Well it's been a while! I've only had about 4 hours on the bike over the last 4 weeks. This has been dictated by the sessions that I run at the work shop with the kids. The current batch of miscreants are Daniel, 16 (organiser and recorder extraordinaire), Adam, 14, keen as mustard spanner man and competant to boot ( if you can shut him up), Richie, 17, be hoody'ed apprentice of this parish and Patrick, 16, resident bright spark. All the lads have spent time on the project albeit because they get to ride at the end of each phase of work and have been promised more. All retain a healthy disbelief in the task in hand and maintain the opinion variously that 'it'll never get there', that 'it's a pile of shit', 'you'll need a new arse', 'it'll take for ever', that 'it's a pile of shit!', ....etc ad infinitum.
Apart from fitting a new piston and rings (originals), which was straight forward, most of the work has been of an innovative and budget nature. The front forks were as soft as puddin' and with my generous bulk sitting astride and a good handful of front brake the bike didn't so much dive like a italian centre forward, as cause me to experience something akin to bungy jumping! The fork springs were about 5mm short of the minimum recommended free length and the oil...well most of it seemed to have jumped ship at some point! The fork seals were a bit hard so they've now been swapped. The stanchions are fine (god bless gaiters). We hit upon a good preload solution though, mainly because I'm too tight (skint) to lash out on new springs. Two old 11/16" sockets sitting on top of the springs! What a difference! With the preload wound up on the rear damper units, it feels like a different bike! Goes round corners and all sorts (sort of)!
The tank and side panels are in the process of being flatted in readiness for some paint. God alone knows what colour it will end up but it won't look much worse than it does now. As long as it's not too attention seeking I'll live with it. The luggage fitting brackets have got to be changed again as the boxes are a bit mobile at the moment. I'd hate to think that they have the potential to go faster than the rest of the bike! I'll need a chain and sprockets as well I think. The originals are a bit careworn as they've dried out a bit.
Hopefully, I've convinced the DVLA to let me retain the original plate and just provide a new log book. It should be here soon and with freshly fitted CG 125 indicators it's ready for an MoT...apart from the flasher unit that is which literally fell apart.
The girl goes to Casablanca on the 15th of April all being well so I'm starting to look more closely at the route now. By the looks of it I just go south but then peoople have been telling me that I've been doing that for a while. The level of incredulity among potential sponsors (yes that's all of you, you tight sods!) would be distubing to a lesser spirit! The sponsor forms will be out before the end of next week so start putting your money where your mouth is! With so little time to go, the imminence of it all is starting to hit home. I suppose I'd better book some leave. What do you reckon...10 days in and out with 2 nights in Casablanca? Believe it. I am a man possessed!
