Eunos Chump

I didn't buy ABC's 'Lexicon of Love' when it came out in 1982 - I liked it but was too busy wasting my pocket money on 'cool' shite like The Cure.  But I've found redemption by buying the Lexicon of Love II on it's release date, and it's excellent.  It makes me wonder what Martin Fry has been doing all these years if he's had stuff of this quality inside him? In motorbike news, I've massively improved the CBR600's brake performance by freeing-off and washing out the disk bobbins with brake cleaner (I found a YouTube video on it).  I was sure they were warped as they'd pulse the lever even under light pressure, but they're perfect now!  I gave the calipers and pistons a good clean too and the brakes are better than ever.  They're still not going to take your breath away, but they're more than adequate for the level of go it has. Sticky throttle cables and imprecise gearchange still need sorting.

So I've had the Duke a week now, and I can tell you this thing loves it's dinner - it's been averaging 36 MPG.  Combined with a small tank, this means the fuel light is coming on every 80-odd miles! That's my only gripe though, it's stonking good fun and the instantly available torque makes it the fastest A-to-B bike I've had - it can find overtakes where the ZZR couldn't.  The impressive brakes and suspension means it can stop much more quickly and confidently than the Z too. Of course the Z would eat it alive on a straight bit of road, and high-speed cruising is not a strong point - it's very tiring much beyond 80.  So far it's the BESTEST BIKE IN THE WORLD though (until I fall out of love with it, as I always do).

You had to be there to appreciate the significance of this ICL mug, which I bought from eBay this week.  These were mainframes that chomped through £70K of electricity every year, yet had less processing power and storage than a modern smartphone.

I had a day off today, so rather than waste it watching Rainbow episodes on YouTube I popped out and traded the ZZR1400 for a KTM Superduke 990, as you do. I wanted a change from inline 4s so the shortlist was a Speed Triple (failed to move me sufficiently), Aprilia Tuono (my insurer didn't like the naughty exhaust), or a Duke. I did find a bright orange Duke but that dealer wasn't interested in taking on the Z, so I had to settle for black. I don't like black! It is in lovely original condition though, and has low miles.  It's actually powered by a nest of extremely angry wasps, I didn't realise that, yet somehow guzzles petrol faster than my V6 Rover. Instruments look like they came with a Happy Meal, but I love this thing, it's massively entertaining to hoon about on.  The loud rorty engine is the first thing you notice of course, but it's the extraordinary suspension that's most impressed me so far.

Roger's going to Silverstone next month, so there's been weeks of prep necessary - to fix the towcar. The Berlingo wants an MOT so I've had to replace a driveshaft gaiter, track-rod end, bottom ball joint, cambelt and pulleys, waterpump, drive belt, engine mount, exhaust manifold, a brand new wheel, and once I finally got it back together the engine warning light came on... it was as if it didn't want to live anymore. After much faff I got my OBD doohicky connected and cleared the codes (was low-pressure in the fuel injection system, probably as it's been idle for months), just needs a couple of tyres and it should be good. Roger prep has consisted of re-fixing the front mudguard.  Thinking about changing his face: