Saul

Well she does have the right vocabulary

That reminded me of my maternal grandad who was imprisoned by the Japanese in WW2. He hated them with a passion, but always bought new Datsuns/Nissans because they were reliable. I never understood that and he wasn't the sort of chap you would ask why.

I had some unreliable Jap stuff, I remember a Suzuki GSX 250 that ate its on alternator as they all did, a CB250N with a rattly cam chain and dissolving exhaust centre box, as Suzuki GS425 with the same cam chain issue, a Yam XS750 with a stretched cam chain. Kawasaki's with plastic oil pumps. There were plenty of examples. I agree much butter than previous Brit stuff that set a pretty low bar but the Japs had there faults as well. They were piled high and sold cheap.

But do they really need to bring anything new to the table, reasonably well made bike for a good affordable price sounds like good marketing to me. Not many bikers who buy the latest GSXRR1FirebladeNinja or whatever really use the machines full potential. They might boast they do but in reality? I respect what most modern japanese machinery is, but think most of it looks hideous, now if I could buy a Suzuki GS1000E or Honda CB900 clone from the early 1980's I would love that. I wouldn't bag some of the new chinese stuff either it is light years away from the cheap rubbish you could buy just 5 or 10 years ago. Remember I bought a chinky bike in a box 12 years ago. It was okay transport and worth what I paid for it. Never going to impress anyone but it did what I wanted pretty reliably.

Well you beat me I have only had 43, and I am not sure I could name them all now.

Just had a ball ache of a weekend at work, mental busy what with the Strep A and Scarlet Fever plus other stuff, against the huge lack of resources that is affecting all of the British Health care. But not wanting to get political we had one call that had both the Clinician and me pissing ourselves laughing. We had a call to a fag munching old biddy who is well know to our service (NHS 111) as a frequent PIA, anyway she had made a 999 call earlier in the evening saying she couldn't breathe for what was in effect a chest infection. The Ambulance crew referred her on to our service for a visit after seeing her. We eventually rocked up to her place, at 2:30 am on a very rough council estate. House all in darkness and no answer at the door. My clinician decides to ring her, she could have been collapsed or be in distress or any number of things, it was a safeguarding issue. I dialled on the car phone. She picked up, shouting "Who the Fuck is that calling me at this time in the morning." My clinician responded, "Hello Mrs **** this is the Out Of Hours Doctors service and we have come to visit you, and we are outside of your front door." Her response, "Well you can fuck off, I have a cold and I am not answering the door now its freezing you stupid bastard". But this time I was biting my sleeve trying not to laugh. My clinician whilst hitting me and hissing shut up, responded, "We had a call to visit you and are concerned that you may need our help, are you sure you don't want to me to see you now we are here" Old Lady: "No fuck off and let me sleep". My Clinician: "Ok perhaps you could follow up with your own GP in the morning if you don't want to see me now" Old Lady: "No point ringing those useless cunts, now fuck off". My Clinician, still clouting me: "Ok are you going to be ok, as we have to leave to do other calls now" Old lady: "I will be fine it's only a cold now fuck off" My Clinician "Goodnight Mrs **** hope you get some sleep and feel better in the morning" Click! So after both of us recovered from our giggling fit off we fucked to the next call. My clinician emailed his notes to her surgery and requested they call her in the morning to check she was ok. I hate to think of the reception they got today. I was secretly delighted we didn't have to go in as I would have had to accompany my Clinician as a chaperone and I wasn't keen. Of course it's part of my job and I would have done it but I didn't fancy it really. I know it sounds daft but we had just come from a horrific end of life visit and having Mrs Angry, who sounded fine, swearing at us was a happy relief .

That's a new level of geekery mate I can't remember old reg numbers, I laugh now when I look at old bikes for sale, almost anything old and British or Japanese fetches a premium except Bantams nobody wants those bloody things. . I remember a mate had what was in effect a Yam DT175 with an ugly BSA tank and badges on it. Horrible looking thing, although it was a puckker factory product thing not something he made up. I wish I could remember more about it.

I agree with you there nobody really wanted anything British when I was a youngster, with perhaps the exception of a Bonnie or a Commando. Japs were faster and more reliable, but still made out of chocolate metal and in effect deteriorating dynamite especially in the hands of ham fisted youngsters. Bikes in general are far better more reliable products now. I think because my mindset is still back there, is why I like my Himalayan so much, it is vastly superior to many of the bikes I had back then, slower than some of them but a much better made machine, with the exception of my aircooled BMWs. But fuck me were they expensive back then, as now. I had a Bonnie in the early 1980s and it was a dog, probably worth a mint now as it was a Jubilee edition but mine had had several careless ham fisted owners before me and to be honest at 19 I had no clue either. I loved the sound it made when it was running but was very envious of my mates CX500 Custom when was so much better in everyway that mattered back then. But having said all of that I am still a sucker for these new retro rides and I would have an Interceptor or Gold Star in a heartbeat if I had a place in my wallet and headspace for a garage queen that I could polish and love and maybe ride on a sunny day.

Ordered, thank for the link

Sounds like a plan. I will have a look and see what I can find.

Not going in there

I am with you there Bob big heavy expensive GS in that sand miles from home. Much respect Pedro, I think I would be crawling along.

Not riding to work tonight, local radio gave below freezing temperatures and the road gritters are out. With confirmation from the other half I am taking the van. I don't blame her I would make a fuss if it were the other way around, saving on MPG isn't worth risking your hide.

Well been out and done some adjustments that hopefully will make it much easier to use the switch gear so see how I get on tonight going to work. I haven't used heated grips much, although I did have them on my R100RS, but the fairing was so good I didn't need to use them that often. I have resisted them as I thought they would be unnecessary fuss and wires but I may be forming a different opinion. Anyway any recommendation on which brands to look at?

It's what I have coached my two daughters to believe.

Fair point I was a bit pissed off last night. See how I get on riding home this morning.

Well rode 52 miles to work this evening, RTC so was diverted which accounted for the extra 10 miles. Those muffs have to go I found them very frustrating as it is difficult to use the switch gear on the bike. The did keep my hands warm @ 3 degrees C so worked in that respect but I just don't like them. They will be off when I get home tomorrow, I am going to buy some warmer gloves may even spring for some heated gloves, anything but muffs.

Oh dear you do seem to be a bit off form today

I have been thinking about this for days, went out for a ride yesterday to try the muffs out and because I have strapped them on so tightly for concern of them pressing on the the levers it made it really difficult to use the switch gear. Anyway I went onto Ebay and bought a set of lever guards that would also hold the Muffs off the levers. In the meantime I have a 42 mile commute to Stratton Hospital in Bude tonight. I had a thought why not strip down the RE handguards and use the frames from them, it worked perfectly and now I am kicking myself that I never thought of it in the first place. Multiple attempts at tasks seems to be my default at the moment.

Congratulations Pete

They are very popular in Australia if what I have read in various places is to be believed. I have seen a couple in the flesh, looked ok in terms of fit and finish. Not a fan of the pointy, slabby, stabby styling but most modern bikes look like to me now.

To my mind Airhead BMW's are in a class of their own, truly beautifully made machines from a different set of values to todays. I spent many years in the Airheads BMW club, I had 3, 1981 R65, 1978 R100RS and 1993 R100R. I really regret selling the R100RS but we all have 20/20 hindsight. Now if I could find one I would love a R80ST but wouldn't want to pay what they are fetching now. I remember the furore I received from the Airheads when I bought a K100RS. The gist of the criticism was; why would you buy one of those things, after 250,000 they are just plain worn out. Only in an airhead context could that be seen as a criticism. I would love another but by modern standards they are not viable as everyday transport, just to thirsty and not enough electrical power to run all the electrical gubbins people have nowadays. You can get modern alternators, fuel injection and stuff but an old air cooled twin can't really compete with many modern machines. Most modern 500cc Japanese and other stuff would completely wipe the floor with them in every aspect apart from longevity. Doesn't stop me wanting one though but I struggle with the concept of having a garage queen.

Well if a job is worth doing it's worth doing 3 times Nomisting this time but I went to reset the clock today and none of the buttons were working. By putting the extra gasket in it has lifted the bottom side of the buttons away from the micro switches to reset, mode and abs. Must only have been 1 or 2mm but enough to stop them working. Never mind stripped apart again took out the old foam gasket and replaced it with the new one I got. All seems well and the buttons are working again. Got stripping the clocks off to a fine art now after having so much practice.

Today I have mostly cleaning the house with the Mrs as we have a youth worker visiting tomorrow to talk about helping our youngest. Good thing but the Mrs is fussing so I pitched in and helped out as it is as much my responsibility as hers. Anyway that done I was on a roll so cleaned the bike and did some weekly maintenance. Now wasting so time until I do some more while the house is quiet.