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Well it's almost November, clocks have gone back - whilst we get a brighter morning we get to come home in the dark with all those drivers who don't like driving in the dark - oh joy!
Managed to adjust my chain tonight in the dark - just a quick tug minus the Abba Stand - didn't fancy trying that in the dark! Had to get Mikey to loosen the wheel nut though as the last person to tighten it was Capital Bikes. I always say "don't forget I need to be able to get that off" but rarely do they manage to get the balance of tight, but not too tight, right.
I've checked my front sprocket a total of 3 times so far but am now happy that it isn't about to fall off again... (I think!) Going to stop checking on it now as I feel a bit silly.
Need to pop a new rear brake pad in and put the GPZ through its MOT, other than than everything is ticking along nicely. *touch wood*
Battery was dead on the VTR over the weekend but that's all charged up and back in situ so need to get that out this weekend for a little jaunt.
Let's see, where to start? Can't quite remember dates but Friday 13th I do recall my front sprocket fell off. Yup, you heard right... riding along normally fell this "clunk" and thought the chain had snapped, pulled over sharpish (was on the A24 near the speed camera) had a wee look and no, the chain is still there... pushed the bike up to the bus stop and took the front sprocket cover off to have a look and sure enough the sprocket is gone - no damage to the cover at all, not a mark. Was RAC'd home and took the car to work. Going there was OK as it was about 10am so pretty quite but coming home reminded me once again why I use the bike (just as I was thinking maybe I'll use the car once a week for a change...) soooo many bad and arrogant drivers out there. It really winds me up in the car whereas on the bike I just let it go.
Ordered a new sprocket, this time a Kwak one, was very surprised how much heavier duty it was than the JT pattern one I had fitted. Fitted this on the Saturday and blow me if on Monday the damn bike didn't die just as I arrived at work! Battery was flat as a pancake - put this on charge in the warehouse whilst I cobbled together some bits to re-attach the dodgy wire to the rectifier which had eroded and just worn through - I don't think keeping my wet weather pants down that side was helping either so I won't be doing that any more...
Which brings me to the next item - rain heavily on a couple of days last week - so much so that I got to work pretty damp on Thursday - in spite of my WW gear which had decided not to function any more. So now I'm on the lookout for some new waterproofs.
Got a new rear tyre for the GPZ - was getting some weird feedback from the front end (or so I thought) and popped to Beakys concerned about the bearings. He checked and whilst there is some very minimal play we decided on inspection it was coming from my very square and very well worn back tyre! Capital Bikes did me a great price, it's so nice to have a round wheel again.
Oh yeah... and I'm another year older now too - starting to feel my age a bit I think.
Fitted the new clutch plates and springs and did oil & filter on Sunday. Everything went swimmingly and the benefits are easily seen. In fact I'm a tad cautious everything is running so well on the GPZ!
Weather is definitely on the turn, lining has gone back into my all weather trousers. My waterproof trousers are not so waterproof anymore so I'm on the look out for any bargains going just now.
Copyright © 2003 by Girlie_Biker/Girlie-BIker. All rights reserved.
Revised: 07 Jul 2012 11:45:22.