was fitted by Beaky, got the GPZ back on Monday, its amazingly bouncy! I'm not sure it's ever been this bouncy. Takes some getting used to after all that time with little to no suspension at all. Damn speedo cable went today however so will try to pick up a new one tomorrow. Least I can fit those!

Went to Ireland last weekend for a weekend away, had a lovely time in Cobh (pronounced Cove) near Cork. Very picturesque little town. Was a relaxing break, we would definitely go back again, met some great locals and drank rather too much.

I've redone the bike links page as it was getting too long again - I'm hoping the new format makes it easier/quicker to find stuff.

I've given the ZZR to Beaky for a few days. Something is not quite right - I think. It might just be in my head but at least this way I can get a better informed opinion and if anything needs doing - do it. I just can't relax enough to ride normally or enjoy the ride. There's a front end wobble still and it's handling like a whale.

Its been bloody snowing today.... yes snowing. Someone please tell whoever is in charge its not supposed to snow at the end of February!

11/02/06

Well a day to go to Mikey's birthday. Its starting to look like spring but its still very cold.

I replaced the speedo cable on the ZZR and have mostly been using that for work, however I did take the VTR Thurs & Fri as it was feeling like such hard work on the Zed I just needed a break.

I got stung in a non-ebay transaction for the GPZ - guy claimed he had the shock and exhaust for a 500s but what he sent was from a GPZ550. He won't respond so I'm out of pocket by £80 and am stuck with some unusable and almost unsalable parts. I did think it was a good deal, guess it was - for him!

Still I have found another genuine seller who is sending me a shock for £35. Fingers crossed on that one. I did look at cheap pattern parts, the cheapest being a YSS at £89 delivered, but given that they only have a 6 month guarantee I'm going to pass. I'll just hope that this one didn't get a battering and that it'll give me a year maybe.

Mot'd both the VTR and the ZZR at Beaky's who is just down the road from me. (Link to Beaky's site on Links page)

01/02/06

Fly? It just vanishes! Where to start... hmm hard to say. Ok quick break down (ha ha!), GPZ is off the road. Yes, again. ZZR however was back on the road, well briefly!

GPZ was running fantastic, till last week the suspension collapsed. I'd been hearing this squeaky scratchy sound which I couldn't place, I guess it was the shock disintegrating. So it's in the garage while I source some cheap parts. I thought I'd sussed that, but parts arrived today and they're wrong... total bummer.

ZZR, I got a new gel battery for him, I dithered between the liquid and gel and decided on the gel in the end. Lost Again from the Boxhill forum gave me a rectifier which he had spare in his garage so replaced that. So it starts, it goes, it doesn't burn the battery. Popped over to Fins on Saturday and got them to just check the voltage and was told its now charging perfectly, so that's good. Have taken him to work today and yesterday. I was very impressed with how easily everything turned when I rolled him out of the garage given that he's been stuck in there for months. Nothing was rusty or stuck at all. Been feeling a bit nervy however, checked my tyres tonight on the way home and discovered where the front end wobble was coming from... *note to self - always check tyre pressures when bike comes out of storage* - air in your tyres helps keep wobbles at bay! However tonight the speedo cable snapped. Now I replaced this not long back.... BUT I used a pattern part which I guess was a bit longer than the standard part cause even though I routed it in the same manner as the old one it was twisted up funny at the top, which, now that I have studied the cable and understand how it works, I completely understand why it snapped. So I need to do that this weekend.

So Zed goes back to the garage and I'll take the VTR or Michael's Zephyr tomorrow. I need to get the VTR MOT'd before the 12th, Zed the 25th and I need to tax the GPZ now. Money money money, they're not cheap these things!

I'm going to try a new place for the MOT's... will let you know what happens.