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A Honda C90 Weekend
Bogger is up to his usual antics. That means miles, food, booze, breakdowns, and chaos in all it's forms. This time The New Forest endures his presence when the whole place is already on fire.
Hot And Simple Normandy
Sharon is in her element, Ren is at risk of melting as a heat wave hits Normandy. There's a little motorcycling and a lot of pool time, plus some sweating.
Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
Excuses and complaining... that is all Ren has to offer. A truncated trip, the risk of bad weather, and bad timing. Awww poor poor Ren.
Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
Title page for a hit-n-miss trip to Skye
Walking, Eating, Drinking, And Riding (The Next Day)
Covering 2 days Bogger manages a little walk, an inordinate amount of dining, some alcohol, and a long ride (once sober). Contrary to Bogger's modus operandi all this is achieved without any disasters. Go figure.
Hot In Honfleur
It's hot, it's busy, and it's all a bit odd. In spite of all this and some confusing food Ren might possibly at risk of almost having an OK day?
From Bad, To Worse, To Awful
Bogger has an almost new SH350. And some friends, mostly on litre plus bikes. And a long ride ahead. There's buffoonery, worries, and finally good old incompetence to ensure Bogger has the best of times.
Acharacle Debacle
Title page for Bogger's curious weekend away in The Highlands
GB350S Or CB125F?
Due to comments on other posts Ren is focusing his thoughts on smaller capacity machinery. There's no right answer, it all depends dunnit.
Finally To The Gite
It's a much less stressful day's ride today. Good weather, a sensible mileage to cover, and no reason to rush. Fear not Ren will find a few things to gripe about.
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A Honda C90 Weekend
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Bogger, as always, it's an adventure.
23/09/2026 16:39:54 UTC
A Honda C90 Weekend
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Great tale and I hope the eye gets better. But why no pic of the deckchair jacket?
The Miller museum is great and I must make another trip there. I saw that he's recently added the legendary Norton 4 cylinder prototype to the collection - a bike that could have taken on MV and Gilera but that was never developed. Speaking of the man himself, I was fortunate(?) enough to meet him when I was "competing" in pre-65 trials in the last century when he would have been well into his 60s. He was in front of me on his famous Ariel at a tricky section which involved dropping into a stream, riding along it for few yards then exiting up a slippery bank then climbing a steep muddy slope. He rode up as if it was a main road. I fell off as soon as I got into the stream.
23/09/2026 10:00:43 UTC
Hot And Simple Normandy
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
If your current lappy is old and on it's knees and you're looking to replace it... well at least give Linux a try? What have you got to lose nab301? For really simple stuff like surfing the web then it'll be simple. It's when you get into the weeds with image editors, coding tools, trying to run "familiar" programs etc is where you'll struggle.
I'm using "Lubuntu" which is short for "Lightweight Ubuntu". It's not the lightest offering out there and I'll admit an old Win7 PC will run it but it won't be RAPID. Do you still have a spinny disc type hard drive in there? If so I'd strongly recommend fitting a SSD (Solid State Drive) they're much quicker.
22/09/2026 21:09:52 UTC
A Honda C90 Weekend
Bogger said :-
Images of the jacket do not do it justice.
Michael Portillo would be proud to wear it.
It's got white blue and yellow pinstripes. Lovely.
The eye was definitely an insect bite. My legs are still a right mess.
Bogger.
p.s. I may need a boater to finish off the look of the jacket!
22/09/2026 20:35:34 UTC
Hot And Simple Normandy
nab301 said :-
Ren , that's not what I wanted to hear about Linux, my Windows 7 / upgraded to windows 10 Laptop with extended updates which often it can barely manage to install , often needing (ahem ) hours to restart... I was hoping Linux might be my saviour! I'm guessing I'll have to purchase a windows 11 laptop at some stage?
Nigel
22/09/2026 15:58:08 UTC
A Honda C90 Weekend
nab301 said :-
I meant to say , no photo of the jacket ?
Nigel
22/09/2026 15:45:51 UTC
A Honda C90 Weekend
nab301 said :-
All in all a typical Bogger weekend , no matter what happened nothing fazed you! I think I might have been slightly worried about the allergic reaction ... do you reckon it was the insect bites ?
P.S. when is a step through not a step through? , when it's got an auxiliary tank fitted although it does give it a decent range.
Nigel
22/09/2026 15:44:19 UTC
A Honda C90 Weekend
ROD¹ said :-
Bogger, Are you sure that the swollen eye picture was while you were away, or was it on your return, when Mrs Bogger saw the jacket?
Sammy Miller is an inspiration at 92 years old.
I must visit the museum. It has been on the list for a few years now.
22/09/2026 14:26:23 UTC
Hot And Simple Normandy
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Phew! Yes Linux is not for the faint hearted when it comes to computering. I have no objection to Windows 11 but the cost of the kit required to run it - especially as I don't "push" my computer - seems unnecessary for my present needs.
21/09/2026 13:50:43 UTC
Hot And Simple Normandy
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Ah. My mistake. Isn't it always? Your link was in the body of the article not in a comment hence why I couldn't find it. And mysteriously when I click on it now the route appears!
Maybe it's time I packed it all in.......
I have looked at linux and indeed used it many years ago but as I also look after Electra's PC and she is a technophobe I don't want to have to have 2 separate OSs around. Windows 10 is fine for me especially as they've now extended support till 2027.
21/09/2026 11:56:40 UTC
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nab301 said :-
Ian , I never had an AVO but I remember a biking neighbour back in the 70's had one , or rather his father had which was useful for fault finding on his electric start Yamaha 200 (combined alternator / dynamo electric start)
BTW , I recently purchased a cheap digital meter from Lidl which has a capacitance check feature that works as you describe.
Nigel
08/08/2026 18:08:12 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I thought there may be some people who remembered AVOs here given the demographics. Sadly mine didn't come with the leather case although does have the original heavy cardboard box together with instruction manual. I've sorted out the overload button which just needed a hard press to reseat it and it now measures voltages correctly. I'll pick up a D battery later today and will order the 15 volt one - there's a seller on ebay.
It's so beautifully made inside and as you say Jeff the rolls-royce of meters and I look forward to using it in earnest.
I too have forsworn kickstarts given my knee issues - saw a physio yesterday who said I was progressing well. Three months with ongoing - although lessening - doesn't feel like good progress to me but heigh-ho.
06/08/2026 14:03:31 UTC
kiwiJeff said :-
Ian your mention of AVO8 certainly bought back memories. Like Glyn I used one through the 70s and early 80s as a radio technician working on communications valve radios. They were the Rolls Royce of multimeters. Using one balanced at the top of an equipment rack was a challenge though, they were heavy! Did the meter come in a stitched leather carry bag with a carry strap? Riding through our winter on the Bandit although while you are overheating in Europe we are having an unusually cold winter? Turned around on one of my favorite roads when I reached a sign that said next 12 kms is ice and grit! We use grit instead of salt on icy roads here which while our vehicles don't rust like yours due to the salt causing rust the grit doesn't melt so becomes a hazard on the bike for some time after the ice is gone! Ren you have my sympathies with your aching hip, my titanium hip aches in the cold my theory is the metal gets cold and affects the surrounding tissue so causing pain. The hip and the arthritic ankle mean I'll never use a kick starter on a bike again! I have to get the missus to help me roll the Bandit onto the centre stand these days! Getting old is a privilege but comes with it's challenges! Ride safe everyone through your summer, we are off to China for a month to have a look at where everything we use these days is made! Regards Jeff
06/08/2026 11:14:26 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I had to google U2 Battery, apparently it's what I would know as a D Cell? If I recall that's the big 'uns that were in the Ever Ready bicycle lights when I were a lad. Several weeks worth of pocket money for a pack of 2 D cells into the bicycle light that would be bright for 20 minutes, then dim for maybe half an hour, then dead. Today you fit a AAA into an LED light that'll blind drivers for several weeks. Kids these days, don't know how lucky they are(n't).
06/08/2026 08:27:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Nostalgia's not what it was.... As Glyn says, the 10A current measuring is a bonus - my digital meter has this but it's a bit of a faff. The AVO is a beautifully made bit of kit. I've found out why it doesn't work - the overload button has been activated and won't stay down It should be a simple repair or if necessary bypass it. When I hold it down it works for voltage (and I assume current). The batteries for measuring resistance have of course disintegrated. One is just an ordinary U2 - the other is special but replacements are available.
One use of an analogue ohm-meter is to check capacitors. Connect one way and the needle should make a slight kick and drop back to zero. Connect the other way and the kick should be repeated. This won't work on a digital meter.
I do have an old analogue job but it won't zero any more so when I get the AVO fixed that will be retired.
05/08/2026 13:08:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I would be Glyn but have a look at Chit-Chat. Due to "unforseen circumstances" I've had to remove the ability to upload images :(
Why do you want the old mulitimeter Ian? Nostalgia I presume.
05/08/2026 12:03:12 UTC
Glyn said :-
I used an Avo8 daily for at least 5 years back in the early 70’s. It was forcibly removed from me and replaced with a Fluke digital which I hated for a while. One of the plus’s of the Avo was the current measurement, even a 10Amp setting if I remember correctly. This was very useful then and would be so today.
The surgeon that repaired my finger may not have done me a favour, it’s been that painful since, I’ve often thought it would have been better to have removed the top. Are you ready for that picture of it now Ed?
903306...
05/08/2026 11:13:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Idly browsing my local auction house's offerings I came across a "vintage" Avo Mk 8 multimeter. I rmember using these nearly 60 years ago as an apprentice. A low bid secured it for just over £12. It doesn't work but I'm sure I can fix that. Or can I?
No pic (obviously) but here's the link.
https://www.lilybidsauctionhouse.com/catalogue/lot/482979564e1c213be831d1848eb58...
05/08/2026 09:53:30 UTC
nab301 said :-
Glyn , looking forward to seeing and hopefully hearing the fruits of your labours , will you be stripping the engine?
Nigel
26/06/2026 14:53:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ooooh eeeee ouch! I'm glad you didn't post your gory sliced digit Glyn (Flyn). You can show us when it's healed a little and we can imagine the rest. As for the heat... Enough already but it won't be long until I'm griping about the rain/cold dagnammit. The nights are already drawing in.
26/06/2026 09:57:29 UTC
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's a broad church Upt' covering all aspects of life as a motorcycle rider. That appears to include Bogger's peculiar choice in second hand clothing and minimal advice on Linux for yours truly.
3604.3 miles - over how many days? Sounds like a lot that does.
23/09/2026 16:50:31 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Just checked in as we're back home in Sunny Warm North Northumberland to find this very site has turned into "Fashion and Computers Weekly for Tight Arses".
If anyone is interested 3604.3 miles and B wants a wash.
Upt.
23/09/2026 10:48:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Interesting stuff ROD. 14kw 190 engine, that's about 18-19 bhp. Light, physically small etc. It's interesting it's being brought in by AJS who also have their Ridgeway - not too dissimilar to the Honda CT125.
23/09/2026 09:21:55 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I am not really interested in riding off road,but if I was this must be worth a look.
https://www.letenmotorcycle.co.uk/...
22/09/2026 22:18:20 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
But Ian! There's a whole page for motorcycling in the Ardennes - I'll add a link. However if you think BAT has dodgy underpinnings this whole site is, errrr, peculiar. This site also seems to focus on the French bit of the Ardennes. Hmmmm.
https://www.ardennes.com/en/itineraries/on-a-motorbike-in-the-ardennes/...
21/09/2026 08:39:22 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Some years ago I did try the Ardennes on the Tiger - sort of followed the border south east then dropped south to visit Switzerland briefly (very clean and tidy but soulless) before returning to Calais via Burgundy. The Ardennes was (were?) OK but nothing special and didn't change my negative view of North East France.
20/09/2026 09:59:46 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
It's nice in the SE Ed, but I'm no Belgique expert.
The ride to Dunkirk is an easy day jaunt from Ohey, if you can find that. We've just done it.
Upt.
19/09/2026 17:21:49 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I have passed through Belgium a couple of times and didn't find myself enamored. However this may be an oversight on my behalf. Last year I got some marketing blurb about riding in the Ardennes and it looked rather splendid, mind you it was marketing. I really ought to give it a chance, it's not too far away.
18/09/2026 20:39:40 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
In Belgium tonight Ed.
Place called Ohey. Lovely roads.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
18/09/2026 17:19:52 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I googled Rudhesheim en Rhine, yeah you're getting closer to Blighty now.
So you've reached the running repairs stage, with the clothing at least. No matter how prepared you think you are - there'll be something you need. Got needle and thread, need an 8mm spanner. Got an 8mm spanner, need some gaffer tape. Got gaffer tape, need a 30 torx... and so on and so on.
You might be lucky , there's a band of rain passing though this weekend but if you're coming up through England after that you might just make it home dry. Be lucky, and if ya can't be lucky wear waterproofs, or something like that.
18/09/2026 08:11:50 UTC
Random Link - The Scottish Trip 2010 - Fort Augustus and Neptune's Locks