Firstly, I HATE TRAINS!!! The connecting train I should have been on was cancelled so I was delayed, which put me firmly in Glasgow's rush hour on the trip back!
Anyhoo, the bike. It was an eventful start to the trip back. Started it at the sellers house, no snags. Switched it off to get ready to ride back, bike wouldn't start. Put it in gear, rolled the bike, back into neutral and the bike started no problem. To be honest I never thought anything of it as we couldn't replicate the fault despite numerous attempts.
So I left his house, and the first two miles were all slow speed stuff in 20 and 30 mph limits. The bike is really easy at low speeds! Impressed with that. Its been 2.5 years since I rode (the last one into a deer) so I was a bit nervy and the bike was being very well behaved. Until I stopped for fuel; you can guess what happened next. Wouldn't start! Took me nearly 20 minutes, but got it running again and set off proper. Same thing though, bike off, into gear, roll forward till it stops, back into neutral, try and start again. Most of the time it attempted to turn over and then stopped, completely dead - just a click, and the oil warning light coming on. However once it started again it ran fine all the way home. Weird, eh?
The ride home was about 50 miles and was a great introduction to the bike. A mix of towns, fast motorway, A-roads, traffic jams (I'd almost forgotten the sheer joy I take in weaving around cars that cant move
) the lot. And I am seriously impressed with the bike! They get a bit of a bad press in the UK as dull, boring, courier bikes, but that's not the impression i was left with. Its quick enough for me (quick enough to shred a driving license), gets a fair shift-on when you give it the beans, is ace at filtering and is comfy too. The only thing I cant really comment on is handling in the twisty bits, as it rained most of the way home and I didn't want to push my luck or try anything on!Today has also reminded me how much I love riding bikes! I love the whole "not being surrounded by metal/airbags/seat belts" feeling - reminds you how squidgy and organic you are lol. I always find that you are much more aware of everything that is around you, your senses are much more alert, apart from the reminder that Glasgow stinks! The amount of diesel I had to dodge was a joke to be honest, some of the patches were huge.
So, apart from the temperamental starting (any ideas?), I felt at home straight away on the bike. Its going to be the perfect machine to re-introduce me to two wheeled fun, and one that I reckon I will keep for a good while now! :grins:
I'll put some pics up when its A.sunny, and B.been washed!
Jim.