Camping en Francais

Spent 3 nights camping in the North of France. Being cheap, getting used to camping, trying to improve my French and just pottering about.

It's On!

I'm writing this from a friends house in the lovely sussex countryside, and am 1 hour away from leaving for the ferry! I've been working on the bike so much that I've forgotten to get excited until now!

So I'm now sporting what I'm told is a good engine, having replaced the left half of the block (I had a spare!), put on a new chain for good measure, threaded a new clutch cable alongside my current one (I think it's on the way out), replaced the dust seals on both wheels, replaced all handlebar switchgear with stainless fixtures (some were getting a bit funky...) and a many other things I can't remember now.

The point is I think the bike is a bit more trip-worthy now! Only time will tell!

OKAY BYE!

Hold Up!

After about 1000 miles around the South of England, visiting friends, camping wild and testing myself and the set-up I have, the day before my cross-channel ferry I have bailed! Back at my Parents house now, I am a bit disheartened, but can at least do a bit more preparation!

Why I Bailed:
The engine has been making a worsening deep rattle from the bottom-end for the last 500 miles, and thoughts of impending engine doom were taking over my head, making riding much less enjoyable.
I had not mentioned it to anyone, trying to put on a brave face, but just felt it was too stupid getting a ferry to the continent with a Known Fault.

After waiting a week to get my bike seen I have found out the crankshaft has been making the offending noises, so I've taken the engine out (myself, to save on labour costs) and dropped it off at Del's Motorcycles for them to split the crankcase halves and find out if the bearings, liners or actual crank is at fault...