The moaning old git thread

[Rixington43]

Following the missus on her Beemer at the weekend and her rear brake light was flashing on and off all the time on rough tarmac and she kept losing cruise control. Checked the lever and the brake light switch was clicking on just the tiny 1mm or so dead zone.
Turns out the rear brake light switch is a snap action type with a small sprung steel actuator which is only clipped onto the switch housing, this is so it can be reversed depending on which model BMW want to fit it to as parts sharing saves pennies. This lever has somehow gone walkies despite no drops/crashes or serious off roading. Apparantly this is not a rare occurence given it hangs under the brake lever in the firing line.
The small sprung steel lever is not sold seperately, replacing the switch itself requires removing the swingarm pivot, brake lever assembly and then the footrest plate after which the switch itself is interefrence riveted in rather than screwed.
German efficiency right there, Grrrr.
* No I won't be doing that, I will be buying the switch and swapping the lever arm over but what a Kuhscheiße piece of design.

[The Doctor 46]

Well that's German engineering for you. Vorsprung Durch Technic. 

Advantage through technology, makes you wonder who has the advantage though. I think probably the BMW workshop at £1,000,000 an hour labour charge. 

[Joe Rocket]

You could ask what British engineered bikes are like now...... er, sorry, there aren't any. 

[Brockett]

Out of interest how many French engineered bike are there?
I think there are still some niche companies like CCM still going in the UK

[Rixington43]

Well France can claim the re imagined Brough Superior which isn't bad 😉
But I guess from a design and engineering point of view which is more what I was meaning (if we include where they're made or financed then everything is global these days), I'm a bit shocked to hear that CCM, Triumph, Royal Enfield and Ariel have all gone bust since this morning.
To be fair, I'd include Norton but they probably have 🤣.

* For the record I've nothing against German engineering, in fact I'm a big fan, which is why I found this particular bit of silliness so disappointing.

[Joe Rocket]

Brockett, there is a French company making motorcycles, SHERCO who make moto-cross machines down in Nimes. Yes, it surprised me too. 

[2112]

You could ask what British engineered bikes are like now...... er, sorry, there aren't any. 

Langen are making top quality two strokes, Norton are designed, manufactured and built in the UK, CCM are turning out works of art and Maeving are making electric motorbikes for savvy commuters. Royal Enfields global design headquaters are in the UK along with Triumphs, BSA's etc. It's not all gloom & doom,

[Ianmc]

   What about Dot Motorcycles,they are a British company.

[Joe Rocket]

Yes, Rixington43 already said the biggies are there or there abouts.

Glad you took the bait...... 

[nigel s]

Don't forget all those small custom builders.
I did some work for Hawg Haven on this show winner.I made the fiberglass false fuel tank,the real one sits inside.
It had electronic suspension and no stands ,just ride up press a button and it lowers onto the bellypan.

[2112]

On the flip side, Chinese bikes are getting less & less Chinese. To make them more 'acceptable' for the global market they are using Marzocchi suspension, Sachs suspension, KYB suspension, Showa suspension, Brembo/ByBre brakes, Nissin brakes, Bosch fuel injection, Pirelli tyres etc, etc.

[Hugo Magnus]

I don't know if anyone bothers to read this thread but that doesn't matter, it's a good place to vent the spleen.

Unfortunately Parcel force are short staffed (5'2"?) which means they have to employ agency drivers.

Time and time again we get a text through saying your delivery will be between - and - only to get another later in the day to say sorry unable to deliver.

I took it up with the manager at the depot. He was pulling his hair out, the agency staff kept coming back back to the depot with half their load undelivered.

[mr_diver]

Same happening here.
Then my parcel goes walkies, I've had a few things that the sender has had to send again with a different courier.

[Rusty Nuts]

Sitting on my hands, lip firmly zipped. When I retire....

[Hugo Magnus]

The above was not in anyway aimed in your direction Rusty.
If anything I thought you might sympathise.

[Rusty Nuts]

I absolutely do, it's that I'm not allowed to talk about what might or might not be happening,  not publicly and not while still employed.

[mr_diver]

I don't think employees below the rank of director of Royal Mail would deny there are regular failings the "system". (were they allowed to)
and it's the "system" most of us will be moaning about.
And I'm fairly sure Rusty doesn't do my local postal round.

And there are good posties and some not so good... we have 2 regulars - the lady is tidy and considerate even smiley, the old bloke is miserable a sin and generally likes to fold anything marked as "do not bend" at least twice. 

[Rusty Nuts]

You've met my uncle Dafydd, then? 

[Brockett]

Now approaching the age of 76 I have to renew my driving licence every few years and the photo card expires every 10 years.
I just noticed this and my licence and photo card must be renewed by 24th April.

Check Gov. etc website - if I have a passport it's easy peasy  -  Well I don't have a passport, never had a passport. Why would I want one?
So I have to complete a form and get a recent photo and then someone shown on the list below to sign both the form and the photo and post it with proof that I get the state pension by enclosing form  BR5899 to DVLA

The person signing the form and the photo must:
    hold a valid GB photocard driving licence
    be resident in the UK
    know you personally
    not be a relative
    not be living at the same address as you

Suitable people include a current or retired:   
    local business person or shopkeeper     
    librarian                                             
    professionally qualified person, for example a lawyer, teacher or engineer     
    police officer                                       
    bank or building society staff member
    civil servant
    minister of religion
    magistrate
    local councillor
    Member of Parliament, Assembly Member, or Member of the Scottish Parliament

I do not personally know any of these people nor do they know me 

Given that the signature must be from someone who knows me and also knows my address how on earth does everyone else get this done?

Last time I renewed at the post office where they checked my documents took my photo of me and sent off the paperwork. It seems that all that has stopped.

[Spadger2]

Brockett
It must have changed in the last 12months,when turned 70 last year it was as you say "easy peasy"