Sunday 18 March 2012

Ledenon - practise.....or not

Went to Ledenon today to check the bikes out. They had forecast reasonable weather earlier in the week, however we left at 7:30am, and the sky got darker as we went South. It's 2.5 hours drive to Ledenon, and by the time we got there it was pissing it down, with a strong wind to add. Needless to say, I didn't get any laps in. We looked around, and had a coffee, and then walked around, there were a few cars that had turned up for a few laps, so we went outside and promptly got soaked....

We left soon after... The bikes are now snugged up in the van - it was snowing when I got home, so couldn't even unload....

Speak soon.

Monday 12 March 2012

Technical News

Both bikes started this weekend...phew... always a moment of doubt, after changing quite major stuff on both bikes. I did have a slight mishap with the RG, as I connected the capacitor (battery replacement) up the wrong way around, and even though the bike started OK, it exploded after a couple of minutes.... luckily they have a vent valve, and it blew it's bottom off. THE LINE ON THE CAPACITOR INDICATES THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL. Sorry didn't mean to shout!

I had removed the carbs on the RG, to better seal them, and to add new o'rings, and also added some new exhaust gaskets, I am getting fedup of having a permanently oil covered engine... We'll see how it goes.

On the 350 I finished a new brake lever, and fitted that whilst I am waiting for delivery of a new footrest holder. I have bodged one up for Ledenon, but not really happy as it's only 5mm aluminium plate, and I don't think it is strong enough.
The 350 sounded really crisp with the new carbs, and it almost ticked over with the standard settings. Again I will need to adjust the balance, and then keep a careful eye on the plugs for the first couple of runs at Ledenon next weekend. The 350 looks kind of neat with no airbox, there is just this big whole where the battery and airbox was. I will take a photo next weekend.

I just need to get a new front tyre fitted to the RG, and fit my wet tyres to the spare wheels I have painted up (gold) and then I am set.