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It's a bit cold for that mate. As long as i can wear my boots and gloves, I'm in.

I'd probably get drunk. It's what I usually do when the world is going to end.......I always seem to survive that way!

I just wear heavy leather harness boots. I like boots that I can walk around in cumfy that look normal when I've parked up somewhere, with the advantage of being able to wear them outside leathers or inside jeans

Blue smarties are bad and we all know that! They must be avoided at all costs.

Oh I see! How many bloody tests to ride a bloody bike! Don't see them restricting car drivers! Morons! Glad I got it all over and done with before all this crap. Thanks for the link though, I had no idea.

Iv'e often thought that the world would be a great place if there weren't any people on it!

Can someone explain (basically) this new law coming in? I see a lot of people are desperate to pass their tests before it comes in. Does it really seem that bad?

The country needs guys like this, if only to keep mechanics in business!

It's good to argue now and then to let off some steam.... Everyone's got different opinions, I'm sure nothing hurtful was meant. Myself, I don't trust these Government fu**ers. I personally think it is a fictional recession to allow services to be cut and greater savings to be made, tax increases etc to cover 'a crisis'. It all comes down to greed. Name one Government in the world that hasn't been corrupt. Just my views mind.

Well, my wife put ours up today. The cat's chuffed as he thinks we have brought his toilet tree indoors!

Agreed. Sounds like damp in your switches. WD40 for a quick fix, or if you have a spare half hour and a screw driver, dismantle the switch housing, dry the contacts, clean them and put some contact grease on them. Will do forever then. Same with the horn, probably the switch. Don't waste money taking it to a garage!

I love Christmas, I just can't be arsed with decorations!

I have always used microsoft. I just hated Vista when that was launched. XP was my favorite but have recently got a new laptop with Windows 7 which I find quite user friendly. I'm not a trend follower though, so intend to stay with 7 till my computer breaks

When I used to work on building sites way back, the companies I used to work for took over derelict hospitals....very heavy and f**ked concrete floors. They were latexed back then (maybe they do this still). It needed to be leveled but was pretty smooth and permanent when dried. Could be painted over too. I am also a lazy man, so if I had a few extra quid, I would look at the jig saw style foam flooring, the martial art sort of stuff. Would be kind to your knees too when you're doing a bit of maintenance.

I've never got on with 12 sided sockets. I find the 6 sided ones a much better fit. Sounds like your sump bolt has been put on way over tight. Should be around 30 - 40Nm. DON'T ride it low on oil. While you figure out how to get the drain bolt out, you can top it up to it's specified limit, it wont do any more harm, but you certainly will damage it with hardly any oil inside. May be better to just take it in and get an oil change. When you get it back, it should have a new sump plug on it and tightened to the correct torque so you will be able to do it yourself next time.

Were you referring to the oil filter or the drain bolt underneath? The drain bolts are usually protected with a dropped bit of engine, so you would have to have a socket to get it off. Buy yourself a socket set mate, you will need one for servicing and repairs. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRAPER-15-PIE ... 231b87fae3 Stick that above address into google. It's on ebay at the moment. I love draper, they make very good affordable tools, very well made and they last for years.

I agree. That is a pretty reliable indication with the slapping underneath, and vibrating through the foot pegs. You will have probably noticed that it disappears when you get some speed up and are at a steady speed. The chain steadies out when it's going round fast.

I forgot how amusing and great fun motorbikes really are! My slight coolant leak ended up with my radiator completely emptying it's guts over the road on my way home from work today. Lucky my new radiator arrived this morning, but still, tomorrow morning will be spent in a big winter coat, a flask of tea and a tin of rolling backey, in my cold garage, nursing a hangover. Rock and roll!

Good work mate. Did you have any difficulties?

Great advice. All my older bikes had engine bars, but my latest hornet doesn't, so got some crash bungs from ebay for about £25. Very easy to fit and you don't need to worry about the occasional balls up. Your bike looks like you collided with a tank by the way. Glad you could walk away. With the parts ordered, I reckon an easy fix with no special tools required. Good luck

Bikes tend to need loads of maintenance. I repair something on mine pretty much every weekend, usually small jobs, but they need doing. Funny enough, I sprang a leak in my cooling system yesterday, so my nice relaxing Sunday will be spent in my cold garage grazing my knuckles and swearing a lot! Never mind, that should be all for another week!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-VS779- ... 2ebf5f07f2 . The link above is the chain riveter I bought a few years back. It's served me well, but I did bend one of the needles when I set it up wrong, but I ordered a replacement for about a fiver. I can't comment on any other makes as this is the only one I have used, though I have used the hammer method before with great success, but it can be fiddly. As with the damage to engine with the bike in gear, I wouldn't worry about it. It's never caused me any problems, and the nut's not on that tight, it's just a pain as it turns.

. That sounds like a really good idea! Good thinking

Also, try loosening the bolt that holds the bar end on. Sometimes the grips slide along slighty and cause friction between the bar ends and the end of the grip rubber.

Let us know how you get on mate.