.... ' cos my garage has now got enough room to swing one.
For the first time since September 1999, my garage does not have an ST. A few days ago I didn't mind about it finally moving on, but today reveals a different hidden emotion.
It has been the home for my first ST1100T (2nd hand, my milage: 31,551 miles); ST1100AY (50,757 miles); ST1300 A6 ( 69,183 miles); ST1300A-9 75,0065 miles).
Garages in the UK don't really deserve the term. It is just about possible to drive a car into one without scratching the paint off - providing you haven't added a layer of wax, and assuming that you can get out by the back window, 'cos the doors will not open wide enough for a 6'4" giant like me. For 18 months I had the ST1100AY and ST1300A6 at the same time. The two ST's were very cosy and it was a serious tessilation puzzle to fit them both in. But it has been a good workshop and for the last few years I've enjoyed the benefit of a motorcycle ramp which helps me to move around the bike much more easily to service it.
But life happens. Way back in July, putting the bike on the centre stand, my calf muscle snapped and that left me rather immobile. The bike sat on its side stand for three months, while I learned how to hobble. Slowly the calf has mended and I can walk almost normally, but it is taking a while for my brain to realise that the limp isn't necessary. I sorted out the blown fork seals which greeted me when I first ventured into the garage after three months of looking rather like an old man, and decided that I'd do the brake lines. HEL seemed to be the way to go, but unfortunately they do not fit the post 2007 models, or the ABS models. 2 weeks of trying to make them work and failing - I got my money back and HEL altered their website. So instead, I ordered replacement HONDA lines for the majority of flexible hoses. I also ordered the stuff to do a full winter engine service. But first the MOT. Fork seals done, old brake lines reinstalled. MOT passed without issues. But riding was a problem. I no longer had the strength in my upper leg to get my feet off the footrests quickly when coming to a stop. I can flat foot on both sides when stationary - and even stand off the saddle. But balance with my right calf was still dodgy. It's all improving day by day. But too late ......
When I retired many years ago, I sensibly found a mattress that could store enough money to buy us a new motorcycle when the time came. I'd been looking for a new model for a while but couldn't find anything that would tempt me away from from the Pan. That was the reason for spending money on the brake lines - maybe I would keep it.
A few weeks ago, a good riding friend posted a picture of his new steed. 8 years older than me, he struggled with the heavier pan, and he had been enthused by the NT1100 - but it wasn't the replacement for the pan - taller and less comfy for the pillion, so he changed again and posted a picture of his new-to-him Spyder.
So back at home we started talking about the possibility - would that do for us ? We didn't know, so we were invited to see our friend, his wife and Spyder. To sit on it, and talk about pillion cornering on a bike that doesn't lean. The friend's model we liked - but it didn't suit us - and it seemed to put a damper on the possibility. The seating position was tight, and I could not lift my foot up onto the brake pedal, with my heel on the footboard. The pillion seat was too wide for comfort. Basically, we didn't fit.
But we went an hour up the road to a CanAm dealer anyway, and drooled over the various models in stock. "We are just looking, we're not buying one today". We knew that - this was just a recce. One second hand one caught my attention immediately, Pristine, extremely low milage and considerably less £££ than brand new. I sat on it. Perfect. My partner sat on it and had a stupid grin on her face. So we paid the deposit. And went away with a list of things to do before completing the process....
Meanwhile, there is no room in the garage for it. Part exchange offered me £1500 for the ST1300. I thought it was worth at least 4K especially given the stuff that I have replaced to keep it going. I'd rather give it away to my brother. If I do that I'm only losing the £1500 part exchange value. If I part exchange it I will feel that I am losing £2500 from the £4000 in my head. So I am up on the deal !
So the last few days have been tidying up - doing as much of the remainder of the service that I could get done - which was limited because I hadn't yet got all of the parts. The bike ramp is no longer needed. I've got my value out of it and it owes me nothing, so I gave that to a friend who arrived very grateful clutching a bottle of Glenfarclas for me. But then yesterday, the parts arrived - the engine service kit and the Brake lines and too late to do anything with them. However, after dark I got the oil changed, but brother will have to do the air filter and the spark plugs. Brake lines will wait for another day. He'd already arranged insurance and I was picking him up this morning. I took him through the important bits how not to lose the top box or saddle bag. How to put the seat back on. Which were the HISS keys and which were the normal steel bladed keys. And he rode it away into the sunset - literally. Wearing a helmet and sitting astride it, the Pan sounds very different from when you watch someone else riding it away. It looked and it sounded beautiful.
A couple of days ago I was feeling upbeat about passing my well loved steed onto my brother as a Christmas Pressie. I was looking forward to getting my own new mode of transport. It will give us a good few years of touring. Tomorrow I'll feel exactly the same as I did a couple of days ago. But tonight the garage is empty and there is an unexpected feeling of sadness and loss. I think I'll go into the garage and enjoy the space - plenty of room to swing a cat.
For some reason our two 16 year old felines are nowhere to be seen !
For the first time since September 1999, my garage does not have an ST. A few days ago I didn't mind about it finally moving on, but today reveals a different hidden emotion.
It has been the home for my first ST1100T (2nd hand, my milage: 31,551 miles); ST1100AY (50,757 miles); ST1300 A6 ( 69,183 miles); ST1300A-9 75,0065 miles).
Garages in the UK don't really deserve the term. It is just about possible to drive a car into one without scratching the paint off - providing you haven't added a layer of wax, and assuming that you can get out by the back window, 'cos the doors will not open wide enough for a 6'4" giant like me. For 18 months I had the ST1100AY and ST1300A6 at the same time. The two ST's were very cosy and it was a serious tessilation puzzle to fit them both in. But it has been a good workshop and for the last few years I've enjoyed the benefit of a motorcycle ramp which helps me to move around the bike much more easily to service it.
But life happens. Way back in July, putting the bike on the centre stand, my calf muscle snapped and that left me rather immobile. The bike sat on its side stand for three months, while I learned how to hobble. Slowly the calf has mended and I can walk almost normally, but it is taking a while for my brain to realise that the limp isn't necessary. I sorted out the blown fork seals which greeted me when I first ventured into the garage after three months of looking rather like an old man, and decided that I'd do the brake lines. HEL seemed to be the way to go, but unfortunately they do not fit the post 2007 models, or the ABS models. 2 weeks of trying to make them work and failing - I got my money back and HEL altered their website. So instead, I ordered replacement HONDA lines for the majority of flexible hoses. I also ordered the stuff to do a full winter engine service. But first the MOT. Fork seals done, old brake lines reinstalled. MOT passed without issues. But riding was a problem. I no longer had the strength in my upper leg to get my feet off the footrests quickly when coming to a stop. I can flat foot on both sides when stationary - and even stand off the saddle. But balance with my right calf was still dodgy. It's all improving day by day. But too late ......
When I retired many years ago, I sensibly found a mattress that could store enough money to buy us a new motorcycle when the time came. I'd been looking for a new model for a while but couldn't find anything that would tempt me away from from the Pan. That was the reason for spending money on the brake lines - maybe I would keep it.
A few weeks ago, a good riding friend posted a picture of his new steed. 8 years older than me, he struggled with the heavier pan, and he had been enthused by the NT1100 - but it wasn't the replacement for the pan - taller and less comfy for the pillion, so he changed again and posted a picture of his new-to-him Spyder.
So back at home we started talking about the possibility - would that do for us ? We didn't know, so we were invited to see our friend, his wife and Spyder. To sit on it, and talk about pillion cornering on a bike that doesn't lean. The friend's model we liked - but it didn't suit us - and it seemed to put a damper on the possibility. The seating position was tight, and I could not lift my foot up onto the brake pedal, with my heel on the footboard. The pillion seat was too wide for comfort. Basically, we didn't fit.
But we went an hour up the road to a CanAm dealer anyway, and drooled over the various models in stock. "We are just looking, we're not buying one today". We knew that - this was just a recce. One second hand one caught my attention immediately, Pristine, extremely low milage and considerably less £££ than brand new. I sat on it. Perfect. My partner sat on it and had a stupid grin on her face. So we paid the deposit. And went away with a list of things to do before completing the process....
Meanwhile, there is no room in the garage for it. Part exchange offered me £1500 for the ST1300. I thought it was worth at least 4K especially given the stuff that I have replaced to keep it going. I'd rather give it away to my brother. If I do that I'm only losing the £1500 part exchange value. If I part exchange it I will feel that I am losing £2500 from the £4000 in my head. So I am up on the deal !
So the last few days have been tidying up - doing as much of the remainder of the service that I could get done - which was limited because I hadn't yet got all of the parts. The bike ramp is no longer needed. I've got my value out of it and it owes me nothing, so I gave that to a friend who arrived very grateful clutching a bottle of Glenfarclas for me. But then yesterday, the parts arrived - the engine service kit and the Brake lines and too late to do anything with them. However, after dark I got the oil changed, but brother will have to do the air filter and the spark plugs. Brake lines will wait for another day. He'd already arranged insurance and I was picking him up this morning. I took him through the important bits how not to lose the top box or saddle bag. How to put the seat back on. Which were the HISS keys and which were the normal steel bladed keys. And he rode it away into the sunset - literally. Wearing a helmet and sitting astride it, the Pan sounds very different from when you watch someone else riding it away. It looked and it sounded beautiful.
A couple of days ago I was feeling upbeat about passing my well loved steed onto my brother as a Christmas Pressie. I was looking forward to getting my own new mode of transport. It will give us a good few years of touring. Tomorrow I'll feel exactly the same as I did a couple of days ago. But tonight the garage is empty and there is an unexpected feeling of sadness and loss. I think I'll go into the garage and enjoy the space - plenty of room to swing a cat.
For some reason our two 16 year old felines are nowhere to be seen !
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In all seriousness, weebles wobble but... no trike for me
... or visiting me in bed, purring loudly like a Detroit 60ies while poking her wet nose into my face to receive a few pets and rubs from me so she lays down and dozes off for some time...
