On the Road Again!

It looks like weeks of neglect have led to Vera Strom's battery dying. When I say that, I mean not riding. I started and ran the engine a couple of times. Not enough. It seems to coincide with my dbPower jumper pack also giving up. It shows 100% charged but when connected to the bike nothing happens. No output. Maybe time for a new one? I have the battery on charge with the power provided by the Bluetti AC70. I'll keep a check on it during the evening and see how it goes. It could be a new battery and if it is, I'll look at another Motobatt. It looks as though the MBTZ14S is the fitment.

Okay, the bike hasn't been used much this year. Other commitments and of course, weather.  So it was still has a little surprise when even with the power pack (that can start a 2 litre diesel car!) there was nothing but a click. As I no longer have a battery charger I was a little stuck. The battery is a Motobatt and usually it's very good at keeping the charge levels up.  First stop was to pop into Halford's and Argos online to see that they have. I don't have any power in the garage and so I had to opt for one that I can use in the house. I opted for a 4amp charger and picked it up for £22.  It's cheap but seems to have decent reviews though. Once the battery was out of the bike I had it set up on the table in the conservatory.  I had expected, according to the instructions, that the needle would be way over the right and as the battery charges it would swing to the left. It started off in the middle. It's been on now for only about and hour as has moved sligh...

Today's delivery was the new battery. A Motobatt and in the same bright yellow case that I have come to covet. The one in the Rocket was a disappointing black. So nearly all ready to take up to Phil. This one  ordered from Tayna  as a Google search found them the cheapest inc delivery. Every penny counts  I was going to put it in the bike but decided I'll take the old one out for the tip and leave the battery cradle empty.

Once the motor is fixed it will need some electric power to get it to start. The current Motobatt although looking nice and clean is about six or seven years old and totally flat. So whilst I am assembling parts to add to the box I might as well get a new battery and fit it. Another Motobatt? Why not. I have one in the Rocket and had one in the 1150GS. Never a complaint when you need to crank over a big engine. The bike is also fitted with a Lucas RITA ignition from way back in the 80's. It works well and as it doesn't have contact breakers it doesn't need adjusting. Hopefully Phil will be happy to fit it back in to the fixed engine.

The battery was ordered on the 14th January in the afternoon and too late for the "next day" delivery. It arrived 16th January afternoon. Too dark to fit it there and then so it had to wait for the weekend. I ordered it from  www.motorcyclepartswarehouse.co.uk .  I chose a good time to buy it. Before Christmas when I checked online the best price was around £65 plus delivery with two companies very much the same price.  After Christmas MPW were selling them delivery inclusive for £63.49. Winner winner chicken dinner! I have to say their service is good. Plus the packaging was very good. Wrapped in a plastic postage bag, surrounded by bubble wrap and under that a layer of "slashed" cardboard.     The only disappointment is that it was black as per the main photos on the   Motobatt  website. I had wanted yellow! Still no matter, it can't be seen unless the front seat comes off. Fitting as they say is a doddle. In the box the...

The weekend showed how weak the battery has become.  Having had to use the dbPower unit on four separate occasions during the day in Belgium was the giveaway. We are in the second winter of this problem where the battery isn't strong enough to start the bike. In the summer it charges and holds that charge and although I keep the dbPower unit to hand I rarely have to use it.  But in winter it barely has the power to turn the engine over. It's simply "clunk". The lights come on though and that probably doesn't help. So what to do? Being a fair weather biker nowadays I won't be using the bike that often until the new year. Do I get a new battery sooner rather than later? It might end up freezing away in the garage. I have a garage in a block away from the house with no power, so a trickle charger is no use either. I have been looking at a replacement though.  A  Motobatt  with a high cranking power should be around £75. So unlikely to break the bank. But when to ...

After years of neglect things are starting to move. I contacted a few bike restorers to see if I could get the bike to them to get it running. But not much came of that avenue.  I am not expecting showroom or concours condition. Just usable.  In the 80's. Me nearest camera. As it is over 40 years old it is now registered as a historic vehicle with the UK authorities.  As a result it is tax exempt and MoT exempt. It has to be roadworthy but doesn't have to undergo the test each year.  In the end my old friend John Storrie made some good suggestions.  The motor won't turn over and I suspect there is some corrosion in the cylinders. It wasn't a hot seize. Just standing too long.  Removing the plugs reveals no corrosion on the plug electrodes and there is a healthy whiff of petrol. Hopefully the 2-stroke poured into the bores will permeate and free up the rings.  There are a few other jobs to do and I have many of the parts required; carb rebuild kits, new...