Hitchcocks Forum

It all happened like this .... There I was, very happy with my 2 year old, 11000 mile EFI Woodsman in July. I was looking forward to a trip to the Manx Grand Prix on the Enfield along with my friend Steve on his Velocette Viper. A week before we were due to depart, we decided that the Velo needed further in order to be reliable, so Steve would have to go on his VFR800. I decided that Enfield speeds and VFR speeds would be incompatible so, thinking that maybe a change of bike would be a good idea, I bought a nearly new Kawasaki W800. Well, the Manx was great fun but I just wasn't getting into the Kawasaki, wonderful machine though it was. Back home, I often didn't ride it in case it rained and I would have to clean it (a real danger sign!). Wose still, it used much more fuel than the EFI. I began to realise that whilst parallel twins are great, they just don't do it for me in the way that long stroke, heavy flywheeled singles do. That is why there is a new black EFI Woodsman sitting in may garage right now, having a well deserved rest after 75 thoroughly enjoyable (but very slow!!) miles pottering around the Pennine lanes of Saddleworth. Well, West Riding Boys, I'm back and I can't tell you how good it feels! The grass is not always greener. See you at the November meeting!

hi john welcome back !!!although you were more than welcome at the reindeer matey,we are off to stafford tomorrow,i still have 1 of your badges and if you want the efi manual back its not a problem all the best paul.

So John, how did the VFR perform, no problems?

Good news John, glad your back

As you would expect Norm, the VFR was faultless, as was the W800 and the lap of the T.T. course was as stimulating as always. There was always this thought in the back of my mind - 'This would have been more fun on my Enfield!' Yesterday confirmed my feelings as I have such a magical (if very slow) running in ride through Standedge cutting, climbing out from Slaithwaite to the Nont Sarah's road, stopping to watch the hang gliders and to take in the view over to Pule Hill, before sweeping down to Denshaw at a majestic 40 m.p.h.! Thanks for the welcome back Paul and Chris - keep the badge and manual Paul, I got a new manual with the deal. See you on 1st. November?

hi john no probs,i,ve just returned from another great day at stafford,i spent 50 quid this time,nowt like a fool with a wedge!!atb paul.

Hi Paul-------- given to-days "phraseology" perhaps you might want to re-phrase that last comment a bit. ??? (Chuckle-chuckle).

Wehey come back from hols to see this welcome back John ps when are we doing the welsh run lol and do we need to contact the local group for a visa or will they come chasing us covered in woad and the likes .

Hi Noel! It was the lure of egg butties that brought me back to Enfields! Sorry we missed the boat with the Welsh run this year, it was a combination of my trip to Ireland, racing weekends and a great holiday at the Manx that got in the way. It's probably best to save it for the spring now as it would be quite a long day and light evenings would help. This gives us time to sort out the visas! We could perhaps have a Sunday morning run to Knott End when my bike is run in, I've got a great route for this one. See you soon!

The reason the grass seems to be greener on the other is that it is full of B***S**t