Andymann

I discovered these guys during a Zwift session with Spotify on random play... Not to everyone's taste, but not bad!

I've been a bit slack with the updates of late, so here's a few pics to keep the thread going. As is always the case, I'm waiting for one small part before I can really get the build back on track. It's at the Chrome Platers - so maybe this weekend I can really get going!

Lovely bike though - looks to be in really nice original condition!

Ahhh. The time when Yamaha had all sorts of Acronyms for **** they were trying out. The XJ900 had..... YICS Yamaha Induction Control System (Whohoo)

I have reverted to old faithful......

I always liken it to Butch James. As Butch matured he became less reckless but still played a hard game. But no matter what he did, if there was a marginal call he got penalised. Same with Darryn. He's not going to back off and because of a few incidents in the past (and the Commentators insisting on calling him Divebomb) in a 50/50 call he's going to get pinned. Every time. This interview from Senna back in the day sums it up perfectly

I'm afraid Russel's wings are going to be very clipped.... https://www.crash.net/f1/news/990780/1/russell-warned-about-mercedes-boundaries-racing-against-hamilton

In 2013 I bought a Scott Scale with 3 x 10 Deore/XT. I systematically upgraded bits as I came across good deals - Thompson Seatpost, Booth Carbon Bars, XT shifters and brakes. Ritchey wheels. All of this was done over a period of about 5 years. I then brought in a Carbon Frame from China and built the Scott Components over into frame, and started again - used Rockshox Reba off the Hub, used Roval Carbon Wheels off the hub. It's been such a great project. One thing I did resist though was to change to 1x. Without going into *that* discussion, I just didn't feel I needed to. Best part - I needed a new FD because the Chinese Frame was clamp on - bought a used XTR FD for R200 (because, hey, everyone is throwing them away now!) and I recently bought the two outer blades for the XT 3x Crank for R700 because NOS and no-one wants 3x Crank parts anymore..... Apart from my Giant XTC 26er which I regret ever selling this bike is the best I have ever owned and that includes a stint with a Bianchi Methanol. I think upgrading and personalizing is absolutely worth it

You'll need DEEEEEEEEEEEP pockets for that. To quote Trevor Binder - "I spent two pensions getting Brad and Darryn into Europe to race"

I would nip that in the bud very quickly - otherwise who knows what he might end up like!

I see Doug is having a few Video interviews now - with different people appealing for Sponsors. But he's also thanking people for their help over the years on Twitter. I think it's game over sadly.

Stand up, look up, open up........ Gray Dick taught me that early on at Yamaha

Bit of a thread hijack, but rattling towbars nonetheless, I always keep empty 1L milk sachet bags handy - a 12cm x 12cm square cut out of the sachet put over the ball before you hook the trailer takes away any play between the ball and the hitch - which stops that irritating noise of a trailer rattling when you brake or go over a bump.

....and that's how you know if a KDX200 will be registered on NATIS as For Road use - that's where the passenger footpegs go - so that series of VIN number will be able to be licensed.

I have attached a copy of an old Natis Certificate - how it used to work (and I'm sure still does) is that official importers are linked to the NATIS system. For every bike or ATV they sell, they register the VIN and engine as well as Model Code on NATIS, and NATIS then issues this document (we used to joke and call them Birth Certificates). The new owner then took this certificate to the Licensing department and with it, he or she got the Ownership papers and put the vehicle in their name. Now in the case of most off-road, Enduro or Track bikes, the owners never needed papers, so they didn't bother to go to the Licensing department, so the NATIS system then archived that VIN number. If you are really lucky and the bike has never been registered you can apply to unarchive the NATIS and then you can register as a new bike - which is why a lot of Track Bikes from 5 years ago are 2021 models! But again, if that model code or vehicle register number has been loaded as "Non Road use" while you could get the bike legal to ride on the road, you will never be able to license it. I know it's not ideal, because you already own the KX, but if you absolutely want a 2-stroke road legal bike and are a Kawasaki fan, look for one of the Road-legal KDX200's. They have lighting coils, so you won't have to stress about riding at night, have speedometers, and also oil pumps, so you don't have to worry about pre-mix. Most important, they also have ignition and steering locks fitted so you can actually leave them parked somewhere. NATIS -01.doc

I think you're going to hit a brick wall hey - I'm talking Yamaha now, but I'm pretty sure it will be the same for the others. When a model is introduced to Natis it's either flagged as For Road Use, or Not for Road Use. So regardless of what papers you eventually get, the moment you take the bike for a Roadworthy and he inputs the model code (YZ125B02 would be the YZ Natis code) it will be flagged for non-roadworthy purposes. Now I do know that KDX200's are flagged for Road use so you would be able to get one of them Roadworthy, and we also introduced a "New" model code for a YZ250 when we had to register two bikes for Jade and Louwrens to use in Europe, which was for road use, but I'm pretty sure they changed that back. This is also why if anyone here buys one of the older single cylinder carb-bikes like the KLR650, XR600, TW200, DT175, DR400 make sure they are still licensed - if they are up to date they cannot be taken off the system, but if they need to be re-introduced to NATIS, all those model codes have been flagged now for non-road use.

Well the second-last update broke Bluetooth on Windows10 - the people are really bleak - myself included because I use Bluetooth and not ANT+. The Forum is full of it, but for now, nothing seems to be happening to fix it.

Crazy thing is, I was running a Surge Protection plug so I can only think it was heat related. Other interesting thing was when I removed the cover to check, it was unplugged - usually you have to release a clip and unplug it. So the other theory is that it wasn't plugged in correctly from the factory and with the test it disconnected itself and most likely damaged the power supply. I then plugged it back in properly (thought I had scored there!) but the damage was already done I guess. We've had two units blow because of Eskom's erratic supply and you can see the blown component pretty easily. I checked on my board and that part was fine. Anyway, I do have it in writing now from Garmin that they recommend fitting Surge Protection plugs to the trainers, and that cutting the supply cable and fitting said plug will not void the warranty.

Well the part coincidentally arrived today - ordered on the 7th September via Aramex Global shopper, the total cost delivered to my door was R3460. Not a cheap exercise, but cheaper than the R9000 I would have had to pay for a new Flux and while the TACX Flow isn't a bad trainer, it's not a Vortex Smart. And it's also R5500 for a new Flow. So I'm happy (ish). I don't think the Vortex should have blown up in the first place - it's not like I was doing anything that the Trainer wasn't designed for, so I am down R3.5k, but It could have been a lot worse!

We're doing something a bit different at the Cowhouse this weekend for those of you who want to join (especially the PTA based Tri's) It's an off-road tri, but the swim is at Curro College in their pool. 7 laps of the 50m pool gives a 350m swim, T1 is at Curro, you MTB from Curro to Cowhouse and then T2 is at Cowhouse where you finish with a gravel run. It's a new idea so there will be a few glitches I'm sure, but if you want to enter - here's the link: https://www.entryninja.com/events/77052-gosport-x-triathlon-1 Also, fire away if you have any questions - I'm dipping my toe into the logistics side (my Father-In-Law runs most of the events at the Cowhouse and we came up with this idea over a few craft beers one afternoon - which is another bonus at the Cowhouse - their Craft Beer is excellent!) so I have a good idea on how it will run on the day.

And yet just over a month ago we were singing BB33's decision to stay out when he won. As Mat Oxley said, it's a fine line between hero and idiot and yesterday it just didn't work out for Lando. Had he won, then it would have been another brave decision to race in the rain on slicks.

You've got all the papers for the bike right?

https://youtu.be/7bQMNENKZY4 Can you imagine this current lot racing back in 1985. Good think it wasn't Lewis racing the Ligier - he would be complaining about a lot more than a stiff neck - I mean the mud on his overalls would be a disaster ????

The Aluminium is just so that I can have a proper blank. We're going to cast the new ones in SG Cast Iron - just like the originals.

A little project within a bigger one - the lovely cast finned exhaust nuts on the Velo have seen a few ham-fisted owners with hammers over the last 90years. They are obviously not available anymore and putting on the later model type would just have bugged me. So it was off to the 3d Printer we went, to make a duplicate. Then off to our Foundry on the other end of Jhb to cast an Aluminium blank which will be used at a pattern to cast me 4 new ones, which I will machine. Probably a bit of overkill seeing as everyone who owns one of these bikes has the later type on, but if not, why not!