R1150GS…

My Triumph Bonnie SE frustrates me, I love the way it looks, I love the way it rides, and it really is a lot of fun to ride, but, and this really is a big but! the seat is appalling, I can’t believe that Triumph tested these seats before releasing these bikes, or is it just a case of style over comfort?

I guess the final straw for me was going to the John Bull rally earlier this year, 60 miles down the road and I was ready to get off and walk, and I still had another hundred miles to look forward to. So for a while now I have been thinking of changing the Triumph, but I had no idea what I fancied to replace it, a big Japanese bike maybe, like the XJR1300, or maybe an 990 KTM Adventure, I have never owned a KTM so that was tempting in itself. Or there was always another BMW or Harley.

Triumph Bonnie SE

So just recently I have started looking more seriously, when out of the blue i got a nice TAX rebate, so I looked at what was available and shortlisted it down to an KTM 990 Adventure, or the big BMW R1150GS, but I wanted to find something with low mileage, and after going to see a KTM, which I really liked by the way, I found an BMW over in Leominster, with nice low milage, full history, and very well looked after. So a few phone calls later, and a deal was done, and this morning I went over and rode the bike home.

2003 BMW R1150GS

Damn Unreliable Triumph, part 2…

Incase any of you guys are interested, I came up with two answers to the starting problem.

1. I bought a small power pack assembly, about the size of two mobile phones, that comes with a set of jump leads, and has enough power to start a car. it was just £34 and also has a USB port for charging a phone if needed. I will take a picture later, so you can see.

Here is a video I found on the Tube…

2. When I got the bike back in June, I fitted a new MotoBatt battery, I always fit new batteries to any bike I buy, as it takes the guesswork out of the equation. But when talking to a friend about this, he told me to change the battery again, to a Varta maintenance free type battery, as these have a higher storage voltage, not a lot higher, but over 12.6V. So that is what I did, and even during this cold weather, I have had no further problems so far.

Triumph Bonnie SE

 

Triumph Bonneville,The Click of Doom.

As some of you know I have an 09 865cc Bonneville SE, I got it earlier this year, and as of today I am on my third battery! apparently there is nothing wrong with the batteries, but using the bike around town does not charge them to the required level, and if like me you are unable to put your bike on a battery tender when it is not used, the battery voltage will fall to below 12.6v and then the bike will shut down.

So today I fitted another new battery, and put the older one on charge, and went for a ride and all was good. but I was annoyed about the battery issue, and now carry jump leads with me whenever I take the bike out. So this evening when I had a chance I decided to google surf to try to find a fix for this most annoying problem, that Triumph really should sort out. And I found this……

So maybe this will help one or two of you, I am certainly going to try this next time I get the click of death

Clocks Back Rally…

I headed out to the Moto Guzzi clocks back rally all on me lonesome. So being a Moto Guzzi rally, I grabbed the Triumph Bonnie SE, loaded it it up with my camping stuff in the warmth of an autumn Friday, and headed out with a loose plan to be at Upton upon Severn, eighty or so miles west of me, by lunch time, and a date with with a traditional British lunch in the shape of a steamed, steak and kidney pudding! For I had found out that hidden in the backstreets of Upton was the world famous Pudding Shop & cafe.

Eighty country lane miles later, and I was pulled up outside that very purveyor of savoury goodness, and they were open for lunch…

The Pudding Shop

 

Steamed Steak and Kidney pudding

The camp site

That was pretty much it for the first day, just time meet a few people, drink a beer or five, and get settled in for the evening in the warmth of a country pub.
The next morning started damp with heavy grey cloud and light drizzle, although it did get a bit heavier during the day, it was not too cold or unpleasant. so after a full english breakfast, I decided to take a walk into town, and have a bit of a mooch about, first then was the river Severn, from where the town gets it’s name. Once a thriving market style town, now though overwhelmed with antique shops, but it does still have a few decent pubs to keep the thirsty traveller quenched.

Mmm

V7 750 Special in Upton

The Anchor Inn

Out On The Weekend….

The clocks back Guzzi Rally

I spent the weekend over at Upton upon Severn, at the Moto Guzzi club, clocks back rally. I took my Triumph of course, no need to be predictable in this world. I shall post some rally pictures later, but first I shall post a picture I took at Marlborough on my way home…

Street Art, Marlborough

Down at the Lockup…

I have been trying to fettle my Guzzi as and when time allows, it is behind schedule as it happens, but there is nothing I can do about it. I have changed out the cylinders and pistons, rebuilt the top end, done an alternator conversion, changed the wiring, plus a load of other small items, in the vain hope of attending the replacement Vtwin Guzzi rally this weekend. But alas, it was not to be, just ran out of time.

Moto Guzzi 850GT Eldorado

But right now, it is all back together, running, and ready for the MoT, and a new set of tyres while it is there. Then I can run the motor in, and start knocking up some miles…. Just as we come towards the end of summer!

Just two bikes, Triumph, and Guzzi

My little Triumph is going well, and has much better manners since I installed better YSS rear shocks, it has really transformed the handling, and the ride comfort. A fun little bike.

Chasing Castles…

Took a spin out on my Bonnie SE today, you have to grab time when you can right now as the weather is very un June like, with heavy thunderstorms bringing torrential rain at short notice, like yesterday on my way back to the barge after going for a new battery. But despite the overcast conditions, I missed the rain today, so called in on my local Castle (circa 1386) at Donnington, on the outskirts of Newbury.

Triumph Bonnie SE at Donnington.

 

Eric Patterson, Salt Flats Racer…

I just had this in from Eric…

 

Press Release

Ace Cafe London’s special guest on Sunday 20th July (70’s Bike Day!) is Eric Patterson, showcasing and firing up his unique and very special, modified 1000cc V-twin, Vincent powered motorcycle, prior to departing for the USA and the 2014 Bonneville Speed Trials!

Eric, organiser of the popular and ever so useful bike jumbles held regularly throughout the year at Kempton Park, is the holder of a number of Bonneville Speed Trial records, with machines to include his own JAP V-twin powered Norton “featherbed” framed special and Brough Superior’s, this year Eric is going for the following four 1000cc classes with his Viscount.

Modified Pushrod “Fuel” – record at 140.76mph
Modified Vintage – Partial Streamlined, gasoline – record at 123.25mph
Modified Pre 1979 “Fuel” Class
Modified Pre 1979 Partial Streamlined Class

The “Salt” going “Viscount” motorcycle, originally built by Peter Darvill, is number one of only ten ever made, and consists of a 1951 V-twin Vincent engine in a Norton “Manx” rolling chassis, with magnesium “Manx” wheels – its provenance includes racing at the Isle of Man TT in 1956!

Special modifications and preparations to the bike, for racing at Bonneville, range from work on the engine, with pistons going up from 9.1 to 12.1 compression, camshafts and a BTH four plug system to fire it up. Special exhausts, clutch, belt drive and re-worked manifolds to take a pair of “Gardiner” carburettors, with Hagon supplying the suspension and the specially built alloy rims, all topped off with fuel and oil tanks in aluminium and clip-on bars!

See it, hear it and taste the salt!

www.egp-enterprises.co.uk
 

Viscount Norvin

 

Salt Ghost…

Just in from NYC…

Salt Ghost