Intensify forward lightpower!

I don't want anything getting through...

...'specially geezers in Kias.

Well, what do you expect? The bike's running like a dream, so I was left with no choice but to add some more bits. No choice, I tell you.

The two new lights are the ones below the headlight. They're fitted to a bar that's bolted on to the mounts that were used by the stock "Huoniao" badge, and were a steal at just £15 for the pair including delivery. There's a LED light-ring round the edge, and 55W 'halogen' (apparently) bulbs. I've only wired up the LEDs just now, since I'm already running a 55W headlight, and 175W or so total in lights would be asking way too much from the plucky little generator and battery. I may wire the 'halogens' up to the full beam switch as brief "flasher" lights for saying "hello" to other bikers - or "HERE I AM!" to cagers, for that matter. The more presence, the better.

In servicing news, I did another oil change at 2880Km or so. I think it's the 6th change in total. I've been getting some clutch drag with Halfords 10W-40 semi synthetic motorcycle oil, so went for their 5W-40 fully synthetic. Verdict: yes. It's subjective, but the bike feels a little quieter and smoother, and the clutch drag is definitely decreased. With the 10W-40 semi, when the engine was hot, I had to kick up from 1st to 2nd and then back down to get neutral, but now I can go from 1st to neutral more easily.

The cut-down DPR8EA-9 plug was working just fine, but I got the eBay itch and grabbed a DR8EIX (I had a DPR9EIX-9 in for the Lang Way Roond). The starting and warming up with the iridium plug is great, and in conjunction with the 5W-40, the low speed running is really steady, with no hint of hesitation or roughness, and less clutch grab. We're only talking about a marginal improvement, but it all helps with confidence at low speed. Which as we all know - or will find out eventually - is where you're most likely to drop the bike.

Speaking of which, a work chumrade (not the Lang Way Roondie) has just bought a spanking new Suzuki Bandit GSF650S. Lovely bike, absolutely lovely. And heavy. Really heavy. And I've got these short Scotch legs and... well... I dropped it in the work car park. With 90 miles on it.

I'm going to hell.

On the bright side, the bits to fix the right side (indicator, brake lever, mirror) were surprisingly cheap, and hey, now I own part of a Big Boy Bike. Plus as a salve to my conscience, he then dropped it at some lights, on the left side, so at least it's nicely symmetrical again.

Unfortunately, I really do think I'm reaching the end of what I can do with the Huonaio[*], short of grinding and welding, so it may be time to start thinking about sitting a test. Not necessarily so that I can get a bigger bike, but it's an easy piston swap to a 150cc, or we could give it large to 200 or 233cc.

You gotta have a dream, don't you?

[*] davidqc over at the Chinese Bike Forum turned up the trouser-stiffening info that Huoniao means Firebird. Hmm... Firebird HN125-8. Sounds much studlier.