17 replies to this topic

[stormy]

After mixing up my MOT dates with my Thunderace, realised the TDM MOT had expired in april (yes I know, menace to society and all that), so, with new exhaust on, battery charged up she fired up for a pre-booked MOT test.

OK, new exhaust is blowing at the head and the under engine point. mmmm

Lots of overnight fettling to get it right, oversleep this morning and nearly missed the appointment slot. Blats down to MOT station with a 2-day out of date tax disc..... only to find Cambridgeshire Cuntsabulary are at the MOT station doing a visit!!!!! FFS!

Has a quick word with the owner, ("come back in about 30 mins, they'll have gone then...") says he.... phew...
30 mins later TDM was duly presented to Mr. MOT Man. Police gone ...lucky escape methinks.

"you sure this mileage is correct?"
"As far as I know, it fits with all the other MOTs" says I.
"72590, impressive, and in such good condition"
"I like to tinker a bit"
"well, anyway, she's passed the MOT "

(not that I thought it wouldn't ya understand.....) but now too late to get a tax disc. bugger.
Takes TDM home.


OK, tis nice I'll take the Ducati out fer a spin....
Fires it up, off the drive, down to the "T" junction, starts to pull away, feckin football rolls across in front of me, and I just see out the corner of my eye lickle brat chasing it..... Grabs front brake and front tucks under.... we're going down ...

NO!!!!!!! manages to some how get my right leg down and I'm sat in the middle of this "T" junction, bike at 45 degrees to the ground and getting very heavy, feeling my knee protesting (this is the same one that dumped my Bandit on the deck remember), me holding the bars and not being able to move, and cars are actually going around me giving me the shaking-a-coke-bottle sign. Bastids, all of 'em.

Cyclist turns up and gives me a hand to get upright (see they have their uses!). I'm sitting on the kerb feeling very shaky, sweat pouring off me.

Regains composure, remounts and pulls away..... and stalls the bitch.... repeat above events again.... except this time I save the bike from tipping a lot earlier, so no external help needed.

I go home and watch the F1 qualifying. Obviously not my day to be out riding methinks!

I could have:-
points and fine for no tax (=money)
failed MOT and retest (=money)
two drops of the Ducati (=lots of money)

could have been an expensive day.

[TonyDevil]

tax and mot out of date aint a problem if you are simply riding to or from a prebooked MOT

sounds like the Duc incident was a close one

[stormy]

tax and mot out of date aint a problem if you are simply riding to or from a prebooked MOT


sounds like the Duc incident was a close one

I know the MOT was ok being pre-booked etc, but wasn't so sure about the Tax bit.

[ChrisG]

I got stopped for a random police spotcheck some years back with the tax over a week out of date on the car. "you are planning on renewing the tax are you sir?" was his only coment. Tax disk is a civil matter not a criminal one apparently. When they have the ANPR cameras out they have to have a copper to stop people but it's the civies that run the checks.

Lucky save on the duc

Edited by ChrisG, 03 October 2009 - 03:23 pm.

[sidestand]

They're right Stormy - expired MOT & tax not a problem on the way to a pre-booked test - Tax on my airhead was nine years out of date when I MOT'd it

[JollyGiant]

Twas a very good day then!

You need some leg grafts too stop it happening again or platform shoes to come back in fashion?

Lucky you

[danceswithmopeds]

Back in late 90s, got pulled over by a cop who obviously had nothing to do. "Is this bike taxed?"says he. I reached into inside pocket and pulled out plastic bag with licence,insurance and tax disc. Tax disc was only 71/2 yrs out of date.
"What's the story with this?" he asked me, holding up tax disc.
"I'm trying to keep the bike original Guard". I said with an innocent face.
He looks at disc, looks at me, then "Sod off and get a new one" a smile on his face.

[Studley Ramrod]

Way back in the early 80's me and a few mates in my mk1 escort 1100 off to skeggy, tax had run out a couple of day earlier.
Got pulled by a tit 'ed on a flippin pushbike. Checked the handbrake, tyres, lights, brake lights, he even bounced the front suspension !
Totally missed the tax disc My first experience of being stopped by the police and I nearly stalled the car setting off cos me legs were total jelly

Glad to hear you saved the Duke !

[Hartside Man]

Removed the post as it was post Mike's accident and not really fitting in the grand Scheme of things

R.I.P. Mike

Edited by Hartside Man, 07 October 2009 - 01:57 pm.

[jdelfino]

Shocking! Mike died only a few minutes after he wrote this post.

"Mr Waters sustained fatal injuries at the scene of the crash, which happened at 4.50pm"

RIP Mike

Edited by jdelfino, 07 October 2009 - 02:09 am.

[masterbrewer]

So sad to hear the news. RIP Stormy

At least you were doing what you loved.

[muddy]

I cant remember how many times i have read this last post from Stormy,

I am just stunned at the moment,

Even though i did not know Mike personally,

He would always be there offering advice or help.

You never know what is going to happen when we set off.

R.I.P Mike

Me too. It's uncanny.

[Moose]

Dunno why I find myself think of Mike at 5.30am but hope ya sleeping well fella

[arthurbikemad]

Oh

RIP.

Edited by arthurbikemad, 24 October 2014 - 07:34 am.

[TDMick]

Dunno why I find myself think of Mike at 5.30am but hope ya sleeping well fella

You're not alone there Moose.

Although 5.30 is a bit early for me.



We've lost some good people over the last few years. :-(

Edited by TDMick, 24 October 2014 - 08:32 pm.

[leehenty]

Ride safe everyone.

[sidestand]

Often think of Mike - one of life's Gentlemen

 

Last time I met him, he was showing me his Ducati sat in the living room, then the new electronic chain lubing system he's just installed on his Thunderace 

 

If he'd ever met up with Lee, they'd have been holed up in a workshop together for years