Just wanted to say a cheery hello so that you don't completely forget me! I can't say why I've not posted for the best part of a year, I just haven't. I'm still as much attached to my bikes as ever, and though I've not ridden much this year, I got out a few times.
We've had a single storey extension built at the back, so I took a pic of the 380 sitting on the slab!
That dratted GT550B continues to haunt me, with the second rebuild motor also failing in April at just over 550 (!) miles, just when I thought I was safe this time. It was running so well and was a lot of fun, but after a 25mile run out I heard a loud rattling from the left pot so nursed it home and threw a cover over it. Uncle Alan popped down a few months later - thanks so much, Alan! - a helped me rebuild the top end one last time, using a set of formerly nikasil pots which has iron liners pressed in. Alan had bought them from a forum member and let me have them at cost. So far, so good, but only a hundred miles in. It is the quietest its ever been. I can assure everyone that we went through the lube system in great detail but could find no fault, and smoke could always be seen from all pipes.
If it dies on me next year, I will sell it at an engine rebuild's cost discount to anyone who feels luckier / smarter than me. Its otherwise immaculate, but thats no good if you don't trust your steed!
Talking of trust in steeds, the old faithful 380B is still wonderful fun, the 750A is a thing of beauty, getting loads of nods, any time I take it out. Both are running very sweetly. And of course the 'modern' bruiser, the GSX1400, is turn key reliable. Alan has one and can testify that they're a good bike for anyone who likes modern retro and isn't interested in a lethally fast fully fared missile!
I briefly grew a beard for the first and last time in my life. Now I'm fully retired, I wanted to see whether I could grow one. Question answered, but no thanks!
I hope to see many of you next year. I've fitted a tow bar and am soon to buy a trailer, so more about that in another post.
All the best and happy Christmas!
Mike
and i hope you have a bit more luck with the 550B strange one that, at least my left side re-build could be narrowed down to a moments loss of oil but still could not see why 
(since having the Bonnie)
