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!
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
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!
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!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
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.
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.
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