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Chris_SVS
06-02-20, 08:41 PM
Been to Arena Cross a few weeks back, have a session at E-Trax (Indoor electric motocross) on saturday,

RdlFTIkxXdM

Why am I now trawling Autotrader for enduro bikes:rolleyes::confused:

The first one I look at is the humble DRZ400. 2000 Reg, decently clean and £2600 - The 2003 reg I bought in 2009 was only £1500

WTAF?

zsv650s
06-02-20, 08:42 PM
Been to Arena Cross a few weeks back, have a session at E-Trax (Indoor electric motocross) on saturday,

Why am I now trawling Autotrader for enduro bikes:rolleyes::confused:

Why not may aswell get you a KTM or a gas gas bloody good fun 👍

Chris_SVS
06-02-20, 08:48 PM
Why not may aswell get you a KTM or a gas gas bloody good fun ��
You say that, my local offroad oriented shop has a lovely little KTM Freeride 250R in stock

My DRZ in it's natural habitat

https://i.imgur.com/5ZioeXNh.jpg

My mate Stevens Gasgas

https://i.imgur.com/TLedwYah.jpg

zsv650s
06-02-20, 08:49 PM
You say that, my local offroad oriented shop has a lovely little KTM Freeride 250R in stock

What you waiting for get your **** down there post haste.

Adam Ef
07-02-20, 07:05 AM
Why am I now trawling Autotrader for enduro bikes:rolleyes::confused:




I think this should be in the smile thread :p

Chris_SVS
07-02-20, 10:06 AM
I think this should be in the smile thread :p
Will save the smile for the day of purchase or first ride

shiftin_gear98
10-02-20, 04:08 PM
I'd like to apologise for the bad weather over the weekend, it's entirely my fault.
I spent 3 1/2 hours cleaning my bike on Saturday.

Only for it to sit outside all day today in the ****ing rain.

Adam Ef
11-02-20, 06:27 PM
I don't know what I'm more ****ed off with, the condition of the roads anywhere near us or the fact I'm so wound up by it and obviously getting to a certain age where that preoccupies my brain instead of fun stuff that used to rattle around in there instead.


Managed to sneak out for a long route to the shops for an hour this afternoon. Lovely day, very cold but sunny and the wind had dried the roads. South Glos roads though! Apparently the council prides themselves on paying out the least amount of claims for vehicles damaged by the road in the country but has some of the worst roads and lowest spending on their upkeep. Glad I was on the VFR which has fairly soft suspension but most roads were still in dangerous condition to say the least. Trying to find some routes that will be ok on the slightly stiffer GSXR and I can't really piece much together unless I travel a fair distance from our area or stick to major boring roads.

Luckypants
12-02-20, 07:49 AM
Don't get me started! Bloody Denbighshire Council, state of our lane, state of the roads, etc grumble, rant, moan!

Craig380
12-02-20, 02:15 PM
It's the same around my 'endz', as I believe the young people say (Macclesfield). There are some proper wheel-breaking potholes.

I rode home from the Ponderosa weekend before last via Ruthin, the roads I was on were fine by comparison!

Seeker
12-02-20, 02:33 PM
I wrote to my local MP, Martin Vickers, to complain (about the roads) who informed me that it was the local council's responsibility. I told him I aware of that fact but central government had cut (NE Lincolnshire's) council funding by £60 million since 2010 (that was in 2018 - there have been further cuts since).
He hasn't responded to that fact. (He may still be upset because I told him he was too old and should retire).

What changed is that the Conservatives have allowed local councils to increase the charges on the rates thus transferring the costs to local people.

Luckypants
12-02-20, 03:26 PM
Get off the main roads, see the difference! I go to Macclesfield regularly and the roads in general are better than the non-main roads around here. A favourite biking road is the B5105, bloody dangerous for bikes these days due to pot holes. The road to Macc from Knutsford is bad after rain I'll grant you but I find them less pot-holey in general.

YMMV.

Craig380
12-02-20, 08:56 PM
A favourite biking road is the B5105, bloody dangerous for bikes these days due to pot holes.

Haven't been that way to Ruthin since last summer, I must admit. I do love the B4501 past Llyn Brenig up to the A543 that loops up to Denbigh and round to Mold.

If you find yourself in Macc and fancy a coffee, I'm buying.

Chris_SVS
14-02-20, 03:44 PM
Genuinely considering selling my bike, costing me £225mo to sit in the shed looking pretty. I dearly love it and would miss it having put a lot of money into speccing it up nearer the more expensive GT model (namely cruise control + hard luggage)

I bought it at the wrong time, paid for before a job interview I knew I'd get(interview was just formality) and collected 2 days before starting, 17mi e/w commute down to a 20min walk.

I'm torn on what to do, I'm early in the process of a first time buyer ISA to get onto property ladder so could divert £ but also purchase something cheaper and owned outright (I do own the Tracer,just on a bank loan that I could almost clear with decent money from the sale)

*It hasn't left the shed since 29th December

admin
14-02-20, 04:00 PM
Genuinely considering selling my bike, costing me £225mo to sit in the shed looking pretty. I dearly love it and would miss it having put a lot of money into speccing it up nearer the more expensive GT model (namely cruise control + hard luggage)

I bought it at the wrong time, paid for before a job interview I knew I'd get(interview was just formality) and collected 2 days before starting, 17mi e/w commute down to a 20min walk.

I'm torn on what to do, I'm early in the process of a first time buyer ISA to get onto property ladder so could divert £ but also purchase something cheaper and owned outright (I do own the Tracer,just on a bank loan that I could almost clear with decent money from the sale)

*It hasn't left the shed since 29th DecemberMuch the same with my bike but then it's worth far less than yours so less of my money tied up.

I see biking as a leisure pursuit these days, so given what my bike is worth against the pleasure it gives (when the weather permits) I'm happy enough.

You can apply the same argument against boats and caravans, they cost a fortune and how much do they actually get used?

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

DarrenSV650S
14-02-20, 04:05 PM
It hasn't left the shed since 29th December

Quite right. This is not a time to be riding. Wait till summer when you see all the other bikes out and you will be glad you kept it :cool:

Chris_SVS
14-02-20, 04:43 PM
I have my eye on trail bikes to keep some interest

yokohama
14-02-20, 08:01 PM
My bike hasn't been out since mid-September but like admin says, it's more of a hobby/leisure tool and worth it for the enjoyment it gives me 6 months a year.
Even so, having a car is a worse deal. I need one for the occasions it's necessary but use it less than the bike. Did 800 miles in the car last year and 3,600 on the bike.

Chris_SVS
14-02-20, 08:10 PM
Struggling with it costing me £900 over 4 months, when it's moved maybe 100miles.. Ok it's been wintery and even though it's lovingly coated in acf50, I have tried to be sensible about riding days. Just through general fear of binning it

admin
14-02-20, 08:21 PM
I have my eye on trail bikes to keep some interestI quite fancy a small simple bike for hacking about in the winter.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Craig380
14-02-20, 08:33 PM
Likewise, I've quite fancied a DT175 or similar for tooling around on. Apparently Yamaha was making a version of the aircooled DT175MX for the South Asian market that still used the same basic engine until the late 2000s, so it's quite easy to get spares for them.

Chris_SVS
14-02-20, 08:35 PM
250 2T, enduro model as not bothered about lights fitted. Simple and easy to rebuild, cheaper than 4t

Both listed fairly local today, it's almost meant to be! (I would buy the DT over the GasGas)

https://www.gumtree.com/p/yamaha-motorbikes/yamaha-dt125/1366443377

https://www.gumtree.com/p/gas-gas-motorbikes/gasgas-/1366415817


(https://www.gumtree.com/p/gas-gas-motorbikes/gasgas-/1366415817)Sublte mod or two to the DT and it's good to go, proper wrap handguards and a set of quick release indicators maybe,

https://www.rg-racing.com/browsebike/Universal/Universal/All/CNR4204/ (https://www.gumtree.com/p/gas-gas-motorbikes/gasgas-/1366415817)

Adam Ef
14-02-20, 11:33 PM
Genuinely considering selling my bike...


could divert £ but also purchase something cheaper and owned outright (I do own the Tracer,just on a bank loan that I could almost clear with decent money from the sale)



Really bad time to sell bikes right now. Have you looked at what you can pick a Tracer up for? There's a lot of them out there and some very cheap. Easier to sell it in a couple of months time but I think you'll want to keep it to ride by then.


Even when I sold my Tracer last year at a good time of year there were lots for sale so everyone wanted a really knocked down price. One of the most difficult bike selling experiences I've had.


I'd say keep it if you can.

embee
15-02-20, 09:56 PM
Yes, someone on another forum is considering changing bike and is getting absolute rock bottom trade in values quoted.

Adam Ef
19-02-20, 10:48 AM
Have had to let the GSXR go. [emoji3525]

Adam Ef
19-02-20, 10:52 AM
Also currently waiting in A&e. Clicked knee sideways. Showing buyer the bike and put sidestand down only it wasn’t properly forward. Took the weight against my knee and it clicked sideways. Won’t bend forwards now but does bend sideways strangely. Oddly little pain but I am freezing cold, shaking and feel like throwing up. Waiting for painkillers to kick in before they’ll inspect it. I didn’t want them as I don’t have much pain. But they insisted they want them in me for the examination. That’s got me slightly worried!

admin
19-02-20, 11:01 AM
Oooh. Fingers crossed it's nothing major.

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Chris_SVS
19-02-20, 11:04 AM
Sold bike yesterday afternoon but yet to hear anything from buyer. I believe it's not going to work out

Seeker
19-02-20, 11:43 AM
Oddly little pain but I am freezing cold, shaking and feel like throwing up.


aren't they the symptoms of shock?

shiftin_gear98
19-02-20, 12:01 PM
Adam are you mad?

Chris_SVS
19-02-20, 12:01 PM
aren't they the symptoms of shock?
Could be viral too? Off on monday anyway but I'll not be in work this week for the same symptoms + dizziness and others

Likely shock though

Adam Ef
19-02-20, 01:14 PM
aren't they the symptoms of shock?


I think they are. Once I was wrapped up warm by the nurse I felt much better. Looks like I have damaged the big ligament on the inside of my knee. So all the muscles around it are spasming in reaction making it go sideways. Very odd feeling. It weirded me out more than hurt so I went to A&E thinking I'd dislocated it as the click was very loud when it happened. Apparently it's very hard to dislocate a knee though, but the patella did make a big click when the nurse manipulated it so that may have popped out of place. Got a knee support on for a few days. Means driving to work this week which I'm not looking forward to as Bristol traffic with all the rain we're having is absurd.


Amazing the force a (relatively light) 180kg bike can put on a knee when leant sideways at 45 degrees on it. Trying to remain calm and collected showing the buyers the bike was not easy. Still, at least I didn't drop it and scrub a grand off it's value in front of them!

Adam Ef
19-02-20, 01:16 PM
Adam are you mad?


Unfortunately the opposite. Having to be very sensible. It's a second bike. Always the first to go if needs must. I'll be ok financially in a few weeks again. Have already looked at older models to see if I could get one again cheaper.

garynortheast
19-02-20, 01:52 PM
Blimey guys! It’s all happening out there isn’t it? Adam, hope your knee heals quickly.

Adam Ef
19-02-20, 02:24 PM
+ For anyone who doesn't know and has an HSBC current account with an overdraft, they're shortly to change their interest rates from 19% to about 38% !!! Doesn't seem to be being publicised with no forewarning from HSBC. I found out from a friend then searched onine to find out it's true. Apparently most other banks will be following suit. Apparently it's part of a push to stop people living out of overdrafts and using them as temporary measures instead.


It's pushing rates up to an amount that will trap a lot of people in a cycle of debt from interest though.


https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/hsbc-overdraft-charges-changes-interest-rates-rise-uk-explained-1333092






.

Grant66
19-02-20, 02:33 PM
The change in the law does stop banks charging a fixed rate per day, so somebody who used to be charged £32 plus the interest can now only be charged the interest.

In that circumstance you'd need to be on average £1000 overdrawn all year to be worse off.

If you're always overdrawn it now benefits reducing the amount you owe the bank.

38% is a blatant rip off amount but those poor impoverished bankers need to make up for those £25 letters some how.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Adam Ef
19-02-20, 03:10 PM
In that circumstance you'd need to be on average £1000 overdrawn all year to be worse off.



I had my business that went under a year or so back. Impacted my personall life massivley and left a considerable personal debt. Mostly in overdrafts two of which were / are with HSBC.


I've recovered and got myself back together with other work enough to now be able to earn a basic living and pay an extra £80 per month to chip away at those debts (£50 to pay interest, £30 reduction in amount owed... it takes a long time!). The change in rate though would mean a short fall of at least £20 per month (increasing the overdrafts rather than paying them off). That just starts a spiral of increasing debt. Even working sometimes 6 days a week at the rate I get paid between employed and freelance work there would suddenly be no way out of it. By contrast if I clear a load of it (selling a bike :( ) I'm suddenly losing £50 less than I was a month on interest and not having to pay the extra £30 in too. It's quite a stark contrast in cost to our lives between being in debt and being out of it.


There's better options for much cheaper debt now too. Interest rates are still very low on loans, so quite manageable compared to overdraft payments each month.


As I mentioned I'd be in increasing trouble in a months time if I didn't clear it but will be in a very good position if I do.

shiftin_gear98
19-02-20, 04:13 PM
Unfortunately the opposite. Having to be very sensible. It's a second bike. Always the first to go if needs must. I'll be ok financially in a few weeks again. Have already looked at older models to see if I could get one again cheaper.


My thou, is a 2003 - still goes like it did out of the box.
It doesn't need to be new to be ludicrous.

I hope the knee is ok. Keep taking the painkillers.

Grant66
19-02-20, 04:15 PM
Guess there will be winners and losers.
The people who dip into the overdraft at the end of the month won't get screwed for fees, but there will be some with large overdrafts that can't get a loan or 0% credit card to move it to that are now in a bad place.



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Sir Trev
19-02-20, 07:01 PM
Good luck with the knee Adam and top marks for not dropping the bike!

garynortheast
19-02-20, 10:57 PM
Oh ffs! Every time I think things couldn't get worse, they do. Rapidly running out of string now. :(

Geodude
20-02-20, 06:55 AM
I really hope you get a break soon Gary, and im sure plenty of us on here will gladly give you some of our string.

Chris_SVS
20-02-20, 10:23 AM
As suspected the sale of the Tracer has fallen through due to the buyer not having a clue how Ebay works, having taken nearly 2 days to even contact me, while giving off that he/she thought I wasn't getting back to them.

They sent a Best Offer that was valid for 2 days, and I took those two days quite rightly to see if any more came in - then accepted it

timwilky
21-02-20, 11:15 AM
+ For anyone who doesn't know and has an HSBC current account with an overdraft, they're shortly to change their interest rates from 19% to about 38% !!! Doesn't seem to be being publicised with no forewarning from HSBC. I found out from a friend then searched onine to find out it's true. Apparently most other banks will be following suit. Apparently it's part of a push to stop people living out of overdrafts and using them as temporary measures instead.


It's pushing rates up to an amount that will trap a lot of people in a cycle of debt from interest though.


https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/hsbc-overdraft-charges-changes-interest-rates-rise-uk-explained-1333092



.
I got notification of the change a while back but doesn't affect me. I have an agreed overdraft facility with them but never used it. If I need to borrow cash, I use my virgin money account when then offer 0% and charge a cheeky 2% arrangement fee. So 2% if you pay within the 1 year term. Generally I could pay quicker but preloading the fee. I want my moneys worth!

But for the wife who would dip monthly into her overdraft facility, it would work out zero cost to use her credit card a pay off each month than to incur this new regime.

maviczap
22-02-20, 07:48 AM
Oh ffs! Every time I think things couldn't get worse, they do. Rapidly running out of string now. :(

Yes as Geo said I hope things get better for you too mate 🙁

garynortheast
22-02-20, 08:44 AM
Thanks Mav and Geo. Crisis averted for now and back at the standard level of crap. I'll explain later.

Seeker
22-02-20, 09:22 AM
Hope things pick up for you but remember: stop saying "what could possibly go wrong?" and "well, it can't get any worse." because the universe considers this a challenge.

admin
22-02-20, 10:38 AM
Thanks Mav and Geo. Crisis averted for now and back at the standard level of crap. I'll explain later.[emoji106]

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Sir Trev
22-02-20, 12:34 PM
Hope things pick up for you but remember: stop saying "what could possibly go wrong?" and "well, it can't get any worse." because the universe considers this a challenge.

Agreed. I often think those sentiments about work and lo and behold the next crisis is much worse... Right now for me it's IR35. Is my income about to take a nosedive?

shiftin_gear98
22-02-20, 05:37 PM
Mr Suzuki, why did he design the Gsxr1000 2003 so every 3000 miles when you need to change the oil you have to remove the side fairing. Which takes 5 mins to get off with minor swearing but ****ing ages and hand cramp to get the ****er back on. Mr Suzuki, you sir are a ****.

Hopefully it's easier the next time around.

embee
23-02-20, 11:56 AM
Mr Suzuki, why did he design the Gsxr1000 2003 so …...

Haha. That's nothing. I've just fitted a new set of clutch plates in a friend's 700 Deauville for him (nearly 100k miles so not unreasonable). I have a 650 Deau so I'm fairly familiar with the sadistic design philosophy, it's along the lines of "to change the tail light bulb, first remove the front mudguard ……. ". It's a string of stuff which has to be removed in sequence, many of the items have 5 fasteners, 4 of which you can get to and one you can't until you've removed something else, and even then you can see it or reach it but not both, and you need a willing 5year old to get their tiny hand into the crevice to get a spanner on it, then the nut drops down into a black hole of oblivion. Other than that it's easy.

admin
26-02-20, 03:16 PM
MasterChef is back. 24 episodes, that's nearly 6 months... Then they'll be celeb and a professional versions. It'll need is own channel soon [emoji3526]

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Bri w
27-02-20, 09:25 PM
5 nights of cough, cough, cough. Is it getting better? Is it hell, its getting worse. I'd love a decent night's sleep.

Bibio
27-02-20, 11:21 PM
5 nights of cough, cough, cough. Is it getting better? Is it hell, its getting worse. I'd love a decent night's sleep.


the answer is English mustard..... swallow a teaspoon of it.

punyXpress
28-02-20, 09:08 AM
Even better, Bri - goose grease + mustard. Spread liberally over your chest before retiring. Will cure the cough, but may not help you sleep! :-)

Chris_SVS
06-03-20, 02:17 PM
Renewing IAM membership after they've already sent the member card

BoltonSte
08-03-20, 09:34 PM
Renewing IAM membership after they've already sent the member card


They always send my card through before renewal, I just jump online and do it. Should be an option on your dashboard once you log in.

Sir Trev
09-03-20, 07:55 PM
The Photography Show has been postponed in case anyone gets a sniffle. Was really looking forward to going this year to try out some potential new cameras and see if there were any good deals on the day. So annoying.

admin
11-03-20, 03:21 PM
New dates sir Trevhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200311/3aa6e113361a7847c2a3b395963efc55.jpg

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Sir Trev
11-03-20, 06:49 PM
Cheers John but the 12 year old part of me wants to try some new cameras for size next week... :smt048 :D

My local Jessops has closed now but unfortunately they had very little on their shelves to hold in the hand when they were open anyway. No other stores in Wycombe except Currys and their selection is very limited and they're on a retail park that you can barely get in or out of on the weekend. Wex is a bit better but I have to go into London for that and last time I did they did not have half the models I was considering... Hence me looking forward to the Show.

Might just take the plunge anyway but I'll see.

Kenzie
11-03-20, 07:24 PM
Don't know exactly where you are Trev but what about London Camera Exchange? Stores all over the UK. One in Reading by the looks of it.

admin
11-03-20, 09:33 PM
Apparently wex are opening a big place in Milton Keynes. Still a hike though.

I can see retail getting more and more like this as online buying gets more prevalent. You'll have to travel further to see stuff.

Jessops has shrunk from 50 shops to 25 in the last few months. We've got buggerall stock and Lumix don't want to talk to us.

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Sir Trev
12-03-20, 07:45 PM
Kenzie - I've used LCE before but they don't always have a selection out to heft and feel in the hand. Nice people in there though I've always found. Oh, and if you've never driven/ridden in Reading then you've done the right thing as it is a horrible place to get in or out of unless you're on the train.

John - MK is a good hour's drive/ride for me so I may as well take the (faster) train to London. Quite like MK - so many trees which people don't realise when they go looking for the concrete cows (nowhere near the centre if town in case you were wondering). Wex In east London is a good size shop but they did not have the new Olympus M5 or the X-T3 on display which are on my shortlist. They did have the A6600, also on my list, which I liked a lot.

Kenzie
12-03-20, 07:51 PM
I've driven in Reading, major pain. There is Cameraworld, I think they have store in London too.

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Sir Trev
14-03-20, 11:50 AM
Jessops, Cameraworld and Park Cameras are very close to each other in London. Was looking for a replacement eye hood for my 700D as mine had broken, Jessops did not have one, sent me to Parks, who had a good rummage about for one in their used kit bits and pieces box which was nice of them, and then sent me Cameraworld - who had them in stock.

As I bought my ticket in advance for the Show I've had an email with links to "show offers" from various vendors who would have been there. Bet a lot of them had stocked up so not surprising they still want to shift a bit of it on! Of course none of them mentioned the A6600 I have my eye on but a couple had web forms to fill in to get a price back by mail for anything not on their offers page so we'll see what they say.

Chris_SVS
14-03-20, 03:00 PM
Neanderthals working on their own bikes.

What is this?

https://i.imgur.com/2CBWgxIh.jpg

Not much more difficult to achieve this.. Japanese bullet connectors (barely connected) and 2ft extra wire for no reason.


https://i.imgur.com/bfLff0lh.jpg

Bri w
15-03-20, 12:41 PM
Lockdown!

Appreciate its for our own good but a day and a half in and I might need to find a quiet corner of the garden for the wife's body. She is driving me nuts! Yesterday ALL the curtains were washed. Today the fitted robes were emptied and rearranged. I'm trying to binge watch a series on TV and she wants me to keep popping into the bedroom to advise on where I want my clothes.

A bottle of wine may need to be opened.

Kenzie
15-03-20, 02:03 PM
The woman in the supermarket who was running her fingers across her mouth while pondering what to buy. Then picking up multiple items with the same contaminated hand and putting them back on the shelf. Ffs people, common sense!!!! What's the deal with panic buying big roll?

DJ123
15-03-20, 04:25 PM
Panic buying; today in my local, small Co-Op someone had filled their mini trolley with 20 pints of milk (standard milk, not UHT) & 5 loaves of bread! I'm guessing she's making a lot of bread and butter pudding to eat in the next 5 days?!
Everyone has bought pasta, yet the pasta sauce shelf is still full.........they won't need toilet paper, they'll need a shovel to empty themselves after dry carbs for a week.

andrewsmith
15-03-20, 04:34 PM
?!
Everyone has bought pasta, yet the pasta sauce shelf is still full.........they won't need toilet paper, they'll need a shovel to empty themselves after dry carbs for a week.

:winner:

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Sir Trev
15-03-20, 06:19 PM
Wandered past the bog roll aisle in Morrisons yesterday and it was empty. Cannot understand it. My current client is in logistics and we look after Kimberley Klark amongst others and according to my colleague on their account they have hundreds of pallets of the stuff with no disruption to the supply chain at all. If their supplies are unaffected it will be the same for all of the supermarkets. :smt102

DJ123
15-03-20, 06:46 PM
I think the supermarkets are now holding it back, to prevent more people stock piling. Putting out some packs here and there, but not filling the shelves.
Give it a week and the shelves will be back to normal.

garynortheast
15-03-20, 07:48 PM
This is all getting a bit surreal.

Kenzie
16-03-20, 06:16 PM
Just heard the IOM TT has been cancelled.

Sir Trev
16-03-20, 06:26 PM
I hope they don't shut the road network. I was looking forward to getting Hugh out of hibernation soon.

Kenzie
16-03-20, 08:08 PM
More empty shelves at Tesco tonight. Very little bread, no fresh meat, no beans, olive/sunflower/veg oil pretty much gone, no loo roll and even the pet food pretty much gone. Even panic buying ketchup ffs.

Chris_SVS
16-03-20, 09:19 PM
More empty shelves at Tesco tonight. Very little bread, no fresh meat, no beans, olive/sunflower/veg oil pretty much gone, no loo roll and even the pet food pretty much gone. Even panic buying ketchup ffs.
My sister (w/ 11month old son) has taken to doing a cupboard stock up, on amazon :o

Adam Ef
16-03-20, 09:34 PM
Trying to do a normal shop to buy food for a family meal. The shelves are bloody empty of anything useful. People in our local Morrisons tipping whole trays of dried pasta pots / pot noodles into their trolleys. I had no idea this was starting while I was at work a couple of days ago.



Petrol seems to have plummeted in price though?

chris8886
16-03-20, 10:21 PM
Petrol seems to have plummeted in price though?



Every cloud and all, I need to fill the tank atm, that's good news for me.

Seeker
17-03-20, 07:42 AM
Petrol seems to have plummeted in price though?


If you're not up to speed: the Russia/OPEC production cap ends soon and Saudi wanted to negotiate another because of reduced demand, Russia said no (because they want to shut down US shale production). Saudi said FU and have upped production. Oil is selling below $30/barrel, in Jan it was twice that. There is so much production and so little demand they are running out of places to store it.

__________

I shop at Tesco at 5:30-6am every Tue, a habit formed from when I was looking after my Dad. Today the store looked looted. I see the same handful of people each week, but today there were 20 times the usual crowd.

Kenzie
17-03-20, 07:57 AM
Just waiting for Aldi to open before work, at least 30 people queued up to get in.

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Sir Trev
17-03-20, 05:44 PM
Working from home... Much as I dislike the 45 minutes each way commute to my office I miss the separation between home life and work. Our team is all home based as of today and as predicted it was difficult getting hold of people as they adapt to using instant messaging and video calls in place of walking over to have a face-to-face. At least I can shut myself away in my study to keep focused which some of my colleagues cannot do although interestingly I had a guided video call of Tracy's kitchen this afternoon. It's even more of an issue for those of us without a work-issued mobile as I have no intention of using my phone and racking up cost (it's a pay as you go as that's all I normally need). Let's hope it all settles down soon.

Adam Ef
17-03-20, 06:06 PM
I work from home 3 days a week. There are other people in the house today. No separate study or other room to hide in so I'm working in the chaos of blaring TV, arguments and dog barking at everyone's movements. Day one of a few to come.

admin
17-03-20, 06:33 PM
I used to work from home quite a lot before I retired. I did however make a point of going to one of two offices near me just to get some human contact. I don't think Jessops will let me work from home.

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admin
17-03-20, 06:44 PM
My VFR is unwell. I've fallen foul of the burnt out stator problem. My recent charging tests were fine a couple of weeks ago but today i had the fairings off to do an oil change. I make a point of checking all the wiring connectors once a year to check for furred up connectors. In this case the connector from the stator to the reg/rec was scorched.

It might just be the connector but i might as well replace the whole charging system and upgrade the reg/rec to a mosfet type. Should cost about £250 from wemoto. David silver spares want £670 (not inc vat) for Honda originals.

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Adam Ef
17-03-20, 07:08 PM
Mine came with a Tourmax one already fitted. I haven't checked the wiring. It's usually the connector block that can't handle it apparently and that has a knock on effect to the reg rec and stator when it burns out. Sometimes the battery too.

admin
17-03-20, 07:37 PM
Yes I've been reading up on this. I'll check the stator tomorrow for resistance values and leakage to earth. If this is good and based on the fact that charging voltages were all in tolerance a week or so ago then I'm going to cut out the connector and solder up the wires. This seems to be the popular view on vfrdiscussion forum.
I did think i could smell a slight electrical burning smell last year whilst riding. Now i know why.

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Bibio
17-03-20, 09:31 PM
not being able to get a simple phone sim like 02 3-2-1 any more. I DONT USE DATA.. so i now (wife) has to spend £X EVERY month just like a contract for a DATA bundle that will never get used.. whats the point of PAYG if its just a contract by any other name.. if you dont use the bundle you loose the money............. furkin pizzed off.

Kenzie
17-03-20, 10:03 PM
Gif gaff?

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Seeker
18-03-20, 08:01 AM
I rarely need a phone so I bought a Tesco/Samsung PAYG phone for £12 for emergencies, they don't do that model any more but this is the equivalent: https://www.tescomobile.com/shop/pay-as-you-go/imo/dash £15

Adam Ef
18-03-20, 11:31 AM
Family all home. We don't know if we're ill or not. All started because son had a hacking cough, but also a cold which is not part of the C-virus apparently. So he may have something else? I had a night of feeling really hot, but no actual temperature, just towards the upper end of normal and waking up really clammy several times, feeling very odd. No one has an actual temperature in our house. I felt very detached yesterday but maybe over analysing it? A couple of days of a very mild tickly cough where I feel like I want to exhale a lot when it starts, but not persistent and only at a couple of points in the day.

So we're not sure what is going on or if we are really ill, but now have to self isolate for a week or two? My wife is employed but her sick pay / wages drop dramatically over time when she's off ill. I am self employed so no pay or compenstation at all. We're in the situation where I might have to be back at work in a week or we're in trouble. My work I do at home won't be paid until sometime late April and I don't have enough parts for wheel building to sustain for that long either as supply chains are already screwed and delayed for other (b* word) reasons.

If we don't actually have the C-virus and then do get it a later date then my wife's sick pay will all but have evapourated by then being used up this time.
The gov / nhs really need to start being able to test for this. Partly because apparently there's been quite a lot of asymptomatic infection where people show no signs but test positive and have spread it without realising.


Meanwhile all the pubs on our high street are full. The only people on the roads near us seem to be elderly people driving very very carefully and builders vans / labourers who no doubt can't afford to take time off or work at home.

Luckypants
18-03-20, 11:50 AM
The whole family must self isolate for 14 days. Sorry, but you must stay home to prevent further spread.

I agree that there should be testing, but how do you test 60M people? Not to mention the panickers who will want to be tested multiple times!

Hope it goes OK for you.

Adam Ef
18-03-20, 11:58 AM
Not sure how we'll get food during that time? We haven't panic bought like everyone else. We won't have money to buy it either by that point.

Kenzie
18-03-20, 12:13 PM
The 2020 UK toilet roll hunt continues....

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Bibio
18-03-20, 12:16 PM
everyone is going to get the CV (if you haven't already), but 99% of the population will survive. its a two week incubation just like most viruses so by the time anything can be done the damage is already done.

the symptoms are the flu.

think about what you done two weeks ago and till now?
how many people have you come in contact with in that time?
think about how many door handles, shopping trolley's etc.etc you have touched in that time...

the upshot is if your healthy and fit then you might not even contract CV and even if you do you might not even show symptoms and it will pass through your body just like you would a flu or common cold etc.etc.

the problem is that the CV is very easy to pass on and contract hence all the panic as it could bring the country to a halt for a few months as it runs its course.

with it being a virus there is no cure and you cant get inoculated if you already have it.

as for panic buying.. if you have done that then you are an asskole of the first order and you should be ashamed of yourself.

andrewsmith
18-03-20, 12:26 PM
I'm in the same boat as a lot of people on here. I cannot afford to self isolate for 14 days. It'll potentially bankrupt me.

I've known about cv for the last month as I've been hammered financially with less work

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Adam Ef
18-03-20, 12:48 PM
We are self isolating, not out of feeling too ill to get out, but to not be a spreader just in case. Not sure how long realistically we can do it for though. After a week our finances will start to be difficult but not impossible. After two weeks it will take a while to recover. Any longer than that if the shop I work at has to close for a while we'll be in big trouble. That's the problem of the current work climate with so many people living hand to mouth on minimum wage and insecure contracts, self employed to avoid companies having costs etc. We are vicitim to all of that and only just get by in the good times.


As for food, we haven't panic bought but it appears everyone else in our area has and continues to do so. Seeing people tipping whole trays of tins etc into trolleys the other evening made me really want to shout at them for being so selfish. I can undertand over 70s who are preparing to not have to go out needing to stock up, but the people I saw doing it were young selfish idiots.


We have a home delivery ordered so we can avoid going out and continue self isolating just in case what we have is the virus. The only problem is the next available slot is April 6th. We'll be out of food in just over a week if my (turning into a teenager) son keeps inhaling food the way growing kids do!

Bibio
18-03-20, 01:47 PM
thats the problem "hand to mouth". people wont self isolate as they cant coz they are skint but instead go out and cough all over other people and the food in shops.


i personally think its about time we sent China to the naughty corner.. think about how many of these viruses have come out of China in the past 10 years.. pretty much all of them is the answer. so unless China gets its act together and closes its borders the moment they know about a "new" virus then the rest of the world should teach them a lesson and isolate them.

SV650rules
18-03-20, 02:44 PM
We have a home delivery ordered so we can avoid going out and continue self isolating just in case what we have is the virus. The only problem is the next available slot is April 6th. We'll be out of food in just over a week if my (turning into a teenager) son keeps inhaling food the way growing kids do!

Larger supermarkets like Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's probably have 'click and collect' building or tent in the carpark and if you have a vehicle it may be a good alternative to waiting for delivery slot. It minimizes the contact between customers and other customers and customers and staff and because you already paid online just grab and go...

Adam Ef
18-03-20, 02:58 PM
Larger supermarkets like Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's probably have 'click and collect' building or tent in the carpark and if you have a vehicle it may be a good alternative to waiting for delivery slot. It minimizes the contact between customers and other customers and customers and staff and because you already paid online just grab and go...


Top tip. Hadn't thought of that. We'll look into it. Cheers.