Grumpy Old Git

They are used just as you would use any locking washer. i.e. between a nut or bolt head that can turn and another part which cannot turn - stops the bolt becoming loose with vibration. I would expect this to go on the bolt before you push the bolt through the crash bar and spacer. Or, you could ask the manufacturer (if you can speak German that is!).

980+ miles in two days is too much for my back, hips, knees, neck! I've also now got a headache (probably dehydration). If you are looking to split a weekend near Hawick - I recomend the Glenn Hotel in Selkirk (at £50 a night it is very good). Some cracking roads - The A7 is good most of the way. Weather was showery with some VERY stong winds - 125 owners would have struggled, I was blown over the centre line coming across the 'tops' in Cumbria. Just one (fairly major) mistake. Instead of LA2 8DF (Elaine's Tea rooms), I entered LA8 8DF and ended up in a small village in the middle of nowhere (dead end) and I managed to drop the bike onto me (and a hedge) as i got off it to check the map. Could I lift it back up - could I hell as like! Anyhoo, got a strong farmer chap to help. No damage (apart from pride that is!). Nevertheless - Back on top of the leaderboard (for now).

Day 2 Wilf's Cafe Elaine's Tea Rooms Stainforth Bridge Cuddly Cod Blue John Cafe Grindleford Station Cafe Flo's Cafe Group 3 Completed Group 5 Completed Day 2 completed - Total mileage 983

Auburn Hall Caenby Corner Cafe Yardbird's Rock Club Seafront Chippy Pitstop Diner Penshaw Monument Tomlinson's Cafe Camien Cafe Jedburgh Abbey Scott's View The Pickled Orange Day 1 complete.

Rather than connect direct to the battery, I would (and have) used a relay switched by the feed to the rear light. There are threads on here which even show how to wire it all up (I can't search very well as my laptop is well locked down). As Stu advises for connection via your 'phone - Should work a treat.

Done! The interview / statement was taken with a Biker cop present. His comment as I left was "We are 'crushing' his bike as it was not insured either". I assume this means the car driver would need to pursue a compensation / repair claim through the courts? NB. The cops would not tell me their plans for prosecuting the biker but, at the very least it is going to be 'driving an uninsured vehicle' and possibly 'driving without due care and attention'. Hope he loses his licence. KNOB!

Not given up then have you!

What with work; rain; bad back; etc. I've not been since just before t'rally. If I am OK after this weekend's 950 mile jaunt (collecting challenge tags from "oop north"), I'll be there on Tuesday next.

Just had a call from the local cop shop - "Could I please call in and give a witness statement for the accident on Gunnels Wood Road yesterday" (see above post from me). It would appear that the biker is trying to claim that the car was at fault. My dilemma - tell the truth and the Biker will get 'done' or protect the KNOB and the car driver will get it! Sorry but the KNOB is going to lose!

Howfast.pdf

Some knob on a 125 ('L'-plates) tried to cut across traffic at a r/bout in Stevenage this evening. Guy was in the right-hand lane coming out of Gunnels Wood Road and turned left across the front of a car who was already onto the r/bout going straight on. Biker (knob) tried to accelerate but just ended up being 't'-boned. I actually felt sorry for the car driver! Anyhoo - Biker down, no obvious sings of injury but acting confused (concussion?). Ambulance there in less than 2 minutes. Police in about 5 minutes. As I left (about 1 minute after the police arrived), they were already questioning the biker. It is idiots like this which give biker's a bad name!

Booked the Glen Hotel.

Anyone recommend a B&B in (or around) Hawick. Intend to be there on Friday evening.

You cannot put the Arianne Launch Vehicle engine in a Honda 50! However you could put a Honda 50 into the Arianne!

Snapped cable, blown (or dislodged) fuse, knackered relay or ECU bu@@ered. I would have thought a repair under insurance would be the best bet?

You can get 'blanks' and drill them yourself. The stays are harder to source but can be manufactured.

Likely to be the speedo itself. This model has been known for the speedo to fail with the same symptoms.

The mounting washers for the coil should be rubber - They are to help prevent shock/vibration damage. What is obviously missing is the earth wire from the coil body (connector washer/tag should be just under the mounting nut) to the frame earth. On the bike I had (many years ago) this ran up to the battery earth stud on the frame.

Yes but i'm only 5'0" Fixed it for you!

Depends. If this effectively is shorting out the breaker, then yes BUT... leaving it in this position for more than a split second could damage the coil winding. if on the feed side of the coil, you will almost certainly damage the circuit (alternator windings; rectifier; etc.) Can't you turn the fuel off?

Bypass kill switch (as advised above). Isolate battery connectors. Bike should now run OK but, if you switch on any lights, it will probably mis-fire and stop. (Unless the wiring has been modified from new). Disclaimer: Excessive revs may damage the bike electics/components. One question though - Why would you want to ride it in a field 'while restoring it'? You are likely to cause more damage.

REEEESULT!!!!!

Why don't you ask your credit card provider. Mine (AmEx) says 'yes'.

And there are more.... Today it was a 'blue' van driver who thought it was 'funny' to pull out in front of an Audi A5 to overtake a lorry, southbound on the A1(South Biggleswade R/bout) and then stay alongside the lorry doing 56 (ish) MPH all the way to the 3-lane section just before Stevenage. The tail-back was HUGE. if only vehicles were fitted with ground to ground missiles! (as in Thunderball).