I cant decide what to do.. 

 

The fork seals need changing on the VFR, so it the forks obv need taking apart. So nows the time to upgrade the forks if I'm going to do it? 

 

Hyperpro upgraded spring kit is £125 for the front. Fair play, but thats ontop of roughly £50 fork seals and labour costs. So its not going to be cheap, and it would still leave the rear shock standard, which is the one thats lacking the most. 

 

Hyperpro do an upgraded rear spring, but i dont fancy having the standard shock with an upgraded spring on it, seems like half a job on the rear shock. 

 

Do i upgrade the front fork springs now, then upgrade to a proper shock later on? (they're roughly £400) or just leave it all standard and not mess, putting up with the standard setup? I've never upgraded suspension before  

 

PS. ive decided to keep the VFR for this year. Investing money elsewhere i think is a more clever move for now. 

Update of my bike storage solution, now it's 90% complete. It's come a long way from day 1 with the bike at the new house:

 

 

 

My new shed is about 10 minutes old

 

This morning as weather finally turned and was windy, the old one which was leaning against side of house decided to blow over and smashed down over my nice new beams...... and also some crap I had lying there, inc a near full bottle of oil from when I serviced the Octy

 

 

 

 

So lucky it didn't split! I propped it all back up and left it at a ridiculous angle from house to ensure it wouldn't blow over again, but it did and the oil still didn't spill

 

But my bikes new home is here (just need my ramp to arrive now....

 

 

 

 

Not the heaviest duty shed by any means, but suited my budget and was made locally and treated in the colour of my choice, which is revolutionary for these parts! 

 

 

 

 

I now no longer am restricted to narrow bikes to squeeze them in the gate, nor do I have to do my turning thing anymore! Introducing 'Operation Open Sesame'

 

 

 

 

Hedge was mental thick underneath you could stand on top of it and walk around branches were up to 2 inches thick after 35 years of growth and it was 9-11feet deep! 

 

Fence line extended by swinging out and cutting down old panel that went across and posts for it moved in line with edge of house

 

555.5 sq ft of reclaimed ground now covered in concrete later, now new view from shed is more open

 

 

 

Gate to go on at end of house a side gate and a big gate so I can put a car behind it etc. Then Stage 4 which I will lookinto in the summer is a car port off the side of the house to give sheltered parking for 1 and or big open working space for bike(s)  

Edited 11 January, 201610 yr by FUBAR

Brilliant. Just watched that video and thought, id of had those bushes out of there in no time haha. Then scrolled down and you had.. happy days!

 

Is the concrete the finished product, or are you to put something ontop? 

Brilliant. Just watched that video and thought, id of had those bushes out of there in no time haha. Then scrolled down and you had.. happy days!

 

Is the concrete the finished product, or are you to put something ontop? 

 

I plan to put cars and bikes on top It was the cheapest option and I hate tarmac. Wanted it rough for grip, but only thinking after with my next plans I should have had a smooth finish in front of shed perhaps.... But I am happy so far New side gate arrived there 15 min ago, so thinking I am just going to put it off the side of the house to the shed for now and leave it open as I am having no luck finding anywhere to get a gate and nowhere in GB will deliver here...... Can't make one myself at this time of year want a few dry days if I end up doing it myself to treat and stain the wood properly. 

 

Initial plan was leave my front garden there and remove hedges put a straight drive down to road drop the kerb etc but I had been chasing that rainbow since I moved in in early 2014 and nothing still on permission..... So I decided sod it and covered the whole lot so I can drive straight in from existing drop kerb. Ironically the same day the front garden was destroyed a letter landed on door matt saying I could drop the kerb if I wanted.... This way was still a lot cheaper though so screw them! 

 

This was stage 2 after I put new shed in, having to turn the bike around etc. Shed went where it did and I took out 5 trees to get it in there so that what I have done now could still be an option 

 

Edited 11 January, 201610 yr by FUBAR

I plan to put cars and bikes on top It was the cheapest option and I hate tarmac. Wanted it rough for grip, but only thinking after with my next plans I should have had a smooth finish in front of shed perhaps.... But I am happy so far New side gate arrived there 15 min ago, so thinking I am just going to put it off the side of the house to the shed for now and leave it open as I am having no luck finding anywhere to get a gate and nowhere in GB will deliver here...... Can't make one myself at this time of year want a few dry days if I end up doing it myself to treat and stain the wood properly. 

 

Maybe speak to a local joiner? Maybe one could knock you one together? 

 

I do notice you must live in a rural area though. Spotting the Kerosene tank in the garden  

Maybe speak to a local joiner? Maybe one could knock you one together? 

 

I do notice you must live in a rural area though. Spotting the Kerosene tank in the garden

 

A local joiner would be a pain to get a hold of annoyingly and they would charge more than I would charge myself for the time. In the entire country there is only mains gas in Belfast and about a 15-20 mile surrounding area. Oil tank in 90% of all other dwellings or some crazy cats have a gas tank. I can get gates I'd be happy with all over GB at about £200 - £350 but FML you'd think I was asking for shipping to Rwanda! 

Edited 11 January, 201610 yr by FUBAR

A local joiner would be a pain to get a hold of annoyingly and they would charge more than I would charge myself for the time. In the entire country there is only mains gas in Belfast and about a 15-20 mile surrounding area. Oil tank in 90% of all other dwellings or some crazy cats have a gas tank. I can get gates I'd be happy with all over GB at about £200 - £350 but FML you'd think I was asking for shipping to Rwanda! 

 

hmm. I'd not be much good over there then. Wouldn't be too busy.. being a Gas Safe engineer haha. 

 

I did used to do oil. It's nice n simple i thought, all parts stockable in the van as theres only actually a few burner types. I bet such engineers are earning a fortune over there haha. 

 

I know what you mean then. Struggling abit with the fence job. Maybe book a few days off when the weather gets nicer  

hmm. I'd not be much good over there then. Wouldn't be too busy.. being a Gas Safe engineer haha. 

 

I did used to do oil. It's nice n simple i thought, all parts stockable in the van as theres only actually a few burner types. I bet such engineers are earning a fortune over there haha. 

 

I know what you mean then. Struggling abit with the fence job. Maybe book a few days off when the weather gets nicer

 

Prices for things like that and car mechanics here are a lot cheaper than in GB as they realise they are not astrophysicists, frigging joiners on the other hand (they all like to go full on old school master craftsman)! FML! Garage I use for the cars for thing's I cba doing or beyond me is a local chain one and do good work £30 an hour labour. Go to a normal mechanic working for themselves and £20 an hour, a relative one £15 an hour. I remember a bloke working from his house in Stafford wanting £60 an hour over a decade ago, thought he was joking!  Boiler service here is about £25-£35 depending who it is. If you get it done through energy companies like my electricity company £39.99. 

Prices for things like that and car mechanics here are a lot cheaper than in GB as they realise they are not astrophysicists, frigging joiners on the other hand (they all like to go full on old school master craftsman)! FML! Garage I use for the cars for thing's I cba doing or beyond me is a local chain one and do good work £30 an hour labour. Go to a normal mechanic working for themselves and £20 an hour, a relative one £15 an hour. I remember a bloke working from his house in Stafford wanting £60 an hour over a decade ago, thought he was joking!  Boiler service here is about £25-£35 depending who it is. If you get it done through energy companies like my electricity company £39.99. 

 

Sounds like a different world  

 

The bloke in Stafford sounds like a rip off merchant. Staffordshire is generally alot cheaper in many ways than surrounding area's, especially for property. You could nearly buy a house on his day rate in some areas.. okay.. not quite, but nearly .

 

Mechanics can be anything tbf, depends who it is, who's name they're operating under etc etc. I don't mind paying, as long as i get a top job. However i wouldnt expect them to charge any more than a person could in my trade. 

 

Joiners,, they shouldnt be charging as much as a  Gas Safe engineer or a mechanic. Theyre only joining bits of wood together. I appreciate a good cabinet maker is a different ball game though 

Just saw this on FB, could only find a shorter blurry version on youtube, so I liberated it.

 

TAG essexocty! 

 

Just saw this on FB, could only find a shorter blurry version on youtube, so I liberated it.

 

TAG essexocty! 

 

 

saw that the other day. 

 

Riding without gloves.. horrendous i thought, especially for a trained officer 

saw that the other day. 

 

Riding without gloves.. horrendous i thought, especially for a trained officer 

Might have had to jump on rather sharpish and give chase though. I think he needs an UZI though  

You didn't see it in the What did you do to your bike thread the other day then Fuby?

 

Nice solution with the drive and shed but it does look a teeny weeny bit tight!!!!

You didn't see it in the What did you do to your bike thread the other day then Fuby?

 

Nice solution with the drive and shed but it does look a teeny weeny bit tight!!!!

 

No what I miss? Looks tight? How so lol? 

 Found full length better quality one on youtube now edited* 1080p 60fps FTW

 

Just saw this on FB, could only find a shorter blurry version on youtube, so I liberated it.

 

TAG essexocty! 

 

Edited 12 January, 201610 yr by FUBAR

Whoops Guy LOL A "Someones nicked Guy Martins van, get the chopper up NOW" job.

 

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Guy-Martin-victim-cruel-van-theft-went-buy-butty/story-28503370-detail/story.html

Has anybody got experience with Hyperpro spring upgrade kits?

Not used them, but they are rising-rate, which is good if you have rising-rate dampers - " seems like half a job "

No what I miss? Looks tight? How so lol? 

I posted the link to the cop chase and shooting the other day that was all.  Bit OTT for a speeding ticket though!

 

The old entrance was a bit tight.  Looked like a fair bit of work gone into getting rid of the shrubbery.  Well done.

Edited 12 January, 201610 yr by Chriswright03

I posted the link to the cop chase and shooting the other day that was all.

 

The old entrance was a bit tight.  Looked like a fair bit of work gone into getting rid of the shrubbery.  Well done.

 

Just saw it after you posted when I went hunting lol. I have updated the above to the longer version now. 

 

Ahh was wondering how so tight as it's over 10 feet wide now rather than 73cm gate lol. No longer will I have to **** about with my mirrors when I join the main road ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh 

It is a shame I couldn't have my shed the other way round but it would have stuck out too far and blocked even more light from one of the windows in the house that is already quite dark.  Thing is the TEX is 8' long so to put it on the centre stand you need even more than that.  Shed is 12' x 6' so it has to go in sideways sort of thing.  I have just put a cheap set of shelves from Argos in there and with the bike and a freezer already space is tight for getting the bike in and out.  So 'if' I ever manage to get a second one even though the shed is massive it would have to stay outside.

It is a shame I couldn't have my shed the other way round but it would have stuck out too far and blocked even more light from one of the windows in the house that is already quite dark.  Thing is the TEX is 8' long so to put it on the centre stand you need even more than that.  Shed is 12' x 6' so it has to go in sideways sort of thing.  I have just put a cheap set of shelves from Argos in there and with the bike and a freezer already space is tight for getting the bike in and out.  So 'if' I ever manage to get a second one even though the shed is massive it would have to stay outside.

 

My bike is currently buried as it couldn't be taken out for months due to work and then more due to that crap going on around side and front of house. :( I have a cheap set of shelves (plastic ones 5 stack) but still in their shrink wrap as I need to move crap to get them out. Thinking about it, bike has been entombed since Aug sometime I do hope it starts......... 

 

My shed is narrower than I would like but had to do it to maintain path width and access down other side to treat it etc (for someone skinnier than me tbh). 

I am sure I posted this before, but that is the sort of space I generally have/had in there with bike :( 

 

Thing with me is the TEX is so big and top heavy that man handling it about in tight spaces isn't really a lot of fun and fraught with risk.  It is great on the move as are all bikes as the weight makes little difference.  Getting in and out of the shed is OK now I have got used to making sure it is on the ramp properly and the ram is in the right place.  I have marked on the support beam of the doorway where the step has to go as on one occasion I was too far over and had to tip it to one side to ease the n/s mirror past the doorway.  At that point it was just on the tipping over and hurting me get help quick position and now I have learned the art of doing it without drama.

 

Having said that I haven't tried with the shelves in yet so will have to see when I next take the bike out.  The shelves are a bit wobbly so once I have decided their final position they will be attached to the shed and secured.  Then and only then will I consider moving a lot of the cleaning gear and tools up from the shed at the bottom of the garden which will then free it up for more garden tools and general crap.

Another one to watch out for, should be a good show

 

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/road-roacer-richard-brittons-widow-has-mixed-emotions-as-smiling-star-immortalised-in-new-film-34359188.html

anybody still riding in this horrific weather then? 

 

ice everywhere around here and keeps trying to snow. 

 

Are you all taking the car, like me, or braving it? 

Cars here :( I have nothing against riding in the snow, but last time I did so was on the Z1000SX when it was still less than 6 months old :( Roads here are bad enough in the dry let alone snow for bikes, so absolute no no!