Fitting the shock
December 15, 2007 at 8:53 am | Bike | No comment
God I wish I hadn’t drunk so much last night, I might be still drunk, I really shouldn’t be riding, but here I am on the way to Northampton, I’ve been trying to get this done for weeks.
My mate has kindly leant me the use of his father’s bike garage to fit my shock absorber in, and has agreed to be a second pair of hands.
When I get there, it turns out that another chap called Sam, even younger than I is floating around to lend a hand as well.
In my rather dazed and delapidated state, it ends up being James and Sam working on my bike, with me staring intently trying to comprehend the concept of bolts.
They set about my bike with vigor, ignoring my plaintive wails to consult the instructions I brought on my laptop, happily taking bits off and casting them to one side.
In the process they discover 5 seperate stripped bolt heads, and also the fact that to access the upper bolt for the rear shock, the fuel tank (which resides under the seat) must be removed.
Things turn a little defeatist at this point, as Sam has a half day, and James feels we need him to help reassemble the bike, so in light of the fact the job will take far longer than previously though, they start to reassemble the bike.
I read through my instructions, having beaten the hangover haze and regained some mental acuity, I find that removing the fuel tank is not necessary, and you simply pivot the subframe on the front two bolts.
This however is easier said than done, as one of this bolts is stripped beyond normal removal methods.
The re-assembly continues and after 3 hours of labour (which I’m ashamed to say I had little to no part in), the bike is back together again.
James gives Sam a lift into town quickly, and he and I set about assembling the rack for the panniers.
Beautifully made these Jesse panniers, stainless steel fasteners all round, perfectly fitting parts and sturdy boxes.
The last property being tested quite nicely when the bike topples off it’s makeshift centre stand of a pile of orange crates and slams heavily down on the handle of a lathe.
Barring a dent and a slightly skewed mount, the panniers are fine!
After being introduced to Adrian, an experienced mechanic who is simultaneously envious of my journey and raring to help, I shoot off home before it gets dark.
Until next time BMW! NEXT TIME!