On the Road Again!

The two bits I need to buy for Vera are the Givi Tanklock flange that goes around the petrol filler and then later something to mount the TomTom to. The first was sorted after a visit to Givi's website and that lead me to the BF18.  A quick Google and my old suppliers Mad4Bikes had it in stock.   It should arrive well before Vera arrives! The tank bag I had to buy for the Rocket was the XS319 Tanklock. It's a small bag but the one I had before and had to sell on eBay was too large. Even this one has a bit of contact with the bars on full lock. Hopefully a better fit on Vera.

The test ride was this morning. I was out for about an hour and half and managed to find a route (that even though at times I had no idea where I was!) that took in A and B roads, country lanes and the A2 Dual Carriageway.   I stopped at Gibson's and was going to have a coffee and give the bike a good looking over away from the Robinson's. In the end the queue for coffee was too long and so I gave the bike the once over without a drink. The muffler has a couple of small scrapes but nothing too damaging.  Tyres are good. At three years and 8700 miles getting a showroom condition bike isn't really going to happen. At first the seat seems to angle a little forward but after the Rocket's armchair and the Kettle's plank then maybe it is just different.   What was a surprise was the clutch.  Both the Kettle and Rocket needed a strong hand, this one is light as a feather. The gear change very light and accurate. I have given her the name Vera . I am no...

As my dear old  Mum might have said, "The money burning holes in your pocket"! It's not actually true but as I have said and maybe even blogged before, Red Pepé had to go. The bike had done a few yards over 10300 miles by the time it went to the new owners on Monday.  That's in six and a half years since registered and six years and one month owned by me. it had 700 miles when I got it as it was Laguna Triumph's demonstrator.  If you take "Suzi Triplo" out of the running, this is the second longest I have owned any bike. Only the 1150GS at  just over 10 years and four months is longer.  In that time I did over 80000 miles. I had a look around local dealers.  I discounted private as I am a dunderhead mechanically and didn't want an expensive pup. I know all the things to look out for but it's the hidden bodges that come to light as you stand at the side of the road with a bike that's f*cked. Although "downsizing" I didn't want to...