Modern Vespa

here bill, i thought you'd like to see a picture of the mid-sized screen on the GT. this one was a right pain in the arse to cut down but it did come out nicely in the end - i think the fancy-schmancy carbon-fiber-effect screen trim adds a certain je ne sais quoi

3-bedroom duplex maisonette in beautiful down-town North Finchley/Friern Barnet up for grabs....with a garage! 8)

Where did you get carbon fibre screen trim? I spent years looking for some for my Nexus, to no avail

I have a windscreen I bought on eBay for the ET4 (Faco?), but it seems to be missing one of the bolts. It's been over a year and I haven't got round to sorting it yet...

i got it on ebay sorry [*ducks*]

Your eBay-fu is strong!

Yes I'm liking the professionally cut down screen very much.
It looks just the right height to protect your face and the muffs on the bars look delightful. Grrrrr I'm a tiger.
That was the screen that you cut down yourself without the aid of a boyfriend wasn't it. Genie I salute you.
I think it suits the GT perfectly.
It's such a shame that it won't get an outing to Europe next week because we could do a "with a screen" and a control test to see who was more comfortable during the fast bits.
Me thinks I can see a clear screen coming my way.
Regards
Billy-no-scoot

Mike - selling that place are we? how much?

you'll be pleased to hear I have gone and done it, booked my test for next Friday afternoon.

Saturday I'm going church visiting and meeting up with my bridesmaids

but Sunday I will have to crack on the U turn and emergency stop practicing extravaganza.
jim - if you are free this Sunday and would care to join me in my practice I would be so obliged!!

genie - I really like your screen, well done you for cutting it.

I'm going to watch Marley & Me now in the comfort of my Argos couch.

night night everyone

Ouchy, I thought it had sold? Must be behind the times...

Can do - when, where?

Posted elsewhere, but you guys might appreciate it:

GP800 chucks up its guts:

On my way to Totteridge I stopped at the Hanger Lane Gyratory lights, and was engulfed in steam. Poor sod, thought I, looking around for the car about to die - but it was the GP800! Gunk all over my right foot! Temp gauge was still normal, so I went slowly to the Ace Cafe, by which time the temp gauge was shooting up.

Phoned for a recovery vehicle, thinking it was a shame JT wasn't on shift, and was told it might be two hours.

30 minutes later a flat-bed pulls in and I get a phone call: "I'm outside mate!". Luckily my 11:30 breakfast had been served very promptly, and I'd finished. I get him a tea while he loads up the bike, all very easy with a dolley for the front wheel and a winch. And off we set for Snorbums.

Johnno's face fell as we offloaded the bike, apparently these are rather piggish to get to 'the bits that inevitably will be the culprits'. Never mind, Dave reckons it can be done there and then, and has a loaner X9 250 Evo to hand - for which now one has to have one's driving licence and credit card ready, to have GBP500 pre-authorised in case of any prangs.

I get my business in Totteridge all sorted, phone Dave and am told it'll be ready by 17:00, so back to the workshop. The bastard charged me...


















...absolutely nothing, obvious warranty repair, and the warranty claims all seem to be paid promptly now. Apparently some genius had lit a fire under the Piaggio accounts folk - who are now careful for their jobs.

So three jubilee clips and new coolant later I'm back on the road.

BTW, the X9 250 was a delight to ride for a bit - it seemed to revel in my 'Italian tune-up'.

Mike - selling that place are we? how much?

It's still on the market for £230,000.00

We accepted and offer below that but it was based on the potential buyer getting a Government grant from some fund or other and the funds have run out.
I've had no official withdrawal, though.

The Agency told me that it could be let in its present condition for £1,000.00 per calendar month.

It's not in pristine condition, rather 'lived-in', and a couple of thousand spent on it would, I'm told, get an extra £250 per month.
In the long term, new carpets will be in order, for example.
The bathroom is clean but needs redecorating.
Gas central-heating and hob, electric oven (new last year) and shower.
Fully double-glazed, all done within the past 7 years.

It's handy for the shops; Post Office and Off-Licence across the road along with a plethora of take-aways and hair-dressers, the Co-op's next door, launderette and dry-cleaners within sight and there are 5 bus routes passing or nearly so. The Tube is 10 mins away by bus.
Central London is 35-40 mins away by Public Transport and less by scooter.
The North Circular is less than 5 mins ride away.
A large Tesco is right by the NC there.

The garage is in a battery but almost opposite the front door and very secure, as Jim knows, because it's so over-looked and in a private road.

It's on the 1st and 2nd floors with its own outside stairs and front door.
The view from the front (which is at the back of the building) is one of the few things I miss - it's high up with Ally-Pally on the sky-line and in the winter when the leaves are off the trees, one can just see the light on top of the Canary Wharf tower.
If you're an aeroplane fan, with a decent pair of binoculars you can see all the Fly-Pasts coming in from the East going over Buckingham Palace and every clear night see up to 15 aeroplanes in stacks and approaching Heathrow and the ones taking-off and landing at City Airport.
There's little noise from the planes as they're still quite high up.

Ed reminded me - I installed a ground anchor in the garage and it's still there.

Thank you for frightening me - now I'll be braced for mine to do it!

So little traffic this morning that I was at work by 9:30, whee! Hang on...why would I want to be at work half an hour early??

So back in town, after a lovely afternoon Sauna and relaxing.And now time to aperitif !

i was hung over and took public transport i don't like to ride when i'm feeling fuzzy. plus i needed the reading time, long day at work ... now enjoying recreational evening

I just grounded the centre stand on a scoot for the first time ever about 5 minutes ago.

Was it on a track?..... Did I spend an inordinate amount of time going round and round a roundabout trying to get my knee down?....Am I a Riding God, just passing some time in my current job before my big move into Moto GP?....

....No. It was on my way home from work. Turning into the road where we live. 50 yards from our flat.
.
.
.
And it wasn't even on my own scoot. I'd borrowed Mrs BB's GTS

Agile things, aren't they.

yes

yipee - this Sunday, say 12 Norf London like last time's plan?

Okey-dokey, I'll try to get to your place by 12.

Any damage?

To the scooter or your underpants?

thanks!!!!!!!! I really appreciate it, as there's no room for failure on this one, I can do the damn u turn from right to left but not the other way around!
and i haven't practiced the emergency stop yet, though I can't see that being the issue!

anyone else care to join the u turn extravaganza?

It's always left to right, otherwise you'd be on the wrong side of the road/against the traffic, if you know what I mean! You're confusing matters even trying it right to left.

The emergency stop should be fine, unlike a u-turn it's something that you may have to use at any time, just think back to the CBT, front brake, back brake more front brake. You'll fail if you lock up a wheel and don't correct it, if you feel a skid coming, release then re-apply.

i'm self-frustrating here trying to set up hotmail on my Mail (Mac) as apparently it's now free, has anyone done it? it's very recent...
GRRRRRRRR
i can send from hotmail on my Mail, but it's not downbloodyloading the emails!!!!!!!!
http://db.tidbits.com/article/10063
http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!32413.entry

i know it's annoying, for some reason my arms just flow so much better the other way around, WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! honestly!! grrr

Maybe you're an American at heart!

The U-turn would be a piece of the proverbial on their big wide roads!

I'm sure you'll get it after a bit more practice.

So as I can't still can't decide what to do with my free weekend I'm going to list them here to see if anyone can comment in my inability to make my mind up

March 7th and 8th Options -

Grab the GT and ride to Paris with a fellow scooter rider and stay over.

Grab the GT and invite myself to anyones house who lives in France or Belgium.

Grab the GT and ride into Europe and ride until I find somewhere I like the look of and stay over.

Grab Nick and go to Duxford Aircraft Museum.

Grab Nick and go to London to do the Tate Modern and the Design Musem.

Grab myself and stay at home watching way too much pornography because it beats being lonely and it's a cheap night in.

Go and see Tina Turner at the 02 - I'm really clutching at straws.

Suggest a meet at the Pilot on the Sunday afternoon if I can't be motivated to be leave the country.

Spend the weekend reading a self help book about being more decisive.

Regards
Billy-no-scoot

Neither, thanks. It was over before I knew it, and left me a little shocked, but quite childishly pleased. I'm not planning to repeat it, though.

billy: the Hussein Chalyan show at the Design Museum (which was the only thing on the other week. Maybe check what time the exhibition on the 2nd floor opens.) was surprisingly worth seeing, speaking as someone who doesn't pay that much attention to haute couture on a day to day basis. Haven't seen the new shows at either Tate yet, but if you're interested I'll let you know when we're planning to go. Won't be for a while though. We've both got a lot on. Might try to do a late night in the week.

well, apart from some minor pottering in the garden, all we did today was watch several back-to-back episodes of Battlestar Galactica, do some washing up, and watch a movie. don't feel bad bill.

I replaced a hose clamp on the Fuoco that was weeping - and while it was up on the bike lift got the wheels and underneath nice and clean for the first time in months. Then got it off the lift and washed the rest of it.

I hate crouching down to wash the wheels.

I put the LeoVince 4Road on the Super. I am so glad it isn't as loud as the PM. It does make a nice burble and looks better than the original which is already really rusty. Will post pics eventually! I have only ridden it around the block as well.... my bad

i prepared a patch of earth on the allotment. it was covered in brambles, old bricks, breeze blocks and broken glass.

it took me 6 hours to prepare a patch the size of 2 double beds. now my back aches and i'm going to bed.

no doubt i'll ache like a bastard in the morning but i'm spending the day in shoreditch house with my wife, kids and lots of friends so i'll make up for it with a good sunday lunch, lots of booze and a quiet post-lunch snooze with the papers if i'm able to slope off for half an hour.

Later today - running circles around Dessa.

Carnival in Blankenburg today!

It's raining, of course, but we'll ride up later anyway.

oh yeah I forget - celebrating NOT being in Brazil and avoiding all things Carnaval related: this is my yearly celebration of living in the UK

Blankenburg ???? You mean Blankenberge ...

that's no carnival, Aalst that's carnival

You must mean Herenthout

the oldest of Belgium

Aalst was advertised in the paper but we're going to meet Ed's brother and his wife in Blankenberge as they live there (and it's nearer!)

Last night my lady and I visited a couple that we've known for years and they have, after years or trying and failing for a child be it naturally or with many failed attempts at IVF finally adopted.
The little one in question is just beautiful and we were the first couple to visit him sinse he has been deemed to be thiers by the adoption agency.
To celebrate they laid on a lovely meal for us and we all had a lovely evening getting a bit pissed while the little one slept - apart from me because someone has got to remain the voice of sober reason.
But this isn't the real story.
I drove my lady home and we went to bed and as luck would have it I woke up next to her and just as I was going to tell her what an angel she is and how lucky I am to have her in my life she opened her mouth and said and I quote "You f###ing ###t." I was a little taken a back at this outburst especially when I didn't think that I'd really deserved the fairly negative and unjust observation.
Only then did I realise that she was still asleep and dreaming .
If it wasn't so vulgar it would have been a tender loving moment but better was to come.
About 5 minutes later she lept from the bed - a bit like tiger in the winnie the poo books and started to dance in front of me naked.
The dance looked like a cross between the Madness/Ska thing and a speeded up "Robot" made famous by Tic and Toc and Ian Crouch.
It was just brilliant to see her dance around like a demented member of a Kyle video repeating CRAMP !! loudly.
I was no help at all because I burst into laughter watching my naked lady try to end her discomfort by searching for a postion that she was comfortable in.
Hang on -

I had a conflict- do I try and help or just lay back and enjoy the show?
My girlfriend dancing naked (for whatever reason ) doesn't happen every day but she was in alot of pain, but she's dancing naked, poor girl really isn't in a good place, but she's dancing naked.
Yeah I kind of looked concerned but I have to admit I just looked on at the erotic vista and wished it would never end but finally did the only thing a guilty man can do -
Offered to make a her cup of tea.
Am I a good person ?
Billy-no-scoot

just back from the ride around Hendon with Jim patiently taking me through great tips and managed to U turn away let's say 6.5-7 out of 10 times (jim correct me if I'm wrong) within a car park.

Also cracked the emergency stop, front break mainly, tad of the back break, no skidding.

need to remember:
- check tyre pressure (back tyre looks low according to Jim, will look into it)
- stay closer to the curb when doing a right or left turn
- watch the speedometer (...)
- keep slow throttle controlling slow speed with back break as I approach queue of stationary traffic (rather than letting go of throttle and allowing gear break to work its magic)
- watch road positioning, aim to ride behind a car drivers seat (is that right Jim?)

otherwise, I got praised on my indicating, life savers, mirror checks, stopping distance, etc

going to study the questions they might ask now and start putting together the paperwork needed.

by the way Jim did I do alright on the roundabouts?

well so much to take in, but not really, so I'm trying to cut out the drama and just get on with it (this is said after 57 moaning posts detailing my U turn attempts! )


thanks again Jim, fingers crossed Friday afternoon I'll be posting a picture like this: (only cheesier)