InvictaMoto's Red Pepé Blog

It is quite embarrassing but on this short ride I got the odometer to pass 2000 miles. At one time I was easily doing 2000 miles a month and now 9 months to do the same!! The ride this time was only to the Blue and White for the monthly Meldrews meeting, but it was so good to be out. Even if the weather wasn't the best. I did shift some of the 1916-2016 Centenary Poppy pins that I got from the Royal British Legion.  They go for a suggested donation of £2 each and I paid out £51 last month to the Legion.  Once everyone that asked for one or more has theirs I'll break even!

After the relative success of the Peugeot Alloy Wheel Cleaner combined with the Autoglym  and IBM brush, I decided to invest in some professional cleaner from a car valeting suppliers.  For £16 plus £6 delivery, it would have been less but some absolute git made a bid with 12s left on the auction that lifted the price from £10.60 (!!), I have 25 litres or about 5 gallons of the stuff. It got good reviews as a spray-on, wash-off product used at car washes across the country. Spray on might pose a problem... So something like this looks the answer. On eBay for about a tenner. Will check out the hardware stores at the weekend.

Due to another appointment to look at my ear problem, I had to have another day leave/holiday/vacation.  It harsh but it seems such appointments aren't covered. So  after the doc's and a longer walk with Reggie, I  hauled Red Pepe out of the garage, tutted at the corroded wheels, and then had a ride to the Cliff Top Cafe in nearby Capel. It was freezing cold. I was in jeans and walking boots and my fingers got a little chilly. That said, it was great to be back on the bike even for just an hour. My ear didn't have any problems, and as I always wear earplugs, it was protected anyway.  The Shoei Qwest is also pretty quiet (and light!) anyway compared with some of the helmets I'd had in the past, but earplugs are still a must. Ironic that they will help protect my ears and I already have a perforated eardrum to protect!!!!! At the cafe,  as  I arrived, were two seniors on Harley's complete with sticky-out carbs with K&N style filters and loud exhausts....

Had to re-post this.  This model has far more chrome than Red Pepe. Thank the god of motorcycling!

Have to say disappointed with the finish on my 15 Roadster. Not really an all weather rider nowadays.  Wheels are corroded and look like shit and the chrome bits and bobs all surface rusted. Have always washed down after a salty road outing. The TEX I had before had its recall problems but the finish far more robust. Never had these problems so soon even on a modern Suzuki! It doesn't seem like the wheels are coated, just bare metal by th level of corrosion.  The surface rust blights the suspension caps and even the chrome cover for the rear brake master cylinder looks more like rust with some chrome. At least the engine finish looks good.