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Blondie ought to co-wrecked!
 
Nice ride out round the Peaks this morning and my new chain didn't fall off. :banana:

Back in the day I only ever used split links so this was my first time ever using a riveting tool and vernier gauge.
 
I still prefer, and use, split links.
It came with a split link and I was very tempted to use it.

Two reasons I didn't -
I wanted to learn something new.
Advice on interweb is overwhelmingly in favour of rivetted links.

Thing is though, I don't remember anyone ever having a problem with split links.
 
Just to chip in here . . . I never had any issues with a split link on my Husqvarna 420cc enduro.
 
I still prefer, and use, split links.


So do I. BUT, if I was putting 150+ BHP through it rather than the 75 or so that the Bobber (and less than that for the others) puts down, I'd probably go the rivetted route.
 
Can't take a chance with my massive 47 bhp. :)

I just looked up the specs of my 1974 T140V. 52 bhp.

I wonder when the first 100 bhp road bike appeared,
 
Can't take a chance with my massive 47 bhp. :)

I just looked up the specs of my 1974 T140V. 52 bhp.

I wonder when the first 100 bhp road bike appeared,

I'd be fine with using a split on a T140. Especially a modern chain and link.

Mainstream, I think it might have been the CBX. Pretty sure that there were a couple of others shortly before but they were pretty much specials.

Can't remember what the Shovel put down but do remember that the guy who actually did the build had it dynoed. 88", lightened flywheel, b'stard great SU carb, wide open pipes... Paced at 120mph against an accurate speedo (on a closed road, obviously!!!)
 
Had my bike ceramic coated this week, apart from some stone marks in the screen it looks like a brand new bike, treated with ac50 at the same time if your close to Merseyside I can 100% recommend mirrorshine in maghull really nice fell and does an excellent job
 
New air filter and spark plugs...

1974 - 20 mins.
2024 - all f*****g day!!

Progress eh.
im dreading it when they are due on my new bike, my FZ was a good few hours to change, once you had learned the hard way that you have to drain the rad and drop it , filter wasnt bad, but my god i had to watch a youtube video and pause it bit by bit on my versys just to take one side of the panels off...never mind the ank off for the air filter and worse plugs, icould have changed the plugs on my GS1000 when i was riding the bloody thing
 
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im dreading it when they are due on my new bike, my FZ was a good few hours to change, once you had learned the hard way that you have to drain the rad and drop it , filter wasnt bad, but my god i had to watch a youtube video and pause it bit by bit on my versys just to take one side of the panels off...never mind the ank off for the air filter and worse plugs, icould have changed the plugs on my GS1000 when i was riding the bloody thing

Job done!

16000 mile service complete.
New brake pads, front and rear.
New brake fluid.
Coolant flush and replace.
New plugs.
New air filter
Oil and filter change after next ride out. I've done that before so I know it's straightforward.

One fairing locating lug snapped. Doesn't seem to make much difference but I can araldite it back on if necessary.

£500 - £600 saved.

Now It's finished I can honestly say it's not too bad as long as you accept it is what it is and it takes as long as it takes. All a bit Zen really. (There's a book about that, isn't there?)
I broke the fairing lug in a brief moment of un-chill.

Wish I had never sold my GS1000. Best bike I ever had.
 
im dreading it when they are due on my new bike, my FZ was a good few hours to change, once you had learned the hard way that you have to drain the rad and drop it , filter wasnt bad, but my god i had to watch a youtube video and pause it bit by bit on my versys just to take one side of the panels off...never mind the ank off for the air filter and worse plugs, icould have changed the plugs on my GS1000 when i was riding the bloody thing

Know what you mean on both my bikes the Z750 and Bandit 1250 changing the spark plugs is a big job , won’t be due until next year but haven’t decided whether to do it myself or get someone to do it, I’ve been doing all the other services myself but the middle spark plugs in both bikes are in a very awkward position
 
off on a solo trip round scotlands west coast for 6 days on Sunday, cant wait and im counting the days down like an excited schoolboy at christmas, mind you ive just finished sorting out and organising another 6 day trip up there with 3 mates in 3 weeks starting on the 20th july , i struggled to find a hotel on the west coast of Southern scotland for the first night that was affordable, i was getting prices of 4k a night per room, then i realised that the Open golf is on at Troon,so ive had to go further north than we normally go and have found a place half way up Loch lomond to start off, were going to include 2 nights camping up at applecross this trip so we need to pray for the weather gods to be kind to us. if you have never ridden in Scotland you really must, it trully is gods country once your past the mid levels of Glasgow/Edinburgh its spectacular, the roads are fantastic and in the main part empty of traffic for vast parts of it
 
off on a solo trip round scotlands west coast for 6 days on Sunday, cant wait and im counting the days down like an excited schoolboy at christmas, mind you ive just finished sorting out and organising another 6 day trip up there with 3 mates in 3 weeks starting on the 20th july , i struggled to find a hotel on the west coast of Southern scotland for the first night that was affordable, i was getting prices of 4k a night per room, then i realised that the Open golf is on at Troon,so ive had to go further north than we normally go and have found a place half way up Loch lomond to start off, were going to include 2 nights camping up at applecross this trip so we need to pray for the weather gods to be kind to us. if you have never ridden in Scotland you really must, it trully is gods country once your past the mid levels of Glasgow/Edinburgh its spectacular, the roads are fantastic and in the main part empty of traffic for vast parts of it
I agree Scotland is a great place to ride, we've been a few times normally take in Skye as well. Enjoy, both trips. (y)
 
I agree Scotland is a great place to ride, we've been a few times normally take in Skye as well. Enjoy, both trips. (y)
ive been round skye a couple of times in both directions and to be honest i was a bit underwhelmed, along the Quiraing was good and the crofts near flora macdonalds grave were interesting but the rest was just a bit samey as other parts and the roads busier, we will be going round it on this trip though as the lads havent been so were going to do it on day 3
 
ive been round skye a couple of times in both directions and to be honest i was a bit underwhelmed, along the Quiraing was good and the crofts near flora macdonalds grave were interesting but the rest was just a bit samey as other parts and the roads busier, we will be going round it on this trip though as the lads havent been so were going to do it on day 3
Skye for me was always more about the photography than the riding in fact last time we stayed there I parked the bike at the digs for the duration and hired a car to get around on the principle I could park it and forget it for hours while we hiked around the hills in our hiking gear. Couldn't really do that when I wa son the bike.
 
But Toni Bou passed you with a tab on!
 
Quietly pleased, got my insurance renewal today, it's almost excatly the same to the penny as last year. That'll do.
My quote came in yesterday from Carole Nash a couple of quid cheaper than last year and they have lowered my excess. I haven't checked th esmall print yet but so far so good.
 
Mine (through Carole Nash) was very close to last year's when I renewed around commercialmas.
 
Had fun trying to keep up with an old Lambretta scooter today. Turned out he'd spent a lot of money on a race tuned 250cc engine and 5 speed gearbox. It was quick.

Finally had enough of having to undo the mirrors and turn them in to get the bike in and out. Bit the bullet and ordered Doubletake folding mirrors.
 
After just getting back from a week in Scotland ( mind i just managed 4 days riding and just over 1000 miles) I'm giving the bike a good wash, cleaning and checking the chain, and my usual powder checks ready for another week up north of the border from Saturday with the lads, we've got 2 nights camping planned at applecross and the weather is looking mostly grim but there's nothing I can do about it so pack my waterproofs and go for it , can't wait , think il put my camera in a tank bag this time
 
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(It's actually rather older - first appeared in a 1918 motoring magazine.)
 
my last proper ride before surgery tuesday saw me do 262 miles round the lake district in glorious sunshine today, the hardnott/ wrynose was shut as they were doing road works on it sadly so stayed round keswick and buttermere, the honister and newland pass are great roads( mind you i might have a quick one dayer up to scotland on monday to see my mum despite it forcast p***ing down rain all day), hopefully wont be long till im back in the saddle


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All the best for next week and the recovery, Dave.

If you haven't already seen them, Allen Millyard's YouTube videos are worth wasting a few hours on.
 
Enjoy the ride there and back, as well as a few celebratory miles, maybe!!!
 
I had the same sort of mileage on one of mine last year but have made up for it (a bit!) this year. I try to rotate them a bit but keep finding myself grabbing the Bobber keys...
 
bloody lancashire council bill for 35 quid tonight when i got in, for the dastardly crime of straying into a bus lane in Preston on my bike( it was 70 quid but if you pay quick they graciously half it)...we can drive in bus lanes in Liverpool, hey ho worse things happen at sea and its only money
 
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