A great day up to Lake Geneva through McHenry County on roads bordered by spring blooming trees and emerging leaves. We stopped in at Morries Place where we spied another workshop filled with project bikes. An interesting cove called Jim was working on a 1929 Henderson X. A splendid Triton parked outside near to where Ed Zender was working on a BSA.
The Tigers battery was flat (I’d left the GPS plugged in from a couple of weeks ago) so I decided to take the Bonnie out for a wee spin. Bit lumpy to start with – old fuel- but she I was able to open ‘er up a bit. An electrical short in north Evanston saw me head back to the garage. But a good few mile run after sitting for a few years. Winter maintenance is on the cards.
Anyone who worked on their 60’s and 70’s Triumph motorcycles surely used the clear wisdom of Lunmad. His Yorkshire accent narrating the home videos expertly edited sharing his knowledge of keeping these aged machines on the road in simpler fashion. Sadly he passed away last Thursday and is a loss to the vintage motorcycle community.
A visit to the premier classic British motorcycle shop in northern Illiniois was also included in the agenda. Always a treat to look over the various items parked shoulder to shoulder in the main display area. The workshop was so busy that bikes awaiting service and restoration work were stood outside.
– Dean had a mishap with an errant screw on the road today. A tube of fix-a-flat got him home.
– BSA B25 off road with maintenance tabby. I can see some Pursigesque tale as a feline companion to a rebuild adventure.
A plethora of cussing and swearing echoed in my garage today as I wrestled the old tire off the back wheel and spooned on a rugged number. Front wheel the morn…
– just picked up a pair of Continental TKC80’s. Give the underfoot grip a bit more bite on gravel roads. Looking the part!
A new battery, ticked carbs, hefty kick and she started right up. Settled into gentle burble ready for the off. Want to check fluids, cables and tires. Then an autumnal ride should be on the cards.
– as we head into cooler days I’m planning on getting the old Bonnie back on the road. Pulled out from a corner of the garage, there will be some workshop tasks to check over the engine, electrics, wheels, oil and various moving parts.
[explaining why there’s a light bulb in his mouth] “Oh, the children persuaded me to light up and ride my cycle around, just for old time’s sake.”
Mortician: “We love to watch him ride his motorcycle in the house.”
Gomez: “And wrestle the alligator.”
Thaddeus Logan: “Wrestle… the alligator? A LIVE alligator?”
Gomez: “Not very sporting wrestling a dead one.”
Oily Whiskers
– our feline friends make the perfect companion when busily concentrating on a project. Their attention is subtle and they can be quick to lend a paw when the flash of a wire or glisten of a small bolt piques their interest.
– my Uncle Dave found this ‘toon strip and sent it over to be included in today’s blog post. The red & black striped jersey; unruly black hair; and the viscous dog Gnasher of protagonist Dennis have been the mainstay of the Beano comic for 70 years. This panel has The Menace’s Ma fettling the barrels of a ‘70 Bonnie with a kitchen whisk.
– The Tiger was fitted with some new farkles to improve a couple of items for road awareness and navigation. One was a bar mount just above the information screen allowing my GPS to be affixed more centrally in my field of vision for clearer navigation. The other was a pair of indestructible rear-view mirrors affixed with sturdy Ram mounts. These are promoted by adventure tourists and off-road gurus as the most versatile units.
– a quick alteration to shift the indicators from their lower, and exposed, position to a placement just off the headlight. The old location is replaced with a small flush Union Flag motif LED light. Kit made by Terry Harrison in the UK.
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