bikespace

It's a mid life crisis thing. I'm considering it myself. Enduro's used to be a lot more difficult to get in to. Hare and Hounds these days any mong can have a go

Had worse

Most of us don't get to meet the US members of TC, so how about putting some names to faces for us. Just looking through some of the photos after following links from Dan Browns recent post regarding USA rules. Couldn't help but think, that some of these people are likely to be the blokes we hear from all the time, but none of us would know from Adam. How about linking to photo's and naming the ones you know??? Photo Gallery Here Had to mention this one. I saw one bike with Bear Marshal on the front. Was that his name or his job? You wouldn't want to upset him by running over his flags eh? Not too many arguments on this section eh? The candidate for best looking observer comes from this pic, and it's not the bloke in the bandana No offence meant by that - said in the nicest possible way

Kuwait wasn't dry when we were there. You sure you've not been kidnapped and taken somewhere else Did they give you orange overalls and a free haircut?

I've been thinking of doing it to mine too, but on the odd occasion I have to carry three bikes, so I was thinking of something removable. I was considering a wooden box, which is built around the centre rails, so it takes less to fix it down. Then seal all the joints with kitchen sealant, and paint it to whatever colour I want. I reckon with some foam inside the lid, and a lid that comes down over the outside of the box, it would be fairly water tight. Needs a drain hole or two with a tube though, otherwise it'll end up full when washing it out. Bit awkward turning the trailer upside down every week to empty it (Will also act as an airhole for Dan if he has a bad ride)

I agree. It could well save you a lot of time and money approaching a mechanic for advice. Imagine if you stripped the motor right down just to find out that it only needed a small end bearing. Imagine if a mechanic stripped the whole thing down only to find out that it only needed a small end bearing I know what you mean - I'm in two minds. If you strip the barrel off, you're not too deep. At least you'll know if it's not the little end and you can always throw it at a mechanic later.

That almost seems sensible and believable, but you forget, some of us have met you.

Well what a good night. I can recommend a bad taste night if you can stand a bit of embarrassment. What a laugh Meet the family. Felt a bit of a tit stopping for fuel on the way. Absolute riot of a night. Fancy dress with a loose theme of bad taste. Couldn't stop laughing at these two nutters. And best of all raised a few hundred quid for a couple of local charities. Spot on.

I did the Data Tagging training provided by the ACU, so here's my thoughts on it. If Datatag want to make a killing on it, they need to sort their act out and get up to date with technology now, before all the other similar manufacturers wipe them out. From my understanding, and I quizzed the instructor about it, there are a multitude of databases. There is more than one anyway. You can buy a road type, or an off road type, and I think there are more varieties, like jetski's etc. For me to spend my hard earned wonga on it, I want there to be a fair chance of someone actually checking the bike after it's nicked. I have NEVER had my bike checked at an event. I would be more than happy to be stopped at the side of the road and have my bike datatagged by the police, or anybody else for that matter, such as parking wardens as I stop for a bag of chips on the way home - just an example. The chances of anyone scanning my bike are fairly slim, but to have the correct database loaded as well is virtually zero. If I become a qualified operator, or whatever they call them, I may as well be able to check anything and everything. Why not make the policy a global one, so that if I'm at an event, I can check the bikes, but I could also wander round the car park and check cars/trailers etc, and I can lend it to my mate who does a mountain bike race the following week, and to my security staff, who can check the vehicles in the car park as they wander round. If my bike is going on a ferry, I'd expect that maybe it could be scanned then etc etc. Also.... The technology needs to come up to date. The scanners we were shown had a serial connection which people needed to connect to their PC/Laptop. OK for those of us who use computers all the time, but some of the people at the meeting didn't even know if they had a serial port, and I'm sure some of them wouldn't have one. It's getting more difficult to find a laptop with one, unless you buy a USB adaptor. Make the things USB connected, or even wireless, maybe not viable yet but future proof it with a slot for wireless integration. Provide a piece of Windows XP software which automatically downloads the database and installs it to the scanner. Memory is cheap - make the memory big enough to take all of the databases. It's not a database of every datatagged machine, it's a database of all the ones which have been registered stolen. How big can that be? Especially if it's a rolling window. Five years after my bike's been stolen, I'm probably not bothered that it's on the database. You can buy a Gig flash card retail for under 15 quid. Also..... Get some of the bloody scanners out there. I did the training. I believe we actually had to pay for it, but it was combined with the noise meter training so maybe it was that, and I'm getting mixed up. I registered an interest, not because I'm on a power trip, or I fancy myself as a secret squirrel. I actually thought it's not a bad idea if it actually gets used, so why not try to get it used a bit. BUT...having handed my name in and volunteering to do it, I've not heard a thing since. There were no forms available on the day.....What's the point????? I'm not an ACU basher, never have been, but I wasted my time that day. Be good if John Collins is around, just to give us an idea if there has been much take up on the scanners, or any feedback. It wasn't John doing the training by the way, or in any way connected as far as I know, but I know he's regularly around here and always knows what he's on about.

Check the inlet filter. Not everybody remembers it when they check the carb. If there's muck in there, it can get to a point where the flow of fuel is just slightly less than the speed it's using it, and do exactly that. Mine did it in the Manx 2 years ago (twice). Some dodgy fuel I think. In case you're in any doubt whiere I mean, it's the 10mm (I think) bolt where the fuel pipe enters the carb. Banjo connection seems like a good name for it, but only because I don't know what the real name is.

Because people know they exist

I think mainly enduro/motocross. Just be careful it's not too heavy duty. Bit warm this time of year.

Subject: Frightened Dad A father entered his daughter's bedroom and saw a letter on the bed.With the worst premonition, he read it with trembling hands. Dear Mum and Dad, it is with great regret and sorrow that I'm telling you that I've eloped with my new boyfriend. I've found real love and he is so nice. Especially with all his piercings, scars, tattoos, and his big motorcycle. But it's not only that, I'm pregnant, and Ahmed said that we will be very happy in his trailer in the woods. He wants to have many more children with me and that's one of my dreams. I

Arrived today - fit's like a glove Almost too much like a glove Roll on Saturday

You ask 100 Englishmen if they'd like to see Scotland set adrift, and you'd probably get more positives that asking 100 jocks judging by the popularity of your Scottish Nationalist Party. If the jocks want out they should vote that way. They can always vote for less extreme party's once they've rebuilt the wall. What's up with you lot? Sort it out and leave us alone. P.S. The oil's ours, we won it

Some people seem to be getting a bit high and mighty when neither country has much room to talk recently. There are thugs throughout football. Celtic and Rangers have their own, Aberdeen probably has more. The more recent news stories have been of non-football related Scottish attacks on English including a 7 year old boy. I've no idea how you can sit on your high horse looking down at the 84,900 England fans that followed their team peacefully. The quaint news story is the tartan army on the march. If your 0.1% caused trouble nobody would hear him. If I was travelling almost alone, I wouldn't cause any trouble either.

Yeah - when I wear my England top round my wifes village they're always muttering "****in' English Media" I've read the Scottish papers, it's the same ****3 the other way round. "The cynics may scoff that a youngster from Dunblane cannot possibly win the world's premier tennis tournament but Murray has the ability to prove them all wrong. Support for him is growing and he has proudly worn his Scottish Saltire wristbands on court throughout the tournament. That is despite the fact English football fans have criticised him for jokingly suggesting he would support any team England were playing in the World Cup. To wear them against that background is a brave move and with Sven-Goran Eriksson's men eliminated, Murray becomes the sporting story of the summer for the English media. It will be interesting to see if their attitude towards him will now soften." How brave - a wrist band - It won't! Yeah right Yep - they had me, although I was quietly happy with drawing Argentina in my sweepstake at work. Those clever people at "The Sun" get me every time. Why can't we see straight through them and treat them with the same contempt that the Scottish show for their press. I've not stopped crying since Sunday, no Saturday, oh I can't remember when it was, I was at a trial with some Welsh blokes. The sooner I stop being so sickeningly patriotic the better. You don't catch the jocks doing it. I remember Ally's Army - was that the last time? Oooooops - From a SCOTTISH website no less

Ya just can't trust anyone can ya? Let me think of an explanation. I'll get back to ya my good lady's 40th birthday party on Saturday night - Hired the rugby club - Bad taste night. Well at least I had to go out and buy summat. I know some of you lot would have had stuff at the FRONT of the wardrobe Photo's to follow.....maybe

And - Good luck to Sam and Tom for the 4th round of the British Championships on Sunday in Devon. Sam has won rounds one and three so far and leads by 7 points. Bit of a slip up in round 2 where he learnt a valuable lesson about concentration - by far the easiest round so far, and he had a 5 on the last section, the only mark he lost all day, but was enough to drop him to 2nd place. The British has been a big (and successful) test for his entry in to the world rounds. The family travel over to Spain in a couple of weeks for the first round. Undoubtedly he'll have a harder time when he meets the Spanish on home ground, but it's amazing just to be there so early on. It's all a bit exciting not only for them, but for me as an onlooker - this is a lad who literally a few years ago started pottering round on a Da Bomb trials bike on our street, training sometimes on his own and sometimes with local kids including little brother Tom, then all of a sudden he enters the British Championships and leads it. And Tom won't be in his shadow for long either - progressing well, with the ideal training partner. VIVA THE OLIVERS!!!!!

New vid now online. Some neat stuff - big drops for a 13 year old. Love the front wheel hopping. I know it's taken a lot of practice to manage it. Makes it look easy now. Click Here

In that case, this might be up your street. Boat Trip Banned - Yep

Go on, make me feel bad for having a go

Don't worry about it, he's a tw4t for doing it. Give the bloke a chance BillyT. What's the point? Easy pickings? I tell you what, if you go up to the park on a Sunday afternoon, you can tip old people out of wheelchairs too. This one goes on the list for shure?????? What sort of text talk is that ya gimp? Unfortunately, BillyT is one of the blokes who could actually give you a pretty accurate account of what the switch is for, so from my lesser knowledge, I believe it's a two way switch labelled sunshine and rain, which can change the ignition characteristics of the bike. Bit softer on rain setting to keep the grip. I'm sure someone will fill you in on the details.

At 50 quid I'd rather impale my forehead on the bleed nipple, and stick the compressor up my 4rse

In that case I'll say it The 4Rt was never any worse at flat out blasts. The 4RT struggled to bring power in quickly from low revs, sort of like when he doesn't make the top step. Who knows, if he'd been on his 315 he may have made the top step. The other two didn't seem to have power problems, Caby bottled it, and Raga spun then bottled it I'm sure it's getting there, but it's not got what the 2 strokes have got and I reckon never quite will.