Say Hello to Elsie!

[Henriettaah]

Well she's here!

Collected the bike at 9.30am today, and have had a really nice day pottering around - gave it a clean, sat on her, manoevered it around a little, felt proud as passing neighbours enthused about LC and asked "Who's is it?"

I'm very fortunate in that my neighbours straight across have two big bikes - a GSXR600 and a monster bike which is 1100 I think, unknown make. I've been lent a good chain, which has been put around a drainpipe in the garage (not a gutter drainpipe, a major one which goes underground). Tonight I bought an Oxford Titan disc lock, and an Oxford 'Hardcore' chain and padlock.

At first I had doubts over whether I'd be able to fit the bike and car into the garage as I'd first hoped; however, after a 'Krypton-Factor' type challenge and a bit of rearranging and trying different ways with the bike, I got them both in at teatime. Inches to spare mind you!

Apparently once she gets set up and the bits and pieces done she'll be a nice little bike.

Oh and the delivery bloke drove off with the single-seat conversion and the number plate in the back of the van, but he's bringing them back on Monday

So here is a pic of the new family member - fantastic

[DustyJacket]

Cool!

[m50]

sweet bike dude congratulations

[Joe Mc]

Cool little bike!

[dr_bar]

Great lookin' bike! I hope she will be as good to you as your already proving to be good to her.

Tonight I bought an Oxford Titan disc lock, and an Oxford 'Hardcore' chain and padlock.

One of the most common errors when using a disc lock, is forgetting to remove it before riding. One way to prevent this is to have a bright coloured leash from the lock to the handlebars as a reminder. Kinda like dummy proofing the lock...

Looks like this...

[KarateChick]

Congrats Hen,

That's one nice looking bike!

[rnr262]

That is a great looking bike!

[Henriettaah]

Thanks folks

I want to get some micro indicators and some smallish chrome mirrors - put the single seat on - little number plate on the back - sadly I'll have to marr Elsie's look with 'L' plates for a while

[Henriettaah]

So I bought some polish today - did a little polishing - and started her up!

Didn't do it right at first, and then went out to get some fuel, leaving the fuel switch on and the one at the handlebars 'on' - came back and it was leaking

Tried again and just had to give a little on the throttle to get it to fire up. It was hard work getting my leg up there to kick start it! My dodgy hips might be making a reappearance! I also tried to put it into first and move off a few feet, but I stalled it My first attempt at getting to know the clutch so no worries. I'll be happy when the kids go back to school as from tomorrow, then I can quietly potter around with Elsie getting to know her, doing a bit of bonding, without an audience of a few youngsters asking "what are you doing?" and "are you going to take it out?" etc! I was suprised I felt brave enough to try and start her up today. It'll be good to try and do a bit of stopping and starting without any self conciousness!

So now I have a few litres of petrol sat in a can in the garage should I just put it into the bike, or wang it in the car if its not really 'needed'? - Its just normal unleaded stuff which the car takes - this is what the bike drinks, isn't it

Also, as it is a two stroke engine which uses autolube, has an oil sump like the car which takes car oil, and also an oil thing under the seat, which takes a special oil - can anyone explain this system to me simply..? Should I start a new thread on this? Is it the autolube under the seat, where you put special oil in and then the bike mixes it before it goes in the engine..?

[Ninja Geoff]

YEah, the system will mix the oil for you. Just when you fill up the gas tank, don't forget about the oil tank under the seat

Some (2 strokes) bikes, and other things, you'll have to mix it yourself.