Whitsy

Di got Ipod and gadgets so we can skype and do videos of our guests crashing the quad (oops sorry John should I have kept that a secret). I got an on board camera set for bike ride videos (thanks John and Gary for fitting it to the forks...Perfect view)

Oi, You left without cleaning the quad bike and DRZ... Dont worry...I will do it and get it all ready for your return. Hope you had a great trip and enjoyed the sights along the Pilgrims Way through Spain. See ya when I get back to the UK.

Hi Bonnie, Thats a long time away from the bike world!!! Loads has changed over the years although there is still the stigma that all bikers are hell raising, baby eating thugs. Depends on what your personal preferences are to what you want to achieve on your bike. The racing scene is very bouyant despite the ressesion. There are loads of friendly clubs organising rallies and ride outs (and no initiation ceremonys). There is a good charity vibe at present with most bike clubs doing things for Help 4 Heroes. Get yourself up to the Cat and Fiddle or into Chester to check out who goes where... The one thing that has not changed is that the bike community will always look out for each other and offer friendly advice and a chat over coffee. Just stop somewhere and see!! Enjoy

Well he had been offered £300 for a brand new set of Dainese Ti Tech in Silver and Black and he was going to let them go at that. But we closed for xmas before they went so will still be there when I get back on 10th Jan

Good effort!! Maybe get him to sweep the snow away from the garage door to get your bike out!!

[quote="XS1100"]If Triumph thought it was a good idea it would all come as std.imo How many times have I thought that!! You will probably get away with replacing the pipes only for its MOT and put up with any fueling glitches for the day or so before re conversion. It is not as though the MOT is checking your performance, just as long as the mapping does not over burn or over fuel to alter the co2 reading too much.

Used to in my yoof!! Way before wheelies and knee down were around!! Never kept it up though as age and preservation take hold and it has moved on to crazy bordering on loonacy now Still good for the long distance high speed wheelies and the odd stoppie but that is about it...

Hi Sparkey, Had a pile of leathers dropped off at the unit..Surplus to requierments, Dainese and Hein Gerike.Some worn just once or twice!! Just down the road in Melbourne but not back till 10th Jan. If you are still looking then let me know.

For those of you scratching your heads (or nackers) the story behid the hearts is a little extra for all those that get bombarded by facebook about the latest cause... The origional text was... Copy this text and put it in your status if you know someone or have heard of someone, who knows someone. If you don't know anyone or even if you've just heard of someone who doesn't know anyone then do still copy this. It's important to spread the message. And the hearts! For ...fuck's sake, don't forget the hearts! You know what to do!!!!

If the noise is worse whilst cold then this points more to cam chain tensioner or even something as simple as a leaking exhaust gasket by the manifold. Bearings and engine wear noises tend to stay despite the internal expansion of the engine.

Just a quick Hi before I shoot off to the sand dunes to play on my DRZ 400. Been riding since I was 9, got the usual tally of scars that go with it, but still my enthusiasum never wains. Spent 25 years in various parts of the industry from bike shop mechanic, to WSB mechanic and I am currently in charge at Comp Log supplying the tyres for Pirelli to the BSB paddock. My partner Diane runs algarveflyride from our villa in Portimao (hence the sand dunes) and I have had a host of bikes from my first Honda Graduate to my latest Aprilia Tuono (until the V4 comes out). Favorite bikes VFR750 (had 5) does everything in one package!! Maybe meet up with a few of the Midlands crew, or anyone who is at a BSB meeting pop into the Pirelli tent and say hi.