Motu
6th October 2004, 18:22
It was 5.30,daylight savings and I'm at work playing solitare cos nothing is happening on KB.One of my guys is out the back putting an engine in a car,so I figure I'll bring the Pajero around the front and start closing doors,that'll give him a hurry up eh.As I bring the Pajero around I see a GB400 parked out front - Bad Motu parks as close as he can,hoping he can knock the bike over by mistake,that'll teach him to park in my spot.I see it has a flat rear tyre,and the owner comes over...''I guess I'm looking for a miracle'' he says.
[Bad Motu] huh,you won't bloody well find one here mate.
[Good Motu] well,let's put some air in it and see what we got.5 tyre shops in the street,all shut...but I'm the only one who can do bike tyres.
I put some air in the tyre and it's going down fast,I can't see where it's coming out - finally I see it's coming out the valve stem...I can't fix that,it's going to need a tube...Have you got a new tube he says.
[Bad Motu] no...I don't stock motorcycle tubes.
[Good Motu] I might have a used one lying around,let's see what we can find...
[Bad Motu] no,look I've only got these two used ones and they're 17in,can't help you mate.
[Good Motu] I seem to remember I had an 18in somewhere,I'll dig a bit deeper - ah,found it...a new Pirelli heavy duty motocross,a bit over the top,but it'll do...
So we wheel the bike in and I set about getting the rear wheel out,put it on the machine and get the tube out.Rusted around the valve stem as I suspected.I strip the tyre for a closer look,and I'm not too happy,it's below minimum depth and has been run flat,not damaged,but has been stressed.Then I see that it's a 3.75x18,my heavy duty tube is 4.00 to 4.50,this is going to be a tight fit in the 3.75 - so I set about trying to talk the guy out of going any further,it's just a waste of labour,I may damage the tube and anyway the whole job will have to done again for the next WoF (bet he hasn't got one anyway)Finally he agrees to go to Mt Eden tonight and drop off a new tyre and tube in the morning,my mechanic is going his way,so drops him home on his way.
So a good out come for both Good Motu and Bad Motu - Bad Motu doesn't have to work too late and help someone out of a tight spot.Good Motu doesn't have to do a rough job he's not happy with,but still helps someone in trouble - and the best part is they both get to ride a GB400 tomorrow...to scrub in the tyres eh?,cause we don't want him going away with unscrubbed tyres now do we?
[Bad Motu] huh,you won't bloody well find one here mate.
[Good Motu] well,let's put some air in it and see what we got.5 tyre shops in the street,all shut...but I'm the only one who can do bike tyres.
I put some air in the tyre and it's going down fast,I can't see where it's coming out - finally I see it's coming out the valve stem...I can't fix that,it's going to need a tube...Have you got a new tube he says.
[Bad Motu] no...I don't stock motorcycle tubes.
[Good Motu] I might have a used one lying around,let's see what we can find...
[Bad Motu] no,look I've only got these two used ones and they're 17in,can't help you mate.
[Good Motu] I seem to remember I had an 18in somewhere,I'll dig a bit deeper - ah,found it...a new Pirelli heavy duty motocross,a bit over the top,but it'll do...
So we wheel the bike in and I set about getting the rear wheel out,put it on the machine and get the tube out.Rusted around the valve stem as I suspected.I strip the tyre for a closer look,and I'm not too happy,it's below minimum depth and has been run flat,not damaged,but has been stressed.Then I see that it's a 3.75x18,my heavy duty tube is 4.00 to 4.50,this is going to be a tight fit in the 3.75 - so I set about trying to talk the guy out of going any further,it's just a waste of labour,I may damage the tube and anyway the whole job will have to done again for the next WoF (bet he hasn't got one anyway)Finally he agrees to go to Mt Eden tonight and drop off a new tyre and tube in the morning,my mechanic is going his way,so drops him home on his way.
So a good out come for both Good Motu and Bad Motu - Bad Motu doesn't have to work too late and help someone out of a tight spot.Good Motu doesn't have to do a rough job he's not happy with,but still helps someone in trouble - and the best part is they both get to ride a GB400 tomorrow...to scrub in the tyres eh?,cause we don't want him going away with unscrubbed tyres now do we?