Todays - What Grinds my gears

[pepperami]

Oops! Double post
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[Bhud]

I have reversed a commitment to attend a motorcycle event, because it's boring and it's too hot. During the lockdown, I was itching to get out and about as I usually do, but I couldn't. So I committed to attend this one (taking place later this morning). I'm not going because I have seen enough Z900s to last me a lifetime. They are boring bikes now because they aren't ridden - just hauled to bike events. I don't feel like seeing any more of them. I know what they look like, thanks. Z900s are appreciated, so you bought one and restored it. Great. I'm happy for you. But you didn't ride it like a bat out of hell after that? Breaking speed limits and being a general menace as if it were 1985? Whatever, dude. The coolness has gone. Another guy has a GPZ750 Turbo? Or even a GPX600? Well, that's cooler but I could do more with it than sit there and polish it like you, so I'm not really happy for you. The music choices always suck (blues, rock, loose timing, out of tune), and the food (greasy, no ingredients list, never organic) always sucks. The people are great, but time has left these things behind, and as a person in my 40s (not quite past it) it annoys me, but it's true. Missed the boat. I could be chatting with nice and friendly retirees on my Sunday or riding my bicycle around a BMX track and doing little jumps... Fin d'epoque.

[chickenstrip]

I tried a Z1 900, but found it too tractor-like after other more modern fare I'd owned by that time. I have also revisited Z650s and enjoyed those more. With a few suspension tweaks, much more nimble machines, and don't feel a whole lot slower than Z1s.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Bhud]

Indeed. The old aircooled 4-cylinder Kwaks are much alike except for bore (OK, there are also differences in cam and ignition systems). Most of those engines will swap in and out of 80s Kawasaki frames because the castings are the same. What makes the real difference is the suspension setup and brakes. However, they aren't great frames - they are steelies and I've heard that the Z650 and Z900 were inferior to the GPZs (going by what that Ian T-J bloke has said). I don't know. They are just steel frames and they flex. But it doesn't really matter what they are. They are discussed more than they are ridden, and that's not a criticism of anyone at all - just a reflection of the times. Technology moved on and so did the roads, the people, what you could get away with, etc. Used to enjoy chatting about this stuff with people, but now I don't see the point. It's nobody's fault. It's just reached the end of the road. It was an absolutely great run for the petrol motorcycle, and I won't ever stop riding these old bikes, as long as it's possible and not over £3K at a time.

[chickenstrip]

I've always had a soft spot for the old Z650s, and would still like to build a modded one, because I never got around to doing it. It would be no garage queen.

A mechanic who used to work at one of the local bike shops here had one that was on the way to what I'd want to do. 750 head and barrels fitted. That could then be taken out to 810. I don't recall frame flex having been a problem on them, but then they don't have the performance of modern bikes to cope with, although maybe I'd be more sensitive to it if I tried another now.

The best one I ever saw was in a magazine many years ago, which had RGV250 front and rear ends fitted. But I think it is possible to end up chasing problems around such a bike as you upgrade here and there, until eventually the frame is the weak point, and not much you can do about it - maybe get away with a little bracing, since they tend to be a bit roomier than modern bikes. Wouldn't be for everyone, just my own little project for my own reasons. I still think they look the nuts, and wouldn't alter the look in any radical way.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[bhinso]

When the farmers decide today is the perfect day (when everyone has windows open) to spread sh1t all over the fields.

Not sure if deliberate.

[Islander]

[virus]

[hellkat]

I've thrown enough medication at my sinuses since 9.30 this morning to stop a charging bull: eyedrops, tablets, nasal spray, more than one dose of everything ...

And my nose still dripped at the very inappropriate time of whilst cooking my lunch ... right into the fucking frying pan I was about to put some bacon into.
It sizzled and spat back at me, so I ditched the whole idea, threw the pan in the sink of dishwater and stomped out of the kitchen in a rage.

Whats for lunch, Jen? Fried liquid snot.
FUUUUUUUUUU-U-U-U-U-U-UU-U-U-U-U-U-U

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Diggs]

Daft question, but have you tried Extra Strong Mints? They help my hayfever.
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[hellkat]

I haven't.
That's worth a go.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[stinkwheel]

Not really as much a gear grind as a WTF?

Getting a lot of adverts on youtube implying that if I want to get a girlfriend, I need to stop using normal soap to wash my balls. And/Or shave my balls with a special clipper.

Now, in my admittedly limited experience of courting the fairer sex. By the time the hairiness or the odour of the shower gel I've used on my balls becomes a potential issue, I'm pretty much home and dry.

They'd have to be pretty fucking bad to cock it up from there. Like my personal hygiene regime would have to have fallen somewhere significantly below the level of giving everything a rinse off in the wash-hand beasin in the gents before leaving the pub to be spending the night on my own.

Or maybe courting is different these days? Is sniffing of balls carried out much earlier in proceedings now?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Home and dry? They're normally quite wet by then' in my considerable experience.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[hellkat]

I am trying to be cross about the fact that my big monthly meeting with the senior team was cancelled after only 20 minutes - instead of 2-3 hours - due to IT issues not caused by me (for a change).

So its not taken me long to do most of the Minutes so far ...

Gave me time to review all the work I still have to do on the policies server project (ugh).
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[hellkat]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[yen_powell]

[MCN]

[recman]

On the way to the park yesterday I bumped into a maintenance bloke from my work who retired last year. Really decent bloke.
Retired in March '21, wife dies of stage 4 cancer in March '22.
Naturally he looked particularly broken.
Cancer is a massive cunt.

[to v or not to v]

Doctors. can only get a phone appointment these days, yet still cant speak to him until mid August.
would help if the lazy bastard worked more than 2 days a week
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[MCN]

Taxi driver got lost taking me to work. Hopeless prick.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.