16 Years in the wilderness - now back on the road

[GeoffJH]

Hi All,

Felt the need the post a momentous moment for my Morini's. I am now proud to say that after 16 years in a comfortable garage and after recent extensive rejuvenation work both my wifes Strada and my Sport are both back on the road with an MOT. Is it just me or does waiting at the MOT station remind you of being an expectant father.

Question for you - The tyres on my sport are 16 years old, that said they feel soft are in no way perished having been kept out of sun light. They have done only a few hundred miles from new. I am on the side of caution and feel that they should be replaced, does anyone have a view on this ?

Geoff

Father of 2

[atreyu]

Excellent news! Just need some more sunshine to enjoy them both.

I rode my work "hack" for a few months ('79 Honda) on the original! tyres for a couple of months and they were totally fine and I dont hang around. As they're the only items holding you on the road though I would get them replaced with some lovely modern tyres!

The Avon racing tyres I've used go off like a light switch and let go when you dont expect it, although you wont get this on a road tyre is not worth risking your pride and joy??

[MarkB]

As Atreyu said, your tyres are the only thing holding you on the road. Play safe and invest in a nice pair of Avon
Roadriders. Any photos of your pride and joys?

Regards, Mark.

[GeoffJH]

Hi - pics I took for the insurance. Hope the link works.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21564651@ ... otostream/

Geoff

[atreyu]

Only saw the Sport pic but what a good job, bike looks fantastic. Does anyone know when indicators were std fitment on Morinis?

[3potjohn]

a nice looking bike-regarding indicators unsure myself when they first appeared ?1979 ish perhaps.I use the ones supplied by Vehicle Wiring products(flexi stem) rather than the mini-indicators I tried before.The originals are quite heavy and iihad a cracked mounting lug on the rear.Advantages are low(10W) wattage than a mini indicator,cheap,easy to replace and fit and visible on a motorway run. Disadvantage for me at least is threaded portion is 10mm which meant i had to drill out the front headlamp slightly(this depends on your headlamp of course)
I just don't think the "modern motorist" is up to arm signals these days.(except a hand signal now and again)

[buell1203]

my strada had them in 76

[MarkB]

My '75 Strada has them. Judging from the yellow idiot light on the instrument panel and the quality of the brackets on the rear frame they seem to be original, although they are now Lucas indicators with modern switchgear. I don't know if they might have been put on by Harglo when the bike was first imported.

Here's a picture of it when it had just retired from its first incarnation as an electricity meter reader's workhorse, in about 1990.

[GeoffJH]

Hi - I think it did have indicators at sometime, when I bought it it had the switchgear but no indicators fitted. It was not working properly so I took it off and put the old "pill box" stile light switch combo on which has worked really well. Next job on the list with tyres will be indicators although that said it does provide an authentic classic feel when you stick your arms out.

[3potjohn]

Its also quite useful at saving fuel as you attempt to a hand signal a right turn at an uphill junction.

[Richard A]

Its also quite useful at saving fuel as you attempt to a hand signal a right turn at an uphill junction.

... especially when you have a not wholly diagnosed occasional tendency to cut out when the revs drop to tickover (grrr! got to fix that). Still, I'm not unsympathetic to the 'classic feel' argument.

[GeoffJH]

Hi

New Avon Roadriders tyres fitted 90/90 front 100/90 rear. Went for the smaller rear in an effort to make the bike feel more agile if that's possible. Fantastic ride out in the Ribble Valley at the weekend loads of bikes out plenty of classics and even a couple of car rally's ongoing. Tyres feel good, didn't push them, the fitter said to give them time to loose their new surface. Bike running well, Indicators next job.

Geoff

[atreyu]

I'm sure it will be spot on with those tyres, You probably will find it easier to "flick" about like you say. I wouldnt worry about scrubbing them in really...avon dont use a release agent.