On the Road Again!

Today we had Molly booked in for the MoT test.  We got it out from storage after the fortnight it's been in there. Of course,  it started first time.   It seems the area is spider central. Both door mirrors are covered in webs! We will sort that out, a brush and hose....! The MoT? It didn't happen as when I got to the garage, Molly was too long for the test ramp. They did try and the back wheels would overhang the end of the ramp when it was raised for them to get underneath. Panic. I called around a few places with the right length ramps.  I tied the two suggested by the first garage.  One couldn't do it and suggested the other one that had been suggested earlier.  They couldn't fit it in until 4.30pm the day before we go away!  A bit late! I booked it in case I couldn't get anywhere earlier. Then I  called Choose Leisure where we got Molly from, and they suggested the garage across the road from them where they get all the Mot's done. ...

Took Vera to Cheriton Motorcycles this morning for the annual MoT. Of course she passed without any problems.  The mileage this year is 18235. Last year it was 17845. A total of 390 miles in a year .. Pathetic. Since November I have done nearly 5000 in the van! So we are set for another...

After a few hours sleep because of Reggie the Patador being upset due to a thunder and lightning 🌩️🌩️🌩️ storm, it was a ride to Cheriton to get Vera's test. The MoT is annual and the general roadworthiness is checked  As usual she sailed through. No problems. Even though I went to Assen last month, I still only managed about 2000 miles for the year.  Today I added another twenty or so with a ride to Cheriton Motorcycles and then back the longer way. So we are set for another year...

Although today was forecast to be thunderstorms and high winds it at least left off until I was about halfway back from Cheriton Motorcycles. Of course, no Englishman is without waterproof over trousers and jacket in the massive top box.   When I say no Englishman I mean seasoned rider.  The two L-plate squibs on a scooter and a KTM 125 of course were the exception to the rule.  One with shorts, trainers and no gloves expecting his Chinese made scooter to have the necessary protection from the elements and maybe the gravel rash should he dump it on the very wet slippery road... Anyway I set off from home a little late as I had looked at a clock where the battery is running down and it is showing about 15 minutes slower than real time. Suddenly realising I had to get changed into bike gear and then ride 15 minutes to the shop for a Noon appointment when it was already 1140.... Traffic as expected was against me. Why is it always that way when you are running late?...

Today I discovered that the V-Strom MoT ran out yesterday.  I had forgotten about it until I saw a "memory" come up on Facebook when I was there "today" last year. I quickly checked and it ran out at midnight last night. I called the shop that usually does it for me and they are swamped with jobs and can't do it until August 2nd.  That effectively means that Vera is laid up now for a week as it is illegal to ride without a test certificate. Darnit.  I had been thinking of a short eide to Folkestone on Saturday for the Invicta versus Hythe Town pre-season friendly football (soccer to my US chums) game. So that's not going to happen,

It had to happen. It rained. After record temperatures last week and a few "cooler" (read normal UK summer days!) it had to rain.  Not the hard and fast rain. But the drizzling misty kind of rain. A brief run down the M20 to Cheriton and it let down like hell on earth.   So I was dressed in the old FT Aqua Jacket and a pair of Cube (by M&P) textile waterproofs.  In Cheriton the rain stopped. I dropped the bike off and after being told it would be 45 minutes, I set off for the cafe nearby. The one I have used before. Closed. So I went further up the high street and found Beano Cafe . I had a coffee and wandered back to find it was done.  All passed and no advisories. as you would expect from a 4 year old bike.... I came back the A20 to enjoy the twists and turns but this was ruined as the road was full of trucks that had been turned away from the rear entrance to the channel tunnel. So they were on an A road at 30mph.  Great thinking. I put the Yamaha Ri...

Even though it happens every year there's always the sense of nervousness when MoT time comes along. Maybe the horn will have stopped working.  It barely makes a peep when working.   Maybe something else will have blown since you had a check around.... Except today it passed. It has an advisory on the rear tyre after it had the plug in it last August. The recorded mileage is 10137. Last year it was 9203. A total of 934 miles for the Covid affected 2020. Once home I taxed it. This year £96!!!!

Over a month since I cancelled the previously booked test.  With the dbPower Pepé fired up first time. I let it run as I refitted the panniers and unhooked the dbPower. Luckily it fired up without any help a bit later when I was fully bikered up. I needed petrol. It's so long since I last rode the bike I ended up stopping in Hythe and filled the tank. First tank since 17th August. Fuelly worked mpg at 40.99. Then off to Ashford arriving ten minutes late.  Now sitting in the socially distanced customer waiting area ... I squeezed myself into my new Hood K7 jeans. I either lose weight or the need to give a bit. Only one problem so far. Cramp in my right hand after I got off at Laguna.

As Pepé hasn't been out since January I thought it might be a good idea to get it out from the back of the garage and put Suzi to the back. Whilst I was at it, I decided to start Pepé and let it run for a few minutes.  I expected that after a lay-off it wouldn't start and so I had the dbPower 600A at the ready. I was right. Enough power to spin the dials and charge the starter but nothing else. I connected the dbPower and switched on.  Still NFG. Check the unit and the display showed 1%.  What? Even when used quite heavily to start Pepé in the past it has never got below 90%!  So I had to abandon tonight's test start and get it on charge.  Hopefully by the morning it will have enough balls in it to start Pepé and get me on my way.

Finally.  I called and booked Pepé's MoT! It looks as though many bikes are being brought out of hibernation and the first date I could get is May 7th at 1100. So that's it. Once done I can get it taxed and that breaks up the usual everything happening in June scenario! As usual it will be done at the Laguna Performance Centre in Ashford.

It's two weeks just gone since I had my second eye operation and I am on leave from work until the 19th April.  I was told not to ride the bike for two weeks in case the air streaming through the virus blew some dust into it that may undermine the work they had done. Lockdown eases next week and so from the 12th I ought to be able to get the bike MoT'd and taxed for use on the road. I am hoping for some good weather to be able to give it a good clean. I need to give Laguna a ring later in the week and book it in.  

Hopefully as my knee is much better I'll get the chance, weather permitting, to get Suzi Triplo out and on the road for a first startup of any duration and first ride out. There are a few odd things I found from when Phil put it together. Somehow one on the brake lines is outside the fork leg instead of inside it! To fix this needs the front wheel coming off and the brake caliper unbolting from the fork leg and it all putting back together.  For some one that keeps his spanners in shopping bag that might prove a little tough. As Suzi is a historic vehicle she doesn't need taxing or even running through the dreaded MoT.  Although. I might see about booking her in at the local former Suzuki dealers for an MoT anyway.  She has been to Alford Brothers in Folkestone several times over the last 22 years since I moved down to the south coast.

I slipped walking the dog. My foot slid forward in some mud and I over extended my left knee.  As a result I am in a lot of pain and walking is very painful.  Paracetamol hardly seem to touch it! So the visit to Laguna Performance Centre for tomorrow noon will have to be put off until later in the month. I have a date for the other eye to be operated on to remove the cataract and so I need to get Pepé  tested either before 20th March or after April 6th. The latter would suit me better as that's when I am on leave from work.

The MoT ran out on the 19th February and so I need to book it in to be legal to ride to the testing station. I have chosen the take it to Laguna as usual. Called and the earliest they can do it is Monday 8th March at noon. I am probably not going to get too much riding in before the end of March but this should prepare things for getting out and about.  The first date in the Government's roadmap to get us out of lockdown is not until the end of March! I can't tax it again until I have the MoT in place.

With us still in lockdown in Kent and after what seems like forever banged up 23 hours a day in the house, I can't wait to get the bloody vaccine and be able to go out again on the bike. I doubt after so long in the garage that it will actually start!  I have the dbPower unit on charge to 100% to fire the big boy over.  And then we'll see.  The weather hasn't actuality enticed me out on the road either. At the moment it alternates between hissing rain and high winds or frost that brings out the gritters with their nasty sand and salt concoction that rots Triumph chrome away in minutes. The new Motobatt battery I bought and fitted a year ago, today as it would happen (!) will no doubt be as dead as the proverbial dodo.  All thanks to the bastard that created this virus in their little laboratory. When will it all end! In the end did what I should have done months ago but I suppose I thought it would all be over and normal life might start to come back. ...

Even with the new battery I willed Pepé  to start.  He didn't. What was a worry was that only the rev counter needle did the full sweep. The buzzing that accompanies the check carried on.  Even with the dbPower unit it was no good. I gave Laguna a call to see if they had any ideas. Not really but thought it was merely the battery a bit flat.   I gave it a while and tried again. It started after a few tries. On the way up the M20 to Ashford the engine management light came on. A worry. I checked the manual on my phone and it just says that one of the systems has registered an error. At Laguna it started up okay when I switched off and on again. It must have started as it went into the workshop and passed the MoT. I decided to go to the Triumph shop on the way back home to get them to look at. And the light had gone off when I started it! So we are set for another year. MoT mileage to start the year: 9203.

So. Wuss time. The weather through the week was either heavy frost (car scraping) or light snow. So I emailed Laguna to say if the weather didn't improve maybe postpone today's booking and re-arrange. Jim emailed to say they would come and pick it up. Free of charge. I accepted. Pepé went this morning. Back this afternoon. Test passed but an advisory on front tyre that's getting low. I know that it is getting near replacement time.

This month Pepé turns three years old and in UK that means must undergo the first of what becomes annual road worthiness tests known as the MoT. Short for Ministry of Transport. At this stage there are no worries. As vehicles get older than things can be more worrisome. Although that birthday is January 25th it has to be done in the same month. And today was the only Saturday free. It was freezing. Okay. An air temp of 5°C when I set off. I had to boot Pepé with the dbpower unit again. On the move it must have been closer to zero at 70mph on the motorway. I was early. Checked in at Laguna in Ashford.  The new Triumph showroom is open but not the workshop and so the MoT needs to be done at the Powersports shop across town. This is where they have the Ducati,  KTM and Kawasaki dealerships. Once I handed the keys over I had a look around. Lots of really nice bikes. But now out of my wallet range. Most. The latest Multistrada fetching over £16000 looks nice. They have one of the n...

Had the MoT done as usual. Sailed through again. Now costs over £29 to have it done.