Purpose made Goldwing trailer

Dave Partridge is selling his purpose-made trailer which he has used to transport both solo GoldWings and trikes in the course of his AwingAway business but is now surplus to requirements. This is a one-off single axle design with a payload of 540 kg, so enough to transport a GoldWing Trike yet light and manoeuvrable enough to tow behind a family car.

It has a purpose made loading skid and a fitted winch which makes loading a safe and controlled one-man operation. Enclosed trailers which will carry a trike are very uncommon and trike owners usually have to resort to using a flatbed open trailer.

This one will keep your trike clean and dry in transit as well as providing a temporary garage when you get there. Further photos and details, including dimensions of the trailer and price can be viewed on Dave’s own website by Clicking Here. Alternatively ring Dave on 07795 095043

By the way this doesn’t mean that Dave is giving up his servicing and repair business, quite the oppoesite, he’s going from strength to strength.

Saturday the 28th January 2012 is the date, the event to be held at the Feathers Hotel, Leyland, offering an all-inclusive package of wining, dining and dancing for the bargain price of only £39.95 per person (held at 2011 price).

Once more, it looks like being a superb evening. The Feathers Hotel is a rather posh affair and the food and service is excellent. What with the all inclusive bar I will be on the lookout for volunteers for the mornings AGM meeting.

Accomodation is also available at a rate of £60 per room (no increase on last year), this including breakfast and use of the hotel’s many leisure facilities.

For those who haven’t been before, the package includes:

• Free – unlimited bucks fizz and canapés on arrival
• Top quality international Carvery dinner.
• Unlimited quality Red, White & Rose wine on the table. Drink as much as you like.
• Free bar through to Midnight.
• Free Fish & Chip Supper served at 11:00 pm
• Top Quality Disco
• Cash Bar after Midnight.
• Plus a free conference room for our AGM the following morning.

All inclusive price of £39.95 per person.

To simplify the whole process, members will need to book their meal and room directly with the hotel, 01772 422922, quoting reference GW280112.

To qualify for this deal we have to have a minimum of 80 bookings. If we all bring a guest couple with us we will meet the minimum number quite easily, and I’m sure our friends from Goldwings North Wales , Elite Wings, plus all our individual Federation members would be interested in coming along, plus we can invite any friends and family who may be interested. Shouldn’t be too difficult to sell this to all our friends.

So get the date in your diary and those bookings made and let’s look forwards to another great Anniversary event!

STOP PRESS: Book soon to avoid disappointment!

see last years pictures

The previously mentioned raffle was a big sucess with over 20+ prizes up for grabs. Strangely though  most of those happened to be booze, and I would love to know where the alcohol free wine came from, whats the point of that?  Most members stayed after the meeting and had a splendid Christmas Dinner together which by all accounts went down well, apart from Judy Goodman’s who’s dinner didnt arrive for quite some time and when it did she didnt have to pay for it due to the extended wait.

Over the Christmas period Ian plans on visiting the Samlesbury Memorial Hall as a possible future meeting venue for us. Have a look at their website, it’s nothing like the village hall in Dads Army, if thats what you were thinking.

More pictures from todays meeting can be found here

"Dont look behind you Bill, but I think I can see Graham Brookfields reflection in this trophy. I know Jeff."

I must admit I did give you a few weeks longer to get to grips with this one, and some of you did. The winner of caption competition IV can only be Jim & Chandra although I would like to know who it actually was who came up with this gem. Congratulations to either Jim or Chandra 

“Dont look behind you Bill, but I think I can see Graham Brookfields reflection in this trophy. I know Jeff.”

The bike has just had a new battery fitted, due to lack of use – hence the reason for the sale. The bike has over £1000 worth of accessories and is taxed and MOT’d until June 2012. I also have all the documents to hand including the paperwork from the states. Feel free to ask any questions.

£5750.00 ovno

You can contact me on  Telephone 0161 449 9296  or Mobile 07866 392 830 or email jamesnightingale001fsnetcouk  (jamesnightingale001fsnetcouk)  

Well done to Cheryl Daniel for placing one of our charity collection boxes at her place of work, she collected a nice sum of £20.63p. towards our Air Ambulance charity. Thanks again Cheryl, a brilliant job.

Treasurer – Sue Pinder

Seeing as Decembers meeting date was to fall on Christmas day it seems wise to hold the meeting a week earlier on the 18th December. Same venue and time.  There will be no doubt full Christmas Lunch available at the Norman Jepson.

Shelter and Cover find a sheltered location and use a properly designed bike cover, not an old bed sheet or tarpaulin. Even in a dry garage an old bed sheet will attract and retain moisture which will be in contact with the bike, and that will cause rust. A tarpaulin will prevent moisture falling onto the bike but will also prevent moisture getting out; if you haven’t got a car port to put the bike under and need to resort to a tarpaulin, put it over a frame to keep it off the bike and put a proper bike cover on the bike underneath. Covering the bike properly will also protect it against unnecessary UV light which will fade the paint and plastic parts.

Change the engine oil and filter. Even if the oil is not due for a change, by products of combustion produce acids in the oil which will harm the inner metal surfaces. An extra engine oil and filter change is easy and inexpensive and it will benefit your engine considerably.

Add fuel stabiliser, empty Carbs. Fill the fuel tank with fresh petrol but do not overfill, to leave room for the fuel to expand. Add fuel stabiliser to the tank and run the engine for a few minuets to get the fuel in all areas, this will prevent the fuel from going stale and prevent moisture accumulation. Shut off the fuel petcock and drain the carbs and fuel lines. Of course if you have a fuel injected bike there isn’t anything to drain. Petrol goes stale because the lighter aromatics evaporate leaving a thicker, sour smelling liquid; if left long enough it will turn into a gum, plugging the jets in the carbs.

Oil in the Cylinders If the cylinder wall is left unprotected for a long period of time, they will rust and cause premature piston and ring wear. If your bike is going to be stored for months remove the spark plugs and pour a tablespoon (5cc) of clean engine oil or fogging oil in each cylinder. With the fuel cock off or the kill switch to off, crank the engine several revolutions and then reinstall the spark plugs. Don’t put the plugs back in until after the engine has been cranked to prevent the oil you have poured into the cylinders causing a hydraulic lock.

Light oil over metal surfaces Lightly wet a clean rag with light machine oil and wipe over all chrome and exposed metal surfaces (not brake disc’s)

Battery Storage The bike’s battery must be removed or at least disconnected from the motorcycle whilst it is in storage. Motorcycles draw a small current even when switched off and a discharged battery will sulphate. With a conventional, liquid cell battery, top up the electrolyte with distilled water and then charge the battery. Gel batteries are sealed and don’t need topping up. All lead acid batteries should be charged regularly while in storage, ideally every 2 weeks. Use a charger that has an output 10% of the amp hour rating of the battery. For example, if the battery is 20 amp hours, then the charge rate should not exceed 2 amp. Use an Optimiser if you have one.

Fluids – Check or change If the brake or clutch fluids have not been changed in the last 2 years or 12000 miles, do it now. These fluids are hygroscopic which means they absorb moisture. The moisture in the fluid will cause corrosion of the brake pistons. The bikes coolant should also be changed every 2 years or 24000 miles

Final Preparation Give the bike a good cleaning and dry it thoroughly. Spray light oil (WD40) into the exhaust ends and drain holes, pump up the tyres to the specified pressure and put the bike on the center stand. If storage for a long time rotate front wheel every now and again. Now cover the bike. Resist the temptation to run the engine over the storage period, this leads to condensation due to engine and combustion by products.

Fill Holes Just an idea, if your storage area is dryer and warmer than outside you may get unwanted visitors crawling into nice quiet orifices i.e. exhaust ends, behind side panels and even under the seat, in panniers or the top box through any and all holes available. Its well worth a periodic check now and again. and hopefully next year we can look forward to both the bike and rider coming out of hibernation and being in a fit state to enjoy riding in glorious sunshine.

Dave Partridge Awingaway

Regular winner Bill Squires in the Legion with Jeff and Graham

This image was taken at the hugely successful Llandudno Light Parade, what you are seeing is the Winners Cup, awarded to “Llandudnos favorite Goldwing” as voted for by the people and visitors of Llandudno. I believe it was won by Graham Brookfield on this occasion. Congratulations to him.

Now away you go and be as inventive as you like.

Well the only real winner of Caption Competition III must be Ian Duxbury with

“Barbara, Barbara, are these my glasses?”

Bit controversial as you have to know Bill Squires and his beloved Barbara but the caption fits really well. Congratulations to Ian and this months bragging rights are yours.