Mr Bignel

be great to have more information on how you get on with the forks bigwol - i was thinking of tackling mine

thanks, the wirral as well, south part against the dee is nice, well i like it anyway

made itit to caernarvon wales and back - 19hrs left at 6am y/d back 1 am today visited a few places including porthmadog, Tytyn and hay on wye so not totally direct - 528 miles altogether, have to admit the seat was the weak link. That's my personal iron butt award best i think i was 66 today, got to do something mad when it's your birthday haven't you? Well I think so anyway.

6.00 am - set the controls for porthmadog (old photo, actually intending to go on my grey xj)

Institute of Advanced Motorists (also Motorcycles) - it's a UK thing. I agree with cynic, they are a tad self righteous and prescriptive. Isn't Idaho mentioned in a B52's song? b-52's my own private idaho, i prefer rock lobster or planet clare though, no offence The UK is about the same size but congested by comparison - Idaho is equal to 0.89 UKs UK pop 65million Idaho pop 1.6 million

yes - it seems that wales got quite a lot of economic community money to improve their 'a' roads - then they voted for brexit this year haha oil topped up, fuel tank full, chain lubed - haven't checked the tyres yet...can't find my spare i litre fuel bottle, takes the stress out for running low. the wedding reception do was good - in a field with marques, little lights, fantastic - we saw the sun go down but guess what - even though it appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, across a few fields, about a mile away was bullingdon high security prison that's where rolf harris lives at the moment apparently. I thought of him painting in his cell as i queued at the bar.

well, it's wales, not the south west because that's 150 miles of clag to get to tiverton even. wales was made for bikes. however, no bike preparation so far and whether i can haul myself out of bed in time tomorrow? don't know yet my video from last year (no just joking) - this guy doesn't let solid white lines or holiday traffic get in the way - i'll be going at a more sedate pace - if i go

although we've got no money after a load of unexpected expenses i'm going to have to make a break for it, local rides are ok but sometimes you need a real change of scene. thing is, will i get up in time, will the bike start and after tonight's wedding reception do will i be in any fit state? It remains to be seen...

the xj600 divvy definitely has a buzz at ahout 4,5K revs but the pre divvy should be OK, sometimes, strangely, chain adjustment sorts it otherwise I would say carb balancing, something that i have paid for to be done. Just done over 400 miles on a run, pretty much continuous and no vibe issue to speak of. I do sometimes get pins and needles but that is usually because I've been gripping the throttle too hard.

food for thought there, i haven't sent it in yet so i can still make mods

happy Birthday ! you seen this site on facebook? https://www.facebook.com/groups/434282863439992/ I have similar but not so nice as yours

well yes, that was the IAM thing I did, a protective bubble idea, leaving gaps and looking ahead but this stuff kind of cuts to the quick, expect people to pull out big time - they have a routine, you have a counter on the handlebar, every time you are surprised by something you click, empirical data shows the clicks rise at first then eventually fall of as you are no longer surprised at anything and of course that's the way to be.

I started an IAM course got half way through, gave up then did the same thing about 2 yrs later recently came across a different approach that seems to make perfect sense, Some of you may be interested in this, avoiding motorcycle accidents based on anticipating the worse possible outcomes - sounds gloomy but it's to do with expecting bad driving and being prepared rather than taken by surprise https://nosurprise.org.uk/

fork pitting is an issue with older bikes, i put mz gaiters on mine, see before and after - not sure if the look is worse or better before after

thanks, i do have one unsubstantiated finding.. say you spend £650 on a 20 yr old runner in good condition with an mot, it seems like a bargain...but i find that you double that amount over, say, the next 18mths/2 yrs sorting it, all sorts of faults that occur*, so..maybe i should have spent 2 x £650 ie: £1,3K in the first place for one in top order, I don't know, not sure for example i bought a bike off a guy who said he was an engineer, he sais that he had changed the final drive, rebuilt the starter and refurbished the rear brake - guess what the three things that required attention in the first few months.

yes i can see it's tedious to read especially as i haven't done the cartoons yet. i have a slot with vjmc magazine, three articles a year plus illustrating other peoples stories which is what i'm doing at the moment but....buying sub £1K is what I do, sometimes it works out better than others

sad to hear what happened

i hardly know what to make of that - Crumbs is anybody safe from people like him?

most unfortunate - i do find lorry drivers use their bulk to muscle out but what can you do.

well the seals will always be useful so long as you keep that bike

I started a thread on making lists, it was partly to help with a vintage japanese motorcycle club item - i have now wrapped that up pretty much and i'll send it in fairly soon with the cartoons i did. i have another, in the pipeline, on budget motorcycling, if you have the time/inclination i have pasted it in below, this is a draft, i'd be interested in any comments please plus of course your views on the subject, it's a bit tongue in cheek No cartoons done yet. budget motorcycling As a self confessed tightwad you can't find cheaper and more fun transport than used Japanese motorcycles. There's no need to lay out big money for a bike if you aren't too fussy about it being the latest thing. The neighbours might not be too thrilled at the sight and sound but you get a lot for your money. Buying second hand is a minefield of course, the best advice is to go for something as mint as possible. Given that older bikes are plentiful, even one in good condition can be reasonably priced. Tried and tested in the unloved sector of around 20 years old is the skinflint's way to go . Going back much over 25 years, may require more caution because frames rot and seals become brittle. You have to keep on top of niggles but fettling is half the enjoyment. Often there is warning of an impending fault, a good independent motorcycle mechanic is a sensible backstop. We live in a profligate age, products are designed to be relatively short lived and disposable, new models replace old and fashions change. This is a contrast with the 'make do and mend' husbandry of the post war years. Back then, motorbikes were for those who couldn't afford a car. Influenced by post war parsimonious thinking it grieves me to spend out on motorbike. Admittedly buying tatty but sound doesn't work out any less expensive than buying the same in good condition over time but it does spread the cost, avoiding the higher outlay. Traditional bikers of the frugal variety are a minority, stuck in a time warp of austerity, unwilling to pay high prices for today's offerings. However, if you can resist the tide and can be content with an adequate but less desirable motorbike then there are some bargains to be had. A fundamental bangernomics principal that the heart shouldn't rule the head, purchasing research is needed to establish target models and their weaknesses, pertinent questions then follow to cover any such issues. You can't buy something you hate so the heart has a place in the choice. There is 'value for money' pleasure in rescuing older designs that allow new owners to tinker without special tools or special skills. Carburetors and air cooled is simpler as compared with more recent innovations and mid range means you can avoid pricier tyres. New or old you will have to fund consumables, ie: chains, tyres and plugs so we are talking about the motorbike itself. Japanese engines were made to last and the rest of the tackle is fairly robust given our climate. Older models can be reliable, they rarely go wrong unless mistreated. There is a 'Trigger's Broom' factor in so far as everything is replaceable, swapping out parts for those bought on auction sites is the nigardly way of Mr Pinchpenny. YouTube videos are a lifesaver when it comes to 'how to' and motorbike forums are a source of advice and information. There is something to be said for operating with a limited fund of money as it obliges you to appreciate what you have and even to cherish it. These bikes may not be impressive to others but there is a sense of getting one over on consumerism and carrying the flag for older values of thrift. My miserly ways have been extended to accessories and riding gear, if you aren't too proud there is a host of unfashionable but perfectly usable garb, boots, gloves, textile trousers and tough jackets. I don't try to economise too much with helmets though. Free car parking, no bridge tolls, frustrating traffic queues or access issues represent savings in both money and time. There's only two tyres to buy not four, rides are invigorating, you meet people have a laugh, these are things money can't buy. So far, I haven't resorted to coasting down hills or slip streaming other vehicles (just joking) and I don't look that good in eBay stuff either. Nevertheless. there is pride in clocking up the miles having paid not an awful lot. The longer that you keep old bikes, the better it pays off. I don't want to win the lottery, it would spoil everything – I see people on newish machines eye my bike, 'poverty is a terrible thing' they must think but I can't be bothered to be ashamed. I glow with the righteous zeal of the green movement. No 'keeping up with the Jones's' for me, I prefer prudence .

it looks the business i think the xj900 owner is trying to capitalise on the 27.5K mileage which I know isn't everything and I'm sure that the FJ could reach 80K odd.

thanks guys - i should have said i'd been on before but didn't think anybody would remember me tbh

this looks good but a lot of money http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Yamaha-XJ900F-Blue-White-Excellent-condition-its-age-/222192002434