Worse things happen at sea you know...

I’ve been trying to keep positive about this year by wondering how all our relatives at the end of the Second World War would have loved to have been given a couple of months off. Loved ones killed, children sent off to live with people you’ve never met, in a place you’ve never been, houses blown to bits and no food or money. I bet they didn’t whinge they couldn’t go to their local bike meet, or that they had to wear a mask. And boy, wouldn’t they have loved to have some time to just go for a ride? So in my eternal optimism, I’ve – bought another bike. Oh yes, and it is a cracker – another BMW, a 1978 R100RS. Well, an S, but with the RS fairing fitted. It came from a lovely family that had owned it since 1983 and it had been laid up since 1997, so the plan is to do it up and get back up to Yorkshire to show them once it’s done. I’ve even joined the BMW club! You can read more about it on page 84, but I really feel I’ve found my ‘keeper’; the bike that ticks all my boxes. But this frivolous spending means several other bikes have to go – no easy task. And to make matters worse, I’ve had to move my workshop. Boy, where the hell do we get all this ‘stuff’ from? And why do we keep it?? And how did I fit it in there??? It’s led me to all sorts of discoveries, like the amount of doubled-up tools, and ‘things’ that I never use. My old job used to involve testing products, so I have a dozen polishes, cleaners, chain lubes, penetrating sprays and greases; I’ll never use them all, have given away as much as I can; but who wants an opened can or pot? I’d use more if I ever cleaned my bikes… Elsewhere, Neville has been putting together a ‘dolls head’ gearbox for something and asked if I had any ‘rear seven inch Norton brake shoes’ recently. He’s up to something. Meanwhile Maria has been planning a new project, a 1988 Honda Bros 650. Never released in this country, many came over as grey imports in the 1990s. It’s not really Classic Bike Guide fodder, but it is a 650cc V-twin, it’s 32 years old and in need of a full rebuild, so I expect I’ll bore you with it occasionally. Finally, we’ve thrown together a spray booth. I need to sort a fan design out, but at least I can get some of the many Norton parts rubbed down, primed and sprayed. Though I’ve painted quite a bit, it has always been at a good friend’s booth, where the gun is set up and he mixes all the paint. I am doing it all myself now and boy it takes time! The last part I sprayed had seven coats before I was happy with all the settings – and most problems were my preparation and rushing things. So next time you’re quoted by a professional painter and wince? Believe me, they’re worth it!

Who knows what the next 12 months hold in store for us; but let’s hope there’s time for some workshop jollies, plenty of riding and talking endless nonsense about old bikes. So here’s to a great 2021 for all, thank you for reading the mag and be good!