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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 24 Sep 2012 - 23:46 Post title : Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) | | | I can already hear the shit being slung by a few unnamed British 'Birders, but I can take it.
A buddy who I ride off-road on our big bikes had a few too many smaller bikes in his stable and needed to do some house cleaning. He cut me a super deal on a 2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (enduro model, but plated and titled for on-road in Colorado)...
Owned it about 3 weeks before I actually could make the time to take it up in the foothills west of Denver and see how a 270lb torquey thumper felt in the dirt...
Pickle Gulch Campground/4X4 Trail Head
Pickle Gulch 4X4 Trail Head
The Pickle Gulch 4X4 trail head entrance... a bit more technical than I was expecting and a bit "above my pay grade" as far as my off-road skills go, but I gave it a try anyway.
Further up the Pickle Gulch 4X4 trail... didn't get better! Steeper and more big ruts with big rocks and slide sections and other obstacles. Still, I made it up about 3 miles before turning back... got a bit buggery in a very steep and deep rut and banged left knee... quickly realized I'd left the house without my brace and figured I'd head back down before I re-injured my still slowly healing medial ligament of my left knee.
On the way back down, I spotted some very cool looking trails through some trees. Not sure if bikes were really allowed in the in there, but there was no one around so I did a bit of exploring.
Pickle Gulch hooks back up with Missouri Gulch Road... a much easier road for an off-road noob like me to practice on.
Pulled over to admire some aspens turning gold...
Anyone up for a nubian goat hunt?
Reflecto...
I haven't had the DRZ and ridden it enough to say I'm in love, but I can say I'm seriously in like with it. Very sure-footed with it's new Pirelli shoes on and it was surprisingly fun on Golden Gate Canyon Rd. (the sweepers at around mile marker 9 were exceptionally a hoot and a half).
I wouldn't want to spend ANY time on ANY interstate highway, but it's got more than enough power to deal with b-roads.
I DO like the bike enough to give her a bit of TLC...
Taking off her clothes...
Ah... much better...
Trail Tech X2 Vapor Dual Sport headlight
Ran out of time to actually install the new wiring harness for the turn signals, high-low beam switch and horn... should be able to go back out and wrap it up this week.
Hoping the heavy weather stays away long enough for me to get this fun little bike out and do some higher altitude trails and catch more aspen color and mountain vistas before snow comes in with a vengeance and closes down the trail system for the season.
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Linkdog | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 10/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,947 | | Location | : | Groveland, FL., United States |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 00:09 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Now, When you speak of " Pickle Gulch" Are you talking about the trail or the tail pipe 
| Never drink from a cow with one udder! 2010 1600 Blue&White ( of course ) Long TORS and HP filter.
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| Flash | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 07/02/2010 | | Posts | : | 165 | | Location | : | South Coast, MA, United States |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 01:33 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Is there no hope for you Dave???
| 2010 Blue TBird-1700
Triumph Rally: May 28,29,30, 2020; Bennington, VT, USA
Link
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 07:04 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: Flash) | | | Nice size toy - not too over the top for the job.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| Swagger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 15/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,100 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 08:11 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: mat1600) | | | Dirt bike mmmmmmm .... me likey! I need another one of those
| The Force is strong in this one
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| ThunderRat | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 08/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,056 | | Location | : | Castle Hill, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 11:42 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Nice bike. can't wait to see how it looks with a bat wing fairing!
| "I started life with nothing and still have most of it left"
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 12:39 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: ThunderRat) | | | mat1600 wrote:
Nice size toy - not too over the top for the job. |
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Thanks Mat! 
The PO already went through the bike mechanically... top end rebuild, new carb jetting (by Eddie Sisneros... sort of a local legend among the dirt crowd here... master of the high altitude fueling voodoo for thumpers), new stiffer suspension, skid plate, and front & rear rotor/brake guards. Runs like a champ and pulls my skinny ass up hills pretty damned good.
And before Thatch can chime in and ask about the luggage for my Imelda Marcos shoe collection: My goal for this toy is low weight. The only bag that might go on for overnight camping is a Giant Loop Great Basin
And no... I don't have plans to get rid of the Austrian Dirt Hog any time soon... she's just too much fun. But once this home remodel is in the rear view (we're in the home stretch now  ) and the garage is back under my control and sorted, I'm gonna slowly start the search for another Triumph. I've already got the worm in my wife's brain: every time we see a Bonnie or Thruxton I point at it and now she keeps saying, "Now, THAT'S a nice bike... I'd ride on the back of that." Pretty good sign, huh guys?
ThunderRat wrote:
Nice bike. can't wait to see how it looks with a bat wing fairing! |
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Man, I'm never gonna live down the Contraband, am I?
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Bedouin | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 1,067 | | Location | : | Athens, Greece |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 13:55 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Nice toy and may I say good choice NL.
I have often thought that if I were to do a super-long stretch in Africa again (to include desert/s), this probably would be the choice of bike (yes I have given it some thought  ).
It's true that anyone with the bug for dirt riding know that weight is always an issue.
I gather you already know that Safari also make a monster tank for this model (you can now see I have given it some thought ).
| Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 25 Sep 2012 - 14:09 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: Bedouin) | | |
Bedouin wrote:
Nice toy and may I say good choice NL.
It's true that anyone with the bug for dirt riding know that weight is always an issue.
I gather you already know that Safari also make a monster tank for this model.
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Thanks Bed
Yeah, I know all about Safari's offerings for the DRZ... but, after my experiences getting the Safari tanks for the KTM, I'm not in a big hurry to deal with them again. Besides, the DRZ is already outfitted with an IMS 4.2 gallon tank and I'm getting about 55 miles per gallon, for about 225 miles to the tank. If I find myself needing a bit more range, I just might get a couple of those MSR bottles and toss 'em in the GL Great Basin. But... what's more likely is I'll be getting a hitch carrier for the SUV and haul it up to the more distant places I want to ride. I'll be definitely hauling it out to Moab in October for a long weekend ride with a few friends so I can pop my cherry on the White Rim Trail
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,485 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 26 Sep 2012 - 04:46 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Man, I'm never gonna live down the Contraband, am I?
Well can you blame us? I think it's the real reason that you sold the bike. 
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Hagon Nitro shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| Thatch | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 Sep 2012 - 06:43 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | What is with you Nars? You just gotta make every bike you own look like an alien...
Looks like a fun toy and much less tear inducing if you bang that thing off a couple dozen rocks. (unlike your KTM or my Morini).
When / If I get back to the states I think I'll have to get me one (or two to include my boy(s) in the fun). That bike just isn't practical here in Germany (other EU states perhaps, but here you could only tow it to a track which is about as fun as golf ... (ok, slightly more fun than golf, but you get the point))
Anywho, looks fun.
So, you're done with the idea of getting back on a bird? You're going to go with a small/classic Triumph? I ask because I wonder how much different they'll be to the KTM. I know fundamentally they are different but in riding around town if you'd get much of a different experience out of a Bonnie and the KTM. Perhaps the whole nostalgia / Rocker type of vibe is enough... don't know, your call. I know that Birdy and I, while we don't have the same combination have a similar bike combo and it seems both of us are extremely happy with the very broad difference between bikes. It seems to want to make you ride both instead of favoring one. I know I go between walking into the garage and fawning over the Morini (which I did pretty exclusively the first week or two) and then catching a glimpse of the bird and thinking 'Damn that's a sexy bike' ... Both offer such a different experience as well that they both get used. What ever you decide, looks like you'll be building an interesting collection.
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 Sep 2012 - 12:59 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: Thatch) | | | Thatch wrote:
What is with you Nars? You just gotta make every bike you own look like an alien...
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Now that you mention it... yeah, I guess I do 
Seriously, I was considering this 8" Trail Tech Race ligiht...
But... at $275 bucks US, I thought it a bit much for an older bike like this.
Thatch wrote:
So, you're done with the idea of getting back on a bird? You're going to go with a small/classic Triumph?
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Didn't say that, Joe... just said I point to the Bonnies and Thruxtons I see when with the wife Power of suggestion and all, ya know?
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Sep 2012 - 14:32 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Managed to sneak away from my laptop (aka: the old ball and chain) and point the little bike west into the hills....
Nice mix of smooth dirt for twisting the throttle and practicing letting the rear wheel slide out around corners and more technical rock & rut climbing. I was only able to go out for a couple hours, but the weather was perfect and the aspens were pretty.
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| RedBird2010 | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/10/2010 | | Posts | : | 666 | | Location | : | Spokane Valley, Washington, United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Sep 2012 - 14:42 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Damn that looks like fun
Love the Aspens this time of year, thanks for the picts.
| Rick
2010 Thunderbird SE 1600
"Harley-Davidson; the worlds' most efficient method of turning gasoline into noise without the harmful side effect of horsepower."
"The wilderness holds answers to questions man has not yet learned to ask"
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| Swagger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 15/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,100 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 Oct 2012 - 13:42 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: RedBird2010) | | | I went to my local Triumph dealership today and found that they'd gone into administration Thought to myself yikes I need a new trumpet specialist. Anyway I shot off to another dealership and low and behold found myself owning a new bike. How'd that frickin happen. You're gonna hate this .... it's a ZX6R plastic pocket rocket. Couldn't resist ... 2008, 6,000 miles looks spanking except for a wee dent in the tank .... ??3,000. (mates rates) So that's me new winter hack sorted. Now where do I get my T/Bird sorted Pick it up in the morning ... you'll not wan to see pics of this ... or will you
Anyone deal with M40 Triumph?
| The Force is strong in this one
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| SeanS | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 17/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,179 | | Location | : | Matlock, Derbyshire UK, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 Oct 2012 - 14:24 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: Swagger) | | | Went into my local dealer today and thought long and hard before putting a deposit down on a new bike.
Feeling generous, I thought I'd buy my new son to be his first Triumph.
| If only I had a bigger garage
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 Oct 2012 - 18:19 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: SeanS) | | |
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| LeBigMack | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/05/2011 | | Posts | : | 218 | | Location | : | Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 Oct 2012 - 18:46 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: SeanS) | | |
SeanS wrote:
Went into my local dealer today and thought long and hard before putting a deposit down on a new bike.
Feeling generous, I thought I'd buy my new son to be his first Triumph.
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Looking Good Sean! I will say that this will be more reliable that your old T'Bird!
| Out of the Equation!!... Hic!
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| SeanS | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 17/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,179 | | Location | : | Matlock, Derbyshire UK, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 Oct 2012 - 22:57 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: LeBigMack) | | |
LeBigMack wrote:
SeanS wrote:
Went into my local dealer today and thought long and hard before putting a deposit down on a new bike.
Feeling generous, I thought I'd buy my new son to be his first Triumph.
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Looking Good Sean! I will say that this will be more reliable that your old T'Bird! |
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Probably keep it's front wheel down on the ground more than yours too.
Hope you look forward to changing your tyres more often.
I used to get around 3000 miles a set on my Daytona.
Enjoy
| If only I had a bigger garage
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| Swagger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 15/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,100 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 Oct 2012 - 09:06 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: SeanS) | | | Yuk .... can't tell you how badly the kwaker green clashes with the glorious red white and blue of the T/Bird ... I'm gonna have to seperate the two
Jeez the little Ninja don't half go.
| The Force is strong in this one
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| Birdy68 | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,352 | | Location | : | Bad Zurzach, Aargau, Switzerland |
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| | Posted : 28 Nov 2012 - 11:11 Post title : Re: Yet Another New Bike (that's not a Thunderbird) (Re: Bedouin) | | | Bedouin wrote:
Nice toy and may I say good choice NL.
I have often thought that if I were to do a super-long stretch in Africa again (to include desert/s), this probably would be the choice of bike (yes I have given it some thought ).
It's true that anyone with the bug for dirt riding know that weight is always an issue... |
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Yeah - After my Piemonte adventures I was looking into one of these as a 'bash around bike':
Husaberg FE 501 2013
They have the KTM engine in there - but a lighter and more aggressive frame!
Ooooh - so many bikes and sooooooo little time!
| Birdy68
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Leave the pork pies for now - get the sausage rolls while they're hot!
 -x-  -x- 
more info at Fuelly.com
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