January 4th

Well New Year is out of the way, life is good, and the garage is fookin' freezing. If it's as cold in (that is where you viewing this page from isn't it?) as it was in my garage, then you have my sympathy. This however is no obstacle when you have a mate who is offering to finish off your electrics :0)

Kevin Cordina has been absolutely brilliant. Star that he is, he's completely removed the temporary loom he'd put in with Neil to get me to the dyno, and started again to provide the permanent loom. So we now have an ignition circuit, lighting circuits, kill switch, ignition barrel, charging circuit etc :o) He's done a superb job - not bad at all. The only small issue is caused by the Italians! They use an opposite circuit to the rest of the world (or at least the RG500) when it comes to kill switches. Still, we'll call the fact that the bike runs only with the kill switch in closed position an added security device. Bloody Italians!! Take a look on the photo pages to have a look at Kev's handywork.

While he was on with that, I swapped out the 530 chain for a 520 with a little better gearing. Why oh why did I get convinced to use a 530 in the first place? the 520 fits much better and clears, and matches the chain run perfectly.

January 6th

Well as I say Kevin stopped by on Saturday and I've been finishing off what I can. We spent 9 hours solid in the freezing garage (that's the royal we again, as I was in and out as Sue had a cold and Charlotte can be demanding!) and got everything done bar the Aprilia clocks. The loom is in, but still mostly loose wiring and while I can't tidy up the front as I need to leave the loom open so Kev can connect up the clocks, I have busied myself doing the back of the bike. I've shrouded the wires, and fitted a modified rear light cluster and plate holder - looks almost standard ... quite pleased with it :o)

Kev should be back round on Sunday when he'll be finishing off by connecting the tacho and we'll have all systems go. In a couple of weeks I hope to do the rear subframe with Mark Dent to raise the rear pipes, and finally fit the grose valves, ITG filters, and be connecting up the programmable ignition.

January 13th

The third part of Mark Drysdale's clutch cover arrived a couple of days ago. A small panic was guaranteed given my mechanical ineptitude when the clutch wouldn't work. However a mail to the Gamma list, and a telephone call from Canada (Mark himself - customer service or what!) and it was rectified. Mark had recommneded some fine adjustment of the actuator arm, but in the end I discovered the plates were stuck together. They'd sat a while and the cold weather we've been having presumably caused some condensation inside the housing and the plates stuck together. I'll take the plates out and clean them all when I get the chance, but a few squeezes of the lever and a little rocking ensures they free up.

I've bitten the bullet and ordered some wheels today. In the end I when for Marvic Penta 2 black, in 3.5 front and 5.25 rear. Fingers crossed that they can beat the 8 week order time.

January 14th

For the first time in months I am without child this afternoon. Sue as taken her off for the afternoon visiting - so rather than concentrate on my CV as promised, I couldn't resist just popping into the garage as you do. You know just chill out a bit, tinker, and tidy a few things up.

There in the corner was my helmet and jacket, like an invisible beacon calling to me. Before I'm thinking straight about tax, and insurance, and MOTs and such and such I'm a blur of activity. I quickly remove the clucth cover and free off the plates (sticking through idleness) and replace the oil. I tidy away loose wiring awaiting Kevin's return to connect the tacho. I fit the fairing to at least give some semblance of legality, and contemplate the wiseness of running with open cabrs, but think bollox to it .. it will be fine. I'll only be five mins after all. Re-route the fuel hosing to take out the pump, and worry about knackered check valves and spewing petroil mix, but think bollox to that as well - she'll be fine.

I don helmet, jacket and gloves, and smile as I think about wearing jeans and trainers - it takes me right back to RD350LCs, Frank Thomas paddock boots, and Centurian helmets. I'm just about to kick her into life and I remember that my number 2 plug was oiled up firing the bike up for Fozzy the other day - it was rude not to! So I strip off the tank without even removing helmet, take out the offending plug which is wetter than a wet thing, blow on it, laugh, and decide a bit of warming on the hob may be in order. So after heating I re-fit, and fire her up again. Bollox still not firing on no.2 - pipe is cold, and she sounds a little rough!

[cut long story short] Wiring checked and re-checked, plug removed and replaced several times, spark is present - can only assume that the bore is flooded on number 2 ... will have to wait and see when I have some more time! :o(

Sitting at my computer now like a spoiled kid who's had his sweets taken away ... I so much wanted a quick blat down the lanes :o(

January 21st

Kevin paid yet another visit tonight ... and it's done! All the electrics work. Well, as far as we can tell. We were unable to check the temperature gauge works OK .. but other than that ... it's all there, and ready to go. So that will be me on the phone to Mark Dent tomorrow to try to organise a day to sort out the odd jobs like the seat lift, carb grose valves, and filters.

Kev has now left me to tape up the loom, and tidy it up. Next stage for the electrics will be to fit a security code thingayme that ensures that the ignition cannot be started without a "pic" - err - whatever one of those is?

Completed birds nest and piccies of the clocks working are in the photos section. Oh .. and a million and one thankyous to Kevin Cordina and Neil Ronketti - both worthy of sponsorship next year (both racing TZR250's with Bemsee), without whom the electrics would never of materialised.

January 27th

The big fettling day at Mark Dent's approaches, and I've been playing with the fairing. There are obviously some other jobs to do ... not least I've discovered that the tacho is not receiving a signal for some strange reason, but I couldn't resist fitting the fairing to check fitment. there's some slight mods needed, but Mark has done a great job making the pipes unobstrusive. The right hand side has been spaced slightly, and I need to trim the fairing lower at the back to make way for the pipes so that it will sit flush ... likewise on the left hand side. But other than that it looks mightly fine. See what you think in the photos section.