It is said that problems come in threes, and this rule has certainly proved true in my transportation tribulations since the start of this year.   No sooner had I posted my last piece here about the car problems that we have suffered since New Year ’s Eve, than my Suzuki decided to join in too! I paid a visit to my brother’s house on my way home from work at the end of last week, but when I returned to my bike to go home, the starter solenoid just clicked, and the engine would not turn over.   There had been absolutely no warning signs for this.   Since the lights and other electrical components still worked, the battery did appear to be charging.   The clicking starter solenoid, but inactive starter motor meant the problem had to be in this part of the bikes electrics. I found a wire in this circuit where the previous owner had used a crimped connector.   It fell apart when I touched it!   Unfortunately this very crudely crimped joint is not the ...

My Suzuki Burgman was due a service by my reckoning (see my initial write up here: https://oldandireland.blogspot.com/2019/04/transport-solutions.html).   Suzuki recommend 3,500 mile service intervals (or 6 months).   As with most vehicles, there are a few service levels.   Mine was due the more major service, a little early at just over 6,000 miles, but that can't hurt. The simplest ones at 3,000 mile   (3500 miles if you go by Suzuki’s recommendations) intervals require the following: Change engine oil Clean filters (air filter and primary drive filter A nut and bolt check on critical components   Additional tasks to be done at every second service include: Change the oil for the final drive gears Change the spark plug Suzuki recommend changing the engine oil filter at every third engine oil change.   Since pattern oil filters only cost a few quid, I generally change them every time I change the engine oil. Strangely,...

I've been waiting for a decent bit of cold weather to set the mood for this story.  At the end of the story, the bike I was then using gets a mention.  It was a 650cc BMW Funduro (a stupid name, I know).  Don't take its glowing recommendation too seriously because I changed my mind on it fairly quickly as you will see in the next bike related post.  It was downright dangerous! I have always enjoyed working on motorcycles, so usually buy something fairly cheap, and then fix it up to my requirements.  Since anything on two wheels is inherently unstable, I don't believe that owning a bike that you cannot afford to fall off is a practical proposition.  This story was originally published at:  http://www.realclassic.co.uk/opinionfiles/sparking-honda-ht-leads.html .  You will find the first 3 of my Paddock stories further down this page. Enjoy. ______ There weren’t many in the Paddock who had even a remote interest in Br...