It was quite a nice day in Cambridgeshire today, so i actually went into the garage. It was the first time i've clapped eyes on the Triumph since the end of October i think I tried starting the old girl, but the battery was a s dead as a dodo. So, i quickly shut the garage door, and went back indoors for a beer I will remove the battery next week when i finish work :upyeah:
My garage ( not at my home but a mile away) was broken into and I found out on Friday when ,on my day off,I was going for a blast. two guys from the housing association where my bike is had just finished fixing the handle lock. The two padlocks that were securing the door were ok but the hasps that locked the door were both bent and wrecked. I went into the garage gingerly, the bike was still there. Is that a good thing or a bad thing,ie nobody would even steal it,lol. I looked for my tool chest,it was gone, so too were my two cantilever toolboxes full of stuff (I had had them since 1975) ,my two socket sets, small toolbox I used to take to work, dremel, 2 multimeters, a drill cube with hundreds of bits in to name but a few. Basically every tool I have accumulated over the last 40 years was gone forever. To say I am gutted is an understatement. I replaced the hasps and with the mrs help fitted a locking bolt to the bottom of the door . Today I managed to get another bolt and fitted that as well. It is now as secure as it could be. Now where was I? Oh yes, after getting the door sorted at last,I took the bike out for a spin,hoping the thieves had not tampered with it. Thankfully all is in order and it was fine touched.
That's a right bastard Dave. Lucky your bike wasn't touched, but to lose all that accumulated equipment. It puts my attempted breakin put into perspective. I think that it's a fair bet that most of the stolen kit will end up at car boot sales and pawn shops.
Enjoyed the ride to Chichester this afternoon. It took longer than expected so I'm staying with my daughter tonight and will head home in the morning.
I had a loose connection on the front right indicator which I've sorted Gave the bike a tick over and then decided to go out for an hour Nice day, chilly wind blast but with the right gear on it was alright
Well I'm just waiting for the rush hour to die down before I set off back home from Chichester. It's dry and mild but very windy at the moment. If the wind keeps up it will make riding interesting. My daughters just made me a full English breakfast so I will catch you all later.
I will be heading over to Triumph M40 (Hughenden) along the A40 near Oxford tomorrow (10:30) if anyone fancies meeting for a coffee, will be taking my ST3 in for an hours work? Looks like the weather will be OK
Just got back home after a great evenings ride from Chichester. I was delayed this morning when my daughter found two of the tyres flat on her car. I attempted to pump them up but found them to be slashed. I had to take them off the car and take them to the local tyre specialists. By the time they had been replaced and refitted it was lunch time. So I delayed my departure again.
Got the Triple out the garage and wheeled her in front of the house. Gave her a quick wash with the Autoglym shampoo, I didn't have time to polish or wax, but got the grime off and brought out the shine. A quick 20 min trip along the A40 and left her with the guys at M40 Triumph to service the chain adjust slider that had seized and replace the number plate light that had never worked. While in the shop, I looked at the Triumph jackets and tried a couple on, I was very tempted but while looking, I got a text from the credit card company, I have gone over my voluntary set limit! so I put the jacket back on the rail, maybe for my birthday in a couple of months. After finishing by lovely burger and coffee off in the cafe, my bike was ready, I also bought a neck Buff to replace my fleece scarf. Visited my parents in Oxford and while pulling up on their driveway, the front tyre slid out on the wet sandy/clay surface and I couldn't stop the slide, I was only able to soften the landing as the right side dropped. As I was pretty much at a standstill, luckily all that happened was the bar end mirror snapped off, I consider that a silly mistake as I hadn't judged the surface properly. So after my cuppa and piece of cake I headed back home via Hughenden M40 and they sorted me out with a replacement set of mirrors. Having the rear end sorted earlier, I noticed a big improvement with the gear selection being less clumpy, and no accidental neutrals between 1st to 2nd. The whole bike is a lot more responsive, they also serviced the rear brake caliper that had a seized pin and properly treated the chain to a coating of wax...very nice touch. Arriving home, I had a parcel delivered from Amazon, one Oxford Spider Tank Protector - not a pad but a clear plastic protector, I am just awaiting the R&G radiator cover now. Earlier in the week I had received the DNA Forensic Protector kit from Carol Nash (My new insurers as of this month - lowest quote and loads of additional extras) this kit you dab on the stuff that can help recover your bike or bits of it if it is nicked. They also have an offer on at the moment with a free pair of winter gloves! So tomorrow AM, I will give the bike another wash, but also give her a polish/wax. Then apply the DNA kit and the tank protectors. I am loving the ride my bike gives, so much torque and control. I haven't even ridden her properly yet, so as I learn more about what I can do, I will learn more what the bike can do. Roll on spring/summer.
Hi Sprintdave, just checked my emails and I had the voucher code sent to me middle of the day! Logged in and founds the glove, my size in stock too, and also good reviews. Now, I don't know if I am trying to be too clever here, but I found the same model glove but in Red, this will match my bike nicely. So I manually put this in my basket and applied the code and it accepted it, but it wasn't discounted the same way as the black glove so it left a couple of quid owing. I have paid this extra on the card though and hopefully there wont be any issue I think Carlo Nash has been a good choice so far, especially with UK based call staff. Now to plan a nice route so I can enjoy my bike. - I have the AA motorbike routes of the UK for this
went out for a ride yesterday around the Gainsborough & Market Rasen areas with a mate who was on his BMW gs1150 , we had a cuppa in a layby & then decided to swap bikes for the ride home , as neither of us have had our respective bikes for very long (ie 3-4 months) . Anyway, getting on the GS after the America felt like riding a sportsbike lol , and I couldn't hear the engine hardly at all , which suddenly felt very weird . I couldn't believe how light it felt riding it though . Took me ages to work out how to cancel the sodding indicaters (who designed that ffs) . End result for me was , yeah it was very nice & obviously does the job well & I quite liked it, but in truth it lacked character , so great for touring & going to work on but not necessarily my first choice. However, my mate Steve was totally blown away by the America . He had never ridden a cruiser style bike before (as had I before buying this) & he loved everything about it , the riding position, the sound, the thrill , the awesomeness & he was surprised at the handling. He has decided to sell his BMW & get one next year lol , in fact he texted me this morning asking if I fancied another rideout as he wanted another go on it , I'm at work though today , so I've said he can have another go after Christmas lol
I've had two very quiet days. Went to Matlock yesterday and Hereford today. Motorways today were pretty hectic, lots of numpties out there not paying attention. But good riding weather. I rode back from Hereford with the sun behind me.
Christmas dinner will be late. I have to make a mad dash to Chichester. Problems at my daughters. At least the motorways will be pretty clear.
Just got back from Chichester and about to tuck into a very late Christmas dinner. I did the run on the Trophy SE. It was very easy and relaxed. I wasn't expecting to be out on the bike today but needs must.:wink:
I was going to have a very quiet day. However my daughter had a domestic problem and needed some support. All sorted out now and I can relax until tomorrow when I am off to Southwold.:wink:
Just getting the Trophy ready for a long weekend at Southwold. The misses has already set off in the car.(She doesn't do pillion anymore). My son and I will explore some of the byways of Suffolk and Norfolk. He had a Tiger XC for Christmas.:upyeah:
