This little clip of me filtering by traffic outside hellesdon Hospital is just for the sake of demonstrating the quality of the new camera and recorder that I’ve just treated myself to.

Here’s a little video with clips of two incidents that occurred within half an hour of each other.

They demonstrate that despite having fitted a very loud air horn to my bike some motorists still take no notice when given warning of my approach.

After lots of messing about I finally managed to splice this together.

I uploaded to Youtube but they removed the sound track so here it is as intended.

There are many reasons why your motorcycle’s engine may start to misfire. A poor connection in either the high or low tension area of the ignition electrics. Incorrectly adjusted inlet or exhaust valves.  Even a leaking  exhaust pipe can produce an effect similar to something you might expect to experience when riding a kangaroo.

But in the colder months of the year a common cause of a coughing and spluttering engine may be as simple as water in the petrol. This can find it’s way in by condensation forming on the exposed metal on the inside of the tank.  Water and petrol don’t mix and the water being denser will naturally gather in the bottom of the tank while the bike is parked.  Some very old cars have a water trap, usually with a glass window, which allows collected water to be drained off.  I’ve never seen anything like that on a motor bike.

Of course once your bike is in motion the water wont stay pooled at the bottom. As the fuel is sloshed about in the tank it forms droplets suspended in the petrol.  Because of their relative density and surface tension the water droplets do not pass easily through the carburettor jets and it is this that gives your bike it’s Winter cough.

Fortunately this disease is easily cured.  Adding a small quantity of methylated spirits to the petrol will work wonders.  The water molecules will bind to the alcohol allowing it to pass unnoticed through the carburettor and engine to be ejected from the exhaust.  Few motorcycles have fuel tanks holding more than 20 litres and for this quantity half a cup or about 100 mls of methylated spirits should be sufficient.  Of course you can prevent the condensation forming in the first place by simply keeping your fuel tank topped up.