Selected ponderings from my life

I wanted to travel from Haumoana (outside Napier) to Palmerston Nth. A easy 2 hour trip. I have done this trip a multitude of multitude of times. There was many options of how to travel, but in my wisdom I decided to take my 65 Pan. As I had plans to ride on her to Waihi Beach to see Blacklistt and Devilskin (and one more band that escapes me) on 22 Dec I concluded that this would be a good presidents run...

The plan was to do a daylight run. My notes told me that I was to leave at 2pm and arrive at 4 - 4.30pm.

As I kicked PanGirl to life at 5pm I knew I would make it before the sun settled. After all, a bike with a small battery as there was no electric start, and a 12 volt generator was better suited for daylight riding. (As she is a classic she does not need to follow the stoopid rule of lights on 24/7).

She starts well. First kick. Yep, I be happy to have a beer on it anytime. Happily I rode towards the south. At Waipukurau the clutch was not working. But I did not consider this an issue, just a small nuicense. So I stopped for petrol.

After I had filled the tank and paid, I decided to check the clutch. I found that the whole basket was loose and hitting the cover. So, as you do, I took my tools, disassembled the trans and the clutch. I fixed the issues and then re-assembled it all, and it worked well. (This was 2 1/2 hours later and the clock was now 8.30pm and the sun was starting to hide behind the hills).

I got to Dannevirke w/o issues. (If you disregard the crappy lights and cars that were up my azz) But as I tried to change down, I found that there was no clutch. I stopped at Mobile, but was told that the lights would go out in less than one hour. I pushed my girl to Caltex. There I stripped it all again, my girl dropped to her r/h side and broke the kick start, (She was in a peed off mode. The way only girls can be) and I managed to rebuild the clutch and stop it all falling apart by using Super Glue (No idea how I will take it apart...). At 1am I asked the lady at the station to push start the bike for me (remember, I had no kick start). She had done thhis before, and I was on my way.

9 hours from leaving Haumoana I was at my destination. Not bad...

To get back I borrowed a Duke, then took the Duke back in my van and pushed PanGirl in there.




Was a brilliant day for a ride!!!!