Today's Bimble on the Old Coach Road

[namtip]

Went out today to meet Andrew at the Roedean Cafe. No sooner than I had taken out the bike, the heavens opened and started to pour down. Made it to the cafe soaking wet and waited for the rain to stop. The sun came out after a while so off we went to do the Old Coach Road between Firle and Alfriston.

Both having Distanzias with recent heavy rain, it was a bit hairy in places, but we both made it with no incidents. After the Old Coach Road, Andrew showed me two other smaller lanes, the first being off the A26 between Newhaven and Beddingham, and the second just South of Chailey.

The two MTs performed well, unlike an all-singing-all-dancing trailie (Honda XT?) which had broken down on one lane. "Water in the electrics, my mate has gone for his pick-up". Water was no issue for our MTs - no delicate electronics here!

[Englishman]

Enjoyed the ride Colin, the 500 looks good

[surfermick]

nice 500, whats the tank off.

[moose]

Looks like an acerbis - like the one i'm selling! sorry for the shamless plug!

[Englishman]

Oi what about the 350 then?

[Englishman]

Looks like an acerbis - like the one i'm selling! sorry for the shamless plug!

Hey exploit every opportunity

[woodruff]

Namtip, nice to see a old rickman top box still doing sterling service. Is that the fuse box I see crafted through the side panel? Not sure why but I like it. Your bike always looks short luggage

Englishman, why was the toolkit out? Or had you just earned the 'retrieved it from along the road' t-shirt

[Englishman]

Well spotted! Tail/brake light bulb needed replacing, must have been all that bouncing around You are not far from us we will all have to meet up, maybe Bury Hill in the New Year?

[hounddog]

Good pics . Looks like you had a good ride ,
Both bikes looking good

[namtip]

Namtip, nice to see a old rickman top box still doing sterling service. Is that the fuse box I see crafted through the side panel? Not sure why but I like it. Your bike always looks short luggage

My bike always will be short of luggage if that Rickman box stays - doesn't leave much real-estate on the rack. I was considering getting rid of it but now have a project forming in my head to make a lockable quick-release for it like the Givi boxes have. Then I can take it off easily to throw luggage on for touring, or put the box on for the helmet when commuting.

The fuse box is a modern spade-fuse type with LEDs which light up next to the fuse which has blown. My old box crumbled in my hand during the restoration . The new one is much wider than the old and I couldn't get the side-panel on properly. Because I had to cut the panels up anyway (for the non-standard tank) I thought I'd make a cut out for the fuse box. This set-up works quite well, because if there is a problem with the electrics, I only have to look at the window to rule out a blown fuse.

Looks like an acerbis - like the one i'm selling! sorry for the shamless plug!

Hi Moose, yes, I've just looked at yours and it is exactly the same one. 18L, but mine has only the one tap.

Oi what about the 350 then?

Looking good too Andrew! What you need is a nice shiny pair of MT500 pannier racks to go on the back