Right, this is the last installment in the great rebuild epic!!
Today, I got the bike MOT'd. Took it to a place in my home town. The guy wot did the testing was a real nice bloke, a biker and knew his onions. He is actually a Dynotesting engineer as well, and spent a happy hour nattering about things biking. He was well impressed with the bike, and looked at the minimum, sayting that he could tell that the bike had been done properly. I took that as a compliment.
He was more than happy to have me involved in the test. Mind you, he tested the horn himself, and regretted it to begin with!! He was sat on the bike, and hadn't noticed the twin air horns. When he hit the button, I swear there was clear air between his a;'*s and teh seat!!! It was bloody funny. Mind you, he then decided that it need some more testing, to the dismay of the other mehcanics in the workshop, whose ears started bleeding, I think
THe bike sailed though, and so this afternoon, I have taken it out for a proper shakedown ride. What a cracking little bike!!! It is a hoot to ride!
I am used to bigger airheads, and the last bike I had was an oilhead GS, so this thing feels like a racebike in comparison, in terms of its size and the engine feel. It certainly revs faster and higher. The handling is pretty good (for a 1980 twin with the original rear shocks). In fact, given the age of the shocks, I am impressed at how planted the ride is. Not like a modern bike obviously, but still totally acceptable as far as I am concerned.
I took it over to my Dads, who as I have said before was the owner of the bike before he gave it to me last year. He was chuffed to bits and really pleased to see it rebuilt and back ridden again. I think he almost had a tear in his eye!! He is not one for outward emotions!!!
It isn't leaking any oil, all the nuts and bolts are still in place, so here's to getting some miles on it. I haven't ridden a bike for nearly four years, so it is like coming home!!! What is it about bikes that we love so much??
I have ridden for nearly forty years now, and I still get as much enjoyment out of riding as I did the first time my bro-in-law gave me my first bike to thrash around the local fields on when I were a lad. I have so enjoyed this rebuild, and I am really proud if the result.
Anyway, thanks for listening peeps, ity's been great to share my experiences with y'all, I will be checking in regularly. Good site this!!
Cheers
