A
Anonymous
Guest
Just back from an eventful day out on the GS750L. I didn't just meet one knight of the road there was an entire legion out in Scotland today.
Left home to travel 20 miles to Auchterarder easy run in the nippy cold.
Heading up the dual carriage way the brake master cylinder top unwound it's self, escaped from the bike and bounced along the road. Not a problem I would turn at the next roundabout to go get it back. Slowing for the roundabout the clutch lifter jammed, leaving me with the clutch stuck in and no forward motion.
Friendly traffic police car arrived sorted out the traffic and helped move the bike to the side of the road. Offered more assistance with calling recovery trucks, police mechanics, tools phone calls whatever I needed. Thanked them, sent them on their way and called my mate to come down with the tools for removing casing. While I was waiting the lifter popped lose and returned to normal use. Went round the block a few times, went looking for the master cylinder top. Couldn't find it, sealed it with polythene and tape cancelled the calvary an headed onward to Auchterarder. Put the lifter sticking down to grit. Theres a lot of muck on the roads at the moment.
On the way home at the same roundabout the lifter stuck again. Bollocks wheres the phone. Before I sent for tools a car stopped to help. The guy was the motorcycle training instructor from the Honda dealer. No tools in the car so he phoned the dealer to have some Alan keys sent up. Parked his car to protect the bike from the traffic. Looking good for me so far. Tools on the way. Another police car stops, decideds to stay as well and turns on the blue flashing lights.
Still awaiting the Honda dealer tool delivery boy. Next on the scene arrives the AA (roadside rescue) he parks in front of the forming convoy. No Alan keys on his wagon. Still he decides it's a good idea to sit at the front of the convoy with orange lights flashing. Eventually the Honda Motorcycle transporter arrives with the headman mechanic. With no tools, lifts the bike and puts it in the back.
I'm now thinking this is going to cost a fortune. It's also not the time and place to complain loudely and send them on their way. For want of an Alan key theres a police car, 2 recovery wagons and an Alfa Romeo 156 escort out providing assistance for the one old Suzuki.
Me and the bike leave the scene in the Honda wagon, the AA man goes off to a car breakdown, the police leave in search of dougnuts and the Motorcycle instructor goes home.
The bikes taken back to the Honda dealer where the mechanic opens the casing. Removes the lifter, splits it, cleans out the grit, regreases it . Builds it all backup. Adjusts the clutch. Best it's ever been. Runs round the yard for all.
That brings me to the final question. How much do I owe for all this.
Recovery and repair from a main dealer. I'm expecting something like ?80. ?50 for the recovery and 1 hours labour.
The head mechanic asks for ?10. Thats a bargain, so on Monday I head back to the Honda dealer with his favourite case of lager.
What I learned today was that there are a lot of motorcycle friendy people in my area and they were willing to go out of their way to provide assistance.
Left home to travel 20 miles to Auchterarder easy run in the nippy cold.
Heading up the dual carriage way the brake master cylinder top unwound it's self, escaped from the bike and bounced along the road. Not a problem I would turn at the next roundabout to go get it back. Slowing for the roundabout the clutch lifter jammed, leaving me with the clutch stuck in and no forward motion.
Friendly traffic police car arrived sorted out the traffic and helped move the bike to the side of the road. Offered more assistance with calling recovery trucks, police mechanics, tools phone calls whatever I needed. Thanked them, sent them on their way and called my mate to come down with the tools for removing casing. While I was waiting the lifter popped lose and returned to normal use. Went round the block a few times, went looking for the master cylinder top. Couldn't find it, sealed it with polythene and tape cancelled the calvary an headed onward to Auchterarder. Put the lifter sticking down to grit. Theres a lot of muck on the roads at the moment.
On the way home at the same roundabout the lifter stuck again. Bollocks wheres the phone. Before I sent for tools a car stopped to help. The guy was the motorcycle training instructor from the Honda dealer. No tools in the car so he phoned the dealer to have some Alan keys sent up. Parked his car to protect the bike from the traffic. Looking good for me so far. Tools on the way. Another police car stops, decideds to stay as well and turns on the blue flashing lights.
Still awaiting the Honda dealer tool delivery boy. Next on the scene arrives the AA (roadside rescue) he parks in front of the forming convoy. No Alan keys on his wagon. Still he decides it's a good idea to sit at the front of the convoy with orange lights flashing. Eventually the Honda Motorcycle transporter arrives with the headman mechanic. With no tools, lifts the bike and puts it in the back.
I'm now thinking this is going to cost a fortune. It's also not the time and place to complain loudely and send them on their way. For want of an Alan key theres a police car, 2 recovery wagons and an Alfa Romeo 156 escort out providing assistance for the one old Suzuki.
Me and the bike leave the scene in the Honda wagon, the AA man goes off to a car breakdown, the police leave in search of dougnuts and the Motorcycle instructor goes home.
The bikes taken back to the Honda dealer where the mechanic opens the casing. Removes the lifter, splits it, cleans out the grit, regreases it . Builds it all backup. Adjusts the clutch. Best it's ever been. Runs round the yard for all.
That brings me to the final question. How much do I owe for all this.
Recovery and repair from a main dealer. I'm expecting something like ?80. ?50 for the recovery and 1 hours labour.
The head mechanic asks for ?10. Thats a bargain, so on Monday I head back to the Honda dealer with his favourite case of lager.
What I learned today was that there are a lot of motorcycle friendy people in my area and they were willing to go out of their way to provide assistance.
