@GotBikeNeedPilot Just a short run from Leeds to Doncaster to pick up another set of leathers! Funny thing is, an hour after i got home, it rained! - Call that a lucky escape lol.
Well I did it, I rode to Brighton and back, via crawley, lewes, and seaford! I have to say, I hated the m25. I filtered almost all the miles I rode on M25, so proud of myself too. I rode along the prom which has been a dream of mine for many years - I'm so happy that I'm riding x
Off out wee scoot to Newcastle Co.Down with the mates today, courtesy of best friend and his bike I shall be driving again (first time in few weeks yippee) love that wee Kwacker so Sunday drivers beware x
I did Chris, but didn't get as far as Newky the heavens opened and the winds blew hahahaha, we all took shelter in a cafe outside Belfast for the afternoon and came home soaked, ah well twas nice to be out n about on two wheels :) Hope your weekend was fab! x
Fed up with the rear exhaust gasket going - it's a
renowned weakness with the Varadero - it's also a pain in the tits to
replace - the easiest way involves removing the rear shock... the
alternative is to pull the whole exhaust system apart....
Anyway, there was enough of the gasket left this time round to see a lot
of rust on it - basically the gasket is a kind of woven material with
thin metal wool weaved into it... The position of the gasket means it is
subjected to all the water and crud thrown up off the road by the rear
tyre, so after a close inspection of the gasket by my mechanic, the
conclusion was that there is a distinct chance it's actually being
weakened by corrosion as water is able to get into it...
The easiest solution would be a rear hugger, but as I'm skint after
spending a fortune on the bike in the run up to the France trip, and
then the France trip itself. So, instead I've put in a temporary fix -
I've cut and installed a flexible plastic shield to protect the shock
and exhaust.
The plastic is very think, tough, but still flexible stuff used in strips in industrial units as draught excluders.
I made a former with cardboard, then cut the plastic based on that.
It's secured with tie-wraps at the top, to a bar
under the seat, in the middle around the swing arm to ensure it won't
foul the tyre, and at the bottom to the shock linkage.
It's an experiment... will see how it holds up to use.... and whether the exhaust gasket lasts any longer....
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