The perils of riding in San Diego

We have it really rough here in SoCAL!  Not only can we ride year round, riding on holidays is always a special treat.

And it's going to be really really bad on Christmas Day!  The weather forecast from AccuWeather says it all:  "Sunny and beautiful".  So we get a day to celebrate Christ's birth, enjoy family, give and get presents, eat all kinds of yummy treats AND a "sunny and beautiful" day to go riding if we don't slip into a candy, cookies and feasting coma first!

Yep, we have it so rough out here.  hee hee.

A small speedbump on the way to 100,000 miles on the Concours

The saga of keeping my 1986 Kawasaki Concours on the road for 100,000 miles keeps adding chapters, detours and speedbumps.  After a summer not riding as much as I would have liked due to work-related travel and starting a new business, plus some electrical issues the bike is back on the road.  She's running pretty strong with some minor issues related to rubber and gaskets showing their age more and more.   Yesterday I realized the trips I had planned for the next two days would easily take the odometer over 97,000 miles-only 3,000 to go!

Until.

Four miles into my ride to lunch at the start of a proposed 55 mile commuting day the speedometer drops to zero as I accelerate onto the freeway.  I'm already in fifth and about to click into sixth, tachometer happily bouncing away (it's done that the whole time I've owned the bike once I hit 4200 RPM) but nothing on the speedo.  Even worse, the mileage is stuck at 96920.4 miles.  Oh no!  This has happened a few times before but often resolved by tapping the face of the dash or going over a bump.

TAP TAP TAP.  Nothing.

Run over some "zots dots".  Nothing.

Find a set of small manhole covers slightly recessed from the roadway once off the freeway.  Bumpity bumpity bump.  Nothing.

OK, quick diagnosis is either a broken cable (likely, happened to the previous Ninja 900) or dead speedometer (ugh).  Yep a dead speedometer would also mean a dead odometer and need for a replacement with who knows what mileage showing.

I got home kind of late last night and decided to troubleshoot this morning.  Unscrew fitting from drive gear on front wheel, pull on cable, and knotched end piece and about two inches of cable come right out in my hand.  Whew.  Quick look at 1994 Connie to see how many parts have to come off to get cable (answer-1, the dash since no side fairings or inner fairing are currently on it).  Out come the tools, off comes the inner fairings and the dash from the 86, "steal" the cable from the 94, reverse steps, go riding.

Speedometer/odometer work fine and I rode about 60 miles today.  So odometer shows 96980 miles on it.  Due to known overstated speed, I'll let the 50 or so miles I rode after the cable broke yesterday slide-not parking this bike right at 100,000 miles anyway.

Wonder if BikeBandit or my local shop sells just the inner cable?  Probably almost as much as a replacement on eBay or the Connie forum.

Just a quick post to get back to posting

After nearly completing the "Post a Day in November" challenge successfully between my blogs, I fell off a cliff in December.  So to get started again I'm posting to both the motorcycling blog and the fitness blog with links and not much else.  RoadRunner magazine posted a good article online about packing for a touring trip.  For those of us in warmer climes, it's applicable now!  For those that have had to winterize their bikes, it will at least help you dream and plan.  Here's the link:

RoadRunner Travel

That's it for tonight-safe riding!

BikeBandit Cyber Monday Deals Continuing until Midnight Tuesday (TODAY!)

Just a quick update to say that Bike Bandit has extended their cyber Monday deals until midnight on Tuesday/today.  They are also offering free shipping for orders of $50 or more instead of $99.

So follow one of the banner ads and get some great goodies with free shipping!

Quick post on total mileage

I found a formula error on my mileage database last night, so when I updated the numbers my average mileage jumped up to nearly 19 miles a day for the past twelve years.  I'm also 221 miles short of 85,000 lifetime miles on a variety of bikes.  I'll probably do those miles by Sunday between my annual pre-Thanksgiving Dinner ride and other trips.  The 1986 Kawasaki Concours went over 96,500 today as I close in on 100,000 total on that bike-it had about 81,000 when I bought it.

Have a great Thanksgiving and hope you can get some riding in if the weather is nice where you are.

Winter Riding in California and the Start of BikeBandit sales

Yep, it's that time of year again.  Winter riding.  After suffering through the hot dry summers out here that last until late October-it's routinely 85 plus degrees on Halloween, it's "winter".  Or at least the calendar says so.

So your intrepid blogger soldiers on-riding year round and dealing with the brutal hardship of winter riding.  Getting on the bike before sun-up requires layers upon layers of clothing, no exposed skin and extra time to ensure the cold battery starts up the nearly 30 year old 1986 Kawasaki Concours, AKA Connie AKA C10 AKA Miss Swail.  Off I ride into the brightening sunlight, cold air finding every bit of exposed flesh and tearing through my jeans.  Hey, it's probably below 50!  C'mon this is brutal.

Then it gets even worse as the sun gets up and by mid-morning it's warming up through the sixties.  Now what do I do with all these layers?  Fortunately I'm running the sidebags on the Connie so they both fill up with gear and extra clothes.  I'll probably make it home before sunset, so I'll probably ride home in my long sleeve shirt and leave the jacket rolled up in a side bag.  Yep, it's tough riding in the winter!

All sarcasm aside, it is pretty odd reading about folks taking their "last ride for the winter" and elaborate winterizing procedures.  The forums light up with arguments about putting the tires on plywood, cardboard or how often to roll the bike a quarter wheel diameter.  Battery in or out?  Oil change before AND after storage, or just before?  All the while I'm thinking "Just ride it" but then I watch Buffalo get 7 feet of snow (YIKES!) and realize how good I've got it.

So do you need more layers of gear, motorcycling maintenance supplies like I do because you're  riding more due to time off, or winterizing oils and tools?  No matter what, it's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales time, and BikeBandit.com is having all kinds of sales starting today.  So click on a banner, get anywhere from a 36-90% discount, and get what you need delivered to your door!  No need to brave the snow and ice, or crazy commuters-have the parts sent to you.  I wonder if they sell tire stud kits? :-)

Riding again-fairing bracket welds worked great!

Got the 1986 Kawasaki Concours back together yesterday morning before church.  It was pretty straight foward although tabs my neighbor welded between the supports were a bit of an obstruction for the speedometer.  Tightening the bolts down pulled the brackets together tightly enough not to be an issue.  Also everything had to be squared back up, and all the years of various repairs and work-arounds had to be sorted out.  Some are no longer needed while others needed adjustments-like brute force to line up the windshield, the main fairing and the inner fairings!

I rode around some yesterday-no real "ride" but so far it's a big improvement.  Lots of the bouncing and shaking is gone, and the signs of rubbing and chafing I saw during this project were likely caused by the fairing bracket failures.  3621 miles to 100,000!

Update on Kawasaki Concours Main Fairing Bracket Re-welding

I got my Kawasaki Concours main fairing back from my neighbor, and as usual he did a much better job than I anticipated and looks great.  Not only did he repair the cracks in the tubing, he cleaned up the old repairs and made triangular pieces to reinforce the corners.  He also repainted that area a nice gloss black-covering up the faded and scratched paint and some rust.

While its not really late time wise, I just flew in from the East Coast and three hours "ahead" still.  I'll maybe re-install it tomorrow morning, especially if I wake up long before I need to be at church.

I'll also get some photos of the great work Mark did!

Quick update-1994 Connie Restoration

It's been a while since I updated the progress on the 94 Connie restoration.  I've got the bodywork sorted out on which pieces from all the body panels are going back on the bike but still need to do more sanding and coating light scratches with resin.  I also need to patch one turn signal "cut-out" where most of them on Kawasaki Concours main fairings break.  There are some YouTube videos on how to do this so I'm going to try.  The drive train is solid from the small amount of riding I've done and the front brakes are working if not great.  I'll likely replace the old front brake pads and re-bleed before putting the bike in daily use.

Other than that I'm pretty happy with this bike and look forward to riding it for years to come.

Kawasaki Concours Main Fairing Bracket Re-welding Time

While putting the left inner fairing piece back on my 1986 Kawasaki Concours last week, I noticed what looked like a crack in the main fairing bracket.  Sure enough, right beyond an area already re-welded/repaired once before (at least) a new crack had developed and the bar was completely "cut".  On the other side of the re-welded joint another crack was about 50% through the bar there too.  So Saturday I took the inner fairings off the bike, removed the mirrors, disconnected all the wiring to the headlight and turn signals and then removed the main fairing.  While the shop manual says to remove the main fairing and main fairing bracket as one piece, I've found it's easier to remove the main fairing separately.  This is especially true if you are doing motorcycle maintenance projects that require them to be separated anyway.  I also removed the speedometer from the bracket while it was still attached to the bike to get it out of the way of the welding work.  Once this was done it was pretty easy to get the bracket off the bike and delivered to my friend.

He's a good welder, having done the tab on my old Sportster.  He also has made his own bicycle frame before, so working with tubing won't be an issue.  Hopefully he'll be able to get it done this weekend and I can re-mount everything.  If not, I'll move some parts back over to the 1994 restoration project but this will slow my climb toward 100,000 miles on Miss Swail, the 1986 Concours.

Today's riding and wrenching

This morning I did one of my usual loops just to get a ride in.  I'll post more when it's not so late, but it was a good ride.  I enjoy this 40 or so mile loop when I get a chance to ride it either as part of a longer ride or for a quick hour or so break.

I also removed the main fairing and main fairing bracket from the Connie for some repairs.  The bracket has a couple of cracks in it and needs welding back together.  This area has obviously had some work beforehand.  My neighbor is going to clean it up and see what he can do.  I routinely remove the main fairing from the bracket and then remove the bracket if needed and made a short video on how I do that.  I probably won't post it for a week or so however as it needs some editing and I'll be away from the computer I do that with for a little while.

Not riding today, but it's not because the San Diego weather-guessers were wrong

Being a weather forecaster on TV in Southern California has only one requirement: Look good while saying that the weather is going to be nice once again.  I don't know where unattractive weather girls and boys go, but it sure isn't here.  So you'd think the one chance, the one and only chance, the one time there is a possibility of rain they'd get it right, and it would be raining buckets.

Nope.

Sky is 98% clear this afternoon, not a drop to ease our drought and it's another Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Board kind of day here in San Diego.

I was planning on riding anyway-unless it actually pours out here I've ridden, and I've ridden in what passes for a downpour before too.  But about ten minutes before I left the house this morning, my wife texts and said we might need you to use your truck today.  Huh?  Turns out yet again this year my mother-in-law's after school program has about 40 pounds of excess Halloween candy turned in by parents.  Even more importantly, once the kids found out it would go to injured vets and homeless families, they even shared some of their "picked out" candies.  WAY TOO MUCH for the saddlebags of the Connie, so I shift plans and get the shop truck loaded up and head over to the school.

Tons of candy.  Billions and billions of calories.  Chocolate.  Gum.  Fruit chewy stuff.  More chocolate.  Pretzels and cheese puffs in little bags.

So I took about 1/3 of it to the Wounded Warrior Battalions at Naval Hospital San Diego, aka Balboa.  Short visit today, but as always, something in the air as I walk out gets in my eyes.  Happens every time-maybe I should talk with some of my Navy Doc and Corpsmen friends about the air quality around the building.....

WHAT DID YOU DO TO DESERVE YOUR LEGS TODAY?

Hoo Yah EOD and thank you, my brothers and sisters.  Enjoy the candy!

The Return of the BikeBandit.com Daily Deal and a chance to win a $5,000 Alpinestars shopping spree

Yeah, while  the Daily Deal might have gotten your attention the chance to win big bucks probably grabbed you!

First, here's today's Daily Deal:  An Arctiva Comp 7 RR Shell Jacket at an up to 52% off!  As a closeout item, limited sizes and colors are available, so hurry on over to BikeBandit.com and check out your favorite and get one while they last.  At the time of this post, only large sizes in black remain at $109.95-a good saving and this qualifies for free shipping.  Lots of sizes remain in blue with red trim and the high-vis orange jacket, and both these colors are priced at over 1/2 off at $79.95.  Throw in an oil filter, some other accessories and get over the threshold for free shipping and you get a great deal!

Ok, now for the details on the Alpinestars contest.  Buy $100 of Alpinestars products before shipping and tax (hmm, I bet most qualifying purchases might also qualify for free shipping!) and you are automatically entered.  So whether you need new boots for desert and dirt season, a new jacket for cool weather riding, replacement sliders and buckles, or just some cool Alpinestars swag, click on any of the BikeBandit.com links or banners on this blog, do some shopping, and you could win a $5,000 shopping spree!  Just imagine how much more cool Alpinestars gear you could have for yourself, your friends, and yes, your faithful blogger!

Ride it like you stole it-unless you stole it, then give it back and buy your own bike!

You might be a motorcyclists if....

I rode my 86 Connie to the Starbucks nearest my house this morning to work.  I work at Starbucks some days but not for Starbucks, like many people do.  So when I finished up and was about to ride home to check for some mail, see who needed lunch and just generally take a break I decided to take advantage of another beautiful Southern California fall day.  Yep, nearly perfect weather, so instead of riding the 1.1 miles or so to the house I took my quick loop.  Out of Poway on Scripps-Poway Parkway, up 67 north to Poway Road, down the twisty portion of Poway grade then back around to the house.  Only about a 13 mile detour and especially nice today.  Air was crystal clear, I was the "lead vehicle" down Poway grade (yes!) and got to see the whole family at the house before lunch.

Two quick updates:

It's always going to be something keeping the 1986 on the road to 100K!  Now that the electrical gremlins have been found and chased off, the old petcock seems to be seeping a small amount of fuel.  Gonna fix that tonight-I've got a few extra petcocks sitting around and am low enough on gas that tilting the tank should allow me to fix it without too much mess.

The BikeBandit Daily Deal page seems to not be updating, but numerous sales continue on the site, especially helmets.  Follow a banner ad from this blog and I get a small cut as an affiliate marketer, and a portion of that will go to Movember.  Thanks!

Lake Elsinore Grand Prix Weekend

This weekend is the kick-off of the desert riding season in Southern California, and what a great way to kick it off with the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix!  Revived a few years ago by my friends at Podium Productions, the LEGP is a full weekend of racing in and around Lake Elsinore, a beautiful community just east of Los Angeles and northeast of San Diego.  All the different classes of racing are too numerous to list-check their website out.  If none of those races interest you, you aren't interested in off-road racing!  Beginners, mini's (including tiny tots-some who can barely walk get out there and race!), quads, vintage and yes, off-road sidecars.  That's got to be wild, as I've seen track sidecar racing but off-road?  And I thought my work was crazy!

Of course, how could you mention SOCAL off-road racing, the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix, and motorcycles and not mention one Harvey Mushman.  Some folks use his screen name more often, but Harvey Mushman was a legend in racing circles out in SOCAL and in his honor there will be the Harvey Mushman 100 at 2:15 this afternoon.  This is an open race over 100 miles looping in and out of Lake Elsinore.  A true test of endurance and a hotly contested event.  I bet even Steve McQueen would race in it if he was still around!

If you are in SoCAL this weekend and looking for something to do, head out to Lake Elsinore for the Grand Prix.  Some of my Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) brothers and sisters will be out there-tell them "Bur" sent you and say "Hi".  Have a great weekend whatever kind of riding you are doing and keep it dirty side down.

The latest BikeBandit Daily Deal-now with live link!

Yesterday I posted about the BikeBandit.com Daily Deal, but hadn't figured out how to link to the actual deal in the post.  But never fear-I am being drug (dragged?) kicking and screaming into modernity, and think this should work now.  Here's the link to the Daily Deal and today it's also a helmet deal.

It is the Icon Airframe Carbon RR helmet at 28% off, total price with free shipping $280.  Sizes are limited with blue, red and pink helmets (actually trim, the helmet is mainly carbon grey but looks cool) available.

It's going to be a beautiful day-hope you get some riding in!

Today's BikeBandit.com Daily Deal is a scorching good one on an Icon Airmada SB1 Helmet

As I often promote, I'm an affiliate marketer for BikeBandit.com.  Well, here's a daily deal I have to promote!

They are selling Icon Airmada helmets in a variety of colors for $112.50, which also qualifies you for free shipping.  What a bargain!  This is 41% off their already good pricing and much lower than most other internet prices.

If you are needing a new helmet, or are thinking about an early Christmas present (say a red or blue large for the author of the motorcycle blog you are currently reading...hint, hint) you should snap this up.

Offer ends at 11:59PM PST today (11/6/2014).  Click on one of the Bike Bandit links on this blog if you could-I get a small percentage of sales tracked through this site, and you still get the Daily Deal pricing.  We both win.  Thanks, and ride safely.

Post 200!

This is a milestone post of a sort.  200 posts into this blog.  What I've learned since starting this blog to initially talk about my IA to Iraq in 2008 only to find out blogging from theater was prohibited:

Blogging takes discipline and persistence.  There have been long periods without any posts, even if I've been out riding and working on bikes.

Adsense isn't the path to riches.  Still awaiting my first $100 check from Google Adsense, but that isn't why I do this.

The Cycle Gear wheel chock posts are the most popular in both pageviews and comments.  Otherwise the Sportster oil tank change out post has also been viewed more than any of the other posts.

I still don't know much about fancy layouts, pictures, backgrounds and other features.  Not sure that would help much anyway.

It takes a long time to put 100,000 miles on a motorcycle, especially when its only one of multiple bikes ridden and also the bike sits for over two years.

Well, that's it, I'll post more on the restoration of the 1994 Kawasaki Concours soon.

1986 Connie back on the road

Just a quick note to update the 86 Connie electrical gremlin saga.  Turns out it was the J-box after all, so now I'm a bit concerned about the one on the 1994.  The guys at Poway Motorcycle put a new pigtail on (the automotive one for an H4 bulb works fine) but still no headlight.  So the J-box got pulled off, put on the bench and closely inspected.  Sure enough the headlight/starter relay was shot so some solder was flowed in there to restore the connection.

Good to go, rode it a bit Saturday and over-all runs great-they also smoothed out the idle and fuel mix a bit.

It's Movember 2015! Time to get "mo-ing"!

Just a quick update.  I'm participating in Movember again this year.  I shaved this morning and for the rest of "Mo"vember I will be growing a mustache or "Mo" to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues.  Specifically, Movember raises awareness of prostrate cancer, testicular cancer and men's mental health.

I formed my team to honor Ed "Hoggy" Herrmann, a friend who lost his battle with prostrate cancer last December.  Here's a link to the team, please feel free to join the team or donate.

Thank you!

The light at the end of the tunnel is a fast approaching bike

Just a quick update on the ongoing saga of the electrical gremlins on the 86 Connie Miss Swail:

Headlight "whip" had some bad solders in it.  Don't know if they were originals or previous owner repairs but the best solution is to graft on a new one.  Probably coming off the huge bins of "donor-cycles" Bill and Bud at Poway Motorcycle have in the side storage unit by the shop.

As they troubleshot the bike, they found a huge voltage drop in the ignition circuit.  They knew to look for this as the bike had been starting slowly and they've seen this over the years as the Kawasaki's they work on age.  The fix it putting a relay in and bypassing the failing parts or something along those lines.

All told, the parts and extra labor don't add that much more to the bill, and compared to getting stranded somewhere with a 700 pound bike (tough to push up into a truck-AMHIK) and it will be money well spent, even if I only ride this bike another 4K miles to 100K and then start parting it out on the Connie forum.  I should get it back today or tomorrow, put some miles on it and continue restoring the 1994 as its replacement.

The "joy" of old bikes

Keeping nearly 30 year old bikes on the road takes a mix of ingenuity, patience, spare parts, and sometimes frustration.

I moved parts back over to the 86 Connie last night to get it ready to take to the pros at Poway Motorcycle the local independent shop that works on older bikes.  One of the guys there used to ride the Ninja 1000s Connies were made out of, helped pioneer stick coils and is a flat out wizard.  So I got everything together, turned the key, cracked the throttle and NOTHING.  Grrrr.  Check everything, tighten battery terminals (but idiot lights and running lights were already bright).  Try again.  NOTHING.  Hmm, old battery with fresh distilled water in it, but just in case....get battery out of running C10, switch them out, try three.  NOTHING.  Bike is in neutral, but just in case, let's pull in the clutch lever this time.  Slow turning over sounds, no fuel pickup.  OK, different problem but had it before-carb bowls likely dried out while the bike sat for a month.  Pull everything out of air box, few squirts of starting fluid.  Bangy bangy motorcycle noises.

Well, it wasn't that good.  This morning I come back from some early morning Bible Study and meetings to run the bike to the shop.  Bike barely wants to run, even after more starting fluid.  So I spray in some carb cleaner too and it still wants to cough and die.  Repeat.  Repeat again.  Alternate starting fluid and carb cleaner, finally get bike to respond to throttle.  Still won't start with clutch lever out, so that switch is likely dead and I'll be looking for a scavenged one in my parts pile tonight.

Good thing some mechanical therapy and frustration is a good change of pace from my normal work frustration, or this would drive me nuts!

Upcoming posts

OK, not much to this post, just a preview of some topics I want to cover this week:

Concours C-10 Bodywork project update
Further restoration of the 1994 Concours including tank lock and leak repairs
Troubleshooting of the 1986 Concours electrical problem by the pros at Poway Motorcycle
Hopefully some riding!

So stay in tune if you are looking for Concours info as I'm probably not doing any work on the Honda chopper project until December.

BikeBandit Daily Deals and Tires and Tubes on SALE!

Just a quick post, as I saw a great Daily Deals e-mail from BikeBandit this morning.  The latest street riding gear is on sale-some up to 43% off.    The specific Daily Deal is a Scorpion EXO 500 helmet for only $139.95 with free shipping, like all BikeBandit orders over $99.

Also they are running great deals on tires and tubes, so if you need some new tires for late fall and winter riding, or new tubes and tires for your dirt and dessert tires now that those seasons are upon us, click on one of my links to visit BikeBandit, check out the deals, and help out my affiliate marketing program with them.  You can also pick up shop tools for your garage and parts needed for that next round of motorcycle maintenance you know you're going to have to do sometime soon.

Have a great weekend with family, friends and riding!  I know I am.

"Belle of the Ball" my 1994 Connie back on the road and turning into Frankenbike

Necessity is the mother of invention, and also sometimes the motivation for motorcycle repairs.  I've been slowly restoring my 1994 Concours.  It's definitely been more "slowly" than "restoring".  Well, recently my 1986 Connie suffered some electrical issues and my truck stopped running right (probably fuel delivery, but possibly carbs).  So I moved some parts back to the 94, put other parts back on, and got it running right.  Tonight I rolled "Belle" over 15,000 miles.  Yep, a 1994 with not even 1,000 miles per year, when some folks do Iron Butts on these bikes and rack up 1000 miles in a day!

The bike is known as "Belle" as right now she is nowhere near the Belle of the Ball as there are missing and cracked parts, road rash on the belly pan, missing bolts on the windshield.  To top that off, I'm using a red 1984 gas tank on a purple and grey bike.  And it's going to get worse before it gets better.  You see, the Concours main fairing is notorious for cracking around the turn signals, and this one is no exception.  Matter of fact, the 1994 main fairing is so bad both turn signals are held in by epoxy.  Well, were held in-the left one fell out last ride (back in August).  Fortunately it fell back into the bike as the wiring held it on.  Duct tape didn't work, so I checked out the old parts Connie main fairing I had kept.  Not only does it have the least damage of any of the three mains I have, it even has the turn signal screws in the threaded posts!  Woo hoo.  I'm going to clean it up and move everything from the main fairing on Belle to this one.  So I'll basically use parts from 3 Connies to make one-but when this Frankenbike is finished, I'll have one of the lowest mileage Concours C10s on the road!

Quick update related to yesterday's post and time to do some BikeBandit shopping

Yesterday I FINALLY got back in the wind and it had probably been over a month since I have ridden.  I sold my Sportster earlier this year, had the 1994 Connie apart for restoration, and then lost the headlight on the 86 Connie.  So I started troubleshooting the 86 but couldn't solve the problem quickly, as I detailed in earlier posts about electrical gremlins.  I was going to scavenge parts from the 94, but that didn't work either.  Short on time and traveling for work, I began using my truck.  One week turned into two, into more work travel and next thing I know I hadn't ridden in far too long.  Monday my truck decided to also not run right (it's old, carbs still aren't quite set-up right, blah blah blah) and I had to get something else on the road.

So I did, and riding yesterday was great!  Sure some of it was riding in evening rush hour traffic, but at least I was on a bike!  Being in California, I also could "filter" or lane-split/share, a huge benefit both time and sanity wise.  Having not ridden I am adding a few extra miles to rides even.

With all that said, I realized I haven't changed the oil in "Belle" the 94 since I bought her in February and have no idea how long the oil was in the bike before that.  I need a filter and some parts for the CB 750 project bike, so I'll be on BikeBandit later today getting some motorcycle maintenance supplies.  I'm looking to do a Concours oil change, re-assemble the Honda CB750 as a rolling chassis at a minimum.  Depending on time and having another strong back to help I may even re-install the engine.  But I also want to ride!

Keep it dirty side down-or if you run rat bikes or beater-style, dirty side up and down!

Two Connies to make one

Today I'm riding the 1994 Concours (aka Connie) for the fourth time since buying it earlier this year.  It's slowly getting restored, but last night I had to press it into service.  I still haven't tracked down the electrical gremlin on the 86 and my shop truck, the 1975 C-10 stepside started acting up.  The truck lost power going up hill under a heavy load, including almost stalling out while headed uphill on a freeway.

So last night I moved some parts back to the '94 I had moved to the '86 for troubleshooting, re-installed some fairing pieces and tried to fire the bike up.  At first it wasn't getting gas, as the carbs had sat since August.  Soon some fuel was flowing and after a minute or two of rough running the bike started idling.  I put the seat on, rolled it off the lift, got the safety gear and took it out for both a short test ride and a tank of fresh gas-in the '86s red tank!  So I'm running around in a partially "naked" (i.e. no mid and lower fairings-those are still being prepped for paint) Concours with mostly purple and silver bodywork but with a red tank.  But it runs safely and I'm on the road!

Ride safe!

ABS Plasitc bodywork repairs

My 1994 Kawasaki Concours has some damaged bodywork from previous owners having a small wreck and being laid down at low speed.  The side panels and the belly pan all had scrapes and damage on them although the paint is in pretty good shape.  Since I can't do bodywork and these are old bodywork made out of ABS plastic, I reached out to a friend of mine.  He had helped me repair a previous dent and looked forward to trying ABS work.

A few weeks ago we had a planning and evaluation get together.  We went to NAPA and looked at options, and the best one was getting fiberglass resin but not use any cloth.  Work got in the way for both of us, so we weren't able to get back to the project for too long.  So one night he experimented without me.  He laid a thin layer of the resin on the damaged areas and let it set up.  So yesterday I went over and we looked at the parts in the bright San Diego sun.  By "flowing" the resin across the panels the long scrapes were built up and the cracked areas were sealed together.  They aren't fuzed like ABS plastic welding would have done but they seem to be stiff enough.  He handed me a vibrating sander with 220 grit paper and I went to work on them.  I learned a good lesson after hand-sanding all my bikes previously!  I'm shopping for a sander soon!

We also cleaned up some areas with a dremel tool and checked the parts back and forth.  The usual rule of thumb applies-sand at least 1/3 more time than you think you needed to.  The resin worked really well for this project after the first sanding, so Larry mixed up a small patch of the leftover resin and activator.  We spread another thin coat on the low spots and set the parts out in the sun.  The next step will be to get the parts from Larry's and sand them with both 220 and 400 grit prior to filler priming.

I hate to say it, but Larry is going to make these parts look brand new-which means I'll be crying when they get the road scars I know this bike will!  It's stable mate is my 100K project bike and it's definitely picked up it's share of rock chips, scrapes and other "road trophies".

1986 Kawasaki Concours Electrical Gremlin Update

Back home from a week traveling for work and visiting family but not on the bike.  Connie battery dead-very little charge.  I think I either put this battery in when I bought the bike, or it was in it when I bought it in early 2010.  Since the bike sat for two years it's old but also been used.  I still haven't found the short or other reason the front headlight won't come on, so I'm going to start by pulling the battery off the 1994, putting it on trickle charge and then prepping to go through the front wiring harness and headlight circuit slowly and painstakingly with a multi-meter.

I have rarely done electrical work, and never this kind of trouble shooting.  Ugh.

Kawasaki Concours electrical gremlin

So, how would a gremlin bell/biker bell look on a classic sport-tourer?

I've developed an electrical problem somewhere between a likely near-death battery and the headlight on my 1986 Kawasaki Concours.  I'm not a very good mechanic, and I'm even worse when it comes to electrical problems.  So tonight I'm sitting down with a cool glass of water, my pipe and the instruction manual for my Harbor Freight multi-meter.  Then I'm slowly going through the headlight circuit, left handlebar switch and anything else I can think of to find what's wrong.  I've got to get this bike back on the road-not only is it my running bike, much more economical than my 1975 stepside Chevy truck, it's also getting close to the 100K mile mark!

I'll update the blog later once I get a working headlight on this bike!

I recently updated my CJ (formerly Commission Junction) account and found out CaseLogic is now an affiliate marketing partner.  I signed up, and have added a link in the text above.  Banner ads aren't loading tonight, so I'll update the banners tomorrow or Monday.  While many of my friends are knife guys (or gals) the knife ads just weren't generating any sales.

Need a case for your iPhone?  Click the link above and I'll update the banner ads
Need a laptop sleeve because you ride with your laptop in your top case?  yep, got those, and learned the hard way why a sleeve or more is required for your lap top if your bike is also your office!

Lots of other great products-camera cases, laptop bags, etc etc etc as Yul Brynner used to say!  Happy shopping and remember 10% of every commission goes to Run for the Son or Winterhawke International Childrens Rescue

Time to get serious about the 86 Kawasaki Concours oil leak

My Connie has been leaking for a long time and I've finally ordered the o-rings I think will fix it.  I originally thought it was leaking from the water pump area.  But the more I looked at it and put up with the leak I realized it was leaking from somewhere higher up on the engine.  The next logical point from how the oily areas look and where I have to clean is the starter shaft.  There are two o-rings-the smaller one is the likely culprit but since they are about the same price and around $6 each from BikeBandit (shameless plug-I am an affiliate marketer, click a banner and buy lots of stuff!) I got them both.  In the past, BikeBandit has gotten parts to me very quickly, sometimes the next day from ordering.  Since I ordered late at night on Tuesday I'll bet they come in Thursday.

Wish me luck-I will probably install them Friday night.

In the wind or in the air!

One little blade connector....

My Kawasaki Concours headlight has been giving me fits.  Earlier this week it flat out stopped working, and has intermittent getting home last night.  Not the safest operation, but due to the trailer I own with some friends being on another task this week I had to get it home somehow.

Well, today on the ride in to work it wouldn't come back on.  When I got stopped, one connector was way loose.  I shut the bike down, took the gloves off and tried to adjust it.  "tink tink tink thud" but very faint.  Looking down into the headlight housing/main fairing area I notice a bare wire sticking up.  I kneel next to the bike and there on the ground is an old, beat-up blade connector that wasn't there earlier.  GREAT.

Going to scavenge a pair of needle nose pliers from the restaurant row/Starbucks here if I can and at least try to get it back on.  If not, will have to go to plan B.

2nd Annual EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run Ride Route

This Saturday we will hold the 2nd Annual EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run here in San Diego.  Last year we had 202 participants and raised $7,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation and the EOD Warrior Foundation.  This year we are hoping for a much larger turn-out and raising even more money for these great charities in honor of the heroes who perished on August 6th, 2011 during the EXTORTION ONE SEVEN mission.

The ride begins at Sweetwater Harley-Davidson in National City CA, with registration at 8:30AM (0830 for the military guys!).  Kick stands up (KSU) is 10:00 (again, 1000 hours, there Devil Dog!).  The ride ends at the "new" San Diego Harley-Davidson on Morena BLVD, with a short memorial service at 3PM/1500 then the raffle prizes and a band.  There will be a high-hand and low-hand prize, raffles including one complete AR-15 and one build kit, knives, gear, range time and a 50/50 drawing.

Looking forward to it but also have a lot to do as a ride committee member!

Here's a link to the route-pretty scenic with a minimum amount of freeway miles! EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run Ride Route

And so it begins-new to me CB750 project bike in the storage shed

A friend and his wife recently let me know he had a project bike for a chopper build.  Unfortunately he won't be riding anymore, as I met them after he was in a very bad motorcycle wreck.  He is being medically retired from the Marines and didn't want to move the bike back across the country and offered it to me.  Not wanting to take advantage of his misfortune, I offered to trade for it instead of just picking it up.  Saturday I took a Fender 12-string guitar and one of my custom cigar box guitars to their house and picked up the bike parts he had.  He threw in some Harley take-off parts, mainly some pipes and heat guards, but I left the quick release parts for Harleys as they could sell those quickly.

What he had was a torn down Honda CB750.  While many of the smaller parts were left at their long-term home by the military movers, the main parts are all there.  Tight 1976 single overhead cam engine, frame, front forks with wheel and tire, rear tire and sprocket and a few other pieces!  Since the rear swingarm and shock weren't included, the first order of business will be either replacing that or getting a weld on hardtail to make it a "roller".

So the bottom line is I own a cruiser again after a month or so of not having one but it's in parts in my storage shed.  The plan is to finish restoring the 1994 Connie while riding Miss Swail, my 1986 Connie while planning what the first version of the CB 750 will be and accumulating parts.  Next winter I'll assemble the chopper at least to a street legal and running bike, then sort out what to make it into.  Initially I'm planning on my standard black rattle can paint job, wrapped pipes and no frills.

I'm guessing it will cost me about another $1000 to get to that point, meaning I'll still be under $1500 since the 12-string was a Craigslist find and the cigar box guitar was probably only $50 in parts or less to make.

Let's get choppin'!

Phooey-not riding today

Another beautiful Saturday here in San Diego, but I've got lots to do, and almost none of it is motorcycle maintenance!  Cleaning out garage slowly but surely, replacing the strings on a 12-string guitar I'm trading for a chopper project bike (more on that if it happens!) and other similiar projects.

Not fun, but has to be done.  Later.

EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run route check and other musings

Saturday I went out on my first long ride in a few weeks.  I super-slabbed down to Sweetwater Harley-Davidson where they were getting ready to host a wounded warrior type event.  I got to speak with Jim Greenwood, a long-time friend and their event manager.  While he was very busy with the upcoming event later that morning we visited briefly and he put out more flyers for the EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run on August 2nd, 2014.  I walked around a bit talking to a fellow CMA member and other riders.  When their ride took off it was also the same time as our "kick stands up" KSU time, so I rolled out to pre-run our route.  We aren't changing things up too much through the card stops, but I also wanted to do some riding!  Since I have "Columbus Disease" I also wanted to ensure the route wasn't too technical, had too much traffic or hard to find turns.  Actually it's the opposite-many of the turns are at "T" intersections, so even without stars, a sextant and charts I was able to run the route.  We also avoid freeways for 2/3s the mileage, so it will be a good nearly 90 mile ride between the two dealerships.  The ride ends at the new San Diego Harley-Davidson dealership.  So if you are anywhere near San Diego the first weekend in August, come out August 2nd to the 2nd Annual EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run!

The third card stop is the Poway VFW Post 7907, aka "my post" as I am a lifetime member.  For a number of years I knew we had a motorcycling living legend as a member but had never met him.  Well, Saturday as I enjoyed a short break from the ride and a cup of coffee, one of my friends said, "You know Everett is here, don't you?"  I said no as I hadn't met him so I didn't recognize which WW II vet across the bar he was.  So I was introduced to Everett Brashear, AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame member and fellow Naval mine-countermeasures warrior!  88 year's old but still sharp and has a grip that nearly broke my hand.  I wish I hadn't been on a timed run or I would have stayed half the afternoon listening to his stories of working for just about every motorcycle maker of note and helping clear south Pacific islands of mines during and right after World War II.  I hope to see him at the post again, and want to invite him to be an honored guest "dealer" at the card stop.

Sunday I didn't ride nearly as far but after supper went out to the bike to ride him and noticed it had cooled off just enough to be great for riding.  So I turned left instead of right and took a short loop I enjoy riding.  On the way out I noticed a Dad with at least one daughter riding a pee wee sized dirt bike.  I smiled inside my helmet and made a note to slow down on the way back.  Well sure enough on the way back I saw it wasn't just one little girl on a small dirb bike, but her sister was also turning laps around their field, but she was on a dirt bike with training wheels!  What an awesome Dad-so I slowed enough to shout, "You win awesome Dad of the weekend!" which made him smile.  So the cycle begins again-Everett Brashear telling me of his racing exploits before any of us were born while a Dad teaches his little girls how to ride and potentially race.

In the wind, or in the air-

2nd Annual EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Ride is a go!

After a slow start due to some fairly major medical issues for our Committe Chair, we are proud to announce "it's on like Donkey Kong"!  This year there are a few big changes-both Sweetwater Harley-Davidson (for the second year) and San Diego Harley-Davidson are hosting start and stop points.  We also have a full AR-15 and a mostly complete AR-15 and many other raffle prizes.  Route is still being developed but it's going to head east out of Sweetwater HD, hit some crooked roads, ensure everyone gets some smiles per gallon before heading over to SD HD.



2nd Annual EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run Flyer

All proceeds go to benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation and the EOD Warrior Foundation, two great charities that help out fallen SEAL and EOD techs' families and injured warriors.  We will be honoring and memorializing the SEALs, EOD techs, support specialists, aircrew and military working dog that were lost on August 6, 2011 on a mission to aid Army Rangers fighting a much larger number of insurgents in Wardak, Afghanistan.  There will be a short observance at the end of the ride to honor these men and K9 who gave their utmost for our freedom and for the people of Afghanistan.

It should be a good ride and event for a great cause.  Hope to see you there!



It's National Ride to Work Day, motorcycle edition

I know it's too late for many of you, and it rushed up on me this year, but today is National Ride to Work Day!  It's always the third Monday of June-I guess June for all of those who can't ride to work year-round like many of us in San Diego do.  It's still amazing to me that we only have 364 riding days a year out here.  I probably have ridden on every calendar day of the year over the 12 years of riding in San Diego.  While I haven't ridden every day of a year straight (yet), over the years I probably have every day covered.

So I rode to work today, my usual commute.  Unfortunately I didn't see an unusually high number of bikes, but many folks do commute by motorcycle already.  Here's a link to the national organizations website.  If you still have a chance, go on some kind of ride today, especially riding to work!

Painting the bike trailer

Just a quick post tonight.  Don't want the blog to go too long without some sort of post, but this one isn't about motorcycle maintenance or the Trackside Wheel Chock.  Those are the closest topics to building a following for this sparsely read blog.  This post isn't even about a neat ride, although today I did my usual short loop and until I ran down some traffic I was cruising along smoothly and a bit faster than normal.

Nope, today was more a "work on bike stuff" day than "ride the bikes" day.  Local CMA chapters here in San Diego bought a motorcycle trailer from one of our members when he was selling it.  The trailer normally stays in my driveway, and rust was starting to take it's toil on the railing and get more severe.  I began sanding and roughing up the old paint and had primed the trailer a few weeks ago.  Today was my first opportunity to re-paint it, and with some help from my eldest daughter we got the first coat of black Rustoleum paint on it.  While it would look much better sprayed, I can't risk overspray where it is, and the trailer won't fit in my improvised paint booth (as shown in this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN2-bM2D3V0  at least from the inside-all it was is an easy-up with paint drop sheets alligator clipped to the top).  So we're brushing the paint on just to get it covered.  It's a 50/50 paint job: At 50 feet or at 50 MPH it looks ok!

Hope you had a good Father's Day and good riding.

Just sold the 1999 H-D Sportster

So tonight a young man and his brother-in-law come by to look at the Sportster.  I notice a USMC tattoo on his arm and ask when he was in.  He says a bit and it comes up that I came from a USMC Retirement Ceremony today.  I start to say who it is, and he finishes the sentence for me.  Turns out they know one another from car clubs and other get togethers, so we chat about that while they check out the bike.

Needless to say, any former Marine from the past decade is likely a combat vet, and he is.  He was definitely interested in the bike and his first offer is reasonably, so I give him the "fellow vet discount" and the bike is now his.  I hope he enjoys it as much as I have!

Selling my 1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883

Due to having three bikes and only riding the Sportster a few times a month, I have decided to sell it.  I love the bike and always smile riding it, but 3 sets of registration and insurance just aren't making sense.

I have it listed on Craigslist out here in San Diego:  http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/4508191974.html
and here's a picture of the bike:

1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster for sale

As you can see, some customizing done.  I like the clean understated but non-stock look.  Asking $2999 with current tags and clean title in hand.  Thanks!

"Wheelin' Wednesday" AND preview of "Rule 5 for Building a Blog Following"

A while ago I posted about the fifth rule of building a blog following, which is include pictures of women routinely in your blog.  Whether the pictures are related to the topic or not, some bloggers feel this will increase viewership, but that isn't what I want to do on this blog.  Instead, in that post and going forward, I want to feature women motorcyclist.  I am fortunate to know many lady riders from my wife who had an "M" endorsement before I ever did to some pro and nearly pro racers.  In between are women who ride for recreation, those who ride on the street, canyons and track, one who is an exceptional instructor, and the lady who will likely be the first "virtual interviewee", Michelle Voigt.  Michelle is a highly skilled rider, local meet-up and FB page organizer, and retired Navy Chief Petty Officer.  She has agreed to an e-mail interview, as we have found catching up with each other in person is nearly impossible!  Last year it took us three months and multiple events to even say "Hi" and another month to finally have a real conversation-she's that busy!

So in keeping with "Rule 5" but also tastefulness, and a riding pic for the blog, here's a picture of Michelle railing it out on CA 94, one of San Diego's best "playgrounds" for motorcyclists.

Wheelin' Wednesday-not a good spot to wheelie! (MV on CA 94)

Update: Cycle Gear Trackside Roll On Wheel Chock on sale through 7/7/2014

Seeing that my CG Trackside Roll On Wheel Chock review is my most read and most searched for blog post, I wanted to post a quick update tonight as I looked through my Cycle Gear June 2014 catalog.  As they often do, the chock is on sale until July 7, 2014 for $69.99, a savings of $70.  This is the normal sale price, and at this price I think it is a good value.  The chock holds the front tire and wheel of most motorcycles securely (some may say "Too securely") with the bike upright for storage, motorcycle maintenance or customization.  I have stored a bike in mine for way longer than I'd like to admit (2 years maybe) and for routine maintenance and checks.  Some people report bolted the chock to their trailers to transport their bike with added tie-downs, which I also think would work.

So if you were waiting until it went on sale, use this opportunity to pick up a chock at the sale price!

2 ride reports-Clint August's May Ride and a 300 mile trip

Tonight's post isn't going to have anything to do with customizing motorcycles or motorcycle maintenance, as I post frequently enough on those topics.  So today I'll mention the two rides I did this weekend and later I'll try to update or post a photo album from Saturday's ride.

Saturday was a busy day in San Diego County for motorcyclists, as it always seems to be.  First, John "SoLow Cali" So's viewing and memorial were happening.  Lots of the sportbike riding scene was going to be doing that, but due to other commitments and illness I decided to let my brothers in the Godspeed CMA chapter cover the services.  Another event I couldn't make was "BACA by the Bay", an event by Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA).  This is a family event supported by many clubs, groups and riders, and I know a few of the BACA guys and gals and think highly of them too.  While it would have been fun to check it out, as a multi-day camp-out, just "dropping in" sometimes isn't good form.  The third big event was the 17th Annual May Ride, AKA Clint Black's May Ride 17, and a bunch of other names.

Put on by local on-air personality Clint August and hosted by Biggs Harley-Davidson, this is a huge event honoring military personnel in San Diego and deployed, and this year due to our recent firestorm first responders.  It is a poker run/bike show/car show/vendor fair/live music extravaganza and the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) was going to have a booth again this year.  Since it's tough to keep a booth manned all day, especially as hot as it gets on asphalt when we've had a Santa Anna, I volunteered to be afternoon relief and help tear down.  So I didn't do the poker run, which was ok as I never do well (pair of 8s, again?!!?)  I got there a little before noon and it was already packed.  The first group from the poker run had come back in and there were already 50-100 bikes in the parking lot.  Ha ha ha foolish me-before long it would be packed with 6 rows of bikes, probably about 500-600 in all.  Vendors of all sorts were there-clubs, clothing, motorcycle accessories, fundraisers, games for the kids, food.  Oh yeah, food!  Mike's BBQ, cookies, cupcakes and sno cones were all available, plus raffle prizes.  Biggs had all their bikes on display and the service bay was very busy as well.  Great event and I look forward to participating every year from now on.  I rode my 1999 Sportster to Bigg's from the house, about a 45 or so mile round trip with some earlier riding and the bike ran great.

Today I took a three-hundred mile ride up to San Luis Obispo on the Kawasaki Concours, the "Connie" or Miss Swail.  This is the bike with the oil leak (she's been parked next to a Sportster too long I guess!) but seems to run just fine if I check the oil and top it off every now and then.  Since this was a longer trip than I like to make on the Sporty, I gave it a shot, and wasn't disappointed.  The bike never over-heated and ran like a champ.  I was able to get off the interstate about 1/3 the way up and rode State 154 for the first time.  Once past some slow traffic it was a great ride, and despite a fuel gauge approaching "E" I made it fine.  I got about 250 miles of mainly freeway speed riding out of the tank before going on reserve and was able to get to a gas station 10 miles later, so no worries there.  The new highway pegs worked great, and along with the throttle lock make the bike pretty much set-up for a potential Iron Butt ride.  300 miles didn't seem to be too bad, but I'm a little sore tonight so I'll keep that in mind as I consider the Iron Butt.  I'd recommend using 101 and 154 to get up the western side of California, but be aware 154 does have some 1 lane areas that are slow if in traffic.

That's all for tonight, hope you had good safe rides this weekend as well!

Kawasaki Concours C10 Highway Peg Installation complete

Recently I found a near neighbor selling a collection of parts and motorcycle maintenance supplies for 1986 to 2006 Kawasaki Concours on Craigslist.  Not only were there some maintenance supplies I know I would use, the item that really interested me were a set of Kevin Baker Highway Pegs.  These are considered the "best" highway pegs for Connies and are the only ones Murphy of Murph's Kits sells.  It is likely these pegs came from Murph's once upon a time, and I first wanted to see about buying just them.  Well, the seller really wanted to sell everything locally, and no one was more local than me.  I posted the parts list up on the COG Forum and starting getting enough interest to swing the deal.

So yesterday the seller and I agreed on a final price, I went over with cash in hand, and went home with lots of parts.  After packaging up a few of the orders, I took a closer look at how to mount the highway pegs per some advice on the Connie Forum linked above.  The lower radiator mounting bolts go through the engine into the bracket and are where the supports for the highway pegs go.  These are significant bolts with 14mm heads and likely haven't been removed from my bike until last night.  NOTE: Be careful breaking these bolts free!  Have a friend hold the bike or otherwise support it or you might become a "CDA" member.  Once these bolts are out, the highway peg mounting post screws into their place.  I used an adjustable wrench but a large box-end wrench would work too.  A small extension arm then mounts in place with what I seem to remember is a 19mm bolt and two "teeth" washers.  Finally the footpegs attach to the other hole in the extension arm.  Once everything was in place I tightened both the bolts passing through the extension arm with about a 45 degree angle forward and down in the arm.

One challenge is the left side mounting post has to clear both the engine case and the radiator hose, so it may take a few more minutes to get into place than the right side.  Also, I ride this bike without lower and mid-fairings, so no removal or trim work was required.  Standard 86 side fairing will require trimming/cutting and some 87-06 fairings may require a small amount as well.

So far I have a few short rides and like the pegs, although another inch or so on the extension (assuming it would still be rigid enough) would likely benefit most riders.  I'm 5'10" with a 32 inch inseam and consider myself an average size guy.  If I have the arch of my foot on the peg my knees are still fairly bent.  By resting my upper heels on the peg my legs are straight.  Still I'm quite happy with them and look forward to my upcoiming road trip to test them out.

Finally found the oil leak on my Kawasaki Concours C10

For the past few months a progressively worsening oil leak has developed on "Miss Swail", the older of my two Connies and the main rider of my bikes.  Oil was getting everywhere on the lower left side of the bike and occasionally dripping on the exhaust tubes (which smells great!).  With oil and oily residue/grit all over the lower end, the culprit for the leak could have been anything.  The bike ran as strong as ever, and the slight coolant leak from my change highlighted in this YouTube video has seemed to stop with some re-tightening of hose clamps.  So off I went to the Concours forum and got out my Clymer manual and a bunch of rags.

Working out to in, and botttom to top, I cleaned lots of road grime off the pegs, the shifter level, the driveshaft and the kickstand, which had served as a "gutter" when the leak was particularly bad and the bike sat a bit too long.  As I wiped areas down, I checked for grit and grime and brown fresher oil.  While not fool-proof troubleshooting, it normally helps to isolate the leak to an area instead of "somewhere in here" while waving hand at the lower left side of the bike!  Fortunately the area around the bevel gear housing was only gritty, saving me a major tear-down that requires removing the rear wheel, the driveshaft and the swing-arm.  More wiping and using rags on small but long screwdrivers showed the leak coming from behind or around the water pump.  I cleaned the whole area particularly well and then let the bike sit overnight.  It hadn't run in nearly three days, so it was cool and no wind driven oil would show up.

The next afternoon a small puddle of oil was back on the drip tray, right under the exhaust just below the water pump and shifter shaft.  Since the shifter shaft has to come off to work on the water pump, this is where I'll focus on the first attempt to fix the leak.  It only seems to be leaking about a oil bottle capful of oil a day, and that when the bike has sat.  I went for a 15 mile or so ride this morning and will see how it leaks as it cools.

I'll also post some pictures and video of the seal repairs when I complete them, but that is likely not for a few weeks due to work travel.

Just "De-oil" With It and First Ride on new-to-me 1996 Connie

As I got ready for a monster motorcycle maintenance session today, I told my youngest daughter I was going to degrease my 1986 Connie to try to find an oil leak.  So we started talking about why the term is degreasing instead of de-oiling, since in most cases we are removing mainly oil but sometimes grease, other lubes, brake and fork fluid, etc.  So "de-oiling" became our term, and one of us coined the phrase that is the title of this post-"Just De-oil With It".

The 86 Connie has a pretty consistent oil leak, maybe two, and is really dirty, gritty and nasty on the bottom of the bike from the oil getting everywhere and then picking up road dust, dirt and other junk. Besides not looking good and making the bike probably run a little hotter, it's starting to get on my pants when I ride.  I'd like to find the leaks and repair them.  Originally I wasn't going to if they had stayed small and I was closer to 100K, but I'm at about 92.6K and the leaks are sometimes pretty bad.  So I spent about an hour and a half wiping, cleaning and generally taking care of Miss Swail.  The final drive housing, aka the "pumpkin" used to be almost solid black!  It appears the leak is coming from the back of the water pump or the alternator shaft, which means a pretty major job.  Not routine motorcycle maintenance, but not pulling the bevel gear either!

I also got most the critical parts back on and working on the 1996 Connie.  The replacement front brake set isn't bleeding quite right still, but I was dying to take it on a test ride, and needed to get some fuel through the carbs, so I got the main fairing and mirrors back on, suited up and went for a short, conservative test ride, especially since I didn't have much in the way of brakes.  I had to cross Miss Swail's tank over, as "Belle's" tank leaks badly in the usual lower "corner" spot.  Very difficult to fix, so I may just move the tank over and repaint it when I retire Miss Swail.  It also appears the left front fork seal is failing, but I can try a few things and have an upgrade set of springs from the Connie forum.

Over-all a good day and I got a good deal done.  I'll look for leaks again tomorrow and see if any are more apparent.

Kawasaki Concours Projects weekend-started last night

After finally getting it titled and registered in my name, it's time to get the 1994 Concours on the road and get serious about finding and fixing the leaks on Miss Swail.  I actually got started on the projects last night, as I had some time and renewed desire to get the new front brake system on the 1994 bled.  Well it's still not wanting to completely bleed, so I moved on to re-installing the main fairing stay, main fairing and speedometer.

Here's a helpful hint for Connie owners that do alot of work on the front of their bike and often find themselves working alone:  If you take the main fairing off the stay and then the stay off the bike, you can do it by yourself much more easily than rigging a way to hold all the weight together.  I learned this sorting out the broken main fairing stay on Miss Swail.  So I ran up to Home Depot (the other H D) to get some replacement fasteners as some were missing or beat up.  I quickly mounted the main fairing stay (BTW the fairing to frame bolts are 8x1.25 and probably 20mm long, but I forget and am not in my shop).  Then it came time to mount the fairing.  Here it does get a little tricky with only one person, but I've found getting 1 of the 6x1.0 nuts on the two post "tabs" on each side will hold it in place while you insert the bolts on each side of the fairing, route wiring, and then add and tighten the other two nuts.  One thing I didn't do and I wish I had was I didn't wipe down the wiring harness with a moist rag to clean it up-between the blown brake caliper and dust it's a pretty big mess.  If it comes back off I'm definitely doing that.

Battery is dead from sitting since February, so I left it on the trickle charger last night and will re-install it, the main fuse (stolen for Miss Swail when I blew that one....) and move the good fuel tank over.  I'll try to fire it up and test ride it, soft front brakes and all, tomorrow afternoon.  Fortunately I live on a quiet street and have a parking lot right around the corner for testing, or I'd really sort the front brakes out first.  Due to the damage when the front left caliper blew, it may take a bit more work to get them right.  I'll post more as the work progresses, and as I hunt the leak on Miss Swail.

Great day to ride and Poker Run/motorcycle ride raffle prize idea

After a brief hot spell in San Diego County that set records, we're back to our usual beautiful weather.  The "heat wave" wasn't too bad, as we rode about 180 miles Saturday and only one stretch was particularly hot.  As part of CMAs annual Run for the Son the San Diego streetbike chapters did a big loop around the county, and while we rode down from Laguna to Campo and the 94 stretch from east to west it was a little bit warm but not too bad.  Tempuratures were in the high 80s and low 90s since we passed through in the late morning and got to the Barrett Junction Cafe around 12:30.  This is a stretch of road you sure don't want to ride at 3 or 4 in the afternoon in the worst of our summer/early fall!  This morning it's much cooler and the highs are back in the 70s for most of San Diego county.  Yep, as always, blessed to live out here at least weather-wise!

OK, here's the idea on a cheap if not free way to built a decent raffle basket for poker runs or other motorcycle rides.  Harbor Freight (www.harborfreight.com) always runs ads in motorcycle and car magazines, includes coupons in mailers, and generally has on-line ads that include freebies.  You can get one freebie per day, even if you don't make a purchase!  My current coupons include a magnetic tool dish, a "fluke" multi-meter, a clamp and other assorted tools.  Sure, none of these are professional mechanic quality, but you can't beat free.  If one of your group of riders lives or works near a Harbor Freight, why not swing by every week or two, grab one of the freebies and throw it in a box?  Every three months or so, you'd have a collection of items that would get a few tickets during a raffle.  While I didn't ask the manager of the Harbor Freight on Miramar Road here in San Diego, I bet if I nicely mentioned why I was collecting the items, they'd let me cash more than one coupon, or throw other stuff in.  It never hurts to ask, right?  BTW I am starting a box of items for this year's EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run.

Finally getting around to restoring the 1994 Kawasaki Concours, aka C10, aka "Belle"

Chipping away at lots of projects, life, work, taxes, hospital visits, friends with cancer, so the restoration project Connie took a back seat for two months.

Finally turned the corner on much of that, so back to getting the Connie running right, cleaned up, and on the road.  I'm shooting videos as I go, and here's the into one:

Lots to be done, but most of it is cosmetic.  I've already replaced the front brake system but need to bleed it better.  The next major issue to fix is the gas tank leaks-I either need to get it repaired, replaced or simply move my good one between both Connies to keep the carbs flowing well.

I'll post more updates as the restoration project progresses.

John "SoLow Cali" and Anna "Barbie" Event Report

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Update since this post has been searched often recently:  Today, 5/1/14, John passed away and at his bequest, his organs were harvested for donation to help others.  A large number of family and friends were together at Sharp Hospital.  There is a website for donations for final expenses, and there will likely be another ride but this time up in Long Beach.  Date is TBD, I'll post info here and on Facebook when I know something.

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Yesterday in San Diego I was able to participate in a fundraiser for John "SoLow Cali" and Anna "Barbie".  The couple was in a bad solo bike wreck a few weeks ago on CA-67, one of our regular riding areas.  Both sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalized.  They were popular riders in the local sportbike and stunting scene-John even taught bike handling and stunting skills at the routine stunt gathering and both were well-liked.

Family and friends put together a ride, family fest and cook-out, while other events have also been going on.  Yesterday morning a huge group of riders, sports car enthusiasts, supporters and family gathered at South Shore Park near Sea World San Diego.  There were probably 300 bikes-mainly sportbikes but a few cruisers and at least one fairly pristine Gold Wing 1500 with over 100,000 miles on it!  Many clubs rode in as well as lots of independent riders.  After a ride brief and a brief pause to let some folks gas up, one of John's family led the ride off in his S2000 sports car and cars and bikes streamed out for nearly 5 minutes.  I was there in my "shop truck" as I was hauling the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) bike blessing and hospitality booth supplies, but a few CMA'ers went out on the ride with all the other bikes.

A convoy of 7-8 cars and 1 bike went to Hospitality Point while the ride did a safe and calm freeway loop.  For the ride, stunting was prohibited to keep the large number of bikes safely moving through San Diego traffic.  The ride lasted about an hour, while we set up our booth and the grills were fired up at the end point.  Soon the roar of performance bikes could be heard and the riders arrived at Hospitality Point.  There had been one small wreck on the ride when an SUV cut through the line of bikes a little too close, and I think one bike tipped over as they slowed to a crawl entering the end point, but everyone was ok.  After a short thank you speech, the food lines formed and folks also bought raffle tickets for the many prizes donated by local businesses.  I sampled both the taco truck and the SD Rider Girls chicken skewers-both great, and the hot dog and hamburger line also did brisk business.

Folks from CMA got to bless a few bikes, make some new friends, and even help one rider whose clutch cable decided to fail at the end point.  Fortunate for him it happened while he was about to head home instead of on the road!  We couldn't make an expedient repair that held enough tension to actually get the bike running, so we loaded his bike in the truck and I was able to get him, his girlfriend and his bike back home.  I hope he can get a clutch cable, as it sounded like he's "two wheels only" or T.W.O. like a hardcore biker would be.  We're all bikers after all, even if the bikes are different styles.  If somehow he finds this page and still needs a clutch cable, click one of the links to BikeBandit-lightening fast shipping to San Diego as most orders are fulfilled here or in a nearby distribution.  Plus, as an affiliate marketer, I get a small commission, so thanks for the support!

As I got back to Hospitality Point, the stunters were heading out to the stunt spot, but I was able to return the tie-down straps we had been loaned.  I think one of the riders who loaned us a ramp and the tie-downs goes by "Gixxer Girl", so if any of the stunters read this, please pass on a "Thanks Again!" from CMA.  I need to reload my tie-downs in the truck!

Keep Praying for SoLow Cali and Barbie-many medical challenges still must be overcome.  Be on the lookout for other fundraisers and events, and I hope to see more of these riders at Bike Nights, club events and track days/races.

Mechanical fellowship, another front tire change-out and musings

Last weekend, my best friend and his wife (fellow CMA'ers) ordered a new front tire and inner tube from my affiliate BikeBandit store.  Her 2004 Harley-Davidson 1200C Sportster tire was getting pretty worn down.  She's a good rider, pushing the bike through the twisties safely and with skill.  So we needed to get the tire and tube and get them mounted before this weekend.  As usual, BikeBandit rapidly shipped the tire and the tube, both of them getting to my house within a few days even with the "Free shipping with $99 or more purchase" offer.  Gotta love quick delivery for free!


Due to some weather (yep, in SOCAL) and their church having Thursday night services, we put off the project until this afternoon.  Having just changed out my Concours front tire as posted here, I was confident we could knock this out pretty easily.  Two other confidence building factors were also part of my thinking.  First, my buddy is the better mechanic of the two of us-often he works on my bikes in my garage while I mainly hand him tools.  Plus, the pros at Poway Motorcycle knew we were coming and said they could mount the new tire and balance the wheel while we waited.


So he rides in, we get to work and before long we have an old, smooth tire and 21 inch spoked Harley wheel off the bike.  Here's the short list of what to do and sort of the order we did it in:


Remove axle and axle bolt trim covers
Loosen fork clamp bolt (need an allen key and I think a 5/8ths box end wrench)
Remove one set of fender bolts (again allen key and 1/2 inch box wrench)  I left one bolt in the fender just slightly pulled out to ensure it didn't move around much)
Remove brake caliper bolts and swing caliper off rotor, pad and secure in place.  10mm 12 spline bolts-yeah, suck it up and buy a special socket set.
Loosen axle nut-3/4 inch nut, put something stout in hole in axle on opposite side


Jack up Sportster and remove axle.  Done.  Of note, this Sportster's pipes run above the frame rails, which is a big improvement from my Sportster.  Makes jacking the bike up much easier!  We took the wheel to the shop, they mounted the new tire with the new tube and we re-installed everything.  With two sets of hands vice trying to do this solo, and only one brake caliper to re-install, it was almost quicker to put it back on as it was to take the wheel off.


Oh, did I mention a customer has a SWEET Kawasaki Concours he wants to get running to sell?  Oh brother.


Have a great weekend riding and wrenching!

One project done but more keep piling up

Yesterday I got the front wheel and new tire back from Poway Motorcycle and mounted them on the Concours.  This motorcycle maintenance project is not that hard, and all of it except the actual mounting of the wheel to the bike/lining up the axle is easily done by one person.  Actually it's probably best done by one person, but lining up the axle and getting it through forks, collar, wheel, speedo drive and other fork took some doing.  But I've got a brand new tire from BikeBandit on the bike.  This one will probably take me through to 100K.


Yesterday and today the new front tire and inner tube for my friend's 2004 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200C arrived, so we're going to pull that front wheel off the bike, run it to Poway Motorcycles to have the new tire put on (with a tube ready to go, just in case) and then remount it.  Should be a straightforward project, but one interesting difference is the star-headed bolts holding the brake caliper on the bike.  Not sure I have a wrench or socket that fits those.


I also still need to bleed the front brakes on the 1994 Connie, then re-mount the front fairing stay, accessories and front fairing to optest the bike.  One at a time....

You win some, you lose some

Last night kind of late I got started on two motorcycle maintenance projects on the Kawasaki Concours.  I needed the time in the garage, but was taking care of other things throughout the day and early evening.  So later than I planned I started the first project, which was pulling the front wheel and tire off of the 1986 Connie.  As usual, I had to get help getting the bike onto the centerstand, something I've only been able to do once or twice by myself.  I used a floor jack under the front of the engine to shift and keep the weight to the rear and then gathered the assorted tools to take the wheel off.  It's actually quite simple-6 mm allen key for the axle clamps, 10 mm allen key for the brake caliper bolts (on the older C10s-the newer one is a 12 mm head on the bolt), and a 12 mm allen key for the axle.  The speedometer simply unscrews and that's it.  So in no time at all I had the wheel off and ready to go to Poway Motorcycles today to have the new tire mounted and balanced.

So with a few extra minutes I attempted to bleed the replacement brake set on the new-to-me 1994 Concours.  This maintenance project took the rest of my time, and unfortunately the brake lever is just as spongey now as before I started messing with it.  This is the brake system I mounted back a little while ago (as I posted here) so it's obviously not a priority project!  I could make the excuse that bleeding brakes by yourself is hard (it is) but I've done it before.  So it's time to go through the whole system tightening banjo bolts and trying again.  Still a ways from taking the new bike on a test ride, but that's ok.  Well, sort of!

Update on my "low mileage bike"

Back near the end of December I rolled my 1986 Kawasaki Concours over 90,000 miles.  I wrote about it in this post where I compared the total mileage to how many miles per year that actually averages out to.  Well, due to way too much work travel, I just today noticed the Connie has 91,200 miles on it-less than 400 miles more per month.  Yes, I'm still trying to make this my first 100,000 mile motorcycle but at this rate it's going to take another 2 years!

At least I've now put 10,000 miles on the bike, and worn out the front tire that came on the bike when I bought it.  I was afraid the tire was going to dry rot, since I let this bike sit for nearly 2.5 years while remodeling our house, traveling and deploying for work, and riding my other bike.  But now the Connie is my main ride, as I think this is probably the most versatile bike I've ever owned.  I already have bought my next Concours, another low mileage bike.  The next one is a 20 year old C10 with less than 15,000 miles on it-less than 750 a year.  It's getting a full restoration while I ride the 1986.

If you'd like, comment with your bike, and how many miles you have on it-let's see some real high mileage bikes on here!

Kawasaki Concours C10 Front Brake System change-out

I've started restoring the 1994 Kawasaki Concours C10.  One issue that was apparent right off the bat was the front brakes were clamped to the rotors.  Shortly after buying the bike I pulled the left front caliper and found out that the seals were blown and one pad was worn down to nothing.  As I researched rebuild kits and read how to do it, I also searched the Concours forum for tips and tricks.  I also checked "The Emporium" where folks list bikes and parts for sale or needed.  Lo and behold, a member had a full brake set-up for sale for not much more than one rebuild kit!  By full, I mean FULL, from lever to pretty good brake pads!  So I ordered them and had him throw in some other parts including a matching clutch lever and master cylinder.  Time to schedule a major motorcycle maintenance project....

Unfortunately the parts came while I was on the road for work for what seemed like forever.  No bike riding, no motorcycle projects-these trips even went over weekends.  Finally at home last Saturday, I decided to ride my other C10 (Miss Swail) and put off the Connie repairs until tonight.  I was able to get some time this evening, so I put on some coffee, put the iPod in the speakers on shuffle and got to work.  I shot some video so I'll also make a YouTube video.  The old set-up came off very easily.  While the fasteners were dirty or worn, none of them were too hard to get out.  Things were still pretty messy, which is to be expected when doing maintenance on older and semi-neglected bikes.  The right side brake pads weren't too badly worn so hopefully the rotors are ok.  I checked out the replacement set-up, got the bolts from the old set I would need and went to work re-installing the set.  The right side brake calipers didn't want to cooperate and took most my time, but over-all everything went right back on pretty well.  I might pull them off and clean them up some more, but right now they are a big improvement cosmetically.  I still need to bleed the brakes fully, but the fluid in them looks brand new, another encouraging sign.

Here's the tools and parts you'll need if doing this job (and I'd bet 1980/1990s Ninja as well):

8, 10, and 12 mm wrenches (I have a three headed t-wrench that works great, but you'll still need box end wrenches for bleeder valves)
5mm allen key (for handlebar clamp)
phillips head screw driver for brake reservoir cover
DOT 4 brake fluid
rags

I didn't have to remove any lines or banjo bolts.  It took a little finagling to get the reservoir and lever past the throttle cables, but that was much easier than either disconnecting a brake line or the cables.

Goal is to get main fairing re-installed, move my non-leaking tank from the other Concours, bleed the brakes and do a road test.  Oh yeah, also need to change Miss Swail's front tire, so plenty of motorcycle maintenance projects still to do!

First ride in a month and upcoming motorcycle maintenance projects

I have been traveling for work almost every day for the past four weeks, and the one afternoon I was home was one of the rare Southern California rainy days.  So for nearly 30 days I hadn't ridden.  I had visited a Polaris shop, talked bikes with a few of our students and even received some replacement parts for the new-to-me 1994 Kawasaki Concours.  But I hadn't ridden.  Yesterday I pumped up the older Connie's tires, checked the fluids, rolled her out of the garage and tried to fire her up.  True to form she was a little hard to start, but since it's nearly summertime tempuratures here already she fired up on the third try and soon was idling nicely.  I let the Connie warm up a little bit longer than usual and was off.  The improvised bracket my buddy Glen and I made is holding up nicely-I'll probably pull it off when I move the tank to the 94 Connie for test rides and plasti-coat it, but for now that motorcycle repair worked well.  I rode on a few errands and took the long way home to my short twisty road "run" I do just to get some non-highway miles in as well.  I rode about 50 miles which was a good break-in ride after that much time off.

I've got a number of projects-both motorcycle maintenance and motorcycle repair-awaiting me.  The replacement parts I bought off of the Concours forum (a great resource for Connie owners) have been sitting in the garage.  I opened the box tonight and the front brake system looks great at first glance.  The centerstand is in much better shape than the one on the '94 Connie but not a priority.  If you've ever put a full-size sport-tourer on a centerstand you'll know why!  I'll likely do that project as "mechanical fellowship" with Glen.

The next project will be a new front tire for the old Connie.  The parts are on order from BikeBandit and should be here by the time we're ready to do the project.  My local indy shop where I have tires mounted and balanced isn't open tomorrow, so that motorcycle maintenance project is awaiting both the tire and the shop being open.  No rush as the current front probably has 500 miles plus left on it and I won't get to ride that much until this weekend at the earliest.

Other repairs need to be done to the bodywork on the older Connie, but that can wait.  I also need to service the Harley Sportster's K&N air filter, but the bike is out on loan right now for a friend who is rebuilding his bike's clutch.  I am in no rush to get it back what with these projects and also getting some riding in!

I'll post some pics and maybe a video or two to my YouTube channel, where there are a few motorcycle maintenance videos already.  And the Joe Namath/C.C. Ryder sandwich intro scene from C.C. and Company, probably my favorite biker exploitation movie!  Check it out if you get a chance.

Too long on the road-but not riding

I am finally near the end of nearly four straight weeks on the road for work.  The one day I was home not only did it rain but I had much more important business than riding or wrenching on motorcycles to take care of, including visiting some dear friends having a medical emergency/distressing news and spending some time with my family.

Which means as soon as I get home I have some deferred motorcycle maintenance to get done, and some riding to do!  The projects I know I have to do are:

Replace a Kawasaki Concours front tire
Remove/Replace other Kawasaki Concours front brake system
Bleed and adjust both Connie's clutch fluid (may just change both out)
Clean the K&N air filter on the Harley Sportster
Sort out linking tank on "new" Connie or migrate tank from bike to bike for test ride

Speaking of test ride, I need to ride too!  March 11th and so far ZERO miles ridden.  Blah.

New motorcycle maintenance videos coming soon

I just found two motorcycle maintenance videos on my tablet.  A few months ago I removed the front forks from my 1999 Harley-Davidson Sportser, took them to an independent shop and had the seals replaced.  I re-installed them, tightened everything up, and front fork is good as new.  I did the work back in October of 2013 and shot two short videos of the removal.  I even blogged a little bit about the fork seal replacement project, but never posted the videos to YouTube.  Since my YouTube channel is taking on a definite motorcycle maintenance theme, with both Sportster maintenance and Kawasaki Concours maintenance videos making up the majority of the uploads, I'll add these two videos as well.  Both are fairly short-one isn't even a minute long.

I don't go step-by-step into how to remove your front forks, but show enough that someone with basic skills and either the shop manual or a Clymer manual should be all over the job.  It was very easy-I was able to do the front fork removal project quickly on my floor lift but left the fork seal replacement to an independent shop I have used in the past.  He's a real pro and between not wanting to hassle with the forks at that time and give him some business it was a no brainer to take the forks and new seals to him.  He was able to squeeze the project in between some major work he had on the lifts.  The fork seals were really boogered up-if not the originals they were pretty close to that age.

In the second video I also disclose the true goal of any motorcycle maintenance project.  How's that for a teaser?  Hopefully my WiFi will speed up today and I can get them uploaded as both are 50MB and a 9MB e-mail attachment is in limbo.

Ride far!

Verification post

This post has nothing to do with custom Sportster motorcycles, motorcycle maintenance, riding with my CMA brothers and sisters (and eating ice cream!) or any other fun motorcycle topic like making a Kawasaki Concours C10 last for 100,000 miles.  Nope, it's a simple verification post, but if you've read this far, thank you!

A Big Day for the Blogs!

My three blogs will pass 10,000 hits in total today!  Sure, there are some blogs that get that many hits a day, but this is a milestone so I’m going to observe it.  After 6 years of rarely posting, finding a “voice” for my blogs, learning rudimentary search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and even starting to post YouTube videos, these blogs are “real” blogs, not just one or two posts.

I’ve learned the discipline working writers talk about is all too true, and the advice about capturing ideas when you have them.  One of the interesting side projects is that I am also publishing stock analysis articles on Seeking Alpha-which both improves my writing, my stock analysis, and hopefully my investment returns!

I’ll post a belated “Thursday Thought” later today-yep, reminded again on writing discipline!  Have a great day.

BikeBandit "Best of/Worst of the Season" Sale going on NOW!

In what might be a first that I've noticed, BikeBandit is having not on a "Best of" sale, but also having a "Worst of the Season Sale"!  Some of the items are downright scary-the 3-ring binder is pretty expensive-but I haven't bought fancy school supplies in a long time.

So here's the deal:  I'm an affiliate marketer with BikeBandit via Commission Junction, so if you click one of the links on this page, I'll get a commission based on your purchase.  You can take advantage of the BikeBandit sale (and as always, free shipping for orders over $99) whether you want some motorcycle gear, accessories, or motorcycle maintenance tools, parts or supplies.

We both win!  You don't even have to buy me a Ben Spies Bobblehead as a thank you!

Independent shop review: Liberty Cycles, Hinesville GA

My travels recently took me through Hinesville GA.  Right across the street from my hotel was a small Polaris dealership and custom/service motorcycle shop.  So for the first time in too long, I was able to visit a new-to-me indy shop, and this one fit the bill totally.  Original owner, long-time service tech, and blister-pack parts that have likely been on the walls since shortly after the shop opened.

Ken, the owner, was willing to chat, so we discussed a few different topics.  As a Polaris dealer for nearly 20 years, Ken was able to confirm some things I have learned researching Polaris as a company since they have re-introduced Indian Motorcycles.  Since he only sells Polaris quads, not motorcycles or snowmobiles/snowmachines (remember I was in Hinesville GA) he had a different perspective from the dealers I spoke with at the International Motorcycle Show or multi-line dealers in Southern California.  Ken told how he became a Polaris dealer.  Back in Desert Storm when many of the soldiers from the nearby base deployed, his maintenance, repair and customization business nearly collapsed.  A hunter from the nearby area brought his Polaris quad by for repair, and Ken and his service tech at the time noticed the quality of the vehicle and ease of repair compared to other quads.  He contacted Polaris, and over the next few years became a dealer.  Over 20 years, he has built a well-balanced business balancing service and accessory sales with Polaris quad sales.  I didn't get to ride any of the quads, but Liberty Cycles has a good selection of good looking vehicles.  Of not, I want to give them credit for an outstanding deal-if you bring your wheel in and the replacement tire, they will mount and balance the new tire for $20!  If you are anywhere near here, stop by and say "hello".  While I haven't used them, I'd bet you could get some motorcycle maintenance completed in a timely and cost-effective manner.  Hope I can throw some business their way.

Well, that's all for tonight-ride safe!