belfastguzzi

Click here for photo page and here are a few of the pics: Bonnie Scotland BFG Scura Da Boss Da Boss' machinery

Perhaps a philosophical approach is required ho ho

Last night there was tv programme showing current 'acts' (Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Stereophonics, a wrinkly Bryan Adams...) recording a new Sgt Peppers in the original studio with the same equipment as used by the fab ones and the same engineer. Some nice clunking and whirring of recording/reproduction machinery. Now, tonight, there was the story of The Monkees. Ah, 1967, indeed. Joy. Seems like yesterday. (And followed by Brian Sewell's private view of Salvador Dali, from the summers that he spent with Dali from 1968 onwards.) Followed on other channel by Bob Marley and the story of Exodus (1977). THAT was voted by Time as the album of the century. That's followed by Jimmy Cliff in The Harder They Come. On the other side, The Seven Ages of Rock is on The Blank Generation: Punk Rock. I'm watching Jimmy Cliff. Excellent With a bit more experience, you'll find that an iPod 'hooks' to yer ears, via earphones. Then you put helmet on head, hopefully tucking ears inside helmet. Put iPod inside jacket or shirt pocket. Press play. Rock and Roll. You can even follow above procedure when riding yer moto cycle. I use an iPod Shuffle these days for said purpose, as they're the size of nothing at all. Only problem has been that unlike bigger brothers, they don't have a 'hold' switch and because the control buttons are raised, they can get accidently pressed when leaning forwards on bike. Solved by keeping it in side pocket rather than tucked inside front.

I used Halford's own brand, just because I had some of their 'metal weld' or whatever they call it, handy. It's metal-coloured. I did wonder about it though and thought that it would probably be better to use Araldite. But then, maybe Araldite makes the stuff for Halfords? When I repaired the brake lever I used Araldite. It seemed to have a better look and feel – obviously that's not a scientific judgement, but if I'd been making scones, I would have eaten the Araldite one. BTW, when putting the footbrake lever together, I did wonder if it should have a bend in it, but I didn't check. I made it straight. Now, looking at photos, I see that there was originally a bend in the lever, or at least there's one in Jaap's. Oh well, it doesn't really matter at the moment, as once again the rear brake pads are worn down to the metal.

Bike related photos will appear, later

Cheers Carl. It wasn't a crash – it did just fall over (blew over). Clip on got bent as well as the other stuff: hopefully that all took the shock and but there wasn't enough force to affect the frame spine.

I got off before the bike went down! It was 'wind related'. It blew over (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) with full tank of petrol and loaded tankbag. I haven't spotted any timing covers yet. The supply that was previously mentioned has all gone. Timing is everything. In this case the timing of everything was extensively unfortunate.

Well it wasn't a hotel, but I did spend my honeymoon in a Nissen hut in the mountains, in the middle of winter, with no electricity, or water. (And wedding night in the back of a ford Fiesta, Mk1, on way to said mountain abode.)

Like others I've had the oil leak from blown out gasket between timing chest cover and engine (right side). An exterior fix was made with sealant as previously reported. Now I've had the bad leak from a cracked casing (left side) that others have had too. This looks to me like a very weak spot immediately at a stressed engine hanger. I had a few hundred miles to get home, so was able to enjoy oil all over the bottom half of engine, exhaust and of course rear brake and tyre. Well, the rear brake was broken anyway... REPAIR I have glued over the crack with epoxy. The sceptics will say that it will never hold. We'll see. This is where the leak started Too much stress and cover bolted to engine through very thin section so it cracked at this weak spot and timing chest cover pulled away from joint Strat of the oil seep through crack and split joint Glued repair. Will it last? Brake levers bent and broken Tied and splinted repair to get me home from the Scottish highlands Parts straightened and splinted with cut scrap aluminium section that I had glued with epoxy and filled splint for other side cut, shaped and glued on and rivetted through Not elegant, but it works and I'm back on the road Front brake lever was broken too replaced with a previously broken lever that was straightened, glued and bolted together Protector and plug & cap were broken too

I went through the order process but then saw I need to send a photo of credit card and portrait photo by email. I don't fancy that either.

hmm, know the feeling

Oi! This is art, not *art!

cheers H, I've borrowed the video link for a while

I'm converting the oul' heap to an industrial paint stripper

What's the prize?

It's a small part of the photo, but here's a better image if you want to use it:

No, you're figuring the same way as the Guzzi speedo reads. You're bike isn't really an 1100, honest. ooooooooooh, look at your avatar!

Heheheeeeee BANg tinkle ping

In retrospect, the '3rd Highland Fling' name was quite apt too.

Good man. There seems to be far more stuff there than in Maplins anyway. While I'm at it, do you happen to have any RS codes for relays handy?

Well, yeah. I'm spurred on by Jaap's photo comp. Think I'll do it. Sure, the petrol tank can only go on fire...

Jaap has Aprilia Tuono mirrors as a straight swop. Look fine and are sturdy.

Global warming

Big thanks for the plug cap Mal: otherwise I would have been traveling home on a 500 single.

Don't worry Ratchet. I'm aware of vague possibility of danger but don't really believe that a short burst of turning the motor at lowest revs will lead to catastrophic failure. It had to be done, briefly – in the interests of inquiry. That was, to push oil out through cracks obscured by header. Unfortunately the escaping oil didn't catch fire as that would have made a much better photo. Mind you, I'm tempted to rev it up to get a jet-engine / flame thrower photo when it's dark tonight. The thing is falling apart anyway. Hey, we bikers are the dangerous sort anyway. Rev'em up.