lyrics
It's not the time to breakdown.
1st day back in the saddle.
Clutch lever does not return – spray with wd 40 to free. Quite a bit of WD40
Brakes are red and when I try to pull off the VN front forks compress. Rock the 1/3 of a tonne back and forth for several minutes to clear the brakes. Eventually get going. The journey isn’t too bad but the wind is grim. At Coryton begin to weave between the lanes, but a little hairy as I am having to push the clutch lever back out after changing gear.
Homeward and after crossing the bridge seem to lose power, have to pull into middle lane and then inside line as can’t clear 70. Clears and away to go. Hope this is not something waiting for me. Between Bridgend and Pyle am ahead of a ’92 Mercedes – the 2 youngsters wave in appreciation of (I presume)the note from the V&H.
Tuesday – a repeat of Monday but clutch is easing with use. Yesterday, I was being passed by Audi’s and VW’s today is the turn of the BM’s and Mercs.
The journey home is hairy due to the wind and it’s quite dark. Signs up the Ferries to Ireland are cancelled from Fishguard and Pembroke (adverse weather). Still power on and running through the tunnel and I am tailed by a Peugeot – drop down a cog just before leaving the tunnel – he keeps his distance. Reach Pencoed and the temperature plummets and then it pees down. Am reduced to 40 and visibility is really cack. Get home drenched.
We return to Rain.
Wednesday to site in Cardiff. The journey in and I find myself closing down White Van Man as I approach road works on M4 around 80 plus. I am in the outside lane and am counting down to the outside lane being closed
800 yds behind the van
600 yds closing but still behind
400 yds alongside
200 yds moving slightly ahead
100 yds still in outside lane
50 yds
30 yds
20 yds into middle lane.
Well that keeps the ticker pumping.
Love leaving site as I get to thunder through the city and go past the Castle Walls.
Thursday
Meeting in Swindon – which is a hundred mile run. Weather is overcast and windy, able to roar past drivers who have not heard me before (between Bristol and Swindon). Pass a 1 yr old Merc driven by a 50 something fat of the land. These guys don’t like being passed by noisy 2 wheelers and he pushes over 90 and passes me. I pass him again just before I pull off at Swindon.
Leaving Swindon for Bristol and it is peeing down (well that’s unusual.) Refuel and head West. Prior to Junction 18 and the traffic jams up – work my way through the slow wet traffic (accident). Reach the M5 and hit another log jam – M5 closed (accident) I work my way through to the front of the queue just as the police re open the motorway – see the remains of white van man’s van and an Alfa.
Friday
– Snowing whilst at work and leave for home early
– cross the bridge and
Its raining. Chat to a fellow on a v Storm in the queue at the tolls, travelling from Cheltenham to Cardiff (we share the drink of loneliness rather than drink alone).
Monday seems to be going ok (albeit it's raining)
until I leave for home – almost demolished by an illegitimate copulating Uranian on the roundabout. Driver of a Renault people carrier just charges through the roundabout whilst I am circumnavigating it – must have missed my arse end by a foot or two. I exclaim the “uranian” phrase in more earthy language.
Cross the bridge and clear the tolls. Begin to lose power – its not the time to break down. Sadly, I do. Power continues to fail. Front brakes seizing up. Call the RAC for assistance its 18 30 hrs. Guy on a 600 Ninja stops and offers advice and a cigarette (gave up 8 yrs ago) We chat and he heads on. At 19.20 hrs the RAC subbie turns up. Nice enough guy (owns a 125 cc cruiser style bike) but transpires to be a bit of an idiot and me a bigger one for listening to him. With the wheels cooled I (against my better judgement) rode out side on to the traffic and back in to put the VN on a rear mounted bike frame. The VN is too big for the frame. We struggle and get the VN back off – Chest is hurting and I use the GTN spray. The Subbie calls for further assistance. Second guy very good and the VN is strapped down on a flat bed. Get home at 22 00 hrs.
Tuesday and the VN is in JT’s and the brakes are replace and callipers cleaned up and I am running once more.
Thursday and I have to go to Swansea for a check up on the stents. I am discharged – however only managed 9 ½ mins on the stress test. At least got to ride somewhere different again. Later that day drop in on a guy (Tony Peters) haven’t seen for 23 years. Some people don’t change and he runs a Kawasaki 1000. Whilst at Sainsbury’s chat to another aging motorcyclist for a while, his son and daughter in law both ride bikes and they holiday together.
I’ve forgotten Friday.
Monday peeing down all the way. I am being tailed by a piece in an Audi and as I climb up to High Cross the spray has reduced me to 70 and my tail must want my arse she’s that close.
Gear change is beginning to give me a little trouble and suspect the clutch fluid. Check it and it’s black. Really think it’s time to renew the fluid. Book it in, but decide to change the oil and filter before I take it to the garage. Why I did this I’ll never know. Filter will not come off and collapses. Manage after a few hours by walking to the other side of town and buying a chain wrench. Changed the oil/filter but still not changed clutch fluid.
Next day gear change is worsening. Beginning to pull off in second to avoid 1st.
Clear the tolls and clock an Seat Leon powering in the outside lane, watching me. I power on and we head for the outside lane where they merge. Two cars ahead are beginning to converge and I slip to the left of one and then the right of the other. The block the Seat and I feel a sense of smugness. I ease back and a few miles on let the Seat pass as I am quite content. Next day and the Gear change disconnects from the shaft before I leave for work. The VN is off the road. The next week and a half have been spent in the Saab. The VN is in Thunder Road awaiting collection having had a new gearbox shaft to the toe heel changer. I collect tomorrow and part with £87 pounds. In 31,000 miles over a 15 month period quite a good indictment to Kawasaki.
lyrics
It's not the time to breakdown.
Daughtry > Its Not Over (2006) > Breakdown
Sorry for the gap.
Ade
If you can see the tops of the mountain's it's going to rain.
If you can't - it's raining.
All Characters and events here are allegedly fictitious...Any resemblance with either dead or living is purely co-incidental
And don't ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly