PirateJafa
6th July 2008, 21:34
After nearly four months off the road after a nasty highside, I'd been given the all-clear to ride from the men in funny coats. Excellent! I think to myself. After all, I had bought a 1978 Yamaha RD250E (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=74574) a month previously. So with the help of Ixion yesterday, we complete the last repair - fixing the impossible clutch, and the bike is finally ready to run.
Luckily I have a mate who is a complete tool, so he pops down from Orewa to give me a lift from my humble abode in Albany, down to Mt Eden where the bike has been for the last week, to ride her home.
Get geared up, (Took a while since my arm doesn't really bend) and hop on the RD. Ooooooh yes she starts instantly and runs like the little beauty she is. Head for the motorway north. Cruise over the Harbour Bridge, enjoying the kick of the powerband on a 350cc power-valveless bike, and all is going fine until just before of Northcote Rd offramp.
Clunk. Not the best sound one might wish to hear on a bike. Revs instantly drop off, and then the engine cuts out once they hit around 2,000RPM. At the first clunk I had whipped the clutch in and started making my way across the three lanes of traffic to the shoulder.
Okay, time to troubleshoot. Electrics appear to work. Bike changes down into neutral, yes. Bike kicks over, yes. Bike kicks over slightly easier than normal? Maybe it is just my imagination. Either way, I'm getting no love here.
Mate eventually gets back. Okay, lets head up to my flat, and grab my tools and my car with the towbar. Just about to pull out onto the motorway when suddenly I see red'n blue behind us. Surely that was not a pang of a guilty conscience? No, not me. Honest.
The charming policeman takes down my details and the bike's details, so that any passing rozzer doesn't think she's been crashed (then magically stood up again by herself?) and start looking for a rider in the bushes.
Head off to steal the Dilworth trailer, and dig some trenches in the school grass. Had to empty it of mulch first (although I suppose it could have stopped the bikes rolling around?), then off to rescue the bike. Get a txt on the Harbour Bridge from a friend - oh dear, good thing we brought extra strops!
Pull the spark plugs. Right cylinder is beautiful - not too light, and not too dark. Perfect. Left cylinder - has been knocked in and is covered in a rock-solid grey stuff. Not good. Prognosis is currently that she's holed a piston. Load her up and we're off out west.
[censored]
Cruise back to Mt Eden from Great North Rd, and unload the bikes right back where the RD had just left that morning. Oh dear - deja vu is kicking in now.
Result of the day? I rode 13 kilometres, and enjoyed every single one. Good thing too because it looks like they're the only k's I'll be putting on the bike for a while! :(
Dang it is good to be back on two wheels. :rockon:
(Edit: although the car looks nearly ready to pull a wheelie with all the bikes on the trailer)
Luckily I have a mate who is a complete tool, so he pops down from Orewa to give me a lift from my humble abode in Albany, down to Mt Eden where the bike has been for the last week, to ride her home.
Get geared up, (Took a while since my arm doesn't really bend) and hop on the RD. Ooooooh yes she starts instantly and runs like the little beauty she is. Head for the motorway north. Cruise over the Harbour Bridge, enjoying the kick of the powerband on a 350cc power-valveless bike, and all is going fine until just before of Northcote Rd offramp.
Clunk. Not the best sound one might wish to hear on a bike. Revs instantly drop off, and then the engine cuts out once they hit around 2,000RPM. At the first clunk I had whipped the clutch in and started making my way across the three lanes of traffic to the shoulder.
Okay, time to troubleshoot. Electrics appear to work. Bike changes down into neutral, yes. Bike kicks over, yes. Bike kicks over slightly easier than normal? Maybe it is just my imagination. Either way, I'm getting no love here.
Mate eventually gets back. Okay, lets head up to my flat, and grab my tools and my car with the towbar. Just about to pull out onto the motorway when suddenly I see red'n blue behind us. Surely that was not a pang of a guilty conscience? No, not me. Honest.
The charming policeman takes down my details and the bike's details, so that any passing rozzer doesn't think she's been crashed (then magically stood up again by herself?) and start looking for a rider in the bushes.
Head off to steal the Dilworth trailer, and dig some trenches in the school grass. Had to empty it of mulch first (although I suppose it could have stopped the bikes rolling around?), then off to rescue the bike. Get a txt on the Harbour Bridge from a friend - oh dear, good thing we brought extra strops!
Pull the spark plugs. Right cylinder is beautiful - not too light, and not too dark. Perfect. Left cylinder - has been knocked in and is covered in a rock-solid grey stuff. Not good. Prognosis is currently that she's holed a piston. Load her up and we're off out west.
[censored]
Cruise back to Mt Eden from Great North Rd, and unload the bikes right back where the RD had just left that morning. Oh dear - deja vu is kicking in now.
Result of the day? I rode 13 kilometres, and enjoyed every single one. Good thing too because it looks like they're the only k's I'll be putting on the bike for a while! :(
Dang it is good to be back on two wheels. :rockon:
(Edit: although the car looks nearly ready to pull a wheelie with all the bikes on the trailer)