I checked the new brake lines to ensure they would fit and found the lower one wouldn’t match the ends of the metal pipe to the calliper due to the flare on the old pipe. I fitted the top hose which was slightly too long, but could be routed to lose the excess, and then set off to get the metal pipe replaced locally. My local hose supplier had the pipe and tool but no fittings, so I went on a quest to get the pipe made elsewhere. Not so easy. In the end I had to buy the fittings from a place which kept them but no longer made pipes and then take them back to the first place who had the pipe and made it up with the new fittings.

By this time it was raining heavily and the day was wasting, so I worked in the rain and got the pipes all fitted. It was as I tried to get fluid into the system that the rain came down heaviest, so I waited so as to not get too much water in the brake fluid reservoir. Eventually the reservoir was filled and the bleed nipple opened, but nothing came out. The nipple (no sniggering at the back) was blocked solid and I was getting wetter (yes wetter than I already am to those who know me).

I removed the nipple completely to get the fluid flowing and then refitted it once the air was out, holding the brake lever to the bars as I did it up to stop air getting sucked back in. A couple of pumps and I had a brake again on the front. Just in time too as my wife came in and I’d promised to go out for the afternoon with her (have to keep her happy too).  After our trip out I phoned to arrange the MOT retest for the Saturday, the guy on the phone told me they could do it that night if I could get there within 15 minutes. I did get there and the MOT was done and dusted that day too.

Later on Friday evening my dad telephoned to say he and my brother would come up to my house and help to change the tyres. They turned up on Saturday and my dad had agreed to buy us all breakfast at the Super Sausage on the A5 near Towcester before we started. We took the bikes (my dad on his BSA, brother on his Kawasaki ZZR1100 AKA the fat slug) and as we ate breakfast my bro asked why I was replacing tyres which had just been given a clean bill of health on an MOT inspection. A valid point I conceded but I had seen signs of perishing previously which is why I had bought the tyres. When we finished breakfast the three of us stood in the car park examining my tyres, and none of us could see any reason to change them. Instead we decided to go for a ride and put some life back in my battery.

We rode North up the A5 and across junction 16 of the M1 to drop in on the original Lonesome if he was still in his same haunt. He seemed to be but looked like he was out. I was now the friend of the invisible man according to my dad and brother who had plenty of questions, like how does he shave with no reflection etc. ad tedium. After a short respite we headed back home to mine where they rested again before embarking on their long journey home.

The Z750 ran great again, is all legal again and I am reminded once again why I keep bothering to repair and keep it going, it’s just so enjoyable to ride for a few miles.  I guess I’m going to have to keep riding, and to do that I’m going to have to keep fixing, and enjoy the bike after the swearing’s done.

So I have the Kawasaki booked in for its MOT test on Saturday the 14th and get out of bed, fill up on breakfast and get started. I uncover the bike to discover a perished dust seal on the forks which is now hanging off. Quickly formulate a plan and get that changed for a decent one from another set of forks. OK, on with checking the silly stuff.

Brakes working…check
Suspension moving and no leaks…. Check
Side lights… Check
Brake light (front and rear brake switches)…. Check
Headlight (Dip and Main beam)…. Check
Indicators (Left/right and front/rear) …. Check
Neutral light dimming to nothing …. Check oh wait that’s not good

Yep the battery has gone flat. No matter I have a spare I bought on the other Z750, just swap them. Al still never sent the keys so I try to jiggle the seat lock to get at the battery without any luck. Time’s running away quickly so I hope the battery on the old beast will recover enough to start, and after a few minutes turn on the fuel, choke and then ignition and kick start, it fires second kick and runs on choke. I’ll leave it running to charge a little I think to myself.

As I walk away to get the back gate open the bike stutters to a stop. Yep, stoopid here never put any petrol in at the end of last years riding and the final drips just ran out D’oh!!! I pick up the petrol can I used to fill the other bike a week or so ago with hope in my heart, yep there’s about a pint in there which goes in the tank. Getting close to the deadline for the MOT and I’m wracking my brains for the nearest petrol station, as I’m getting my jacket and helmet on. The long suffering woman who puts up with me comes to the rescue telling me there’s one garage on the way to the MOT station which I’d forgotten.

Wheel the bike out, turn on and kickstart the twin cylinders into life and then drive to conserve the fumes of fuel I have in the tank willing them to get me to the petrol station to put in some more. It works and I get fuel and to the MOT on time. It all goes pretty well with no black marks until the last couple of checks, as the front brake line has finally perished to the point where it can’t be legally passed on the MOT. Dammit.

The nice MOT tester offers advice on where to get the hoses for the brakes but they are shut over weekends. As I have some time off this week I left it until Wednesday and then took a leisurely drive out dragging the missus along for the ride (it’s her car after all so she should be involved). The recommended place no longer keeps hose in stock, so I try one of our suppliers we use for hoses at work with the same result both places give the same place as an alternative source. They’re in Silverstone so I ring first, they can help but not for a few days and I need the bike back in for MOT before ten days is up so it’s back to the drawing board.

In this case the drawing board is the internet search engine Google, which lists a few alternatives. I contact HEL Performance via email with some questions and they assure me they have the correct part, so now it is ordered and hopefully Royal Mail can get it here before the weekend. See the next enthralling episode here soon….

As this was a first start after the winter lay up I expected a bit of a problem, but 3 kicks saw the Kawasakis two cylinders waking the spiders who called her home and sending them scurrying for cover. A little warm up and a test of all the lights and brakes to ensure everything still works, which it all does as well as it ever probably will. While the cover was off I put the new tax disc in place meaning it’s all ready to ride (at least until the MOT is due in 2 weeks time).

While the old warhorse was out of the way I also moved out Big Al’s Z750 which hasn’t been started or touched for nearly 2 years. It was heavy to move as the brakes are locked on, but I moved it out and changed the oil on this one too, with the same aftermarket exhausts to clean under the drain plug again. I opened the fuel cap, the petrol didn’t smell like petrol anymore, so the long suffering wife volunteered to go get a gallon of fresh fuel.

Once the clean fuel was added to the tank and sloshed around I turned on the fuel tap and watched it go through the filter towards the carbs. As the starter works on this Z750 it was used to spin the engine over, a couple of attempts and then another Z750 was turning fossil fuel into fumes once more. Having spoken to Al during the week and found out he is doing well, and happily married now, I had broached the subject of his Z750 twin and what he wanted to do with it. He handed over ownership, so while it was out in the sunlight I got all the details required to apply for the logbook (V5) and downloaded the forms to claim ownership and to swear it isn’t being used on the public road network (AKA SORN).

So soon I should be spoilt for choice as to which one to ride on a sunny day, but today was going to ride the old faithful that is all legal, until an inner ear infection has made me lose my sense of balance. I decided dizzy spells and lack of balance aren’t good to mix with two wheel action on the roads of the UK, yeah I know I’m just a wimp.

The tyres came from http://www.tyretectrading.com/ and their prices were good and delivery took from a late night Wednesday ordering to Friday to arrive which I thought was pretty darn good. The tyres look good too and should keep the Z750 on the road for a few more years yet.

Some other news to come soon, and it’s another good news story

Having been reminded of the bikes existence I had a quick look under the covers, still looks as dirty as I left it, where are the bike cleaning fairies when you need them? I also noticed the tyres are starting to look a bit sorry through lack of use and standing water, so it’s time to change them I think. A search online has shown that the tyres for the Z750 aren’t going to be as easy or cheap to get as I’d hoped, but there is hope in a couple of online sites offering affordable prices for motorcycle tyres and when my works bonus comes through I will be buying some new round black things.

If anyone still reads this site and has any links for classic road tyres for the Kawasaki please comment below

1965 DMW Deemster

We unloaded the Deemster and stowed the trailer ready to go. Then we had to drop the news on my long suffering wife that she was going to have my daughter Phoebes bike, which my dad had brought with him,  in her car. Not happy. We loaded the car, and got on our bikes, I kicked the Kawasaki Z750 into life and we rode the 2 miles to the Wolverton Show. On entering we found some bikes already there..

Bikes at Wolverton Museum Classic Vehicle Show

And we set up our bikes in among them.

Our motorbikes DMW deemster, Phoebes lil Blue and my Kawasaki behind them

Phoebe kept returning every half an hour or so to polish up the bike which Grandad Grumps had brought along for her

Phoebe's lil Blue as she calls her motorbike

We walked around the other exhibits. And took some pictures

Well lit Scooter

Mk II Cortina classic car

Bikes at the show

Scooters on display at Wolverton Show

I liked this trike

Phoebe still kept going back to her lil Blue to polish some more

Phoebe on Lil Blue motorcycle

Just before we left we were spotted by Graham our Thursday night rideouts and work buddy, and stopped for a chat. He’d not been brave enough to bring a bike in case it rained, it didn’t apart from a few spots and spits mid day. After a chat with Graham we left the show and rode home. Here we got Phoebes bike started for her to have a quick ride. I was knackered after running around the block with her but she was smiling having ridden lil Blue so everyone was happy I think.

I pulled out the pink kwak (don’t ask me but Craig says it is pink and won’t have it any other way but we’ll wait and see if he takes his test and joins us anytime soon and what he rides) and it’s one heavy lump to get up the hill of my drive backwards without crushing myself under it. I went in and got my gear on and walked back out to start it. 2 kicks and the Z750 twin fired again, still find it hard to believe something this old and neglected will start so well.

I cocked an unwilling leg over the seat, and kicked the bike off the centre stand and set off. A little way down the road I realised Autumn is well and truly on its way as the light was fading already, so I put on the sidelights. Everything on the dash wanted a turn too, and all the tell tale lamps lit up bringing to mind a Christmas tree. Damnit, a bad earth somewhere I thought as I hit a small pothole, and at the same time the lights all went off bar the ones which were supposed to be on, result!!

I arrived without incident at the pub (the Ship Inn at Stoke Bruerne, highly recommended) and awaited the arrival of Graham and Pete. And waited, and waited. And waited. Finally at 8:30 they arrived, Graham had pulled out his RD 400 but she was running rough, and after he had filled it with fuel, and run Pete ragged up and down Wilstead he gave up and put it away in preference to the bigger more modern Yamaha which also needed fuel.

There was a saving grace though, Pete was on his newly assembled Suzuki GT380 which looks stunning with all the bright chrome, and gleaming red paint. Anyway, into the pub, chat, drinks and stuff, and soon it was time to leave. At the top of the hill coming out of Stoke Bruerne there was a hella long line of traffic coming along the A508 (found out later the M1 had been closed, forcing people across to the A5). Graham and Pete made it out in one go, a friend of theirs who was behind me and I had to wait and wait and wait for a gap. When I saw one I went for it with a lorry coming up the hill giving me time to get across, as I got on the right side of the road, and dipped the throttle the Kawasaki stuttered, leaving my follower almost in the back of me as he had taken the chance too.

We followed the traffic down the A508 and found Graham and Pete waiting in a layby at Grafton regis at which point a sudden fog came out of nowhere, well more precisely out of the exhausts of the Suzuki GT380, regardless we all continued on together to the A5 where traffic was backing up a ways. We took the decision that getting out in the oncoming lorries could be hazardous, so took the option to go with the flow of traffic. I managed to make myself look like a bum as I pulled out near the end to go past the traffic turning left, not realising Graham and Pete would stay with their friend who was also going to go off left. It was then my turn to wait for them at Old Stratford.

Back to my house for coffees and biscuits, I think Pete got one or two of them but Graham seems to be able to fit more Maryland Cookies in his mouth than most people I know. More chat and then the dynamic duo left to head home. I had started out with excuses planned, but ended having another good night out with the Thursday Night Gang.

Just before the appointed time of 12:30 rendez vous at my home, I had a phonecall, Graham was running late as he’d lost his cat (I didn’t ask for any further clarification). So eventually we set off from mine after 1pm and hit the A422 to Buckingham. A really nice pace was kept up, at 60-ish mph all the way to Buckingham. Through Buckingham I had a route planned, but somehow Graham who was following me made us go the wrong way. That’s my excuse it was all his fault. But we picked up the A421 anyway.

As we tried to get out onto the A421 it was quite busy so it entailed a quick squirt to pull across and get up with the traffic flow, the Old Z750 twin managed it very quickly, and Graham on his Yamaha kept up easily too. A quick dash along the A 421 and the A43 and we were soon at our destination. We parked the bikes, secured our helmets (ooh err that sounds rude) and had a walk around.

We immediately stumbled on two Yamaha RD’s

Graham delighted in looking over these stunningly restored bikes and finding all the non original parts. Being something of an expert he found quite a few, not anal at all then

We carried on looking around at the rest of the bikes on display :-

Then we caught the VJMC race bike display, I videod for 6 minutes, and nothing happened except a 2 stroke revved up. Turned off the video on my mobile, and then they decided to do some display runs, I caught just a little of the action:-(

Then it was time for a quick walk and the ride home. Another fun ride as Graham followed me off the A43 onto a single track road through some villages. I’m sure he felt at home there anyway. Eventually it led back onto the A421 towards home and we cruised the outskirts of Buckingham towards Milton Keynes and home. Back on the A422 we actually done something unusual, I passed a pair of motorcyclists, unheard of on my Z750 twin..

Home, a cold drink each and Graham roared off on his way home, both of us having agreed it had been an afternoon well spent

We arrived in double quick time as the Twin performed as well as ever at 70-75 0n the dual carriageway and was a joy to ride on the single carriageways. We had to collect our tickets which turned out to be VIP Paddock passes which included a pit walk through the Team Yamaha World Superbike Garage and opportunities to take pics and pose with the bikes…

We also had unlimited access to the VIP facilities with Team Yamaha all courtesy of Monster Energy Drinks and Team Yamaha

We also got to see the pit lane girls close up which Daz took full advantage of..

We also got to watch the Superbike races of course and the other events on the same venue. It was a truly extraodinary experience with all the bells and whistles laid on thanks to Daz and the sponsors of Team Yamaha – Monster Energy Drinks.

At the end of a fantastic day (I’m trying not to think of the Haircut 100 song with that phrase) it was time to head off home. Once again I mounted the Z750 and Dazza got on his slug of a ZZR1100, but he wanted to get home quickly so we split up at the A43 for him to go to the M40 and I returned via Towcester. A great ride ended a brilliant day and a huge thanks to Dazza and our corporate host Jake at Monster Energy and all the crew who made us so welcome at Team Yamaha World Superbike Racing Team.

After a short wait I heard the unmistakeable sound of a 2 stroke engine, which as it came into view I recognised as Graham on his RD400. A great looking bike with the Yamaha Yellow and black racing block designs. He was followed by Pete on his bike. A ride around the back roads leading to Stoke Bruerne showed that the RD could still cut the mustard on the corners and the 2 stroke could still pull away pretty rapidly. And a great sound issued from the twin expansion chambers attached to the exhaust ports.

At the pub it was pub quiz time and we entered as team DOH! Although we (or at least I) struggled with the outlines of the countries picture part of the quiz, somehow it was left to me the teetotaller to unscramble the spirits names in the anagrams. The quiz questions were very tough too. The final scores left us trailing into a joint second place but we were happy with the result anyway.

The ride home was interesting as now 2 of us had 70’s Japanese lighting leaving only Pete with slightly more modern lights. No matter, Graham pushed ahead and went for broke on the RD, as I followed on behind relying on my glow-worms and exceptional night vision coupled with cat-like reflexes to avoid objects which appeared suddenly in the faint glow on the road 6 feet ahead. We still managed a good speed homewards sitting at 60 ish all the way.

At home my long suffering wife made the coffes for Pete and Graham and passed out the biccies. After a little chat, Graham did his best to awaken the street with his RD as they left in a blue haze. Then I realised I hadn’t got a picture of the bikes to put up here. DOH!

All in all, apart from a little trouble starting the Z750 Twin at each end of the ride (possibly due to the petrol getting old and stale) it ran rather well. The only other niggle was that when the fuel tap is switched to the ON position it starves the fuel, but reserve position is fine if leaving it somewhat liable to running completely out of petrol at some point. Well you can’t have everything can you?