Mr Fro

Nothing wrong with using Hellfrauds to get the code though! Their paint swatch books are ordered by manufacturer including bike manufacturers. It would be a good step if the OP took a bit of fairing somewhere with a swatch book, got the code and then ordered from a quality on-line firm. To be fair, he'll be doing really well to get a spot on match from a 20 year old bike given that the colour coat and/or laquer may well have discoloured.

I think it depends on the profile/pressure/temperature of your tyres as to any change in contact patch size - obviously until you roll off the edge of them! Buckle up chaps, this could be a long one.

I meant the other side.

This year I'm going to work on getting my helmet down.

How long are you giving it after you arm it before you start doing the rumba with your bike? Most alarms have a set period before they fully arm to save it going bonkers while you move it around after you shut it off.

No idea! in your shoes I'd zip to a dealer and see if they've still got their paint book and if they haven't I'd go somewhere like Halfords and use theirs (they should have three large folders full of swatches). I'd still get someone else to make up the paint once I had the code though.

It's usually on the VIN plate. Stick the steering on full lock and check the head tube. I wouldn't go to Halfords though, best bet is try a decent spray shop.

Beat me to it! I bought a bottle of oil from Halfords yesterday which came with a free bottle of redex. Even though it was free I still left it in the shop.

Some f**king pokey from Birmingham has nicked 11k of my nectar points.

Plus factor in the time and expense involved in taking up smoking.

It is quite dicey doing it on your own. Maybe my stand isn't the best but a few times I've neary tipped it over because I've not had one side engaged properly. My procedure: Ready the stand! Get bike off sidestand and balanced (leave side stand down). Shuffle round the back of the bike while keeping it balanced so you end up directly behind it. Line the bobbins up with the stand jaws and step on the back of the stand while hoping everything is where it should be. Congratulate yourself at a job well done/Hope next doors kids didn't see and look on ebay for new fairing panels.* To take it off the stand I just bung a chock under the little wheels of the stand and push the whole bike forward. *Delete as appropriate.

Yep, anything textile goes straight in the washing machine with that Nikwax stuff. A blast of waterproofer once it's dried and bobs yer uncle! You can also fill your gloves with cat litter if they're leather and leave them overnight - that kills the stink pretty well.

I'd quite like to jump in. Got quite a lot doing in March and April though so it would be good to narrow the timings down a bit.

That Fozzie chap knows his beans! How's the rest of it coming along?

They're a bit cokey! A couple of them look like they've had a little nibble out of the edges - especially the top right. Can you whip the valves out of the head and see what the mating surface is like?

That looks... Sinister! You got many days planned this year yet?

Just make sure you give her two rings when you get where you're going. Every time.

Because sooner or later it'll go *ping!* out of the jar and splash paint death fluid all up your fairing! That's why I stuff a load of paper towel in the jar to get the pipe wedged in nice and tight.

I like Autosol but I think most products of that nature are just a mild abrasive. I've used fine wet and dry paper on aluminium forks before with good results but you've got to keep sanding in one plane to avoid loads of swirl marks. You can get buffing pads for angle grinders/drills/bench polishers but I've not had to do a job that big. Yet... I would definitely avoid anything caustic such as oven cleaner as it could quite easily corrode ali or totally ruin chrome that's only just holding on.

And I'd already hand crafted an ornate cabinet in which to display my neck tube. I knew it was too good to be true. Bet they still use the dataset we generated though.

Yes. No. You're only going to lose a fraction of a degree in a few cm of not-quite-as-hot-as-the-exhaust-gas manifold before the turbo. Pressure/volume loss would be insignificant. Looks good on some bikes and stops you burning a massive hole in your leg when you accidentally touch it against the exhaust.

Nothing in the rule book about not sticking a hose through the engine to give it a clean out if you're going to do a rebuild! Look at it this way - if it's buggered anyway then you can't make it much worse.

Firstly, what has that George guy done to his hair?! Secondly, $2000...

It's taken care of itself ta Moo, better cancel the appointment I guess... Re: drama, if someone has a bit of time on their hands they could always set up a ghost account - "Bellenddonor" or something to irritate us all and drag up ancient threads.

Oh, oh, oh, can I come out an play? Pleeeeease?