Shadowfax-ST Blog

Banking on Barclays Motorcycles It's a shame, really. Barclays Motorcycles in Bournemouth (where I bought Dilbert from at the close of April) let me down. I can forgive that but I can't forgive their dishonesty. I phoned Colin up at the weekend to check on whether he'd remembered to send off the DVLA V5 log-book, which I knew he was awaiting off the former owner. "Yeah", he claimed, "I did that immediately; it should be with you." I called Paul at the DVLA who advised printing a V62 off their web site and attaching my V5-slip so as I wouldn't receive a charge for their service. In the post now; job done. Funny bit, though. He did quite a lot of checks for me while I waited to see whether the bike was recorded stolen, or otherwise lost, and on whether any application had been made by Barclays to record me as the new keeper. "No. NOTHING has been received", he said. Colin. All you had to do was apologise for an honest ommission or mistake; n...

Dilbert's BIG Moment Saturday. Ka chucks kids in the Lanny and I peel off behind them toward Taylors' in Droxford. I followed the guys in to Fareham but Ka opted to go through town while I went round the by-pass, easily overtaking them, needing me to wait for them off the Motorway junction. The it was off with the family in tow, my Son very excited to begin with then desperately unhappy that I didn't actually jump cars or pop wheelies. Out of Wycombe and the traffic was pretty slow but I didn't want to enter a race with Ka because she's a competitive sort and wouldn't take many prisoners from the blue-rinse mob in front of me. At the Alpha garage on the A32 a gargantuan white Yanky limo was reversing across both lanes and our traffic flow stopped to let the tarmac greedy bastard shift out the way. I qucikly passed the queue and went for a blat. In explanation, the wind was near zero so I needed to conduct another screen experiment so needed to get up some s...

Ducking the Vibes After the second commute day I decided to have a try at the tall screen that had come with Dilbert. It wasn't that I wasn't enjoying the commute - far from it - but the wind turbulence in the cool Summer breeze was just a bit much on my wrists and neck after a full week in the saddle during training. With the screen fixed on the 2nd commute evening I pulled out onto the A27/M27 and let rip for effect. The first thing I noted was that I could keep my visor up until about 40mph when cross winds ripped across my eyeballs. The second thing I noticed was how tall the screen is - the top is just on my eyeline making its refractive properties all too well marked, either driving through it or perching up out the seat to peer over it. On the sharper faster corners it was more than I really wanted to get used to. At just over 80mph, erm...70mph (not wishing to exaggerate my keeping up with the flow of Motorway traffic, Officer) it was remarkably calm behind the scr...

Getting Recovered I called Green Flag to check how much I'd be due to fork out to add Dilbert to my personal fleet of transportation vehicles. "£155 per annum", said the dude on mind-altering drugs, but if I was to contact Churchill Insurance (with whom I have the Green Flag deal pinned to my Alpha's insurance) I may get a discount. Bloody Hell! £155!! So I called Churchill Insurance and a nice lady listened to my question, took my details, and checked some thoughts with her supervisor. "That's fine." She said. "We've added a motorbike to your policy notes and there'll be no further charges". Blimey! FREE! Mind you, it's about time I had a break. Everyone else involved in this project has been out for profit from my loss (although I have good words for LS Imports).

Riding Home As soon as I left the car park I knew I was going to have a fun time. Even getting off the premises was a challenge: the roundabout was 4-lanes deep in pushy cars already, and the first set of lights before the A331 were chokka. Still, I held up other bikes even though I feel I was doing all I could on a still new-to-me machine and given the appalling driving of the ubiquitous lane-hoppers. Things were going well before I got onto the dual carriageway. The wind was in my face and Dilbert's screen just wasn't cutting through it for me. My head was getting mauled. If I wanted that sort of effect off the bike I can only imagine sticking my bonce up an elephant's arse the morning after a Vindaloo fest - an anal sphincter death grip with screams muffled by the endless turbine of turbulent phart. My speed was somewhere just below 70mph but the level of control I had to exert on Dilbert was approaching that required of a horse on roller skates startled by a yappy rat t...

Bennets Insurance Supermarket Administration Grab So, I think, " hey! I'd best let the insurance company know I passed my test " seeing as my policy was set up on my provisional licence for a month, changed out of necessity to provisional with CBT else I'd loose the deal within a month. (See previous posts). So I phoned up and informed a nice lady that I am now a qualified rider. "That'll be £25 administration fee ", she says. " Bollocks, that !" Said I. Some deals!! In the end she had to ask a supervisor to deal with me because I argued that if I had known that announcing my change in licence (in accordance with the policy's demands to give notice of any changes) would cost me £25 I wouldn't have told them until it came to re-newal. In fact, I thought I'd have had a rebate as my risk was reduced! The argument clinched it. A remark has been left on my policy notes that I have passed the test but no changes have been made to the...

The First Commute Dressed and helmeted, I eased Dilbert's choke to about 75% as I sat aside him and tip-toe reversed him back off the drive and into someones granny's path. Ooops. Mirrors on the handlebars work well for reversing; mirrors mounted on the fairing don't. Perhaps its the grannies that need fluorescent vests when out and about? Someone walking in front of them with a red flag might do it - keep 'em up to speed through "Woolies" and stop them dawdling past McDonalds on smelling the food. You know grannies can't look after themselves properly; that's why they stink of piss and they're always hungry. A solid Big Mac down the hooter would pep 'em up no end, but for their resistance to taking anything Yank in their mouths after that particular incident during the War. Still, at least they only go as fast as they can stop around corners so I only grazed her into a solid Paddington-style rueful stare. I digress. Off the pathway I pulled an...

Modifying the New PZ26 Choke Having fitted the new carb I noted the choke lever on the old carb gave a smotth up and down motion according to the choke cable but the new one had a 3-stop click to it, which the cable could not fight to return the choke to an "off" position. Bravely, your budding mechanic sat at Phut-Phut's side with a combination of the old and new carbs and worked out where the old carb's spring (which had sprung off in an ill-fated escape attempt on removing the old carb) would fit to give the required operation back to the cable. Clever me. I dry-fitted various ideas until one worked and it works flawlessly. Job done. The new carb is fitted, it works well and has alleviated the irregular running problem, and the choke works t'boot. Chuffed. And now I'm not likely to ride it much more before I sell it. :(

Preparation The morning started badly; rusty wouldn't cut it. One good news was to pick up Martin finishing his 125cc TEST: an almost clean pass with a minor for indicator over-work. It was an opportunity to drive in and (more relief) drive out of the centre. We did a live U-turn where a dust cart was blocking a road and both Duncan and I had to feet-down to make the exercise. I stumbled on a right turn and, just as the biggest artic' ate up all the road and Dave B and Duncan drove left out of its way I landed in neutral and couldn't move. I had to watch it go by the wing mirror and hope the driver noticed I hadn't cleared. By the time we stopped for a brew in Stokes Bay I was beginning to feel like a right wuss as my psyche folded in to TEST pressure. Dave B was excellent by keeping the morning calm and got us to do repeated U-turns and emergency stop for a while with only limited riding before lunch back at the Pump Room. Then we rode back in to the test centre and I ...

Triad Phut-Phut was almost a joy to ride this morning albeit the tick-over being a little quick, stating being difficult, and the clutch needing adjusting, which I had forgotten to do in good time. But, even as a first-thing ride I missed the sure-footedness of the GS500. Call me a slut, but I was looking forward to getting my leg over Bluey and turning it on; riding Phut-Phut was just an act of necessity. Duncan and Mat were already in when I tipped up just in time to grab a quick brew before Dave Baggers called for us to get our bibs on and saddle up. Dave B is my third instructor in three days. It's just another style; no problem, but it's useful getting a new opinion to balance those already delivered. We rode with Duncan to the front and Dave B behind him. I rode at the rear, which I loved as it gave me a chance to use the GS's acceleration more than I, perhaps should. My favourite bit was coming out of Collingwood toward Fareham where I kept getting left behind at the...

Pat's Mechanic Once dinner was put away and the kids were finished off I took the new carburetter out to look at how easily I might swap the two things around. It looked far too complicated, but as the bike had almost thrown me this morning trying to get in to Paragon I guessed I have not the time to get it to the guys in Droxford and would not be able to use it at all if it wasn't fixed RIGHT NOW. So I took some photos to help give me a clue later, slowly swapped pipes from old to new, and then realised the job was going to get complicated because the bugger obviously wasn't coming out of the tight spot it was in without some major re-thinking about where the tank was. So: Removed seat Removed tank (having drained the carb and the feeder pipe - and then turned the tap off Removed side-panels Half-removed and disassembled the air box Removed clutch cable and various other ties It's doesn't look so hard in that list but remember I am relying on Lego building skills o...

Seconds Duncan from Saudi completed his CBT yesterday and joined Dave and I on the 500cc sprint today. Duncan's got a hankering for a Fat Bob Harley when he's qualified; I explained about Bob having sold his Harley and defended his weight (given his age). That aside, perhaps they should meet? I started the day off riding to the school to sit around a while while Duncan became more familiar with his bike before we headed off into the town for a bit of riding out together. I was feeling a little uncertain still about the life-savers so threw them in whenever the mood struck to begin with while working hard on moving my whole head to look into each mirror every 10 to 15-seconds or whenever traffic lights or obvious hazards were closing where I might need to slow down. It soon became much easier though I still would have had trouble shaving. Once in a game-on National Speed limit zone I opened the throttle and felt the wind near blow me off (the back of Bluey). Dave's Yammy FSJ...

DAS Oh, Yes. DAS is here and it's been a stirling Day 1. Gary took me out for the day; he took me for my CBT and was a comforting voice in my ear as I trundled about on my hired Suzuki GS500 and he plodded a respectful distance behind on his ST1300 PanEuropean. A GS500 similar to my, "Bluey" The weather looked kind in the morning so I wore my liners, although I later stripped the jacket to the minimum once I started poncing about in the playground: usual circuits and handling experience. The 500 feels bigger, and is undoubtedly more powerful than Phut-Phut but didn't pull out any surprises. After a while, in fact, I found the riding position with touring-style handlebars and rear-set foot position a bit of a paradox and it ached my back toward late afternoon. It needs drops and a fairing. My first ride on the road wasn't too bad. Gary helpfully reminded me to hold a defensive road position and nagged me when I went into, "advanced riding crap" that was u...

A Verdict As written up a couple of days ago, I called LS Imports on Saturday to see if I could pop up to their stowage unit for them to look at Phut-Phut's uneven running. The fella suggested I drain the carb, first, which could remove any foreign object causing a blockage. I did this 3 times with test rides between each but the problem persisted. On calling back with the news a CDI unit was agreed to be sent. The part arrived first post on Tuesday and was a doddle to plug in under the seat, but the problem persisted. I called back and arranged to visit them in Portsmouth. Sorted, 11am today (Wednesday). The Big Day A quick but blustery trip over Portsdown Hill was only extended by trying to find Unit 11 out of over 30 units numbered without any reverence to sequality. I stumbled on the right door only when, exasperated, I'd decided to knock on every door. This was the first (provenance?). Portsdown Hill View The fella was busy dealing with a young lad with bigger eyes ...

Servicing Table: Sanya 125-11b 2008 Running In: 1st 800Km: 5000rpm max (+/-40mph) 300km Service (Initial) at 290Km Rear brake lamp (100Km!) : 12V 21/5w (Halfords 380) Spark plug change : NGK DR8EA Oil change : (Castrol 4-stroke "Power" 950ml 10-40w) Clean air filter : And oil bath Nut security : Rr shock loose RHS Chain play and lubricate : 15mm-25mm Rear brake adjust : Firmed up Jubilee-style clips : security Fuel pipe's found loose Clutch free-play : Too much, adjusted Throttle idle speed : 1400rpm to +/-900rpm Lighting and switch check : NFTR Muck-off protector : All surfaces Tyre pressures : 28psi Front, 29psi Rear Brake fluid check : Visual and function Test drive : Excellent, still uneven Running In: 800Km - 1600Km 7500rpm (+/-58mph) 1000Km Service (Second at 986Km except noted) Battery levels : All fine Cylinder nut : NOTE Exhaust bolts : Tightening necessary Air filter : Clean and oil bath Valve clearance : NOTE Spark plug : No change necessary Fuel p...

LS Imports LS Imports have had some bad review in the forums and blogs but it's not so much from their actions as their attitude. They don't have a customer service department and the frontman has missed out on charm school, but I don't judge on hear-say so I'll give them a go with an open mind. Coutesy LS Imports I called regarding the uneven running this morning. I was given two action plan options in sequence; first drain the carb to be sure there isn't a simple blockage, and second, email for a new CPU (I think that should be CDI unit, but I can get confused - either way, it's the control unit for the ignition system). Draining the carb was easy; there's a drain screw at the unit's base and a pipe drawing from it into space. I placed tin foil around the engine (as I'd just taken an hour cleaning and re-Muck-off-ing this week's miles and weather off the bike) and placed the open end of the pie in a plastic bag and turned the screw. As war...

58.9 - and a bit - and another bit - and... It took a while (in bottle) creeping through the 50's and pushing the revs envelope through 6500rpm (50-55mph)to 7100rpm. 60mph. 'Nuff said. (Mind you, cruising is 55mph because it still feels friendly) Bob and Nigel certainly gave me some confidence in the Sanya, Phut-Phut, and I think that's allowed me to ride without continually worrying whether I used the right hammer to put the wheels on straight. The other thing is just how dangerous 40mph on the A31 must have been. Now I can almost keep up with the average flow of traffic. I also feel better about filtering; having a little more engine speed to nip back in betwen the lines of just accelerating cars. This Sanya is sweet - still a little small / light for 100 miles-a-day, but sweet. The sore hands, back and knees I'll put down to age which is back at the original running in figures, but also creeping inexorably to 50 and 60...

Thumbs Up I popped in to Smartbike at Taylors Garage in Droxford where I was touting to get the Sanya's 1000km service bits done that I couldn't do myself; the camshaft chain, valve clearance, and cylinder head nut (it's on 980Km). I also asked about the (still) uneven running and the probability of this being caused by the chain, as reported at Trevor Pope's gaff. Bob and Nigel are the most enthusiastic pair of mechanics I have met - at least the most capable enthusiastic mechanics. Bob met the Sanya with a whole bundle of positive comments, which was an instant delight. He praised the price and the copy of the Japanese bikes: the fact there are two wheels, and engine that'll go on and on as long as you feed it fresh oil each 500 miles (800km). At £8.50-odd for a decent 4-stroke 10-40w that's only just over £1 per 100Km on top of fuel (working out about £4.50 per commuting day of 160Km or 100 miles). Not bad. Bob was concerned about my relating the chain bei...

Amazing I have to apologise for my bracketing other bikers into those that acknowledge me with a nod and those that recognise a Sanya when they see one and choose to look the other way. Since breaking the 50mph barrier I have learned that taking one's eyes off the twot in front can present a significant hazard to health. So to those bikers I didn't get to nod with today, sorry. I was busy with the blue-rinse mob that still drive too slowly (now I'm knocking over 50mph - in case I hadn't mentioned the fact yet) or the white-van bobs who want to drive out of junctions on biker ambush duties. All bikers are the same when I'm biking: all are charming and polite. It's nice in a way that one might even stop if I needed help; it's just a nice feeling of solidarity. I used the word, "fraternity", I think the other day. That'd about cover it. Of course, once I'm back in my Alpha tomorrow all bikers are wankers again. The Sanya needs a 1000Km o...

It's no bloody holiday At 40mph maximum (0.4Km to 800Km during running in)I felt quite exposed to other vehicles trying to pass me; the slowest was the weakest and I was near wiped off the road by selfish twots in (%&$£ing) dustcarts, trucks, and BMWs. Even the odd biker would take a snipe. Crap, at 40mph a snapping turtle stood a chance of pushing me out of the way. Overtaking was limited to two vehicles, both displaying yellow winky-pots. Now I'm able to do around the 50mph+ there's a new threat on the road; me. What is it with the dynamic of centrifugal force, sucking gravity, and tyre foot-print? I know roundabouts and knee or foot-peg scaping was kindergarten for "bikers I know", but come on! What is it with crossing the boundary from 40 to 50 that ends up making quite sedate and safe corners into nothing short of a coronary waiting to happen? The rear wheel is meant to act like a gyroscope: the faster it goes the more stabilising it gets. I don...

Welcome Facebook Friends Yeah, yeah. Blogs are boring. Half of you have bored me senseless over you blinkin' bikes and seeing as we're all over the place and unlikely to share a pint or Babysham for a while this is the only way I can return the favour. For you non-bike owners; fuel's getting sharp and it's time to shake off the cars. What can be better than getting splashed in the chest and neck with rotten pulped-with-diesel road-kill remains in the rain or splattered with exoskeletal explosions of insectile liquid nature in the good weather? Enjoy.

Breaking the 800Km Barrier The chain thing has worried me: I almost didn't ride to work today because I have a nagging doubt the chain will let me down and I'll tumble arse over foot into the path of a badger - and badgers are vicious bastards, too. One nearly wrote off the Alpha last year and ate most of its front quarter. (It won't do it again, mind). But, the morning was sunny bright and I had this strange yearning to save some dollars from getting burned in the Alpha's six pots, or going to an already rich oil nation. It costs about £12 each way now. I took the relaxed neuro route; Ka assured me if the bike broke she'd come and fetch me and I figured if I wasn't on time I wouldn't care today - I was a number of hours up on the contracted 36 last week. It was a good mindset to hit the traffic with. It was okay through the valley. In fact it was almost euphoric dancing between the shadows in the Forest glades and shooting through the tree tunnels along the...

Nodding Terms You know, these bikers aren't all the ill-disciplined illegitamate children of bovine stock I gave them up to be - at least, depending on from which direction they approach. From the rear, most sneak up on me knowing full well I can't hear above the box of nails being ground in the stone-polishing drum below my knees. Sure, I can generally catch them in the 5% of the mirrors that can see around my elbows, but that aside the general greeting from the rear is a good blat of their throttles and a short glimpse of their elegant derriers. Of course, insulting though this should be, my eternal loathing goes to those who can't be bothered to go over the white lines to make a proper over-take so I get a little cut-up in places. But then, who can blame them while I'm pootling about at just above the speed I'd expect from my old racing bike (cycle). Some bikers are still slobs From the front, you get 2 or 3 types. There are the pillion carriers who seem pret...

Sanya Good Points I like this Sanya. I know it's not really done it for me in the 40mph over 50-mile commute stakes, but let's just step back a moment and look at this thing in the round. It cost just on £700 to put on the road and it's an almost exact replica of the Suxuki EN-125 listed at £1600 (currently at Granby Motorcycles ). That's £900 cheaper. What don't you get for £900? Probably fleeced, first, and second there might be some quality differences in incidental parts like those bloody nuts that score so easily, or the Torch spark plug that was pretty close to crap, or the worst tool kit since Action Man's WW1 slick-haired engineer tipped up in my parent's garden in 1971. The guarantee may not be as robust and the general feel of the platic may be lighter - I don't know, frankly. But, when you compare the images of the EN-125 and the SY-125-11, there's not a great deal in it. There are some nice touches. I like the colour printed onto th...

New Spark of Enthusiasm The Sanya motor's unruley behaviour is listed on the Net and in the Honda Haynes manual as being for any of the following reasons: Running rich (carb) Poor sparks Drive train Fuel flow Now, I know I could go back to the distributer to get it sorted, but their on-line reputation seems somewhat sullied of late and I'm in no mood to get fobbed off by anyone suggesting the bike was not set up correctly in the first place. Also, anyone who knows me well will know I like the odd puzzle and will prat about for days trying to solve this before daring to ask anyone to help (unless you offer, guys). I've played with the carb (closely following good advice to only tweak the more accessible jet and adjust the idle speed to match) and now I've taken a trip to Trevor Pope's shop for some good advice on which plug to purchase. The factory-fitted Torch D8RC plug was described by the shop assistant with the oiliest finger nails as, " another one of tho...

I Passed The best advice on passing the Hazard Perception Test that I received was to cheat. It's not a dark secret either; it's what the "official" and less-official peripheral money-spinners to the DSA proclaim on their sites. In a few instances it is difficult to determine when a potential hazard becomes a developing hazard and therefore when the scoring window should start...This is why it is safer to click a few times as you see a hazard develop to make sure you don’t click too early and miss the opening of this window. From Theory-Test.co.uk(http://www.theory-test.co.uk/asp/hazard_perception_info.asp#tips) So, with a little practice, I learned I can click for all the hazards I want and when one developed (for which the last time I clicked too early), I just followed the general cry to keep clicking. For some of the clips I managed more than 15-flags - but I passed! Yet, when "playing the game" and genuinely trying to perceive hazards requiring action ...