Eunos Chump

I've spent a very pleasant couple of days dismantling, cleaning and servicing the ZZR, ready for it's return to the road in April.  I'm guessing the air filter has never been changed then... That said, reaching the filter does involve a lot of dismantling.  Oil and filter changed (weirdly Kawasaki recommend a special tool to torque up the filter, as it needs more than normal hand pressure - I just did it up tighter than normal), as well as coolant, brake and clutch fluids (latter was like oxtail soup). Just need to book an MOT and it'll be ready for it's primary mission - which is delivering me to Poole to stuff my face with ice cream.

I should be in Snowdonia, taking part in the annual Gentlemen's Tour of Welsh Chip Shops, but the combination of rain and illness (other 2 guys sick), means it was cancelled.  Not to worry though, 'cos this means I have more time to hang out in remote lay-bys with my mates from the RAC. The rear tyre on the CBR suddenly deflated when I was going fairly* quickly, which was an interesting experience.  The valve had split - I have a theory that the big metal valve caps it wears were the cause.  Anyway, RAC man superglues it together, and I ride it home with him following. Had a trip to Swindon earlier in the day to visit the bike porn warehouse that is Blade Motorcyles. There's a lot of really tempting stuff in there, especially the Suzuki GSX-S1000F.  I don't have the necessary £10K though, and I've got a rule about not buying anything on-tick unless it's absolutely essential.  Being really, really pretty and awesome isn't enough.

First proper ride-out of the year; Loomies, then Goodwood.  It was quite cold, there was sleet at one point, but there were sausages and cake so it was ALL GOOD. Plus, it dragged me away from Stardew Valley for a few hours.

MX5 has been BASHED.  A Fiesta failed to stop at a crossroads and ran into my rear quarter as I drove past.  A visibly-shaken old boy gets out, apologises and admits he'd not seen me at all... He offered to go through insurance or pay out of his own pocket, but he couldn't walk without my assistance and it was clear his days of independence were coming to an end... so I told him to forget about it.  Neither of us needs the hassle for the sake of a tatty old car.  It just needs a rear lamp cluster, everything else is just cosmetic - and let's be honest, it was no beauty beforehand. In other news, the VFR is finally back on the road.  I did a lot of riding last weekend 'cos I'd become shockingly rusty - my line through bends was like a 50 pence piece.  Done a couple of hundred miles now and seem to have gotten the hang of it again.   3 weeks to Gentlemen's Annual Wales Weekender!  Everybody has fast brand-new bikes, except me :(