The Bonnie is done! I fitted the fender extender yesterday and that’s it. Job’s a good ‘un. It should just be putting petrol in it for the next twelve months.
I took the Harley for another spin after my last post and it was running weird again. The speedo still wasn’t working and there was a weird spluttery spot in the rev range and backfires on deceleration. That sounds like a fuelling issue. The carb intake didn’t have a filter (it’s got a big arse metal cover, I thought that would be enough to stop it sucking in crap) and because I panicked last time I fuelled up I just put standard 10% ethanol petrol in, so that wouldn’t have helped. The replacement speedo cable has already frayed so I bought another new one. Today I took the clock off to have a look. The original speedo cable had snapped inside the clock, so it was preventing the new cable from seating. I cleared it, fitted the new cable and it works now. The air filter arrived today as well so I took the opportunity to take the carb off and clean the jets, then fitted the new air filter and took it for a test ride. It was running fine. Which is a relief. Up until now I’ve been doing quite small runs to see how far I can go without blowing up.
The last time out I did 12 miles, which is significant because it’s the distance to work. So I now have a spare bike, in case of emergency, to get to work. It would have to be a pretty dire emergency. If I fired that up at midnight or so the neighbours would not be happy bunnies. It’s still got the fully baffled stock pipes, but bloody hell it’s loud.
Anyway, today I wanted to use up the crap petrol so I took it for a spin. 32 miles, with 10 or so of them at (Harley) white-knuckle speeds of 60 and 70 mph down the motorway! It was fine. I fuelled up with 5% ethanol petrol and I’m hoping that’s it for the Harley. It’s no longer a project, it’s now a ride-able motorbike. There are two things that need sorting, the riding position (I’m hoping the new bars will do that) and I need mirrors. Thinking about it, I’ll look and see what the new bars I’ve ordered are like. If they have open ends I’ll order some bar end mirrors like I’ve got on the Bonnie. Live action blogging here. I looked, the bars are indeed open, but virtually all the bar end mirrors are for 7/8th inch bars. The Sporty is 1″. I finally stumbled across a pair, specifically advertised for Harleys, and they come with the grips. The grips on the standard bars are closed at the ends, so to fit the mirrors I thought I was going to have to chop the ends off, now I don’t have to bodge the job. Excellent. So, my next days off, when the bars and mirrors have arrived, I’ll swap them over. With any luck that will be the Harley sorted. I did want a ton of stuff to tart it up; new wheels (so new tyres), tank, forks, complete strip and respray. Thousands of pounds. But I’m not that bothered now. If I can get it running right (touch wood, it seems to be at the moment) and sort the riding position, that would do nicely. I can put some miles on it, pottering around.
Work remains challenging. Well, not the job, there is some very demanding driving, but the physical side of the job is amazingly easy. It’s the sleeping business. If I could get that cracked I’d be laughing. There is as much work (so, money) as I’m willing to do. I was talking to an agency driver and he said he was on a regular 5 days a week. But at the moment I’m either working or trying to sleep and stressing about not sleeping. Early days yet.
The weird reaction from Wendy, it turns out, is because she’s suffering from anxiety again. She’s been fine for two days, so we are hoping it was a blip, but if she gets unreasonable stress tomorrow (when I go back to work) she’s going to see the doctor for some loony pills. Poor sausage. It’s the worst thing in the world.
I’m still refreshing the (crap) agency app to see when they finally update the info with my pay per shift. I need to know this is worth it.
Wendy was talking to her hairdresser/ life guru the other day, saying I loved my long hair but I’m struggling now I’m thin on top. she suggested a hair transplant. Apparently they work. I thought they were bogus. It seems they take individual follicles from where your hair is still thick (back of my head, presumably) then stab them into your scalp. Thousands of them. It’s a dear do, £3.5 – 7k, but if I’m earning shedloads of money I might do it. I’d have to see what they thought it would look like. It would make me happy if I could have a full head of hair.
Triumph Bonneville, Harley Davidson, and long flowing locks. Absolutely living my teenage dream!