Saturday 21 June 2008

MoT day, ooh how exciting!







New to come...later...MoT result (fingers and toes and everything else crossed please!)....UCAN cancer charity trip....plans for Scarborough....Cubbies Counties news in association with RAF Lossiemouth....

35mins and counting to MoT......

When I was at the Shetland show, I bumped into a chap called Bill, who lives just down the road from me, and used to be a mechanicy/blacksmithy/weldery type person but has recently retired. He immediately spotted Cubbie's cracked engine mounting and offered to fix it for me - super, right in time for the MoT. So I nipped over there yesterday between the hail showers and watched the expert at work. It only took him a few minutes after cleaning the area, and he even painted it afterwards for me! Have to say, I was a mite nervous when he produced a fire extinguisher and set it down next to the bike, but better safe than sorry!

......So, Cubbie now has a brand spanking new MoT certificate. I have to say, I had my doubts as yesterday afternoon, the forks started to leak and I was on the verge of cancelling the test. A bit of poking and prodding (and praying) got us through though, albeit with an advisory notice but that's ok, they need fixing anyway. Somehow, I don't see them being re-chromed or replaced or fixed in any other manner before Friday...the day we go to Scarborough. Yep, that's right, Cubbie now has a passport and will be travelling to Engerland for the Vintage Motorcycle Club bike week. Not strictly speaking a Scottish county but I look upon it as a training week, each day will offer a ride out of anything up to 100 miles taking in the most beautiful scenery and roads suited to old bikes. The evenings will be whiled away with film shows, quiz nights and general rally type chatter, and I'm told, we even get some free fish and chips!

Despite passing the rigorous MoT checks, and making it to the other side with only a small blemish, Cubbie does not seem to be too well. Remember the Fraserburgh show, where Short Stan had to bump start it for me? And my vague feeling of "it's not running quite right"? Well even after Fido timed it and I fitted a new plug I'm still not 100% happy. Over time you get to know how a bike feels, sounds and goes, and sometimes you can't quite put your finger on what's wrong, but you know something is up. Well that's the situation I'm in. What to do? I messed with the timing on the way home today, adjusting it a fraction one way and then back, then to the other way, but nothing seemed to make it any better. I wonder if it might be the mixture, but I haven't changed anything for a year and then all of a sudden it starts to run a bit rough, similar to the feeling you get when a multi-cylinder machine isn't firing on all cylinders. Might it be to do with the clutch slip that I experience when starting it sometimes? When I removed the new plug and showed Fido, he said it looked a bit lean, but then I showed him the old plug and that was exactly as a used plug should be, apparently.

The other day, Mrs BC and I went along to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to join the UCAN boys on a visit to what could be described as the 'cancer quiet room'. UCAN is a charity based in Aberdeen to raise awareness of urological cancers - that is kidney, prostate, bladder and testicular cancers. A rather scary fact extracted from their website at http://www.ucanhelp.org.uk/ is that around 500 people die every year in Grampian alone from urological cancers, and this figure continues to rise. I don't wanna preach and get all serious here guys but it's up to you to keep an eye on things and visit yer Doc if you're concerned about owt. And I would miss ya if any of you weren't here... On a more cheery note, there is a UCAN motorcycle ride in September (14th I think) so if you fancy helping raise some cash for them, and having a good day out on the bike, then keep an eye on the blog for more details. Er, obviously you chaps in Canada and Norway etc probably won't make it!

Oh yes, did I mention my Cubbies Counties RAF Lossiemouth trip? Well GBC has been invited to have a look round, and maybe, just maybe have a wee shotty on (in?) the simulator....oh yes....here we come!!!

PS, met the Scooter boys while I was down at Cameron's Autotech in Cuminestown, seems their idea of a day out is to the local garage...hehehe....could do with that sidecar for my wee MZ...
PPS, the arrival of a few packages in the post over the last couple of days has made up for the lack of chocolates on my birthday. My new custom made ear plugs (PLUGZZ to be correct) were in one parcel, while a box of electrical goodies from a Cubbies Counties supporter had me head scratching for a while before I ripped it open, and a couple of Classic Bike Guide tee shirts made up the third surprise bundle - ones that fit. Seems they've finally realised not everyone is XXXXXXXXXXXXXL!
Can't wait to try the PLUGZZ - you'll notice they are one my corporate sponsors, so thanks guys, will let you know how I get on with them. Apparently if you're working in industry then a noise limit of 85db would be in place, but on a bike travelling a 70mph, you are actually subjecting your poor wee lugs to 97db, so it might be wise to consider wearing some form of ear protection so if you see two handsome Geordies, sorry, Smoggies, at a show near you then sit yourself down and let the Chief Audiologist, Peter Craggy (he'll be the one in shorts) do his stuff. All he does is an ear check to make sure your ears are suitable, then fills yer lugs with blue stuff to take a 'cast' of the inside, which is used to make your very own plugzz. The other chap, Paul Lincoln does the sales and info bit and tempts you with a rainbow of colours to choose from, including a luminous selection - especially handy for us campers where the plugzz could end up buried under tents and sleeping bags. Both guys are experienced NHS audio/hearing people (ok, so I can't remember the technical term but you know what I mean!) and the plugzz are made from medical grade silicon.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cubbie now has a passport and will be travelling to Engerland for the Vintage Motorcycle Club bike week. Not strictly speaking a Scottish county ....

Well it should've been...lol

But seriously, echoing a previous comment...you're my hero too

BigBobW

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

Hi BigBob, er...not sure about hero status...lol...perhaps I should say I won't actually be riding Cubbie to Scarborough....lol...can I still be your hero tho? Please?

Anonymous said...

Thre Pictures are awesome ..... really like the shower of sparks thingy, that would make an amazing poster.
When you say cubbie is running a bit rough ..... lol, I'm thinking you are missing the point that it is in fact running. Just read a road test circa 1970 or there abouts ..... 2 brand new big british errrrr "super bikes" doing the tour ...... and their trip was full of breakdowns and spanner moments ........ in perspective, cubbie is doing really well ....

Excellent read as always BC .... when is the movie coming out ?????

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