Chapter 1 - CHR Azzalin 900 Marathon
Chapter 2 - CHR Azzalin 900 Marathon
Hmmmmm…he thinks that “He (Benjamin) can help!”
Anyway…an email is fired off, to Benjamin and I wait for the answer….with all the impatience of a 5 year old on Christmas morning!
The next day and an email states: ”YES, Gavin…I can help!!..
I KNOW this bike!”
“The bike is at a garage called: Mutas Racing in Malataverne, not far from Montelimar in the Southern Central region, about one hour south of Clermont Ferrand” says a proud Benjamin.
Approx 600 miles from the garage out the side of the house!
Montelimar…isn’t that a chocolate in a box of Black Magic?
“I will talk to the garage owner and see if it is for sale! It is best you contact me via my personal mobile number and here is my address!”
Excellent……anyway, the emails start to go back and forward.
During email conversations, I call my friend Alex Fischer who is getting worse and answers this mail less and less.
And it is getting too painful to talk on the phone.
Cancer is an evil bitch of a mistress, who fools you into thinking that she’s sleeping, only to re awake with more vengeance.
Alex mentions that there are many Azzalin replica types out there and make sure that you get an SP1 and not a self built elefant with Azzalin parts!
Great….just what I needed, I have done the usual and started getting excited over …exactly what?
Benjamin calls…
Firstly Murtas doesn’t want to sell!
Then, he does but for maybe 9000/9500 euros.
Then, he doesn’t want it to leave the French Cagiva, community!
All these emails are doing nothing but teasing the situation and eventually I break the rules and contact him on the work email and mobile phone!
I try to explain, in my best schoolboy French…not great, as I got a pretty poor result in the prelims. 4%!!
But, I blame the exam adjudicator, approx 28 years old, back combed, thick, lush, brownish hair and a rather pointy chest arrangement, if you know where I am coming from and...wait for it…under shadow on her eyes…
UNDER shadow...I mean...come on...even now just thinking about it...Jesusss....other than that, she, Miss Wilson,
didn’t make much of an impression!!
So there I am ....15 years of age, a cocktail, so to speak, of all things male, swishing through my viens, whilst being subjected to the continual passing up and down my passage …..the line of students talking the exam are arranged in long rows...by this vision of loveliness in a pair of crop trousers, boots and a floppy polo necked jumper.
Personally. I thought, the 4% was not too bad …given the circumstances…however Benjamin was in for a bit of a shock!
So here we are, me a Scotsman, trying to reduce the asking price,
whilst being happy to pay anything. And Benjamin, who is more “Moses” than “Gentle Jesus”..if you get my meaning….
trying to secure the best deal possible!
The guy did not stand a chance....he WAS going to sell...NO question.
Especially after we identified that it was an actual SP1 Azzalin.
I was given Dieters Jurczik name, by Alex Fisher,
he knew that Dieters bike was an actual, rather Azzailn than an replica.
So.... for two weeks, Dieter became my new best friend.
Here is a copy of the transmissions
>>>>>Hi Gavin,
I have checked the pictures …….the bike on the picture has all those items I would regard as CH Racing.
The holes for the indicator lights are identical with what my Marathon has and which are used in order to get it licensed. The argument used by the shop - by paper it is an AC - is the same with my bike. All the basics are as the AC and the main changes (heck tank, wheel size, suspension,
exhaust) are reported in the papers. T
he only difference I noticed is the bracket for the GPS.
Give me a few days and I will supply you with a set of pictures for those items I would look for in order to judge.
Saludos
Dieter
>
> Dieter, there are 3 photographs on the web page link ...I sent you
> .......placed throughout the webpage and the P-D bike can be viewed
> side... front and rear.
> I hope that this little sections of photographs can assist in the TRUE identity.
> many thanks
> Gavin..
> PS where are the other CH others?
>
Dieter studied the photographs from Murtas Moto, whilst Benjamin kept softening up their main man….
could this plan be working?
Was Benjamin following his inbuilt Mossad intelligence training?
I explain to Benjamin that I really want this bike and that, I am not prepared to lose it…
I am, however not prepared to pay any price…
we agree an unholy alliance and set about the negotiations accordingly.
Days pass and I am unsure of the actual situation. Apparently the Guy from Murtas Moto, has asked to see my website, gavin944888.com and is really unsure of selling to a collector or anyone else who does not use it!
I try to explain, that I am serious and that I promise to look after it and that it will return in June 08 on route to the International Treffen,
being held that year by the French Group.
He appears, still unsure and I am attempting a better,
I hope…sales job that I ever did on any girl…
and that includes Helen Clint.*
Gentle Jesus…come to the rescue! All dealing have STALLED.
A couple of days pass...
Something gives and we are back on track….the French Group have explained in French…to Mr Murtas Moto, that my true intentions…
are we sure, this is not a re-run of the Helen Clint, non starter saga…
are strictly honourable and that I would be a good buyer!
The weekend passes…I drink some Stella and raise a glass or two of wine, in some misguided Franco Scottish heathen alliance!
Monday morning arrives and the email inbox is full of Russian Brides and Fake Replica Rolexes…basically the same as the Russian Bride scam…
you don’t know what your getting, but they’re cheap!
Lurking in the corner is a message from Benjamin….
“I have…It is mine!”
What!!......What is exactly going on here?
Am I the last Turkey in the butchers’ window?
Have I been spanked and don’t know it?
Have I danced with the Devil and lost?
I didn’t even know that he asked me to dance!
I scroll down the message and Benjamin explains that,
he agreed the deal with Murtas and to make sure of the deal sticking,
he used the monies that he and Sandrine (Partner) had put aside
for their new house deposit!
So there was no way Murtas could back out….the bike was mine!!
WHAT!!
Right…lets get this straight!
…..I met this Guy once…and I really didn’t remember…
I was ratted on wine, lager and pastisse.
I have never met or indeed spoken to Sandrine, sober or otherwise..
I was the only non French at the Sausset Les Pines meeting and all I did was drink and giggle at my 4% French!!
If it moved, I tried to eat it!
If it stood still I drank it…
…..normally through a cloud of Gitanes smoke….
I am not really someone who swaps email addresses…and the word “FRIEND” is really close to “FIND” as in
”I have found someone, who can…weld…rewire…paint”…
delete and insert accordingly!!
Now, out of the blue comes help not only in securing nBUT in paying the deposit!
I am totally taken aback..I mean, I wouldn’t do it…would you?
Both, Benjamin and Sandrine have restored faith
which was not even in question…
I owe them not just the monies but a lot of admiration and trust!
I email Dieter:
>>>>>>Gavin,
congratulations. I know several people who will be jealous. For the people from the continent (especially the DACH-region) the question with those bikes is always if they have been registered successfully before, so that registering again will be no problem. For you in the UK this seems to be no problem.
My Marathon is a 1996 with following modifications:
- 21" and 18" wheels on stainless steel spokes and Acront rims
- front fork 45mm Magnum (people say it´s from a Husky but I don´t know)
- single front disc
- minimum electrics (just to be in conformity with regulations) which I have updated
- bigger Mikuni fuel pump
- different exhaust (2 in 1) with exhaust-manifold not under the engine for increased room below the base-plate.
- real massiv base plate
- additional leg in order to be able to lift either front or rear wheel, to be inserted into bed plate (for front wheel lift) or at the bacl of the crank case (for rear wheel lift)
- crank case modofied for insertion of stand
- open clutch cover
- 1.5 liter water tank
- modified foot rests
- main tank slightly modified at the fuel inlet
- rear aluminium tank with about 25 liters designed as a monoquoce (without rear frame)
- single leather seat from Tecnosel
- longer swingarms with adapted suspension and rocker arms; different Oehlins
- roadbook holder, ICO milage counter
- single oil-cooler, position moved up and centered (behind the fork)
- break light only connected to foot-break
- two back lights (one break indicator, one light)
this is what cones to my mind if I think about it, but I´m sure I have forgotten heaps of other modifications. I could imagine that there are a number of reinforcements on the frame but I have never took the effort to varify.
>From which parts do you need detailed pictures?
Saludos
Dieter
> Dieter..........I have managed to secure an actual CH bike located in
> the Ardeche region in France. As yet.... only the deposit and basic
> sale conditions have been agreed and therefore I am cautious to shout
> from the rooftops ....."I have a Azzulin!" It has competed in the
> Moroccan Rally and then been left to grow old disgracefully in French
> France!
> The money was sent on Friday and I should pick up by late September.
> However....I am VERY keen to learn anything about these
> beasties.......therefore any details ...spec...or photo of yours would
> be greatly appreciated.
> a Marathon....and its build date seems
> to be 96/97.
> Hopefully you can help me in this matter.
> Regards
> Gavin
I also email Alex Fischer, to bring him up to speed,
the cancer is now starting on its final lap and it takes a few days
for him to get back to me.
“Gavin..only you, could do this …
I am happy for you and you make me laugh.
Your Scottish ways are very different!!”
Benjamin emails some photos and tells me
that he is very happy to have been involved!
A BIG BIG thankyou goes to:
Benjamin and Sandrine...it would not have possible without you.
To@ne....helping locate Benjamin!
MotoWilli....for assisting where..when and how!!
Dieter....for checking photos and answering STUPID questions.
Alex...my friend...we will meet again and laugh at this.
Next time.....
We head South...get lost....meet Benjamin
....get the bike......and Helga!!
Lordy... lordy...why does it always happen to me!!l
*Helen Clint.....same school... different sex...fifteen...trying too hard, by not trying at all. It went the way of all best intended, opposite sex encounters....it didn't!
.
Chapter Index
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Chapter 3 Azzalin 900......now we get it!
CHR 900 Azzalin..........Final Chapter.....maybe!
CHR 900 Azzalin .....Update for November 2008
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