Snod Blatter

No, this is just Rugby trying to get some punters in. I have been the last couple of years and it's great, last year was super with live bands all over the place and loads of bikes. And it's all free! Here's a bunch of pictures and words about last year's event that I put together for reddit.

You need to keep the clutch out so that the engine continues to try and drive the rear wheel, this will stop it from locking unless you are very cack-footed. Source - failed Mod 1 by locking the rear because I was pulling the clutch in (OPERATE ALL THE THINGS!), examiner explained why the clutch should be kept out and not touched until basically stopped. It works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHKMH5aL4bE Puts hairs on yer chest

Got 250K Dogecoins myself, bought in early 2014 for £280 and currently worth (checks) £1700! Not Bitcoin levels of return but it'll do for me

Given what the air filter and carb have been put through (or rather, had put through them..) I would suggest it all needs some serious looking at. A new filter would be a good start unless it's a foam one you can wash out, and the carb could surely do with being taken to bits and being cleared out. When it runs, does it still sound healthy? Petrol is no substitute for oil in regards to keeping metal surfaces from grabbing each other when moving..

Been loving this recently. Trespass - One Of These Days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntVaj_1G7Xs

I went three years ago, the "special prices" seemed suspiciously similar to normal full shop prices. Of course a trade stand at the NEC wouldn't be cheap..

So.. Let it all dry out?

At least you get to know that the great Steve Parrish has said your name out loud..? I bought a ticket but didn't win anything, just like all the others who had bought a ticket in the previous 6 months. I'm not sure if this is more or less disappointing than winning a room with your wife

Is the air filter on show? How do you think water got in there? Also, if you jet washed the tank you may have forced water into the fuel as well, so you might have to drain that too.. The spark plug and particularly its cap is a good place to start though. PROTIP: Don't jet wash a bike. All its guts are on show, it's like jet washing the engine bay of a car and then climbing in and giving the dashboard a good blast. You'll force water into the chain, the wheel bearings, the electrics, maybe the fuel system.. Really not good.

It's massive, wouldn't surprise me if they have more exhibits than the BMC museum at Gaydon. I wouldn't mind a few more Japanese bikes but I understand that's really not what it's about..

The weather was better than forecast and it was too cold/wet to be fixing outside so I went to this. It was great. Only arrived at the car park and here are a couple of Norton Commander Rotaries, a promising start... A Harris Matchless G80. Wanted one for ages. First time I've seen one in the flesh, want one even more now. Even better the guy was about to leave, so I got to hear it running - it sounded superb. Do want. Yamaha Zeal, 250cc inline 4. Nice YSP stickers. Lovely Le Mans. Finally inside the museum. You know you're on to a good thing when you're reaching over the Manx Norton to get a picture of the amazing bike behind it - in this instance a "Silk" 660cc 2 stroke twin. Land speed record thingies and special one-offs. I don't often suffer from bike blindness but there are just so many bikes here that they all started to look the same. There are 5 halls like this, it's immense. A Wulf. Nope, me neither.. Built by Rolls Royce engineer Fred Marsh (I think). Sounded ridiculously good. Race bikes and a couple of special road bikes were being fired up in the courtyard in the middle. Nice to see. The NMC is actually an amazing place, I'd like to go again just to pore over some of the weirder exhibits some more.

By gum it's true, now if only it was warmer out so I wanted to go..

I prefer them a bit shorter.. Q: What kind of blue is easiest to pick up? A: Light blue.

Judas Priest - Victim Of Changes (live in 2009) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4d5sMg8eCE I wouldn't say I'm much of a 'Priest fan but this is super. Not bad for a bunch of old blokes

I never knew this kind of thing existed, but I do know exactly where I need to put some.. For that price though I might just carry on with duct tape?

Humble Pie - Up Your Sleeves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv1G7olf4yY Steve Marriott. Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKshRnuByQo

Had this stuck in my head alllll day.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz9k7wTY30Q

A lot of bikes have the alternator open to the engine oil, it can help cool the coils down. If there's no drain hole for the oil to drip out of then it's probably supposed to be like that. Do you know that the Canyon/River/W12 series have big problems with the starter clutch? Are you sure it's not that?

Nice. Got any footage in the dry?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXCpPpPCW4c

I'm not usually much of a Metallica fan but their cover of Breadfan is joyous. Skip 30 seconds in and forget the end, it's just cheering.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RjHVQfwp2s

Yes there is. Partly because the seals keep water and grit out of the moving bits, and partly because O or X ring chains just seem to be made to a higher standard with harder steel. It is worth paying the extra.

I bought a Renntec rack for the TRX, but quickly realised it was poorly designed and near useless. So I did this instead: Much stronger, though it does make getting on and off more of a challenge. Something to think about perhaps?