My visor and jacket got a fair spattering of bugs yesterday
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3 posts were split to a new topic: Blyton Park Track Day
Today I took my Street Triple and Helmut his Tuono and we went to the Touchdown Cafe at Wellesbourne which was absolutely packed as the Vulcan was about to do something (not sure what!!) and the The Wild Olive cafe. I then came home and Helmut headed on to work. 161 miles done for me and very similar for Helmut. We had never been the the Wild Olive before, I found it as part of my stamp - hunting for the Bike and Brew Passport and the food and coffee were excellent, I had halloumi, avocado, lettuce and tomato in a sourdough sandwich - very tasty indeed!!
No photos taken (I know…we never went!!). I realised from my log I keep today that we have both done the best part of 1000 miles this week on bikes.
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4 posts were split to a new topic: Keswick Lakes
Yesterday I set out earIy and did about 200 miles getting some stamps in my Bike and Brew Passport, meaning that I finally visited Gilks for the first time, having been meaning to for ages. I only had a coffee but it was very nice and the place seemed very friendly…you do have to negotiate a roundabout near there which does its level best to get everyone onto the M40 but thankfully managed not to get drawn in 
. I was blessed with the weather because I rode through a lot of standing water but managed to miss the rain.
After my ride I went to a friend’s BBQ at their business premises which was also lovely and then went home and watched the Moto GP 
.
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My trophy gearbox has been getting a little clunky recently, so I thought I’d best check the basics. Chain, check, gear lever, check, engine oil level, um, better drain some out. Took out around 200cc (I didn’t measure) and after a quick static test the level looked good now. Took it out and gearchange back to normal. So I’m the problem not the bike!
I do miss the dipstick of my T300 900’s, this window in the 1200 isn’t easy. After getting back from a couple of hours ride, it looks like it’s still a little over filled.
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A daft question, but are you checking it according to your handbook? I have to put it on the centre stand and leave the tractor for a few minutes after riding it to let the oil drain back to the sump before checking the sight glass. I’ve previously topped it up when cold, only to find I’d actually over filled it 
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Yep, but it’s pretty crap instructions as it goes into great detail about the 900’s with the dipstick and then adds an ambiguous bit about the oil window 1200s. Looks like I got impatient at the oil change.
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I thought I’d upload a photo of the manual just to show what I mean rather than expalin it.
So the correct level on my trophy is a line, no max, no min just a correct level! And if it goes to the top of the window (which it did this time) is it at the top (which I incorrectly thought) or has it gone over and if so by how much. As I said I miss the dipstick then I could see the exact level. This way I need a very bright LED torch otherwise you can’t even see the level. Gripe over, and breathe.
Took the trophy out today and filled up with tesco momentum 99 (plus redex) again and this time the mpg came to 45. Not bad, so 49 last fill, both well above the 40mpg I normally get. I might try and stick to this where possible.
It was warm today, 24+, and my air mesh jacket has really made a difference to riding this bike in the hot weather. Trouble is it has now highlighted my very warm legs! Perhaps it’s time to try some single layer motorcycle jeans?
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Mrs. V needed new riding boots (horse, not bike 
) so we went shopping. 120 mile round trip.in nice weather.
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Nice wind brake for the way home .
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Not a lot, as it turned out… I was going to take the Speed Triple out, but for some reason I couldn’t lower the stand fully. I had a good look and noticed this:
I apparently put the bike on the stand with the kickstand out (which is not supposed to be possible).
Nothing for it than to take the kickstand off, and refit it in folded up position.
Taking it off was easy (just one bolt), but refitting the spring was a right fecker. Hummed and hawed, and finally came up with this:
So all good now… 
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That could cause a nasty injury if it let go!
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Ran the Bonneville out to Staffordshire and delivered 50 photographic prints for our entry in the TOMCC Landmark Challenge. 106 miles and not as comfortable as our 900GT Pro!
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Absolutely! That’s why I had it wrapped in a towel, Paul… 
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Blimey, there’s one for the special tools drawer. File it in “the danger zone” 
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First ride since getting back from Spain. Nice to be on simple roads again rather than endlessly twisty mountain mountain roads. Though junctions didn’t seem simple, even after 5 hours of riding, my brain had half a second of doubt which side of road to use when pulling out of T junctions or starting off after stopping.
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A post was split to a new topic: Bike & Brew Passport Run