Martin Barrett

Don't forget to young uns like Ben 84 is such a long time ago, before he can remember, 84 would be a classic The chain drive is just him not paying attention. If you wanted shed time you could just borrow mine

Great report. Your tyre plugs are they mushroom shaped or just straight pieces? It's good to hear corroboration of the might of the Cobra, otherwise it's just taken as fishermans tales. I've found that people are great when you run in to a bit of bother. In my case John O'Sulivan robbed his Scura to provide me with a gear linkage. I'm glad to say he now has it back and is on the road again V11ing and not just V10ing. It's good to know that all faults have been identified (tyre and shorting wire) and will be easily sorted once home. I'll pop over to wildgoose to see if any pictures forthcoming from any of the other attendes

That really gets me too, and spoils the whole motorcycle experiance with a dirty bike I used a scottoiler on my FJ1200, did wonders for the chain and also ensured my white Krauser K2 paniers would also never rust.

This is Jim's (Guzzilad) He has sewn his on, looks very good.

Was good to see you all. Other than Jim's tank bag for the other thread. I only took one picture and surprise surprise Carl and Doug admiring the Griso. This was the third time this year I'd met up with Chris and Jane I'd met Jim at Dodford in 04

I have barnacles on mine

See you there tomorrow

1- Sorry cant help with the tail bag 2- I have the bagster I highly rate it. I leave mine on all the time. I took it off the other day and there is some paint discolouration on the front bottom sides of the tank where the double piece of harness cover is. I think its not the soft side to tank there but outer layer. My advise would be to protect that piece of the tank with some cling film or other sticky protector film or even duct tape. Mine might not be the bag rubbing but the bag rubbing and useing road salt/dirt as grinding paste. I did see another Bagster harness and the front lower loop went under the tank where mine goes around the headstock. I don't know which you have. Mine does allow for a little bit of movement of the harness. 3- Chris (UKV11) has a sticker type badge stuck on his, looks good.

Mine developed two electrical faults after swimming back from Scotland last month. 1- having been stood for best part of a week marinating refused to start blew the fuse on press of the button. I diagnosed stuck starter motor and a tap with a hammer and block of wood seemed to have fixed it. ( I think she'd done this before in similar circumstances but a fuse change and a bounce up on to the shop stand must have repositioned it enough to then start and no further repeats till this event) 2- The instrument lights flickered occasionaly and it became more and more consistant and finaly would only work on full right lock. When it exhibited this final sympton also realised that I'd lost my indicators. I was on the ride out from the Erin so Gary (Grossohc) who was following was also able to state my tail light was also flickering then gone. I was convinced it was a corroded ground somewhere in the instrument binicle. Fault traced to wire come adrift in the ignition switch. I also had the corroded/burnt out connector on the main charge circuit - no doubt to water and salt ingress I am convinced that she doesn't like to get wet and be left. Will cope if ridden daily in the wet but don't let her stand.

I'm still on for Haywards lunchtime on Saturday

Guy, Looks a bit congested at Boxmeer, once in never getting out?

See I told you "I know nothing"

Consider the Sales of Goods Act (1974?) that the goods weren't of merchantable quality, this is against the dealer not MG, your local trading standards should be able to advise. There is no time limit for this to apply. I would think you'd have a reasonable case given dealer service etc, and limited miles. It might be enougth that will meet you half way or something. Obviously this is a major fault and could involve considerable cost on parts crank/bearings/rods let alone labour. I wouldn't bother on minor defects but might involve some posturing. The underlying issue is what caused it to fail. I would have thought a defect in the bearing area would have failed earlier so I wonder if something else on the lube side went first? I'd wait for Petes input on big ends as "I know nothing"

In amongst the entry list I can see (at least) one other member of this board. The control matrix arrived last week and rather than concentrate on my German route planning I poured over it. To obtain a Special Gold award the following criteria must be met. Start at an Outer control (two letters) The spurs are start point only. Only travel between controls conected Not allowed to revisit a control Eight or more outer controls No more than 275 outer control miles Grand total of 540 miles (other awards are less total but definatly no more) Finish at 99 There are a couple of typos the missing milage between PE & SB is 25 there are two 08s - the one between 07 &04 should be 09. I found my route 24 points including start and finish and 540 miles. (you'll have to wait till after the event before I post it up- I know you can hardly wait ) I'm starting at SV as thats where I live.

Yes the Scottish ones done then (posts 7-11 - page 1 on my browser). The last map posted shows all the land marks as the red dots and the ones still to do are highlighted with the yellow halo. I live under the "u" in Luton just north of London so apart from Cornwall (extreme south west) all are doable in a series of day trips. Might do Cornwall as a day trip but would be about 800miles depending on how many landmarks I actually did. Not too much different from a Welsh Waltz day really Just turned 25,000 miles and she is three next month. I had a quiet first year and doing 10-12K a year now. There are people who do greater millages and keep their bike clean.

With the Windmill done on the way back fromm the Channel Tunnel crossing my completed RBR map now looks like this. Sandwich, White mill and museam

Because of my electrical gremlins having deprived me of indicators and tail light, leaving me with stop and headlights only I take an earlier crossing back from Ireland. So I head north passing points (10) and (9) from Thursday. It’s daylight so I could have visited them for photographs but I’m saving time. Another slight wrong turn and I’m approaching Snowdon from the wrong side so I pass another landmark it is on my route so I visit it now, knowing I will be passing it tomorrow. I then camp in the Lanberis pass. As dusk falls as I’m cooking my dinner I get eaten alive by midges. Don’t get much sleep heavy rain and wind keeps me awake. It passes and I’m awake early. I’m packed up and away before six. Across to Anglesey for my first point (2) and the rain has arrived so its water proofs on. Head back passing point (3) which I did the previous evening on to the highest pub in Wales (4) It’s not even 8 O’clock so it’s not open even for breakfast. The rain has stopped but looks threatening still. My next point (5) is a Sculpture called “Footplate” at a railway station. A nice pun (as you’ll see when I post up the picture in November) Followed by (6) a ruined castle. I can’t get the bike to it and make do with a long distance shot from the side of the towns by pass. If you carefully and know its there you can see it. That’s the Welsh landmarks completed. Slide back in to England for the next a commemorative way mark (7). Being back in England the threat of rain had gone and I could shred my waterproofs. Then back towards Wales for the next (8) a statue before heading homewards picking up one last bordering on to Wales a foot bridge that was also a Great War memorial (9) it was only just gone midday. I’d achieved all the target landmarks decided against picking up further points but to go straight home. It was now quite hot and I had to remove the liner from my jacket. I made it home just in time to go and collect my children from school, which pleased them seeing I’d been away for nearly 5 whole days. Landmarks: 2- Llangaffo, The preachers cross 3- Capel Curig, Ugly House 4- Bylchau, The Sportsmans Arms 5- Flint, Footplate sculpture 6- Holt Castle 7- Normans Heath, Celia Fienns Waymark 8- Oswestry, The moorland farmer statue 9- Coalbrookdale, Jackfield & Coalport memorial footbridge

Sorry you’re not going to be spared the updates. Yes it’s a week late but have been busy with getting ready to go to the German Rally and the National check points and matrix has arrived. I went with the route I’ve already posted. The usual very early start, I couldn’t sleep (with excitement) up well before the alarm clock and on the road well before 5am. I’d chosen to do a landmark (2) just off the M4 near Newbury. I could have saved this one for later but it wasn’t far off the motorway and would break the leg to the first of the Welsh ones. Further along the motorway, taking it steady there has been a lot of publicity of the Wiltshire “camera safety partnership” using camera vans on the bridges over the motorways. Traffic is still quite light as still not in to “rush hour” and I’m going the wrong way. I do see what appears to be red Lemans on the other carriage way. But couldn’t be 100% with a closing speed of over 150mph and can only see the headlight and general shape of the fairing, the Armco obstructs the view of the engine. My next point (3) a derelict church. It’s off a single track lane with high banks. I’ve located the footpath that leads to it. It can’t be seen from the road, so I’m on my second pass looking for a close safe place to park the bike. The lady who lives in the house next to the footpath advises me to open the field gate and park on the hard standing there being her shed. I’m not sure if this is actually her field or not but I don’t need to be asked twice. Having photographed the landmark and control card on leaving the area I stop to take a photograph of the bike with a road sign so that proves I came on the bike. The next point (4) is a sculpture on a disused railway viaduct. It is a circle made up off rail wagons. I park at the wrong end of the viaduct and can’t see around its curve so I have to walk its length to find the sculpture. When walking back I’m talking to a chap who tells me that he remembers travelling on the trains across it when he first went to work and today is his last day at work as is about to retire. He couldn’t have chosen a better day, the sun is now breaking through and it’s turning in to a lovely day, if not a bit warm to be walking about in riding gear. I make my way back towards the motorway to transit to my next point (5) some old lime kilns. Then can head up to Brecon for its canal basin (6). The roads are getting more interesting. I then follow the English/Welsh borders northwards I pick up an animal pound (7) in Herefordshire (England) and another lime kiln (8) in Powys (Wales) this is much smaller on scale than the previous ones. It is located behind a Pub so I stop there for a pint of orange and lemonade, don’t mix beer and riding. I’m back eastwards now and I miss my turn by the time I realise it’s just as far too go back and pick up the right road or press on. By pressing on means I have to take the A44 to Aberystwyth, this is an excellent road through the mountains. The down side is that I’ll be going along one part of the coast road three times, and it’s not the best part either. The A44 wins. I pick up land mark (9) a memorial. This is the one that I rode past on the Welsh Waltz 2 and I will go past it and (10) again on Sunday when I head to North Wales from ferry on the way back from Ireland. I’ve got time in hand now so it makes sense this way. (Well to me it does) I head back southwards to pick up my last land mark (11) a chieftain tank and a Sunderland propeller both memorials to military connections in the town. Then up to the ferry port. I’m there for 1930hrs only a 7 hour wait for my ferry. The previous one was an hour before, there’s no way I could have caught it and it would have thrown my Ireland plans if I had. So fish and chips sat on the harbour wall, the Sea is like a mill pond. 585miles completed 10 landmarks collected. Landmarks: (2) Speen, The Ladywell "Holy well" 3- Caerwent, Runston Chapel 4- Ystradmynach," Wheel of Drams" 5- Llandybie, Limekilns 6- Brecon, Canal basin 7- Eardisley, Village pound 8- Berriew, Birthdir lime kilns 9- Corris, Alfred William Hughes memorial 10- Tan-y-groes, Internal fire museam of power 11- Pembroke, Chieftan tank and Sunderland flying boat propeller

Just two bullet connectors. The cover isn't shrink wrap but does tend to go a bit firm. Just tug them apart. Might need to clean up the connectors and a blob of some grease when putting it together wouldn't go amiss (Just like I don't ). It's not even critical which connector into which. The only thing to watch is the seating of the captive nut of the foremost bolt that holds on the stems. Mine was slightly dislodged when I last had the fairing off and I had to rebend the clip, a bit of a bugger but not impossible to get it back. You were unlucky* when I dropped mine I only knocked off the lens and the stem was intact. *Obviously with the leg etc. I just had 3 days worth of bruising and limping. Good to see that the healing process is almost complete

Brian, Do you really have snow on the ground still? How short is your riding season?

I've had some sleep so I'm a bit more with it now. I've just checked and found I hadn't down loaded some pictures off the camera, covering our little ride out. Jaap's throttle body being put back on by Antonio and Jaap. Antonio. We'd just caught up with the main group following our repairs, and waiting for them to helmet up. Coffee stop. A very lesuriely trip. didn't cover a great distance, which was fine after the previous days trans european effort. I've done longer distances doing the RBR but with picture and fuel stops it's more relaxing than just slogging along the motorways. On the way back accompanied Antonio and Jaap for a short distance before heading west whilst they went north. Then a six hour trip across 400miles of motorway. I kept at around 85-90 mph comfortable cruise and reasonable fuel economy. I arrived at the Channel Tunnel with just over an hour to spare. Again the returning cars from Lemans ment that there was no chance of getting on an earlier train. Saw two Nobles there as well as the more common sports cars. Having got back to England it was noticeably cooler. I took an hours diversion off my route to photograph a windmill for the RBR, and arrived home 2130 ( 2230 CET) Just as the family were parking on the drive from their trip out. Just as well as I hadn't taken my house keys with me. 1200 miles covered in the three days, I did less than 125 on the Saturday on the ride out and a mini rideout (22miles) on a preride fuel trip.

I'm just back from the German V11 Treffen. I crossed the Channel by the Euro Tunnel Folkestone to Calais. I'd arrived about 1/2 an hour early. Evry other car there seemed to be a Porshe 911 or some sport car. It took a while for the penny to drop. The Lemans 24hour race is this weekend and thats were they were all headed. Due to some problems carrying on from the night there was a two hour delay on crossing A choice of Trans Europe travel. There were several Astons there but only one Guzzi Despite the delay I still arrived when I had wanted to, about 1/2 five. 520 miles of mainly motorway. I'd pitched my tent and just found a beer, when Antonio and Jaap arrived. Antonio's tent is exactly the same as John O'Sullivan's except for the colour. Some of the bikes outside the Oldtimer. There were two groups of 15 that went out on the rideout on Saturday and a good dozen or more V11s dropped in at other points during the weekend. As well as some other stuff, the Old timer Cafe seems to very similar to the ACE Cafe in this respect. Sorry a bit of a short report , but I'm too tired and going to go my bed. Might finish it later - more pictures here

That's me done, Bike bodged back together, washer as additional rear bearing spacer. Electrical fault fixed and John O'Sullivans gear linkage part still fitted. I'm about to retire for the night. It's now tomorrow Central Europe Time so I'll see you tonight Jaap and Antonio bodges permitting.

The other thing to consider is the spacer on the spindle, make sure it's fitted to the correct side. from left to right (viewed from riders seat) nut - left fork leg - spacer over protruding spacer tube - wheel (bearing over space tube against spacer tube shoulder- thick part of spacer tube - bearing on spindle against spindle shoulder) - visable spindle - right fork leg with spindle end pulled flush through. Apparently the spacers internal diameter is the same as the external diameter of the wide part of the spindle, so will fit the wrong side. The whole assembly will clamp down tight against the spacer tube/end of threads but the disks are what centralises it. Don't put it past the factory to fit it wrong. My starter motor cover was fitted with the washers the wrong side so it just pushed on or off over the retaining nuts

Too right, The best beer I had recently was the Guinness at the ERIN rally in Ireland. I think since I arrived at just before lunch and I retired a couple of hours in to the next day I must of had about 10 of these "best beers" It will explain why my tent stayed up, as I put it up on arrival, and John O'Sullivan's and BFG's fell down the following day, in the heavy rain and wind whilst we were out, as they arrived very late in the evening and I "helped" put them up.