That job fiasco was a fiasco. £24.95 p/h, full time, permanent. None of that was true. I decided not to risk it and instead told my current job I was available Fri- Mon inclusive instead of Thur- Sun, as I don’t seem to be getting shifts on Thursdays. Also, until January, I can work other days, apart from Tuesday. I’m trying to get some cash together to buy a spiffy VFR750. I’ve decided the only thing wrong with the VFRs I’ve had in the past is they were old and worn out. The engines were still going strong, but electrics and such. I’ve seen some advertised almost as good as new. One is 100% original, 12,000 miles, always garaged, one owner from new. That’s barely out of the box for a VFR. The downside to 100% original is the standard exhaust system. They rot through, and they don’t make the stainless steel replacement exhaust system anymore. So I’d have to keep my eye out for a second hand system. And fit a double bubble windscreen and heated grips and a rack and box. I’ve had a VFR that was about 50,000 miles and still on the original exhaust, so if there’s life in it I’d have time to look.
Then there are three others around 20,000 miles, stainless exhaust, with some other desirable goodies. One has a red screen! Ughh. And they’ve all got aftermarket endcans, which are noisier. And none of them have a rack and box. So there would be some investment whichever way I jumped. But the thing is, a £2,300 minter VFR would run until I’m too old to ride. Even if I got all four days that would only be about 35,000 miles until I retire. A 12 or 20k VFR would laugh at those miles.
I was looking at the modern alternatives. The Yamaha Tracer 900 or the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, or the new Tiger 800 but they are starting at £4, 5, and 9k. The gains are marginal. They’ve got fuel injection (OK,that’s a biggie) some are a bit lighter or a bit more power but the first two are both criticised for wind noise and buffeting from screens that just don’t work. The third is brand new this year, so real-world feedback is sparse.
What I’m saying is, I can get a nearly new VFR, fit it with the few extras I want, and it’s done. For a fraction of the cost of the other bikes. And it will run forever. I can use the Harley for pottering about and posing on, the VFR for all the serious bikey stuff.
The Triumph is surprisingly capable, but it’s a naked twin retro. I think a lot more effort went into making it look right than handle right. I was doing *cough* motorway speeds *cough* last night and the bike was weaving. It has a steering damper fitted, which straight away is an admission of defeat, in my books. Several times I’ve thrown it into a bend and it’s wobbled. Not good. And the grounding-out thing is less than ideal. It bounced up and down and grounded out on a corner. I thought it was going to highside me into the oncoming lane.
I have enough self awareness to know this is not the first time I’ve obsessed over a bike, only to cool on it once I’ve got it. But the VFR750 genuinely is the perfect all rounder and if I can get a good one, and stop this stupid cycle of buying and selling (how likely is that?) one bike could do everything for me for the rest of my life. I mean, the Bonnie could do *many* things for the rest of my life, but not all. And it might be a much shorter period.
The main thing that’s holding me up is the fact the sellers are private. I’ve not got the cash until I can sell the Bonnie, which could take a while in the middle of winter, and then I’ve no wheels until I’ve been paid and got the VFR.
Which leads me to my other thing. The Harley. I had the back wheel off and painted it and the rear mudguard. The wheel is not up for much scrutiny and will do, but the mudguard is showing every single sandpaper scrape I didn’t smooth out. Also the polish layer dried a bit grey. I think it was because it was too cold in the shed. So I’ve lined the shed.
Then I had a lazy patch. It took until I started feeling sad and depressed and like crying before I realised I had to get a grip. I went for a run this morning then fitted the front indicators on the Harley. I liked the look of the previous ones, but they were mounted on a ball joint with a nut to tighten them into position. The Sporty is basically a hydraulic drill on wheels. It kept shaking them loose. I had to ride home with one looped onto the tank as it was swinging free. I made some brackets for the new ones and took my time doing a proper job fitting them. They are solid as a rock. And no ball joint, so nothing to worry about.
I’m going to redo the rear mudguard. I’m OK with the painting now, it’s all about the preparation. My plan is to take my time and do each scratched section individually until it’s totally smooth, then respray it and leave the heater on in the shed to cure the paint. I may take the engine cases off and spray them as well. I gave them a bit of a buff and they looked OK, but they are looking oxidised again now.
Anyway, once I’ve got the rear mudguard done and back on, and the rear indicators fitted properly, the Harley should be a running, solid bike. I’ve got the riding position sorted, I’ve tarted up the wheels, I have adequate mirrors now, I’ll have proper job indicators and headlight, and I’ll have covered up a lot of the wear and tear by spraying it black. I’ll need to test everything when it’s all back together, but fingers crossed, that should be it.
If so, I could crack on with the Bonnie sale, and rely on the Harley for the interim.
The main thing is I want the bikes on the road. I had chest pains while running and it occurred to me if I was to drop dead Wendy would get proper ripped off trying to sell the Sporty looking like it was in bits.
Laters.
Buck.