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.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
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)
All in a very happy chap with what feels like a brand new bike. Time for some lanes :0)
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Section 59 Warning Update
As written earlier in this blog, I found out that I was wrongly issued a section 59 warning back in May. In short, kids on nicked bikes were being cretins about 750 yards from where I was repairing my broken bike (after the drowning). I was not riding due to the bike being broken and was right next to the field where my next door neighbour allows me to shoot and keep the bike if necessary. Two PCSO's basically gave me the 59 warning for the crimes committed by the cretins. They came to the large field because the people in the houses quite rightly rang the police to report the kids on mini motos and a trials bike.
I didnt know I had a 59 until over a month after the date I met the PCSO's. This is when my firearms liason officer came to give me a letter warning me over the 59!! I was mortified as I have never been in trouble with the police before and have helped these very PCSO's with trouble in the community locally. I wrote to the chief inspector in the hope of clearing my name. Last week I finally got a phone call from the very pleasant CI and he is now looking into this falsly issued warning. Im hoping I will have my name cleared and the section 59 removed.
As a mini rant, i think that these poorly trained PCSO's should not be given the power to assign 59 warnings or anything else to any party alledged to be breaking the law. I would have preferred a qualified traffic officer to come to me and tell me exactly what offence I had committed by sitting in a field next to a broken bike.
Incidentally the chavs are still riding up and down the pavement outside my house / in the field. Perhaps the PCSO's done me because I was a sitting duck and an easy target.
I didnt know I had a 59 until over a month after the date I met the PCSO's. This is when my firearms liason officer came to give me a letter warning me over the 59!! I was mortified as I have never been in trouble with the police before and have helped these very PCSO's with trouble in the community locally. I wrote to the chief inspector in the hope of clearing my name. Last week I finally got a phone call from the very pleasant CI and he is now looking into this falsly issued warning. Im hoping I will have my name cleared and the section 59 removed.
As a mini rant, i think that these poorly trained PCSO's should not be given the power to assign 59 warnings or anything else to any party alledged to be breaking the law. I would have preferred a qualified traffic officer to come to me and tell me exactly what offence I had committed by sitting in a field next to a broken bike.
Incidentally the chavs are still riding up and down the pavement outside my house / in the field. Perhaps the PCSO's done me because I was a sitting duck and an easy target.
Kit Changes
After a little bit of time on the lanes I realised some tweaked were needed for my kit. First thing was to get some proper offroad boots. I got some great Tech 3's. Very sturdy and gives much more confidence on the trails. Interesting trying to walk in them though lol.
Knee protection has been swapped from hard jointed platic to knox softer armour. No longer clashes with boots and at £30 quite affordable.
Outer clothes. Picked up some MX gear for £90. Padding, reinforcing and space in all the right places. Very comfy for summer riding over the top of my mesh body armour suit. For the forthcomming winter Im looking at maybe RST Enduro jacket and trousers or good old British Army gortex kit big enough to wear the armour underneath. Im broke so guess im going to go army.
New bike grips are going on in a couple of days. Im out on Wednesday to ride in Surrey so want it all sorted by then.
Knee protection has been swapped from hard jointed platic to knox softer armour. No longer clashes with boots and at £30 quite affordable.
Outer clothes. Picked up some MX gear for £90. Padding, reinforcing and space in all the right places. Very comfy for summer riding over the top of my mesh body armour suit. For the forthcomming winter Im looking at maybe RST Enduro jacket and trousers or good old British Army gortex kit big enough to wear the armour underneath. Im broke so guess im going to go army.
New bike grips are going on in a couple of days. Im out on Wednesday to ride in Surrey so want it all sorted by then.
Return to the DRZ
What with work pressures I have to admit to being a big blouse and not getting out in the lanes. I decided that this is the month to get to it. First thing is to sort the small issues with the bike. This has to start with the poxy side stand cut out switch. With the help of a friend the switch is now happily bypassed and I can now stand on the pegs in confidence, knowing that the engine will not try to die on a tricky uphill section.
After getting more info i have realised that the new improved top speed of 63mph is still way under what the bike should be doing. So I whipped off the carb again, with more confidence and knowledge I stripped it down, cleaned everthing and found the pilot was out 6.5 turns instead of factory standard 3!!!!. That would explain the carbonised spark plug then. So, all put together and although no gain in speed the lower speed stuff is much smoother.
Next step in desparation is to check the exhaust, whipped it of, checked for blockages (found none) and back on again. So nothing there. What next???? Gearing. I have 13/43 as installed on the bike when I bought it. After speaking to some fellow DRZ owners I find out that I should at least have much more low down power and top speed of 80-90mph with what I have. Bearing in mind I have (to the best of my limited knowledge) checked the carb, hoses, fuel, air, spark etc......the problem must be low oomph from the actual engine.
Patience, and talent now gone I have admitted defeat and took the bikes to another local bike shop.Not those robbing bastards at TPG in Southwick. My thinking that they are professionals and can get the power back. Not so it seems, this fella insisted I was talking pooh about the possible speeds and that its all down to gearing. He really didnt want to take the bike in. Very odd. So, i have booked it in and got new standard factory chain and sprockets to be installed. If this guy is correct I should have my power back.
Somehow I doubt this guy is right, I hope he is.
After getting more info i have realised that the new improved top speed of 63mph is still way under what the bike should be doing. So I whipped off the carb again, with more confidence and knowledge I stripped it down, cleaned everthing and found the pilot was out 6.5 turns instead of factory standard 3!!!!. That would explain the carbonised spark plug then. So, all put together and although no gain in speed the lower speed stuff is much smoother.
Next step in desparation is to check the exhaust, whipped it of, checked for blockages (found none) and back on again. So nothing there. What next???? Gearing. I have 13/43 as installed on the bike when I bought it. After speaking to some fellow DRZ owners I find out that I should at least have much more low down power and top speed of 80-90mph with what I have. Bearing in mind I have (to the best of my limited knowledge) checked the carb, hoses, fuel, air, spark etc......the problem must be low oomph from the actual engine.
Patience, and talent now gone I have admitted defeat and took the bikes to another local bike shop.Not those robbing bastards at TPG in Southwick. My thinking that they are professionals and can get the power back. Not so it seems, this fella insisted I was talking pooh about the possible speeds and that its all down to gearing. He really didnt want to take the bike in. Very odd. So, i have booked it in and got new standard factory chain and sprockets to be installed. If this guy is correct I should have my power back.
Somehow I doubt this guy is right, I hope he is.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Sussex Bikesafe
Ok not offroad related but......
Recently returned from todays BikeSafe course. It was lashing down throughout the day. Reminded me of my CBT and DAS training lol. I have to say it really is the best £50 I have ever spent on bike related stuff. Excellent day and I learnt shed loads.
Cant recommend it enough, I strongly recommend any rider, especially newbies get booked up on a course. The goodie bag at the end is worth it alone lol.
Big thanks to all the emergency services who come together to do this for us bikers.
Recently returned from todays BikeSafe course. It was lashing down throughout the day. Reminded me of my CBT and DAS training lol. I have to say it really is the best £50 I have ever spent on bike related stuff. Excellent day and I learnt shed loads.
Cant recommend it enough, I strongly recommend any rider, especially newbies get booked up on a course. The goodie bag at the end is worth it alone lol.
Big thanks to all the emergency services who come together to do this for us bikers.
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