As I noted in my last post, the l/h rear indicator on the CBX stopped working on my last ride. A quick strip-down revealed that the wiring was OK and the bulb was OK. The flasher can, was, however, making a funny (non-clicky) noise so my primitive electricals skill-set determined that it was the can that was at fault.
My first port of call was the shed where I removed the sidecover from the hulk and found that the flasher can was in the same place as mine but was quite different. In fact, the underseat layout on the hulk is quite different to that on Bexie so that’s going to need some investigation as well. As far as I know only around 2000 550s were imported to Australia between 1982 and 1985 and my assumption was that all the models would have been identical in spec. Evidently this is not the case.
Anyway, despite it looking different, I assumed (yes, I know what you’re thinking) that the flasher can would be the same specification. It’s not.
Correct one is on the right.
So, a quick check on ebay (pointless looking for genuine (over $100 each) also drew a blank. Firstly, there are none on offer in Australia and the many that are on offer overseas are quite cheap (around $20A) but the freight ranges from $70A and upwards. Eyewatering, I know, but COVID has completely screwed up the supply chain situation.
A check of my local Honda dealer saw a glimmer of hope, however. A generic can of the same spec was available for around twenty bucks and the dealer is about 17kms away. On returning home, the can doesn’t operate either the left OR the right hand indicators (which were working before). So it will be returned to the dealer and Bexie will spend some time in my mechanic’s shop where he will have both the skill and the equipment to correct the problem.
The other part that I have been waiting for is a right hand mirror for the VFR after my tip-over at the servo the other day. Prices of new ones have remained pretty much the same from any number of O/S suppliers but, once again, freight is prohibitive, most of them being between $90 and $100. Time was that I would simply have bent over and paid the money, but this old pensioner is having to watch the pennies a great deal more these days so I reverted to an ask on the local Australian VFR800 site.
Almost immediately an owner from WA said that he had one, whoohoo. A check on postage prices and an offer that was reasonable and it was posted from Perth on Friday.
AND, amazingly, it arrived, all securely and brilliantly packaged, yesterday (Monday). To say that I am impressed is an understatement.
Needless to say my first job this morning, after the usual chores, was to hightail it out to the garage and fit the mirror which was a few minutes’ of work and I’m now able to ride again. Never underestimate the power of Facebook groups. VFR people are the best.
The next MotoGP event will be in Spain which means that I will get to watch it on my MotoGP subscription. Time was I would stay up all night watching the races (hell, I used to literally stay up all night watching the Indy 500 when it was televised) but waiting till some God-awful hour in the middle of the morning to watch the GP has way less appeal than it used to have. The times from Spain will be late in the evening, for sure, but they will be doable.
Last Saturday night was the last meeting for the season at Goulburn Speedway, it’s been great being the resident commentator there this season. I am hopeful that the meeting dates for Goulburn and Nowra will be different for the upcoming season so I can continue to work both venues.
Catch you next time..
