Mr Bignel

wire wheels much nicer imo. one a donor? put all previous bikes you list down in your prolie, copy and past 😊

one of these, or rather two? did they come with wire wheels at all? best wishes and welcome on behalf of the management lol.

today I had to nip up a few bolts round the back end of my bike yesterday after my Sunday ride as some of the minor roads in the cotswolds are in a terrible state, I doubt that they have been resurfaced in years and are unlikely to be any time soon 😒 This is even worse in a group ride situation when one is more distracted and in a cluster I find.

This one looks great value, seller is in Hereford UK _ like that neat grab rail for the pillion. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177269857462?itmmeta=01K0PVCG9B9Y4QG97NAZ6A8GFD&hash=item29461b5cb6:g:WU4AAeSw1D9od85n&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30k5MrRfWaYzkCfNDlH8g5Qzefl3MoA4ja9tTUojeBoj4MY4tNSgcgCPUazVe3JNLyfRbc60weON0%2BhDsM9mVKoHyLVl63Y7fzypn1d%2F28QKmhJCmO%2BkBQApxjGeqY09zutZkdDr3kEwGH9WVQVWg8wpUi6RePE4xWFIrStkLKxN%2BzTG%2F%2BJWsSpXz2Ypqrkg2YE2VKYs9jfKSZbXLY20bKjIZSE01Xl4Tm%2B9U1l3CrCiCL06vkVPFM4%2FBrRdk5NTgA7gIpHmHKn5c1vvhq4vQUvD%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-CEstuFZg

i seem to get a few frowning type looks from some nr neighbours when i take off on one of my days out touring about, do you think it might be resentment? 🙂

Below is a consideration of that 'always wanting the bike you haven't got' feeling, which, thankfully, has now disappeared - anyway this was published in the VJMC magazine some time ago when I was in that unfortunate mode:- The possibility of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence is the motorcyclists bane. It is what we do, we look for that next or better bike then regret selling the one we had. A new bike to try out, talk about, tinker with, admire and be proud of. Seemingly, what could be nicer? Maybe this comes from one's early days, working up to a bigger capacity machine. There are any number of reasons why these thoughts might continue in later life. It may be to do with technological improvement, your preference changing, a chance to buy an earlier model that you liked or simply force of habit. The grass could be greener on the other side but then it might not be. Will that new to you bike make you happier? Conversely, is there anything wrong with the one you've got? I have three motorbikes; one works, one is half restored and the other as spares but I still search around, like a demented hoarder! It is hard not to be inquisitive about other bikes, to ask owners questions and compare both the look and performance of their bikes to your own. This fascination can go forward into the future or back to the past, for a given amount of money there is a choice between the latest look or nostalgia of yesteryear. Looking at motorbike advertisements can initiate a drift off into a personal reverie that may not have a firm grounding in reality. What it would it be like to own those other bikes and would they live up to expectations? Unfortunately, the need to be rational, practical and avoid financial excess drags one back into the land of the present. Magazine reviews, exhibitions and dealers showrooms don't help of course and maybe the bike you have has lost its novelty. There is a relentless quest in the back of our minds for that intriguing and elusive motorcycle, the mix of horse power, weight, handling, practicality and economy. So it goes on, round and round, in a confusing and unresolvable muddle of indecision. At a bike meeting, someone was talking about upgrading to another model when a club member said that they should try giving their own bike a clean and polish as he found that this helped him appreciate the bike that one has already. Taking it a bit further, you could invest in your existing bike, a rebuilt seat, superior tyres, spot lights or engine overhaul might restore interest in the old steed. Reinvigorated and revitalised for a further spell of useful service might satisfy the wonder lust for a while. Then that irritating little voice comes back urging you to check out some detail or other of a bike you saw mentioned somewhere and before you know it back come the day-dream, mulling over what might be available. You can call collecting motorbikes a hobby but really it is buying old motorbikes for its own sake. It's not about status, next year's design, new equipment or a more competent ride. With us, it's more about intrinsic attributes, fascination and elegance as opposed to the fast or the new. The difficulty is knowing when to stop. The majority of us have a limited budget and finite storage not to mention a partner who may take a dim view of family funds being depleted in this way. We have to be careful. Even then, owning a number of motorbikes can mean that some get neglected, you can only ride one at a time and it costs to keep several on the road. Restorations can be expensive and buying a machine as an investment means keeping the bike pristine by avoiding road salt and winter grime. Yes, one might be able to justify their purchase although it is tainted by the need to maintain it to a high standard. Most of us want everyday use and accept that conditions will not always be fine. Indulgence and temptation are terrible things and owning several motorbikes is a pleasant prospect. My boss had 17 classic motorbikes, gathered over time, then his second divorce and wife no 2 took them to auction. It didn't matter that he had built up the collection before he got married again. Message to Self: Forget the hype, stay off eBay and keep focussed on the existing bikes. In my case it is the style of bike that I have come to regard as my type of machine. I am lucky to own them and be fit enough to ride. I should be content with fettling and adjusting my bikes rather than hankering after more. Still, if the right one came along at the right price then it's hard to say no, of course it won't be one of those unreachable ones that I dream of unfortunately. They probably aren't the bikes that I think they are anyway and possibly, just as important can be the journeys themselves rather than rather than the bike so lets all enjoy the here and now, for the time being.

this is me leaving the bike night meeting after a few pies lol.

My local bike night surprisingly it is in quite a posh village nearby called Long Crendon, John with the folder arms, is my particular friend, he always grimaces for photos lol.

Got to make the most of the English summer, what do you think of this parish church guys, large for a town that has a population of less than 2K peeps.

This bright beast is advertised on autotrader UK at the present time, not a bad price and possibly obtainable for less. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202506263900880?advertising-location=at_bikes

I am sure that you must have bled the clutch, I'm not a mechanic but it helped on mine. Made a difference to the bite point although that may have been me messing with the adjustment. Did you get the matter sorted out please? Hope so.

I had a thundercat until recently, sold it to a friend - of the two i prefer the ace although at my age, 74, the cat made more sense weightwise however, the ace is the more comfortable over distance. They are outstanding value, mine's done 50k miles nearly and hardly uses oil. With the cat there were minor frame/swing arm corrosion problems but the ace is all alloy so less conern in that department. In the time I've owned it, 3 yrs now, I've not come across another ace owner.

hmm...sounds a worry. please say how you get on - initially seemed an electrical issue and now something to do with the coolant, quite odd really.

yes, well put, completely agree. took me years to realise that i have the wrong personality to be a motorcyclist lol.

Aw thanks for asking - yes i was lucky but it has made me wake up somewhat about taking more care. basically the problem is me, i'm not patient enough. on this occasion i attempted overtaking two vehicles ahead in one go, as i did the second vehicle pulled out to overtake the first. we actually made contact but, fortunately i managed to stay upright and carry on through with the overtake.

me with the thunderace about 18mths ago i think, maybe 2 yrs.. taken the stickers off since.

dunno snake, the little motor under the tank pulls cables to operate the valve, the cables travel behind the engine and are a fiddle to replace, the problem with mine is that the fittings are so rusted that I can't get to the valve which runs right across the four pipes under the engine, it is loose but at least it works albeit noisily lol. This is what the BW people say:- Exhaust Downpipes Headers Fits: Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace 1996-2003 models. Weight : 3.8 Kilos (8.4 lbs), Saving over 7 kilos ( 15 lbs ) on the original headers. These upgraded headers are designed to out perform the original headers with no EXUP valve. No re-jetting/modifications required for bikes on standard settings. Four engine port gaskets included. We also include the slip on silencer flange which allows you to refit the original Yamaha silencer if you wish to. Remove the exhaust control cables, leave the electric motor in place. No fault codes will show. see particularly the last bullet point, if you haven't got the electric motor I guess something else has been done to make the bike perform OK, or not, if it goes alright then no worries?

and another...

this is probably the way to go - no valve required. eBay UKYZF1000R Thunderace 1996-2003 Exhaust Downpipes Headers -...UK customers - please note this silencer is not road legal in the UK and will be marked Not for Road Use Exhaust Downpipes Headers Fits: Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace 1996-2003 models. - Weight : 3.8... thunderace motorcycles are surprisingly inexpensive here in the UK, sportsbikes aren't the thing anymore, here at least - more adventure, naked, retro et al now.

yes i have to agree with that safety point about noise/sound after an incident yesterday (while out on a 230 mile trip to herefordshire uk).

makes an awful noise, but since it is only a worn valve i have left it, they are like hens teeth to find and even then the access fixings will be rusted. whereabouts are you s/bite please? just roughly.