Mid winter start up.

[africajim]

Hi all, been quiet here on the Vara pages this week!

Any way, just thought I'd let you all know I fired up the Vara for the first time since I put the Vara off the road first sign of salt on the roads, around mid November.
So, well coated with ACF50, prep pro and WD40, cover pulled over and tied down that's it till spring. I like to start the bike in between to make sure the battery's ok, get fresh petrol into the pipes and make sure oil's splashed around the engine and gearbox. It started first crack within a couple of turns of the engine, sat there idling perfectly, never missed a beat! Plenty of smoke off the pipework due to the liberal coating of protection but ran fine none the less!

I can't wait to get the mighty Vara back on the road, damn I miss the bike.
Took the Kawasaki out for a run, instead and it will now be appearing in the local sales rag next week, good God I hate that bike!

As a side note, Fiona's Beemer refused to start, flat battery! It went off the road same time as the Vara but has been started since then. The battery was new last spring so I'm not impressed!

[Boris]

Likewise mine's not moved since well before Christmas. What with the snow and not really having the need to use it it has just sat in the garage. I did start it a week or so ago and like your it started within a couple of turns of the crank.

It's now due a MOT but I refuse to take it out in the crap just to get a MOT. Hopefully the weather will pick up next again week as I'm away with work this week and I can get it done then and get out for a decent run at the weekend.

[africajim]

Aye Boris, I don't take it out in the salt either, that's what winter hacks are for,,,, as long as they're not old Kawasaki's!
My road tax renewal came in yesterday, must be a year old next month. Hopefully March will be a good month and I'll get back on the road soon. Scottish bike show next month, reminds me I'd better go order tickets for the Saturday.
Maybe see you there?

[Boris]

Scottish bike show next month, reminds me I'd better go order tickets for the Saturday.
Maybe see you there?

Is this the one at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh? If so I'm not planning to be going but your more than welcome to drop in for a coffee and a blether. I only live about 2 miles away.

[outrunner]

Hope you don't mind a Tiger rider sneaking into this thread but I took my bike out for the first time this year, never felt so lonely! Only saw one other bike in around a 100 mile trip around the Borders.

St Marys loch was like a mirror today.

Andy.

[africajim]

Not at all sir, good to hear you were out, if I still had access to a hose to wash down the bike after a run I might have been tempted into taking the Vara out today, wet up here though.
Looks like you had a good run, the loch looks so calm!
I ran an 04 955i Tiger for two yrs, cracking bike and that sound! Damn!
I did have a quick run up the coast with my old Kawa KLE500 but due to rust in the tank it keeps fouling the carbs! It's let me down so much I'm getting rid of it next week! There's been a few bikes going around here over the last couple of days, saw Steve T on his scooter, a VTR SP1 in Elgin and a Blade here in Lossiemouth. Spurred me into having a blast but that's not quite in the vocabulary of the KLE!
Enjoy your Tiger mate, roll on springtime!

[Boris]

Hope you don't mind a Tiger rider sneaking into this thread but I took my bike out for the first time this year, never felt so lonely! Only saw one other bike in around a 100 mile trip around the Borders.

St Marys loch was like a mirror today.

Andy.

Looks good Andy.

St Mary's is really beautiful when its calm and that little cafe you are stopped at is a smashing place just to sit and watch the world go by from. Is it open all year now?

I can't wait to get out on mine now.

[Steve T]

Apart from going to & from work on two wheels, the weekend before last was the first weekend that I DIDN'T get out on my bike.

Cabrach yesterday . .



Bit hairy going along the roads when there is that much snow banked up - cant see whats coming round the next bend . Not that there was much on the road. I too didn't see any bikes yesterday, but visability was a bit reduced at times up on the hills, so anything could have gone past me and I could have missed it

[funny]

Mines running a treat now the new fuel pump is fitted,went to start the wifes BMW and nothing, a new battery later and all is well ,last battery has only lasted a year so not impressed.

Mike

[africajim]

Well done Steve, I might have headed further out if the Kwakker hadn't start passing petrol out the airbox! (I removed both floats and blew out the pipes and tested the float valves, seemed ok?) Never mind, soon be springtime! Saw you heading home on Thursday or Friday on the scooter.

Mike, same problem here. Fiona's 650GS wouldn't start yesterday, charge overnight but still not enough to start the bike, battery's toast. New battery from Wullie Young's for £29. Supposed to be a new battery when she bought the bike last year.