Getting things sorted

After a change in circumstance, the last twelve months has seen me enjoying very intermittent bike time. Spread a bit thin, and need need of some serious r and r.

I took the time on  an already organised road trip to try something new. Don't plan anything. Yep, sounds simple, but for my mind I thrive on structure.

The last few years has been pretty slow. The 250F(then fitted with 280 kit in the rebuild after piston met valve due to a distortion in time) did the valves again after 20 hours of having the top end done by a machine shop with all new seats and kibble white gear (the good stuff!), so after a rather long rant about 4 stroke dirt bikes, I was straight down the shop to lay my hands on my current steed, a 2015 250EXC (6 day). I bought a second hand (SX) head off a friend for the 250F, reassembled the bike and we parted ways to a new happy owner. My luck it will be a great bike now I have had all the headaches with it.
Initially, after purchasing the 250EXF I got up to enough rides a year to keep me happy with family commitments (10-12). I took the factory plastics off right away and bought one of those large tubs to put all the original plastics in when the bike was new. And changed the bike back to orange. I had since dropped, flipped and crashed my way to moto bliss and have now updated with another set of plastics for her birthday, more true to the 6 day colour scheme. I haven't missed having valves and this bike is a pleasure to ride. When the bike was up for a top end, I found a 300 kit to put on the bike which made my grin even wider. I honestly don't think I will ever sell this bike (maybe add to the collection later). Admittedly the bike make you work for your ride, but this is part of the two stroke charm. Initially, I enlisted Dave from Suspension Matters  to sort out the suspension to suit an overweight mid paced clubman and was pleasantly surprised on the performance gained by the dreaded 4CS WP units on the front. The rear became an absolute dream and less prone to trying to throw me over the bars on big logs with a change to a progressive spring and custom tapered needle in the rear. They became very forgiving on large impacts at speed. Ultimately, I decided to ditch the 4CS to another roller chassis that the old man picked up and borrowed the WP4860 CC Bladder forks and have not looked back. These have had some work done also.

My brother has spent the last 12 months riding solid, but I have only managed about 4 or 5 social rides off road. Got me thinking, I need more time on two wheels,... so I bought this rod bucket.....cheap!!

There were a few (very) backyard repairs on this old girl. A few dings in the tank, bolts missing, a miss, but is does start and run. That is a start back to some of my earlier days on the road with the goofy (600F). All for the bargain price of 700 hard earned smack-a-roonies, this baby was all mine. Stay tuned for more updates....

Going for a blat

Nothing like blowing the cobwebs out. My brother currently has a fantastic streak of about two months with out missig a ride every weekend, if not one day two.

 We had the pleasure of going for a blat on the weekend in Leyburn for the Husqvarna Sprint series round 4. Form wasn't a great factor for me, as whenever I seem to get out its like taking the training wheel off again. An expensive weekend to see where I stood, and as I expected, slow to mid paced clubman is about my speed.

It is only fair, with a long time between drinks and work and family commitments, I was fast enough to be out there but not fast enough to be taking the world by storm. A few weekends before, I got to hang out at a mates place and have a blast on his new farm bike and a legend by any means, the old banshee.

Ive always been a fan of two wheels, but tell you what, these things are a blast!!A few drinks by the camp fire for the hosts birthday, and the weekend was sorted. Looking forward to go for another blat soon.

With the next ride at least two weeks away, I am keen as to make sure everything is sorted on my bike. At Leyburn I blew a fuse and lost my electric start, so some further investigation is required (as well as a good bath).  We will see you out there soon!

Gone riding...

Well, I guess I've been a bit slow to post anything. But for something different, the bike has been running sweet!!

This weekends ride was just another great day out with my bro and the boys. After a rather large week of mechanical repairs/upgrades on the ute and consoling the family on my departure, we were off. I was feeling very weary eyed starting the day at 4.30am (after 4 hours sleep), the excitement on getting on the rocket just took over.

Even after the three hour steer to Stanthorpe, we were on time for the sign up and start of the ride. The camp was set,the bikes were prepped, and the gear was on in the space of about ten minutes.

No mucking around, let's go! Out to hit the 40 odd kilometer loop that was before us, I wasn't keen to put the first bar to the ground (who's shout is it anyway?)

This bloke thought he would have a lie down in front of me (made it a little difficult, had to come back down and have another go).

I'm not going to lie, the conditions were absolutely perfect. After behing hit with the reminance of summer looming at home with a few steamy nights, it was really nice to experience 18•C and slightly overcast conditions. There had been a little rain about before our arrival which made the slightly sandy soil nice and tacky, but also the plate rock nice and slippery. 

We managed to complete two laps of Saturdays track, and a lap of the Sundays 45 kilometer loop before packing up and heading to the local bistro for a counter meal before heading off home. Great company and great conditions made for a great ride, and thanks again guys for another great weekend! 

Talk at ya soon!

Happy new year!!!

Into the season spirit, I have been having an absolute blast. I had a few weeks off over the break and nearly got everything done that I wanted to (except the boring labour intensive stuff around home).

Funnily enough, I managed to give the bike an absolute thrashing and there has been no issues!! I fitted new Supersprox sprockets and Regina gold chain and went over every inch of the bike. I refitted the Lithium battery and hey presto, for the first time since I have owned the machine it will start cold on the starter motor.

The natural terrain motocross track was opened up at Wyaralong, so I managed to venture out there for a few laps, but most of the time was using the rutted enduro tracks to work out where to tune my steed. A bit of suspension tuning and the bike is feeling a lot better (the rebound was up too far and trying to rip the bars out of my hands). I still may play with the compression on the forks, but overall very happy and looking forward to the new years lineup of rides and more so the two day events starting soon.

The break saw us pretty relaxed. We got everything we could have hoped for. Many gifts were given and many laughs shared with the ones dearest to us.
              

There were a few sore heads on the morning of the 1st January. I didn't know it yet, but i wasn't going to get any sleep as my little man had decided that it was a good day to get up early (about 40 minutes after I decided to go to bed). It was a good thing though. I get to hang out and watch the sun come up and play pirate ships for the next couple of hours.

I somehow know that this year is going to be different.  I feel like the world is my oyster. I have had a recent promotion at work, my bike is running smooth (touch wood), and I have a vintage project underway (I don't think that it will be completed in February for Murphy's Creek Vinduro).

This year I aim for smarter choices. I mean, I am not a complete numb nuts when it comes to decision making. But I would like to make healthier choices when it comes to well being and fitness. I am not going to be knocking in the door of the local gym any time soon, but I have the same focus for the new year as I always have - To be a better person.

I nearly shed a tear for this guy, not a great start to the new year. I have a friend with the same model. I hope that he was insured...

I was also saddened by other news, that it was an end of an era for the good old postie bike, Aus post will not longer buy the CT110! You will be sadly missed, and I am sure the mod culture on these machines will be even stronger in the coming year as the legend is remembered

Will talk more at you soon.....

Tis the season to be jolly!

Yeah yeah, I know. I have been a little slack and havent posted for a while, but I have been busy OK?!

I have mainly been playing the waiting game for the arrival of bike parts (It is christmas isnt it?) I have noticed that parts from the US seem to be taking a bit longer to arrive. A few of the purchasing department gents at work reckon that they heard a vicoius rumor that USPS is going broke, so as a measure, have been increasing their shipping fees and are taking longer (guh) to deliver precious cargo.

So from my last post, until Friday is how long it took to recieve the items in question for the 250F.

A quick shot again of the damaged unit removed, to compare (OUCH!)

I have also had the pleasure of a cold accompanying me for the past ten days or so. When Friday rocked around, it was perfect timing for me to hide out in the shed and take an hour or so to put the steed together.

Second kick, she fired to life (after the first kick, I took the bung out, lol) and purred like like the angry little kitten it is, as the ProCircuit Ti-4 muffler is not a quite unit. Myself smiling like cheshire cat, quickly reaching for the phone to spread rumours that there is another ride before year end.

Like I said, we have been busy. We have been up the 'farm' camping with and catching up with a few friends to mark the silly season, and to speak of the camping trips that we should have been doing all year.

 

 I have also been about the place for work, 'some where between BF and you got a pretty mouth'.

 

 

Out west, it's quite warm during the day, and it doesnt get much cooler in the evening!

We have also been spending some time as a family unit. Getting out and about to see a few things. For me, there is nothing like seeing the joy of a few others faces, that simple pleasures can provide.

A picture says a thousand words, and I wish I could convey the image of the young bloke above 'learning' to ride his peewee (PW50). After a few lap around the shed. He was going a little too quick. I was chasing him on one of the quad bikes and decided to let him have a little more leader too see if he would scare himself to find the slow down button.

Soon I saw him line up the erosion bank, and gas it. Yet again, I let him some more slack to see if he would scare. Committed, the gas was one and he became airbourne on the the peewee (training wheels and all). Once he landed, I could see him smiling through his helmet and goggles on approach. He said 'All I want to do is Jump'... My jaw dropped, maybe these past 3 1/2 years brainwashing him wish Crusty's and Nitro videos wasnt for the best...lol.

He did manage to have a small crash and soon found out there was more than two speeds (stopped and flat out), and began trying all the little things that we had spoken about - Slowing down for the corners, using the brakes, and standing up. So proud.....(Im not crying, there's something in my eye).

Till next time peeps!

Fault present, diagnostics complete!

Well, I thought that I had known every mm of the bike and was believing my issues were sealed in the mystery of epoxy, but I should have know better.The bike has stopped completely now, and with no spark present, it was time to get to the nitty gritty of finding the cause of all my troubles.

It didnt take long to remove the tank and seat to where i could easily access the wiring connectors.
But, with me being me, I was soon distracted from diagnosing the problem and fitted the new genuine KTM throttle cables as it would provide some sort of progress towards riding again.

It was at this point that there was no option Damn!... forgot to bring the multimeter home. Hmmmm... Looking around, I found a test light, a small flat blade screwdriver, and cut a piece of wire to make a continuity light using the bike battery. Using this I can check continuity on each of the coils/wiring on the bike to check for faulty components.

Uh oh! No continuity in the stator. I pull the bash plate and gear lever to pull the cover off to find the following....

I think that it may be a repercussion of an earlier failure where the bottom end was rebuilt, but the heads of three of the hex bolts have busted off and fallen into the stator and made a bit of a mess. I really hope that this is last of the troubles on this machine!! A quick trip to eBay us and a couple of hundred lighter to sort out a replacement stator and flywheel (the bolt heads have worn metal out of the flywheel) and I should be on the way shortly. 

Stripped down and awaiting parts, I move onto the dream of a new machine and working on the IT while I wait.....

If you replace everything, it's a new bike,...right?

Well I'm not going to lie,....I'm pretty ticked off. After making sure that everything was spot on before heading out to Crows Nest annual P&C Trail Ride, and runing the bike several times, it only took about one kilometer for a few issues to raise their heads.....(sigh)...

Kitted up, I set out after the brother'n'law to catch up to his crew on the 25 Km loop.  After showing the numbered sticker on my helmet, I was off. 850 odd riders had registered for the event, so keen not to get stuck in anyones dust I decided to get a wriggle on.

That was until the throttle locked on wide open. I quickly grabbed the kill button and the clutch and shut the old girl down. I always ride with a tool bag (bumbag) just for these instances, and will carry tie wire, tyre levers and CO² cannister, (fender bag has tube) a few lollies, plug, a couple of odd bolts, and the minimum amount of tools to strip the bike on the side of the track. Two minutes later and I find the culprit, the pull throttle cable had frayed!

Wasting no time, I did the 'walk of shame' back to the pits where we had set up and started asking around for spares....no luck. A few phone calls and it was an hour drive to Independent Motorcycle Wreckers for a fix.

1.30PM - I'm back at the scene of the crime, and wasting no time I catch a lift on a Chamberlain G9 back to the bike to put the cable in. The bike is together and I'm kitting up. I kick the bike over and it springs to life,......for about five seconds, the dies. Swearing at the bike, I remove all the gear, seat tank, plug, and check for spark....nothing!!!!

I swap the plug over and soon realise my vision of cutting up the trail on this machine is over. I park the bike up and yet again do another 'walk of shame' back to the pits.

Luckily enough, I have a really great old boy. He has had a few laps and offers a lap on his machine CRF450. I quickly suit up before the loop closes and join another one of our crew for a hot lap to end  the afternoons ride.

I forgot how large the power difference was between the old boys bike and mine. I tell you what, there is nothing like powersliding/wheelstanding through some open fast country. The 450 seems to pick up the front wheel with ease.

A few beers back at camp, and I'm thinking about upgrading the old girl to something newer. It was something that I have only daydreamed of, but would it honestly be the best option to improve riding ability, at least I would make it out of the carpark.

Before our return back to the big smoke the old man said something to me which I'll never forget. Im not sure if he was takin the piss or not. "do not let it get you disheartened, you have just about replaced everything now." Haha, I guess he's right. I have got a new genuine throttle cable set to put in this week, and are awaiting the arrival of a CDI (with harness), stator and pulsar coil. I am determined that 'next' time it is not going to spoil my weekend.

My birthday was this week and I was presented with many things, one of which was the December edition of ADB magazine (one of my favourites). I immediately start drooling. On the cover is my new bike. The 2014 Husky FE350. Even though they are not released until January, I want one so bad!

Until next week! I just thought that I would show you a picture of the cake I was presented. The mother'n'law has had a broken foot for a few weeks and finding inspiartion, made the perfect birthday cake for me...