Staticam
1st June 2009, 20:45
Hello there,
What follows is my lengthy intro to this forum...
Free bike – A colleague at work offered me his ’96 Cagiva River 600. He no longer rides it and thought I might like it. Well yeah sure! It just needed a new battery and front fork seals, easy. Persuaded by a fellow Kiwibiker “get your licence and do the Burt Munroe ride this year” I set forth...
As I’ve only got my learner licence, I applied for an exemption. The bike is only 34hp and is in the learner class in the UK and AU - I thought I’d have to ask. I studied up on the Acts and got assistance from the Community Law Society and tried to apply all that I’d learnt. Nothing doing was the answer. “The only exemption given to the 250 rule is if one is physically too large.” I argued the case that if I were to eat lots of pies or get a bone stretching job this would endanger my health and safety, the very rules I was trying to comply with. Still the answer is “No.” Ok, I’ll continue trying to get insurance on a friends bike... “Oh, you’re having difficulties sorting that out, that’s an extenuating circumstance. Based on the length of time you’ve held a learners licence, I’m sure we can grant an exemption for you to go for your restricted.” Ah, because I have so much experience perhaps you could allow me to go straight for a full licence? “Ok, we’ll give you a one week exemption and consent to the full test.” Hurrah! Small bloody miracles!
20 odd years ago I bought a used GN250 and got my learners licence. About a year later circumstances changed, I moved, sold the bike and went back transporting myself via various cars ... and for a short stint, my brothers GSX550F. Time then for new gear... except, I had to wait one whole week till the helmet I chose turned up. :slap:
I got the insurance sorted and started riding the same weekend a southerly front came in. Cold, wet and gale force wind warnings (so bad they cancelled some ferry sailings), just perfect. Four days later those seals I replaced crapped out. I ripped the forks off and took them to the bike shop. Then I called the Agency and asked if I can postpone the test? “No. Not without cancelling and repaying the fee.” OK never mind, I should be right.
On the day of the test - going to work in rush hour traffic - the clutch packed up. Brilliant, that’s what I need now! The handle pulled the cable, the cable moved the lever, but no clutch. Abandoning the bike I got a lift to work. Called the Agency again - Please can I get a postponement? “Well we shouldn’t, but because you asked already and you’re having a real bad time of it, we’ll make a special exception. We’ll shift the test two weeks on and adjust the exemption.” Yes! Les at the agency is my new best friend!
Dragging the bike home, I went past the bike shop and asked their opinion. “Yep, it looks like something internal is broken, pull the case off and have a look.” So I did. Everything checked out ok. The rod pushed the clutch pack, so what then!?! Back track, the lever wasn’t moving far enough. The cable had stretched but not quite broken. I rushed back to the shop to buy a new cable inner and end fittings, got back home and start reassembly. It seems I was a little over exuberant doing up the clutch pack because just about where I figured I should stop, there was a “tink” sound and I’ve got the head of a bolt in the socket. Oh crap. Actually my garage got very noisy about then, while I was thinking crap, that’s not what I was saying. The neighbours would probably agree.
Fortunately I managed to get the broken bit of bolt out of the clutch cage. I’ve asked my engineer brother to tap the holes a bit deeper and I’ll put in some longer bolts.
Hopefully I should be back on the road in a few days. I’m sure the saga will continue.
So far this free bike has cost just short of $2,600 (that’s everything excluding petrol).
The other bike, also free :2thumbsup
A couple years ago an ex colleague gave me his gold ’74 Yamaha DT100. He knew I had a predilection for things mechanical and a shed to keep them in. The bike is all original and at 3,300mls it’s nearly up to its fourth service. He bought it from Maxey’s in Bolder, Omaha then took it to Hong Kong and finally got it back over here, last registered in NZ ’86. I ride it round the paddock and up to the neighbours place a few times, just to keep it active. I’m also trying to encourage my son to ride it. He was going well until he had an incident with the garden shrubbery. It’s a pity it’s no longer registered, but the cost to redo it is prohibitive. Other than having the usual 20 year shed stored patina, the only real thing that’s wrong with it is the front forks. The chrome is shot. Has anybody got a usable donate-able/cheap pair of replacements?
Cost to date on this free-be; air filter, points, battery, light bulbs and oil, about $100.
I’m still a major tin top fan and mostly a fair weather rider. Before you gripe about my partiality for cars, I’m one of those that sees you splitting and gives you room. Don’t forget to wave :wavey:
What follows is my lengthy intro to this forum...
Free bike – A colleague at work offered me his ’96 Cagiva River 600. He no longer rides it and thought I might like it. Well yeah sure! It just needed a new battery and front fork seals, easy. Persuaded by a fellow Kiwibiker “get your licence and do the Burt Munroe ride this year” I set forth...
As I’ve only got my learner licence, I applied for an exemption. The bike is only 34hp and is in the learner class in the UK and AU - I thought I’d have to ask. I studied up on the Acts and got assistance from the Community Law Society and tried to apply all that I’d learnt. Nothing doing was the answer. “The only exemption given to the 250 rule is if one is physically too large.” I argued the case that if I were to eat lots of pies or get a bone stretching job this would endanger my health and safety, the very rules I was trying to comply with. Still the answer is “No.” Ok, I’ll continue trying to get insurance on a friends bike... “Oh, you’re having difficulties sorting that out, that’s an extenuating circumstance. Based on the length of time you’ve held a learners licence, I’m sure we can grant an exemption for you to go for your restricted.” Ah, because I have so much experience perhaps you could allow me to go straight for a full licence? “Ok, we’ll give you a one week exemption and consent to the full test.” Hurrah! Small bloody miracles!
20 odd years ago I bought a used GN250 and got my learners licence. About a year later circumstances changed, I moved, sold the bike and went back transporting myself via various cars ... and for a short stint, my brothers GSX550F. Time then for new gear... except, I had to wait one whole week till the helmet I chose turned up. :slap:
I got the insurance sorted and started riding the same weekend a southerly front came in. Cold, wet and gale force wind warnings (so bad they cancelled some ferry sailings), just perfect. Four days later those seals I replaced crapped out. I ripped the forks off and took them to the bike shop. Then I called the Agency and asked if I can postpone the test? “No. Not without cancelling and repaying the fee.” OK never mind, I should be right.
On the day of the test - going to work in rush hour traffic - the clutch packed up. Brilliant, that’s what I need now! The handle pulled the cable, the cable moved the lever, but no clutch. Abandoning the bike I got a lift to work. Called the Agency again - Please can I get a postponement? “Well we shouldn’t, but because you asked already and you’re having a real bad time of it, we’ll make a special exception. We’ll shift the test two weeks on and adjust the exemption.” Yes! Les at the agency is my new best friend!
Dragging the bike home, I went past the bike shop and asked their opinion. “Yep, it looks like something internal is broken, pull the case off and have a look.” So I did. Everything checked out ok. The rod pushed the clutch pack, so what then!?! Back track, the lever wasn’t moving far enough. The cable had stretched but not quite broken. I rushed back to the shop to buy a new cable inner and end fittings, got back home and start reassembly. It seems I was a little over exuberant doing up the clutch pack because just about where I figured I should stop, there was a “tink” sound and I’ve got the head of a bolt in the socket. Oh crap. Actually my garage got very noisy about then, while I was thinking crap, that’s not what I was saying. The neighbours would probably agree.
Fortunately I managed to get the broken bit of bolt out of the clutch cage. I’ve asked my engineer brother to tap the holes a bit deeper and I’ll put in some longer bolts.
Hopefully I should be back on the road in a few days. I’m sure the saga will continue.
So far this free bike has cost just short of $2,600 (that’s everything excluding petrol).
The other bike, also free :2thumbsup
A couple years ago an ex colleague gave me his gold ’74 Yamaha DT100. He knew I had a predilection for things mechanical and a shed to keep them in. The bike is all original and at 3,300mls it’s nearly up to its fourth service. He bought it from Maxey’s in Bolder, Omaha then took it to Hong Kong and finally got it back over here, last registered in NZ ’86. I ride it round the paddock and up to the neighbours place a few times, just to keep it active. I’m also trying to encourage my son to ride it. He was going well until he had an incident with the garden shrubbery. It’s a pity it’s no longer registered, but the cost to redo it is prohibitive. Other than having the usual 20 year shed stored patina, the only real thing that’s wrong with it is the front forks. The chrome is shot. Has anybody got a usable donate-able/cheap pair of replacements?
Cost to date on this free-be; air filter, points, battery, light bulbs and oil, about $100.
I’m still a major tin top fan and mostly a fair weather rider. Before you gripe about my partiality for cars, I’m one of those that sees you splitting and gives you room. Don’t forget to wave :wavey: