Still here
Yes we are still here and still getting along on the Z750 twin. Just haven’t had time to write so much about it. I missed a couple of Thursday nights with the guys for various reasons including apathy. Then Graham rung and I decided I’d go along again.
As usual the Kawasaki fired up perfectly, as usual it was heavy to get out to the road, and as usual it ran nicely and felt great since the last load of adjustments etc. So I met up with the guys at the appointed time, and Graham had a call from another of his mates, after some directions were given we waited for him to arrive. A little later and another phonecall of directions to a biker lost somewhere near Newport Pagnell. Still he did arrive and we did get to ride to the pub.
An uneventful but fairly quick ride to our cokes, and for Graham and Pete to fill their faces with chips. A good hour or so of chat about all kinds of stuff from bikes, to cars to films and all stops in between. Soon it’s time to saddle up for the journey home. Fired up the two cylinders and turned on the lights as it was getting dark, but there was no increase in forward visibility. Only sidelights were on. I hit the dip switch and the headlight lit up, back to low beam and nothing.
I suspected I had disturbed the wire when checking the bulb to source a Halogen replacement, so made the decision that as I had to get home I’d ride on the high beam which still didn’t blind anyone unless they crouch in front of the bike. For some reason again all the guys with their modern lights which could bring daylight to the roads ahead of us decided to follow the Kawasaki with its failing torch level of lighting. No matter we lead and made a dash for home, and managed to keep a good speed up in the dim glow of the 70’s lighting.
It was just about a mile from home and luckily on a lit road that the high beam also went AWOL. So with just a sidelight showing people in front that I was actually there, I trundled into my street. My daughter had heard us coming and opened the gate so I could ride straight in, which was nice.
Being the kind of guy I am, the lights weren’t checked until the Wednesday a week later. I suspected a loose connection so it would be a quick and easy repair ready for a ride with the Thursday night gang again. Wrong! The headlight bulb had completely burnt away one of the (quite thick) internal wires and left a very blackened glass in its wake. It is a dead bulb, it had ceased to be. So I searched Ebay, and ordered a bulb, but missed another Thursday excursion. Happily the bulb arrived the following Saturday, and on fitting all the lights were functional again. And that’s all there is to say about that.