A picture a day... biker banter (Vol 6)

[podman]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Paul-d0z1r said:

Chris Dabbs, a mate from my teens, sometimes a fellow courier, occasionally a demo or stunt rider for Which Bike magazine, always an amusing and genuine guy. Rest in peace.

Chris, I and then editor Colin Schiller's girlfriend for April 1983 Which Bike centrefold.

I can remember that centre spread like it was yesterday, after missing out the change in the learner laws by a few months from 250's to 125's I had a grudging interest in the then new 125's.

I read every test on every sports 125 in every publication at the time, I decided to buy a tatty 100 and do my test on that. After passing I had a lot of Yamaha 2 strokes from the RD250/400's, LC 250/350, YPVS then the RD 500, my first 4 stroke was a year old Exup at 23 years old in 1991.

Colin Schiller was a name from my youth too, all those Fast Bikes Video's with Shakey and Co were great, at the time if you had a Motorcycle nearly everyone would have known all the names of the testers in all the publications, they were our "Rock Stars".

Great photo .

Similar memories unlocked here as well, absolutely loved reading WB back in the day and in awe of Chris Dabbs on the front cover, remember the Bimota shot very vividly and Roger Willis always getting in the dung with the manufacturers ...

RIP Chris...

[Biker's Nemesis]

podman said:

I take it no lip on the seal so its a straightforward replacement mate?

Yep, Ross is going to clean up the face and replace the seal when it arrives. (I had to leave the bike there as it was leaking quite badly or I would have fitted it myself)

[catso]

Biker's Nemesis said:

catso said:

Certainly never seen this and really unlucky but I had a similar (if less serious) strange episode with a small stone - it got stuck inside the underneath of the starter button (it's hollow on the downward face) so that the button wouldn't push in. Obviously no real damage as easily removed (once found) but who'd have thought it?

Krikkit said:

Wow that's incredible! Has there been some road dressing near you? Could it be they've used a particular size of aggregate and it's just small enough compared to the old stuff?

There are a lot of badly filled potholes everywhere around here, It maybe is coming from these. (I am not basing that on factual evidence though).

Agreed, the bit of gravel in my switch was definitely coated with the sticky black stuff. Also had a similar incident many years ago on a car where a sticky stone got stuck between the brake disc and the cover plate, causing an unholy screeching noise...

[Condi]

Fitted one of these....



To one of these....



and OMG!! what a difference! It now feels like the bike it should have been from the factory. Starts easier, the throttle response at lower revs is unrecognisable, the idle is smoother, power delivery is more linear, but best of all it feels predictable, and biggest place I've noticed that is through the corners. It is just so much more planted and the weight is exactly where you expect it to be instead of occasionally being unsettled when the bike was hunting. Wish I'd done it 10 years ago when I bought the damm thing.

[leggly]

The quietest A road in the country.

[the-norseman]

leggly said:

The quietest A road in the country.

Definitely the opposite of the journey I've done today, went from MK to Bike Shed via the M1.

[gareth_r]

Put a few miles on the Himalayan today, and this P51 was parked at Cotswold Airport when I stopped for a coffee on the way home.

[bgunn]

Today was collection day, sad to see the ‘Blade go, it was an absolute joy over the four years I owned it. Delighted with the 848 though, much more comfortable than I expected.

Previous owner must have barely got past about 5 degrees of lean, the tyres are incredibly squared off and original 2010 items, so I’m glad it didn’t rain on the way home! Can you guess what my first purchase will be.

Closely followed by a smaller front sprocket, as the thing is comically highly geared for the road…

[Krikkit]

Very nice, congrats! Bet it'll feel like a new bike with those two done

[bgunn]

It’s already pretty nice: the journey home put more miles on it than it’s had in a couple of years! 4200 miles on it, clearly an object of desire for the previous owner who bought it and hardly used it!

[Krikkit]

bgunn said:

It’s already pretty nice: the journey home put more miles on it than it’s had in a couple of years! 4200 miles on it, clearly an object of desire for the previous owner who bought it and hardly used it!

I'm sure it's lovely but the difference of squared old tyres to lovely new ones is fabulous.

My Monster had 1796 miles with the original tyres when I bought it, same as your 848 I think it just sat in someone's conservatory.

[bgunn]

Yeah I agree, it feels decidedly horrible at all speeds!

Currently thinking Bridgestone S23s for it, they seem to come out well in tests.

[Essarell]

The good weather continues, beautiful today in Weardale:

[tvrolet]

Fortifications de Vauban apparently… somewhere in the Pyrenees.

[the-norseman]

Took myself down to Bike Shed yesterday was an experience riding in London, place was busy but not super busy.



I'd defiantly go back but with a group next time for the social side.

Edited by the-norseman on Sunday 2nd June 14:44

[Hungrymc]

Little ride around Warwickshire today. Stopped at The Piston Club for a cold drink. Really nice day out on the big old thing.

[podman]

Out and about on the LC today…beautiful day out, hope we all got to enjoy it.

[podman]

gareth_r said:

Put a few miles on the Himalayan today, and this P51 was parked at Cotswold Airport when I stopped for a coffee on the way home.

…what a fantastic looking machine..

[gareth_r]

podman said:

gareth_r said:

Put a few miles on the Himalayan today, and this P51 was parked at Cotswold Airport when I stopped for a coffee on the way home.

…what a fantastic looking machine..

It's a 2-seater, and there was a 2-seat Spitfire parked next to it (obscured by a light aircraft, so no pic).

The Mustang: https://www.aircraftrestorationcompany.com/p51-mus...

The Spitfire: https://flyaspitfire.com/spitfire-flights-cotswold...

[conkerman]

Mrs C passed her test last week and we went out for a spin (first time riding her new bike).