What better way to test my new bike out and get some hours riding in than on a jaunt up to Bury St. Edmunds for a friends’ wedding. The sun was shining and the route from London to Bury St. Edmunds is well know as a bikers paradise. Lots of good quality tarmac on winding country roads.
I’m used to driving cars. Modern cars generally don’t need much love. How often to you check the tyres, oil, carburettor, etc. on a modern car? Not often. Well, it seems that motorbikes (especially older motorbikes) need a little more care and attention. I learnt this the hard way. I have to admit I don’t (didn’t) know much about motorcycle maintenance and didn’t have the bike thoroughly checked when I bought it. It seemed to run ok when I rode it round London. The occasional splutter, missed beat or slow pulling away at junctions but I thought that was just because it was old and not very powerful.
After an early start on Saturday morning I’d made good time through London and was just getting into the country for those wonderful winding roads. Really opening the bike up. Splutter, splutter, can’t get it into gear (any gear!), engine cuts out. Won’t re-start. F*ck. Anyway, to cut a long (very long) story short I ended up with a years AA membership at the bargain of £130 (roadside joining fee) and a standing ovation after finally arriving at the friends’ wedding just after they’d finished the first course at their reception.
It was time to learn how to maintain my motorbike. You can find out how to learn motorcycle maintenance in the motorcycle maintenance section of my Greasy Sprocket site.
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