Another inexpensive tool worth every penny

I've removed the rear wheel and tire from most of my bikes at least once. For the shaft drive Kawasaki Concours, it's an easy if somewhat cumbersome process getting the wheel back in place and everything lined up.

For my Harley-Davidsons it's a completely different problem. I can imagine it's the same for chain drive bikes, but I haven't owned one in a long time. Getting the wheel into place and the axle through is fairly easy, as a rear wheel without a gear drive attached is much lighter. But then the fun starts, getting the proper chain or belt tension and the rear wheel and axle aligned so the bike tracks properly.

What a PITA! Being cheap, I originally didn't buy an alignment tool-how hard could this be? Really hard, so I broke down and bought a simple tool.

Best $16 I've spent on a bike ever! Get the tension you need, use the tool to mark the distance on that side of the bike (yes, Harley Sportsters but the belt on the "other side"!), go to the opposite side, slide axle into alignment, tighten everything, check again, torque everything and go for a "test ride"!

Full Disclosure, I am an Amazon Associate and will receive a small percentage of sales made through the link.

Cheap motorcycle tools that are very valuable for maintenance

Do you work on your own bike? Especially the routine maintenance that gives you time checking your bike and a feeling of accomplishment when you are finished with the task?

I do, and normally enjoy it and find it a good opportunity to check things out, spend some time doing mechanical things which is quite different than my normal day, and have that confidence that while I can't repair complex parts of the bike, I can take care of routine items myself.

The frustration comes when a project should be simple, but turns out to be overly complex or messy. One great example is changing the oil on a Harley-Davidson. Everything is pretty much right there out in the open. One hallmark of the Harley twin-v design is the oil filter placement forward of the front cylinder-looks good, works like a bit of an oil cooler, and makes accessing the filter for oil changes straightforward. Put an end cap filter wrench on, rachet drive with an extension and off it spins.

That's where things go wrong. About half a turn in and oil starts leaking out from the engine case all over the lower portion of the engine. I had tried all kinds of "solutions" on multiple twins-newspaper, cut up 2-liter "coke" bottles, tin foil. All worked to some degree, but all were also messy or a lot of effort for a simple job.

Then a friend let me borrow his oil change funnel kit. Available from a variety of manufacturers, these are purpose molded funnels that solve this problem, and the primary case fill problem too. A hard plastic funnel slides under the filter, has a drain and small rubber tubing to take oil right to your drain pan. A really good set is available on Amazon here, and for full disclosure (thank you nanny state) I am an Amazon Associate and get a few pennies if you buy from that link.

This is a simple tool, many companies offer a variety of them for less than $20, and the simplicity of doing oil changes with it is very welcome. I'll feature another simple but elegantly time-saving tool soon. Thank you for reading!

Test post and back to blogging

Just putting up a quick test post due to the new EU rules.

Hope to begin blogging soon-EXTORTION ONE SEVEN Memorial Poker Run is coming up, plus I have some ride info and other stuff to share.

Not really a bike related post-link to quality dry erase easel board for business use

I needed to capture and post this link somewhere, so it's ended up here in Bur's Biker Blog.  It's not really related to my motorcycling-matter of fact, having to move this board around when I present our financial education workshop will take away my ability to ride to the events!  But it's also showing progress in my business, so overall a win.

http://amzn.to/2DyyW4x

It's a Quartet easel dry erase board also sold under the Staples store brand.  In both cases, this is cheaper and for Prime users free 2-day shipping.

Joe Namath Biker Exploitation Movie "C.C. and Company" Opening Scene Still My #1 YouTube Clip

The classis scene from C.C. and Company where Joe Namath parks his chopper outside a grocery store, makes himself a sandwich, puts everything back and buys a pack of gum, is still my number one YouTube clip.  If you have never seen it, here's the link

Enjoy if you can't be out riding!

Wings of Eagles CMA Meeting, Chapter Ride, and Connie Updates

Yesterday was our last monthly CMA chapter meeting for the year, as we meet on the fourth Saturday of the month.  December meeting is always very close to Christmas Day, if not on Christmas, so we only have 11 meetings each year.  We had officer elections besides the normal business, and I will serve as Chapter VP and Road Captain for 2018 again.  No problem with that, as our President is returning and he does a great job.  Plus I'm getting used to Road Captain even if I'm not the most "let's go riding just for fun" member due to commuting on the bike and also many other interests and projects always going on!

Yesterday's ride was up and around some lakes in northeast San Diego County and I planned to lead us up Palomar Mountain.  Borrowing a trick I learned from track day and racing riders, I put tape on the inner fairing and tank with the directions as I hadn't ridden this route in awhile! Sure I could have dug the tank bag out and slid directions in the map pocket.  But this was easier as I haven't used the tank bag in probably two years, plus the bottom of the map pocket is too far back to keep my head up while riding!

We had a good ride-traffic was no where as bad as I thought it would be and the few cars in front of us were at least doing close to the speed limit.  I don't ride particularly hard especially leading a group, although the three riders with me could easily have kept up 5-10 MPH faster!  Two were some of the best riders in our chapter and the third was a guest with 65 years (yes, 65 YEARS!) of riding experience.  Due to concern we might have lots of "lookie-loos" on Palomar Mountain and the usual sportbike riders going much faster, we decided not to do that small detour-why you see some lined out directions.  Will take the tape off today-I left it on just for the pictures and hopefully it won't pull the CMA Bike Blessing stickers off at the same time.

We stopped in Santa Ysabel at the Julian Pie Company for pie/ice cream as always.  Like Rosa's Cafe and Tortilla Factory in Temecula, if our bikes are near there they turn in nearly automatically.  Maybe we should sell them to Tesla for autopilot tech!  While we were hanging out and enjoying our pie and ice cream, three C14 Concours pulled in, and it was the Concours Owners Group (COG) regional and area reps out riding!  I went over and introduced myself, we chatted for a few minutes, and I got their cards.  I'll likely rejoin COG and become active on the forum again.

When I got home I moved the 86 Connie, aka Miss Swail, off the lift and rolled the 96 up there.  Between watching/pausing the Auburn-Bama game (WAR EAGLE! Beat both #1 teams this year, now to beat Georgia again!) I did an oil change as I know I've ridden the bike 3,000 miles and who knows when it was done before that.  Pretty straightforward as always although messy-going to get a SPOOFAK, maybe for my birthday as the internal filter makes a mess.  The front drain bolt also is right by a line that will probably always get oil on it too.  Still better than where the filter is on most Harleys! 

Long update but it was a full day of CMA meeting and ride, meeting some COG officers and bike maintenance.  All good, and have a great riding day!

Great Weekend Riding and Upcoming Projects

Quick report on my busy weekend, about 350 miles of riding, and some projects I have coming up on the  bikes.

Saturday I was at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show (IMS) almost all day.  After meeting my CMA chapter for breakfast, four of us rode up there on our bikes while a few others "caged" there.  Only one wrong turn as the "trying to get fired Road Captain" and we made it in plenty of time to get the Helmet and Gear check going.  Only problem was we had less space than last year and no where near enough.  We had to shut the check down for about half an hour in the mid-afternoon, re-organize the helmets and consolidate a rack or three of jackets and then re-open.  Bummer, but the other option would have been to have gear tags out of order-a true recipe for disaster!

Sunday I participated in the El Cajon Harley Owners Group (HOG) Toys for Tots run.  Great event, great guys running it with lots of volunteers and a great cause.  Fun part for me was it was a "controlled ride" meaning we stayed as a group and had police escort.  However there were more intersections than Road Captains from HOG, so I started helping out.  Fun to do that every now and then as we "quickly" rode from intersection to intersection alongside the nearly 200 bike group.  Ride ended at Del Mar Racetrack where we rode in (quietly to not spook the non-iron horses) and had our own area.  Best part?  Nearly 2300 toys for Toys for Tots, and over $8000 that will also go for toys and gifts! 

After my annual pre-Thanksgiving Dinner ride before joining family at the in-laws, I have a number of projects on the two Connies.  The restoration bike (94, aka Belle) needs an oil change and general check-up, plus I may test fit the sanded and repaired bodywork. Belle's tank was going to go on the old 86 (Miss Swail) but the petcock leaks and trying to get it off one of the mounting nuts came loose from inside the tank.  UGH.  So I'm going to see what can be done with the old parts bike tank I've had sitting around.  It's nasty but if it holds gas it may have to do to get the bike sold and I'll let the new owner decide to use some gas tank sealant on it or buy a replacement on eBay.

Could you help me out and click this link for some metric T-handle wrenches?  Testing out the Amazon Affiliate program and would like to see how a sale or two works.  Thank you!

It's time for IMS and renewed my Amazon Associates Account (test)

The Long Beach International Motorcycle Show (IMS) kicked off tonight, and members of Southern California Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) are already up there running a complimentary helmet and jacket check.  I head up there with my chapter very early tomorrow morning as we share the Saturday AM shift.  It will be crazy as the weather is great and they are expecting huge crowds.  I'll report back tomorrow night.

Also, I just re-registered these blogs as part of the Amazon Associates program.  I guess I get a small "commission" on any purchases made through links, so will begin testing that out and periodically posting links without spamming my own blog!  here's a test one for Amazon gift cards-if you are so inclined to click through and buy one, I'd love to see how it works even if I only make a few pennies.  Thank you in advance!

Amazon Gift Card Link

Long Beach International Motorcycle Show (IMS) is in one week-and discount code!

Good morning yet again, handful of readers and bots!


The Long Beach IMS is less than ten days away-it's next weekend! Starting Friday night 17 November and running until Sunday evening, the show has steadily bounced back from the depths of the Great Recession and features all the manufacturers, vendors, motorcycling celebrities and more!

Cycle Gear is offering four dollar off ticket codes for the show-can't beat that, and no purchase is necessary.

Go to the IMS site and enter CG18 for $4 off admission, and when you get there, say "hello" to the CMA'ers working the helmet and gear check.  I'll be there Saturday morning with my chapter from San Diego.  Hope to meet you then!

Anyone else frustrated by California PNO rules?

Gotta DMV at the crack of early tomorrow to personally register the 1986 Connie (AKA Miss Swail) before selling her this weekend.  Since putting it on a Planned Non-Operational (PNO) when the registration expired in April, I've saved half a year's insurance but will likely "lose" that much in comparable vacation hours turned into pay for the time at the DMV.

Lesson learned with this second stint of having a PNO'd motorcycle take at least one trip, therefor one wait in line for an hour plus, to the DMV to register, I'm gong to think twice about putting a vehicle on a PNO, at least here in California!

Please share your thoughts and experience with PNO in the comments.

My three blogs and an idea for a new YouTube channel

I'm slowly starting to post again, and will be updating all three of my blogs with more content and new info over the next few weeks.  The goal is to finish strong in 2017 and roll right into 2018 with active blogs that actually get traffic.

here's the three blogs and topics:

http://burcma.blogspot.com Mainly motorcycling related but may sometimes also talk about cars

http://creationfitness.blogspot.com Work outs (both mine and sometimes hints from others), diet and nutrition and other related topics. 

http://bursthursdaythoughts.blogspot.com Short devotionals.  Normally but not exclusively published on Thursdays when new ones are posted

I'm also planning and starting to shoot short videos with quick tidbits for success I've come across reading and listening to speakers from co-workers to Earl Nightingale.  I should have the introduction video posted this weekend and maybe the first success pointer.  I'll post links to the channel when it's up and running.

Have you owned two of the same bike before?

Switched over from my 1986 Kawasaki Concours to a 1994 that I'm in the process of restoring.

While the 94 has some minor improvements, very little changed on these bikes for a 20 year run-amazing for Japanese makes in those days.  That's more a Harley-esque trait, doing very little to a model year after year after year.  For nearly 12 years, the only change was colors, and before that the only major change was a front end upgrade in the early 90s-better forks, brake calipers with dual pistons instead of only one, and a better looking fender.

But my point is I rode the 1986 over 30,000 miles, so when after a few month break I got on the '94, it was like not changing anything.  I was planning on taking it easy for a tank or two, but found I was riding along naturally and smoothly.

I'd appreciate your comments-have you owned two models of the same bike, or very similar, and was riding both of them this familiar?

In the wind or in the air,
Bur

Sold the Honda CB750F Project Bike Parts

Three years ago I traded a 12-string guitar and a custom cigar box guitar I made to a friend for his project CB750 parts.  I was going to make a rigid bobber or streamlined, Exile Cycles style trike but life and other projects plus restarting my financial services business resulted in zero work on it.

Well, I decided since I wasn't going to be able to build a bike for at least another year, I should sell these parts and maybe later build a bike with other "donor-cycles".  Craigslist ad got  a few responses, and I sold the bike for what I was asking plus delivery money to someone fairly close by.

Hope he enjoys it and gets his CB750 back in the wind soon!

Cycle Gear offers a discount on one-day International Motorcycle Show (IMS) tickets

Good morning, handful of readers and bots!


Just got an e-mail from Cycle Gear.  As one of the sponsors of the IMS, they are offering four dollar off ticket codes for the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show 17-19 November.


Go to the IMS site and enter CG18 for $4 off admission, and when you get there, say "hello" to the CMA'ers working the helmet and gear check.  I'll be there Saturday morning with my chapter from San Diego.  Hope to meet you then!

The Long Beach Progressive International Motorcycle Show is one month away!

Wow, is this year flying by!

I just realized "our" shift at the free gear check at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (or IMS) is one month away.  The IMS is a great event, and you can learn much more about it here. Long Beach is one of the sites where the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) does free gear check.  The pictures on the website are from the Long Beach IMS Gear Check with one of our awesome Lady CMA's featured.

Huge show, lots to do including test rides, and in beautiful SOCAL.

I'll be at the gear check booth Saturday AM, look for But!

A Couple of Quick Updates

Working on the bikes, prepping the 1986 Connie for sale plus checking what might be my options with the 1974 Honda CB750.  Odds are I'm going to sell it too-while I'd love to build a bobber or trike with it, the time and funds to do that right aren't going to be available for atleast 6 months and maybe more like two years.

Riding the 1994 Connie prior to a massive service on it (all fluids, test mount bodywork and prep for paint) and the Harley, so I'm still in the wind.

May have sold the 1986 Kawasaki Concours

Yesterday I began exchanging texts with a gentleman interested in my 1986 Connie.

After a few questions and some explanation from him on why he might wait but is interested, we reached a good price and a timeline to likely sell the bike the first week of November.

And while I listed it for more, he is giving me the same amount I paid for the replacement 1994!

True tankful mileage check on the 1994 Kawasaki Concours

Ran a tankful of gas through the resto-project Kawasaki Concours, and got an indicated 200 miles on just over 5 gallons of gas.  Speedometer/odometer are "over" as my distance traveled is greater than measures on two other bikes and my car.  But even factoring that in, to be getting high 30s while cruising at California highway speeds with some stop and go mixed in on a bike that has mostly sat in it's 23 year life, and has received very little mechanical attention as I brought it back to near daily use is quite reassuring that this will likely be my next 100K bike-from 14K when I bought it 20 years old!

Started Commuting on the 1994 Kawasaki Concours

Quick post to get October off to a "post a day" start on one of the three blogs.

I finally got the registration renewal for the 1994 so I've started commuting on it.  Sure, I've only ridden this Connie just over 1000 miles (from before I put it on PTO and now), but since I have nearly 50K on Connie's and Ninja 900s, it was likely riding a bike.

Going to burn through one more tank of gas before stripping it down, painting the body work, doing some overdo preventative maintenance, and then really riding it!

The 1994 Kawasaki Concours, aka Connie, is almost ready to ride again

Just a quick update since I haven't posted in forever and was checking to see if I could still log-in.

Retired the 1984 Connie when it's registration lapsed and moved parts over to the 1994, did a minor amount of work to it and have been going through the DMV drill getting it off PNO and registered.  One more step to go, and it will be legal and rideable again.

I've enjoyed riding the Harley, but will be good to have a Connie too.  I think I have something like $800 in the bike!