And today's commuting highlight is...

[supercommuter]

Commuter motorbike broke down on M4 last night.

I rode my track bike 120 miles into work this morning. No headlights,no wing mirrors, no indicators, track set up solid suspension, SC2 tyres and 1cm foam seat.

My ass is killing me.

[Dakkon]

supercommuter said:

Commuter motorbike broke down on M4 last night.

I rode my track bike 120 miles into work this morning. No headlights,no wing mirrors, no indicators, track set up solid suspension, SC2 tyres and 1cm foam seat.

My ass is killing me.

You don't have to tell us about your sex life, how is the bike?

[supercommuter]

Dakkon said:

supercommuter said:

Commuter motorbike broke down on M4 last night.

I rode my track bike 120 miles into work this morning. No headlights,no wing mirrors, no indicators, track set up solid suspension, SC2 tyres and 1cm foam seat.

My ass is killing me.

You don't have to tell us about your sex life, how is the bike?

Haha

I stripped it down with a mate at 11:30pm but it all decided to start running fine again.

I suspect its a fuel pump issue as when it stops working if i switch the ignition on and off it the fuel pump doesn't prime. I lifted the tank last night and wiggled/banged all the wiring and the pump and it fired straight into life!

So my diagnosis is dodgy fuel pump or wiring! Not sure where to go with it now as I don't want to buy a new fuel pump if not required but I am too nervous to ride it in again in case it breaks.

[SteelerSE]

supercommuter said:

Haha

I stripped it down with a mate at 11:30pm but it all decided to start running fine again.

I suspect its a fuel pump issue as when it stops working if i switch the ignition on and off it the fuel pump doesn't prime. I lifted the tank last night and wiggled/banged all the wiring and the pump and it fired straight into life!

So my diagnosis is dodgy fuel pump or wiring! Not sure where to go with it now as I don't want to buy a new fuel pump if not required but I am too nervous to ride it in again in case it breaks.

That sucks.

I hate it when stuff like that happens. As soon as you start doubting it then there's this horrible nagging feeling of doubt. I've had it a lot with some old cars - particularly with electrical gremlins. Hate it.

Hopefully it's sorted but I don't envy you.

[supercommuter]

SteelerSE said:

That sucks.

I hate it when stuff like that happens. As soon as you start doubting it then there's this horrible nagging feeling of doubt. I've had it a lot with some old cars - particularly with electrical gremlins. Hate it.

Hopefully it's sorted but I don't envy you.

My mate has just messaged me saying he thinks it is the pump relay. Going to have to find some time this weekend to investigate! 65k I have done on it in the last few years. I was hoping it would last to 150k if I am honest!

[SteelerSE]

supercommuter said:

SteelerSE said:

That sucks.

I hate it when stuff like that happens. As soon as you start doubting it then there's this horrible nagging feeling of doubt. I've had it a lot with some old cars - particularly with electrical gremlins. Hate it.

Hopefully it's sorted but I don't envy you.

My mate has just messaged me saying he thinks it is the pump relay. Going to have to find some time this weekend to investigate! 65k I have done on it in the last few years. I was hoping it would last to 150k if I am honest!

Hopefully it's just the relay and it will keep on trucking. Part of the reason I get so down and paranoid about stuff like that is my lack of mechanical nowse. Thankfully I've got a mate who can help in a pinch and I also know a really good mobile mechanic who has sorted my bikes out on a number of occasions. If you're near the Surrey/Hants borders then Julian Cameron is a top bloke - juliancameron.co.uk.

[Rawwr]

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

[Moulder]

Rawwr said:

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

Interesting. We need someone on the standard Fireblade to try this as well so we have a control. Could be justification for the extra few k on the SP right there.

[road_rager]

Loads of wobbly idiots on new bikes last couple of days, really erratic riding, bloke on the usual BMW with floodlights and go-pro decides to cut into bus lane without looking nearly taking us both out. So in summary more hazards to avoid on top of the usual cars, vans and lorries!

[skahigh]

Moulder said:

Rawwr said:

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

Interesting. We need someone on the standard Fireblade to try this as well so we have a control. Could be justification for the extra few k on the SP right there.

Or to upgrade your Fireblade to a Fiesta.

[supercommuter]

road_rager said:

Loads of wobbly idiots on new bikes last couple of days, really erratic riding, bloke on the usual BMW with floodlights and go-pro decides to cut into bus lane without looking nearly taking us both out. So in summary more hazards to avoid on top of the usual cars, vans and lorries!

I saw lots of wobbly idiots but as I was on my R1 they heard me coming and moved straight out of my way. Quickest journey into london ever...although that may have been because of the bike i was on.

[sjtscott]

Rawwr said:

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

I forgot to post the other day when Mr Audi TTRS tried to race all the bikes on the highway heading home east up to the next lights/traffic jam - The only reason he wasn't fully educated off the first set of lights he tried it at, the c**k socket on his obscenely obnoxiously loud very shiny brand new MT-07 who clearly can't ride for toffee - never have I heard a bike that generates so much noise but goes nowhere comparitively. The audi having the knackers thrashed off it kept pace with mr mobile roadblock and his slack/slow getaway lol
I did then feel since Mr Audi was trying so hard I had to then suitably educate him at the next set of lights - he was then suitably enlightened. I even waved at him too for added effect

What is it as well with riders on lower cc twins esp the summer clan thinking they can possibly keep with even a casually launched 1000+cc bike? lol

[Gypsum Fantastic]

On a bit of road which is fairly wide and bikers are always filtering, I was faced with a bus driver deliberately moving all the way over to the right, even going over the lines, to block me off. He had a stop twenty yards up the road, and HGV traffic on the other side meant I wasn't going to filter until he stopped or a gap appeared anyway, so I have no idea what the point was.

[GM182]

Some plank in a hired Fiesta blocked me and a chap on a Triumph Explorer on West Hill A3 this morning. Eventually I got alongside and asked him to budge over a bit (i.e. just be in his lane - not the white lines dividing the lanes).

"Why should I?" he asked - "Well because you're moving over to block me. What difference does is make to you if bikes and scooters filter through?"

No intelligible answer was forthcoming. There is no reason, just being petty really. I don't understand why people are so trivial. Miserable little lives I think.

[CAPP0]

asd102 said:

Brilliant! I read that in his voice too

We all did!

308mate said:

I hope you read this somehow because you my friend need to take a good hard look at yourself and stop giving us all bad a name with your st riding and st attitude. Get a fking clue mate.

Couple of weeks ago I watched a biker try and dive up the outside of a car turning right and then get all unnecessary with the car driver for not leaving him enough space. Caught the biker up at the next set of lights and told him that I thought the whole episode was entirely his fault and that he'd completely put himself on offer with that manoeuvre. He was riding like a tw@t anyway, both before and after.

[tdm34]

Rawwr said:

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

Coming back from Buxton last night and a Focus ST had a go, CB1300F maybe a big heavy old brute, but with 138bhp at the wheel
courtesy of a Full Akrapovic and a PCV, soon put straight, hilarious!

[fergus]

tdm34 said:

Rawwr said:

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

Coming back from Buxton last night and a Focus ST had a go, CB1300F maybe a big heavy old brute, but with 138bhp at the wheel
courtesy of a Full Akrapovic and a PCV, soon put straight, hilarious!

I bet all involved had a proper chuckle...

[tjlazer]

I've been trialling an sc project exhaust without the baffle for my street triple, it had a magical effect on the traffic as I made my way down the a312 last night, the rumble seemed to part the cars like Moses before the Red Sea. I was sceptical about running a really loud exhaust but at this time of year when a lot of drivers have their windows down it certainly does help let them know you're coming!

[SteelerSE]

Saw loads of bikes this morning.

Normally on the commute the drivers are pretty aware of bikes but this morning there seemed to be a lot of people that weren't used to driving in rush hour. Unusual to have so many car "wobblers" for want of a better term. Maybe they're taking the car and leaving early for the bank holiday weekend...? Hopefully that's all it is because there were one or two that were positively dangerous.

[Biker 1]

First time this year: I rode into work with a T shirt under a mesh jacket!!!!! Its only 6 miles, but I got here refreshed & not cold.