I joined this forum in 2014 and year later i bought a RSV factory, and thanks to you all i made it a very special bike .

About 2017 i was planning to build a 1125 big bore with Redrat, but after looking at the costs we both shelved the Idea,and we both bought R1s but keeping our existing bikes .

Not much after was when things went very wrong for me , even though given an all clear by a nurse as i couldn't see a doctor . I had a stroke on my way to a track day two days after my ECG at the airport, i lost some of my sight.

My friend said it was floaters, not knowing I ran with it ,and spent five days at Almeria doing 188 approx down the back straight.

Luckily i didn't have a big one , but even when i got back they said i have a detached retina, but not happy with that,i went to the eye hospital and found out i had actually suffered a stroke.

Well things went to sh*t after that , my company couldn't insure me as a scaffolder.

But i got over that and put my bikes into storage, and now I  just managed to get a workshop with power for all my bikes trailer and vast amount of tools.

But  i find out that i might have something more sinister, as the consultant calls it .

I will find out my fate on the 4th of December.

If my biopsy comes back clear i will be buying a 2025 Tuono factory, i have wrestled with what i should do and what is right for my age ,but i never done what was right, probably the reason i enjoyed myself 😁.

I would like to give a big THANK YOU to all the people that helped me and all the friends i made here.

I will need your help again,as i am totally rebuilding the RSV, complete rebuild and i am so out of touch.

I am still in touch with tapmyhead (Nige ) who still has his 1103; which he's tearing down soon for it's rebuild.

I have wrestled with the Idea of getting a adventure bike ,but i can't really come to terms with it ,i am 66 on the 1st  Dec but i can't do it .

Maybe when the R1 is had a refresh and i ride it , and if i struggle i may do that ,but at present the Aprilia Tuono factory 2025  is the biggest compromise i want to make ,and yes it's not really a compromise 😆.

See what happens when i get on that animal super stock of the R1 .

Perhaps the Dog has got too old .

I see most of the old names are still here which is comforting to know,and some new names who i hope to get to know in the near future.

I really look forward to connecting with all of you again.

For you that don't remember me ,i will post some pics of the RSV and the R1 , if I can still remember how to.

🤝🤝🤝👍.

Good to hear from you Rich

As always happy to help with the factory 

Hope to meet you at loomies in the new year 👍

Hi Mark,  no need to apologise, if anything it should be me not to kept in touch, as we all know there's not much certainty in life😅.

I look at them times when i bought the RSV was when things were a lot more settled for all of us. 

It's great to here again, and thank you for a warm.

 welcome. 

Rich 🤝👍.
 

Hi Adam, it was a shame i never managed to come to Almeria,  but it was after my stroke, plus i lost my workshop. 

But i intend to go back,  whether it is on the R1, or the Tuono,  my mate given up and sold his 22 Factory. 

He's a year older than me and was 350cc champion. 

I am really glad you went, and you were tremendously quick, for a first time at that circuit with your bike you really excelled. 

I need to get fit again, regain ability of strength and get riding again,  i will pick my XC  Mtb soon as it's fixed,  and that will go along way to getting fit again, and hopefully bike fit. 

So maybe we could go together in the future. 

Thanks your offer of help too, it's greatly appreciated. 

I am taking the Aprilia right down, i really don't know what fault it has, why it runs only for 10 seconds and cuts out. 

I still am touch with Nige and as he's an electrical engineer i hope he may be able to point me in the right direction. 

I am repainting it too.

It's going to be a busy year, just the way to start a retirement 😀😁.

Both bikes need work, the R1 less,  but needs remapping and Ray Stringer's throttle bodies on again. 

If you are still racing, i will come to one of your meetings and watch you? 

As soon as the workshop is finished, I shall start a thread on rebuilding the Rsv.

All the best, Rich 🤝👍.

Hi Dave,  i hope you keeping well, that trip to Loomies will happen,  it's totally my fault it never happened. 

There's average speed cameras all over there now, but i know a back roads to it. 

I used to enjoy going there,  i used to meet a lad called Ernie there, well not a lad, he was 82 and had a 2012 Fireplace and a late Ducati Monster.

Hence  another reason i am not buying an Adventure bike. 

The R1 will the the first to hit the road, hopefully the gearbox being all good,  i couldn't investigate it at the time,  it went straight from Spain into storage. 

Thanks for your welcome message too, and i will meet up with you at Loomies next year,  and hopefully go for a few more  rides besides.

Always a pleasure, Rich 🤝👍.

Sounds like you've been through a tough time of it. Maybe the sign to retire as you say and just enjoy life as best you can. 

Hopefully, the December news is positive.

Hi Legend,  retirement isn't easy thing to come to terms with,  sod's law that i was offered a job recently, with  only money i could have dreamed off previously . 

Also it would have wiped out both my pensions.

Also i really couldn't give them the commitment that would be required. 

Tbh the most important thing is to get back to health, and enjoy the things i like most, i have a large workshop now, so that will keep me busy. 

Thanks for your kind words and good wishes. 

I hope you keeping well, and it's pleasure to know that people i met when i joined are still on here. 

All the best  Rich🤝👍

Thanks so much Kev, it is a last hurdle i have to clear in December. 

I hope to be a healthy 70 year old too.

It will be great to get on a bike after two years off, be interesting too. I would hoped it was the Aprilia first,  but it will be the R1 instead , that will bring me around  as it always does.

I hope this message finds you well Kev, and i look forward to being here a lot more as i start another bike adventure, not an adventure bike😁.

I would like to thank everyone for such a warm welcome, i was overwhelmed by everyone's kind words and wishes. 

Nobody could wish for more, so glad this forum hasn't changed. 

It's a credit to everyone on here 👌👏👏👏🤝👍

You are a great example of resilience in the face of adversity,  you always have a project ongoing , and the Ford Pop is a great one, which i look forward to seeing it next year. 

Best wishes going forward from another out of touch oldie feeling each of my shortly 73 years.

Speaking for myself retirement is the best thing I've done in recent memory.... What was I saying? 

Nice to see there's still some activity on the forum so seasons greetings to all 

It's nice to see familiar members here again.

Thanks for good wishes. 

Hi Adam,  😁 yes it looks like i have 👍.

Unfortunately my biggest fears were realised on the 4th, i have cancer tumour on my tongue. 

I want this to be a bit of advice for everyone on here,  never accept anything of the medical profession if you are not happy go private if you have to and always get a second apinion. 

I was complaining about this to my doctor last November,  she one  the other Doctors would not expedite my appointment to the hospital, after a lot asking she did. 

This only took a 3 months off my wait but i had already waited 3 months.

The the Clinician said she could not see it, so i asked if would put some gloves on and feel it, she said she couldn't. So then I saw cancer doctor who said it wasn't that. But if you want we will take a biopsy, and so i went back and the same clinician said she could not see it, so i asked where she was going to take the biopsy from, and she said the bottom of my mouth. 

This would have probably or would have come back clear. 

I thought f--k this, i am going to a dentist and luckily i met a great one , due to the receptionist who said i think you need the most experienced dentist here. I never had a dentist as i have no filling and never had a toothache. 

He took a picture, about said would i go to a hospital in Bristol or London, i said i would asked if there was anything closer and he said we could try Southampton. 

He also said you didn't tell me you have been already been referred to Winchester hospital by your doctor.

This where things changed,  in two day i was contacted by Southampton offered an appointment for the following Monday,  Monday after a biopsy, 4 weeks later the we are on the 4th December and i find put that i have cancer tumour on my tongue. Also they were going to operate in a months time saying the 23rd,  but it is going to be the 30th.

I went for a cross imaging scan,  this is when i do not want to hear from the consultants   as the C/T scan was to find out if it had spread and if yes how much. 

It amazes that two hospitals and these two Max/fax departments could be so different. Southampton did in two months , what Winchester couldn't do in  year.

It all makes sense now, that's why the dentist took a picture with his phone to send it to Southampton. 

Just by looking at the picture they knew it was serious but they never let on, or say too much. They only tell you things when there a special nurse to debrief you sort of afterwards. It is not how i would like it, but i totally understand,  it's a big shock and they have to consider the impact on you and your family. 

Winchester had a look at it even by a cancer surgeon 🙄.

I will be sending the dentist the biggest Christmas card 😁.

Now i will have a dentist, and the one who helped me so much. 

Even when i had a stroke and done five trackdays at Almeria,  when i came home they said it was a detached retina and it was a stroke and it was me that went to Southampton eye hospital to find that out. That's after i was having chest pains before i went, they said go and ride your bike, and i have a stroke airside when leaving, rode it like a pirate with one eye 😂.

Had the plaque gone into my head, i doubt i would be writing this now. 

I wish i never had the Covid Jabs but i don't want to open another can of worms with that subject 🙄.

Like the nurse said, we found it know and your fight starts here. I just have to hope my scan to be all good.

She's right. 

I still can't work out why the Aprilia stalls after ten seconds 😁, that will have to wait a while. 

I know it's something stupid, had i not taken the parts of it to do a favor for a friend, i believe it still be running. 

No favour goes unpunished,  as the the paddy told me at work, he ain't far off  where that's concerned 😂😁.

Thank everyone for a great reception,  on my return. 

Here's wishing you all a great Christmas and great new year 👍🤝. 

Hi Dave, Devon nice part of the country, always loved going on holiday there.

Another familiar name i remember 🤝.

Southampton is an amazing Hospital,  it's very big too.

Unfortunately you don't get a choice where you go, and Winchester had to send me to Southampton years ago to their Max/fax in the middle of the night because they are the best for head injuries,  i was told then that they were in a better position to give me the specialist care that i needed.

I built wings on many hospitals and spent two years building one in the Isle of Wight.

Had i gone Southampton there last November, i would have had my operation last December too.

I can't give them enough praise.

In a way i have to be thankful i got to Southampton in the end ,  i cannot change the outcome,  but i am in the best hands

🤝👍. 

Very hard to find the words especially when writing. Think an RSVR.net ride out is called for!

Such a shame you had to go through all that, sums up the NHS I think, great in parts and dire in others. But great that you are in good hands now. Good luck!

Man, you've been through the wringer. I truly hope you recover and get to ride your bikes for a long time to come.

NHS is truly a lottery; my brother in law died a few weeks ago in Northampton hospital. He had prostate cancer which had spread to his oesophagus. But it was sepsis that killed him because they catheterised him for a year (!) and he died before they got around to removing the 20 (!) bladder stones in him.

Luckily in North Yorkshire I've had excellent treatment.

Glad you've belatedly found a good hospital that will take care of you.

I have sat and read your updates this evening so sorry to hear the details i must agree with you regarding getting 2nd opinions.

I dont believe our paths have crossed previously, but i do sincerely wish you all the best going forward - hopefully the operation goes well.

Stay safe and strong all the best.

 

Well good news you got a diagnosis eventually in spite of the system,it seems like you found a good hospital so I wish you well going forward. I used to live in Gosport so it's good to hear the NHS is still working down there.

My sister in law used to be Matron/CNO of a very large centrally located hospital in England and she was saying a few days ago that she despairs at how the NHS has imploded in recent years. I won't even mention her thoughts about the junior doctors threatening to strike again over Christmas.

I don't know what the answer is but I'm pretty sure the NHS as currently is almost finished

.

What a contrast to the service my Wife got when she suffered what was thought to be a stroke over Christmas in Vienna a couple of years back. Paramedics on site within minutes and en route to a specialist stroke unit within half an hour of us calling,

Fortunately after several days there and batteries of scans,tests etc it was diagnosed not to be a stroke but when the NHS followed up locally on our return they were amazed by the scope of the tests,scans etc done abroad and admitted most of that wouldn't have happened if we'd have been at home. 

Plus I'm sure I wouldn't be here if I'd listened to my incompetent GP, he wouldn't entertain any potential heart issues and insisted on treating me for indigestion!!

Fortunately I insisted on a second opinion and got referred for an angiogram leading to a short notice triple bypass done as a favour to the Welsh NHS by Liverpool Heart & Chest at Broad Green during the Covid lockdown.

Anyway,the moral is you know your body best,  ALWAYS INSIST on seeing a specialist,never be fobbed off by a barely trained GP or practice nurse

I worked on my local hospital in 2004 putting a new wing on it.  They only outfitted  three floors out of five, as they did not have the money for other two, they have been finished now. 

Also there were so many buyers and management, i would over hear them talking, and it was always about money, sometimes these would outnumber the nurses and doctors. 

That cafe where the hospital staff was closed down when i was working there, it is now a Costa Coffee. 

Iso glad that your wife received the excellent care which is crucial when having a stroke, and iPhone she made a full recovery. 

I was working in Spain as a Rigger on a commercial, I used do it to earn extra money unfortunately i could not get enough work to make it permanent. 

Whilst we were there a Sparky fell of the ladder, and the care he received was second to none. 

I admire you for having the belief in yourself to question your Doctor's diagnosis.  As you get older your chances or recovery is less and less.

So prevention is better than a cure and early correct diagnosis is is extremely important. 

I have been having extreme pains in my rear ribs and just below the last two or three ribs. 

I was told it was my Trapezius muscle last time it happened,  and when I spoke to my  doctor she said she would prescribe some painkillers. 

I read up on the symptoms i was having it it all pointed to an UTI, went to the doctor not my doctor but the duty doctor, the test was clear, i explained that i had drunk six pints of water.  I explained to him that if I have an infection my operation will not go ahead,  the Mammalian nurse and my oncology nurse told me to try to keep away from people because of this reason. 

To my surprise the doctor gave me the antibiotics,  wow what a difference, the fact it was untreated, it had affected my kidneys and the infection had gone into my blood, early stages of Sepsis.  Thi is the second day of antibiotics, and I feel like new man. This means i should be clear for my operation on the 30th.

Ian thank you for your kind message and your good wishes.

I hope to be talking about Aprilia RSV s😁.

Have great Christmas and wishing you and your family the best for the new year 👍🤝.

One day I'll bore you all with the story of my pacemaker.