kinell

My nephew turned up today with his Kawasaki 450, no front brake as his 'mate' had undone the banjo on the caliper! They had spent 2 hours trying to bleed the brake with no success. So, I tried the syringe but couldn't push the fluid up the hose at all. Next, I tried the usual 'pump the lever' method but this didn't work either. I undid the banjo and replaced the two metal washers with two copper ones (Beta spares ) and blew through the hole - no blockage at all. We tried again for another 10 minutes but found bugger all difference. Finally, I took the bleed screw out and noticed that the threads were covered in gunge - I couldn't see the tiny hole at all. Fired up the compressor and used the airline to blow some crap out. Screwed it back in and tried the syringe - BINGO! The lever was still a bit spongy so we 'pumped' the lever and bled the system 3 or 4 times and ended up with a very strong front brake. He's off racing tomorrow so I'm hoping nothing goes pop!

Friday is the best day of the week!

I'll miss the Parade down the high street and Town Hall Brae Seriously, most of it is enjoyable especially the craic in the sections, on the moors and back in the bar each night - good luck to everyone (except Perce obviously as I would love it if he got lost one day)

I did better last year with that map than I did the year before with the Sat Nav Mebbe next year with a bike in the van?

Any reserve rides left?

True, he is getting on a bit - he'll be catching Ishy up soon

To be fair, he doesn't crash too often (except when he's trying to get up the rear end of old granny's ) Watch the superstars ride (Browny, Dibs, Ishy) and then watch Perce at the end http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HwzykvxNeCY

Make sure you visit the Highland Leisure stall

Impressive to watch him paddling and swearing at himself with his tongue out at the same time

You need some free play in the pedal linkage - the pads will be touching the disk so the pads and fluid heat up and expand which makes the problem worse....

Doesn't Gizza have a GS?

I'm not sure if it's changed for this years SSDT but it usually works like this: - Register with your importer now (Beta = JLI, Mont = Sandifords, GG = Shirty etc.) so that they know what parts to bring for which model/year etc. (UK bikes only, no grey imports!) Introduce yourself to the Dunlop men on the Saturday/Sunday before the event starts - tell them your riding number and what bike you will be using. Gary at JLI's usually walks across with me and does the introduction "this is Brian, he breaks lots of things but no tyres yet!" Then, each time you want a fresh tyre they will fit it for you and log your riding number. After the event, all the tyre details fitted for Beta's will be passed to JLI's for invoicing out, same for Monts, GG's etc. Fixing punctures, fitting new tubes and turning tyres is usually free of charge - don't forget to take any wheel spacers out or they'll take the p*** out of you

Ouch! Get well soon...

PROPER finish numbers would be hard to get, as some folk retire due to injury, timing out or worse still - can't be botheredness! Actual bike failures are fairly rare considering the stick they get at the SSDT - I've no idea about the Beta 2-strokes but 3 out of 4 Beta 4-strokes finished last year. The bike that didn't finish was due to rider injury...

Was he Spanish? If yes, it could be the same fella that had a kill switch go faulty - the bike fired up after the Beta mechanic blew the **** out with an airline...

I always count the bike brands up each year - no reason, just out of interest I suppose. The last few years have seen more and more Beta's turn up each May, Beta and John Lampkin Imports are obviously doing something right

John Lampkin on the left? James Lampkin on the right and a skinny Jake Miller in the middle

That's a funny way of spelling 'useless'

It looks like a photshop jobby of Lane Leavett's head and someone elses body, maybe Perce or Bikespace

Cruel but funny

This is the bit that I stuggle to understand, why is it so hard to come to Europe and ride? Mr. Blame Leavett banged on about how hard it was back in his day and folk still say it now. I understand the cost side of things and feelings of home sickness would kick in but when I was that age (shut it before you all start!) I couldn't wait to get abroad and see the world. So, why is it so tough for an American to fit in this side of the pond?

Aye, I half get what you are saying now. Did you read Pat's blog? I think CT posted a link to it the other day, my first thoughts were 'he whines and moans on a bit' but I suppose he was rightly p****d off at not winning both days especially with having a 5 in the final section - he made it quite clear that he couldn't wait to leave though! PS. If Doug, Dabill or Brown came 2nd next week, we would all be saying well done and congratulating them

Didn't he get a 1st and a 2nd place last week in Bangor? Coming 2nd isn't winning but to be fair, it's not like he came 10th and lost massively. It's a big effort/expense for one of the Euro/Brit lads to go to America for a single round so it makes sense that it takes more commitment and money for one of their riders to come to Europe and do several rounds over a couple of weeks. Pat Smage is obviously America's best hope for the future currently, he may improve, he may not. Only time will tell...

...and sample the cold, wind and rain too