This morning I decided to see how an Armstrong (1) would cope with some snowy forestry roads (2). Going up was not too bad but then I had to come back down. I know next to bugger all about what you're supposed to do whilst riding off road but I have learned some things: Standing up on the bloody thing was hilarious (if you had been watching) it seemed to be much easier to handle the sudden sideways stuff whilst sat down... Trying to come down a hill using the engine braking results in far too much speed and then falling off or stalling Trying to come down a hill on the front brake does mean you come down the hill but at some point this will happen with you separate from the bike Using the back brake is best as long as you don't get cocky and try going past a certain speed then its back to tobogganing. Not much breaks off an Armstrong. I still haven't go the hang of starting it. From cold I make sure the things at the right point (3) every time but It just won't start until it chooses. It just seems to need an indeterminate number of kicks before you suddenly get a little 'try' and then you know it will start with just a couple more goes. It does only get started on weekends so maybe it was better when used daily. Stall it when it's very hot and you have to wait before it will start again. I wish I smoked because then I could have a fag while I wait. I don't so I pass the time trying to kick it back into life. Could the petrol be vaporising in the (hot) carburettor? The clutch seems to be behaving now I've got more time to play with on it. I'm at the point of thinking that life is too short and Imight buy an XT600 *E* 1. New distanzia front, knackered metzeler rear. :) 2. 2" of snow packed down where cars had been, all of it frozen solid...... 3. Easy to check by looking for the little white spot on the cam belt pulley
