Jump to Main Content

Home »  

(click any thumbnail for a larger pop-up photo)

Chairman's Blog

New plaything

I have gone and done it.

On collection day

On collection day

While my trike has been away for repair and has not been available to ride,  I have strayed from the true path and indulged in a new plaything.

I was unable to pass this dealers showroom without glancing in at the stock and there she was – a lightly used immaculate Honda CB500 twin, complete with Honda luggage  and fairing – only 8200 miles on a 1994 bike!

I was smitten!!!!!!!

I had to have it.  Off I went to negotiate with the dealer.

10 minutes later I out agin having another look. The dealer has priced it high because he knows how clean and tidy it is and he is not for negotiating on the price.

“Cash” I offer with a reduction of a couple of hundred on the price.

“Nope – price is on the ticket. You wont find another example like this one!  Anywhere!” he replies.

The thing is I know he is right, but I’m pushed on the price.

I walk away, with many admiring glances over my shoulder at the machine. Just perfect for my requirements. Nimble enough to get me in an out of town, and around the countryside, when the trike is a bit OTT  and unable to filter. And big enough so that I dont look like a bear with a rollerskate up my a*se.

2 hours later I’m on the phone to the dealer – “a bit more cash” – “nope – price is on the ticket” “C’mon, meet me somewhere on this one”

2 hours later ” a bit more cash – its out of your showroom then – giving you space for some more modern machinery” “Nope – price is on the ticket – Cash, did you say?”

Next day I turn up with the management, SWMBO, ” Same cash as last offer” “Deal” says the man, “Daggers” says the SWMBO’s  eyes at both of us.

That was it.

I have taken the CB out for a couple of local runs and find the bike easy to handle and forgiving in many respects. I can understand why training schools used them and couriers loved them.

Tales of woe! Trike MOTs and Braking Efficiency

trike-2Having been unable to ride my trike for three weeks now I was really looking forward to going to collect it from a Yorkshire based Goldwing dealer, where it has been having the works done to the brakes to pass the MOT.

The dealer does not have the facilities to test trikes and has to pass them out for MOT to an independent garage. Unfortunately the testing station does not always agree with the dealer and my trike is a classic example.

The dealer has stated that the rear brakes are spot on for the trike and there is no further adjustment to tweak them. The tester says that the brakes are not efficient enough for the MOT.

I know just how efficient the brakes are as I have had an emergency stop just after the first MOT fail when I was returning it home.

On that occasion a car emerged onto a roundabout and I believe that I  locked up the rear wheels with very heavy braking. Most of the weight transfers onto the front wheel when heavy braking using the front brake and this weight transfer lightens the rear enough to lock up the wheels.

The dealer arranged for my trike to be collected last week and has had a mechanic working on it now for 2 days. It is supposed to be spot on.

So how does this get resolved?

I will let you know when I get the result from the dealer and my trike back.

In the meantime if anyone else has come across this problem please let me know and especially how was it resolved?

UPDATE

It would appear that a tester has some interpretation to do with the regs. The tester who had been testing my trike has a very strict outlook on certain items and it appears that he gave no leeway for the trike’s braking system. Another tester took a different view and passed it.

Thundersprint Visit 10th May 2009

Morning around the Trade Stands

Morning around the Trade Stands

I have just returned from an excellent day at Northwich, the 2009 Thundersprint.

This event is a free event set-up to attract many motorcyclists to the Town Centre where there is a Parade and then the Thundersprint itself.

This is an arena where there is a short circuit set up for famous and not so famous riders to show off Old bikes and newer ones as well, racing against the clock on a short, but very interesting circuit on a car-park in the town centre. As usual for this type of event there are many traders and a fun fair for all the family. The event is like a big party atmosphere and having spoken with one of the organisers of the event, completely trouble-free. Perhaps the Police (more…)

Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza and the Transport Festival 2009

A good old Charabanc

A good old Charabanc

I went to Llandudno to drop the Mother -in-Law off yesterday, Saturday 2nd May. I had to go in the car as she didn’t fancy being a pillion passenger on the trike. In fact she has never been on a bike or a trike in her life and at 80 plus she says she doesn’t want to start now.

I have been to the Transport Festival on previous years so I know it is a good event, which attracts all forms of engines, buses, cars , lorries, motorcycles and many other forms of transport.

On top of that, the town closes down the Main Street and sets up all sorts of entertainment (more…)