Tinkering Today

Done some minor tweaks on the bike today. Removed the standard mirrors and installed a folding mirror. Easy to tuck away when on the trails in case of a drop.

I also installed a handlebar mount for my iphone. This way I can use memory map on the move to navigate between the legal lanes.

Cheating on my DRZ

Public confession, i almost cheated on my DRZ. A friend from a local bike shop told me a Honda CRF 250x had just arrived. I went to have a drool and found a well used 53 plate bike. They wanted £2,500! Got to say it didnt even remotely compare in condition to the Z so im staying yellow for a bit longer. Especially as its going so well now.

Stacked It

Yes folks, it had to happen. My first proper offroad stack. I had ridden about 45 miles and was having a great time. I decided in my (lack of) wisdom to try out a byway called Vert Wood in East Sussex for the first time. Pretty long wooded byway with deep water filled ruts and it was these that prooved to be my downfall.

Was doing 20mph decided to go through a water filled rut and without warning halfway through, my front wheel dissapeared downwards. All i remember was my arse lifting off the seat and seeing my mudguard from mid air from the front!!! That'll be me over the bars then. I landed hard on my left shoulder and that caused my head to whip into the ground. I was left in pain, concussed and generally buggered.

I rode home slowly and gave myself a more thorough checkout. Right shin bruised (hit the bars), right shoulder hugely painful, ribs left side bruised......well sore left side everthing really. Felt concussed but was ok thanks to wearing all the proper armour and those bargain Tech 3 boots.

This all happened two weeks ago and after two physio sessions my left shoulder is still in trouble. Im hoping i dont need any surgery or anything. Another physio on Tuesday so hopefully more progress.

Rode It

After the success with the carb, and with new found mechanical confidence i fitted new factory standard chain and sprockets, serviced the brakes and a tidy up.

After fixing the bike i went for my first trouble free green lane session. I rode off alone as i sometimes prefer. Bloody fantastic fun with no worries. Bike performed brilliantly and with so much extra grunt. I got to and from the lanes much faster. Quite a dry ride so not too tricky or technical. Brought the bike home, cleaned polished and ready for the next run out.

Fixed It

Bliss!! Absolute total and utter bliss. The DRZ was always slow, never getting above 63mph. After checking out a few bike forums such as thumpertalk and TBM, i quickly realised the bike was much more capable. I thought i had sorted the carb but chance led me to find a new DRZ carb on ebay. Purchased, and fitted by me in under an hour i fired up the bike, it sounded different and i done a quick ride. Bloody hell what a difference!! I grabbed my kit straight away and went for a run. Tons of power compared to what Im used to on the pre fix DRZ. To put the icing on the cake i disconnected the side stand cut out switch to solve the engine cut out problem when stood on the pegs.

All in a very happy chap with what feels like a brand new bike.  Time for some lanes :0)