Mississippi Bullfrog

I saw an interesting survey on car reliability recently. One thing that has always puzzled me is how cars that use the same parts come out totally differently in reliabilty surveys. For example, Skoda, Seat, VW and Audi share many components, yet Skoda come out well in reliability surveys, Seat a bit lower, VW much lower and Audi even worse. The conclusion is that it's down to the owners, in terms of how the cars are driven and maintained. Skoda owners tend not to hammer their cars and look after them. VW & Audi drivers - well, no need to say more.

I've got a 500 and a 1200. I think I'd go for something like a 125 for pottering about on. There is a certain charm to small engines. I think I'd go for a VanVan.

Personally I let my engines get up to full operating temperature before giving them the beans. Modern oils are very good but I'm still old school about letting the oil get hot before getting enthusiastic with the throttle. Equally though, you don't want to let the engine labour when cold.

You blew a 90amp speed controller! Nothing to do with being a hooligan I suppose.

Great to hear of a biker coming to the aid of a fellow biker - and an example of trusting a stranger. The Z fold is a lousy bit of technology. But that's nothing to do with Android vs Apple - it's just that Samsung built a dud and they won't admit it.

I'm assuming you mean a break lever lock. I wouldn't leave one of those on all winter.

100% afmgree with the advice to ditch that vest. Standard hi-viz is better. Also, bear in mind that when motorists see a small bike they have a tendency to treat it as a learner even without the L plates. You will find that a larger bike commands more respect on the road. Plus you have better tyres, better brakes, better suspension.

This year I bought quiet fireworks as our granddaughters were with us. One has just turned 2, the other is 3. Plus we have farms all around us with livestock. I thought I would be disappointed but they turned out to be quite decent. I didn't spend quite as much as @Bender though. I cooked too many marshmallows on the fire and am now regretting it.

@renniebest wishes for Sue's treatment. If you run out of food we've been known to feed waifs and strays in need of a meal.

Congratulations to @Fozzie and the Mrs Fozzie. Doing it with style there!

Riding around Shrewsbury area the roads are covered in mud. But the farmer has done the necessary by putting up a sign .....Mud on Road. Which got me thinking....if a sign is sufficient to justify leaving the roads in a dangerous state I'm going to get one for my bike: No Insurance...No Tax.....No MOT....May exceed speed limit. Then I'm covered against all eventualities. Obviously having put up a sign the police can't touch me.

When it comes to anything with wheels I never assume the obvious has been checked. A mate had a problem with his bike and spent a small fortune figuring out why he was getting random loss of power. The dealership had it back and forth and could find nothing wrong with the engine, electronics or transmission. Turned out the glue on his heated grip had failed.

You don't need to go mad with it. I soak a cloth in it and wipe over the parts I want to protect. Hard to reach parts can be sprayed but go lightly. It seeps quite well.

Are you sure the light itself is working?

For those who frequent the cafe at Sleap airfield....it is closed for refurbishment. And the local roads gave been covered in mud. So avoid for a while.

I was doing that yesterday in the park with our other granddaughter. It was when I was hanging upside-down by my knees that I realised I couldn't get myself back up again. Fortunately it wasn't too far to drop down. The indignity of needing to be rescued wasn't an option.

This afternoon's task is to build a climbing frame for our granddaughter's birthday present. She is 2 and is proving to be a very determined young lady.

A lot of engines around that time had valves that controlled emissions on cold engines - many riders disconnected them as they could prove troublesome. My guess is this is something along those lines.

A while ago I fitted TEC progressive springs and adjustable caps to my Bobber. TEC said to use the original spacer tubes but that resulted in massive preload and no negative adjustment left. Plus refitting the caps was a nightmare. As a result they reviewed their specifications and sent me slightly shorter spacers. Fitting the caps was easier but the ride has been harsher than I like even with the caps wound fully up. So this morning I removed the spacers and cut 15mm of them. That leaves the spacers just proud of the suspension tubes with the front wheel off the ground. Pretty much what the oem spacers and springs looked like. So fitting the caps is now a doddle and I've got more adjustment to play with.

Went with a mate to Old Stores, then on to Rhug, then back to Chester via the back roads. Set off in full sun and all day the dark clouds gathered, but made it home before the rain started. There were some lovely bikes at Old Stores. I'm more for chatting with folk than taking pictures so you'll have to take my word for it.

I marked Trafalgar Day yesterday by getting my new (to me) J class on the water. A very fickle breeze and the rigging turned out to need massive adjustments. But it was a good day.

That's a cracking display. What paint did you use on yours? I'm have a nightmare with paint coats reacting.

You sure that's a cinnamon stick down there?

In my experience no-one's dying words were "I wish I'd listen to my head more than my heart."

These are discontinued cylinders that the company doesn't want to deal with. They just withdrew support and left a lot of people, particularly boaters, in a mess.