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Score! Yesterday, a local bookstore was holding a "going out of business" sale and I got Matt Farrer's Enforcer omnibus for $4.50. Today, the local branch of the public library was having a clearnace of old stock, and I got the 1939 Metropolitan Opera recording - with Ezio Pinza as the lead - of Boris Gudonoff. About to rip it and fill my phone with 2+ hours of Russian Romantic goodness.

Well the guy delivered the new bike and all seemed well, money exchanged everything happy.

Until the main and return Throttle cables snapped. To be fair, they were heavily corroded and would have gone anyway so it's best they went while she wasn't moving. We've got a replacement pair coming from a motorbike store specializing in chinese origin motorbikes so that shall be sorted relatively soon.

However, the main problem is now the electrics system has failed. It appears that the moron who owned the bike before replaced the bulbs in one of the sidelights with a bulb far too high in wattage for the electrics. Well, we attempted to replace both matching the one he provided as you would and voila! The fuse box goes.

Unfortunately, the manuals aren't much help either since they are not fantastic translations from Chinese.

Is this yours or your old man's?

Oh, my old man's. While mine is a chinese bike (rebadged), they do a damn sight better making CVT scooters than they do manual transmission proper bikes. And mine has the added luxury of that little silver Peugeot badge on the front, which at least gives it a step up in build quality and fitting together. Fortunately, replacement parts are an order of magnitude cheaper than a proper branded bike.

Still, it's at least taught me that Chinese bikes are not the way to go. Go at least Taiwanese, they at least produce reasonably solid bikes.

Have you had any problems with the oil yet?

Reliant121 wrote:Chinese bikes are not the way to go. Go at least Taiwanese

So, China rather than China?

Captain Seafort wrote:Have you had any problems with the oil yet?

Reliant121 wrote:Chinese bikes are not the way to go. Go at least Taiwanese

So, China rather than China?

Fortunately the oil's been replaced with a decent fully synthetic by the previous owner.

Hah, you'd think that. But apparently Taiwan's slightly more capitalist society allows them to make better bikes. Sym, Kymco and Hyosung are sort of like the bike world's Hyundai. Bit dull to ride and to look at, but it won't go wrong.

Wow. That's some seriously bad mojo when Peugot means a step up in quality.

Peugeot's bikes are well regarded as solid and affordable, making a big change from their cars

(Although, their diesel engines are first rate).

Four major power tools to mow one lawn. My near-sterling record of apathy, unconcern, and half-assed-ness may be nearing an end.

SUPER fuckin busy at work tonight. I went in at 4 PM, and by 11 PM, we'd moved at least 600 pizzas. I actually said "lazy fuckers need to learn to cook" out loud at one point, thankfully not in earshot of customers.

Good idea there, Tsuki. But at least it's job security.

Ah, what a difference a good night's sleep can make!

Right. Managed to get the electrics system working. One of the secondary lights on a bar below the main one was shorting things out. We all think the secondary lights looked a bit cheap so we...ripped them off, removing the electric clips and voila! all works.

Anyone got any ideas for removing rust from metal? The bike is pretty heavily rusted on many of the metal bits.

I was drunk last night and some decent looking chick (probably below average sober) asked for a screwdriver. I gave her one and unfortunately the good one. I haven't gotten it back yet.

McAvoy wrote:...asked for a screwdriver.

Is that what they're calling it now?

Yeah that is what I am thinking now.