Sunday, February 17, 2013

Some prep

I'm counting down to the start of the TT2000 so on Saturday it was time to do a bit of basic maintenance on the Connie.

Unfortunately before I started I was in for a shock.  As I started to wheel the bike out of the shed I noticed that the Connie felt even heavier than usual- a sure sign of something amiss.  This time it was the front tyre - doh!  As it's the front I'm not going to muck around getting it repaired, the bike shop has a couple of PR2's put aside for me so they will be going on earlier than I had planned - the old one's would have lasted the trip.  A bit of a bummer but...

Next up was a quick bath and then I rode it into the shed to drop the oil out of her.  Once the engine and final drive oil was changed I gave her a quick polish and then it was time to farkle...

Nothing that interesting this time - I noticed some different leds in a shop a while ago and thought that I'd try them for size.  The pic below shows the previous leds and the one on the right the new ones.


It is hard to tell from the picture (the new one appears bluer than the old when it is actually whiter) but the new leds are a bit brighter.  Not really sure if they're going catch anyone's eye better (if you can't see a Connie with +100 bulbs coming then you shouldn't be driving) but I guess I just like farkling...

So now I've just got to get the rubber fitted, get through a few more days of work and then we're off!

8 comments:

  1. Have fun Andrew!!

    Wish I could do maintenance myself but at least I try sometimes .. I am envious that you did all that in one day it normally takes me at least a weekend to do just one of those things.

    Like the new LED, you can tell how much brighter it is just by those rays around it. I'd like to get something similar if I could find it in chrome :D

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    1. At least you are having a go! I'm not an expert by any means although my Dad is a mechanic so he often ends up on the end of the phone talking me through things...

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  2. Do you have anyone do the TT2000 on a sportsbike, and if so do they make it for the 2000kms. I'd love to do it but I don't know if i'd be able to do it on a sportsbike. Its on my bucket list.

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    1. People do it on all sorts of bikes. On the Grand Challenge (1,000 miles in 24 hours) we've even had scooters, an RG50 and the odd R1...

      Checkout the registration list for a taste of the variety: http://www.tt2000.org/#!__registrations-list

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  3. Andrew, there is a definite difference between the new and the old LED. Sounds like you plan on some night riding and will need them in the TT2000. Have fun, ride safe. I'd never be able to cover that distance in 48 hours, I stop far too often.

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    1. There shouldn't be too much night riding: maybe a bit on Friday night and an early start on Saturday morning.

      Yeah, it's the stops that hurt. Our cunning plan hopefully keeps these to a minimum. A 350km range also helps...

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  4. Looking good, and better to find the flatty when you did and not on the morning of the ride.

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    1. New PR2's are on and I'm ready to rock Rog!

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