A step into The Darkness

**oneofsix** · 13th June 2013, 13:33

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Now that the side car battery question is settled lets press on...

The hot grips are fitted. This is a genuine first for me but thus far they seem like a bloodly good idea, especially considering that the first big test will be riding down to Christchurch weekend of 12th July for the TOMCC 20th anniversary get together.

http://tomcc.co.nz/20th-anniversary-...ns-invitation/

We will head down mid week to catch up with family but ChCh in July? Sheesh!

I am still working on a tank bag solution. The factory set up is a full cover with bag on top. I can get the cover but not the bag but surely if I can actually get the cover I can adapt a bag to it… Anyway – it’s a work in progress.

We decided to travel down a little differently this time. Rather than the usual 8am sailing we are opting for a Bluebridge crossing at 2:30 am. We have booked a cabin and apparently we can rock up at 10pm the night before and load the bike and grab some shuteye in the cabin. Turn up in Picton 6:30 or so and ride off with the whole day ahead of us. 1st stop will be breakfast some place and then away.

Saw an article on those Bluebridge sailings and thought they sounded like a good idea, Mrs wasn't as keen, and I'm the one that is the bad sailor

But when you have a 45 min ride in, have to be at the boat an hour early and want to get as far south as possible in a day, they sound like a good solution.

**Paul in NZ** · 13th June 2013, 14:32

Originally Posted by oneofsix

Saw an article on those Bluebridge sailings and thought they sounded like a good idea, Mrs wasn't as keen, and I'm the one that is the bad sailor

But when you have a 45 min ride in, have to be at the boat an hour early and want to get as far south as possible in a day, they sound like a good solution.

The cabins look nice and they have free wifi and ensuite...

http://www.bluebridge.co.nz/ferry-fa...0&%20amenities

If it converts literally hours of sitting around doing nothing into riding time its got to be a good thing...

**oneofsix** · 13th June 2013, 14:39

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

The cabins look nice and they have free wifi and ensuite...

http://www.bluebridge.co.nz/ferry-fa...0&%20amenities

If it converts literally hours of sitting around doing nothing into riding time its got to be a good thing...

Yeah the wifi should keep you busy so you don't rock the boat too much

Don't want to make the crossing too rough or they might turn back. Wifi should be safe to post on KB, check the road conditions etc just don't give in to the temptation to check your bank balance or anything stupid like that. There probably wont be much on KB at those hours so you might have to wifi some youtube, wonder how much data they allow?

**Paul in NZ** · 13th June 2013, 15:33

Originally Posted by oneofsix

Yeah the wifi should keep you busy so you don't rock the boat too much

Don't want to make the crossing too rough or they might turn back. Wifi should be safe to post on KB, check the road conditions etc just don't give in to the temptation to check your bank balance or anything stupid like that. There probably wont be much on KB at those hours so you might have to wifi some youtube, wonder how much data they allow?

Dunno but I'm hoping I will get some sleep.... So I wont be wifi ing much ;-)

I will certainly ask if Ms Vicki wants to 'rock the boat' as its traditional but certainly not reporting it here... Actually - thinking about it I certainly won't use that term either... The response will be 'are you saying I'm fat?' and the possibility of any rocking will disappear into the ether... Ah - the romance of travel...

**Big Dave** · 13th June 2013, 15:34

How TOMCC times have changed.

'A Hinckley - fuck off'.

**oneofsix** · 13th June 2013, 15:39

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Dunno but I'm hoping I will get some sleep.... So I wont be wifi ing much ;-)

I will certainly ask if Ms Vicki wants to 'rock the boat' as its traditional but certainly not reporting it here... Actually - thinking about it I certainly won't use that term either... The response will be 'are you saying I'm fat?' and the possibility of any rocking will disappear into the ether... Ah - the romance of travel...

Have a nice trip and certainly don't upset the Mrs because it will just make you miserable.

I will be interested in how those heated grips go.

**Paul in NZ** · 13th June 2013, 15:55

Originally Posted by Big Dave

How TOMCC times have changed.

'A Hinckley - fuck off'.

Yes indeed Large Dave.... Interesting how 'some' things change over the years but to provide a balanced view... The TOMCC lot were not first in the 'fuck off' stakes... Now of course there are 3 Triumph clubs with little love lost between them...

As someone on this erstwhile forum once said... "triumph riders have always been tools' I must be a double tool now...

A few years back I would not have been seen dead on a bike like the ST... But times change and sometimes people change too...

**Big Dave** · 13th June 2013, 16:08

Yeah - it's been open to all for quite a while now hey.

I always enjoyed the RAT events. Some of those early Raids shaped my time in NZ. Enduring friendships.

**merv** · 13th June 2013, 16:29

t

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

We decided to travel down a little differently this time. Rather than the usual 8am sailing we are opting for a Bluebridge crossing at 2:30 am. We have booked a cabin and apparently we can rock up at 10pm the night before and load the bike and grab some shuteye in the cabin. Turn up in Picton 6:30 or so and ride off with the whole day ahead of us. 1st stop will be breakfast some place and then away.

What a bloody good idea

. Dunno about the "rocking" they look like rather narrow single beds lol.

**Paul in NZ** · 30th June 2013, 17:53

Bah! We have been limited to short jaunts on this bike since we purchased it... Two new grand babies arriving, two new jobs, a new car for Vickster, a voluntary redundancy (yeah right) and a bunch of other stuff have taken time... Plus the weather on occasion has been VERY unreaonable requiring a few garden jobs...

However sunday was the monthly classic club ride so we thought it would be a good idea to test out Vickis new jacket and pants on the new bike....

Now the one thing on this bike thats 'worried' me is the battery. The dealer we purchased from did fess up and say the battery was flat when he tried to start it but that was likely just because the bike had sat unused.... hmmmmmm..... (he did say to contact him if this proved not to be the case and we will but not because we expect him to pay for a new one) I had the local shop fit the hot grips because I didnt have time (see above) and they said - the battery went flat but probably cos we were fucking about with the hot grips.... hmmmmmm... "Replace it says I"... Nah mate - waste of money as it charged up like a good un..... hmmmmmmm.....

Sunday of the ride - Up early - hit the gym for sunday funday and home for an early lunch - suit up and hit the road... whirrr..... clunk......

Now despite having the battery doc connected and telling me it was green for go - it was flatter than my wallet...

Feck.....

So... times ticking and rather than jump on the Trophy I decided supercheap was just up the road and.... nope.....Needed a YTX 12-BS - they only have a YTX 14-BS which is too big....

Repco has nothing... But Porirua has one... OK - lets forget the classic club and go for a drive and good to their word Repco Porirua has the right sized battery... A katana??? (eh???) "oh its made by yuasa-century the spotty faced oik tells me"... Oh kay says I - is it charged up and ready to go? "oh no - you need to slip this in and charge it" as he withdraws a pack of 6 little bottles of acid... Erm.... how do you mean 'slip it in"?'... "Oh you break the seal and drop the pack in" I point out the bottles of acid are at least 40mm taller than the battery...

"you mean I pour the acid in and charge it right"... 'Oh yeah - says the clearasil kid'

Fuck that says I "this battery lives on its side and I'm fucked if I'm trusting a clip in plastic seal to close it up..."

"Oh.... but your old battery is the same.... "

"maybe - but it looks sealed from the factory to me"

Nah - fugeddit mate - I'll order a proper battery thanks....

Fuck me - in 25 years the 40 year old bike has never failed to start or had an issue with anything electrical. Had this thing a few months and its immobilised already....

Its not off to a great start... Yeah i should have insisted on a new battery but cant help being miffed...

Day wasnt a total loss though - was in a foul mood so got the MTB's out and went and tried a track we have been a bit scared about tackling... (we are rank beginners) ha - one sweaty hour later and a few "OH FUCK" downhill bits and feeling good again - day not wasted....

**Owl** · 30th June 2013, 18:10

I'd advise you buy a Yuasa Paul! A Motobatt has more grunt (what I'm currently using), but their reliability is questionable. Mine has been fine so far.

The Sprint and Speed Triple 1050's (05-10) are under-specced and should have the YTX14-BS, but they don't. Earlier triples had the 14 and so does the latest Speed Triple.

**Paul in NZ** · 30th June 2013, 18:18

Originally Posted by Owl

I'd advise you buy a Yuasa Paul! A Motobatt has more grunt (what I'm currently using), but their reliability is questionable. Mine has been fine so far.

The Sprint and Speed Triple 1050's (05-10) are under-specced and should have the YTX14-BS, but they don't. Earlier triples had the 14 and so does the latest Speed Triple.

Thanks for that. The motobatt went well in the Moto Guzzi (which also always started btw) ;-) Got to be better than what I currently have ha ha.... I think its just the last bach which had a lot of out of box failures..

I actually measured a YTX14-BS side by side and can't see how it could fit into the battery tray? The battery fits on its side into a fitted plastic tray and its very snug in there. Its significantly taller and thus wider in the tray once on its side...

**BMWST?** · 30th June 2013, 18:48

its taken me two episodes like that to realise its just not worth F&^%$#n about with batteries on their last legs.Once they go flat by themselves in a short period they are poked.I had no end of grief with the beemer which in the end was all due to a battery like yours.Once i got a new one no issues.You cant say you werent warned !
I had similar issues with a car a few years back....new battery ,no probs.def get the bigger battery if you can fit it in their,gives you a bit more reserve withthings like heated grips!Bummer missing out on the ride tho

**Drew** · 30th June 2013, 18:56

The Motobatt in my RF, has been magic. Will start my ZX12 with easy from cold, after no use for quite some time too.

Grunty, and I love the reversible posts.