8 years, 8 months, 8 days...

and 136,818km and my lousy battery has died!

This actually happened last week but the new battery has taken a little sorting...

The little battery that could!

I'm actually fantastically impressed with the run I've had from this battery but lately it had started sounding like it wasn't dishing out maximum ergs and the motor was actually turning over a few times before roaring into life.  A ride to work on a cooler morning and a little bit more winding over than normal had me thinking that I didn't want to get stranded anywhere so a battery was ordered.

The first battery that turned up was supposed to be the correct replacement (and apparently is fine) but when I got it home I noticed that the specs were not the same so I started investigating.  Luckily for me Al sent me a message on FB and let me know about the "H" version of the battery I'd bought.  The "H" battery offered up more CCA's and I decided that it was worth a few dollars more to get a slightly better one.

Great photo yet again!

Last night I picked up the newbie and then had to prep it by filling it with acid, standing and finally charging overnight.

Yeah, all that acid went into it

Tonight I slapped the battery back in the old girl - which took a little bit longer than I'd have liked but the job is done and the old girl is ready to hit the road again!

Ergs flowing properly and a kitten purring...

Now I just have to find the little rubber grommet that fell off the seat and rolled away sometime in the past week so that I can put the last little cover on - too dark and untidy in the shed to find tonight...

Nice one!

Well done Mr Anstey!

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/other/second-time-ve-worn-suit-bruce-anstey-made-member-new-zealand-order-merit.html?autoPlay=4845122096001

Legend!

Shame about the spelling...

The bug bit early

Sometime ago I posted up some old pictures that Dad sent me which kinda showed how I might have been a bit doomed to end up on two wheels:

Smiling despite being forced to wear a pom-pom hat for safety reasons

After a hard morning doing the gardening it's time for riding!  Damn safety Nazis!

Not many people know that I was the inspiration for the Crusty Demons videos...

Anyway, last night Mum handed me over this little book and it might also have been responsible for a bit of encouragement too:

How it works - the Motor cycle by David Carey

Now this little Ladybird book was published in 1968 which pre-dates me in a time period that can be called years (just not that many) and you can tell that it was precious to me as I wrote my name (complete with interesting spelling) in it so that it would always find its way back to me...

It also looks like that it also involved quite a substantial outlay in order to take possession:

Of course, as a "How it works" book it went into some detail examining the state of the art features of motorcycles.  I'm sure that this information is just as valuable today for the Harley riders out there...

Very sexy valve actuation

Drum brakes: love them or hate them - I choose to hate...

But where the book really excels is in its advice on safe riding.  I particularly like the paragraph suggesting not to ride at maximum speed for more than a minute or two at a time.  I will remember this when I'm next on a road where its possible to ride at maximum speed for two minutes...

I'm heading out right now for a new pair of non-splinter goggles...

Anyway, that's enough for now as I need to go finish memorising the sections on points ignition, carburettors and 4-speed gear-boxes...

PS: I did a search to see if there is a modern version of those fine tome but couldn't find anything (do Ladybird books exist anymore) but I did discover that you too can own a copy of this fine publication: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motor-Cycle-Ladybird-Series/dp/B00L5JTHO0

April BRRBT - And now for something completely different...

Today was our April Black Top ride and in the planning stages I was struggling to think of where to go as we've covered a fair bit of ground since we started having the rides.  In the end I decided to do something completely different...

I came up with a simple route but instead of leading it myself I decided to send out a series of pictures taken along  the route and asking the guys to work it out and lead the ride while I tucked in behind as TEC.  This is what I sent out: I'm lost already...

Come this morning I was pretty sure that people would be able to find the start but when I got there I was first so I grabbed a coffee and parked up to wait.  First to arrive was Russell and he seemed to have a fair idea where we were going - a good start...Next was Rob who was a little more doubtful but had definitely worked out some of the photo locations.  Last to arrive was Brian and he just wanted a ride...

Russell led us out of Feilding and immediately added his twist on the route taking us out Makino Road and then on a roundabout route to miss out Halcombe but eventually bring us back on track when he turned onto Makuhou Road.  From here on he was faithful to my plan.

Riding through to Hunterville from Fordell was interesting as usual - crap on the road, a bull on the road and some wet and slippery bits as we got nearer to Hunterville.  In Hunterville it was time to gas up and grab some lunch.

After lunch Brian led us off up SH1 and got the next turn right to take us across from Ohingaiti to Pemberton and Rangiwahia.  It was a nice ride through here with just a few damp patches in places and the odd fresh obstacle to avoid.

Just before Rangiwahia Rob whistled through passing everyone so I thought I'd better tag along with him just in case he got lost or something...but no, he nailed the next turn and led us on a nice little squirt around the valley and into Ashhurst where coffee was had before we all parted company.

Not as many on the ride this time but I think the different format worked - we'll have to see if I can come up with something different again for next time...

Where we were supposed to go (clicking the icons will show the pictures):

Ending the week properly

Last night was the last Friday night ride of the season and as I hadn't got along to any I thought that I'd better sneak in at least one before they were all over.

There was only Pauly and 1 other rider waiting when I rolled into Courtesy Motorcycles but by the time we were ready to leave there was a reasonable number of bikes and even a trio of 3 wheeled things.

The ride itself was just a short hop through the gorge and back over the track before a pootle down to Linton where there was a nice BBQ waiting for us.  The weather was very nice and the riding very pleasant.  Leaving the BBQ it was hard to just head home - it really was a lovely night and it would have been so easy just to keep going somewhere....