The Things Which Get Squirrelled Away

Fork oil seals almost as much as ferry fares??
Or to put it differently, I wish ferry fares were still as little as a few oil seals…
We were fortunate to have one ticket taker on the ferry who, on being presented with a pack of cigarettes, would forget to charge the fares for the six to ten bikes on our normal Sunday runs, Steve.

1974 L-R Me, David (Calimero) Watson, Drew O'Byrne, Robert Galley, Unknown, Timmy Woods, Cliff...jpg
 
I am sure i remember paying nearly £400 for a Norwich Union Rider Policy for a Honda CBX in 1981. I was 19 years old . Apparantly at todays money that was £1500 ! Madness !!
And of course the whole lot on the never never.
When I was 19 insurance for a secondhand Z1R was as much as the bike! The company used to ask me my occupation “ motorcycle mechanic” - then you could hear the Count from Sesame Street laughing down the phone!
My Swift leathers cost £1500 in 1987 and my flat slide Mikunis cost a months wages ( over £400) but my Owen’s Stargaurd “ made to measure” helmet was only £45! I can remember us having Goldtop boots in the clothing dept and they were £120 then - this was when an MOT or an hours labour in the workshop was a tenner. I sound like my Dad….
Just remembered Gambier Reeks Yamaha charged my old man £2 for an NGK plug for my DT125 in 1982- robbing bastards!
 
I've got a receipt somewhere with Laverda parts listed. A new primary cover was something like A$17. I'll have to hunt it out. Pistons A$12 ea. A Kwaka 9 chromed tin points cover was A$27. Laverda parts were incredibly cheap ... the factory didn't see them as a money spinner, but something to keep their bikes on the road.
 
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Valve clearance checks for the period 86,000 miles to 218,000 miles ........

Don`t look too closely ........ if it they were within 0.05 mm ( or even a little bit more ) , then it was a case of " that`s ok , near enough ..........." ...........
 
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You may well have done Hamish, but unlikely to have been me as I wasn’t out on track long enough as I suffered a mysterious misfire on my Panjotic and took an early bath..☹️
 
was that the time (Andy) I (re) soldered your ignition pickup in my caravan using the gas stove, a length of copper pipe and plumbers flux/lead free solder???
I recall it got you going again, so that TOG could show you how it should be done.
CLEM
 
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