Saul

I recently changed the fork seals on my Honda CBF600. The right one that was originally leaking has started leaking again. That side was gubbed up with some sort of sealer when I first stripped it. Any way I cleaned it out and put in the new seals and didn’t think any more of it. Well it has started leaking again so I stripped it again and put another new seal in but I found a gouge or pit that I had missed in the fork stantion right in the sealing range so it’s gonna leak again. To the question I am pretty sure I need a replacement fork tube/stantion, is it feasible to replace one fork tube or should I do the pair? Obviously cost is the point but I want to do it only once. The other station seems fine.

I was walking past with my mate and I said I like the look of his Sportster, which was where I went wrong. Cool bike I thought, Weird owner. He was one of these, several of them turned up last night, and not just Harleys but all cruisers. The chap that rode back with us was one of them.

I am very envious of my mates new bike, tis stunning. If you saw matey I was talking to he prolly didn't get a lot of female company. But if you beleive him he trapped a 17 stone one in Cambourne I know you would have to be a local to understand but Cambourne is rough as rats.

Headed down west again to Marazion bike night with my mate Martyn on his new out of the box Z900RS. Very nice bike I took it easy on the way down as the Z900 had less that 100 miles on it, plus rush hour. Some lovely bikes there tonight, I seem to have mainly focused on Z900’s. Not sure why. I liked the Gold Wing but the MV wasn’t bad either. I did get chatting to a Harley Sportster owner telling me it was the ultimate bike and apparently a fanny magnet He said it was good carrying a pillion too as he had picked up a 17st woman in Camborne last Saturday. I wished him well and moved on, the conversation was getting a bit weird for my liking Lovely backdrop It was good to steched my Hornets legs a bit on the way home as Martyn was happy to push the Z900 a bit more. Also we met another mate down there on his Indian Scout and he rode back with us although I got the feeling he was struggling to keep up. A good change as none of the guys with their old British nails came tonight. Trip stats.

Yeah one or two drops while we were in Porthleven but nothing else.

Out with the Fowey grey gang today. Combined age 240+ years. Truro, Blackwater, Helston, Porthleven and finally Restronguet Creak to do a Freddie Dobbs. Well not really just for a pot of tea

Very sad mate, my thoughts are with you.

I didn't take offence Pedro, I knew you were joking

No mate she is a biker. She was tracking the new front brake lever that was being delivered today, by the time the delivery driver was three stops away she had her full bike gear on waiting. As soon as I fitted the lever she was gone out after 8 days off the road. 108 miles later she was home knackered because she has work tomorrow. Me and the Mrs are referring to her as Shevel Knievel now. She has had the lecture several times and knows another claim means she will be off the rood as she will never get insurance again for several years. I hope for her sake it sinks in. Oh and I don't have a problem riding my bikes to where I want to go, don't need a van.

You don't know the half of it mate. Let me introduce you to my Hornets new end can. Not Soft Dad. The motor has only done 291 miles

Well got Shadows bike as far as I can. Just waiting on the new indicator and front brake lever. Managed to disguise the scratched up headlight cowel with a black accent which Shadow loves. She thinks it looks Sick! Which apparently is positive, I’ll settle for tidy. I like the new aluminium rear L plate, supposedly unbreakable but we all know Shadows talent for destroying stuff. Now she is obsessively watching EBay waiting for the parts to come.

Good to know, I'll tell her Not!

Pissing down here to but spent the day fixing Shadows CB125F again, the job that nevers ends.

Well the bike is still rattling but in the mean time Shadow rear ended a car last Friday. Wiped out an indicator bent the handlebars broke the front brake lever and added a couple of more scuffs. . She was shook up and bruised but is ok now. The new handle bars came today. So I went out to fit them only to discover what I bought was different to what was on the bike. But the bike was bought as a repaired crashed bike so I suppose I should not be surprised. The new bars fit and look much better so I think I got the right ones I also stripped out the forks to check they weren’t bent and luckily they were fine so I just cleaned every thing up and put it back together. Also cleaned up and checked the brake caliper. Repaired the crack in the mud guard. Just painting a couple of black strips on the headlight cheeks to hide the scratches. I know I would never be able to match the colour and those checks are £80 each. So disguise seemed like the best option. I have contacted a mechanic to check the rattle out to see if it can be fixed affordably.

That's all Honda water cooled 4's from that period I believe. Most are hidden behind fairings Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Coolant hose

Much happier CBF New Fork Seals, forks repainted, new front brake pads (thank you Fred) all brake callipers stripped and cleaned, replaced brake fluid front and back. New oil & filter, air filter and plugs. Replaced front marker lights with LED’s to match headlights plus pretty deep clean. Oh and fresh coolant. Should be good until next year now just need to get my head around a valve check and adjustment.

I could go one better, her Grandfather was a boat builder, there are all sorts of boat fenders and stuff up the In-laws place. Her uncle would play along. We could trig her bike up nicely . Or her boss, she works as crew on a fast rib that does Seafari trips to see dolphins and the like out in St Austell bay. All very temping to do but 17 year old females are renowned for their lack of humour or any form of self deprivation and Shadow is a typical example of the breed. I could get her uncle involved then throw him under the bus under the bus when she kicked off. Very temping indeed

The SW Motech Crash bars have earned their keep that's for sure.

Had some good news for Shadow today, her insurance is not cancelled despite her being at fault for the RTA. Yes she knows the renewal will be painful in October. The parts to fix her bike were £80 so not all the world. She is paying me back next payday. Most will be here for Thursday so she could possibly be back on the road for Friday. Only fly in the ointment is the rear indicator that is coming from a breaker in London, has quoted up to the 19th for delivery but it could come sooner. At least she has some idea when she will be back on the road.

Article on checking valve clearances on a CBF 1000, same process for the 600 https://www.fireblader.dk/i_files/mc011.htm

Nah this was before Shadow had her off, hanging fire until her bike is sorted.

Nah she was fine, that’s just her resting bitch face.

3 of us old codgers went out today plus Shadow. Run up to North Cornwall, Otterham Station, Slaughter Bridge, Tintagel, Boscastle and Camaford. I managed to save Shadow from being dragged into the Witches Museum, oh and apparently: “I’m not fucking funny at all” according to her.