Spokey

CASA 212 I believe.

Man was that the Top Gun bike? Shame it was written off.

DJR, great reading your missive there. As you flew in to land in the second part, man........takes me back. We used to fly the big old DC 8 into Basra at night. All lights off and descend as late as possible. Keep the beast high on downwind, I really do not remember but a few 1000 ft agl, then turn final at as rolling wings level, lights on and flare to land........trickey times, but I would not have missed it for anything. Earlier in Iraq around 2004 onwards we would spiral dive the beast frm 20 000 ft ovehead. Thrust levers idle, flap 20, gear down. If I remember correctly, downwind for landing was around 5000 ft agl.......mental! Add to that the shite viz conditions and in places like Fallujah ( Al Takadoum airfield, US Marines) there were barrage balloons and everywhere Russian Antonovs climbing out ha ha!

Yes, indeed I am lucky to still have this machine. After the Joburg theft there was an attempted theft in 1984 at Glendower in Bedfordview. The wiring was cut and I repaired it with good old insulation tape. At last in 2014 a sympathetic restoration was undertaken including a new wiring loom. Frame was not repainted due to the original stickers, new spokes but original rims polished. Tank and side covers resprayed as was the engine. However carbs just cleaned. Fork stantions polished, as were many bits. Runs electronic ignition by Boyer now too. This is the bike now, not concours by any stretch of the imagination but a pretty and useable classic, 45 this year! The old machine is currently residing in my study!

Aye...not lekker. In October 1983 my Honda 400 F was stolen from outside The Carlton Hotel in Josie while I was at work. I saw them riding the bike down Main street the following day and chased them, got the bike back but the buggars got away. In less than 24 hours they had thrashed it, broken rings in 3 of the 4 cylinders if I remember correctly. I just came across the invoice for the rebuild yesterday while clearing my study......R458,83! Sounds cheap, but I had only paid R450 in July of that year for the 8 year old bike! Anyways.......I still have it now.

And a TZR....beautiful, and yes, a keeer too. Prices rising. Even trying to find a 125 of any manufacturer is becomimg difficult. I am keen on some of these 50’s to collect but am reluctant to part with 35 thou (and the rest) for such a small bike!

Yes, both keepers, and both fetching lots of Randellas these days!

I enjoyed the bike a lot. It was very shabby when I bought it but with a little effort it became a pleasure to use on the trails around Benoni...............until trying to kick start on the side a steep hill, or anywhere for that matter! I could set it up to kick and it would laugh at me at many attempts until suddenly bursting in to life! Am sorry I sold it though.

Bikes that we let go and regretted. This a twin carb XR 500RE. I elected to sell it after realising that the spares for the engine were harder to come by than the longer stroke single carb model.......oh and that it tried to kill me several times!!! Miss the beast though. Sold it for naff all back in around 2012.

You gave me a good laugh there! I was instructing in the mid 90’s when more and more students were turning up for nav exercises with their shiny new portable Garmins. I always made sure that they new how to use them correctly and once that was established they would be switched off and good old Charts used. Of course nav over featurless terrain is a right struggle. I bought myself a Pilot 3 back in the day......was a wonderful tool in my PA31 around much of Africa days!

Many years ago as in the late 90’s I used to fly this route every Wednesday in a Piper Seneca....a money run to drop off sorted bank notes and pick up unsorted notes. Was an education for a relatively inexperienced pilot!

Stumbled across these while clearing out my study. First is my Grandfather in the 1930’s on his Harley 10/12, second is my Great Granddad and Great Grandma on his Hudson in the 1920’s. Long heritage of biking in my family!

I do like the Honda Blackbird but of all the big old Hyper sport bikes I would probably go for a Hyabusa. Mind you, the ZX12 is rather nice too!

Nope, buying smoked salmon to accompany the avos off my tree! Essential man!

Not sure how I replied to you on another post too haha, but yes....the Ace Cafe. I enjoy it. When ever in London I try and make time for a visit and lunch. Other one is The Bike Shed for a coffee.

The 1000, this built December 1994. It is a very nice ride and still very fast.

Essential shopping not available in Hoekwil or Wilderness!

So, in line with my lockdown tasks on the bikes. The rubber chain bumper was replaced on the swingarm......but not without a little stuff up. Always have to have those little stuff ups to keep one honest ha ha! Was about to reinstall the rear wheel after reassembling the rear suspension linkage when a nagging doubt lead me to a rather large washer laughing at me from the workbench. Yes, turns out he was a swing arm thrust bearing washer which explained why the swing arm had slipped into place so easily, while the right side washer chilled on the work bench. Anyways, long story short, dismantelled the lot, installed the washer, put the whole lot together and felt the need to escape Shawshank for some essential supplies (prawns and avo). Bike is super smooth. In the past few months I have overhauled the front brakes, clutch master and slave cylinders and now serviced the rear suspension linkage and of course the swingarm bearings. Not bad for 25 years old and 122000kms! Quick enough for me.

I simply can’t work from home as my work is currently parkedup in UAE........yup, I have time. I need to fit in studying for my sim recurrent which has been postponed..........funny, the studying has been similarly postponed!

Keep the info coming man! I enjoy the space craft. On my bucket list is to visit Kennedy Space Centre. I have managed various wonderful museums just flying the boss around, but he has yet to do business in that part of the US!

So...... What are you guys doing regarding your bikes to pass the time during Lockdown. My projects include: KLR650 remove radiator to repair a crack. Became more than that with a deep clean and addressing the small rust spots. FZR1000 replace chain bumper guide on swingarm.....gonna be a right mission, rear wheel off and suspension and swing arm out. Recently did a full front brake overhaul as well as a clutch hydraulic system overall. So, should be worth it. KTM1190 install spot lights......well, I removed the faring plastics, and gave up ha ha, too hard to get the bloody great tank off for the wiring. Spots are now donated to the KLR which is in pieces already! At least the Orange Beast had a good clean under the plastics! Big Zed the ZRX is all good, sleeping peacefully under the covers with the umbilical on to the battery monitor, now that the coolant leak is fixed. Ancient CB750....mmmmmm,leaking oil from the boody sump plug, arrrggghhhhh. Seems I need to drain that and soften up that damn washer! Still, sleeping under the covers, umbilical on! Even more ancient CB400Four (45 this year) happily chilling in my study as the Missus felt the need to have a bloody great tidy up in the house and the little CB was banished from the lounge!

I nipped out yesterday on the old ‘83 CB750 on a pharmacy run. Felt a little guilty about enjoying it, but after a little sit down, that moment disappeared! I will use my bikes more to shop over this extended lockdown. At least Sedgies is equidistant ro George if I cant find what I need in Wilderness. I was doing a shop once a week to try and stay in, but I believe if I follow the guidelines and use my mask etc, I will be fine. I have been told it is careless in case I crash.....well, I could also fall off my step ladder while trimimg trees , or fall off the carport roof while checking out the stars as part of my educational enrichment!!

Ha ha yeah, I have 5, I change every 500kms or even less if I been rondlooping in the Karoo Mix of standard foamies with K &N oil and DNA washable. Will see if I can fine a pic somewhere.

I need to repair a crack in the KLR’s radiator, so with time on my hands,I thought a deep clean woud be good for the machine. Bloody hell this dust gets everywhere! Mostly Karoo dirt.

Remember too, how advanced the Germans were with rockets, another interesting topic.