January round up…

Firstly let me thank you all!

10,000 of you have looked at the Peterbetabiker blog

since its inception in March 2008.

Amost 1000 a month,250 per week!!!

INCREDIBLE

Whats new?

Well I sold the FZR 600

to a local French guy

who doesnt get a full licence until April 09!

I made a decent profit on the bike

and bought a classic Honda.

A 1975 K2 Honda 500 Four

in fact.

Whilst not concours it is in great

original condition.

The four pipes are good with no dents or rot.

lovely colour-metallic gold

Recently serviced,it is ready to roll.

I,m looking forward to going on some classic club runs.

OH,and I bought another Elise!

Bright red this time.

Low mileage and very well serviced

its faster than the silver one I bought.

Could be the 160 throttle body and K+N filter.

It gives a claimed 12HP increase.

Certainly a bigger mid range!

At the other end of the sporting spectrum,

I bought a lovely Volvo 850 estate!!!!

£1000 for a low mileage,top spec UK model.

RIDICULOUS

PLUS

UK cars are effectively 30% cheaper

due to the fall in the value of the pound

against the EURO.

For French residents it means UK cars/bikes

are a real bargain.

Except UK dirt bikes!

Why are they still so dear ?

Everyone predicted

that they would be given away

after the restrictions on green lane access

and local authority restrictions

on motocross meetings.

I havent seen any bargains,have you?

Anyone out there had a TVR chimeara?

I fancy one and need some pointers from owners.
ps anyone interested in my housebuild
-take a look on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33883422@N03/

Cheers:P

Lotus pray

Imagine a 130 BHP gokart that weighs 600 kilos.

Put a passenger seat(of sorts) in it,

have Heath-Robinson design a hood for it.

Make it nice and noisy ,

with the engine booming behind your ears.

Create an entry/exit suitable only for midgets

Dont provide any room

for a spare wheel or luggage

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT………………….

A LOTUS ELISE!

I bought SLY from the AUTOTRADER site.

Owned by a charming young man in Manchester

a pilot for Thompsons Holidays,

I bought the car for a good price

with the aim of registering it in France

and then selling

it here for a   profit,

after a couple of summers fun

(thats the theory anyway)

I,ve had to replace several coolant hoses

and the coolant reservoir /cap.

All the paperwork is ready now

-just waiting for a CT(French MOT)

to be done next week ,

and then

FRENCH PLATES !

How well do they go?

UNBELIEVABLE!

The amount of grip in corners is staggering.

You keep pushing and pushing-she remains unflustered.

The motor is perfect for the car.

Gobs of good usable torque

with a stonking midrange.

Braking is AWESOME

SLY is fitted with an alloy/ceramic disc setup.

My only criticism of the performance

is that its TOO GOOD .

I regard myself as a sensible,safe driver.

But even at 58 I behave like a teenager in this car!

No gap too small to overtake into;

No bend too sharp to brake into;

No road unsuitable for giving it the beans!

I,ve put the Lotus in the garage

It will stay there until the better weather arrives.

Ie no wet leaves or ice in the corners

I,m sure it will end in tears if I continue driving it!

OH WELL…...