About Me
Intro
As my Blogger links back to my Google page I don't have a relevant profile to explain my motorcycling history and engineering background. So here it is!
Engineering
Engineering wise I studied Engineering at school before heading down the root of machining at APM Engineering in Havant. I left this course early as I had an opportunity to join (what I thought was a full time course) at Highbury collage in basic motorcycle mechanics. I completed this course tutored by Vince Doody of Trade bikes and the following advanced course by Paul Smedley of PSI motorcycles that taught the more in depth and complicated parts of motorcycle maintenance like engine strip downs and PGMFI systems.
This all coincided with Motorcycle City (then Riosi) going bust and flooding the country with experienced motorcycle mechanics. Bugger.
I worked for J&S motorcycle accessories for a couple of years selling kit and occasionally working on the scooters and small bikes they sold. Seeing that I wasn't getting anywhere there I moved into aerospace engineering and that is what I do now with the motorcycle mechanics as a side hobby I enjoy at home.
I spend a lot of time in the garages making stuff for bikes, cars, the house and mates. I have recently purchased a 3D printer which I am slowly getting to grips with. I will be throwing up some bits and pieces about that on here.
As I expand upon and work on more complex systems, I have found more people asking for m to do things and make things for them. As such I have started a trade name "HPE - Heggs Performance Engineering". This has its own blog and facebook pages where I will share products and services.
This all coincided with Motorcycle City (then Riosi) going bust and flooding the country with experienced motorcycle mechanics. Bugger.As I expand upon and work on more complex systems, I have found more people asking for m to do things and make things for them. As such I have started a trade name "HPE - Heggs Performance Engineering". This has its own blog and facebook pages where I will share products and services.
Motorcycles
I have been riding since I was 16 with only a short break due to a brief flirtation with caging. The bikes were diverse but they were all treated with an equal amount of love and disrespect. Here is a brief list of the bikes I owned.
Honda SJ50 Barli
Everyone has to start somewhere and I started with a Honda Barli 50cc scooter. This picture is not mine but mine looked the same right down to the scratched in the corners of the top fairing due to falling off twice (cost me a new pair of beige levis once, probably a good thing). It would do 35mph up hill, down hill or whatever and you could fit a 24 crate of Guinness draft in the bottle in and around it without any problems. As was to be a theme with my early motorcycling days, this bike was the laughing stock of all our bikes unless there was a decent uphill then I might have saved some face. It did have a brembo front brake though. Pretty cool right?
Everyone has to start somewhere and I started with a Honda Barli 50cc scooter. This picture is not mine but mine looked the same right down to the scratched in the corners of the top fairing due to falling off twice (cost me a new pair of beige levis once, probably a good thing). It would do 35mph up hill, down hill or whatever and you could fit a 24 crate of Guinness draft in the bottle in and around it without any problems. As was to be a theme with my early motorcycling days, this bike was the laughing stock of all our bikes unless there was a decent uphill then I might have saved some face. It did have a brembo front brake though. Pretty cool right?Honda CG125 mk2
As soon as I was 17 I upgraded to a proper motorcycle but under the recommendation of my Dad I chose not to get a racy 2 stroke and instead got this £500 bargain to tide me over till I did my bike test. Again this isn't the bike I owned. In fact mine was in better condition believe it or not. It had a green and silver fleck tank and a funky 6 volt electric system but was good for 60mph on the clock (down hill with the wind behind me) and and let up sheets of sparks every time the centre stand touched down, which was often as the suspension was shagged.
Again my friends out did me by getting NSR's and TZR's with only an SR125, that was late to the game anyway, making my bike look good. On more than one occasion I was left to find my own way home as my friends disappeared in a cloud of sweet smelling 2 stroke. One time involving a black stage 3 tuned RGV250 VJ22 that would stick in my mind in years to come.
As soon as I was 17 I upgraded to a proper motorcycle but under the recommendation of my Dad I chose not to get a racy 2 stroke and instead got this £500 bargain to tide me over till I did my bike test. Again this isn't the bike I owned. In fact mine was in better condition believe it or not. It had a green and silver fleck tank and a funky 6 volt electric system but was good for 60mph on the clock (down hill with the wind behind me) and and let up sheets of sparks every time the centre stand touched down, which was often as the suspension was shagged.Suzuki GSF250 Bandit
Finally a proper bike. This ludicrously high revving straight 4 250 looked and sounded the business and went pretty good to. Well enough to earn me my first 3 point anyhoo. Again this is not my image but the bike was identical to this one. Mine had, had a crash at some point bending the headlamp bracket so I was endlessly sorting the headlamp aim out and this was my first taste of the joys of imported bike wiring.
Bought for £550 and sold for £1100 after a years ownership and some Hammerite on the frame. It was a sound investment and held up well to my friends ZZR250. I remember distinctly passing a Ducati on the A272 who's rider came and chatted to me at the Little Chef at West Meon only to leave dejected when he learnt that Suzuki made a Bandit 250 and he had just been done by one.
Suzuki GSXR400 GK76A
I bought this from BikeBusiness on Fratton road, as a toss up between this and an RGV250 VJ21. I'm still not sure if I made the right decision but I did love this little bike. I had many trials and tribulations aboard the Gixer from the end can falling off and being flattened by a lorry on the A3 at 4am to the sump plug falling off and nearly having me off near Waterlooville. She was however, a pretty trick and as fast a bike as I should ever need. Her unique looks and handling make her one of the few bikes that I have owned that I would want to own again although she was far from the best 400.
I bought this from BikeBusiness on Fratton road, as a toss up between this and an RGV250 VJ21. I'm still not sure if I made the right decision but I did love this little bike. I had many trials and tribulations aboard the Gixer from the end can falling off and being flattened by a lorry on the A3 at 4am to the sump plug falling off and nearly having me off near Waterlooville. She was however, a pretty trick and as fast a bike as I should ever need. Her unique looks and handling make her one of the few bikes that I have owned that I would want to own again although she was far from the best 400.Suzuki GSXR400 GK73A
I never got this bike on the road but I include it as it lived in my garage so damn long and she is an interesting little beast.
This bike came up for sale in the free adds for £200 and as I was then working at a petrol station I got to see said paper a day early so I took the opportunity to grab a bargain. I didn't want the bike; all I wanted from it was the exhaust as my GK76A's down tubes were starting to blow. When I went to see the bike it was the wrong model but I bought it anyway as it was so cheap. It was pearlescent white, blue and purple, had no first gear and ran like crap but a carb balance here and an oil change there got her running smoothly. I sold her before fixing the first gear but still doubled my money so no bad thing. My sister was and still remains adamant that this was her bike although since wheeling a GP100 into the back of a postal van she hadn't ridden since.
I never got this bike on the road but I include it as it lived in my garage so damn long and she is an interesting little beast.This bike came up for sale in the free adds for £200 and as I was then working at a petrol station I got to see said paper a day early so I took the opportunity to grab a bargain. I didn't want the bike; all I wanted from it was the exhaust as my GK76A's down tubes were starting to blow. When I went to see the bike it was the wrong model but I bought it anyway as it was so cheap. It was pearlescent white, blue and purple, had no first gear and ran like crap but a carb balance here and an oil change there got her running smoothly. I sold her before fixing the first gear but still doubled my money so no bad thing. My sister was and still remains adamant that this was her bike although since wheeling a GP100 into the back of a postal van she hadn't ridden since.
Honda CBR400 NC29 Gullarm
Sticking with the theme of bikes I didn't really ride, here is one I didn't even own! This baby Blade was my mate Ed's but due to passing his car test and buying a Seat Ibiza he hadn't got round to insuring it so he could ride it. During a period when the CBR600 (below) was having some down time I borrowed this bike. Apparently it had been owned by some moto gp riders mechanic and it showed. The engine was crisp and handling was sublime not to mention the trick bits the bike was dripping in. One of the best bikes I have ridden that I didn't own. A Down side was the brittle original fairing that once snapped mid ride and flyew off into a filed.
Sticking with the theme of bikes I didn't really ride, here is one I didn't even own! This baby Blade was my mate Ed's but due to passing his car test and buying a Seat Ibiza he hadn't got round to insuring it so he could ride it. During a period when the CBR600 (below) was having some down time I borrowed this bike. Apparently it had been owned by some moto gp riders mechanic and it showed. The engine was crisp and handling was sublime not to mention the trick bits the bike was dripping in. One of the best bikes I have ridden that I didn't own. A Down side was the brittle original fairing that once snapped mid ride and flyew off into a filed.Honda CBR600 FX
When I changed jobs to work at J&S I started riding with my friend Jon again. All was well when he was riding his dads immaculate VFR400 NC30 but when he upgraded to a ZX636R my little GSXR was starting to look a little short legged. Enter the CBR6!
This bike had an obscene amount of money spent on it. from a high level red carbon Micron can to Ohlins rear shock and lots of plastic bits to make her all pretty. Most of which was done at Ali Pally where I went with a brand new credit card and Jon had to match or beat me. What crazy irresponsible times :)
During my time owning this bike I blew a spark plug out of the head twice, road it in a manner you would expect that would cause such a failure and probably peaked as the most fun I had, had on two wheels.
My mothers garage (my garage) was rammed with bikes for myself or friends. Every day was about fixing, riding and maintaining motorcycles. I would hate to see what percentage of my annual income I sunk into these things but I was having fun and generally staying out of trouble so who would argue with it?
When I changed jobs to work at J&S I started riding with my friend Jon again. All was well when he was riding his dads immaculate VFR400 NC30 but when he upgraded to a ZX636R my little GSXR was starting to look a little short legged. Enter the CBR6!My mothers garage (my garage) was rammed with bikes for myself or friends. Every day was about fixing, riding and maintaining motorcycles. I would hate to see what percentage of my annual income I sunk into these things but I was having fun and generally staying out of trouble so who would argue with it?Honda VFR750 FV
The day Steve died at J&S, so did the fun. From here on I was riding solo as the others got cars and stopped with the silliness. Rightly so as everyones luck runs out eventually as Steve, the old boy who had been riding forever, had shown us. I however wasn't done with bikes but the CBR600 was broken again and I needed to give that CBR400 back at some point so I bought a VFR. For the daily commute to work it was so much better, with no flat spots and loads of torque. It also sounded amazing and the handling was so confidence inspiring I became a better rider for it. One of the best bikes I have owned, something else I would later remember.
The day Steve died at J&S, so did the fun. From here on I was riding solo as the others got cars and stopped with the silliness. Rightly so as everyones luck runs out eventually as Steve, the old boy who had been riding forever, had shown us. I however wasn't done with bikes but the CBR600 was broken again and I needed to give that CBR400 back at some point so I bought a VFR. For the daily commute to work it was so much better, with no flat spots and loads of torque. It also sounded amazing and the handling was so confidence inspiring I became a better rider for it. One of the best bikes I have owned, something else I would later remember.Honda CBR954RR 2 SC50 Fireblade
A long time ago, when I rode a 250 Bandit, I saw a bike being unveiled at Motorcycle City. It was a white and blue RR2 Fireblade and I fell in love with it. So when my sister came home from the pub she worked at and told me her colleagues brother was selling one, I quickly found the money for it. It was mostly standard bar a smattering of Datatol gizmos including a gear position indicator, an LED Tacho and an indicator reminder. Swapping the VFR and some cash I had scrounged, I had my first Superbike and I was quick to show it off to the guys at work. Greg, who used to work for Motorcycle City recognised the kit and pointed out it was the one they had unveiled all those years ago. I had literally bought my dream bike.
I still owned the CBR600 and when I had fixed it I started using that to keep the mileage down on my blade but when the 6 blew its top again I staid with the Fireblade, selling the CBR600. The blade was good for distance riding as much as it was for scratching but by now I was doing that less and this 149bhp beast was starting to look a little excessive.
Honda CBR900RR N SC28 Fireblade
This bike popped up on ebay for only a grand so I snapped her up as a slightly more sensible commuter bike over the RR2. or maybe a track bike, who knows what my logic was.
Unfortunately when I went to ride down to Portsmouth form Lincolnshire where I now lived, I crashed on the M1 causing some cosmetic damage to the RR2 and braking my heel. A bad start but I still went and picked her up a week late and even road her around the garden in a split cast.
With a Carbon Yoshimura can and k&N filter she was more vocal than the RR2 but surprisingly far better on mileage and just as much fun to ride if not more so. The 200 mile ride from Lincolnshire to Portsmouth, to see my then girlfriend became more fun again and made me less sad to say goodbye to the RR2 once she was repaired.
It was now however, that I saw I needed a car. I was moving around more and struggling with what little I could carry on my bike. Also aforementioned girlfriend had a 1 year old daughter that couldn't reach the pillion pegs yet. so for 3 years I was bike free before buying a house in Lincolnshire that just happened to have 2 garages.
This bike popped up on ebay for only a grand so I snapped her up as a slightly more sensible commuter bike over the RR2. or maybe a track bike, who knows what my logic was. Honda VFR800 FI RC46
After moving into my new house I had a few pennies to spare. Furniture is useful but bikes are fun so I went about finding myself an affordable bike for fun and commuting. Insurance was a concern as all of my no claims were gone so the big boys were out of the question and the price of 400's had rocketed so it was the VFR750 that I ended up looking for. High mileage and increasing scarcity pushed me towards the newer 800 and that's where I finished with this blue VFR800 FI for which the RC46 Story is about.
After moving into my new house I had a few pennies to spare. Furniture is useful but bikes are fun so I went about finding myself an affordable bike for fun and commuting. Insurance was a concern as all of my no claims were gone so the big boys were out of the question and the price of 400's had rocketed so it was the VFR750 that I ended up looking for. High mileage and increasing scarcity pushed me towards the newer 800 and that's where I finished with this blue VFR800 FI for which the RC46 Story is about.Honda NSR250 MC28
Way back when I owned my Cg125 I had made a sensible decision to save money then, so I could afford better things in the future.
Sensible decisions have a habit of being boring though and also in doing so I missed doing the 2 stroke thing back when there were parts for them.
So now I find myself the proud owner of an NSR250 that could have easily been an RGV or TZR. This bike, like the VFR, has its own blog Project NSR where you can read the trials and tribulations of 2 stroke ownership.
Way back when I owned my Cg125 I had made a sensible decision to save money then, so I could afford better things in the future.Yamaha RD250 D
A chance encounter with a work colleague got me spannering for a race team.
The next thing I knew I owned a Yamaha (oh dear) RD250. I had no interest in 70's air cooled 2 strokes but some how got sucked in and now I race one.
I say it's a D model but it is a mix of many different bikes let alone models and mascaraing as a TZ at that!
You can read the blog on this bike here.
Suzuki GSXR400 GK73A
I hadn't owned the RD long before I realised I needed a more reliable bike to take on track days. Well that and I can race a 400 at Gedinne!
I had been looking for a 400 for under a grand, preffeably a CBR400 NC29 but ended up with another GSXR. In fairness though it did come with a lot of spares and much like the last GK73A was very cheap.
You can read all about the GSXR on the GSXR4 blog.
Honda CBR400 NC29 Gullarm
I was having trouble with the GSXR400 and it was only bringing back bad memories of badly
behaving Suzukis when this little fella showed up.
It was a tatty version of the bike I wanted but I immediately loved it.
All of the great handling I remembered was there and some! This would be the perfect track day weapon and occasional road scratcher.
I have since ended up picking up another one which will be track only.
The blog for both Gullarm CBR400 NC29's is here.
I was having trouble with the GSXR400 and it was only bringing back bad memories of badlybehaving Suzukis when this little fella showed up.
It was a tatty version of the bike I wanted but I immediately loved it.
All of the great handling I remembered was there and some! This would be the perfect track day weapon and occasional road scratcher.
I have since ended up picking up another one which will be track only.
I have since ended up picking up another one which will be track only.
The blog for both Gullarm CBR400 NC29's is here.
Honda VFR750 FH RC24 (6X?)
This will be my third VFR and by far the oldest.
It is clearly no 6X but the big lump of rust and broken plastics I bought is now doing it's best impression of one racing in the superstock 750pc class in the CRMC.
Bought for £450 it was never going to be a great example but after a huge amount of work (and no small amount of pennies) the bike is really starting to feel pretty sorted.
This future race champion's blog can be found here.
It is clearly no 6X but the big lump of rust and broken plastics I bought is now doing it's best impression of one racing in the superstock 750pc class in the CRMC.
Bought for £450 it was never going to be a great example but after a huge amount of work (and no small amount of pennies) the bike is really starting to feel pretty sorted.
This future race champion's blog can be found here.
Honda CBR929RR Y SC44 Fireblade
The third Fireblade I have owned was purchased for peanuts and wasn't a terrible starting point either.
The fairings were a bit rough and the stubby end can verged on pointless but I was back on a blade and loving it.
The bike is meant to be for my current longer commute that the baby blade struggles with. Let's see how carried away I get with this one.
You will get to read more about it here.
The third Fireblade I have owned was purchased for peanuts and wasn't a terrible starting point either.Cars
Audi A4 1.8t 130ps SE Avant B6
Yes my first car was an Audi estate. Seems kind of odd till you notice my age at the time and that car insurance is dumb.
During my research for my first car I realised it would cost the same to insure a naturally aspirated 1.6 Peugot 206 as it would a 1.8 high pressure turbo Volvo V40.
I started to lean towards getting a golf, realised the A3 cost the same then that the A4 was about the same again.
A great little(ish) car that let out a little "Weeeeee" every time the turbo spun up.
Yes my first car was an Audi estate. Seems kind of odd till you notice my age at the time and that car insurance is dumb.
During my research for my first car I realised it would cost the same to insure a naturally aspirated 1.6 Peugot 206 as it would a 1.8 high pressure turbo Volvo V40.
I started to lean towards getting a golf, realised the A3 cost the same then that the A4 was about the same again.
I started to lean towards getting a golf, realised the A3 cost the same then that the A4 was about the same again.
A great little(ish) car that let out a little "Weeeeee" every time the turbo spun up.
Audi A4 2.0TDi 170ps S-line SE last edition Avant B7
As a present for my promotion I decided to splurge 18k on this bad boy. It went well and still returned half decent mileage.
As it happened I didn't get to drive it much as I was over seas most of the time and finally parted company when a year long works trip started.
The oil pump shaft failing in the last few months of ownership was a real dampener to what was otherwise an awesome car.
As it happened I didn't get to drive it much as I was over seas most of the time and finally parted company when a year long works trip started.
The oil pump shaft failing in the last few months of ownership was a real dampener to what was otherwise an awesome car.
VW T5 2.5 LWB T30 Transporter
I had come back from some time away and was in need of a car of some sort.
With the idea of racing fizzing away in the back of my mind I decided to get a van. Years of having various T2's as family cars and my own preference for German cars lead me to owning a T5.
This van has been heavilly modified since buying and I run a Blog for the work I do to help others do similar things without the headaches I have suffered
With the idea of racing fizzing away in the back of my mind I decided to get a van. Years of having various T2's as family cars and my own preference for German cars lead me to owning a T5.
This van has been heavilly modified since buying and I run a Blog for the work I do to help others do similar things without the headaches I have suffered
VW Corrado 1.8 G60
I decided to sell my VFR800 with the aim of getting another Fireblade. Shortly after my VFR was loaded on sheep trailer I had some courses come up that would need a decent drive to get to. A bike would be impractical and the van was just too big for the job so I needed a car.
I didn't even bother looking for something sensible and after a fair bit of shopping I ended up with a Corrado G60.
Fun should be had getting this car tidied up and I will be sure to share the experience with you.
I didn't even bother looking for something sensible and after a fair bit of shopping I ended up with a Corrado G60.
Fun should be had getting this car tidied up and I will be sure to share the experience with you.
Volvo V50 D5 2.4 R Design
A car bought more out of necessity than want has accidentally ended up being a surprisingly good little car.
I was in need of a mile muncher and this car seemed to tick a lot of boxes.
To my surprise it also managed to sound pretty darned good (for a diesel), go very well (200bhp with a box tune) and was also very comfy.
If only I could get rid of the cigarette smell!
I didn't intend to start a blog for this car as I wasn't supposed to be playing with it but I may well post a few points of interest up in the future.
A car bought more out of necessity than want has accidentally ended up being a surprisingly good little car.
I was in need of a mile muncher and this car seemed to tick a lot of boxes.
To my surprise it also managed to sound pretty darned good (for a diesel), go very well (200bhp with a box tune) and was also very comfy.
If only I could get rid of the cigarette smell!
I didn't intend to start a blog for this car as I wasn't supposed to be playing with it but I may well post a few points of interest up in the future.
IVECO Daily 2.3 35S12 XLWB Mk3
Much how I loved the T5, it was a bit small for my needs. I was limited on trailer options so I decided to go for a bigger van like the T5's big brother the VW Crafter or maybe even a Sprinter.
A chance encounter got me onto this IVECO which was already converted as a race van complete with two awnings.
Getting an already sorted van sounded great even if I was getting something a bit different to what I wanted.
You can read all about what I end up fiddling with on this van here.
Much how I loved the T5, it was a bit small for my needs. I was limited on trailer options so I decided to go for a bigger van like the T5's big brother the VW Crafter or maybe even a Sprinter.
A chance encounter got me onto this IVECO which was already converted as a race van complete with two awnings.
A chance encounter got me onto this IVECO which was already converted as a race van complete with two awnings.
Getting an already sorted van sounded great even if I was getting something a bit different to what I wanted.
You can read all about what I end up fiddling with on this van here.
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