I have in my hand a piece of paper. To be exact an MoT certificate for the Nordwest issued this morning. Only corrective action required a stick on rear reflector. The original was removed when the end of the rear mudguard was sawn off after being damaged in a hill climb incident. Taxed an hour later and a blast to the 'greasy spoon'. This revealed the following: 1) I had forgotten how much fun this bike is. 2) Old Pirelli Dragons do not inspire confidence like newish nicely scrubbed in Pilot Power 2CTs. Unfortunately you can't get 150 rear PP2CTs, so I will be talking to Magnum about my best alternative. Paging Gyp for cast off opportunities. 3) I realised it was still on hill climb gearing. This made progress satisfyingly brisk away from lights. So brisk that it took the rider of something big (1200 Bandit I think) somewhat by surprise as he rather cut in front of me, assuming an old 'trail bike' would have been left behind easily. 4) As a result of giving it the beans re. 3) it is clear that the cooling system still pressurises under severe provocation. Not an issue for hill climbing, as Gilera special tool 42 (a bicycle tyre pump) can be used to persuade coolant from the expansion tank back to its rightful station. Actually you can ride it reasonably briskly for quite a distance without problems. What really promotes is big handfuls in intermediate gears from lowish revs. So, Sir Champ, your single steed awaits. Shall I bring it to BOSM (assuming you are still up for a hillclimb meeting and there are no other windows of opportunity for familiarisation before)? I will put it on touring gearing for then though (might even try the 16 tooth gearbox sprocket that was a tad too high for the Nordwest/Saturno). On the MoT silencer it is v. strangled and rich but ICBA to fiddle with the jetting unless I come across a pair of jets that seem about the right factor smaller. It will breathe much more deeply on the FPM race can. Celebration piccies here: http://www.ps-fisher.demon.co.uk/pickchurs/Nordwest/Nordie1.jpg http://www.ps-fisher.demon.co.uk/pickchurs/Nordwest/Nordie2.jpg http://www.ps-fisher.demon.co.uk/pickchurs/Nordwest/Nordie3.jpg <awaits comments about gay (the one true original Nordwest combination) colour scheme) Ignore the naff graphics on the back mudguard. I agreed to put them on in a moment of weakness, as Stoppie Windys wanted us both to have them when he was actually getting a bit of sponsorship from Piaggio back in 96. They can be easily peeled off (I hope). -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pete Fisher Krusty'll like that. Except for the black bits. -- Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41 SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner", Honda GL1000K2 (Falling apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big" Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer
Good grief. That's *way* more pink than my pink (which is far more plum-like). <thinks> Heh - pink plums. -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
I parsed that first glance as "...seek clartyn." Global warming certainly seems to bring the tree fever season on earlier each year but Mona's Isle seemed a long way to go for antihistamine. Shall I email you the finalised list of meeting dates? -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
In fact the basic list is on-line here: http://www.nhca.co.uk/Calendar/dates.htm It doesn't give regs availability and closing dates yet so I have emailed a scan of the paper version issued at the AGM. BTW there is going to be a 'Practice Day' at Llandow (Sprint) circuit on Saturday 17th March. Competition (including hill climb) licence holders only and a useful additional rider (for 20 quid) on same bike arrangement. Those that did it last year reckoned it was good for setting up and blowing the cobwebs out. Pahnd Island it ain't as you can see: http://www.llandow.com/circuit.htm I upped the gearing on the Nordwest yesterday and took it for a run. It is going surprisingly well despite not being re-jetted for the OEM silencer. Let's just say it will pull the red line in 5th on 16/43 sprockets (OEM= 14/43). -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
Mastering Mallory eh? I might even come along to watch. The lad asked for a ride out to Quatt this afternoon. We got there just in time to see a bloke who I am sure was 'our kid' Tony Rutter [1] ride off. Guess what bike he was on. [1] Well he had a white and red helmet with 'TR' on the front also bearing what looked like TT scrutineering stickers , and he was with a chap I have often seen there before who says he is a mate. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
A bit different now from when I used to do MMRC and Formula Fifty meetings. No 'bus stop' on the approach to Devil's Elbow then. Didn't like it much, though I remember getting quite inspired there at one very wet meeting riding the Rotarini round much bigger stuff at Gerrrards. You probably need someone more competent if the help involves using the spanners rather than just handing them over as if to a surgeon in the O.R. If nobody else more suitable is available though let me know. Would you believe a modern Enfield? -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
