Eunos Chump

I was determined to get Roger's panels painted this weekend.  First task was to remove the front wheel so I could access the rusted up mudguard nuts - I had to go borrow a front paddock stand for that.  Then the fuel tank had to be drained and removed - more time lost.  So it was this morning before I actually started to get some primer on the panels... at which point it started to rain. Eventually it stopped, and I got out there with the Fiat Broom yellow I'd chosen.  3 cans down, and I realise I don't really like yellow anymore... I quite fancy black now. Then I could put stickers on it.  But it's now gone 4pm and all the shops are shut.  Bollocks!

Monkeyboy and I got into Goodwood at 8am on Friday, which meant the place was largely empty and by midday we'd managed to see everything.  No car park queues, no impenetrable crowds, and just a few mins walk to the entrance - this is the way to do it! The PURSUIT SPECIAL, along with another motor from Mad Max There was a largish motorbike area, with Triumphs, BMW and Ducatis to park your arse on, plus some classic stuff like this Honda stand design much more interesting than the cars within it, unfortunately Missiles, yeah! Finally, the Jenson Button walking-back-to-the-pits simulator ride.

I've ridden Roger for the first time this evening - but only on the drive.  Put the new chain and sprockets on (during which my new riveting tool from Wemoto failed, very unimpressive), and after some faffing about with the fuel tap under the tank again he was up and running. Good news: I think the front disks will recover with use :) Bad news: one of the fork seals has popped :( Now I just need the fairing bracket (due any day), and some indicators (cheapo eBay ones on order), and he could go on the road.  I think paint is needed first though - the colour will be whatever the Pound shop has in stock. As Roger has been good, he's being allowed to sleep in the garage from now on.

Roger started today!  I'm not sure what was wrong; I removed the fuel tank, disassembled the air box (finding a filthy filter inside), and checked the fuel pump was actually delivering pez to the carbs; all OK.  The plugs are recent, so unlikely to be at fault.  So I put it back together, gave it another try, and he started firing on 1, then 2, then 4.  This was a relief - I was starting to suspect the HISS immobiliser was borked, or the keys were missing the correct crystal dohicky (the original key was destroyed in the crash).   Roger is a surprisingly quiet bike, I was kind of expecting more racket with it being a City Bike Racer (which is what CBR stands for, apparently). I gave the busted-up front mudguard a haircut with a Dremel, it doesn't look quite so broken now.  I made up some support brackets with some aluminium, and used the same to fix the rear mudguard. Making stuff is extremely satisfying :) Also found a place offering fairing brackets for £

Roger has had fresh oil and coolant today (all of which appears to be staying inside the engine so far), but he won't start.  Turns over fine, but there's no hint of the motor firing.  Diagnosis has got no further than swearing, so far. Removed the old chain - I remembered I had a grinder, so was able to lop the old one off easily.  Hot sparks were going in my hair, but I stayed true - maybe because subconsciously I wanted either the bike or my hair to go up in flames, so I could give this up and go inside and play Elite. After all that, he had a lovely pressure-washer shower with lashings of paraffin degreasing.

Roger's been here a week now, and although he still looks very poorly he's making steady progress. Steady, expensive progress. So far I've done the following: Ordered a new chain and sprockets (even steeping the old chain in delicious paraffin for 48 hours wouldn't free it up).  £110. New brake lever, ~£13.  I'm going to present the old, artistically bent one to Danny, who is Roger's previous abuser owner.  So he can remember what he did, the monster. New OEM screen - 99p from eBay (plus £15 shipping...) Removed the heated grips.  They're the clever Oxford ones that detect when the engine is running from battery output, but apparently they didn't work - I'll rig them up and if they're OK, they'll go on the VFR. Removed the Scottoiler.  This was a fancy version that fitted behind the number plate, but given the state of the chain I'm not sure this was working either.  Might be able to eBay that, and get some of my preciou

Roger was admitted to Hampshire's top vehicle bodgery hospital yesterday afternoon; his condition on arrival was SERIOUS: My colleague, Mrs Maimboy, recommended immediate euthanasia to end his suffering.  When told how much I'd paid for him (£575), she recommended the same for me. During the night, Roger's condition became CRITICAL when it appeared his radiator may have been damaged.  Although pattern radiators can be had from China for about £70, what sort of quality would it be?  Thankfully, come the morning he'd lost no more water and it seems to have been a false alarm and his condition was upgraded to STABLE. Today, I've spent all day operating on him and it's been BRILLIANT FUN.  I've removed all of his irreparably damaged parts, which included the generator cover (holed and cracked right through), chain adjuster (which was mashed into the rear wheel, making it very difficult to turn), remains of the indicators, and a mangled bar-end.

I've agreed to buy this next weekend: It's a Honda CBR600F named  Roger , and he doesn't look much like the one in this photo.  He's been chucked down the road, then dropped, and all his oil has come out.  Roger has been lying dead in my friend Danny's shed for some months now, but I aim to revive him and make him my track bike (and the use of duct tape is not being ruled out). As well as helping remove pesky banknotes from my wallet, this should give me some motivation to get fit and lose some podge.  I've already been out on my pushbike this evening, first time this year (now I'm nearly as dead as Roger is...)