InvictaMoto's Red Pepé Blog

Even though it happens every year there's always the sense of nervousness when MoT time comes along. Maybe the horn will have stopped working.  It barely makes a peep when working.   Maybe something else will have blown since you had a check around.... Except today it passed. It has an advisory on the rear tyre after it had the plug in it last August. The recorded mileage is 10137. Last year it was 9203. A total of 934 miles for the Covid affected 2020. Once home I taxed it. This year £96!!!!

Over a month since I cancelled the previously booked test.  With the dbPower Pepé fired up first time. I let it run as I refitted the panniers and unhooked the dbPower. Luckily it fired up without any help a bit later when I was fully bikered up. I needed petrol. It's so long since I last rode the bike I ended up stopping in Hythe and filled the tank. First tank since 17th August. Fuelly worked mpg at 40.99. Then off to Ashford arriving ten minutes late.  Now sitting in the socially distanced customer waiting area ... I squeezed myself into my new Hood K7 jeans. I either lose weight or the need to give a bit. Only one problem so far. Cramp in my right hand after I got off at Laguna.

As Pepé hasn't been out since January I thought it might be a good idea to get it out from the back of the garage and put Suzi to the back. Whilst I was at it, I decided to start Pepé and let it run for a few minutes.  I expected that after a lay-off it wouldn't start and so I had the dbPower 600A at the ready. I was right. Enough power to spin the dials and charge the starter but nothing else. I connected the dbPower and switched on.  Still NFG. Check the unit and the display showed 1%.  What? Even when used quite heavily to start Pepé in the past it has never got below 90%!  So I had to abandon tonight's test start and get it on charge.  Hopefully by the morning it will have enough balls in it to start Pepé and get me on my way.

Finally.  I called and booked Pepé's MoT! It looks as though many bikes are being brought out of hibernation and the first date I could get is May 7th at 1100. So that's it. Once done I can get it taxed and that breaks up the usual everything happening in June scenario! As usual it will be done at the Laguna Performance Centre in Ashford.

It's two weeks just gone since I had my second eye operation and I am on leave from work until the 19th April.  I was told not to ride the bike for two weeks in case the air streaming through the virus blew some dust into it that may undermine the work they had done. Lockdown eases next week and so from the 12th I ought to be able to get the bike MoT'd and taxed for use on the road. I am hoping for some good weather to be able to give it a good clean. I need to give Laguna a ring later in the week and book it in.  

I slipped walking the dog. My foot slid forward in some mud and I over extended my left knee.  As a result I am in a lot of pain and walking is very painful.  Paracetamol hardly seem to touch it! So the visit to Laguna Performance Centre for tomorrow noon will have to be put off until later in the month. I have a date for the other eye to be operated on to remove the cataract and so I need to get Pepé  tested either before 20th March or after April 6th. The latter would suit me better as that's when I am on leave from work.