Martin Barrett

There's even a fairy class

Yes it is, and if I had a job with "normal" office hours, which would make it more difficult to get to the local post office I'd no doubt use it. But could end up missing the sub post office when it finaly goes. It's the same issues with local bike shops and internet etc. Having set up self up as some sort of champion of local services, I've just cancelled our daily milk delivery

I was centralised three years ago, to coincide with an intergrated radio/telephone system that still doesn't work properly so whilst we're using the radio we've had to buy another telephone system in the meantime. I knew but it was a good opportunity - shall we provide a glossary so that the foriegn Johnnies know what we're talking about. VEL - Vehicle Excise Licence - Tax disc - £62 for 12months £34.10 for 6months (bikes greater than 600cc) MoT- Ministry of Transport - refers to annual certificate of roadworthyness for vehicle from 3rd aniversary Don't forget KB can do this in Welsh also (dual language on forms etc)

From what I can remember In the UK the hand held stuff is within 2%, it and the cars are checked weekly so therefore it will always be within intolerance. EG on dates A and G so there fore it can be expected to be correct on days B-F inclusive. The traffic guys always used to put a calibrated vehicle through their speed trap before starting, I'm not sure if thats ther case with the lasers these days, I've no experiance.

Went to the Local BMW dealer last year when he was doing his tour. Seemed genuine and very willing to please nothing was too much trouble.. photos, sign your book, DVD or your dog.

My V11 for the C*R arrived a couple of weeks ago. With the new computor held insurance and MoT data base I could renew it on line. I think not I'll pop down to the local sub post office that can now do VELs and pass the business their way. There's no incentive for doing it on line other than save a little bit of time. My most local post office closed about a year ago, there is another fairly local which is a bit more handy than heading into the town centres (Stevenage has an Old and New town - garden city post war expansion) Need to keep some services local.

I don't. I know that I should. When I've tried them before I found that I'd be going a little bit quicker (FJ days) esp on the slab. I suppose it just takes a bit of time to adjust. I was one of the things i didn't like when doing my police advanced driving course. Big fast car and the only sensation was visual. I failed for speeding on test day. A couple of years ago had to do a hearing test as part of a medical. Drove over to the centre, 13 miles it was a nice day so windows down on the car. My collegue and I both failed on the ear that was adjacent to our open window Re did it on a rainy day.

They are a "u" section made up of two pieces with some sort of fibre filler. They compress down next to nothing. And some times I'd doubt that they were in there if I hadn't put them in myself.

Are you sure it's for your mom and that it's not your bike?

I'd assume that the tappet clearance had opened right up? If not wrong tree

That's the 1%er I was talking about (accidental) at least not the homocidal maniac. I wonder what happened to the round? (nb I've got no sound - so audio is lost on me)

I was quite relived ( but not in that sense) to find BFG's links weren't of that nature

This might not be much help as i'm at work and can't get out either to look at my bike or have any papers here. But the VIN hand book we have here dated 1995 has for cars the standard format the 10th character is the year x-99;y-2000; 1-2001 etc. However whilst normaly when manafactured in can some times relate to the model year, but the US format may be different - try a google search

The pick up is on the left front, so perhaps it wasn't exposed Did the light come on?

Welcome, Guzzista eventually traced it to a faulty relay, his replacement was broken, Have you checked yours? Does the charge light come on with the ignition but go out when running - that would indicate that the charging side was okay, and your charge was just draining away over night. DLaing was lossing some of his, I think through a combined effect of regulator and battery faults, through the ECU. Electrics aren't my strong point despite having a few issues. On the manual front if you're after schematics follow the link in Callison 's sig block to his ones http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/sch...9_V11_sport.gif

Thank you, It's like all these things in the majority of occasions 99.9% etc it's needless, there in the possesion of sensible people, who've undergone training and have a sensible atitude and are perfectly safe and accidents are unlikely (thou occasionaly do happen - D ick Chaney springs to mind where does he stand on licencing? it wasn't a cynical political manover to restrict shotguns was it? ) It only takes one incident - in the UK Hungerford and Dunblane (Okay thats 2) to promote draconian measures - banning of Semi automatics and Handguns respectively, as both shooters were lawfully licenced (not sure if allready mentioned on this thread) Typical knee jerk legislation, legislate in a hurry and amend at liesure (though these were done more succesfully than most probably as it's easier to do a total ban than make an offence fit a set of circumstances) The home defence issue is quite interesting, we have very strict self defence guidelines. A long time ago I had involvement in a burglary at a Public House where one of the intuders was shot, I'd rather not mention details of that publicly as there is no statue of limitations on serious crimes, but natural justice was served well and so was the more regular type. But over here we also have the Tony Martin case which polarised opion especialy when looking at the surviving burglar. Martins apparent downfall was that he hit him in the back as fleeing the scene. Whilst having sympathy with the house holder the repeat victim of these thieving scum, the investigating officer obviously did a fully proffesional job ( I suppose has to be a first - or so it seems from the newspapers and other unsatisfied victims/relatives - can't really win ( good job we don't elect our police chiefs)) I'm sure your rules are similar, just know what the rules of engagement are and the correct responses are, hopefully the forensics will agree with your account. Whilst we have so much in common UK and US we're really quite different in alot of respects, and it's to easy to forget that. My experiance and outlook as a small county on the edge of London police officer, will be different to that of my collegues, in even in my force area and definatly those in big cities and even more rural areas, it probably has even less relevance to the US. I can see where both you and Dave are coming from, luckily I don't need to decide who is right. It's just like work, gather the facts and present them to a "wiser man than I" How they can bedeclared wise when they dress up in wigs, gowns and stockings but thats the British (esp English) for you. The two firearms incidents I've mentioned involvement in are not the only ones I've been involved in by a long way, perhaps all is not quite as rosey here as I've been making out

But these were armed lawbreakers! OKay it was probably only traffic citations, but it brings the question at what point do intentionaly break the law. There is the old maxim "guideance of wisemen, obediance of fools". I don't think theres anyone here who would honestly say they've never deliberatly broken the law. It will undoubtably be speeding and we will contest that it was safe to do so and wasn't in a built up area etc.. so would stay a misdemeanor and not a felony of dangerous driving ( Okay I'm trying to mix American and English terms to try and get maximum clarity) And I know one day I might come unstuck profesionaly through a bit to generous a right hand. Hope it won't be too serious that once it's finished hitting the fan it's no deeper than my neck. I understanding what you're saying about it acts as a calming deterant. But if you look at another set of figures - Prison populations and taking that there might be some parity in prison sentance to crime levels it's got to do a lot of crime reduction. As a former patroling officer you never knew what a simple traffic stop might reveal. I've turned over a couple of lads who were about to do an armed blag at a sub post office and had a sawn off shot gun down by the transmission tunnel. Luckily when we pulled up they were , driver out the car and front passenger, we knew they were very suspicious and gave them no chance to do anything. Had we arrived 5 minutes later they might have been running out the post office having do the job, and who knows what would have happened. But Mr Average doesn't want to be treated as if he could be an armed felon when he's pulled. If general possesion was allowed thats what we'd have to do, it would change the whole face of British policing. I don't know how the PSNI (Northern Ireland) or our European counterparts do, they're armed but the Public aren't. Yes there are occasions where unarmed officers get shot trying to stop major armed criminals - terrorists and big money drugs mainly, but it's not Mr Average who'se just been pulled for DIC (drink driving) and can suddenly see his job and therefore his house and family going down the pan and be spurred in to drastic illconcieved action, at least he won't be armed. In my little bit of the world I'm happy that guns aren't quite so prevalent. There is no easy answers and people will always get hurt and say if the opposite was in force it wouldn't have happened. You see it with seat belt and helmets. But I must admit it seems there is a lot more restrictions happening and the basis is getting sketchier.

You can comute/tour on anything. I've a Lemans now 27,500miles and has just turned 3 years old. Some people find the ergos not to their liking and go for peg lower and bar raise kits. The BillyBob comes with the higher bars so deals with that side. I don't think the fairing will give you as much protection as the Lemans, there were recent comments on the buffeting ( Um smorsgasbord ) On the Lemans I find the seat gets a bit uncomfortable, esp on long slogs 400miles on the european slabs looking for a stretch just before I need fuel so tend to top up early. But my usual fare of touring/landmark hunting gives me frequent stops altenating landmark/fuel and more involving roads all help to make it day long comfortable. If you check my RBR threads you will see I do many long days 12-16 hours up to over 700 miles. The GTR1000 is a transcontinental tourer in the ilk of BMW K series RTs and Pan Europeans. The Guzzi is a much more rider involving machine and can be a bit demanding, but most of the niggles have been sorted on the later machines. There are a few Billy riders who can give their accounts on comfort and suitablity, but for my riding I'd go again with a Lemans varient. If you search there are people swaping the fairings around both ways so it's purely individual taste. I take it's solo use only. I wouldn't put anyone on the back of a V11 for more than a quick jaunt, though Big J and Ferguzzi brought their significant others to last years Erin (Irish) rally but they are local (loco).

You can shim it out with a washer, just make sure the washer doesn't reach the outer race. I think mines held out now for 3,000miles. I know BFG done the same, don't how many miles he has done on his. My spacer is on order also

0600hrs depature from the mother in laws [1]. I use the Humber bridge, for 17 years this was the worlds longest single span suspension bridge, the motorcycle toll is £1.20 On wards north through Beverley to wards my first landmark. Just short of it I find this impressive ediface created by the same family as my intended landmark. 120ft tall apparently. The landmark [2] a war memorial features the following images Reminds me a bit of triumphant collums from the Romans. I'm not sure these "carton" images sit well with me. Normally the memorials are more dignified, not quite what I expected. I stopped for fuel and breakfast just shy of landmark [3] what I'd come to expect a large stone with a placque on a large stone plinth. Simple and dignified. This one was for the crew of a damaged Halifax that crashed whilst attempting to land having returned from a mission over Germany, also killed one local resident when hit their house. Kept to the minor roads on the way to the next [5] going through a firing range on the North Yorkshire moors, luckily the flags weren't flying and the road was open. This was also a war memorial but a simple carved stone one. It seems that there are a lot of war memorials, either to individuals or crews that crashed near by; or units that were based there or even the traditional village memorials in this years rally. Infact it's on 12 out of 84 that are of that type. They do vary in type. I suppose given it's 60 years since the end of WWII and the ongoing situations it allways is timely to visit them and reflect. Thats the three landmarks I wimped out of doing due to the rain on the way back from Scotland. A quick blast of nearly 100 miles down the A1 and M1 motorways to get to the Derbyshire peak district. As I came off the motorway cranked over on the roundabout there was a familiar grinding sound. I pulled up and had to duct tape my left exhaust can up to the foot rest hanger, it's bracket had sheered just the same way the right had done on two previous occasions. Last week I'd been replacing the head and balance pipe gaskets but when reassembling I hadn't done anything with the cans so I don't know if I'd restressed it when tighting it all up. Off through the peak district, very pretty but the traffic was horendous especially through Bakewell[8]. Not sure if it's like that all summer or was just because a show on. Cleared Bakewell and then nice open roads to my next stop [9] not a memorial an old smithy that was now tea rooms. Headed in to Staffordshire, speed camera central. road down to 50 limit with cameras. Then as you go into a village's 30 limit a camera within 50yds of the start of the limit, Must of been a good dozen of them, road seemed to go on for ever. Don't know if they were particularly dense as a route into the peak district to catch all the speeding holidaymakers and bikers out for a thrash. There is a recent instruction from goverment for the local authorities to examin their rural speed limits. I expect to see a change from national speed limits (60mph) downwards with perhaps enforcement. Most motorcyclist pay attention to posted speed limits in villages etc but not NSL where drive appropriate to road conditions - this is what we do on police advanced driving courses also. The addition of additional apparently needless speed limits, the roads often self regulate (except those driving beyond their eyes), devalues those allready in position. A change in direction still speed cameras but not as dense, to [10] another downed aircraft, a Lancaster. On wards down into Birmingham, for the Tipton (district of Birmingham) Slasher - prize fighter, champion from 1850-1857, a statue [11] I hate driving through heavy built up areas, luckily normally only have about 3-4 to do on the rally. Not so many speed cameras but plenty of red light cameras for the traffic lights. Escaped Birmingham got back on to motorway to do so and made my way past the Hinkley Triumph Factory, a very large grey box, big car park, but I suppose all modern factorys are like that. My next point was a time capsle built in to a sculpture[13] I wouldn't call it pretty (You'll see in November) A bit more major roads and a couple of junctions of the M1 to get on the Leicester ring road, which was jammed solid, so lots of filtering, Found the cause an accident?, but a lane closed just after a junction and litered with fire engines and police cars. My smooth entry to the next landmark [14] was spolit by bridge repairs so I free naved my way around some country lanes to avoid back tracking too far. Just as I arrived I started popping. My inlet rubber bodged repair had let go. So once finished my photograph. I redid my repair using electrical insulation tape. Headed for home regained dual carriageway and slogged it. Had to do a bit of filtering as was a large hold up as the A14 joined the A1, then continued on. I slowed down to the posted speed limit on an approach to a village that stradles the A1, when I caught a glimpse in my mirror of a flash of headlights a hint of blue and could just hear sierns. I moved over in to the nearside lane and sure enougth eventually a traffic Volvo estate came up and past. As I left the village the speed limit went back to NSL (70 on dual carriageways) so gunned it, curious as to what possibly might be ahead and should I consider diverting. One motorist who saw me comming up at speed had his arm dangling out of his window so gave a slow down gesture and a thumbs down - united against a common enemy or just aware that it was likly to come to a griding halt? Sure enough about a mile further on the Police car was in view and just implementing a rolling block. We reached the accident, as it was at a crossover junction both the two normal running lanes were free and the police car pulled into the filter lane behind an ambulance. In front of the ambulance was a mangled motorcycle and the paramedics were on the central reservation giving treatment. I hope he's OK. It did make me reflect on my filtering antics, briefly as the road opened up and we were off again. Just before I got home the inlet rubber repair started to fail, I took it gently the rest of the way. Getting in just after 6, so that was 480 miles done. A quick bite of dinner and then redid the inlet repair with duck tape as the spare hadn't arrived whilst I'd been away. I then went to the local owners club meeting for an hour before heding of to work for my first night shift. So a couple of very local landmarks to do, the Cotswolds, South West and South , three days worth at most. Landmarks: 2- Sledmere, Waggoners memorial 3- Skipton on Swale, Memorial to crew of Halifax 5- Reeth, War memorial on village green 8- Monyash, The Old Smithy 10- Sandon, Memorial stone to crew of Lancaster 11- Tipton, Statue of the "Tipton Slasher" 13- Ibstock, Landmark sculpture and time capsule 14- Desborough, Milestone pillar topped with a ball

I had a wire come adrift within the ignition switch. I was left with what you've lost so I'm wondering if the same has happened to you but the other common feed inside the switch. Have you had a look at the wiring diagram to see if any commonality?

Firstly double check that it all has been put back together. Then recheck the main fuse. It sounds like a good plan to swap out components, you could do it both ways as a double check, but it could take down the cali aswell. When you do keep checking fuses. I put my dicky regulator back on and it worked after a fashion, then it stopped and I put the new one back on. I didn't recheck the fuse and it had taken the fuse down so the new one couldn't work Good luck I hate electrickerty

Even further now as he's back in Palma, Italy

We went to the beach today a couple of hours. Skegness, it's a bit "kiss me quick" hat, but at the far end of the parade was quite quiet. Whilst was quite as hot as it has been the water was pleasently cool. Fine for us cold climate adapted persons, though the kids did start to get a bit cold after a while. I was able to swim in the surf and there was no sign of greenpeace trying to push me back to sea or Norwegians wanting to harpoon me.

It's school summer holidays here now. Debs and the kids have gone up to her mothers. They're staying for a week to take in the nephews birthday and keep them out the way whilst I'm on night shift next week. The plan was for me to follow them up on the Guzzi on Friday, stay for the weekend and back for nights on Monday. That would be an opportunity to head further north and complete the landmarks I didn't do on the way back from Scotland. So I packed my bag for Debs to bring, and loaded my lower tank bag with waterproofs and tools and the upper with camera; maps and snacks. Instead of my usual lift share for my Friday early shift I would go on the Guzzi and head up straight from work. I left work[1] at 4pm and went home[2], I'd forgotten my mobile Not too bad. One of the saving graces of Stevenage is that if you make the mistake of getting off the motorway there you can get on at the next junction without having to retrace your steps Probably cost me 10 minutes in time. Back on route, straight up the A1. The road works at the Black Cat roundabout have finaly finished (a couple of years) and theres no hold ups. Head off to Sleaford Lincolnshire [4] where I'm looking for a Mill amd a Lock gate. I used to go this way regularly 20 odd years ago when undertaking my RAF Officer training at RAF Cranwell, which is near Sleaford. I have a few reminisions as I make my way through the town centre. I catch up with an old Matchless single who pulls off into the main car park. Having found my landmarks I take a drive along the public road that bisects RAF Cranwell. In my day they used to fly these. Infact I failed my Navigator training on one of these ( Okay this might be a mk5 and I flew in mk3s with or without tip tanks ( or visa versa) but it's such a long time ago) out of RAF Finningley. I then went west to find a Victorian pumping station[6]. This was a case of do it now and it might save time on Monday when rushing back in time to go to work. Having done this as I went past a lay by there was another old Britsh bike in it as I looked he gave me a wave. I gave him a thumbs up but as I didn't get a reply I turned and went back to him. He has stopped as a wasp had stung him on the side of his temple, one of the joys of open faced helmets. He was okay and we had a brief chat. His bike was a 250cc BSA Barracuda. except his was grey. I pressed on to my next point a Lion statute incorporating a water pump in Caistor[9] which is 10 miles outside Grimsby where the mother in law lives[10]. Took the photos and headed in to Grimsby. I had pulled up along side a police van at traffic lights when my mobile started to ring. I decided would be best to ignore it as it would be Debs enquiring after me and I was only a couple of 100 yds away now. 200 miles in under 5 hours, map to be posted when I get home (here it is) As always additional way points as always to get the route planner to go where I want to/went Highlighted push pins are the outstanding landmarks. Today with the family day trip to Skegness, picture of Moby @#$$#! to follow Another family day tomorrow and then on Monday do those missing Yorkshire landmarks and on the way back the Midlands. Landmarks: 4- Sleaford, Cogglesford mill and lock 6- Papplewick, Victorian pumping station 10- Caistor, Village pump (lion)