Discovered that either the shaft or bevel box is leaking into the rear hub so the back brake doesn't work :-(

I rode my bike back home from South Devon. It was great. The sun shone and lots of friendly bikers waved.

Just changed the spark plugs. Not a job i should of started at 9pm.

All were okay to get at apart from one. Too many air and fuel hoses in the way, holding the tank with one hand, and tryna get the long coil pack off with the other, whilst getting bitten to death by nats too. Didnt enjoy that :(.

A job that needed doing though!

I looked at it disparingly as I left the house to get in the car in the pouring rain,

 

ordering a new set of bars from NormanHyde perked me up though

Yesterday we went out for a 'bimble' with some of the RATS.  We often meet at The Wave which is on the aircraft viewing point at RAF Waddington (used for the Skoda meet as well) and so it was yesterday.  So with that as our starting point we headed across to Newark Air Museum to watch the Vulcan fly over on her way back to Doncaster.

 

As the RATS (Riders Association of Triumph Owners) obviously we are Triumph owners but the majority of us seem to have Tigers.  We do allow others to ride with us though because we are generous like that.   Rather nice Bonneville turned up and one of the guys has a BMW as well as a Tiger and he turned up on that but we made him park the other side of the car park.

 

 

Have just dropped mine off for its service & MOT. I can't believe I had it for 1 year.

Just ordered brake pads, £95! That is a full set though, hopefully fit them tomorrow if my mates about then get a new tyre. 

What did I do to my bike today you say? 

I woke her up from a near 4 weeks sleep! Warm, some light showers, greasy roads and bloody windy aahhhhhhhh good times Makes it feel like I am back on a powerful bike again when it's slippy out.   

Lucky you

Its been absolutly boiling here all day today. 25-27 degrees, sun beaming down, very little wind.. Lovely.

So what was i doing?

Digging up a concrete floor in somebodys kitchen and putting a new water main in from 8am until 8:30pm.

Hmm. Would of really loved to get out on the bike :(.

Lucky you

Its been absolutly boiling here all day today. 25-27 degrees, sun beaming down, very little wind.. Lovely.

So what was i doing?

Digging up a concrete floor in somebodys kitchen and putting a new water main in from 8am until 8:30pm.

Hmm. Would of really loved to get out on the bike :(.

 

Was about 24/25 here at peak. I got to work just after 5am and got out of the green goddess and it was already flipping warm. So alien for here lol. Forecast was rain today but it didn't until after I got back from work (really gutted as I haven't taken the bike in yet. To be fair I am in 2 minds about ridding in on the early shifts, the stuff I see on the roads in the mornings is scary. An artic today barrelling across the entire road without slowing or stopping at a roundabout which was blind for the turn this morning in my path would have been the end of the Octy if I was 5 seconds earlier and not hyper miling the life out of it... Mixing retards like that with bikes....... and average speed of other cars I see is around 90mph which I wouldn't be doing on the bike on a commute as I like my shiny clean licence too much. 

Was about 24/25 here at peak. I got to work just after 5am and got out of the green goddess and it was already flipping warm. So alien for here lol. Forecast was rain today but it didn't until after I got back from work (really gutted as I haven't taken the bike in yet. To be fair I am in 2 minds about ridding in on the early shifts, the stuff I see on the roads in the mornings is scary. An artic today barrelling across the entire road without slowing or stopping at a roundabout which was blind for the turn this morning in my path would have been the end of the Octy if I was 5 seconds earlier and not hyper miling the life out of it... Mixing retards like that with bikes....... and average speed of other cars I see is around 90mph which I wouldn't be doing on the bike on a commute as I like my shiny clean licence too much.

Gotta say. Just seen on facebook a few local mates have recorded 30-32 degrees on their car outside air temps today! Madness!!

Hmm could do without that mate. I guess cos theres less traffic around, theyre assuming nobody will be at the junction? But you just cant do that can you. Some day theyll kill someone. Be careful out there buddy!!

As I worked both Saturday and Sunday, I've had yesterday and today off.

What better weather to go for a ride.

Yesterday was spent bimbling around the B roads of Nth Herts and today it was the A413 to Buckingham, then to Stony Stratford, Bicester and Thame.

That's another 300 miles on the clock and a good test of the HG Coolblack gear.

It does what it says. Even in 30* plus I was comfortable.

Its a shame it's back to work tomorrow though. Boo hiss :(

Difficult to get Hein Gericke gear these days.  We did have a shop in Lincoln but it closed when all the others did.  I won't buy clothing on line due to the added expense and hassle of returning it.  Need some new boots but haven't found the inclination to go looking for them.  Bike clothing is really difficult to get right. 

 

Am thinking of going out for a bimble today but I know it will be blooming hot when we stop so just taking on some water while I think about it.

Gotta say. Just seen on facebook a few local mates have recorded 30-32 degrees on their car outside air temps today! Madness!!

Hmm could do without that mate. I guess cos theres less traffic around, theyre assuming nobody will be at the junction? But you just cant do that can you. Some day theyll kill someone. Be careful out there buddy!!

They do kill themselves and others on a semi frequent basis in the early hours driving like ****s. Here is a recent ish non fatal example of mother trucker vs mother trucker. The irony of where the truck ends up speaks for itself.

 

http://www.demotix.com/news/6939881/lorry-crashes-graveyard-county-tyrone-northern-ireland

 

This is a massive company and their fleet of lorries can be seen all over the place. I have been overtaken by them many times while doing 60mph and even when doing 70 on motorways. I have never seen one travelling at or below 56mph EVER in my life, yet nothing is ever done. But that's pretty standard with the haulage industry here, by no means just them. 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/338907-the-briskoda-drive-recorder-video-footage-thread-part-2/?p=4301055

 

Posted video there of why I would be a little apprehensive commuting here. Bad enough the rest of the day tbh lol 

Fitted 2 new dampers to my YBR, it failed its MOT due to inadequate damping at the rear.

Did nothing to the bike, but I did get a new visor and sunvisor through the post.

How much for a Schuberth C3 fit!!!

90 quid!

Off out today on it to met up with some of the RATS and we are off to a funeral.  On our local RAT facebook group someone posted a link from the daughter of a 56 year old biker who was knocked off his bike by a car driver and sadly died.  She said that her Dad had often said that at his funeral he would love it if the hearse was followed by loads of bikers.  So it looks like loads are going to do just that.  Didn't know him and I don't think any of our group did but we thought it only right that we should help the daughter to give him a good send off.

Rode to work today. A nice sunny but reasonably cool ride in. Think I'm going to melt going home in my leathers later  :sun:

Lovely day for the bike today. Suns out, not too warm and with a nice breeze.

Yup. Working again. Gutted.

Back from the funeral and there must have been in excess of 150 bikes of all sorts escorting the hearse into Boston.  All the junctions were blocked off by bikers so the convoy could keep together and there was not a sign of bad temper from any of the scores of motorists that we held up on our way.  I think the convoy carried on for at least a 1/4 of a mile and the 10 mile journey took almost an hour.

 

It was very moving especially when we were all waiting in the village hall car park in Stickney and the son and daughter of the guy (Dave Cook) came out and thanked us all for attending.  Lots of people came out to see the convoy roll steadily past and whilst it is always sad to lose a fellow biker I think he was done proud by his family for arranging it all and I felt privileged to be part of it.

 

RIP Dave Cook.

 

 

http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Pictures-Hundreds-bikers-descend-Lincolnshire/story-26827827-detail/story.html#2

Back from the funeral and there must have been in excess of 150 bikes of all sorts escorting the hearse into Boston. All the junctions were blocked off by bikers so the convoy could keep together and there was not a sign of bad temper from any of the scores of motorists that we held up on our way. I think the convoy carried on for at least a 1/4 of a mile and the 10 mile journey took almost an hour.

It was very moving especially when we were all waiting in the village hall car park in Stickney and the son and daughter of the guy (Dave Cook) came out and thanked us all for attending. Lots of people came out to see the convoy roll steadily past and whilst it is always sad to lose a fellow biker I think he was done proud by his family for arranging it all and I felt privileged to be part of it.

RIP Dave Cook.

11226190_10152926523342765_5318902957032595539_n.jpg

http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Pictures-Hundreds-bikers-descend-Lincolnshire/story-26827827-detail/story.html#2

Very good of you all to do that. A good job well done!

Id like something similar for mine tbh.

Rode to Shrewsbury for a bike service. Hissing down with rain...................keeps one's attention firmly fixed on riding smoothly.

Good service from Shrewsbury Honda too.

Actually got around to spending some time cleaning it!  I tend to give it a quick hose down and rub dry with a microfibre cloth on the paintwork and that is it.  So yesterday I decided to take the belly pan fairing off as it was minging.  Gave it a good wash and clean with plastic cleaner and whilst I was down there I noticed that the offside fog light had paint flaking off it and the alloy was corroding.  So rubbed it down and painted it with the only black paint I had which was for plastic but as the lamp has a plastic finish I thought it would have to do for now.

 

I also noticed that the horn was rusting so it can be replaced because it is crap anyway.  Not too sure about the roar of a Tiger more the squeak of a mouse and I seriously think that if anyone in a car had the stereo on at anything like normal level they wouldn't hear the horn.

 

Then I noticed that the exhaust header pipes are discoloured and looking pretty disgusting.  Nothing to clean them with so today I went an bought some Solvo Autosol.  First time I have used that in years and it still works.  Hard work but they look far better for it.  I shall have to keep a closer eye on them in future.  Also cleaned the can with it as well and it took off the little marks that have been on it for ages and it looks like new now.

 

While I was mucking about with the down pipes I noticed that the radiator is looking a bit stone chipped and fly swamped as well.  So bought a rad cove off fleabay for it that should protect it from further damage and hopefully smarten it all up a bit as well.

 

Then I have been rained off again!  Oh in case some of you are thinking you have read this before you have.  I posted here http://www.briskoda.net/forums /topic/362374-bike-cleaning-kit/#entry4305663  but decided it would better in here rather than hijack the other thread.  Mind you see the downpipes on the bike in the picture in that thread made me wonder if it was ever ridden.    Then it shamed me into cleaning mine.

 

I did manage to get a bit of hard wax applied to the paintwork under the cover of a patio brolly before rain stopped play entirely and it actually looks quite shiny now.

 

So all in all a good bit has been done but loads more needs to be done.  I have to say that the finish on the Triumph Tiger Explorer is not as good as I would have liked and certainly not as good as the Honda VFR 800 I had before.  OK I bought it second hand and it had been ridden when I got it as opposed to cleaned and in all weathers as well judging by the mileage.  Nevertheless I think a 63 plate bike should still look pretty good without corrosion showing of fixtures and fittings.

 

I am not going to return to the ride it in the sunshine sort of biker and if it rains it will still get used but a bit of better workmanship from the manufacturer would make life easier.

I broke part of it fixing another part      Who needs indicators dipped/high beam switch, high beam flasher, a horn or control of a manual choke anyway?