What have you done with your bike today?

[mr_diver]

Well yesterday got the service sorted on the Varadero ready for my camping trip in Snowdonia next weekend.

Oil and filter, chain clean and lube, top up scottoiler, cleaned and oiled the K&N air filter.
Genrral wash over.

Shouldn't have bothered with the air filter, it was faily clean with just a few flies in there. But as I'd gone to the ffort of removing the plastics and tank.

[Asmith61]

@ Mr _diver always good to get a service on a bike, hope you have a good safe trip and hope the weather is kind to you 

[NorthumBryan]

i remember it's a fair old bit of work to get the tank off the Varadero. I did mine once and I pretty much regretted doing it right up until I was finished, it was that sort of job.

[NorthumBryan]

Today myself & Morpethmatt had a run up & around the borders. We headed up through Wooler, turned right at Coldstream and headed for Duns. From Duns we did the 'loop' over the moors through Cranshaws and Longformacus and back to Duns where we attempted to stop for a cuppa but the queues were too long. Plan 'B' for a cuppa was Berwick-upon-Tweed but that was rammed out so we headed back over to Wooler via Doddington. Cuppa secured we then headed over to Rothbury for yet more tea and then back to Morpeth where the day started. A cracking day out and I remembered to take a picture of the statue of Wojtek - the soldier bear in Duns.

Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear bought, as a young cub, at a railway station in Hamadan, Iran, by Polish II Corps soldiers who had been evacuated from the Soviet Union. In order to provide for his rations and transportation, he was eventually enlisted officially as a soldier with the rank of private, and was subsequently promoted to corporal. He accompanied the bulk of the II Corps to Italy, serving with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, in Italy in 1944, Wojtek helped move crates of ammunition and became a celebrity with visiting Allied generals and statesmen. After the war, mustered out of the Polish Army, he was billeted and lived out the rest of his life at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. You genuinely couldn't make it up !

[Asmith61]

That sounded like a great ride for you both 
Great picture of wojtek what a great story.

How did the shock hold up  ?

[NorthumBryan]

Cheers, the shock has been fine. I gave the bike some 'soapy love' when I got home and the gave it a bit of a dry down with a very soft fluffy cloth. I popped it back in the garage to let it drip dry overnight. It's amazing how much water the radiator area holds and there is always a puddle of water underneath, I think it's the shape of the bodywork holding water against the radiator ends or it could be the ally bash plate ? Anyhooo, I had a quick peak around the shock today and I can see only the faintest of traces of oil on the damper rod. There is no sign of oil running off anywhere and there are no drops of oil 'hanging' so it's really minor. I had a bit of a paranoid adjustment of the suspension yesterday and on the hardest (sport) setting it's far too uncomfortable for bumpy Northumbrian back roads but setting it back to the comfort end of the spectrum it's fine. I am keeping a close eye on it however as it's very close to the rear tyre...

Oh, off to see the Speedway at Newcastle tonight. We've not been for years but I remember it was a hoot watching these incredibly skinny bikes take off like a bat out of hell on gravel ! If the light quality is good enough I'll try and rattle a couple of pics off.

[Asmith61]

 Oh that’s good it is only a minor weep  yes just keep an eye on it,  I know it will be on your mind but if you can make it last until the end of Summer and it will be a good winter project.

Brilliant that you are going to Newcastle speedway tonight Edinburgh are there tonight so should be a good meeting hope you enjoy it   
We live streamed Poole vs Oxford on good Friday which was a one way affair,
Oxford speedway has reopened after being closed for 15 years so that is excellent news and my mate is there captain so obviously we are supporting them 
And also he is captain for Peterborough panthers in the premiership.

Hope you have a good evening at the speedway and look forward to seeing some pics   

[NorthumBryan]

Cheers, I think speedway is having a little bit of a revival; Newcastle nearly went under a couple of years ago and a new owner has come in who is really trying. The stadium is having to earn it's keep with multiple events such as the dog racing but also it's getting used by community groups too. There are a lot of things vying for your cash at the moment up in Newcastle such as the basketball, rugby (league and union) and the local sunday league football side...

It's going to be tough to keep going but once it's gone it'll be gone for good as the site will make prime building ground for either houses or a retail development. nice to see Oxford back and I genuinely hope this is a revival for speedway. These would also be ideal to convert to electric too, short races, high torque motors and virtually silent will keep the councils off their backs from noise complaints too. Could be the future ?

[Asmith61]

They have tried motorcross engines (fourstroke ) to keep the cost down they called it formula 2 speedway but I don’t think it was very successful, but I like your idea of electric power maybe you are on to something there?

Yes you are right so many speedway tracks have closed down over the years and as you say for prime building land, my local track was Rayleigh Rockets which closed down in 1973 and the land was sold off to build a retail park which still stands today, incidentally the Rockets moved to Rye house and run until sadly closing halfway through the 2019 season and Scott was also captain there as well 

[NorthumBryan]

OK, so not strictly what I've done on my bike but following on from the previous conversation here are a couple of pics from last nights speedway in Newcastle. We had a great time and were surprised by the number of people there, a great crowd with a lot of support for the Edinburgh Monarchs (who won by 8 points). Newcastle were hamstrung by two DNF's due to machine failure by the same rider and an exclusion, also the same rider... But to be fair Edinburgh looked a well set up team with some top riders.

[MadisonMotorsportUK]

I've never understood Speedway 

To me it's like the 2 wheel equivalent of Nascar, which sucks big time, only slightly more entertaining

[NorthumBryan]

I have to say I am surprised that more bikers don't go to speedway events; I only saw three people last night who were clearly on bikes. I guess it's because it's so alien to how you ride either on road or even off road ? It's incredibly skilful with these little, lightweight (minimum weight 77kg - just 77kg eeek), methanol fueled, 85hp monsters flying around corners sideways. Myself & the Mrs had a great time last night and we found a great spot to watch just before the start line so you could see how much work was involved in the launch. I do get how it's not for everyone, especially if you've been brought up on track or road racing.

[Asmith61]

Hi glad you and your mrs had a great time at the speedway and thank you for the pics   

Yes I agree it’s not for everyone but I have been a supporter since my brother took me to Ipswich to see the witches in 1972, I have had ago back in the day but was useless ( not built for speedway  ) and still have a bike one of Scott Nicholls
Here are a few pictures

[Asmith61]

Better picture of my speedway bike

[NorthumBryan]

 

Fantastic pics  And who wouldn't want a speedway bike ???