ReggiePezza

Few days to go now. Front tyre fitted at the old place, tenner all in. I remember now why I used to go there. He said it used to be 8 quid though. There was a fair bit of tread left, but I'm glad I got the wheel out because I noticed at least one bearing was notchy. Tyre man he say it fine, tyre man say he had tiger wheel come in so notchy it wouldn't rotate on the balancer and that was fine too. Off to the bearing shop afterwards for a couple of 6004's and then it was a 10min job with the hammer and special punch, lovely jubly. About 7 quid for two SKF Explorer bearings. Silky smooth and all is right again, nothing finer.

Yeah man, should be a laugh this.

Correct bike now has all the relevant stamps, signatures, and approvals. I don't know the kid behind it, but his lexmoto was up next. Bonus picture of the fix his mechanic mate had done him on the rear caliper. Sliding caliper missing a rubber boot so it's got an Allen bit whacked in to take the slack, jobs a good un ey.

A 604 you say. Well then, his number plate was spot on.

Cheers, but noo definitely Rotax. Chains all on the wrong side! If I'd taken one from the other side it would've been more obvious of course, you'd see the familiar boxyness of the thing, plus the big embossed ROTAX lettering on the casing.

Very interesting. What fridge did he go for then? I'm guessing it won't be "American-style", but, actually American.

Some umming and arring looking at the dark clouds and spots of rain. My good mate from work bailed, "a bit cold". But me old man and his pal Donkey Dave turned up at 5 and I was almost ready for once, it took a bit of effort to get the bike out the shed (it was rammed in, covered in crap). Off to West Stockwith for pie and paaaes (mushies). And look at the sunshine. The triumph is my Dad's, CG with useful topbox mine, CB500X Donkey Dave's. Nice bit of rotax. My Dad was very envious of the front and rear gold suspension pieces. I don't think it will be long until he splashes some cash. An old one. Some more old ones . Cheeky or what. No pictures of the pie or peas because I was hungry but the chips were good and the pie full of meaty bits. £6.50 Donkey Dave, after sending umpteen videos to his mate showing the sky getting bluer and bluerer, took us a different way back home on daft roads I've never noticed, into the sunset. Good night out. And cheers to me Dad who got the beer and food in, he's a good un.

Heh heh. Well actually it has the top of the line DID chain on it, as sold to me my the MV Agusta salesman, after wiping some of his dinner off his chin (it was about 8pm or something), and then fitted in the morning in factory style with hard rivet link. That chain isn't going anywhere. And actually I gave beer away in Belgium to bloke from the Belg version of the RAC, who left me a can of carb cleaner after trying nearly every hotel in whatever part of Belgium we were, oh and going to buy some spark plugs. The issue was a dodgy ground point which had been painted, it worked, just, but not in the rain. Since then it's been stripped and powder coated... Buuutt I don't think I'll bother. I've got something much worse to test instead.

Yes he was a nob. On the back foot instantly, when I wasn't exactly on the front foot at all, and wasn't even asking for all the money back when they said they can't do it. Thanks to the nice bloke that did actually sort it for me though (he only lives round the corner from me, not sure if he recognised me like). Went back for the wheel and it's sorted, not so hard . The 'orrible one didn't even acknowledge me, just kept swinging his hammer at some poor old lambretta, ah well. So, I can't officially file a grumble but it's nice to vent my displeasure on here. The place is just called "The Garage" I think, but the cafe is called Rev's Relic's and seems a nice little spot to be honest. Too close to home for me to have worked up a need for a coffee though.

Just a boring rant really. I feel an utter noob. Can you see what's wrong here then...? I took the rear wheel for a new tyre to be fitted, wheel off the bike, tyre in hand. I don't know why I didn't take it to my usual bloke, probably feeling lazy, 15min drive. But I went round local to see if there's anyone else decent. First place, no can do, they say to take it round the corner. Place round the corner runs a fairly new biker cafe next door to it, seems to be doing ok, always has bikes outside. £20. Hmmm steep. But I can have a nosy at this cafe and the bikes, never had a proper look before. OK... Done. Good so far. But, actually no because he wouldn't get rid of my old tyre. "Take it to the dump, I can't get rid of it". The dump hasn't taken tyres for years now. Alright well at least it's done but feel that the twenty was not spent wisely at all. Some time passes and I book an MOT, cancel it to pick up an emergency fridge, rebook... Go to oil the chain the night before and realise that the valve is hitting the caliper because it's a long stem for a car. Bah. I love a faff but I've already had to hacksaw my old tyre to fit it in the wheelie bin, now I've got to re-rebook an MOT for this thing and go back to ask for a shorter valve. "Don't do em mate". Well how's about just give me a tenner to go somewhere proper. "no refunds". Why be such a twat over nothing really? I mentioned the cafe because it's the sort of place you'd expect to cater for bikes and be cool about it. Thankfully someone did come over and say they'd get me a stem in and to come back later for it. So all should be fine in a about an hour. But still, why be such a twaaaat?! Lesson learnt, don't be lazy and don't chuck a twenty at anyone to change a tyre because that's just ridiculous in the first place.

No actually. He'd just want to chase the hedgehogs and keep me up probably. I'm only testing what I'll be taking with me anyway , apart from the laptop to watch BSB from the weekend. Bike in for the MOT today. ... err. Wrong bike. Last minute discovery on the viffer yesterday night meant I couldn't take it for a test, so instead of cancelling again I took this old beast. It needs to go on eBay really. Or maybe one last trip? Look at it. Looks just right getting a bit of cheese and bread in for a little supper after a day tootling round alpine passes.

Thanks, can't help but put some sort of creature in shot. Right then I've got the Ray Mears certified 3 man dome tent set up now for proper business. £30 Decathloner. The bed thing only just fits really. I'm a bit jealous of the tipi, now that would be cute + being able to stand up. That was last night. Tried it out, not bad. You can sleep on your side a bit better than on the floor with just a camping mat, the one I've got is only thin. Also it rained and everything was ok, but you'd expect that when you go overboard with a full tarp over the tent. The only thing was that in the morning (apart from the cat trying to claw his way in) I was reminded of how bright the bastard sun is at 5am or whenever it is it gets up. You can get "dark tents" these days, probably for pissed off festival goers that really need their lay in, but I like the sounds of them.

Just like snoopy

The actual setup is still too big, for the garden anyway. Even have the (albeit half size) memory foam pillow, free many years ago with a mattress. I'll not get into mattresses though, but this setup is possibly better than my bed. I do have a foamy inflato camping mat thing as well, are you saying that's the ultimate setup then? I might dig it out. But if I try it out and it is, I might run out of room.

Well I'm not quite finished installing the aqueduct fed shower and wet room but here you go... It's a bit of a heavy pack up but I really think the vfr can take it.

@Slowlycatchymonkey well I never. It was just hotting up I thought. Might start my own appliance forum with a sideline in bike touring then. I will get back to camping jabber though. I've tied a few ray mears number 3s (same as you do your shoelaces but the bight goes under the bitter end and through the rabbit) to a bit of tarp so I feel fairly confident I won't get wet, but only because we'll be following the sun. I've also bought one of them camping cots you mentioned in gymwitch's thread, I didn't realise they went so small. A few extra kilos on top of an already lump of a bike won't make any difference (or will it make all the difference?). As long as I can lash it on it'll come with. Though I might camp out in the garden for a laugh and see how good it is, the weather is bloody good.

Jaaaaaaa gut gemacht!

I'm not sure, but it's very orange and very German. They also make cranes, and the ones at work were 1million a pop. So maybe I'm just paying for the logo of a successful heavy construction manufacturer or maybe they just really happen to like making fridges too. I didn't read any reviews. Camping has gone out the window. This thing has a wine rack.

Oh my lewdness, the fridge is gorgeous.

Ooh yeah. Excitement building now. Got a bunch of fresh camping stuff to play with this weekend, so I can tie some knots and pretend to be ray mears. Still need to sort out an MOT for the bike though, which would've been tomorrow but I've had to cancel to go pick up a fridge instead. Fresh front tyre arrived though, same as Tony, I'm scared the current one won't make the journey (how many miles are we expecting to do?). Had the same fear about the rear before Ireland, but the replacement arrived at my house about the point in time I went over the Welsh border, a bit late like. Takes ages since the big B for juicy cheap tyres from Germany from the mighty Delticom corporation (mytyres). It was stuck somewhere in England in quarantine but never mind, this time I'm not rushing for once (... Err but I still need an mot). The rear after Ireland was definitely a bit illegal, though Jack, being more tyre rugged wouldn't have thought twice, he's a mad man.

Well, it was just meant to be a holiday holiday but I managed to book Sunday off and the offer was too good to refuse. Wasn't even intending on being out all day, but again, couldn't resist. Back home tomorrow though so it's back to the pool and beer.

Haha. Well, it was only 27 calamari for a 125cc, 20 for an 80cc, and only a 2 quid jump for a 250cc. Also looks like rental of geared things like F800 is fairly easy, didn't even look down the list for a price though. But €27 I didn't think was bad, I love a 125. Almost spent the same on petrol anyway. Didn't really need any tips in the end because I don't think I could've gone wrong really. Most of the main roads down the west and south, and anywhere away from Rhodes, Falaraki, and other obviously resort areas where bloody great. Some roads on the map look fine to the eye of an Englishman but you soon learn that it's probably unpaved. The bike was a good laugh, didn't feel slow even on the 10% inclines because it's all hairpins and Twisties. Always remember there's gravel on the apex - traction control kicked in a few times (it didn't). Watch out for cats, dogs, goats, lizardy things, white rent-a-cars, knackered local cars, excursion coaches, and wave to the older guys on their clapped out mopeds, they all gave a big smile back. Hardly anything on the road though, maybe just because it was Sunday, maybe not, who knows, but it was pretty chilled. No rozzers, saw a sign for one speed camera but no actual speed camera, and you can make good progress if you ignore any unrugged posted speed limit and even some very unindividual double white lines to be honest.

Yeah I was, I feel much less rugged now. About 300km covered. 20 foreigns in petrol! Excellent time on the roads of Gary Rhodes though. I might see if I got any good pictures and update later but for now i need more of this...

Ah thanks but I'm avoiding rodos, headed away from their quickish. The roads didn't take long to turn to mush though using my usual nose led adventure touring style. But after a mile or so turned into a lovely twisty mountain road. Back on the coast for a shandy and souvlaki stop. Got to remember to wipe my hands good and proper after slapping more sun tan slop on though, the grips aren't very grippy like that. But I do need lots of lotion. Pretty windy but also very sunny.

Feeling rugged and individual on my rent-a-scoot. We've got half a tank and most of the day to blast about. But where to? Top tips appreciated.