Thanks for that, exactly the sort of experience based advice that i was after.
Though today was an exception to your epithet.... my bike went pop when overtaking, and made a nasty farty noise like there was a hole in the top of the engine...... lost all power..... then gave up..... luckilly green flag will get it to my local bike shop...... waiting for the verdict

Fingers crossed it's something nice like exhaust manifold gasket and compression loss....... though braced for the worst. The trouble is that I am already so in love that she will be fixed, whatever it costs, then I'll work it out later!