I guess when I was on good money I used to pay others to do it because a) they were better than me and because I didn't have the time working shifts.

Would I like to be able to do more? No not really I am happy riding them and am lucky to be in a position where I can let others get their hands mucky.

It's not about the money. I enjoy doing it (and don't trust dealers to give a toss about caring for my bike properly). I wouldn't want to spend all my days working on dirty old ****ters, scooters or crap like that, but I enjoy working on my own bikes and will happily spend many hours in the garage maintaining, modifying or just tinkering, and get satisfaction from a job well done. Standing back and looking at my finished immaculate Bandit was hugely satisfying, given the proper job I'd done of crashing it. Possibly even more so with the silver and candy red one, even though it wasn't mine. It was an absolute piece of **** when I started on it, a total wreck, and it was a bit of a nightmare stripping it, but the rebuild was a pleasure, and the sense of satisfaction looking at the finished stunning bike was huge (and also when several people said it was the nicest Bandit they'd ever seen), and it rode like a brand new bike. About 230 hours work, but the result was worth it. Just a shame that I was daft enough to do it for somebody who was such a horrible c***, rather than doing it to my own Bandit (which by that time was crash damaged again). Hindsight is always 20/20 though...

Edited 4 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

What qualification do you get at the end mate? Is it starting on a level 1 course?

What qualification do you get at the end mate? Is it starting on a level 1 course?

No, it's a level two course, one year, one day a week. A fair bit of it will be stuff I can already do, but hopefully get plenty of new skills and knowledge from it too - things like engine internals (deepest I've been with that myself is removing and replacing a cylinder head) and electrics (where my knowledge is basic). The qualification board is ABC - I was going to do the City & Guilds level 2, but there was no funding available for that one. Maybe I'll do the C&G level three after this one, that's the highest one.

Edited 4 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

No, it's a level two course, one year, one day a week. A fair bit of it will be stuff I can already do, but hopefully get plenty of new skills and knowledge from it too. The qualification board is ABC - I was going to do the City & Guilds level 2, but there was no funding available for that one. Maybe I'll do the C&G level three after this one, that's the highest one.

Good.

I once did a level 1 joinery course before i started plumbing (which i started on a level 2 due to employment) and it was literally like 'this is a chisel' 'this is a tenon saw'.

It was so simple and basic, it was pretty retarded and boring for anybody with a single brain cell.

I dont think youd enjoy being introduced to a spanner all over again

I dont think youd enjoy being introduced to a spanner all over again

I've met a few in my time, lol.

We had a plumber out today. £40 for half an hour's work. Maybe I should do that instead.

Edited 4 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

I've met a few in my time, lol.

We had a plumber out today. £40 for half an hour's work. Maybe I should do that instead.

People say that.

Until i explain everything we have to pay for.

It isnt what it seems on the face of it..

Well the plumber only does half an hour because he is on here the other half!

Shoulda known youd chime in

The joys of the mobile app.. It takes 2 seconds .

People say that.

Until i explain everything we have to pay for.

It isnt what it seems on the face of it..

I know. It was tongue in cheek

I know. It was tongue in cheek

Sorry, ive just had it off a few smart arse customers before... It really winds me up when they start that one haha

Shoulda known youd chime in

The joys of the mobile app.. It takes 2 seconds .

You wasn't taken by surprise then!

 

I think 2 seconds is a gross underestimation.  I bet you don't do that when you are pricing jobs.    Mind you I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to do it on the mobile because I only use mine as a phone.  Old you see.

You wasn't taken by surprise then!

I think 2 seconds is a gross underestimation. I bet you don't do that when you are pricing jobs. Mind you I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to do it on the mobile because I only use mine as a phone. Old you see.

Maybe 4 seconds then .

Nothing that slows me down between jobs anyway

Ooh. See. I dont have to fire the computer up and wait for windows to load

Ah I see I didn't realise your computer was coal powered!  Maybe quicker to use your phone then.

Ah I see I didn't realise your computer was coal powered! Maybe quicker to use your phone then.

Isnt everything thats windows?

Or so it seems

Edited 5 September, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

So back on topic for a while.  In answer to the question 'What did you do to your bike today?' Answer...ignored it!  We are going to a classic car and bike show at Sleaford and would have gone on the bike except the wife's sister is here from Guernsey and wants to go with is so three on a bike is a tight fit.  Not too sure what the classics will be but I will take some piccies and put them up here later if anyone gives a monkeys.

 

Mind you the wind is biting here today and the temperature not even 60 degrees so the car will be warmer.  Was out on it yesterday for the first time in a week had to nip into Grimsby to get the medication for the dog from the vets.  Quick call to Morrisons get something for tea that only just fitted on the top box and then back home.  Great to be out on it, on my own for a change which although I enjoy the wife being out with me it is nice to be solo occasionally.  Great to hear the exhaust on the over run popping away and just good to be able to use the throttle instead of a pedal to press.  Biking I love it!

60 degrees?

Are you still in farenheit Mr Wright?

Ill pass you over the paper and zimmer frame in a mo.. .

But yeah.. On topic.. Im gonna wash mine.. Inspect the rear tyre (im in 2 minds weather its got a 1000 miles in it or not :/), nip to the bank on it, and hopefully have a ride out with a few mates abit later on.

Had to drop over to a supplier yesterday afternoon so decided to bike it over.

Thank god I did, traffic was a nightmare. Drivers thought they were playing gran turismo. Crazy.

Off to a big country fair today, check out some livestock were thinking of buying.

RODE IT 

 

WOOOOOOHOOOO

 

dragged it out after work for a hour still surprised by the power of it coming out of corners on one wheel (by accident) > (In 3rd)

 

Yeah Fahrenheit because I can relate to it.  For example I know 21c is 70f and I know roughly to convert you double c and add between 28 and 30 and that gives you f but the weather app I use is set to f just to save me from having to use my brain too much.

 

Can't stand cheeky kids! :no:

RODE IT 

 

WOOOOOOHOOOO

 

dragged it out after work for a hour still surprised by the power of it coming out of corners on one wheel (by accident) > (In 3rd)

 

 

+1 here but out for a few hours, now the county is quiet again  :cocktail: been trapped in my cage for too long with just about every road getting tar & chipping in a short period.... Most roads now signed off again, but some are still friggin dangerous months later.... 

Yeah Fahrenheit because I can relate to it. For example I know 21c is 70f and I know roughly to convert you double c and add between 28 and 30 and that gives you f but the weather app I use is set to f just to save me from having to use my brain too much.

Can't stand cheeky kids! :no:

I was only kiddin fella.

Gotta take it if youre giving it mate (:

To much tension in here I'm all relaxed from riding my bike :/

To much tension in here I'm all relaxed from riding my bike :/

No tention at all (:

I had a nice ride on mine earlier too (:

3 of us went for a spin across Snake Pass.

5 bikes undercut us at the traffic lights in Glossop though, fine i thought, aslong as they arent slow. Yup. You guessed it. They held us up for a good 15 minutes on the nice but of the road.

Still enjoyed it though (:

After having a brown trousers moment last weekend in the wet coming out of Silverstone and a very uninspiring ride in the damp this morning I decided to change my OEM Bridgestone tyres as they gave me no confidence in wet & damp conditions.

 

 

 

Michelin Pilot Road 4's  

Edited 5 September, 201510 yr by BlueMonster

Theyre the tyre mate! Theyre brill.

Ive just priced up a set n it came in at £260 fitted at my local bike shop. So i just replaced the back. Maybe ill take the hit next time round.

Mind me asking what you payed?