So just over a week after discovering the problem with the plugs on the exhaust servo motor, I was able to call upon the engineering skills of my mate Dean to help swap them over. I've never been a very good solderer, normally making a mess akin to a 4yr old playing with spaghetti, but Dean is. His work is always top quality and when he put it all together, the joins were beautifully crisp and neat all individually wrapped afterwards. One hit of the starter and the bike burst into life, now with the preferred non-raspy exhaust note and without any warning on the dash.
With the FireBlade all fixed, all I needed to do was put it back together again. Everything clicked together as expected, with the exception of the last fairing retaining bolt, which just so happened to be in a fairly inaccessable area at the front of the bike. When tightening it up, I managed to cross it and not being able to get a suitable grip on the nut, had to resort to violence. Out came the Dremmel, on went a cutting disc and soon the head of the bolt pinged onto the floor of the garage. I didn't even mark the fairing. Sorted.
With the FireBlade all fixed, all I needed to do was put it back together again. Everything clicked together as expected, with the exception of the last fairing retaining bolt, which just so happened to be in a fairly inaccessable area at the front of the bike. When tightening it up, I managed to cross it and not being able to get a suitable grip on the nut, had to resort to violence. Out came the Dremmel, on went a cutting disc and soon the head of the bolt pinged onto the floor of the garage. I didn't even mark the fairing. Sorted.
In other news, I've been spending a little time exploring some of the ranges of custom retro bikes from manufactures such as Herald, AJS, and Brixton and visited a local dealer called All2Wheelers.
Situated on an industrial estate, the team were very welcoming and on the mezzanine of their garage they had a cool little showroom area with the bikes taking pride of place.
The bikes are really interesting and are fundamentally uncomplicated bikes that are highly customisable. With a simple frame and 'old fashioned' engine configurations, these little things allow the owners to have the type of bike they want, but don't have to pay the earth for. The bike here for example, is the beautiful Herald Maverick 125 and its not a physically small bike. Learner friendly, it doesn't put out huge power, but then its not designed to compete with sportsbikes or tourers. These bikes are great way to potter around on and/or provide very affordable transport. How affordable you ask, well this Herald is £2600 brand new!
In our world there will always be a place for the £20k missiles, but these little retros are forging their place in the market. Not only will they provide new riders with an affordable bike they can feel proud of (no longer being forced to ride around on a knackered CBF125), but they are also providing the experienced rider something fun and different to ride just for fun. Isn't that what biking should be after all, fun.
Situated on an industrial estate, the team were very welcoming and on the mezzanine of their garage they had a cool little showroom area with the bikes taking pride of place.
The bikes are really interesting and are fundamentally uncomplicated bikes that are highly customisable. With a simple frame and 'old fashioned' engine configurations, these little things allow the owners to have the type of bike they want, but don't have to pay the earth for. The bike here for example, is the beautiful Herald Maverick 125 and its not a physically small bike. Learner friendly, it doesn't put out huge power, but then its not designed to compete with sportsbikes or tourers. These bikes are great way to potter around on and/or provide very affordable transport. How affordable you ask, well this Herald is £2600 brand new!
In our world there will always be a place for the £20k missiles, but these little retros are forging their place in the market. Not only will they provide new riders with an affordable bike they can feel proud of (no longer being forced to ride around on a knackered CBF125), but they are also providing the experienced rider something fun and different to ride just for fun. Isn't that what biking should be after all, fun.
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