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Messages - bobv7

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16
Announcements / Re: TT 2021 Cancelled
« on: December 03, 2020, 03:24:18 PM »
I suppose if I lived near Heysham I'd be hoping the IOW thing doesn't take off. But I can see the IOW from here! ;)

17
Announcements / Re: TT 2021 Cancelled
« on: December 01, 2020, 10:26:54 AM »
I think the truth is that arranging and organising events like the TT take quite a bit longer than six months, and I can also understand that the IOM residents would not be too keen on increasing the covid risk from the mainland. 2022?

18
Misc / Open / Re: How did stuff become so difficult?
« on: November 12, 2020, 01:44:18 PM »
I get where you’re coming from Bob, but at 60+ have learned what’s obvious to me ain’t so to others. And having been involved in instruction / examining much of my working life (er, thanks Bryan!) the best way to ensure a worst outcome is ridicule / belittlement etc.

This year I joined a Moto Guzzi forum as it’s all ECUs, mapping and crap that I’m totally at odds with. I managed to cope / maintain dignity (just!) - but by god is that forum different to this. I rarely look at it or post now; it is generally good, but alas prone to too much testosterone & outbursts such as, “You fucking muppet, I told you 3 posts ago it was the xxx switch”.
I can really do without fellows’ being bullied; that is what is so good about this forum of Steve’s and ‘us lot’.

You should give www.guzziriders.org a try. Good bunch and no bullshit.

19
Misc / Open / Re: How did stuff become so difficult?
« on: November 12, 2020, 09:44:33 AM »
I suppose this all arose from posts apparently confusing the vast difference between building a usable, road worthy machine and going for a full restoration. One requires a pragmatic and practical approach and the other vast amounts of cash, infinite patience and a black book full of specialist services. If the former then a decent set of tools, some mechanical knowledge and a steady supply of tea is usually good enough. If the latter, then a step by step learning process via advice from a website forum may not the best way to go.

When I got my bike the bulb holders for the warning lights were rotten so I bought a bunch off eBay. Snip and solder and now they work. End of story. Are they a match for the originals? No, but they do the same job. Same with the busted fuse holder which now takes a better protected blade fuse, and the handlebars, indicators and the front brake line. Perhaps that would have the purists frantically rummaging though my rubbish bin, but that’s their problem. Do vintage vehicle owners insist they only use the manufacturers recommended brand of calcium carbide in their lamps?

I’m not and never have been a rivet counter but I did want a new toy to fix up and to occasionally ride. If I’d wanted something shiny to put in the living room it would not have been a motorcycle. My point is that before you start a project you need to have a clear idea of where you’re going and the available resources in place to get there.;)

20
Misc / Open / Re: How did stuff become so difficult?
« on: November 11, 2020, 06:05:14 PM »
I did apologise right at the start if anyone took this personally and there's absolutely nothing wrong with asking for advice. We all have to at some time. But that advice is only valuable if you ask the right questions and if you know how to apply the answers. These bikes are pretty basic to work on and get into a reasonable working condition, maybe not concours but rideable if that's what you want. I fully expected the cries of righteous outrage and disapproval at my suggestion, but I recognised at an early age I would never be a carpenter when the woodwork teacher told me that trees took too long to grow. I took the hint and stepped away from the tools. I did know someone who was shown many times how to set the timing on his bike but in the end it just wouldn't sink in. He wasn't thick, just didn't have the aptitude and was happier letting someone else do it. Sometimes we all have to that admit it would be a better job if someone else did it?

As I said at the start, there seems to be a growing tendency to overthink problems because the actual answer appears to be too obvious. We look for a technological solution when a nail would be the answer. It only gets worse when trying to include 2020 technology into a 1960's design; but that's only my personal opinion. Sorry if you don't like it.

21
Misc / Open / How did stuff become so difficult?
« on: November 11, 2020, 03:08:34 PM »
First off an apology to anyone who feels targeted by this; honestly not intended!

Having read some of the questions being posted on this forum, have we got to the stage where we overthink just about everything? I read most topics out of interest and occasionally to see if I can offer an opinion or suggestion, but some are so basic and simple that I just think WHAT!!!!!. Are you really asking that! Most of the bikes owned here are so basic and simple to work on that back in the day a spanner in one hand and a Haynes manual in the other would have sorted nearly all problems. I know that sometimes this could end in the most horrendous insults to Japan's finest and a lot of non standard remedies resulted, but unless you had a mate handy with the tools you were on your own. Perhaps it's down to the arrogance of youth that all things were doable with a screwdriver and hammer but come on, age and experience should at least have some influence at this time of life?

Just get stuck in! End of rant.:D

22
CB350/400 / Re: My eyes are watering £10,989
« on: November 10, 2020, 10:11:05 PM »
That's not what I heard from one of the drivers in the film. Rotten as a pear, but of course I wasn't there.

23
CB350/400 / Re: My eyes are watering £10,989
« on: November 10, 2020, 05:32:34 PM »
And the E Types in the "Italian Job". Mind you they were all rust buckets anyway so it didn't matter.

As has been said, if the bike has been restored to as good as new and someone wants a 44 year old model (and who doesn't!) then one is available and good luck to them.8)

24
CB500/550 / Re: Front brake
« on: November 10, 2020, 05:21:31 PM »
Makes a change to have some good news. Thanks for that and the cap is well screwed on. :D

25
CB500/550 / Re: Front brake
« on: November 10, 2020, 11:36:15 AM »
Just finished fitting new seal and bleeding the front brake. New seal £7.00, 1 litre of DOT 4 £5.00 and the level in the bottle has hardly dropped. The rest is destined for recycling as I'm informed it can't be kept 'cos it absorbs water. Anyone need their brakes topped up? >:(

26
CB350/400 / Re: My eyes are watering £10,989
« on: November 10, 2020, 09:03:29 AM »
You said it all with"Best four for me", and that applies to any personal choice we make in life.;)

27
CB350/400 / Re: My eyes are watering £10,989
« on: November 09, 2020, 11:01:11 PM »
I say that for just about every bike I've ever owned and sold! A very wise man told me the best way to make a small fortune selling bikes is to start with a large one.8)

28
CB350/400 / Re: My eyes are watering £10,989
« on: November 09, 2020, 10:02:46 PM »
OK, it's an expensive motorcycle but then so are most current bikes for what they really are. If it's as good as advertised then it's a really nice restored example of a highly regarded machine. I bought mine new in 1976 and loved it, but it wasn't all that original by the time I sold it in 1980 with 35+k miles on it. Like all classic vehicles we buy them because we regret selling one, they remind us of our youth or simply because we can now afford those few nice toys. It's an expensive hobby and if you think the cost is too high then find another.:)

29
Have to agree with the above. Always get the impression, wrongly or rightly, that the wiring has been hacked about and this raises the question of maybe other less obvious horrors. :o

30
Humour / Re: If Only
« on: November 07, 2020, 01:29:16 PM »
This is from a local company advertise the sale of manure.
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