Hitchcocks Forum

I have been unable to get out for a ride on the "Oilfield" for weeks now due to bad weather.
It is fine and dry at the moment BUT the wind is gusting up to force 9, on the Beaufort scale.
That is just too dangerous on the local exposed cart tracks laughingly called roads.

I managed to get out, but on my old MZ TS125 because I don't mind it getting blathered in mud - advantage of an outmoded East German design with a fully enclosed chain! PS 'There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing' Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
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Sir Ranulph Fiennes is not a normal human being he was an explosives expert with the SAS.

maybe, but that doesn't make it any less true,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

2cvandy if you can suggest what clothing is available that will protect me from injury/death after being blown under the wheels of a 44 ton truck please feel free to do so.

I've not been out for a ride either - but then I'm grateful I’ve not got flood water up to the bedroom windowsill !!

Just to cheer you up, here is an EU cart track that was built and subsidised by the British taxpayer. It doesn't really go anywhere but the money had to either be spent or moved elsewhere. It was taken advantage of last Saturday by two UK registered sports bikes. Both riders in full protective clothing despite it being a finger numbing 17.5*C and a gale force 4mph cross wind (data from a local weather 'app' used after taking photo).

I took this because I was surprised to see someone else actually using this stretch of billiard table smooth stretch of tarmac around midday located where it only rains on average for about 6 days a year.

I've had the new C5 18 days and put 260 miles on her.. 40 miles bringing her home, 2 short Saturday outings and the rest 20 miles a day work commute. YES, it is gusty but it doesn't moe me till I pull up at traffic lights, then its 2 feet down and brace yourself!

My main reason for this is the work commute is ideal for running in, as its a few mile of b road and a few mile of A road, hence not a lot of temptation to go beyond 50mph.

I want it fully run in before the rally season starting next may. I may book it in for its first service a week on Saturday, when it should have about 450 miles on her. as long as the frosts don't come.. I don't mind wind, rain etc but I don't want to drop her on black ice! That's when the Peugeot 206SW 1.4 diesel wins its stripes!

I wouldn't leave the first service until 450 miles; it's 50% above the mileage specified by RE. I did mine myself anyway so that I could see what was on the magnetic drain plugs and then compare that to what was on them at the next oil change, which I did at 750 miles. Your engine, your call; I'm just saying what I did.

Weather down here is really mild. If I'd have had time after disconnecting the trouble-prone side stand switch I'd have got a little closer to 1,000 miles. Oh well.

I've been out today. The wind had dropped but the C5 is probably the most stable bike I've ridden since the 400/4. Wind may push it around but it doesn't flop about. Fiennes was quoting Wainwright and btw Sir Ranulph got thrown out of the SAS, maybe for blowing up a village pond



Appropriate clothing? - leathers. Hydrophane waterproofs leather



re first service, that's at 500km or about 300 miles. According to my dealer's mechanic the first service is really important because many things get sorted but 100km either way makes no difference. Running-in is essentially complete at 600 miles.

Keeping below 40mph in top on the EFi is practically impossible, you'll be knocking bottom, just run the engine in gently. Making it slog is probably worse than running it a little too fast.