Off Road Bike Show 2021

 

Off Road Bike Show 2021.

 

This Kempton Park show brings us up to date but in the preceding week was quite busy with visits from the grandchildren over the weekend and our son’s birthday on the Monday and a visit to Whitewebbs Museum on Tuesday with George coming along. The visit was to ask about doing a curry event there with a view to promoting Gita’ cuisine. As usual things have to go to committee and we have to wait for a response. The gem of the day were the deliveries of two famous sports cars, both having been driven by the late Sterling Moss, the Cooper T51 and Connaught ASLR. Beautifully turned out they will make an impressive display. Don’t delay as they are only stabled at the museum over this winter and will be gone in the spring when the new season of classic racing begins.

This week has deteriorated into colds and nasty coughs for both of us. Problems with the show as two of the exhibitors had become ill and would not be there. Plan B was put into action by Janet and backups were substituted to keep the display up to par. I was not too bad on Thursday as I got bits ready for the show finding all the ratchet straps, bungey cords the things that hold the bike to the trailer. The car had a wash and polish, the LE had a wash and polish and a start up.  Friday I was not feeling quite so good with a streaming nose as I assembled the trailer. I managed to get the LE on the trailer on my own and successfully strapped it down. Trailer board lights worked and I was ready to go. Things were stable on the trailer and I was making steady progress to Kempton Park. That is until I got to Feltham and the engine died. I pushed of the road on to a wide pavement in front of a Florist where removed the pilot jet to find it was clean and the fuel pipe for blockages which had a lot of pressure inside it. Adjacent to the fuel pipe is a built in fuel filter in the carburettor which I removed and refitted and lo we were mobile again. It was not long before I was on the allocated stand with the LE waiting for reinforcements to arrive. It did not take long to create the scene with our back drop being a large picture of an open road. The remaining bikes would be arriving tomorrow as there was no more for me to do I went off home not feeling well.

Janet on Friday

Saturday dawned but I missed it. I messaged Janet that I would be late getting to the show. The reply was gratifying but I would have to go at some time to pick up the LE. The thought of not going out almost made me stay at home. I felt a little better and made my way to the show. I did not expect it but when I arrived I was bombarded with questions about the LE not only from club members but visitors as well. It made it worth all the effort. Seeing my travels on the big screen made it an impressive stand at the show.

The Gang

 

As I had been absent the bike information had not been displayed or the voting for the best stand so we didn’t win any prizes as the judges were not able to judge us. I don’t know if the effort generated any new members but it seemed everyone enjoyed the event and want to do another one. That would be the Southern Classic Show in May. Something to look forward to.

 

More of November 2021.

 

It is cold and showery out there, I’ve been trying to connect my Honor 7 phone to the PC and it won’t connect. Hi-Suit has gone so far beyond my phone software it will no longer connect because my phone is too old. If I ignore Hi-Suit I can get in. Advancements that don’t include legacy software are a retrograde step especially when I’ve had it for only 4years. I’m not a consumer sort of person.

Sadly Valentino Rossi has had his time in MotoGP and I have followed MotoGP and later him for much of his career. When I received a book “Never say Never” by Nick Harris for my Birthday in September it took me some time to work my way through it. Only because I need to set time aside to read it. I have numerous magazines and journals to get through each month having a lengthy read needs to be planned as I am on permanent holiday  and busier than ever in retirement. I did manage to read it and it was not so much a biography by Nick but a history of events that I had seen through his commentary. Events that reminded me that I had seen most of them in real time and could repaint the picture in my mind as I read his words and bringing back the emotions I felt at the time. In his words it felt like it was my words he was using to describe what was going on. I’m not sure everyone would enjoy it but I thought it was well written and conveyed the tragedies and success over the years.

When I finished the book I had completed other projects one was interesting and that was how to construct a replacement plastic nut on the Kiddo tricycle that spares were no longer available for. I thought about machining something but how do you make the right thread that fits?  The answer came from my friend Bob in that don’t do it; in his experience he suggested casting it with araldite. That might be difficult in that the epoxy resin will stick to things that you don’t want it to.  I ended up with using glassfibre resin, a little matting and filler to cast a new nut in a plaster mould. It wasn’t tidy but did the job and now I have made two so I have the original as a pattern.

While I had the glassfibre handy I did a few bits of repair and filling on the van body and well as wiring in the fuel tank sender unit completing the wiring for the back half of the van and joining up the cab to the rear. My compliments to Westgate composites who did the repairs to the van body for me and Cotswold Classics for the renovation of the cab with many modifications because the two halves became a perfect union when they came together. So close a fit there is no daylight between the joint.

Having got bigger tyres the wheel cover did not fit so well and needed a bit of modification which was done over an afternoon with Gita’s sewing expertise and I learned a bit about a sewing machines mechanics when it jammed up. On more sewing I have been trying to get a cover made for the trailer without much success so in the depths of my garage I had an old cover which I recovered the elastic from and material from a gazebo. We now have a made to measure cover.  

It may not seem a big deal but our folding camping table needed a repair. It is one of those that has an elasticated cord running through it. It had broken and I made a quick repair by tying the broken ends together losing some of the spacers in the process. It was a bit loose and sloppy so I found some replacement bungee cord on the internet and replaced it. Sounds simple but threading 3mm cord through a 3mm hole has its challenges when it has to pass through a narrow box section. Job completed with the aid of some garden wire. Now it snaps open like Arkwrights till. My next project is to make a larger wooden table top for it in ply so it is long enough to get your legs properly under the table. While I was searching for the bungee cord I bought a double length table which was on offer for when we have family gatherings and a catering sized double burner cooker that I will need a transit box for. I have also had a hair cut and no longer feel like an aging rock star. I did get to a Classic Moped AGM with its traditional ride out and it was great to see some very good examples of what people went to work on in the fifties. Included with the Mopeds at Peace Haven Farm near Oxford were a Honda  Benly, Velocette LE, BSA Bantam, a James  and a Corgi.

November Update

 

November Update.

 

I was hoping there would be more interesting things to write about but there have been a number of little jobs I have done in between news of more van parts. Highlight was last weekend when Louis Barbour sent me a short video of the transmission working in his test vehicle. 

I got on with fitting a new rocker box gasket to the Toyota so that the plugs were no longer drowning in oil. It had to be taxed and not sold as planned as there is little choice in my price range as ULEZ to the North Circular has been introduced and made second hand cars more expensive. If I have to go into that area I’ll do it the bike for which I do not pay. Another gripe to add to my list is E10 fuel. I don’t agree with the action or the philosophy of replacing one hydrocarbon for another that has inferior combustion power. Petrol has a combustion power that ethanol does not have. Have you tried the flaming Christmas pudding spectacle? You have to warm up the brandy quite a bit before it will ignite and burn with a nice blue flame and you can eat it afterwards. I would recommend not to cremate your Christmas pud with petrol, especially in a confined space. This lack of oomph from the ethanol side of fuel does not do well in your engine. Older ones suffer because your octane level is lower, pinking, poor tickover, lack of power and so many miles to the gallon less and you are paying for it! More fuel used at even higher prices. I have now stopped using E10 in the Toyota because it doesn’t tick over smoothly anymore. We don’t know anymore what you are filling your tank with. How are the suppliers allowed to give you this rubbish? Even a loaf of bread has its’ standards. I, being an anorak with some things, record fuel usage on everything, except the Toyota (Gita’s car), and can tell you the difference in the fuels use between fill ups even on E5 petrol versus premium there is a difference. On the Buell it is 3mpg which works out at 6%. The government information says 1 to 3% so when E10 came along what do you think will happen to your fuel consumption? Going to be 10% less miles to the tank full. Makes a complete mockery of manufacturers figures.

November is a good month for MOT’s, the Toyota and a bit later the El Cid. Last year I had the advisory of king pins and front tyres needing to be replaced. For this year I greased the king pins and moved the tyres to the back of the car. Still the kingpins had too much wear and now the rear tyres are an advisory. No fooling these guys. I have been using the Chinese tyres, the cheapest I could get as the tracking on the El Cid tends to wear the outside of the front tyres and repeated tracking adjustments resolved this problem and the tyres have worn evenly for the first time since 1997. I have to get new tyres so I took an offer of  a set of 5 new Toyo tyres from ECAS. Those who know they are 135 against normal 2CV of 125 a slightly bigger tyre and will replace the Chinese ones after I have used every ounce of legal tread. Having got the new tyres I went to get two fitted, the spare and a new rim for when I need to use them. The big problem is balancing. The place I used to use has changed their machine and are no longer able to balance three stud disc wheels. Disaster. Does anyone know where I can get them balanced?

I have signed up the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club for the Kempton Park Off Road bike show on December 4^th. I will be taking my LE. Normally I would be riding it, but as it will be December and it gets dark before the show ends it will be trailered. Checking the trailer over the wheel bearings were a bit rough. After nearly 40 years on the same abused bearing it was time to give them some tlc. I finally obtained some of the correct size after returning the first lot ordered. The problem that one company had different widths for the same bearing number.  Being Imperial taper rollers some were measuring the outer race width and some the inner race width. I could only measure the inner race on my trailer and the outer race on the replace bearings without damaging the packaging. It was not until I removed the outer race from the hub could I compare like for like. Trailer Tek were very helpful in resolving this issue. 

While waiting for the post and we had some fine weather I set about making the trailer more versatile. For a bike trailer it is Harley sized 500kg and very long. Held together by one big bolt and a plate I could easily re-drill holes for new positions. I now have the potential to shorten the trailer to 4ft by 3ft box length, or a small bike length or full size. It took about a week to measure, check, clean and paint before a final assembly and back into storage until December.

October 2021

 

October 2021

 

Another month gone and heading for winter with doom and gloom on the horizon and reading the attest issue of Road magazine I feel the British government is totally against motorcycles and motorcyclists even the great Khan doesn’t want us around the streets of London. I have not been able to buy a newer car and still have the ULEZ non-compliant 2005 Toyota that refuses to die and so will have to pay the toll until there is a suitable car that I want to buy. I refuse to buy a new car. One that is already made will do. I want to do my bit for the environment. A new car just adds to the misery, in fact new anything. I am not a consumer but a recycler and keep things going as long as I can. That doesn’t help the economy but it does help me. September through to October has been plagued will ill health for me and for Gita. We could do with feeling well again. Even so things are filling the time, with MOT’s for the Toyota and the Burton. Both got through OK.

I have discovered small cracks in part of the hard top that I have filled with paint for the time being to keep the weather out but will need a full repair at some point. I went to a glassfibre specialist for a repair in the gel coat to find out what could be done but the out-come was not as expected. The repair would need reinforcing the structure before sorting out the gel coat with the potential of having a difference in the pigment so the best course of action at this time was to do nothing until it gets worse. A cosmetic approach would be temporary, papering over the cracks as it were.  After removing the rear of the hard top I had to refit it unrepaired.

There were more successful jobs completed during the month like building a transport box for my catering size gas three ring burner. I had most of the bits in my garage and only needed to buy a bit more plywood and a piano hinge. It is almost entirely glued together as you can see it required allot of clamping. I am now on a project to provide a catering set up when camping and now have bought a double burner to cook properly, camping stoves are not man enough for my “Master Chef”, I am working on a transport box for that one too. All this was brought about by a leak in the forty year old camping stove that still gives good service once I fitted a new pipe.

 

Catering aside I have fired up the LE and the Valiant so I know they still run. The Valiant had not been run since the beginning of the first lockdown so I had a look inside the carbs to discover the horrors of modern fuel. It was a bit furry inside and the gaskets of the float chamber had gone to powder and now I have to get some new gaskets for the Amal carbs. 

I managed to reassemble the carbs and now you can hear it running. I have fitted a newer top to the carb if the El Cid as I could smell petrol. It seeped form the choke butterfly spindle bearing and left a residue on the top of the carburettor, not much but noticeable. 

 I had been out on the Buell to the LE bike club night and when putting the bike in the garage the rear brake gave a squeal of protest. This meant a disassembly and replacement of all the rubbers and calliper piston to cure it. The piston, although not stuck, was not operating as it should and not fully releasing the brake pads and rubbed a little. Hence the sound. Last on the list of things was my bike trailer. It has done no miles since mid 2019, not turned a wheel. I thought I should at least check it. It was a mucky disassembly but nothing wrong that I could see although one bearing is a bit rough they had plenty of grease in them only needing some fresh grease before being put back together. I think I shall need it for the Off Road Bike Show on 4th December at Kempton Park.

2CV 24 Hours at Snetterton

 

Snetterton  2CV 24 Hours

 

Just when we were allowed out I thought it would be nice to go somewhere for the August Bank Holiday.  Silverstone and MotoGP was a possibility but it was too close to camp overnight but too far to travel each morning. Being a fan of MotoGP I would want to be there for the practices and qualifying as well but getting through the traffic would be a nightmare. I noticed a car show for the Bank Holiday with the Citroen Car Club and signed up for that instead. It would be within the track at Snetterton so I could show the car and watch the race at the same time, when signing up I was asked to bring the Burton for the display. The plan was set, off to Snetterton on the Friday, camp and be home late on Sunday as there was another meeting on the Monday that we had to vacate the grounds for. I dropped the cat in the cattery had lunch and headed for Norfolk. Travelling in pleasant sunshine progress was good until the M25 where it was a wall to wall procession at slow speeds. This did not change on the M11 and A11. I must admit I have not seen levels of traffic this dense for so long. Our journey time was predicted to be 2 hours 10 minutes according to Google but ended up over 4 hours. Google lies. When we did arrive there was no one at the entrance to check us in and went on to camp next to a Dianne in the public camping area after a drive around the field and a chat with the Marshall post about what to do. We set up camp but needed a hammer to drive the pegs in beyond the stones that was borrowed from a Dianne van owner across the field that had come to look at the Burton. From the moment we arrived there was interest in the Burton. We watched some of the practice sessions before setting about the evening meal. It was a bit slow to reheat but not too bad. Our neighbours were Alex and Sylvia and their children and were going to be a significant part our weekend. It was cold and windy the North wind coming in off the North Sea is a challenge for those who like it warm bringing out the brandy for internal warmth. It was good to be eating one of Gita’s curries to keep the chill out. We had an early night to keep warm but not before ten as the practice session did not finish till then.

I was up early and off to the circuit office to get an update on the display we had booked for. To my surprise they knew nothing about it but as an alternative there was a parade lap for Citroens and the assembly was an eleven. I agreed to take part and signed the necessary document.  I relayed this back to as many of the 2CV people I had met. When Gita surfaced we set about breakfast. Rain kept threatening but didn’t come too much. Breakfast of bacon, sausage and eggs was a good start and we only had just finished when there was the call to assemble for the parade. Not being that quick we ended up near the back of the line. We were approached individually for the collection of £10, for charity to be in the parade. No one objected as would you not give £10 to have three laps of Snetterton? On the dot of eleven thirty the procession moved off. If you didn’t slow down for the corners it was quite entertaining but on the straights it was quite slow. It was over all too soon and when parked up next to the tent there was a procession of people coming to see the car. The rain came again and this time it stayed. We took shelter with our neighbours and as the rain became heavier so did the consumption of brandy (medicinal purposes to keep out the cold). In the next two hours our neighbours had become friends. The sun had come out to dry the track just in time for the start of the race.

Picture by David Barry

We watched the cars go to the line and the start then went off for a mug of tea the wandered around the track at various vantage points to see the action and take photos and the odd video.

I took a few photos in daylight of 2CVs drifting around Murrays and Coram in the dark. The night was noisy and I tried to sleep but awoke to silence as there were no cars racing for a while. I later found out that there was a gap in proceeding because a 2CV had emptied its crankcase contents on the track and racing was stopped while the mess was cleaned up. The racing had resumed and they were still at it in the morning each car separated by a respectful distance with eight hours to go. The night shift had finished and the next shift was about to get going with fresh intentions of getting ahead of the cars they had followed during the night. Time for breakfast, which was a lengthy affair a there was little gas pressure for the stove due to a cracked pipe and everything took so long to heat up. Breakfast concluded we packed everything in the car ready for a quick exit after the race and moved it to where lots of other 2CVs had lined up near Murrays. We met up with Alex and Sylvia there and Alex gave us some Citroen centenary tee shirts by Polydeus.

 Alex does them so if you are looking for a bespoke design he is someone to contact. From there we watched the last few laps and car number 97 finish winner of the 2CV race. We joined everyone in the winner’s enclosure taking photos of the teams.  We said our goodbyes and went off home, the traffic being much better at that time of the day.

Test ride on a Zero DS

 

An Electric Test Ride.

 

After a whizz around the car park at the Wey Valley meeting I had in mind of testing an electric bike with Gita on the back. I needed an MOT for the Kawasaki and as Jack Lilley’s had moved to Byfleet and renamed West London Triumph I booked one in For Tuesday lunch time. Byfleet is only a couple of miles from Addlestone and I booked a test ride for after lunch. We had a good ride out, cool to start but warmed up as the day went on. You could see the Triumph sign from the road but it proved a challenge to get to in the trading estate. Some of the old faces populated the new premises even the man who did the MOT commented that the Kawasaki suspension bush had play in it. It had been like that for the last four MOTs but it was no worse than at the last MOT was his comment. Perhaps I should replace it before it gets a fail. MOT gained we went off to Clifton Nurseries, Woburn Hill, Addlestone to see Sparkmotos for the test ride. I had booked the Zero DS. It is the 44kw unrestricted model. The performance would be equivalent to the Kawasaki at about 70bhp. We arrived a little after one and I met up with Conor again. He looked up my blog and was pleased to see what I had written. Paperwork was completed and the DS was wheeled outside. 

There was a few minutes of familiarisation before we were on our way. Our departure was filmed as we exited the car park. With Gita on the back it felt we were on holiday ready to begin a long journey. Straight away I felt at home on the bike well balanced two up and heavy enough to be stable. At the junction with the main road I was a little reluctant to pull out into traffic. I had no idea of the acceleration so didn’t risk anything. It was in Eco mode and did not pull away quickly. I was told that I would be out of Eco mode by the end of the road. In seconds I toggled the switch to find Sport and found the performance I wanted. Negotiating the roundabouts to get beyond St Peter’s Hospital then taking the first left to Chobham on nice country roads I could explore the bike’s characteristics a bit more. As I had experienced before it does not freewheel so you keep the power on until you want to stop. This is because the slowing down phase is used for energy regeneration. The amount regenerated can be customised from nothing, freewheel, to maximum which mega engine braking. It is odd because petrol engines have their own characters so you learn to ride with what you’ve got but being able to modify it to suit yourself is a whole different world. I still keep searching for a clutch as you pull to a standstill. The transmission just disengages before you stop and something that is strange to me. Pulling away is effortless and progressive the first part of the throttle opening takes up the drive gently and once moving the power is progressively delivered. There is no switch to surprise you but the acceleration is like that delivered by the ER6F from 7 to 10,000rpm. It is quick but not abrupt. I was not able to explore the performance beyond what I could do on a single lane road. The handling inspired confidence and I liked the ride and riding position. Two up the forks did bottom out a couple of times over rough sections so perhaps the travel needs to be a bit longer not firmer as the ride was quite comfortable so did not need firmer springs. I prefer bikes with suspension that works rather than the very hard found on sports bikes that rattle your fillings and send shock waves through your spine. Riding around via Chobham and back to Addlestone in traffic was very manageable as I got used to the lack of clutch. I gave Gita a smooth ride on the back and she liked our trip out allot. All in all it was a very manageable motorcycle well balanced with a weight of 185kg the same as the Kawasaki so it was nice to be able to have something to compare it by. It is undoubtedly something for the future and the drive is in that direction but I feel it is not quite yet for me. Range anxiety is my concern with around 120 miles before a recharge that takes about one and a half hours that is if you can somewhere to charge it is not so bad but I think a range of 300 miles would make me happier and I am told that increased range is on the way as battery technology improves.

As this week progressed I get around to more jobs at home. The first thing was to get some replacement gas cylinders to complete the welding of plant pot frames that are mounted below window baskets at the back of the house. Due to shortage of drivers and hence deliveries there were none at my local supplier but I found some in Twickenham. I was about to head off in the El Cid, but it would not start so I had to use the Toyota instead. When I got home I started work on the El Cid. The starting problem was that the carburettor was receiving no fuel. Fuel coming through but not getting into the float chamber. It turned that the float was not operating as it should and its pivot had become lose in the aluminium clasps that hold it in position. Once crimped up and firm the float worked properly and fuel supply restored. After that job I worked on the Buell fitting a sprung jockey wheel assembly to the belt drive. I had been getting chatter on the belt and this is caused by worn out jockey wheel bearings. In the morning I got a replacement set from Snobbs at Hanger Lane and fitted them in the afternoon. A bright yellow spring is the evidence and the belt tension looks to be OK but not as tight as it had been in the past. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes as this mechanism is supposed to improve belt and wheel bearing life.

Thursday and Friday I work on the plant pot shelves.I wanted them to be robust so I used the same thickness steel that is in the window basket. By Saturday they had been completed, painted and fitted. Gita’s garden is rearranged yet again making another incredibly colourful display.

First Wey Valley Observed Sunday

 

First Wey Valley Observed Sunday.

 

It is called the First because it is the first official gathering of the club since March 2020. It was great to see people in the flesh and we  have all suffered from the enforced incarceration by restrictions imposed up till now. We have all become a little older, greyer, heavier but no less enthusiastic to be out on our bikes again after so long. It was a day to remember not only to refresh acquaintances and meet new faces but it turned out to be an electric day.

I had planned to be at our new venue, the Cobham Village Hall by nine in the morning to help out with the shop but a very late night with friends had slowed my morning progress and I was about forty minutes late. When I arrive at an observe Sunday I usually take a few photos to commemorate the day and this was an exceptional day. The car park/bike park was full to overflowing and so was the overflow parking area. It was double parking everywhere. There were a few electric bikes in one corner and there were offers of test rides during the day. I was a bit behind and not quite ready for a new experience and carried on to the shop.

Rob who manages the shop was there with some books and tee shirts laid out on one corner of the stage. It was the first time of doing it at Cobham and things need to be worked out on where the shop area needs to be located and what to display. I felt refreshed after a mug of tea and a sausage sandwich and talking to people. There was more food to come with a hog roast at lunch time. The pairings had mostly been organised on line so there was none of traditional pairings announcements only a few things from our new Chairman. New recruits were sent off for briefing and the hall quickly cleared as observer and associates when to their bikes for their sessions. Gita was to arrive about twelve so there was about an hour and a half to wait for those on observed runs to return. I went to move the Buell to the main parking area. It was the only bike remaining there. To get there I went by the electric bikes and was drawn into the conversation of how they work. I explained some of my reservations of the lack of clutch, the riding style or the correct gear for the speed and manoeuvre and range anxiety. The challenge was to try one and then make an assessment. Take one for a ride. They were all made by Zero. Four types of sports bikes and one dual purpose. 

The sports bikes weighed in around 210kg and the dual purpose in at 185kg. I did a quick spin around the car park and found it strange as there was quite a long movement on the twist grip before anything happened. The uptake was gentle and progressive. It was not like the switch I had half been expecting but then I was not giving a handful. It was a pussy cat. The take up was smooth and manageable with feet up as soon as I was moving. I needed to turn it around. It did not freewheel but slowly ground to a halt mid turn. I wanted a clutch to do that. Try that again, keep a little throttle on to keep the momentum and I managed an ungainly turn. 

I would have to learn some new techniques for this type of bike. To make a turn or any slow speed manoeuvre throttle in slight excess and control the speed on the back brake so it does not get away from you. Talking to Conor of Spark Motos www.Sparkmotos.com I declined a ride out then as I wanted Gita to come with me on a proper ride another day. Conor was kind enough to take a video of me going around the car park. I did this after collecting the Buell from the other parking area. I’ll book a proper test ride soon and will let you know how it goes.