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Guess what? I'm still in bed.
Yes! 
Got some antibiotics from the GP yesterday. Half our office is off with what seems to be the same thing. Slightly more worryingly our cleaner has gone down with pneumonia.
Its getting very dull stuck in bed. At least I have the laptop which allows me to connect to work and do a few things, but there's only so much you can do from 25 miles away...
Have succumbed to one of the many viruses floating around the office. Came home early yesterday with a throat that felt like I had swallowed razor blades and a head quickly filling with cotton wool.
Am bedridden with Mikey playing
nursie and only books and computer to amuse me. 
GPZ is weighing heavily on my mind. Starting trouble has worsened and I've had to get a push to start it every time. Not ideal, especially not when I stopped for petrol in Chessington on Thursday... had to wait for around 15 mins or so till a nice young man on a scooter agreed to give me a hand.
Managed to have a quick look at the solenoid on Friday in the daylight, all connections look good. Could be the battery still or the starter...
Currently I'm not allowed out of bed, so hopefully the weather will hold out till I can have a proper look tomorrow.
Blimey it's cold!
I popped over to Finns on Saturday on my ZZR (simply topped the cooling system up with distilled water and bled it through), I decided it needed a ride, any ride more than the thermostat taking out. It felt so strange after being on the twins for so long, the engine was so incredibly smooth and it took me a while to get used to the acceleration again.
Fortunately Phil had another clamp which fit so sorted that before dark. I had originally planned to take the VTR to Finns, but of course having been sat for so long and with the Datatool immobiliser the battery had been drained (effective method of immobilisation!). Removed that ready for charging overnight.
Sunday started poorly, the GPZ refused to start - not that I needed it, I just wanted to shift it and make sure it was behaving itself. I gave up and pushed it out of the way. ZZR next, now bearing in mind I'd had this bike out the day before, albeit for a short run. Nothing. I got one click from the starter button then nothing, even the lights died. I've not take it out yet but I suspect that damn battery is dry again. I have put a new battery on Santa's list, but am concerned as to whether it could be a charging problem; i.e. alternator... hope not.
Successfully replaced the battery on the VTR and took it for a little run, just to Tesco's at Broadbridge with Mikey giving his ZX10 an airing. Felt irrationally and extremely nervous on my VTR and panicked at a vehicle approaching from a side entrance and tapped the back brake a little too hard resulting in a severe twitch of the rear which strangely settled me down and cleared my head and allowed me to get on with the job at hand. The roads were slimy, accelerating out of a roundabout the back started to slide again. It certainly wasn't a day for speed. Still a run was had and upon my return I managed to get the Brat to behave and start as well so I figured 2 out of 3 was pretty good for the day.
Had more trouble starting the GPZ this morning. I've found that when it won't turn over if I slip it into 1st and roll the bike forward or back and then drop the clutch and let the bike lurch against the gear that if I then grab the clutch and press the starter immediately it will go. Almost like giving it a kick up the rear. Well this trick work in as much as it tried to turn over but the cold was too much for it and it wouldn't catch. Mikey started to give me a push but I had to stop for a vehicle which again made it lurch into life in the end.
Hopefully having been out today it will behave in the morning....
Well the repairs to the bodywork have all lasted well. The exhaust hanger has fallen off, this morning or last night so I need to pop to Finns and get another. I think the bolt may have sheared off... I have the base to a loose based flan tin over the hole in the exhaust, held on with 4 jubilee clips. Works really well.
Had my RoSPA test today. 
Am very, very pleased.
Spent Saturday tinkering with the GPZ, repaired both areas of concern on the nosecone. Used two washers to embed in the fiberglass for the bottom RH attachment which has worked really well. The crack near the mirror fitment is a little more concerning but it looks pretty solid, will just keep an eye on it I think.
Exhaust has been getting worse again. Went to Fins at Redhill to get some oil and get another opinion on my ZZR and asked him to have a look at the exhaust whilst I was there. Fin agreed with me that simply welding the old hanger back on was not going to last. My new plan is to weld something (?) over the old hole and use a conventional hanger, which I picked up from Fins. Just as well I did as by the time I got home and had another look the hanger was pretty much off. Had a fiddle, in the drizzling rain and managed to secure the whole lot with the use of the conventional hanger and the old one... tried it without the old hanger but the noise was just too much with a gaping hole! I'll pop a pic up I think. Was quite pleased with the result and I even managed to retain the passenger footpeg too!
Dry today but very very windy. Loads of leaves down and stuck firmly to the road. Had a wee slide going around one corner on one of my shortcuts near work. Definitely more things to look out for now with the weather changing. A24 was block so had to detour through Effingham and up over Ranmore Common, not one of my favorite roads in daylight. Fortunately I had nothing in front or behind me for 3/4 of the way. Having something behind me on a little road like that in the dark puts me right off. Night riding is getting easier, the RoSPA system is a huge help.
Have decided that provided I keep trying to improve as I am doing, and provided that I keep trying to reduce my risk factors then I am doing all I can to prevent any further accidents, and, should they occur they are unlikely to be through bad riding. I am in a high risk bracket as I commute, what's more I commute into London. I have tried to reduce my risk by going in and coming home earlier, missing the worst of the London rush. I have tried to maintain a high visibility through the use of my hi-viz stuff. I have improved my own skills through the RoSPA training. I put into practice what I have learned as much as I can. I ride defensively. I adjust my riding to suit the conditions (both weather & traffic) around me. So I guess I'm ticking all the boxes really. Fingers crossed it pays off.
Copyright © 2003 by Girlie_Biker/Girlie-Biker. All rights reserved.
Revised: 07 Jul 2012 11:45:21
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