Out & about on the CX

I'm happy to say that the 1978 Honda CX500 is out and about again after I sorted out the front brake and replaced the fork oil. It's been off the road for a while after some tyres, refurbishment, camshaft / rev counter investigation and the repair of the broken caliper bleed nipples.

It rides really nicely on its new Avon Roadrider tyres and it positively flies compared to my SQ4 - but it is also very tall and the riding position feels cramped due to the way it makes you bend your ankles.

Cley, North Norfolk

It's got a couple of problems - the tail lights don't work though I have brake lights and indicators, and the starter circuit has a wiring fault. The system demands the clutch is disengaged, even if the bike is in neutral.

Both faults are a feature of this mess:

I've stripped the tape off the harness here - looks like a previous owner let it chafe through and then bodged it together...

More when I fix it.

Cake

In the pretty village of Cley, collecting cake:

Sunny Autumn Day 2

Cley village this time, along the North Norfolk Coast & back by a round about route. The W/NG is the machine of choice at the moment, partly because it needs shaking down and partly because it is so good at these roads - but also because it is at the front of the garage.

Here she is at Cley Church:

She's starting and running quite well at the minute, though I'm really not convinced the ignition timing is correct and the exhaust to head joint is leaking. This needs a proper repair, as the straight piece of pipe welded on by PO is at the wrong angle and hasn't a hope in hell of making a gas tight seal...

I have a suitable bit of pipe in the loft, from an old SQ4 Two-into-One. It got the right sort of curve:

More later. Hopefully this week, though I am loath to take it off the road

North Norfolk Canter

I thought I'd take the SQ4 out for a little gallop along the coast this morning. We had a nice little trip along to Holt, to visit the North Norfolk Railway. This is a most excellent standard gauge line, with steam and diesel engines running most days in the summer, and a variety of special events throughout the year. This is the end of the present line, where trains from Sheringham terminate after a 5 mile trip through Weybourne & Kelling. You can take a bus into Holt, or look around the museum, or take the train back again:

North Norfolk Railway - Holt Station

Then a trip north through the countryside to the coast at the aptly named Cley-Next the Sea

Cley

Then along the gloriously twisty A149 through Salthouse & Kelling:

Salthouse Marshes

Stopping at the Muckleburgh collection on the way home:

Muckleburgh Collection

Twenty-one miles in all, no mishaps, apart from the fact that the front brake is being 'grabby' again. We did some more temperature measurements when we got back, which you can read about here. At the end of the run the oil pressure was reading about 20 psi at 25 mph.

Temperature testing also revealed that the front brake drum was at 117°C when I stopped. Hmm...