Not So Old

They named a beer after me?

Service day

I’ve got a couple of longish trips lined up for next month, so I decided that it was time to give my MZ Skorpion Tour a bit of a service. Nothing too major, just the small routine stuff that need doing periodically. I also decided to take a look at my other Skorpion, a Sport, which hasn’t turned a wheel in a few years. Five, as it turned out, when I checked its last tax disc.

I mentioned my plans to Norrie and Terry and they both decided to come over and give me a hand. In fact, they both ended up elbowing me out of the way and doing much of the work between them (that’s why it’s me taking the photos). Thanks, guys. I guess that it’s not often you get the chance to dismantle someone else’s bike without repercussions.

"Damn! I've dropped a screwdriver in there somewhere"

Anyway, Saturday morning saw me haul both Skorpions out of the shed into the daylight. Easier said than done, I’m afraid to have to admit. I really do need to have a serious clear out over the summer months! The Tour held no great surprises as it has been getting some use recently, but the Sport was in a bit of a sorry state. The climate hasn’t been overly kind to its alloy, which had gone ‘furry’, and many of the fasteners were rusty, but nothing major, I hope. When the others arrived we set to it.

"Do you think that Mr. Combo will notice if I nick his stand?"

Actually, with all three of us familiar with servicing Skorpions it took less time than you would think to change the oil, the filters and plugs, and check the valve clearances on both bikes. One good thing about so many folk working on two different machines was that we didn’t really have to hang about too much. While the oil was draining from one we could move onto the other one and do something with that. Before you knew it we were finished.

Draining the old oil

Nice shiny new magnetic drain plug

Changing the oil filter

Checking the valve clearances

Now was time to see if the Sport would actually start. Without a battery of its own the simplest option was to borrow some jump leads and hook it up to my car. 

"Come, Igor. We have work to do"

With some fresh petrol it started after a little hesitation and eventually settled down to a nice quiet, healthy tick-over. I was, to be honest, frankly amazed that it was that simple after all this time. It looks like MZ knew what they were doing when they sourced the engines from Mr. Yamaha.

Now that I know it runs I’ll need to get it its own battery and tidy it up a bit before deciding if I want to keep it or to move it on.

Job done we adjourned to the house for tea and sandwiches and to plot our next move with regard to our trip to France in July – watch this space.

Landmarks 2013

Last year's photographic challenge seemed quite popular and I was asked if there was to be another one this year. I must admit to having run out of ideas for actual places or, as was done last year, particular items, so after a bit of thought I came up with the list below.

As you can see, this one will give you plenty of scope to use your imagination. The only rule is that the photo must somehow, no matter how tenuous, be linked to motorcycles or motorcycling. Once again you have until the end of the year to complete it. So, get out and about and be sure and let us see the results.

Even if you don't complete the whole list, please let us see any photos that you do take. You can send them directly to me and I will post them here or, if you have a blog of your own, you can post them there and send me the link.

As an incentive, this year I'm going to offer a small prize. I’ll pick a couple of the best photos and send the photographer something. I don't know what this will be as yet, but I'm sure that I can come up with something suitable, and small if the photographer comes from overseas!

Without further ado, here are this year’s ideas for photos:

Blue

Chrome

Red

Green

Black & White

Yellow

Nature

Water

Energy

Technology

Information

Something that makes you smile

12 O’Clock

Old

New

Narrow

Tall

Hidden

Looking down

Shadow

If you'd prefer something more concrete you can always try your hand at last year's list instead. Details are here.

Hog Heaven

“If Harley made an airplane, would you fly in it?” 

(Via:Motorcycho Magazine instagram.)

Rock On

Always on the look-out for odd vehicles my friend Gareth recently bought a Rokon Scout two-wheel drive motorcycle on eBay. Although it was advertised as ‘used’, it was delivered still in its original crate and still in its original wrappers.

Although I was aware of Rokon as a manufacturer, I’ve never actually seen one of their machines. Not too surprising, as they are not that common outside the US, where they sell mainly to outdoor enthusiasts. Also, I believe the US Marine Corps uses a number of them in Iraq and Afghanistan for patrol work due to the terrain.

disc brakes

A look at Rokon's website gives you a more interesting list of accessories than BMW and Harley combined.  Nothing as tame as loud exhausts or shiny chrome bits, though. How about a gun rack, a sledge to drag what you have just shot back out of the woods, or a plough if you happen to want to take up farming? As a fire-fighter himself, Gareth was much taken with the option of a water pump that fits to the engine and a fire hose for rural fire fighting.

Surprisingly, denim dungarees and banjos are not on the list!

Keeping People Safe

After the football in Glasgow this afternoon I spotted a few police motorcyclists directing traffic and the like. They were all mounted on BMW R1200s, where I was more used to seeing Yamaha FJR 1300s. None were sporting the usual Strathclyde Police badges, or any badges at all in fact.

Then I remembered. All the separate regional police forces in Scotland were merged on April 1^st of this year into a single force, the Police Service Scotland. Doubtless the next time I see one it will have a new set of badges on it reflecting the unitary police authority.

Henry Ford Was Wrong

Spotted at MZ Scottish Rally, Gairloch (2007)