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August 07, 2004
D-Day - 5
For the last few days I've riden just about every day, but not nearly as much. I had a couple incidents with the bike that caused it to go back to the shop, and I've been busy trying to get this blog looking the way I want it to.
When I say incidents, no, I didn't fall or anything...
The first problem was that my bike was mis-firing more and more frequently. Turns out my sparkplugs were all gummed up because I'd been leaving the choke on for too long when I was starting the bike
up. Apparently, you're only supposed to use the choke if you can't start it without it, and even if you do, you really shouldn't let it run for more than 20 to 30 seconds (I was letting it run for minutes...)
See, what happens when you engage the choke (and I know some of you know this) is that you cut out some of the air from the gas/air mixture. As a result you have a richer fuel that will ignite better in a cold engine, but it will also not burn quite as well, leaving gummy residue all over the place.
So, they gave me new sparkplugs for free.
The next thing that happened is they were supposed to give me a new battery, but due to an error somewhere along the line, that didn't happen... So, the battery I had wouldn't recharge and eventually ran dry on me. So last thursday, I went to start it up and... nothing beyond a weird electrical buzzing.
So, the shop send their pickup truck over and took it back, and popped in a new battery. Free.
I'm just glad this happened now and not, say, in Wyoming or somewhere way the hell away from anything. The bike is running better now than when I bought it.
I'm also waiting on my saddle bags and other assorted biker stuff I ordered, including leather pants.
Up until a couple days ago, I wasn't looking forward to having to wear leather pants. Yeah, they'll protect me in the unlikely event I scrape, but aren't they going to be uncomfortable? Let's just say that the last few days where not quite as hot as last week. Oh, it was great weather to be out in, but as soon as you hit about 35 miles per hour, it's like you're not wearing any pants. The wind cuts right through my jeans and tries to freeze my legs off. So, I'm all over those leather pants now...
Posted by Cyclops at August 7, 2004 11:11 PM
Comments
Hey you, this is awesome! It's so cool that you're sharing your whole experience. If I don't get to see you before you leave have an amazing time and I can't wait to read about your trip.
*hugs and kisses*
-k
Posted by: Katherine at August 8, 2004 06:53 AM
Well, I'm not leaving till D-Day, which is Thursday (baring unforseen problems), so if anyone wants to see me, there is still time. And I'll be glad to ride out to whereever you're living. It's just another excuse to take the bike for a spin.
Posted by: Cyclops at August 8, 2004 10:08 AM
What, bro? No chaps? Heh.
Somehow, I can see that image actually working.
Posted by: Jeff at August 9, 2004 06:46 AM
Chaps are good against a fall... but against the wind... they do nothing! I don't want my crotch to fall off...
Posted by: Cyclops at August 9, 2004 09:48 AM