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Well that's the end of October. They say time flies when you're having fun, they also say you know you're getting old when the policemen look too young, so I must be having a lot of fun and getting very old!
Suffered the hangover from hell on Sunday after popping up to the S3 Bar on Saturday night to see a little gig which was on and see how our friend Swati is getting on with the new wine bar.
Had a good day Saturday, I'd bought some fiberglass stuff and was working on the rear panels on the GPZ. I figured I'd see if I could make a good job of those before I address the small but deadly crack in my new nosecone, which I received on Friday, 28th and fit before I left work. I think I've got the fiberglass knack now so I'll have a go at the nosecone on Saturday. Now that the clocks have gone back there is no chance of getting anything done in the evenings, its just too dark. Topped up the Brats oil - another litre... slightly worried about the oil consumption but not going to panic overly just yet.
Went for a little spin on the back of Mikey's Zephyr. Much more comfortable than being pillion on a ZX6 or I dread to think, the ZX10. I'd quite happily go pillion on the Zephyr when I don't fancy a ride. It is very hard though to not try to ride the bike and not to think, why aren't you doing this or that etc.
Took the Brat for its MOT yesterday, had a rear brake pad fitted and the wheels aligned at the same time. Need to get the nosecone done asap, noticed my radiator cover was hanging off as well - just as well I did as it came off in my hand. Have secured it now with cable ties, not sure how I'll sort that long term as both fitments have cracked right off.
Went to Chichester today to collect Michael's new Zephyr 1100, his "cruising" bike. We just need to do a major sort-out in the garage now to make room for all these machines! The GPZ coped admirably with the pair of us two up.
It's getting colder out there... this morning was as dark as night when I set off as well. The only good thing about winter riding is it improves my night time riding!
The road network is changing already round here, four islands have gone in on the A24 Deepdene Hill, the scene of my last RTA, looks like they are to be lit as well, which to be honest I'm looking forward to. You cannot see anything in the dark there and pedestrians will and do take their lives (and mine sometimes!) in their hands trying to cross that road. Its hard to balance sometimes what's best for me as a resident and as a biker. I do wonder how much the surrounding roads will change further, if at all. We've seen some red tarmac come into play down on the A29 on the sharpest bends, not sure if I like that stuff or not. I reckon it'll start to chip off anyway as its just laid over the original surface.
Sunday is RoSPA day. We'll do a mock test this time and see how I get on with speed limits.... uh huh, yes well it does have to be done!
Although I did my Vivaldi write ups after all that night I held off until I received the official press releases in case there were any big announcements, but there was not.
Celebrated my birthday yesterday - another year older. I don't seem to be any closer to being a real grown up however. I don't see that I can possibly be as old as I am as surely I should be mature by now!?
My good friend Andy stopped by today to spot weld the exhaust on the Brat, so hopefully I won't have any MOT worries now (and it won't sound quite so awful). Should have got on with some test on the Zed, but succumbed to housework instead... well I can't be a biker all the time - I have to be a girlie too!
What a lovely day for a day out at the races! A tad cool on the way there but the sun soon came out to play and kept us warm till the end of the day. Some superb racing, I'll try to do my Vivaldi write up tomorrow, too late tonight.
Winter is well on its way, time to swap my visor for the original clear one I think. Nights are getting darker, as are the mornings., Still fairly mild but it won't be long now till the cold sets in. Muffs are working well, as are the winter gloves. If anything my hands are a trifle too warm just yet...
As we're off to Brands tomorrow for the final round of the BSB, did a RoSPA session today, find out more here. Took the VTR out, feels odd after so long on the GPZ. Still haven't been able to start work on the ZZR, although I did manage to put my new plate on the VTR so now all three bikes are the same; 8 x 6 with a line border and www.girlie-biker.co.uk at the bottom...
Friday at last, the weekends go too fast but the weeks can go on forever. Took some pics of my cracked exhaust (not the best pics I might add). Bought some rad flush stuff from my little local auto shop. K&K Autos in Southfields, very good place for anything auto type you need.
Just have to make some time now. Off to Brands on Sunday for the last round of the BSB, and out on the VTR (subject to weather) tomorrow.
Well back on the GPZ today. Least my hands were warm. Bought some new winter gear (textile) from J&S on Saturday which included some winter gloves which amazingly don't feel really bulky. Combined with the muffs I've fitted (yea yea well its not a pretty bike to start with!) I should be fairly comfortable this winter.
Battery is finally starting to charge so should be OK by the morning. Need some time now to get on and check out a number of things. Been receiving ideas from the forums and between them all I think I'll be able to get to grips with it and sort it pretty easily.
Leaving home I was blowing a fair amount of oily smoke, but it did seem to clear pretty quickly. Had a look before leaving work, no sign if new drips although I did see one drip which appeared to have come from the muck in the belly pan. Nothing is simply however, traffic was a nightmare this morning and the bike overheated just after Robin Hoods Corner. had to stop and let it cool down. Got home without incident, mainly by monitoring the revs/gears to ensure I kept the engine cool. Once home I test and confirmed that the fan was definitely working, bled the cooling system from top and bottom, topped it up and was about to start it to let it run through when all I got from the ignition switch was a loud click. Checked and sure enough the battery was dry(ish), again! Topped it up and tried to bump start it with help from Mikey but it wouldn't hold. Have got the battery on charge now for the night.
If I can just discover why the bike is overheating it'll be fine. I used to run it as hard and in worse traffic so it really can't be that it just doesn't like it....
Blimey, where to start. Well today thought I'd be good and sort the Zed out, it's had a small oil leak for a while. I thought it was the oil filter being a tad loose. So took the lower panels off (pretty good at that these days!) did the deed, filter was indeed very loose, however afterwards I noticed some fresh oil on the cardboard I was using as a drip mat. Cleaned it up and I have decided that maybe it was just some old oil stuck to the bottom of the bike, warmed up and dripped out when I was running the bike. Hope its nothing more than that, but will have to see tomorrow.
Yesterday took the GPZ to bitz and taped up the headlight. All the extra use (and I think to be fair, hard riding) has worsened some of the cracks in the bodywork and the one remaining headlight lug on the offside sheared off, leaving the light flapping with just the one side holding it on. Bike looks even more sorry for itself now with gaffer tape holding it together. Will need to find a cheap nose cone somewhere ASAP.
Sunday took the GPZ on the RoSPA social rideout. I haven't spent that many hours in one go on that bike and boy is it hard on the backside! The ride started from Winnall, near Winchester and finished in Stockbridge, taking us down to Dorchester for breakfast and back. It was a real endurance test for me, being on the road from 08:15 till 18:00 with a couple of breaks but the whole time at top level concentration at fairly high speeds. I'm pleased I coped as well as I did. I think some of the back roads really helped loosen the poor GPZ's bodywork though! I also noticed that the exhaust is blowing; I did feel something touch down at the Texaco roundabout on the way to work a few days ago - I must have whacked the headers and its done a fair bit of damage up by the hanger. That will need to be sorted before the MOT... more money!
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Revised: 07 Jul 2012 11:45:21
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