My baby works!

Wahay!

I changed the fuse for the ignition and it worked!

I took it on 300ft bimble around the road, turned the handlebars both
ways to make sure nothing was snagged (throttle cable, etc) and it
worked very well. Brakes okay too, and even the smashes speedo works,
rev counter makes an odd clicking noise and stays at zero.

I then went inside, very, very excited and happy, shoved on a leather
jacket (better than nothing, I suppose) and my helmet, took it off
again and put on the dark visor (dark visor probably looks less suss
than one with the whole side of it scratched) and went outside, jumped
on the bike and hooned to Alford Brothers.

Half way through the journey to Alford's I stopped off to make sure I
hadn't lost any coolant or oil and it looked fine. I may have got off
very lightly on this.

Alford Bros. seemed very disinterested in getting an estimate ("We're
not Kawasaki dealers, sir") and then Cheriton Motorcycles who will
have a quote for me within a couple of days.

Alford brothers say I need:

New handlebar
New brake lever
New forks
New right signal
New headlight
New clocks + mountings
New rear brake pedal & peg module

Cheriton motorcycles say I need

New handlebar
New brake lever
New right signal
New chrome outer for the existing headlamp
New clocks + mountings

I asked them if they thought the forks were okay and they said they're
fine and I asked about the rear brake and pegs and they said the pegs
were fine, but they can hammer the pedal a bit more into the correct
position.

Sounds like Cheriton Motorcycles may get my vote on this one. I'm not
even sure if Alford Brothers will bother to get back to me, they were
that disinterested.

Both are aware that it's not going to be an insurance claim.

Looks like we're cooking with gas. ER-5 is now Back On The Road, but
is currently outside with its Windsale (cover) on to avoid buggering
up the electrics any more if it rains.

 

Top news. Nice one.

 

BGN wrote

Of course it will it is an ER5, a basic-as-it-gets motorcycle.

That list looks like a job for a 10mm spanner and a lump hammer. Tools
you should possess.

There is a nice learning curve opportunity to be had here.

 

<snip>

Hooned.. I like that word.

With luck, you'll get it fixed up quickly, I'll keep my fingers crossed
that you do.

 

Don't tell me you've never heard it before?

NAHAY?

 

I did that for about 2 hours yesterday, but didn't get very far. Bent
out most of the chrome on the light with a spanner and a hammer.
Learning curve is a bit too high there, but one day I'll get there.

 

You, Sir, are a star ... well done

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Wahay indeed.

Well done, man.

With any luck, you'll be able to pick up some secondhand clocks. New
clocks cost a mint, so if you're not desperate - and you're not, as
the speedo works - eBay may well be your friend ...

Goodonyer!

 

Getting it working (even though it was just a fuse that had died) was
a fantastic feeling.

You know what? I much prefer the look of it now without the
flyscreen.

 

BGN wrote

Don't worry about it, that is latent heterosexuallity that is. You will
find you enjoy it more and more as time goes on.

 

Oh dear ... I fear you may be setting foot on the path to Ratdom.

Good on you

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

I blame WC's piece of art that I had the opportunity to ride @ BoSM.

 

Is there any reason why new ones cost mucho cash? I mean, they don't
even look good. They'll give me a cost for new ones when they get the
estimate. I'm sure my jaw will hit the floor when I see that most of
the cost will be the clocks.

I will keep an eye out for clocks on ebay, and may even pay a visit to
a scrap yard (never been to one before) to see what is on offer.

Thanks!

 

I've noticed a definite butch streak emerging from somewhere... One
day in a few years time I'll suddenly fart and growl and tare down all
of the net curtains and drapes, remove the black and white framed
portraits of Madonna and Judy Garland from the walls, cover myself in
grease and roll around in the mud for a while.

Or perhaps not.

 

Agreed, a hoon is a more focused bimble. On my CG, I tend to pop, the
FZR hoons and the Bandit bimbles.

I've got a patch like that on my right shin at the moment. Ever since I
grazed it, and then knocked the scab off by accident. You can see the
skin trying to grow back over, but not managing to for some reason.

Well, it's best not to think of horrid things happening. You tend to
move towards things you're looking at. Thinking is a lot like this too.

 

They just do - electronics, innit. I'd (wildly) guess at 250 quid for
a pair of new ones.

You'll love it. There's a whole new world out there that you're just
skimming atm. If one of the locals <looks at sweller and JackH> would
take you under their wing, it would be much easier for you - and
increase their karma no end.

There's SFA useful to you on eBay that I can see atm.

IIWY I'd gaffer tape the back of the clocks against water ingress and
use the bike as the speedo works and that will keep you on the right
side of the law, then pick up some s/h items as and when.

 

Do you ever gas or juice it anywhere?

I'm having my dressings changed tomorrow morning, but on Saturday when
I was rushed to hospital again (as the arm appeared to explode while
at work) they said that the polyester top that is now part of my skin
will probably have to be chopped out and have something else put there
instead. I imagine this will happen over the next few months.

I think the TGWU will pay for any time I need to have off as the
accident happened on my way to/from work, which could be handy, and my
employer provide freebie unlimited Bupa cover for me, so at least I
can have strawberries and cream while waiting.

True.

On the way back home I went back on the A20 and had a look at my
little spot. I think I'll be a bit more careful on the throttle in
future, I was very fortunate.

 

Pip says...

Wot 'e said

 

Well **** me with a breadstick. That's an astonishing price. I'll
try to take the good glass out of the rev counter section tomorrow and
stick it in the speedo. What's on the rev counter anyway? Just oil
and coolant lights, I suppose. I can live without them for £250.

On a motorcycle, is having one right signal legal? The front one
isn't attached, so all I have is the rear right signal currently.

I think I've go the right signal somewhere, but it's a bit heavy for
Gaffertape.

 

You should be so lucky ... buttered or no?

And a wild guess. Could be more, but IWT unlikely to be much less.

Do the glass swap, if you can. Speedo sorted then. The idiot lights
will continue to function most likely, but a bit of cling film insted
of glass will keep the rain out.

I wasn't thinking about leaving /all/ the other items, Nick.
Depending on price, I'd have the rest sorted but leave the clocks for
a bit. Indicators all round are required, unless you remove them all
and use hand signals. As far as bodging indicators goes, I usually
use insulating tape as it's lighter ;-)