Hood ordered

After many month’s of struggling to get weather gear. I have finally been able to place an order with GD for a hood. In total the full soft top kit is a staggering £1,700, plus delivery, no doubt plus glues and some other tools as well. I had expected more like £1,000! The reason I have decided to buy it is to make the car more usable, since I have only done around 2,500 miles in two and a half years!

The hood is a fold down type, so it can stay on the car when not up.

The kit comprises:

• Black fabric hood
• Hood frame
• Rod ends and linkages
• Over centre catches
• Bows to attach to screen
• GRP surround
• Fixings etc

Included in the price above are Perspex side screens, rubber seals, catches and hinges. I have only ordered the side screens and rubber seals at this point, in addition to the hood kit. The hinges will come from the wind wings and I will decide what to do about the catches once I can assess what is needed to secure the screens when used with the hood down.

The side screens are essential, if you are to ride without significant buffeting from the moving air and whining from the misses i.e. anything above 50 mph. The hood makes a few days away from home a possibility in the UK, without constantly looking at the weather forecast app. on your phone and hoping that it is going to be right. Apparently, it also helps to stop the wind attacking you from behind, even when it is down.

The hardtop would be more weather proof, but once on and driving you can’t take it off when the sun (that thing in the sky that you can occasionally see in the UK) comes out.

An optional hood bag is available at £330 - gulp - which I won’t be getting!