Simple solutions:Alwaysgurnlikeafoolinpictures!
Woohoo!Igethomeforanother
(celebratory)cuppa–butholdon,what’s
thatnoise?Parkedupoutsidemygarage,I
canhearaticking,whichismatchingthe
unevenrunningofthemotor.Yep–there’s
aloadofarcingaroundthesparkplug
caps,whichI’dnotnoticedbefore.Iwhip
themoff,givethemapropercleananda
layerofinsulatingtapeasatemporary
bodge.Backonthebike,andtheidleis
much,muchbetter.Sothecarbsweren’t
totallyatfaultafterall–Ihadsome
missingsparks,escapingfromthe
20 +-year-oldstockplugcaps.
Afirst-classdeliveryofsomeNGKcaps
arrivesthenextmorning,andIhavethem
oninatrice.Iwentforthe 102 °longreach
ones,butthey’realittleshorterthanstock,
sothere’sabitoffinaglingneededtogetthe
cablesintoplace.Themotorisimmediately
runninganotherfivepercentbetter
low-down,andI’mwellupforasunnyride
outforsomepics.I’dpoppedintothePost
Officeaftertheschoolruntotaxthe
beastieandapplyforaV 5 (therewasno
paperworkwithher)sowewereallset.
ImeetupagainwithJohnthesnapper,
andwetrundleofftoafavouritephoto
spot.I’mgoingsteadyontheFazer–I’m
sureit’sallsupersafe,thankstothe
carefuleyeoftheOnslowMotorstester- butitwouldbeashametothrowitup
theroadatthisstage.There’snoABSor
tractioncontrolsafetyaidsofcourse:it’s
alldowntometostayupright.
Thenewbrakesneedsomebeddingin- thenewGalferdiscsareshowingwhere
thepadsarestartingtobite,andthey’rea
littleonthesoftside.We’vealsogotthe
newtyrestoscrubin,soit’sallpretty
vagueforthefirstfewmiles.Addtothe
fluffyidleandsoggyoldsuspension,andit
couldhavebeenabitofachoretodo
somecorneringpics–butnotatall.The
relaxed,easyhandlingofthebasicFazer
600 chassisisatreat,andIcanfeelthe
tyresandbrakesgettingbetterwithevery
passonthebend.Themotoriscrispand
smoothonceoverabout 4000 rpm,and
whilethegear-leverandlinkagelooklike
rustycrap,thechangeitselfisslickerthan
manyamodernmachineI’veridden.
Parkedupaftertheshootthough,I’m
makingamentallistofwoesthatneed
fixing.Muchofthatiscosmetic:theFazer
looksitsage,andthe 12 yearsbetweenits
lastMoTandnowhaveclearlybeenhard
onher.Theengineislosingmostofits
blackfinish,andstufflikethechain
adjusters,forklowers,cam-coverend
platesandfoot-pegsareallveryscruffy:
corrosionbubblingoffpaintandpitting
alloysurfaces.Thepaintworkisnobetter.
Thetopfairinghassomenastycrash
damagewhichhasbeenpatchedupwith
fibreglassandpaintedsilverwithastick.
Indeed,mostofthesilverpaint*washed
off*withhotwaterandafirmsponging,
revealingthebodyfillerunderneath...
EveryotherpanelhasascufformarkofNewplugcapswereneeded!AFazerisareal'do-it-all'kindabike–abitlikeapoorman'sVFR!86 /classicmotorcyclemechanics
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