Posts

Shadowfax's Somerset Sprint

Image
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...

Dilbert's Visitor

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 ...

E-bay

Image
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 (...

EZ-bags and Red tape

Image
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...

Dilbert's Going

Image
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...

On a Roll

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...

Loosing my Pillions Virginity

Image
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...