Back on the road
Wooo! After sundry racing days and track days, and gazillions of Ks, poor old Zimmer was starting to look a bit sad. But till I took her for a warrant I didn't know the 'how sad'.
It was bad.
Front rotors? fucked. Replacement $1300 MOL. Did that.
Front calipers? Sad and in need of service. $190. Did that.
Back rotor? Fucked. Replacement $285. Did that.
Fork seals? Fucked. Replacement $148. Did that.
Now then, allow me for a moment to bring your attention to exactly 'how' these bits were.
When I last went in for a warrant it was overseen by a shithead, unfortunately employed by Henderson Yamaha. His name is Ian. At the time he gave me that warrant the rotors at both ends were fucked, in fact the rear had a crack in it.
But Ian was an employee during the transition between new owners. He knew he was going to be how shall I say, 'replaced'? So he didn't give a shit. He simply warranted Zimmer as she was. He didn't care. He didn't have to. He was simply an employee who could walk away, at any time, bereft of responsibility.
In other words, this arsehole allowed me to drive away a bike which was so fucked, as regards braking, as to be not funny.
Inevitably, he was fired.
Six months later I turned up again to get a warrant.
Gav, of Henderson Yamaha, in whom I now have absolute trust, said, ' Dave, you aren't going to like this but..... The buts are noted above.
Whereupon I asked him how it was possible that my bike could have gotten a warrant, just six months earlier, when most of what he saw before him existed at that time.
Gav is a good guy. He doesn't bullshit. He says it as it is. He apologised, asserting he came into the company at about the same time as Ian went out.
I understood that. It was about then he told me about all the bits on my bike which were fucked and that I was facing a bill of well into two grand to get a bike, probably worth two grand, back on the road, in safety.
I've grown to respect Gav's opinion. He never lets me off with a maybe. He's a fucking mad motard racer, and this man knows bikes, as opposed the the unending parade of theorists, whom have chosen to provide all manner of advice; most of which has proven to be bullshit.
BTW: This is not a sales-pitch for you all you arrive on Henderson Yamaha's doorstep, tomorrow.
This is a pitch toward you all finding bike mechanics who not only know what they're doing, but actually care about the outcome.
I've had all manner of opinion on how hard my steering should be. Brian Barnard said this...cos I asked him. Craig Shirrifs said this, cos I asked him. Sundry from bike clubs said this, because I asked them.
Then Gav said. 'You can clamp the head down if you're a cheap shit and can't afford to buy a steering damper, and then your bike will steer like shit. I just rode your bike. It steers like shit cos the head is too tight. Your bike, old as it may be, was leading technology in its time. You should be able to look into a corner and it'll follow.....If the head-pressure is right.'
'Your bike? I looked into the corner and it wanted to go the other way.'
For ages I've been pushing old Zimmer into corners, and just assumed that was what was required.
Today I let off the head-pressure to the level Gav said was right. Jesus what a difference.
So here's the moral to the story. Gav has had 25 years fixing bikes, He's a racer. He's not a car salesman, a hard-trier racer, a theorist, or an otherwise hopeful. He's just a man who knows bikes.
A little while from now four youngsters are going to take my bike out onto the track. Imagine how I and their families would feel if just one of said youngsters got terribly hurt, simply because the bike they were riding was not set up properly.
The Ian's of the world wouldn't give a shit. Gav does.
You want your bike to be truly safe, then find yourself a Gav. You want to chance your arm, get silly over small matters which 'hey' what do they matter? Then go elsewhere.
On August 30th, the kids who take out my bike, and get to enjoy the thrill of the track, will be riding on a bike which Gav says is safe.
That's good enough for me.
Only 'Now' exists in reality.
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Originally Posted by rachprice
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