24/02/2025

Bought a new Royal Enfield 350 Meteor.

Complete change !

70 odd miles on the clock I suppose the rain will stop! 

Multistrada sold

It was fun but need to downsize at the tender age of 68 was becoming a struggle to get it into the garage etc. 

New bike in the spring!

Moody

Crash bars in place!

Adding the Spots, crashbars and radiator cover.

Day 2 Ducati 1 me 1

To find the plug that runs the spot lights you have to remove most of the panels, sometimes you can find it by removing just part of the beak.
Not this time had to remove tank cover then undo the bolts holding tank in place!

Warning:
When removing petrol cap, the diagram shows the fuel supply hose sitting at right angles to the cap and also the nipple that it attaches to.
It's not it's about 45 degrees and yep I broke it trying to remove cap and get at the spring clip.
£240 later although the part that snapped is held on  by a couple of screws Ducati a" doesn't" supply it seperate hence a draw!
Looking at many parts pictures online none show it as a seperate order!

I managed to locate it by moving tank up a little and left tethered to another plug, would've never reached it from front!
Very clever Ducati .....not!

Adding a topcase

Was a right faff!
Took hours trying to find the info on what rack system would allow a Givi monokey top case. I want be able to remove the topcase and have a decent rack to use to put camping stuff on etc.
SW Motech came to the rescue at a price mind!
And eventually got it all fitted. And yes it works case comes off easy along with the base plate to leave a good platform with plenty of gaps and places to tie down stuff.

Yer tis

Moving on

Part ex'ing the scrambler for a Multistrada 1200s in artic white.

Changes 3

Bought LED rear light strip it incorporates indicators. Was hoping to do away with rear number plate assembly but there's a ton of metal under it, so need to rethink things.

I have found a picture of a metal plate that bolts to underside of seat frame with a lip on to fix the LED light strip so will probably make one, if I can remove mudguard and brackets, was hoping to retain rear rack would be handy for two up trips for over nighters!

Front indicators will be replaced with small LED'S and headlight I'd like a Bates style but in black !

70's style bike 70's style Helmet!!

An indulgence what can I say!

It needs a picture in the sun as its all metal flake!!

MAY ALREADY!

Not much to add really just cleared 2k on the bike, still on the FT Bars finally sorted my issues with the mirrors I now have a decent set of of billet handlebar end mirrors so much better! see all I need to see without having to double check !

Daytripper 5

Ride out in the autumn sun, home thru Alton- Lasham- Basingstoke and back again!
Great ride about 70 mile round trip great bends and great scenery! I've done this ride before but went onto Hartley Wintney.

No issues last time was on the solid wood seat!!!!! But this time comfort of the gel pads!
Thoughts:  I'm thinking of swapping back to the FT bars mainly because I prefer the look! If a swap them out sometime this week I'll get a few more rides before weather stops it. Just make sure I need the higher ones or not. Part of me wonders if it was just the nerves of new bike etc that made me tens up!

Day out two up

Went with my wife to Loomies for a late brunch then through countryside to Lower Upham to take a look at motorcaravans .

Upped rear suspension to 3 rd setting ( previously top setting 5th) wife said bumps weren't as harsh. I did not notice any issues either, yes front end dived a few times under heavy braking. Which would be lessened by improving front forks I suppose.
Talk about having an arguement with your self! To change front forks or not to change lol
An enjoyable day

Tour of some of Britain!

I've just completed a three leg tour of visiting family.
First Home to Melton Mowbray 185 mostly boring miles of Mway and Dual carriage ways. Mpg 58 new gel pad seats were great, the return to the OEM bars helped my neck issues, the Dart Screen great up to 70 then performance drops off but still good. No real issues.
Second leg Melton Mowbray to Kirkby 125 miles about fifty fifty roads no problems at all still high mpg.
Third leg a 250 Mway Chase boring but no real choice unless I was taking a few days to get home. As said screen helped up to about 80 after that didn't do much I'll admit when I get bored I hammer the bike, car whatever suffice to say even riding above the legal limit ( way above at times!) The bike was solid no surprises no wondering etc

So I am still playing with rear suspension settings . I'd lowered it to step 2 extra luggage didnt really weigh that much so left it. It's was fine. Bike behaved, bumps in road did not feel as harsh! Maybe there's a case for less preload not more with this setup. The front forks didn't seem any worse nor better.
I'll admit I'm a lazy rider I ride for the relaxation and it's about the only time I do not get stressed! It's a great healer for me. But it looks more and more like if there's a fault it's the front forks, get a damper/ cassette in the other fork it'll probably be sorted for me. Although having said that so far I'm wondering if even that is worth getting done!

MPG

Well I suppose I'm riding like an old man!

Despite " giving it some" over the last tank full and 20 odd of that with the new screen I've just returned 62 mpg!

30 mph is the only speed limit I really stick too, as I was taught from day one to drive/ride to the machines/ mine capabilities. Taught by an ex traffic/pursuit plod, then did my advanced etc . I am surprised to be getting best part of 60 mpg most of the time. Maybe the 16T front sprocket has helped. I'm not complaining mind! 

The bike was bought for us to enjoy a sunny ride in the country and maybe a few excursions abroad.

Biltwell Thruster grips

Finally turn up !

It's been a problem trying to get hold of these grips in the UK in 7/8 - 22mm.
But after 4 weeks waiting AR Harleys managed it.

They are a little lighter in colour to the seat but the pattern is the same and having had them before far more comfortable than the OEM ones! 

They also have a fairly large collar at the end which hopefully will stop me accidentally turning on the high beam . 

On that note why would you have a " flick lever" right where you reach for the clutch?

Dart Screen

Last of the easy customisations! 

Took 15 minutes to mount, the offside indicator nut was indeed fiddly, as per instructions, if you have large fingers near impossible I would suggest a little blue tack to hold the nut on the back of the indicator bracket would be the way to go.

Other than that easy , I also had to loosen the brake reservoir nut just enough to move the brake line up to avoid it hitting the screen on left-hand lock.

It'll get tested tomorrow once I've fitted my new grips!

Gel pads and Bars

Did a 70 mile round trip today. Gel pads are a hit, although I was a little uncomfortable the last 10-15 miles it was more about getting back in the saddle!
No pain in the proverbial!

The bars are great no neck pain so big decisions black or leave them silver?

Fitting Gel Pads to OEM Seats

Today I decided to take the plunge and fit the gel pads that I had ordered.

2 x Gel Pads £55.00
1 x Sheet of 3mm foam £5
1 x can of Upholstery spray £5

£65 all in

First was to remove the main cover used a small screw driver to remove the staples I found that angling the screwdriver as picture made it easy to remove the staples

Then I find that Ducati has covered the foam with cling film! there is only one type of foam density which would account for its lack of comfort. No expense spared ........not!

So to lay out the pads and mark the foam the easy part! Having got it all central and marked out then it was time to cut away the foam so the gel pads would fit snugly into the seat. Watched a few YouTube videos and choose from them on how I would proceed.

I drew lines along the length and then across on the small pad as per what I had seen on YouTube.

Your then left with cutting away the squares I do not have an electric knife so used Stanley knife set to just under the thickness of the gel pad which made it easier for my first attempt. Then it was just a case of carefully cutting away the foam, trail fitting each pad until I had got it right.

Getting ready to cut the rear passenger pad, you'll see I will be mounting it back to front, which gives a better coverage of the whole of the rear part of the seat. Both pads just curve over the sides, the videos that I watched set them in the middle but the guy I got the pads from does it for a living and says he never cuts the pads (many people say do it) and just curves them over the side. Having now done this I can see the sense, just a little more comfort !!!

The finished article! I'm happy with the look doesn't show the anywhere. The only problem I came up against was my staple gun was barely up to the job. But got there in the end not over pretty but its the underside of seat and as long as it all holds I'm happy!

Swapping out the handlebars

Decided to swap the handlebars back to the original higher bars.

Although I like the look of the lower "Full Throttle" Scrambler bars they seem to be playing havoc with my neck .

I need to sit upright more as I have issues with my neck , after a few hours riding it aches to the point of annoyance!

Not a problem to do, it took longer to figure out how to remove the plug on the back of the Speedo !
However, I now see why the factory standard bars are positioned so far back towards the rider, that the bars look "odd" I prefer bars to be just forward or in line with the forks. 

Because of the holes used to line up the switch gear the levers end up nearly at 45 deg. So if you want the levers to appear level the bars need to be towards you.Looks like a lawn mower imo!

So they are fitted with a little thought as to keep them in the position I want.

Probably about an hours work in reality but took a couple of hours faffing about and realigning and tinkering !

You can see the position of the orginal handlebars prior to the FT bars being fitted before I collected the bike

I have put them back in-line with the forks

A short ride of about 20 miles felt OK and the more upright position felt more comfortable, I wonder if it was the years of riding a Harley with 18" ape hangers or at the very least bars that set my hands at shoulder height is why this feels more natural to me and I felt more confident throwing the bike into corners!

Adjustments

Had the bike in for its first service having completed the 626 miles . All ok
So went the long way home doing around 60 miles. The bike is a different beast! Happened along a clear piece of dual carriageway clocked 110 with ease!
I have also fitted the 16T front sprocket.
That was a fiddle! Took about an hour but I was supervised by my two yr old grandson, that wonderful age when just picking up a spanner is full of wonderment and excitement!
If anyone reading this decides to do the same.
Remove the footpeg hanger and gear lever by first releasing the gear lever but leave the spline attached to the gear spindle. I removed the lot but now have to reset it as I have put it back to high!
Fully wind in the rear wheel
Then and only then can you remove that Damn sprocket!

I did a round trip of about 25 miles this evening. There is a difference, subtle, less gear changing better and less frantic filtering in heavy traffic. But more manageable somehow. I am slowly getting the bike how I want it.

Tomorrow I will check the bolts and clearances around the sprocket. It didn't appear to need any filing but will see tomorrow.