Over the last year I have become much more confident on my bike and now I really love it. I'm also getting much better at recognising when there is a problem and what it might be. And sometimes I even remember to check the petrol and oil before making long journeys!
However on Sunday morning I was at a loss as to what the problem might be! The petrol and oil were fine, I checked and cleaned the spark plug (the ignition and 'on' switch were on! - something that people always ask me when I breakdown!) But the bike sounded bad and the engine kept cutting out.
Being the skilful rider that I am, I was able to ride the bike very slowly to 'Riders' and then I sat and watched as the mechanics looked for the problem.
They basically stripped the bike (something way beyond my abilities - if I take the spark plug out I have to really concentrate on where it goes back and what was connected to it) and concluded that the last lot of petrol that I put in my tank was dirty (it was from them!) and that the sand/dirt in the tank had damaged almost everything, clogging it up and making it cut out.
So they cleaned everything up. Removed the tank and emptied the petrol (they showed me the sand and there was a lot of it!) and then poured the petrol back into the tank but filtered it through some material.
It took them almost three hours and though I watched carefully I don't think I can even remember how to take the seat off let alone anything else!
Once again I had a camera to hand and took some pictures!!
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| It would be painful if I tried to ride it like that! |
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| I wanted to help but I was too busy taking pictures! |
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| This is the bottom of the bucket that they emptied the fuel tank into - just look at that sand! |
