Shadowfax-ST Blog

Pressure of Light John had left only moments earlier as I readied Shadowfax for our ride to Cheddar. I had to pack light; one pannier for his cover and my wet-gear, and one for some clothes to augment those already taken forward by Ka. I added my light-weight riding boots (some ex-Army desert boots) but they'd not fit in. A back-pack was elected - the first time I've had to ride with one. It was after 6pm; last light would be around 8pm, and the trip could take 2.5hrs. Shadowfax had suffered another low-battery level a night earlier on return from work in the rain. I'd commuted with his headlamps on for a couple of days through some grey stormy weather and on returning home noticed that his revs were dropping on idle with the unwanted dipping in lamp power. Something to get sorted soon; his alternator is on the return-to-base warranty and I don't know what bulbs are in place. In any case, I didn't want to ride in the dusk or dark for too long and risk loosing tracti...

Prospective Buyer John called by with his Son to view Dilbert. He's the highest bidder on ebay at £1200 and was passing through to IOW from Brighton. He climbed out of his car and eagerly greeted Dilbert who was spruced up and in pride of place on the driveway. John was very enthusiastic but struggling with whether to buy Dilbert for his PAT-Testing business or go for a more expensive Suzuki Ventura thing. Dilbert was started up. Questions were asked, and the alternative parts offered for a look-see. I had used vinyl gel (on recommendation Mike at MSG Motorcycles on buying Shadowfax) on the black internals of the panniers and confess the result was improved even on the elbow-grease and Back-to-black I'd used during my own tenure. John's a pretty big bloke returning to bikes and was aware (having had a Harley in his past) of what he needed in the way of comforts. For interest, he sat astride Shadowfax. Which would I buy? The Pan, of course, but I'm selling the Deauville ...

Dilbert's Marketing Strategy So, Dilbert cost near £1,700 and then a further £275-odd poundsto fully service and systems check for safety. He owed me close to £2k. So, there's a gambol on whether to use e-bay or autotrader, or not to sell him at all. I reckon a private sale will raise over £1,500, which will "justify" a month's rental use of him and e-bay will risk being somewhere between £1,200 and £1,400: both losses, but at least the deed gets done. It's not an easy call. I don't get much time to organise sales at the best of times and I'm still new to e-bay and the process threatens to take too much time. There again, what with work and holidays around the corner the idea of administering to wheel kickers on the phone from autotrader is just unpalatable and I'll loose my rag. E-bay it is then. A strategy - usual honesty goes without saying but if the bike goes cheap I loose all the bike and its extras, which I know to be worth something (...

Ebay Shopping I've ordered some snatty-looking pannier inner bags for Shadowfax; firstly as one of these will help carry my togs in to work, and secondly because they work out pretty reasonable being bought from USA. Others I've researched just don't have the same quality (hard-wearing) look for the price. I was particularly attracted to the option to have embroidered on them anything I might like. Of course, my "design by Pat Godfrey" logo would be great for my id, but as I couldn't send a graphic and it was text they were really offering that was not on. So, "Shadowfax" it'll be. Swish, I think, and Ka will be impressed enough to let me off my spending my pocket money on the bike (again). Possibly. Saddle bag liners from EZ Liners I've also been looking for reflective stickies for the rear of the Pan. I first fancied the swish red and yellow reflective 3M scotchbrite gadgets seen on the back of Police bikes but on consideration, turning Sh...

Deep Sighs I removed Dilbert's MRA Vario screen and attached his standard one then removed his wide panniers and put the thin ones back on him. Just moments earlier I'd run him down to the beach to take some photos for ebay and loved every centimeter! Now I returned to the beach for his photos in his selling configuration. I still find it difficult to believe how light and agile he feels now I'm more used to Shadowfax and, to be honest, he's no slouch about town, either. I parked him on the drive along-side Shadowfax and I have to say, insane as I have been to go through 3 bikes in as many months, I have enjoyed the process massively and I was proud to purvey over my fleet of white cruisers. Ebay bidding starts soon; doubtless with the recent economic slow-down accentuating the usual "something for nothing" attitude of bidders. Perhaps I should just put him in MCN or Autotrader to attract the right owner for him? He deserves only a good home and I'd be rea...

New dog; old trick I looked down at Shadowfax playing dead in the middle of Nikki's street making an arse of himself and a pillock of me. "I said, 'heel!' Not sit, beg, or freaking roll-over!" All I needed was his tail to wag and I'd have kicked him where I guess his nuts to be. Nah, really I'd jumped clear and then put my arms out in a half-hearted, "I didn't do it" manner toward Nikki now negotiating her own U-turn up the street; muttering to myself rather than remonstrating so as to limit the amount of attention the spill would draw. Ian T (fellow Pan Plodder) told me this would happen if I applied full-lock and when I applied full lock it did. It was early morning damp and I rolled back from his parking place on Nikki's driveway but, instead of following the habit of the past days in rolling onto the road, I turned Shadowfax edge-on to the drive ready to ride off it on a right out the patch. Nikki rode Left, instead though, so I slip...

Two's Up! There was a light rain and damp road with a fresh Westerly breeze; a typical British Summer green and grey day. Ka was kiting up in Nikki's black and pink jacket, some trousers, and AJ's pink emblazoned HJC IS16 helmet. Her last pillion was on the back of her brother's bike, which has left her pretty scared of the whole deal. Still, it was she who declared only days ago that she'd feel better as my pillion having followed Dilbert and I back from MSG Motorcycles last Saturday and she would never live down a refusal. "You know I haven't taken pillion since going through a gate some 17-years ago, don't you?" I asked of her as we left the house. No answer. I pushed Shadowfax back off the uneven driveway tarmac and into the road and drew him along side the curb for Ka to hop on. She put a foot on the footrest and then raised herself across the seat into position - while I fought hard to keep balance and struggled with my back straining t...

HISS Coding (again) A night of heavy rain and poor Shadowfax left outside without a cover, which is still adorning Dilbert back home. I took the spare key out to check the battery (and limit the key jangle caused when using the regular set and there was good engine turning power but no ignition. It took me a while to find the HISS red LED light stuck on and went to fetch the original key set to prove what I now feared: the spare HISS key has not been coded! Thank goodness the bugger started!

Another Biker Meet Nikki lead the way on her GPZ600 having shown off its battlescard from her spill a few weeks back; just a few mild scratches: barely a flesh wound. Lucky. I had no idea of where we started from least of where we were going but Nikki rode promptly but with some attention to convoy drills and I had little risk of loosing her where just a blip on the throttle wound Shadowfax quickly in behind her whatever the raod we were on. It was a rewarding evening ride as I get so used to having to ride A to B so any chance just to bimble for the sake of it is welcome, especially where I've had so little time for Shadowfax and I to become aquainted. Of course, Shadowfax is a bit of a lardy on the scales and I had quite a fight to get him reversed off Nikki's driveway onto the road and when we arrived at the Fox's Diner in front of all manner of bikers I made sure to give Nikki and I enough room to park only where I could ride off from. There were a few kids at the caf...

Flat So, a weekend without riding. Shadowfax sat on the drive with the steering lock applied (works on opposite lock to Dilbert's) and having had a deep clean and a moment to check on the net how to remove his panniers (for more cleaning). Then, on a Monday morning with an important meeting to prepare and buy sandwiches for (tough life being a civvy) I sat astride my steed, selected neutral, and pressed the starter button. "Chrrrkkkkk...kkk...kkk....ch". (Well, you try spelling this one, why don't you?) Anyway, no starter. As I had my ear plugs in I couldn't hear from where the noise was coming: whether starter motor - assumed attached to the engine or solenoid, assumed near the battery. On de-kitting it sounded solonoidal. I determined to find the battery. I unlocked both pannier locks and tried to lift the rear seat as I'd seen Mark do at MSG's but just couldn't shift it. Frustration. The Sun became warm and I took the jacket off. Next, I thought abo...

What's In A Name? Being a Pan I looked up the name of the mythological teacher of Pan, Apollo, and Achilles and their like and found it was Chiron (Chieron alt sp.). My Son's name is just too close and I could easily confuse us all so despite being apt (as I fancy myself a bit of a teacher and expect the Pan to teach me a thing ot two, too) it needed reconsidering. So, in the car\ on the way up to Farnborough to collect poor Dilbert from the bike shop I opened the competition up for the family to try. Silence from the back seats (watching Scoobie Doo on the TVs) but Ka chirped up, "what's the name of the white stallion in Lord of the Rings?" (Ka always admires the creature when we play the film Two Towers from the excellent Peter Jackson cinematic trilogy and as she needs apeasing somewhat for my surprise purchase of the Pan it seemed not only a good name for a white bike that goes so fast, but also a good idea to adopt it). "Shadowfax", I said, ...

And Other Expletives! I rode Dilbert through a stunning sun lit morning with just the odd fresh patch of wet road from some passing light showers along the Valley. We arrived at MSG Motorcycles in Farnborough and parked up next to the side gate. The Pan was waiting expectantly on the pavement where the sales photographs had been taken for the Autotrader. I strode in to find Mike (the owner) and Mark (the ex-owner and part-time mechanic) cleaning some blue Kawasaki ZZR 750's wheel with acid, which Mike found difficult to continue with as it burnt through his hand. We chatted. The previous visits had centred around what to expect from the Honda ST1300: a whole lot of speed (140mph was easy, Mike said) and acceleration (like a "guided missile", Mike said). I claimed the novice bit and both he and Mark were quick to point out I rode a similar machine (Dilbert) already and that as long as I respected the Pan I shouldn't have any major unplanned thrills. We even took time ...