Last updated 13th April 2019
Head behind the bubble
  • Home
  • Riders blog
  • Out there, riding - my articles
  • My Bikes - Past and Present
    • Ducati 1098s
    • Honda CBR954RR FireBlade
    • Ducati 695 Monster
    • Kawasaki ZX7-R
  • Motorcycle Media
  • My kit
  • Other rides
  • Videos
  • Bucket List
  • Contact me

May 11th, 2016

5/11/2016

0 Comments

 
As an avid motorcyclist, these last few days have been, how shall we say, interesting? Really big highs, horrible lows and something in the middle.
So, lets get the ball rolling and start on Saturday. As I'm still commuting a frankly stupid distance, I don't try and get the bike out for a long ride at the weekend, so instead I taxed the Ducati and picked it up from Conquest Motorcycles after having a few jobs done, mainly the lack of an electronic neutral and rode it back home the dull straight way. Well I should say I tried to ride it home. I managed to get it about 20yards down the road before it cut out and wouldn't start. Turns out the tank was totally dry and the guys helped me out by siphoning a few litres of unleaded out of one of their own bikes. After a quick trundle around the industrial estate to make sure all was okay and then I rode it home.
After spending the last few months on the FireBlade, the Ducati took a bit of getting used to. I was pleased with the new Ducabike slave cylinder that I had installed, mainly as the clutch action was still fairly stiff and it may sound strange, but I was actually a little worried about the clutch being as easy as the FireBlade. This wasn't the case as there is still clearly a nice level of resistance at the lever.
With the Ducati back home I took the opportunity to clean the Honda in preparation for my visit to the California Superbike School on Monday. I'll be writing up a proper review once I get the photos of the event. When cleaning the bike I noticed some fork fluid around the fork bottom, which I wiped away, bounced the bike up and down a bit and checked again. Nothing. Cool.
The next day, and after exploring causes as to why my front brakes were squeaking just as I was coming to a halt, I decided that I should try and free up the bobbins in the brake discs before the track day. I searched online and found some great video footage of how to do it easily.
So all ready to go, I sprayed the bobbins and started to try and free them, but they weren't budging. I certainly wasn't going to try and force it, so decided to stop. It was at this point I realised that I'd inadvertently sprayed chain cleaner on my discs....the day before I was due to go on track. Idiot! Not good...not good at all. What followed was a mixture of bike cleaner, brake cleaner, water and riding it up and down my cul-du-sac to clear all the rubbish from the pads. Thankfully, it worked as about an hour later, I was back in business.
On Sunday afternoon, I loaded the bike into the back of the U-Drive rental van, strapped it down and headed off to London. Instead of trying to do the nearly three hour drive to Silverstone in Monday morning traffic, I decided that it would be a lot easier to start from North London instead. It was a good idea.
Getting to the circuit just before 07:00 I unloaded the bike only to find more fluid leaking from the from fork leg. Speaking with the CSS guys, we agreed that it was only weeping and that I should keep an eye on the forks and if it got any worse, I would probably need to stop the track sessions.
What followed was a magnificent day of coaching and riding, which really took it's toll on my legs. My on track instructor was Sam and he was fantastic. He gave good clear instructions and guidance about my riding, backing up and reaffirming what Glenn was teaching me in the classroom. The Pirelli Rosso Corsa 3 tyres were utterly flawless, with some truly fantastic side grip. Good news is the leak didn't get any worse and I was able to get five full sessions in. I can't wait to do level 2 as this was the best money I've ever spent when biking.
On the way home and I was intentionally taking it easy, but a few miles from the M40, I heard a loud thump from the back of the van and knew exactly what had happened. Like an idiot, I didn't tie the bike down properly and she had fallen on her left side, breaking the mirror, denting the tank and cracking the rear tail fairing. Gutted doesn't even come close. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way, but I would have preferred it if the bike hadn't toppled on it's side.
So onto today. With the FireBlade out of action until Friday, I had to take the Ducati to work this morning in the pissing rain. Five miles down the road and on the dual carriageway, I was looking at changing up into fifth when the gear shift went limp. Prodding around with my foot, I then couldn't find it at all. Glancing down, the lever was dangling down and was no longer attached to the gear link. This wasn't good. 
What followed was careful navigation of the roundabouts and traffic lights back home, stuck in fourth gear on a big V Twin. At lower speeds, I decided to rev the engine up to 8000rpm and slip the clutch in order to maintain drive. I knew that if I stopped, I'd be pushing it home. 
Somehow I made it back and already wet from the rain, I went about finding out the problem. Simply put, the bolt that held the lever to the linkage had made a break for freedom on the A31 this morning and replacing the bolt fixed the problem. I made a point to put two nuts on the end of the bolt, locking them in place with some Loctite. Once I was up and running I headed back out into rush hour proper, joining all the people on the A31, M27 and M3.
What followed was the worst rain I'd ridden the Ducati in since riding through Switzerland back in 2014 coming back from World Ducati Week. That journey left the Ducati looking like this.....
Picture
and today, she doesn't look my better, but give her her dues, she performed well in terrible conditions and as almost as a thank you, the whole journey home was on dry tarmac in warm sunshine. England...strange place.
So after two long journeys I finally remembered just how much hard work riding this bike is. Would I have it any other way? Probably not. Still love her, even if she does drive me mad every now and again.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Me

    My name is Matt Brown and I'm a UK journalist formerly based in London, but now calling the South of England home. I've been riding bikes since 2007, but got hooked straight away. Nothing gives me the feeling of freedom, even when stuck in a city. In 2010 I became a RoSPA gold rider, but when it comes down to it, I'm Just a normal man, riding his bikes as often as he can.

    Archives

    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    1098
    Ducati
    FireBlade
    Monster
    Weather
    Zx7r

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.