FFS

Can you buy any bike oil other than 10W40 in Swindon? No[1]. Can you
buy an oil filter for a bike that the shops aren't main dealers for?
No[1]. Can you buy a Xena lock? No. So much for supporting your local
dealers. Thank heavens for Busters.

[1] Halfords have stopped doing bike stuff.

 

Really? they did 2 weeks ago. Anyway go shop for oil in Tesco.

 

Dunno if it's regional, but the Swindon one's stopped.

Might try that next time, although the nearest one's right over t'other
side of town. Halfords & the bike dealers would be ok for everything
else, it's just the MV that's 'difficult'.

 

Spin-on filter? Very good chance it uses a small car one.

 

The only non-genuine one that's known to be safe is a Champion F306.
None of the bike dealers I tried sell Champion filters, & Halfords
don't stock the bike ones anymore.

 

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/CHAMPION_Oil_Filter_F306 says the F306 is
compatible with a shed load of Jap bikes which I would thing should be
available to you locally. Still doesn't help with the oil, mind...

 

The thing is I know the F306 is safe, I don't know the genuine
Yamaha/Honda etc equivalents are. They may physically fit, but there's
a lot more to an oil filter than dimensions.

 

I can't see a pattern part like the Champion filter being made to a higher
standard than a Honda branded one.

 

It's the flow rate & bypass valve spring strength that are important.
MVs run higher oil pressure than most UJMs, so a filter designed for a
Blade or R1 etc might pop the valve too early. Some people have tried
other branded filters, & blown the outer casing off them!

 

Owning an exotic Italian motorcycle is very much like making love to a
beautiful woman...

 

it costs you far too much up front, they're very picky about which
consumables[1] are "acceptable", and whilst you get the occasional
admiring glance, most people think you're a posing twat.

[1] stretching the analogy too far, I guess the oil filter required is
the equivalent of a very expensive sanitary towel.

 

Heh. Whilst you're probably right, there have been a few times when
people have thought exactly that judging by their expressions as they
walked towards it. But once they got close enough to see the molten
bobbles of rubber on the edge of the tyres, the expressions change &
they say something like 'nice to see it used as intended'.

You can call that a bite if you like.

Ewwww, but yes - about 25 quid for a genuine one last time I bought
one. It's not so much the cost as the [lack of] availability though.

 

# you're so vain
# you probably think this flame is about you...[1]

[1] note to Champ, Ace, Eddie: yes, this is me (mis)quoting lyrics
from a '70s song - go on, blow your minds.

 

# when you're in love with a beautiful woman
# it's hard

 

# Watch your friends, you gotta watch your friends

(sorry)

 

Ho odd, that record is on right now on our office radio