July Run Out

 Son Thomas and I had planned to do the VMCC Round Norfolk Run back in June this year, only to be discouraged by torrential rain - the run went ahead, but the ride down to the start point at Seething would have seen both of us soaked to the skin before we had even started. - So, we decided on a run to sunny Hunstanton instead!

We took the W/NG and the SQ4 on a 100 mile run around Norfolk - by the end of the day both bikes had done 145 miles from different starting points.

The SQ4 performed perfectly on it's new tyres, with scarcely a drop of oil lost and returned 50 mpg. The W/NG on the other hand was a bit tricky to hot start a few times (I've forgotten the technique), shed a lot of oil over the back tyre (over full chain case) and the horn fell off, which was easily fixed with some spare bolts from the panniers. We filled it up, to find it was doing about 100 mpg!

We had a great time, and we will do it again soon.

SQ4 - New tyres

One of the things I have always admired about these old machines is the ease with which you can remove the wheels. OK, so I do have a QD rear wheel on the SQ4 and the W/NG is a little more difficult but at least I have two stands and can remove both wheels at the same time! Try doing that on a modern bike.

Something that is less impressive is the front brake cable adjuster, which doesn't fit any of the toolkit spanners - it appears to be 2 BA across the flats, but it is a pattern part so perhaps that is the reason. I have a 2 BA spanner in the toolkit especially for it.

The front stand is very useful, though you have to lift most of the engine weight to use it. The trick is to make sure it is slack enough to swing down, and then tighten it up again.

The reason for all this was that the Avon Speedmaster & SM MkII tyres are now 9 years old and it's time to replace them. I've bought a set of Avon Roadrider MkIIs, just like I put on the CX500 back in 2019.

I might tackle that damaged paint on the brake drum before they go back on. But then again, I could just as easily do that when it was on the bike and get riding it again!

For the record, I am running these at 28 psi and 36 psi, at least for the moment.