Monday 21 November 2011

20.11.11

Decided to bring the Bike out of the Garage today
and fire her up, Guess what, Flat Battery LOL.
So dig out the Battery Charger and stick it on
charge for a few hours & over night,
This morning 21.11.11 tried again and Woosh hey hey
she fired up ( you would expect it though).
So I think during the winter months while she is
SORN while on holiday in the garage, she will have
to be started up every 2 weeks.

Saturday 15 October 2011

O Yes in Deedee.....

Well today was the day. Sprint GT day, weather was good but cool, 5.5 deg C at 9am when we set for York. After sorting out he Insurance arrangments for the test ride Woooooosh we were off, 63 miles or there about's then stick some fuel back in the Blue Beauty and back to the dealer's, Sob Sob to hand her back. Had a great ride around for nearly 2 hrs, the only issue was that they will not offer me the correct money for my Bike in Part ex !!!!! So off to a different dealer to see if I can get a better deal. I'll up-date here and also on Facebook...

Friday 14 October 2011

The End Is Nigh !!!!

At Bloody last, the wife & I are taking a trip over to York in the morning to at last have a test ride on the Triumph Sprint GT.
We had arranged to go on Monday just gone but the weather was not too great here so at short notice I've managed to get a holiday off work 2moro & the forecast looks Bingo.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Having a Mosey at the GTR 1400 Kawasaki

Well it's a week since I returned back from my holiday in Spain.
The bike went up on Ebay but sadly the reserve price was not met, in it was
short by nearly 1000 pounds, so I'm looking at Part-Ex ing it or trying a shot on a web site called Piston Heads.
Today I went to the dealer where I bought my bike from & had a look at the 1400GTR one in Black 2 yrs old & one an Off Silver colour 1yr old.
Both nice bikes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqBDil6Mw5U&feature=related

Monday 8 August 2011

She's Back....

LOL, I was having a lay in this morning when the Mobile phone started to ring
@ 8.50am.
Rushed down stairs took the call from a mobile number I did not know, it was the Mechanic from J & S Bike dealer, the part was there and he had fitted it to the Bike, so now she is back at home...

Sunday 7 August 2011

Still at the Dealers !!!!!

Well, 2 weeks 2moro and the Qwack has been back at the dealer's.
Gave them a call on Saturday, Kawasaki have okyed the Warrenty work and
the bike evan though it's at the dealer has been booked in for the part's
to be fixed next Friday sometime, so it will be Monday next week before I can evan get to pick the Bike back up.....

Sunday 24 July 2011

Out today just like the SUN..

Left home at 8.15am got Fuel then up the Motorway to Squires Cafe.
Breakfast (not the Slim Version) & a cup of tea each for me & Ashley then we had a ride around what is called The Yorkshire Wolds, stopping off in Stamford Bridge for a quick drink before heading back home as Ashley was doing something this afternoon & I was collecting the new Mountain Bike.....
On the way back via a town called Selby I heard some Unfamilular noise coming from the bike, ha ha, the Bracket which conects the Exhaust to the Manifld pipe had come loose & was making one hell of a Noise, so back to the Kawasaki Dealer to let them sort it out, well it's still under Warrenty.....


The new Mountain Bike Cube Acid...


The route today.

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Thought I would Scan this Old Photo of my old Lambretta TV 175 from 1981. God only knows where it is now !!!!!!!

Saturday 23 July 2011

Sun's out & so am I 2moro........

Well after last weekends weather wich was very unsettled all over the Uk
this weekend looks as though it could be GREAT, SUN SUN SUN and a little bit more SUN.

Off up to Squires Cafe 2moro morning with Ashley my youngest lad.
Setting off at approx 8am, get fuel then call in for a coffee & A Hearty Breakfast at the Cafe, have a butchers at the Bikes & a chat with some of the other Bikers then we'll have a blast out for an hour or two calling in at the Triumph Dealer in York to browse around the Sprint GT section

Then back home for about 12.30pm then I'm off out to Rotherham to collect my new mountain bike and relieve my wallet of a few English pounds......

Sunday 17 July 2011

Wet, that Rain Stuff Is !!!!!!!

Not much to blog about this last few weeks as I've not been doing much with the Bike since I returned from Europe.
For the last 2 weeks though I've been using the Bike to go to work.
Today 17-7-11 I was due to meet Phil down at Towcester at Jacks Hill Cafe for the usual Ton Up Day meeting, I was looking forward to the trip out but the weather here the last few days has been Rubbish and I ain't getting Wet for no one.

So over the last few weeks I've been trying to get back in to going out on the Mountain Bike, to which I have done & I'm training for a little trip Cycling across the UK from Coast to Coast on the Trans Pennine Trail.
My lads & me are looking at doing this over a few weekends.
See link for the route... Trans Pennine Trail

Thursday 7 July 2011

My 1st European Trip...June 2011.

This is the 1st photo of the trip.
I set off from home at 6.20am on Sun 5th June 2011.
Had a good ride down to Brampton Hut where I met up with my mate Phil (the bald one), he had ridden from Cannock in The West Midlands, weather was good but cool.
After a Mcdonalds Breakfast & a cuppa Tea (would have been rude not too) we had a snap taken then headed off to Dover down the A1, Dartford Crossing, A2(M) then stop at Tesco for fuel near Dover then off to the port, upon arival at Dover Yes it stared to rain, but they did not waste time loading the Bikes so we did'nt get too damp.
Once off at Calais we decided to use the N routes (non Toll) as the Sun was out, passing through Saint-Omer, Bethune & Lens then to Erre for the night.


Just about to arrive in the Port Of Calais..


Would you believe it CALAIS.....


Top deck of the ferry & the Bikes were very Secure...


2 little passengers copped a lift all the way on our trip......


This was taken in a town called Bethune on the N routes.
There was some Metal Strucutre on the Roundabout.


Arriving in Erre at my Aunt's village.


Auntie Pat, Uncle Jaques and me of course....


My Auntie's dog, Sammy.


This is a snap of the local Cchurch in the village of Erre of course.


The next village to Erre Hornaing & the rain had started, this was our second day, not long after this village we stopped for fuel but my rain protector soon came off as the rain stopped & the Sun shone.


Once we had got around Valenciennes we came off the M/way & headed for Mons & the Belgium Border, Sat Nav was playing Tricks with us then we headed to the M/way once we have stopped for this snap of the Border.


On the way to Liege we stopped for a coffee pit stop & by God was it a little warm here then yes it started to rain as we was setting off again.
We travelled a little further down the M/way & I pulled off the road in to the next services for Lunch, good job we did as we did not see another services on the route we were taking.


At this point we are still in Belgium & as you can see it was looking a little wet, good job we stopped & I put on my wet weather gear because we set off & ran in to a right storm, Rain, Thunder & Lightening (the whole Shabuggle), don't do Lightening it's not nice to ride in let me tell you !!!!!!!
We were both running low on fuel & no other services to be seen, then 13kms up the road we could pull off the M/way to some sort of a fuel station in the middle of knowhere.


The rain had stopped & we are now in Germany, at last I could see the Sat Nav just. Just wished passing through this country side it was better weather then you can enjoy the scenery

A Bikers cafe on the border of Germany with Luxembourg.


The German Border on the Lux side.


Me at a village called Our on the German Lux Border.


Phil at the German Border on the Lux side.



This is the Hotel in Esch Sur Sure in Luxembourg, it was very nice but a little pricy at 99 Euros for B+B for 2 people in one room.
We had a good wonder around the village that night after a well deserved shower then finished the day off with a chineese meal & a few beers.


This is a church which was just at the back of our Hotel.




In no big rush to leave our hotel we headed towards Wiltz still in Lux then to the Border for entry back in to Belgium where we stopped for a good hour in Bastogne. Parked up & took a few snaps of some USA war memorials etc. the Latta Coffee & Cream cakes where, well to die for here.





We had not realised it but we came out of Belgium in to France to a nice little town called Givet then after some more coffee, back in to Belgium (no we where not lost, it was the way the country is shaped here).



After leaving the Lux hotel we had made our way back to my Aunt's for the last night's kip. When in France I've always had a meal called Cous Cous an Algerian meal & this is the result, Sorted & washed down with some wine.



Leaving Calais France for Dover, the whole way back to Calais from Erre was sunny but the wind shall we say was very windy.


Welcome back to the Uk, Dover in sight and Very Windy.
Once off the ferry & through Customs, back up the road to Brampton Hut for the last stop for fuel & a drink then Phil & me parted our seperate ways home, I arrived home approx 6.20pm that night, looking back on my 1st trip over sea's we would do some things a little different & go for more than 4 days...



My total mileage for the trip was 1078 miles.

Day 1 part 1,Sunday 5-6-2011
Doncaster to Dover via Brampton Hut.

View Larger Map

Day 1 part 2 Sunday 5-6-2011
Calais to Erre.

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Day 2 Monday 6-6-2011
Erre to Esch Sur Sure Luxembourg.

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Day 3 Tuesday 7-6-2011
Esch Sur Sure Luxembourg to Erre via Bastogne,Givet,Maubeuge.

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Day 4 Wednesday 8-6-2011
Erre to Calais, Dover to Doncaster.

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Visit the following link to see all the photos of our trip. Copy & Paste it.
https://picasaweb.google.com/taylor477/EuropeanBikeTripJune2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCMS_yZv8goz7dg#

Thursday 9 June 2011

Job Done...

Had a GREAT TRIP to Europe though for only 4 days it was.
In depth recording and photos will follow soon.
I managed to get back to Doncaster last night 8-6-11 at 5.50pm

Saturday 4 June 2011

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.........

Hey Hey Hey, the count down is here, with approx 10hrs 30 mins before I set off for my first European Trip.
The take away has been ordered so off to collect that in 10 mins LOL.
sort my clothes out then bed.
You can catch me on Facebook @ tonytaylor, my profile picture is the same as on this blog, i'll be checking in as and when i get Internet connection....
See you soon....

Thursday 2 June 2011

Nice day for it...

Ship A Hoy,,,
On holiday today as my Brother is at last getting married at the ripe age of 46 !!!!
Back to work on Saturday then Sunday Woooooosh Bike Trip.
Bike was cleaned yesterday, just got to Fuel up and chuck the panniers on then roll on Sunday 6.15am....
( Roger, think I've sorted the comment problem out now)..

TT

Monday 30 May 2011

& Then a Dash out, O yeh.....Not

Well what can I say but 'BLOODY RAIN', got woke up this morning @ approx 5.30am by Heavy Rain (not the wife) LOL.
By the time I was due to go out the rain was still coming down but not as hard, so off to the Dealer to get the parts fitted.
While I was in there waiting for the Bike to be sorted out I had a wonder around the shop, Well it would have been so Rude not too.
I purchased a nice little number for the tank, not too big not too small, just about the correct size to chuck all the bits you might need and also easy to take off & use as a bag when not with the Bike.
I also got some Cables for my Tom Tom to connect to the Battery so it'll be a bit easier with the Sat Nav instead of directions on a piece of paper.

To up-date this post, the connection to the Sat Nav from the bike Battery has been a success, Yippee.

Sunday 29 May 2011

29-5-11------30-5-11

Today was not a day for biking here, the weather seems to be getting worse, every weekend at the moment we seem to have lots of bad wind which as you know ain't nice to bike in.
Last Monday after the GT/ST Sprint trial I was Lubing the chain up, the bike was on the Paddock stand & the next minute the Bike was leaning on the concrete fence post with one Smashed Mirror & a bent R/hand brake lever.
Phoned up the Kawasaki dealer & ordered the parts 115.00 English pounds OUCH !!!!
They are fitting the said items 2Moro Bank Holiday Monday at 10am then if the weather is OK it might be a dash out, last time before the French trip....

Monday 23 May 2011

Test Day ST vs GT

The arranged day came and went.
Set off this morning to go to York after having the Bike serviced, and was having second thoughts as the wind was well let's say Very Strong, we nearly turned around about a mile away from the house (it was bad).
Any way in to York, sorted the paperwork out, Jill & I got on the ST & shot off towards Stamford Bridge for the test ride, it felt very strange at first but after riding this bike I settled down in to it's riding position very quickly, Jill on the other hand was not too impressed as she had problems getting on to the bike and also holding on was an issue, the Pillion grab handles are at the rear above the exhaust which holding on made her arm's ache. It rained hard on the way back to the shop also.
We was going to get off then I said I would return another day to test the GT & Chris the salesperson said that I could take one out NOW if I wanted too.
Woosh gone for 15 Min's on my own, GREAT ride like the GT better.
We are going back after I come back from my little tour to France & have a good ride out on the GT in better weather.
So Roger it's a yes at the moment to a Triumph.....

The Triumph Sprint 1050 GT



And the Triumph Sprint 1050 ST



My Bike in the workshop having it's service.


Just a snap of the workshop in Doncaster

Sunday 15 May 2011

So, to the ACE CAFE we went...

So the Triumph test drive has been put back until the 23-5-11 at 13.00hrs.
So not to be Rude, Gareth(my eldest) & me was Wooosh off to that there London for a little trip.
I left my humble abode @ 6.50am up to the local Supermarket for fuel then pick Gareth up & off we went.
1st stop was down the A1 at Grantham for a Mcadees Breakfast, 45 Min's later we was tramming down the A1 non stop to Brent Cross off the A406 North Circular in London & stopped for fuel.
On the way to the Ace Cafe we went to get a closer look at Wembley Stadium (photos Below). After getting stuck in some traffic at Wembley he then headed off for another 2 mile to the Ace Cafe.
Upon arrival, took a few photos and had a chat with some one then inside for a cuppa, had a good look around then ordered a something to eat & another cuppa.
We we're just about to leave when a few Harleys rolled in, so we had a chat with a bloke and took some snaps of his bike.
Time was cracking on so we departed the Cafe @ 13.05hrs heading back North & stopping off at a services on the A46 for a cuppa, 2hrs riding sends ur Ass Numb.
Bish Bosh and off again & back to Doncaster, dropped Gareth off at home then back to my house it was. Got back at 17.20hrs, I'll let you work out the Maths on this one.
We we're very lucky with the weather, had a few spitting drops of the wet stuff on the return journey but not enough to get you wet, yet again we had Wind(from the weather & no where else)but good God it was a bit chilly, thought it was Mid Novemeber here. Total miles today was 348.2 Yahoo......

Mean Machine at Wembly Stadium.


A little bit closer to Wembley



We got to The Ace Cafe.


Gareth looking at ?.


These next 2 snaps are of what you see and it was from Italy, in good nick also.



A few snaps from inside the Cafe, this place has some great history & stories behind it from the Mods & Rocker era.




Back outside, the front of the building.


Custom painted Harley D = SWEET. Some more Harley snaps are to follow what Gareth took.



Todays Route.

View Ace Cafe 15-5-2011 in a larger map