Bank Holiday Weekend

Well wasn't last weekend glorious, I don't know about you but I made the most it, Now after my last posting you'd be forgiven for thinking I regretted buying the Pan but
no that was just a cautionary tale!! Anyway Friday I went down to Hastings in Sussex purely because the A21 is such a good road (And the sun was out) great ride and the
new tyres and brakes where great, Sat. & Sunday bit of maintenance and quick trip to High Beech in Epping, That just left Monday, The day of the Ace Cafe Southend
Shakedown run, Weren't sure what to expect but I wasn't disappointed!! At 10.30 Monday morning approx. 1000 to 2000 bikes left the Ace Cafe in north London to
ride down to Southend in Essex (In the biggest run I've ever been on) On arriving at Southend I was amazed to find even more bikes parked up everywhere and I do mean
everywhere (police estimated 15000) As the day went on meet up with some old friends and possibly made some new one's. All in all a brilliant day out and exactly
why I bought the bike!

Safe Biking Everyone
Andy

Just a few reasons why I love this bike so much...

The recipe: A long weekend camping at Le Mans with your non-Pan riding mates, a 300+ mile 3 day round trip. My ingredients: One Pan European, one rider, one pillion, a pannier each for our luggage, tank bag with 4 litres of water, kettle, burner, coffee and tea making equipment, milk and biscuits (well, you've got to have some home comforts), u-lock and heavy duty cable, other bits and pieces stuffed in the fairing pockets. I could go on... two tubes of pringles, bottle of vodka, camera, sleeping bag....but you get the picture.

However, you have to stop three times while the other non-Pan's fuel up, and the pillion is another riders girlfriend. When we arrive, the Pan becomes the designated shopping vehicle cos it can carry the shopping back and had the most fuel left when we got there. Still I suppose I was lucky that I didnt have to take the two tents as well like last year...

Dont get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all. It just goes to show how good the Pan is, doing whats it is meant to do. Not a bungy net or tie down strap in sight, and all in such comfort that my pillion fell asleep on the way back at 85 mph. The backrest it seems, was a good investment.

I dont want to gloat, but I think that the others were just a little jealous. That'll teach them to buy sportsbikes...

Riding with the law

Well today was interesting I went on an observed ride with the City Of London Police, Who run an event called Bike Safe which on this occasion was run out of North
Weald Airfield near Epping in ESSEX, Basically you ride around a predetermined route with a CoL Police rider following you then when you get back to the airfield he
tells you what he feels you did wrong ( If anything!! ) He only had one complaint about my riding and that was I don�t always set myself correctly for corners! of course
I was on my best behaviour as well !!!! Other wise he might not have been so impressed, Still there you go .

On other matters, Nigel if you still can�t get an airline on your rear tyre go to your local bicycle shop and they should sell Right Angle valve Adapters thats how I got
round the prob. on my CX custom which had a 15in. back wheel.

Happy Biking All
Andy

How do you get air in your tyres?

This isn't a Pan-unique problem as it seems to affect all bikes with alloy wheels.

I was always taught to check tyre pressures at least once a week, but there's little point if I can't put more air in if I need to.

I can check my tyre pressures but I have yet to find a forecourt airline that I can get onto the valves should I need to add air. This problem is definitely more pronounced with the rear wheel of the Pan. With my Bandit I could get the air line connected if I had the wheel in just the right place, even with the panniers off I can't get it on the valve.

Have I missed something?

Service day blues.

12000 miles came and went so it's time to surrender the bike up to Honda.

As ever, those nice people at Chambers have provided a loan bike and (Hallelujah!) it's not a Deauville. No, it's a five year old CB500 and, actually, it's quite fun.

Which is just as well 'cos they called this afternoon to let me know it wasn't finished today so I can't pick the Pan up till tomorrow.

Sounds like an expensive outing, too. Tyres and pads in addition to the service.

I wonder what other surprises lie in store...

Buying On Impulse

I've had my Pan for 6 weeks now and have to admit I wasn't though enough when I went to look at it the first time(understatement) The three main things are; Front Callipers sticking on, Thus causing Fractured R/H Front Disk (Was it like it when I picked the bike up? Can't say for sure.)anyway Two new aftermarket disks, new pads and both callipers completely striped that was all sorted, Then there was the twitchy handling on having a closer look at the tyres and checking the pressures I noticed that although they both had plenty of tread left they where worn into a bad profile (The front looked like ^ shape!! ) So a bit of research online I found out lots of people didn�t like the Bridgestone BT020 that were fitted either, They had to go, So I checked with my local tyre centre and they had a pair of the OE fitment ( Bridgestone G547 Front/ G548 Rear ) in stock so on they went straight away, And what a difference She still shakes her head a little under braking but the weave going round corners is gone and no more white lining either. Other than that she�s great!
Went to my brothers in Bicester fortnight ago it�s 100 miles each way, All I need is a taller screen and it will be What 100miles!! I arrived still feeling fresh and alert (Remember be alert your country needs lerts ) So thats all for now more as it happens