boboneleg

That looks bloody brilliant Chris, I'm so envious. To me, if you get off the main routes in France and get on the back roads there is always something interesting to see. My mate and me have come across war memorials even on trails in France.

So many great trails in the Rhondda, most of the best ones aren't on any maps

Nice one, I've definitely done it but I didn't recognise it at all .

Fuckmine Bucky, you've excelled yourself today. I'm expecting great things from you now.................

At least they're repairing it Fred. Where is that one, I don't recognise it ?

Have you any interest in fishing Pete ? That looks like heaven to me, ride down that track to the lake, carry a light telescopic spinning rod and some lures with you and Bob's your uncle

Yen, get yourself one of these. One of the best things I ever bought. It has bolt size gauge, thread gauge and length. https://www.pro-bolt.com/progauge-bolt-measuring-tool/

Your life has certainly changed Buckster, you're obviously a survivor

Happy Birthday Fred, have a virtual drink on me. Once this shit is over perhaps we can get for ride and a proper drink.

There used to be a club in Bath (no I'm not joking) in an old underground loo, it was called Bog Island https://bathnewseum.com/virtual-museum-of-bath-2012/bog-island-disco-one/

How delightful

I found it, Whealie on the Abbey Road crossing made famous by some pop group

Definitely echos of the old XT500, especially the versions with the gold rims

Tomorrow is an anniversary for me and it's something that I find weighing a bit heavy on my mind at the moment. It will be the 20th year since I had the accident where I lost my leg, there may be some drinking of alcohol involved .

I've looked at a couple of these but they're still making decent money second hand. My boss fancies one as well so ee're waiting until a suitable bike pops up.

Nice one yen, that was a cracking night in that club. My mate Tone was dancing until he dropped ?

Was that when the XRV meet was at a site near Lowestoft ? If so I was there.

I've been there a few times, it's a great day out. I have a Sammy Miller story as well. I was a travelling marshall in a trial some years back and was riding around on a hillside in Gloucestershire showing riders where the sections were. This rider approached me and even with his heImet on I was thinking 'I know that guy' . The rider then asked where the first section is and immediately I recognised him as Sammy Miller due to his lovely 'Nothern Irish/ New Forest mix' accent. I wanted to ask him for his autograph on my running sheet but thought it was a bit inappropriate. He then rode off across the slippy hillside like he was out for a sunday stroll

You da man Tym

Le cretin , I suspect ?

It won't be a resto job Bruce, I shall leave it with it's present 'patina' but sort the mechanicals if I can.

It certainly is Ian, i've got a great photo of him on it somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it out.

I hope to get it running again Pedro but it will definitely depend on what's gone wrong in the engine. It's already covered 104,000 miles so I'm not prepared to just chuck money at it willy nilly.

So last week I got a message from I guy I know saying that his old Zebra bike was now residing in Somerset and the new owner was giving it away for free I made contact with the guy and sure enough he he was willing to pass it on , the catch was that it wouldn't start and there was a strange noise coming from the engine. So this morning my boss and me set off in his van for the 45 minute journey across the Mendips to Wedmore. The owner (Dominic) was a very cool guy , ageing surfer an ex French Paratrooper After removing the screen and mirrors we managed to fit it in the van......... Once we got it back to the workshop we started to try and find out what the problem was . It wouldn't turn over so we put it into top gear and rocked it see if there was any resistance, then we tried to start it on the button but just got a loud clunk. We wheeled it inside and I started to strip off the fairing panels, seat and then the tank . For a 30 year old bike it didn't put up too much of a fight, so then I took off the rocker covers on the rear cylinder. From that we found that the valves were moving freely so no problem there. My boss also put a scope with a camera to see if there was anything untoward.... Next I removed the carbs to give me access to the front cylinder and then removed the rocker covers on that cylinder as well. There was no movement on the valves when we rocked it in gear. Next I drained the coolant out and removed the two rads and the front coils to get the valve cover off to see if the cam chain was ok........ The cam chain was fine so we're now suspecting something a bit more terminal. That's as far as I got today, next it will be engine out and see what else we can find.

Most manufacturers overbuild stuff like that now Chris, that's why I like my DR650 so much, easy to fix most anything on there. I fear my Tenere is going to be a lot like your Tigger.