Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
The Money Pit
by admin - 19:54 on 30 July 2014
Even the professionals can struggle with motorcycles, as my chosen spanner-twirler demonstrated today at RM Motors where he's the boss and sole mechanic.
Richard (for it is he) had set aside an hour to remove Kawasaki San's two wheels (not at the same time), put on fresh tyres, balance them and put them back on the bike. The rear wheel proved only marginally troublesome, provoking no more than a few mild curses when the old rubber was reluctant to leave the rim. The front was another matter.
The swearing grew in volume and intensity as the newly tyred wheel refused to slot back into place and join up with the speedo drive. Time trickled away. Advice was sought from a passing fellow professional. More time trickled away. I stayed out of the way – not that I had anything useful to offer.
The wheel was finally in place only an hour later than estimated. Old, worn parts were to blame, I think – Richard's predilection for Moray Firth Radio at ear-splitting volume meant I didn't catch the finer points of his post mortem.
Minutes later Kawasaki San and I were on the road home, almost ready (there are a couple of minor jobs left) for the arrival of the other Richard, the Triumph enthusiast who helped get the GTR back on the road earlier this year, who'll be a house guest next week. Minutes after that the speedo stopped working.
Back at The Rural Retreat, investigation revealed that the speedo cable was broken – wrestling the wheel into place must have inflicted fatal strain. A new one has been ordered and a secondhand (because they cost a fortune) speedo drive will be sought too. Kawasaki San's reputation as a money pit is well deserved.
Band Update: The Strays gathered last night for the first time since the Balconie gig, nearly two months ago. No music was played, but new songs were agreed and preparations made for the video we need to impress venues.
The good news is that a couple will take us on trust; the bad news is that all they have to offer is any slots created by cancellations. So we could be back on stage at any moment. But not in the next two weeks because Jim's about to go offshore again.
We'll be back on stage one day. Watch this space.
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