jonboy
13-02-06, 06:09 PM
I was 'round at Sid Squid Towers on Saturday morning (after having kindly accepted the offer of accommodation the night previously as I'd been concerened about the icy Met forecast - which turned out to be wrong) and mentioned that the bike needed an MOT in a couple of weeks and would he be kind enough to give it a quick looksee to see if anything was wrong. After a few checks there came deep intakes of breath and the comment that my beloved SV would catastrophically fail :(. "A fork seal's gone, and the head bearings are completely knackered". Bugger!
Now having promised Mrs Squid that I wouldn't take up all of his day, he makes a call on his mobile (as I stand dejectedly thinking, yet eanother problem I have to solve) and I can hear "yes a fork seal and headrace bearings for an SV650... Oh you HAVE? Right, we'll be right over". After being to told to grab my lid, I'm soon travelling at a rate of knots being pillioned on his SV1000 to Essential Rubber (http://www.essentialrubber.co.uk) (who contrary to common misconception actually sell bike tyres and bits, and are not in any way affiliated with Ann Summers :lol: ).
Well having picked up the necessary items (plus new fork oil - "well we might as well do that at the same time..."), we (read mainly Sid Squid) proceed to completely strip down and remove the whole front of the bike. Several hours later new bearings, fork oil and (after completely stripping down the nearside fork leg) a new fork seal were installed and the bike was back together, and indeed reborn.
Did I notice a difference? Yes it was quite fundamental. Instead of having to wrestle with the front end of the bike, I now simply had to think left or right and it did it automatically, amazing! But what's more amazing is the instant selflessness that was demonstrated by Ian giving up his Saturday to fix my bike at the drop of a hat. I honestly hadn't expected this, even though he's famed for his decency and always-willing assistance. He's not the only one of course, Rictus has done exactly the same both for me and others, even though (for me at least) it's never honestly expected and always comes as a bit of a nice shock when help of this calibre is proffered.
And of course, reading others' experience I know that plenty of help is given by other forum members all over the country, and cliched though it may seem, it most certainly warms the cockles of my old heart and restores faith in the goodness of people in general.
So again, thanks once more Ian, I'm speechless and you're a total star :thumbsup: .
Now having promised Mrs Squid that I wouldn't take up all of his day, he makes a call on his mobile (as I stand dejectedly thinking, yet eanother problem I have to solve) and I can hear "yes a fork seal and headrace bearings for an SV650... Oh you HAVE? Right, we'll be right over". After being to told to grab my lid, I'm soon travelling at a rate of knots being pillioned on his SV1000 to Essential Rubber (http://www.essentialrubber.co.uk) (who contrary to common misconception actually sell bike tyres and bits, and are not in any way affiliated with Ann Summers :lol: ).
Well having picked up the necessary items (plus new fork oil - "well we might as well do that at the same time..."), we (read mainly Sid Squid) proceed to completely strip down and remove the whole front of the bike. Several hours later new bearings, fork oil and (after completely stripping down the nearside fork leg) a new fork seal were installed and the bike was back together, and indeed reborn.
Did I notice a difference? Yes it was quite fundamental. Instead of having to wrestle with the front end of the bike, I now simply had to think left or right and it did it automatically, amazing! But what's more amazing is the instant selflessness that was demonstrated by Ian giving up his Saturday to fix my bike at the drop of a hat. I honestly hadn't expected this, even though he's famed for his decency and always-willing assistance. He's not the only one of course, Rictus has done exactly the same both for me and others, even though (for me at least) it's never honestly expected and always comes as a bit of a nice shock when help of this calibre is proffered.
And of course, reading others' experience I know that plenty of help is given by other forum members all over the country, and cliched though it may seem, it most certainly warms the cockles of my old heart and restores faith in the goodness of people in general.
So again, thanks once more Ian, I'm speechless and you're a total star :thumbsup: .