As the temperature cruised all the way up to 5c in the early afternoon, I had a little two-wheeled action.
First I got the bikes out of the garage and parked in front of the house.
The Ninja really didn’t want to start.
I mean, she really didn’t want to start.
She turned over on the button, but wouldn’t fire up.
Ironically the Daytona, the bike I had starting problems with late last year, fired straight up.
After leaving the Ninja for half an hour, I tried again, and this time it coughed in to life.
Neither bike has seen any substantial action for a handful of weeks.
While the Ninja warmed through I gave the bike’s chain a thorough cleaning, and lubing.
Then I took it out for a little – 15-minute – run through town.
Once back I gave her a full wash-down and valet, then put the bike away.
I took the Daytona out for the same cross-town loop, and then cleaned and lubed the chain, gave it a wash down and put the bike away.
Just 40-minutes of two-wheeled time, and at least that long cleaning.
But it was so good to be back on two wheels.
I keep meaning to start mine up.
I always used to start the bike and run it for twenty minutes, at least every two weeks over the winter period, just to keep the battery topped up and stop the carbs from gunking up (used to be a terrrible problem with my Thunderbird).
With the EFI on the Bonneville, I no longer have the carb issue, but the battery will still run down. But I’ve got lazy and can’t be bothered about the battery.
I’ll regret it in the Spring.