Saul

Shame, I think you would be a good Mod. I won't nominate anyone as I haven't been here long enough to sus who is and who isn't unhinged. I will say that being a Mod is a thankless task, from bitter personal experience. Good luck to anyone who takes it on.

Fair enough, I am just to much of a cheapskate to pay somebody to do what I can do myself. Mind you after putting a clutch in my van a couple of years ago I swore I would never do that again so perhaps I am changing with age.

£400, I bought it for £700 it cost me £70 to register it and the first years tax. So I was on the road for fpr £770 plus £65 for insurance. Also 110 mpg, it was bloody cheap transport.

Torque wrenches are supposed to used to make sure something is tight enough, not as extra leverage.

I think a torque wrench should be on your Christmas list

I thought you would have more confidence in your assembly skills than that

I just remembered it had a bloody talking alarm on it as well. It came with two remotes and if you set the alarm it would loudly announce in a very heavy chinese accent that the 'Alarm Armed' or the "Alarm Deactivated'. Needless to say I never used that in public but it made my kids hoot with laughter.

No, that was actually the very first ride, it came in a box and after I had assembled it and registered it that was the first ride. The rest of the time I wore my Postie gear and waterproofs as I used it for work., but funnily enough I never took any photos of that. I will say that the little Suikida's condition after 12,000 miles in my hands was a good advert for ACF 50. I was paranoid about it rusting so drunched it in ACF 50 after every wash. I know that probably cost more than the bloody bike but I have a little OCD about dirty bikes, no matter how crap they are.

As far as I know a DEV is what we know as a blue light card. I have had a little insight into it as one of our current drivers is a retired police driving instructor who taught the DEV and pursuit driving. Very interesting guy, I know him well as he sings in the same choir as me. I would love to be a fly on the wall when my manager gives him the driving assessment.

True, I am lucky to live in a beautiful town.

Twas, luckily it cracked going over a pothole so I bought a standard CG125 one to replace it. £12 from ebay.

Funnily enough there were two other guys in my sorting office with identical bikes same colour and everything, but one was badged a Yamasaki and the other a Hongdu. When they were all parked next to each other they were almost identical apart from the badges. I still have a new Yamasaki seat for it up the shed that my mate gave me.

Well there is a bit of background to that for me. Before I had that little Sukida I had three BMW 1000cc. but we had recently got our first 2 kids and money was tight so the BMW's had to go. Of course I still had my riding gear when I bought the Sukida to commute on, thats why I had all the gear and puny wheels. I still have that suit but the trousers are a bit on the tight side now. The Jacket still fits and the boots are up the shed somewhere.

See it looks different as this pic was taken to sell it in 2014.

It never felt that small really, but looking at the picture I can see your point. It was okay to commute on as I only worked 7 miles away and it was all 30 and 40 mph speed limits between my place and the sorting office where I was based. Like I said before I used it for 3 years and apart from one of the indicators falling to pieces and the headlamp cracking it was completely reliable if very slow. 9 BHP doesn't give many thrills.

Found some more pics of my last commuter bike. Riding that is one way to make a RE feel powerful

No mate we only respond to Urgent and routine home visits. The sort of thing as GP would deal with during normal hours. Also even though we drive the same Skoda Scouts the UK paramedics and emergency service use we are not licensed to break any traffic laws or pressurise other drivers to get out of the way. Also on top of that none of us has a current blue light card.

Not at walking pace at least

Okay

My line manager, who will be asking me to covers shifts before the weekend. Actually all joking aside I get on with him really well, couldn't wish for a better boss. The next in line above him used to work with me at Royal Mail and outside of work is a mate.

Well not really, just my yearly works appraisal, which includes a driving assessment. I will piss it, and the appraisal will give me a chance to get a few works issues off my chest. Always makes me laugh as we are out of hours drivers and predominantly drive in the dark but the assessments are done in the day time. Half the wind broken old codgers I work with can't see their hand in front of their face once the sun goes down.

I know, done it before and will probably do it again. Worse bit was an older lady came rushing over saying 'are you alright love'. Embarrassed I was

Dropped me bleddy bike today, nothing but a few tiny scratches and not hurt at all apart from my pride. Embarrassing though and I thought long and hard before posting it on here. I pulled up to stop at a junction when a dray lorry flashed me out, just as I was about to put my feet down, I got flustered tried to get in gear and pull away and managed to get my foot caught and slowly fell over.

I will be happy if Santa helps me keep the bleddy lights on. I am angling for a some warmer gloves and maybe a leccy vesty thing.