This bordering on the obsessive...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260330553168

But when you see an NOS item like this come up for sale (thank you,
eBay searches), you grab them.

Sounds extortionate? Well, I've sold used pairs of these reflectors
for well over £30. They're among the Honda 400 Four parts that are
made of unobtainium (Dave Silver doesn't list 'em any more) and I
think the seller underpriced these.

So the ones on the 400 Four can come off, be cleaned up, go onto
Fleabay and these spanking new ones can replace them. Happy Bunny.

 

I hope, when you've got the best 400 four in the world, you still allow it
out to play sometimes...

 

Heh. Oh, it's used in anger, frequently. It didn't see much use this
year because the summer was such crap, although I gave it a thrash or
two in the autumn.

And last year, it made it to Chimay, and more than one bod who followed
it through France and Belgium mentioned they were slightly surprised at
how well it went.

It'll never be the best 400F in the weorld, because it's original and
unrestored. Slightly 'Trigger's broom' in that it's had a new tank,
mudguards, exhaust, wheels, seat and some small items while I've had it,
but the engine has never been taken down, nor even removed from the
frame, and the frame has (obviously) never been repainted.

There are nice bits of patina like the original supplying dealer's
sticker still on one side panel.

And bits aren't stock. It's got a stainless steel brake hose, and dogleg
alloy levers (the originals are in a box), to improve control. Rear
shocks are Hagons.

But it's still brilliant

 

<Looks embarrassed, scuffs toe into dust>

Yes, I did, a year or two back.

I have also bought a one-twelfth scale Tamiya model kit, and a *superb*
Japanese flywheel-powered miniature model about the size of a 10p coin.
From Singapore, of all places.

And another, even smaller, miniature model that was some giveaway toy
from a Japanese fast food chain, I think. Came in a dinky little round
plastic box.

And a genuine Honda brochure (very, very hard to find). And a splendid
A4 advertisement, razored from a US magazine.

And I've got several UK mags with period roadtests - Bike, Motorcycling
Monthly, Motorcycle Sport.

And a genuine Honda parts book. Ditto factory manual. Ditto dealer
set-up instructions. Owner's handbook (got two of them actually).
Warranty/service booklet.

So much tat, so little time.

 

In communiqué <1irtwx0.ozt5p716uqsfN%>,

Yes, yes, but you've only got the one 400/4.

Amen to that.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

yeah, mine's been in the shed all "summer" too. I've BTDT on riding in
shite weather when I had a bike as my only wheels, I see no need to repeat
the exercise for fun.

Still hope to do Chimay one year, but other things keep nicking all the
money, like the bank...

 

I've had quite a few. You're right, though.

Must buy more.

 

In message

<small voice>

The steering lock cover that made you chortle in a thread ^ there was
about 30 quid. Then I had to pay for carriage from the US.


Saw a burgundy 400/4 being used in the pissing rain going through
Shirley earlier this week, looked tidy enough though.




Picked up the chrome today. It's *gorgeous*.

Pics to follow later this weekend, I suspect the chrome on the Beav
painted tank with new badges is going to look superb.

Dropped off the exhausts to let them see what they could do - they
weren't very optimistic, and the downpipes I gave them came back full of
holes, rotted from the inside, luckily the repro ones are supposed to be
ok. I can recommend Marque Restoration in Coventry, they seem to do a
good job, and even weld and fill holes in parts when they are severely
pitted.

Had to laugh though - one guy in Bahrain sent a load of E-Type parts
over to be plated, except whoever boxed them up couldn't be bothered to
find a box big enough for some of trims - so bent them to fit :-o

 

excellent catch

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 03 BMW R1100S Boxercup, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

I don't know whether to laugh or cry...

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Steve Parry

Ahah! *Now* I understand TOG's "happily parried" comment.

 

There's not a single E-Type part you can't buy new that's as good as
the factory made anyway, so it's not such a big deal. I'd have thought
buying new would have been cheaper.

 

Things must have improved then - when I left school I went to work for a
firm that restored E-Types, going so far as to throw all the body away
apart from the roof and the bulkhead and start from there using all new
panels. Hardly any of the new panels fit - and the bonnets (then around
1k each new[1]) had to be severely chopped around to fit, the chrome
work was no better, cutting bumpers and sending for re-chroming was not
unusual.

[1] Around 1988

 

Just like the factory, then.