iandouglas

agree mallory - the xj is quite comfy considering but I wouldn't have gone for the bar risers he did to give a more sit up riding stance, maybe that's an American thing although the bigger xj 900 looks to have that type of arrangement as stock.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/touring-destination/motorcycle-touring-on-a-1992-yamaha-xj600-seca-ii.aspx#axzz2VazM8JUN know that there are a few fellow xj600 riders on the forum, i think this guy does 1200 miles in a week arcoss a number of states.

re NHS; that's good - and i think rare to recieve some thanks, well done

haha that made me smile - good one

good luck with assembly - i've not got power either

This is a bit vague but in the last few years and increasingly so I've noticed more of an aggressive attitude from punters/customer if they don't get what they want OK I'm possibly a special case to some extent because I work in a planning department and cut backs have meant charging for all sorts of stuff that was previously fee but that aside I can't recall developers, designers, individuals ever being so disagreeable and refusing to take 'no' for an answer, quickly resorting to complaining do you think things are changing for the worse in this recession type climate or is it just me? even think more stress, frustration and irritability now evident on the road....

yep - not everybody's cup of tea - sorry

definitely

that sounds fine to me - thanx

really difficult to know what to suggest, i had a bad back after getting caught by a deep pothole - since it just seems like normal riding in your case Ican only think of changing your riding stance about a bit if that's possible, will the handlebars adjust at all?

very annoying but try to stay calm if you don't mind me saying so (seriously -not trying to be funny here), but would not paying get you anywhere in these circumstances? How bad is the bike? I'd bear with it but not go back to that place again, i think we have all had those sort of experiences - i guess you could try talking to the boss there?

typically i wave, then get a series of bikers not bothering to wave back, so I think,' s*d yer then' and give up, then the very next ride I comes across gives a cheerful wave, can't win!

Cynic suggested a regular drawing for the forum, this is the first, it was promted by membership of a motorbike club I once used to go to and some of the (almost unkind/unfeeling) comments I used to hear there although it's quite funny looking back...maybe this will promt a few comments from forum members, I hope so

glad the thread helped with the tidy up - i started putting my old car (well, its a small people carrier) out on the drive so i could put the two bikes in the garage but the driveway width isn't sufficiently wide really so went back to bikes outside. and my sheds aren't big enough to get a bike in comfortably although i did once manage it with a bike that was off the road (this relates to the last cartoon) also it's difficult getting them round the side of the house, knock the mirrors about etc.

you saying 'i have only used my TT500 and my XT500C,' made me think, would i use all three, answer is probably not, sad but true.

thanks guys - i'll think about it if that's ok?, i do have a few bike cartoons kicking around somewhere. As far as character stuff is concerned, that's more difficult, when i've been asked to do leaving cards at work the best ones have been people i know well, the others get a bit stiff, can't think of another word for it, 'cardboard cutout' maybe, if you know what i mean and don't work so well. it's the same with bikes so i'd end up drawing xjs every time but thank you though

re; mid-exhaust is leaking and needs to be replaced well if the system is the same as the xj seca type it is in two parts, the front section and the muffler/silencer, between the two the pipes merge - this always seems to be the point that the rot begins and usually in the inaccessible crease thereabouts, when mine started blowing (you can feel the exhaust comming out) i bunged the area up with steel wool and wrapped fence wire round using pliers - it held ok until i got the whole thing replaced. hope that helps american friend

after a lot of thought i think that i'll stick to two bikes, that's enough really especially as they have to go outside in front of the house there's always that period of getting any fresh bike how you want it, and in my case it always seems to involve having the suspension and brakes rebuilt possibly the money would be better spent on a better helmet and other related items like couple of decent bike covers, some luggage and a seat refurbishment on one of the existing machines.

pleased to report the wound seems to be healing OK, hopefully I'll just have a scar and no bump but I was a little concerned at one stage.

i know peeps who listen to music on bikes but you need your wits about you really, as for the tyre - my experience is that you get punctures more easily when the tread is down.

oh well - just appealed to me i guess

Whatever Ian, That's a real talent should you be on here with the rest of us ejits? ta - actually i'm not that good mechanically, fortunately have a friend who has his own bike business who is brilliant like the xj750 - seen this? I expect so http://www.realclassic.co.uk/seca06030100.html one more shed picture that went with a short story, now lost... ah sheds, just four thin walls but secluded magical places.. see Kirstie wrote a book in hers? http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/02/24/kirstie-allsopp%E2%80%99s-shed/ course she's got a posh shed...

thank you kind sir - actually i just love drawing sheds and motorbikes, it doesn't go too far beyond that, a few local buildings, that is all.

RE: Just saw the signature in the sketch, Was that your drawing, Ian. If so well done mate, I can't draw a straight line without using a ruler yes i used to write and illustrate for a newsletter, funny enough by a Scot like you, Mike Patterson (Musselburgh Midlothian) he's packed it up now though Tell me that's not the sea you view from your shed, how relaxing is that that reminds me there's another one on sheds, let me find it....

no thanks for that - much appreciated