Sorry I don't do this IT Talk ... What is a mid ?
      Where do they live?
      Cheers PB   

     Brilliant Story .. love the bit about the axe .. 100% my kind of guy.
       9/10 and Well Done indeed Dude!
 
       Stay Safe!    Trev

    UK Forces Mate of mine is currently out of the country and having real problems re-taxing his bike on line.
 
The normal system seems to be 'off' or 'not working' as always did? 
 
Has anyone else found this problem recently .. and of course if so .. how did you get around it ?
 
Cheers    Trev

    Please feel free to flash that old picture at anyone you like Buddy     
In fact you can have all my grand kids and great grand kids as well if you like.
 
   PB
 

    Love It .. I'm not too keen on kids normally .. far too many in my Clan!
 
However .. sometimes you get a Real Gem 
 
Great Grand Dad x about 4      .. Polar Bear.

     This is a Grinnall Trike guys.   Mine for about 4 years .. brilliant at all it says on the tin.
 
I got a bit bored with it . rode it from Denia to Coventry overnight and let it go for £ notes .. collected my third Gen1 on the next trip 
 
No idea what it is ... but this 'Open Air' Yellow jobby looks really cool ... ideal for the Spanish summer heat     .. but those (way out of step) box panniers look bloody terrible in my opinion! 
 
Trev

 
Check this out .. you can turn the Double-D system into a Happy Snappy )
No damage or mods to Helmet, No Tools Req to it, No Hardly Dangerous name markings     Job Done in one minute.
Works really well for the Funny Fat Finger Clan .. I'm  member too 
 

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nL5MUNcS3A#ws]Echo Quick Release: How to add a Quick Connect to Your Helmet Strap

[/url]
 
Once adjusted and set this idea works OK for 'normal' speeds .. but you might want to pull you chin strap slightly tighter for 140 mph plus?
 
Just info:  Stay Safe     Trev 

    I had the seat on the 'Spanish Dancer' Honda CB1300 sidecar outfit completely re-built and re-covered to order by Tony .. while I waited   
 
All organised and booked well in advance .. to be done during a ride from Holland back to Spain via Scotland. He also made me a one off matching additional 'cushion' insert .. to fit inside the sidecar seat (She's worth it  ). 
 
All done with 100% expert workmanship and top class materials and just about unbeatable prices .. no complaints.
 
However .. he really is the most laid back bugger you'll ever meet    so he does not always please everyone .. I've heard a few very valid complaints about his service. Give him time and listen to his advice .. you will not go far wrong.
 
I also recently got an Air Hawk inflatable jobby .. nice bit of extra $£€ comfort on my regular 500 to 750 mile days 
 
I've never used a Gel insert .. but they are no use down here on the Costa Blanca anyway .. 40c+ temps in the summer can really hot things up on a bike .. frying your bum within minutes.    .
 
Stay Cool Dudes      Trev

     Have you guys seen the 'anti cramp' gizmo thing that Scottoiler do .. a small black plastic 'paddle' that slides over the throttle grip.   
 
You can then rotate it and adjust it so that your wrist is resting on it (when cruising) to hold a constant speed.   Saves the need to grip anything and that gives your hand(s) a rest , without the vibes.  Bit like Cruise Control Systems .. but much simpler.
 
They come in two 'widths' wide and narrow .. and two Grip Sizes .. Fat for Heated Grips or Thin for standard grips.
 
   The wide one is (IMO) too big .. it gets in the way of your thumb when you do need to grip the bars. They 'rotate' on (and off) in two seconds .. no tools required .. so no risk of having them go 'walkabout' when you are parked up.
 
I have recently been trying the narrow one over heated grips .. this size seems to work OK .. once you get used to them.  Like most things new .. they look a little bit strange at first .. but of course it's all out of sight under your hand when in use.
 
Ideal for the motorway commute cruisers and long haul touring enthusiasts .. a very simple idea that helps stop cramp and vibes, etc. Worth a go for about £5.00 .. I recon.
 
Stay Safe       Trev        (I'd guess Scottoiler might show these on their web-site ?)
 
 

Hello Again,
Some really beautiful animals about .. Shelly looks like she would indeed be well quick off the grid 
 
I've checked out the German Pointers and Hungarian Vizslas .. all good looking dogs .. I would guess quite both breeds are close to the Labrador Clan.
 
At this stage .. Annie favours a Lab and I favour Big & Black .. so I recon that's the route we'll be going. I also have to consider that a pup will probably have a good chance of out living me. Most of you will not be thinking like this at all yet I know .. but comes the day when we need to start getting things in order .. cough, splutter, groan .. gasp. 
 
The Dog would be then be left to look after Annie for me .. and Annie would take over all things Dog    so it needs to be a breed that she can handle.  Labs seem to fit that bill too .. subject to training as always.
 
Just to pop back into Bike Mode for a moment .. I am also having thoughts about how well a pet Dog would travel in an open Sidecar.   Of course he would need a fixed harness .. and in Spain probably a Helmet as well.  But what about the 'noise factors'?   Do any of you Dog guys have any thoughts about how well (or Not) a Dog might adjust to being close to a performance bike engine with an after market exhaust system?  Is this an acceptable thing to be doing?
 
Cheers in advance as ever ... Stay Safe      Trev
 
 
 
 
 

Hi Guys,    Info, Advice, Help Required Please.

Seriously .. How do you go about teaching an intelligent dog (say a Labrador pup) to bark when (but only when) someone is approaching (or at) you door ?

Cheers in Advance    Trev  (Getting Deafer by The Day )

    Hi There Paul,
 
You and Me .. We go back a long way mate .. so please read this as it's intended .. no hitting .. I really am curious.
 
I take it all on board as to why (you say) you have not been at these annual Group Brum Bike Shed in recent years ..
It is a good 100 miles from Wigan .. unless of course you want to skip the M6 and make it a fun ride both ways  .
The weather may well be cold, wet or both .. some things we have no control over .. so normally a Plan-B day is fixed.
The meet is held on a Car Park (but the National Motorcycle Museum is very handy near to the M42 .. not on it)
Three hours of Bike Related stuff with like minded guys ain't so bad .. once in a year .. some might say it's quite nice.
You maybe more than most might get some good photography done .. you have the pro kit for the job .. in fact three hours might not be long enough.
 
As already stated .. this venue is very central in the UK .. fair for everyone .. we have no say in any Post Codes.
It's about as easy as anywhere in the UK ever could be to find .. follow NEC signs and the entrance is well marked.
All the required facilities are on site, it's free, safe parking, toilets and a cafe that opens on a Sunday.   
 
So .. my Serious Questions are:
You say you think:  Meeting somewhere New, at a Better Weather time would be more favourable.  You might well be right. 
 
Where and When would You like to meet up?  Where can we find all the facilities in one place on a Sunday? Also can you give me a clue as to what you would want to do once everyone got there?  What is your idea of Fun?  Would you attend yourself on your bike?  I'll not ask you about the weather on the day .. some questions just don't have answers.
 
End of the day mate .. we all know you ain't gonna be there, no need for any bets Luke .. but I for one would be genuinely interested to have your take on something or is it somewhere better.
 
Just for the Newbies and the record:  I set up and attended every meeting for the first six years .. before moving to live in Spain.  I have also ridden up from the Costa Blanca to Brum and back to attend this meeting three times in the past seven years. It's a challenge, long distance, often snow on the central mountains in April, always rain in the Northern area of Spain and I get sea sick on the ferry    yes Sea Sick .. Me  . 
 
All in .. I think it's about as much fun as I can have on a bike .. not being anywhere near fit (or young enough at 73) to get involved in Track Days or Off Road stuff anymore.  It's just Me, The Bike and The Long Haul Highway   
 
If you give me your take on you ideas for alternative (or better still additional) group meet up dates and locations mate .. and I'll check my Social Events book .. yes really 
 
Talk to me and as always Stay Safe Buddy      Trev
 
Photo:   The M42 Junction 6.  Brum Bike Shed Complex is the Lower Right Hand Corner.
 

    Your DIY Bike Lift looks quite good Buddy .. very tidy !
 
So much easier to work on the bike when it's up at that height. 
 
I would however advise that you sort out the Strapping Down method .. that single strap hooked over the plastic Fork Protectors will not hold much if things do start to move!
 
Both 'sides' of the Strap need to be 'fixed' (secured as in by wrapping around the Bars, Rear foot peg hangers, Grab rail Frame or whatever) as it is ... if the bike (I mean when the bike) moves .. it will move 'inside' the strap loop.   Better to use two or even better still four straps .. one or two on each side front and rear. Also close the Ratchet handles down flat.     Too late when it starts to fall .. you will not catch it! 
 
Hard to see in the picture .. but has the lift got a 'height locking pin' of some sort .. not good if the jack is the only thing holding everything up.  The lift needs a locking system so that the jack can then be lowered a little to take the weight off the hydraulics.
 
While I'm on a roll here     It also looks like you might have just cut that nice new strap    .. tail end and Stanley Knife on the deck.  Never a good thing to do that .. Sods Law Rules that you will need a longer strap for sure at some point very soon. 
 
All the above is just in my opinion of course .. nothing more 
 
Stay Safe(r)      Trev.     The Polar Bear in Spain (Former Pro Diver, HGV Trucker and General Cargo Strap user).