TUESDAY 14th JULY 2009 (BANDIRMA)

TUESDAY 14th JULY 2009


Following our usual Turkish breakfast of sliced meat, tomato, cheese and bread we had The HORS packed and we were ON OUR WAY. But before we could do any 'serious' miles Paul wanted to change the diff and gearbox oil. We only had to step out front of Otel CETIN and our friendly taxi driver summonsed someone over. Within minutes we had a young lad (Kerem) on the pillion seat and he was to show us the way to the Industrial Estate.

All going super when about 3 kilometers along The HORS coughed and died...oh no, not again...!!! Fortunately for us the young lad's father came along shortly after and took Paul and Kerem to a motorcycle shop to get the battery charged.

I remained on guard for just over an hour (my usual form of employment these days) and was entertained by the passing cars, many of whom stopped on the main road to take photos of our 'steed'...!!! Also, behind me was the Turkish Defence Airforce and every ten minutes two fighter jets would take off, the sound deafening - but exciting. There is SOOOO much power in those things.


A bit over an hour later Paul returned (without battery) but we were soon joined by Ilhan ORAL and a 12 volt battery which enabled us to get the bike to his shop half a kilometer back.

While the battery was charging the gearbox and diff oils were changed and then a serious look at why the battery continued to discharge. First off, the 'contactor' (regulator) was changed (we had a spare), but all tested okay.




Ilhan left on his KTM, using only the rear wheel till out of sight, but returned saying a 6-volt battery is hard to get. Eventually a new battery arrived but needed a few hours to be charged.

Ilhan had given us an enormous amount of time. His workshop was exceptionally clean and well laid out and Paul was most impressed with his mechanical ability. People came and went during the day, even the POLIS 'hung out' for a while. They showed 'real' interest in The HORS and were obviously motorcycle buffs. I think they test ride bikes during work hours...!!!


We were surprised to see many Japanese sports bikes - Honda and Suzuki. They look out of place in a country where the horse and cart is alive and well...!!! Big road-trail bikes are also very popular with many Transalps and an Africa-Twin making an appearance.

We gave Ilhan and his brother Erhan a small 'kangaroo badge' as a token of thanks and in return Ilhan tied a Turkish flag onto the rear rack. With no other faults seeming apparent we were set to go.

We needed to fuel up as there was still some daylight left (it's now 1740 hours) to make it part-way down the road. BUT.....before we even GOT to the petrol station the bike instantly stopped again. We are beyond swearing - we don't even speak! We silently got fuel, waited 10 minutes, kicked the HORS in the guts and limped back to 'Moto On Service'. And didn't they look surprised...!!!


The 'light machine' (generator) was dismantled and taken away for testing. The armature and field coil tested okay and so it was reinstalled on the bike. The wiring was examined and during this process the sidecar wiring was unplugged and 'bingo' the charge system worked fully. During investigations the one and only fuse turned out to be a by-pass fuse which means none of the wiring is protected and the fuse doesn't actually do anything. Good ol' Russian wiring...!!!

Once again we left Ilhan's shop with grateful thanks to him and his young apprentice (Savash) who was on work experience during school holidays. It was too late to head off so back to the grungy (but good) Otel CETIN.











(Young Savash with Erhan & Ilhan ORAL)




HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY PAUL ...