Here, There and Everywhere

I'd taken today off so I could enjoy another four-day-weekend.

I'm still not happy with the sound of the bike, so today became research day.

First stop was BM Motorcycles in Ringwood. My first question was "Do you know anything about the security alarm installed by BMW?" Response, "No!" I then asked about the vibration problem but didn't get very far. I asked about the diagnostic unit and was told some pretty amazing prices for these devices. Amazing. I won't be purchasing one that's for sure.

Next stop was Southbank Motorcycles, where they knew a bit more about the security system and as a bonus, the only technician on duty had a spare time up his sleeve. We went out to the bike and I showed him the new behaviour of the system. He confirms that the behaviour is not standard. He gets on my bike, winks at me and says "I'll just plug it in!". With that he rides the bike into the service area and does 'secret things' to the bike. Southbank Motorcycles have the usual standard policy of excluding non-employees from the workshop and I was hastily escorted out of the workshop by the Duty Service Manager (DSM) . To fill in the time while I waited I went through everything in the shop about three times. Bikes, jackets, boots, etc. During this time I hear the security system going off a few times.
Ninety minutes later and my bike is ready. I ask the DSM what was found and was told a story about a sticky dirty/old throttle cable causing an out of balance in a doo-hickey. Quite possible I think to myself. My what clever people. The DSM goes on "We didn't discuss a price, but labour comes to this. Hope you don't mind?" Too true, we didn't discuss a price, but if it's solved my problems it will be worth it. I pay up!

I head for Taco Bills at Springvale and was just struck with awe. These guys have fixed a problem I didn't even know about, because the bike sounds just the same as before. I wonder what they fixed? Another mystery like where do socks go when you can't find them?

Dinner at Taco Bills wasn't as pleasant as I had imagined. I was placed at the table between the wood heater and the cashier area. As the place filled with patrons the noise level rose. To make matters worse, the smoke from the wood heater was behaving in a delinquent manner and was refusing to go up the chimney and was filling the room. The obvious solution was to leave the front door open. This had the undesired effect leaving me in the path of a cold air flow. Half way through my meal I had to the bike jacket on to keep warm.

Next stop for the day was to attend the monthly meeting of the BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria at Kew. The usual formalities and a presentation of the life of the R90S motorcycle by the author of a book on the subject.

The real reason for attending was to see if the Committee was able to find a replacement Production and Layout person for the club magazine. Tony Weare, the president, made it quite clear that if one wasn't found soon, the club magazine will either half to change or membership fees will have to double to cover to cost of getting the work done by professional people. I spoke with Tony after the meeting and volunteered. Tony leapt out of his chair and shook my hand he was so relieved. Lets see where this goes.

Finally, a little bit of analysis.

I can see that I am going to have to become more organised.

P.S. Received a phone call from Malcolm Dean (the new BM Magazine editor) Tuesday lunchtime and was told he's sending me info on the job. Looks like I'm in :)