The Duke Comes Home

Thursday 28^th October was the big day. I’d had calls from Andy of Motorcycle Transport Services for a couple of days. He’s picked the bike up from Henry, he’s been turned back and not allowed through Austria, He’s almost in Luxembourg, he’s at Dunkirk waiting for a ferry, he’s in UK will see me about 5pm…

5pm comes and goes. 6pm, 7pm. Suddenly all the lights go out. The only power cut I’ve ever known since I’ve been back in UK hit the area, and we were in the dark for about an hour and a half. At 8 p.m. the van pulls up the drive.

We unloaded the bike in the dark, and wedged it in the garage. Had a long chat, paid the man for his services and he left.

Couldn’t do anything much but sit and dream until Saturday, but then I had the day to play, and there was lots to do…

First I grabbed the old 2 into 1 and spent an hour or so cleaning it up and giving it a coat of paint.

Then pulled fairing off, followed by the pipes. Changed the oil, filter, plugs. Cleaned out the float bowls, fitted new fuel hoses, fitted the 2 into 1 and knicked the battery off the Sprint (which, amazingly, fits perfectly). This took about 3 hours, by the way.

Five or six kicks and thrmmmmbarr....

Lots of smoke, which worried me for a minute or two, but it soon cleared away. Couldn't resist the temptation to grab the Arai and gloves and ride off round the estate to let all the neighbours know it was working... then out onto the bypass so the rest of the town knows too. Had it up to about 80 at one point all going well, nothing dropped off. Didn't want to attract too much attention, so cut it short (Bike still has SA plates, no licence, etc., and is very loud) but it was absolute magic to be out on a bevel again even if it was only for 5 minutes.

I'm going to love this bike. It’s so easy to work on, so nice to ride. Lots of cosmetic stuff to sort out, but mechanically it seems great.

Registration and Shakedown

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