My bike was handling like an old barge...

I've spent a few months away from the bike due to my dodgy back and, when i got back in the saddle, i didn't feel comfortable at all. The bike felt unstable at slow speeds and the cornering ability was rubbish! I put it down to me needing to build my confidence in the bike but that wasn't the only problem. Since i got the bike, back in June 2005, it's had a tendancy to follow white lines and overbanding. I did improve this by tweaking the suspension but the problem was still there. The profile of the front tyre has always been shallow but i put it down to the tyres being meant for touring. It was fitted with Bridgestone BT020's.

After wrestling the bike round Wales on a ride out I decided something had to be done so tackled the suspension again. It improved slightly but i was still unhappy with it. I am a member of Northwest Bikers so i took the bike along to the last pub meet where it was decided that my front tyre was to blame. Simon, a member of the group owns a ZRX, fitted with the same tyres and comparing the two, it was obvious there was a problem. My tyre's profile was far too shallow and looked almost square compared with Simon's. I took Simon's up the road and the difference was instant.

I went off to the tyre shop earlier today and had a new tyre fitted to the front. What a difference! It goes round corners now! i was so dis-heartened after the ride to Wales that I even considered getting rid of the bike if a solution couldn't be found! Now I am glad I didn't!

My bike just got louder!

After spending the afternoon scrubbing my new front tyre in, Simon from Northwest Bikers offered to remove the 'removable' baffle from my exhaust. I've tried in the past but gave up after almost lifting the bike off the ground by it's baffle! The can just didn't want to part with it! Simon came up with another plan... Take the can off and push the baffle out - Simple idea but it worked! The bike has a lovely rumble to it on tickover and sounds like a muscle bike should on the move. The bike feels more responsive now and definitely pulls harder. Before the baffle was removed the bike sounded a bit spluttery on tickover and almost seemed a bit choked up on the move.

Definitely a worthwhile job!

northwest Bikers

A friendly, fast growing group of bikers from the Northwest of England. Among other things, the group organises rides all over the Northwest and beyond. There's a wide variety of bikes and riding abilities so everyone is catered for.

The main website can be found here http://www.northwestbikers.co.uk/

And the MSN website can be found here http://groups.msn.com/NorthwestBikers The MSN website has a message board where lots of information is shared including technical bike stuff and details of rides.

The group meet at the Bulls Head in Clotton, Tarporley every 2 weeks. The last meeting being Tuesday 25th March.

The 'cancelled' Wirral Egg Run

Here's a link to some photos from the Wirral Egg run today. The event happens each year just before easter and the aims are to raise money for charity and to deliver Easter Eggs to poorly kids at Clatterbrige hospital. For an event which was supposedly cancelled due to the police and local authorities raising their concerns, the turn out was pretty impressive! there were hundreds, if not thousands of bikes of all shapes and sizes.

Here are a few pictures from the Run






And a link to a small slideshow too http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/Egg%20run%202006/?action=view&slideshow=true