Cavcraft 2021: More Italian slow shite.

[wuvvum]

Did you ever ride the Coguar?  I've been wondering about those - nice looking bike but not sure how well the combination of laid-back cruiser style and peaky Italian 2-stroke would go together.

[UltraWomble]

SR is noice and generally pretty bulletproof

[Cavcraft]

7 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Did you ever ride the Coguar?  I've been wondering about those - nice looking bike but not sure how well the combination of laid-back cruiser style and peaky Italian 2-stroke would go together.

Only up/down the back road. This one was a 4 stroke, had the 2T version a couple of years ago which was really weird, tbh.

[bangernomics]

Gilera gone, replaced with...
 

 
On the way home, I collected the Lambretta from the workshop where it's had the funky new (second hand) exhaust fitted...
 

 
(Video clip next post)
 
Decided I might as well insure (£75!) the BMW and tax it, this has repaid me by having a flat battery. Obvs. like merely undoing the seat to find it under there or pulling off a side panel with your hands would be far too easy, the fucking thing is about 11 foot under the petrol tank, or something. Trying to bump start it solo was a ridiculous idea, so shoved it back in the garage for another day. No log book for the Vespa either yet, so can't go for a spin.
 

Pull a light off and charge via the wires, assuming you have something that recognises polarity.

Did that with an x5 that had died with the keys in. Brake lights usually the charm.

[Cavcraft]

Cheers, I got the panel off today and did it by the book in the end.

[bangernomics]

Probably the sensible method

[Cavcraft]

Bit of twiddling about and battery back on, so time for its maiden flight in my ownership.

 

Only done a couple of miles but very impressed. Was worried it'd be a bit 'vibey' to ride as it first appears when you rev it at tick over, but it's actually ok. 1st and 2nd seem quite leggy, but that's ideal for low speeds and saves gear changes. Haven't been quite forceful enough going into 2nd at times, so found neutral more times than I would have liked.

Goes very nicely if you open it up and doesn't feel as cumbersome at low speeds as the Goldwing did. Still a heavy bastard of a thing to push out of the garage though.

Minor gripe so far is that the indicators are Vectra levels of stupid. Why not have one l/r switch like a normal bike?

[Cavcraft]

Oh aye, 2020.

So far:

(This was weighed in, absolutely fucked mechanically)

 

Next was this...

 

Which replaced the XJS.

 

Next up was this, but cheating a bit as got it end of 2019, though only on the road this week and promptly broke down...

 

Then this..

 

And finally, this arrived today which is, of course, sodding awful. Got it going (only starts from the remote on the key!) so celebrated by making an ANPR approved number plate for it...

 

The exhaust wouldn't look out of place on a Fireblade. Or possibly in a fire place.

 

 

 

 

[Cavcraft]

Latest arrivals include a Sym (Kiddy) Fiddler 125 automatic scooter...

 

 

...and a fine example of a Vauxhall turbo diesel. The smashed window enhances the experience of the turbo, which whistles like a shepherd's kettle...

 

 

Drove great coming home though and pulled very well. 

[chaseracer]

Like a fish?  Or something... ?

[Cavcraft]

This entered the fleet today. 2.2 diesel, it's done a few miles (177k) but was cheap enough.

 

 

Tony Hawks here loves it.

 

[Christine]

Mercedes Astra

[New POD]

How cheap ? The merc? Not the Astra. 

[jonathan_dyane]

Which engine does the astra have? *Asking for a friend.

[sutty2006]

That merc looks like a future shitists midlife crisis. 
 

 

 

 

I love it. 

[Christine]

Oh I missed the vauxhall astra !  I call all small modern mercedes. " Mercedes Astra's !  " As they're similar size.

[Cavcraft]

12 minutes ago, jonathan_dyane said:

Which engine does the astra have? *Asking for a friend.

1..3CDTi. It actually pulls pretty well, all things considered.

[jonathan_dyane]

 I have driven one with that engine and it was more spritely than I expected 

[sutty2006]

I drove a few combo vans with that engine and they felt more like a 1.7. Interesting motor. 

[Christine]

Ah Vauxhall !   Made in the British Empire !

[Cavcraft]

Minor arse ache taxing this, the previous owner had lost the V5, but luckily still had the new keeper's bit. Downloaded a log book application form, filled it in and felt penned over the previous address on the slip. Taxed at Post Office this morning, quick bike ride then out for a spin. Lobbed a tenners worth of juice in it and fair play, it's a really nice place to be.

 

The story behind it is, the vendor said loads of Eastern Europeans turned up together to view it, 'put oil up the exhaust' then went for a test drive, said it went into limp mode and they couldn't see behind for the smoke. They offered him a paltry fee for the car and started getting nasty when he fucked them off, to the point he threatened them with the police.

When I went for a test drive it did smoke when wellied (white smoke) but not as bad as he reported. I can't see how they can have 'tipped oil up the exhaust' as the backbox exit pipes curve to the ground. Anyhow, checked for black death and any signs of noise or visible leaks from injectors and couldn't see anything, so took a chance on it. Weird findings are the indicator and hazard lights on the dash don't display when in use, the glovebox catch is broken and probably some other things. I think the tax is a fairly hard dry bumming rate because it's automatic, but fuck it.

 

 

[320touring]

What year is it?

[Cavcraft]

Late 2006 iirc.

[320touring]

Ah ok, dunno if it'll veg then

[320touring]

Put up an engine pic

 

[Split_Pin]

These Marcs have aged well and are really handsome things 

Would.

[Cavcraft]

On 2/1/2020 at 4:53 PM, 320touring said:

Put up an engine pic

 

 

Doubt this helps, but only one I have at the mo:

 

 

 

[320touring]

Looks like an om646 going by the intake hose.

Not had one of them on veg mix yet - if you paid little enough for it you could experiment:)

[SiC]

On 2/1/2020 at 3:20 PM, Cavcraft said:

The story behind it is, the vendor said loads of Eastern Europeans turned up together to view it, 'put oil up the exhaust' then went for a test drive, said it went into limp mode and they couldn't see behind for the smoke. They offered him a paltry fee for the car and started getting nasty when he fucked them off, to the point he threatened them with the police.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1727957

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1745819

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1670629

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1675777&p=1

Etc

Well known scam. There is low life from all countries and communities. Just scamming people different ways. 

[cort16]

My z4 would flash it’s indicators but not show on the dash when I pulled the airbag fuse as I was carrying cort jnr in the car . Might be worth checking the fuses in it .