The XS650 is in Ireland

....after blowing both filaments of the headlight on the ride up to
Stranraer, apparently.

Big twins and vibration.....

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, The Older

<G> It was shaking the foundations of Wunderland when he fired the
fucker up outside this morning.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - There are few things in life more sinister than a
public toilet with the lid closed.

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 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

"Wunderland"?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus

As christened by Hog.

Should be WUNderland, I guess.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - There are few things in life more sinister than a
public toilet with the lid closed.

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 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

This one does that too ) I think all XS650s do.

 

Makes a nice noise, thobut, dunnit?

 

Nicer with a pair of Supertrap 'silencers' though. My last XS sounded very
sweet indeed, especially in a multi-storey carpark or tunnel.

JB

 

She was that, cold!

Monday morning arrived in WUNderland after a Sunday evening of curry and
beer. Neither of us found the early morning sun remotely compelling.
Tea, bath, bed, more tea and toast came and went and we finally set off
around midday for the 20:30 P&O from Stranraer.

387 miles, 8 hours, 25 year old bike. Doddle. What could go wrong......
Getting out of the village, that's what. The directions seemed clear WUN
but it all went horribly pete tong. A long loop had us outside Pirton PO
asking for directions. We took the A505 through Luton and joined the M1.
30 minutes lost.

5750 revs appeared to be the ideal cruising speed. Something around
80mph and 48mpg giving it 100 miles between fuel stops. M1, M6, M6 Toll
were all despatched with ease and we were back on schedule. The usual
traffic chaos was evident between Stoke and Liverpool, WHY do the cunts
bunch up like herd animals and refuse to budge? The low speed steering
of the XS made white lining a pleasure and the engine response up to
75mph was sufficient through the 40-50mph log jams.

Around Warrington the chill winter air turned Siberian. We were both
wearing the best of gear, and our thermals, but it was unpleasant.
Stopping for petrol just off the M-way North of Liverpool I discovered
Blondie was in a bad way. I rode the 12 miles up to the next service
station and pulled off for an unscheduled stop. We had passed the cold
snap but it took her 40 mins to thaw out and get moving again. As
always, the traffic cleared above Lancaster

Low beam went near Westmorland services. High beam followed shortly
thereafter. Fun cruising down a reasonably busy dark motorway with no
forward lights and I tucked in behind an obliging van until we reached
the M-Way services. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the
garage had completely run out of H4 bulbs, struggling to maintain a
basic level of politeness I ordered up food and coffee and called the
AA.....for a poxy fucking bulb.

The next call was to P&O. Bye bye 20:30, hello midnight freight ferry.
*Sigh*.

The nature of the AA seems to be changing. They are relying more and
more on external contractors. However the truck turned up within 40
minutes and he had us mobile within 10 minutes. Standing beside the
engineer I realised just how cold it was up there. I hadn't noticed when
we arrived, modern bike clothing is very very good. Gawd knows how low
the temperature must have plunged earlier in the journey.

The rest of the journey was uneventful and taken at a sedate pace, 4-5k
revs. The XS headlight is just about useable with it's new bulb, good
enough for the A75 at 50-60mph. A warm pub in Stranraer held us to
chucking out time. The ferry was deserted and offered enough bench
seating for 2 to sleep soundly from port to port. A short but nippy ride
down from Larne pacing an SLK with FOAD HID lights and Holywood appeared
out of the darkness at 02:35.

I like this type of jaunt, it's puts you just slightly out there and is
a small personal challenge. The 25 year old back tyre was <cough>
interesting, but it sufficed. The 25 year old parallel twin acquitted
itself very well. It didn't miss a beat, it sipped petrol but it did use
most of 500cc of oil. The seat and riding position are acceptably
comfortable, even the pull back bars make sense on a long motorway haul,
but it's an *insane* angle for a twistgrip. Badly needs a cruise control
on the throttle.

Many thanks to Pip and Loz for sorting out the dodgy fuse on Sunday and
of course to Mr and Mrs Eaton for their sterling hospitality.

 

WUN derland
Obvious innit, if it isn't a quick dekko inside the workshop makes it
so.

CNC mini mill indeed
<flounce>

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, 'Hog

How the ******?..

(Snip)

It was a pleasure, you're both very welcome whenever.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - There are few things in life more sinister than a
public toilet with the lid closed.

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 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Took the road to the end over the speed bumps, turned
left.....and...errr..ummm

Well *I* shall need to visit again soon! thanks

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, 'Hog

Temporary fault in the space-time continuum, I expect. We get those
round here occasionally.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - There are few things in life more sinister than a
public toilet with the lid closed.

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 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Blimey! I'd call that hammering it. I found 5k/70mph to be ideal.

She has my sympathies. It's not the sort of ride I'd like to do in
midwinter.

I have a feeling that prolonged 5750rpm might have this effect......

That's where it's happiest, IMHO. Like I said, you can gear it up with
a 14-tooth gearbox sprocket.

It's utter shite. I warned you )


The 25 year old parallel twin acquitted

I found it used about half a litre over 500+ miles, which is well
within tolerance. every XS650 I've owned has used oil. Given that you
were using it hardish, and were two-u (which *always* adds to the load)
I'd say that's fine. The danger is running out because it contains such
a small quantity of oil - 2.2 litres, IIRC, which is what I'd expect of
a 250.


The seat and riding position are acceptably

I think this is fair. I found it comfy, but the longest trip I did on
it was a tenth of what you did. The windscreen makes a hell of a
difference, mind.

Well, glad it made it!

 

Oh for sure, it would have been impossible without the screen, I would
have frozen to death.

So am I!!

 

Alice?
who the **** is Alice?

 

No idea, but I've been living next door to her for 24 years.

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles.classic, Dr Ivan D. Reid amazed us all with this
pearl of wisdom:

Did you tell her how you feel and maybe get a second glance?

 

No, but Sally called when she got the word -- maybe I'd be better
casting my hat in that direction?

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles.classic, Dr Ivan D. Reid amazed us all with this
pearl of wisdom:

Better get in the limo that's just rolled up her drive then...