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09/04/2002 Archived Entry: “Chain of Fools”
So, my bikes up and running again – thanks to some assistance from lauren (soldering the floats back onto the carb takes more than one hand if you’re not really willing to take the carb off the bike). Went out for a long ride down to Weston – and get this – the only thing that went wrong (with the bike) was a blown indicator bulb.
Astounding.
I actually had a really, really nice ride – I had lauren pillion which makes the handling “a bit hairy”, but apart from some wild zigzags at low speed I had a nice ride. Coming back was the best, just swooping along quiet A roads. Although having dropped lauren off there was a moment of terror when I rounded a corner and remembered that there’s a big dip in the road (a short section of subsidence) which is still in the corner. As the bike left the ground I thought “oh shit, I’m gonna die”. But I didn’t…..
The bike still sounds appauling, third still doesn’t work and the engine is idling too low [which lead to some ‘interesting’ moments as I was braking and keeping the throttle open (one particularly exciting moment right at the start of the journey on the steep hill coming away from my friends house)] and running too lean (fuel wise), but hey, who cares. Hopefully the journey up to Nottingham will be okay.
It’s a long way on a not previously reliable bike. Lets hope that she’s going to go with it. I think, though I’m not sure, that she’s called Claire (Short for Clairol, as in the shampoo, because she sounds like a hairdrier). I think I’m starting to get used to some of her quirks now.
Like the tendancy for the rear suspension to do “odd” things in corners. And the front suspension being so soft. And the bouncing. And the vibrations. And the fact that third will sometimes work if you get it *just* right (although you have to endure several seconds of juddering before it’ll engage properly). But still…. Anyway, you’re probably bored of my ramblings. And to be honest I should get to bed.
