drewpy

if you look at the "flag" it can never be right unless you flip it over

was going to go back that way, but it was getting dark and was safer on the motorway

had to wash my bikes twice Tommy, couldn't belieive how dirty it was. Literaly 1 cm of crud sitting on the bike. horn's stopped working again i'm thinking button now, but the weather stopped play. Still managed to work out why the rear brake was crap, I had a sticking piston, so freed that up and nice to see stainless pistons in there too. rear brakes work now. checked front pads and they are really low, so ordered XBK5 Carbone Lorraine Front Brake Pads, never heard of them but come recommended and at £60 for the front, they better be. Also ordered a fenda extenda as the crud was all over the downpipes and we had a concerned investigation when smoke was pouring from the engine and it turned out to be horse crap burning.

aldi have got tap and die sets in, they are not the very best but they always have a thread guage in there and they are good for chasing threads after painting etc https://www.aldi.co.uk/34-piece-tap-%26-die-set/p/093869111217400

what was even better, tommy and I took our bikes as the weather was great. It was getting dark on the way home so we went via the M6 and as usual there were 2 crashes. We filtered through for 10 miles some cars pulled over, some deliberatly made it harder but we were patient and got through ok. It was cold anyway and relived the bordom of motorway traffic. TDM's like oil but mine settled down 1/2 way on the view level and stayed there as I was getting a bit paranoid about it.

Had a blast today, rode 100 miles to New inn first for a meet up and scram, then off to the factory at Castle Donington. Their factory is MIA offices and still is, so its a bit sureal as the carpets are still down and staff look like they just mill around not looking very busy. What a great job. we went round the assembly area and was told they are gearing up for the new V4 Norton raod bikes which they hope to make 3k per year. looks like the old twin may be making way as they are also doing a twin version by keeping just the from 2 front cylinders to make a 650cc bike. We got taken to the frame factory but were banned from taking any photos as the new V4 was in pre-production. here's the photos pre production american bike from the previous owners, aparently the internals are missing or made of wood Aprilia V4 in a rotary spondon chassis, the very 1st foray in to the V4 as far back as 2010 Cam donald's V4, he didn't get on with it 007 bike 1 of 2, Aston MArtin paid 10k to have their cars on James Bond films The new V4 prototype road version 1 of 2 Race bikes, starting from the 1st to the recent My TDM at Norton, they use TDM 850 clutch plates bought from yamaha. They wouldn't give me any

i think they are illegal unless they have self leveling. Although on a bike you'll get away with it. The other issue is the focal length is different for Xenons. I got an osram night breaker and there is a big difference over standard lamps

using a shock from a different bike won't suit your bike withoput mods. the ratio on the linkages are diferent as newer bikes have lighter springs than the pre divvy. I got an R6 shock converted for my FZ600 and had to put the strongest spring available for it as well as a revalve which takes time. go for a hagon and you know it will last http://www.bits4motorbikes.co.uk/Hagon/Hagon-Monoshock.html?ID=1120

bit like ballaugh bridge in IOM

welcome back Bipps, Foamy will be chuffed too are those the bikes with the built in helmet place on the fuel tank? they look well thought out

you mean Mammories

the new inn @ Shardlow www.thenewinnshardlow.co.uk

we've chosen a pub recommended by carpe TDM members.

Tommy XS, me and a group of friends are meeting next week for lunch and a tour of the Norton factory at castle donnigton Anyone have a recommendation that a few bikers could meet and have lunch before we go into the factory? ta Drewps

some decent oil for not much wonga best to buy in 20L http://www.smithandallan.com/products/transport-motorcycle/1868-smith-and-allan-motorcycle-oil-10w-40-semi-synthetic/ £7 delivery

great, not worried, just a pain. good job i'm off this week

done the anti freeze and got the rad fan going, made a funny noise till i realised it was chewing through its wire AARRGH! so 2 steps forward 1 step back the horn's not working now so need to check that out too. getting there, sloowwwly

lockjing this. We don't want resto threads in welcome section. as BH says start in Project

Never heard of one till someone gave me one to "repair" Its a german made guitar and the firm went bump in 1970 something From what I can gather its an archtop model with a single pickup. Its been well played as the fretboard has worn little grooves in it from the strings twanging. Anyhow i've order flat wound chrome strings and repaired the pickup wiring. Any one know what model it is, I've no sticker in there and have emailed the Framus museum the picture to see if they know what it is.

I got some copaslip type stuff from proctor and gamble, had it for a few years and its seems really good. used on all my bikes since 2006 not on the tdm, fairing off, cooling system out then the cam box can come off. as its a 270' crank tdc is ok on one then its a guess on t'other. I used cable ties on the chain and sprockets, but they still slipped

just been and finished the valves on the bike. I messed up the timing (may still have) and had to start from scratch. did a test frun and she fired right up. I snapped 2 exhaust studs off as I thought they needed changing I tried to use my usual "weld a nut" but the buggers were fusion welded in there so had to drill out. bit scary and broke 4 bits as the studs were heat treated due to heat cycling and hardening. One stud i had to buy an 8mm helicoil kit. I was spot on in the end and the exhaust system is back on. just need to flush the cooling system out and refill with antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor and get it ready for the Norton factory visit on the 24th with Tommy xs. still a few jobs to do, but i'll wait till its warmer and ride it a bit more in the meantime.

brings in another meaning to "touching cloth"