tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939427921587668352024-03-12T18:50:00.530-07:00DIARY OF A RETREADMy story of returning to motorcycles after 20 years of dreaming.Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-38825490612971810982023-03-23T14:06:00.000-07:002023-03-23T14:06:25.758-07:00Moto Guzzi: Practical Magic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-RecLfzUBUXWFHiKQbsHgMBhodUHCiandhpNc7TZaUtvhy_lp0BztGc7846iuWZycKzzAmkpdgE35nMLULtlnNEE7B7Co_pU9nSPKvOPGNoORHUw258STu_DZVZlvl95ApVSPZkOUMKRPvipn9VRiy4Q2FwjKhPcnz3qtdYvLoFpb3NiPnfH0Tfvlw/s4032/PXL_20230322_015954732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-RecLfzUBUXWFHiKQbsHgMBhodUHCiandhpNc7TZaUtvhy_lp0BztGc7846iuWZycKzzAmkpdgE35nMLULtlnNEE7B7Co_pU9nSPKvOPGNoORHUw258STu_DZVZlvl95ApVSPZkOUMKRPvipn9VRiy4Q2FwjKhPcnz3qtdYvLoFpb3NiPnfH0Tfvlw/w400-h300/PXL_20230322_015954732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I'm going to be honest with you.<p></p><p>I did not need this motorcycle.</p><p>I wanted this motorcycle. </p><p>My other motorcycle -- a 2017 Kawasaki Versys 300 - X ABS was all I needed. I purchased it in the teeth of the pandemic when I realized that supply chains were being disrupted and I'd better get an indestructible piece of Japanese designed unkillable Kawasaki to get me back and forth to work. It is a great bike, 70 mpg, upright riding position, but a seat as hard as a block of wood. Seats can be upgraded of course, but I knew I wanted something else. As the horrors of the pandemic faded and supply chains started churning again, I went looking for the bike I was shopping for prior to the world catching Covid. </p><p>Actually, it is bike I've been wanting for a dozen years. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH896krTGgSkSwdeLgizhDbW8KFglX1-89J8yPvcCNfixTODdAdhOkSuDgeKBrTldfnaECML0W1eDU-QiJwPPYkd0gvj09sEIil0dX5H267zhdTdg7fwn7HHmnXesIsIXH4aXBYH5-3pgxa0sif5d573ZcvEJfs7dZWWePylHBZGBP-k555xpzKj718A/s750/mg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="750" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH896krTGgSkSwdeLgizhDbW8KFglX1-89J8yPvcCNfixTODdAdhOkSuDgeKBrTldfnaECML0W1eDU-QiJwPPYkd0gvj09sEIil0dX5H267zhdTdg7fwn7HHmnXesIsIXH4aXBYH5-3pgxa0sif5d573ZcvEJfs7dZWWePylHBZGBP-k555xpzKj718A/s320/mg.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH896krTGgSkSwdeLgizhDbW8KFglX1-89J8yPvcCNfixTODdAdhOkSuDgeKBrTldfnaECML0W1eDU-QiJwPPYkd0gvj09sEIil0dX5H267zhdTdg7fwn7HHmnXesIsIXH4aXBYH5-3pgxa0sif5d573ZcvEJfs7dZWWePylHBZGBP-k555xpzKj718A/s750/mg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On a ferry from Seattle to Bremerton a dozen years ago -- when the girls were still little and so we rode the ferry to break up the long car ride back from Seattle -- I spied a Moto Guzzi California. It probably wasn't the first time seeing a Moto Guzzi, but in person - out in the wild - something about this bike sang to me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was beautiful in its design, but rugged and indomitable in the flesh. The sculptured tank was a work of art. It was no adventure bike, but looked ready to ride around the world. </div></span></div><p></p><p>I snapped a few photos and tried to put riding motorcycles again out of my mind. I'd been off them for more than a decade at that point, being the responsible father and husband and safe in all things. </p><p>Soon, however, I found a Honda CB400A and started riding again. Since that bike I've had a series of others -- cycling through every two years or so trying to find a cross between a practical and magical promised by that Moto Guzzi California. </p><p>Two Vstar cruisers, (comfortable, but not nimble and cruiser pegs are hard on rough roads) A Piaggio MP3400 (the perfect commuting machine, but not quite a motorcycle) a CBR250R (super fun, but not for the backs of old men) a Honda PC800 Pacific Coast (comfortable, practical and heavy - hard to find parts) and lastly the Versys.</p><p>The problem with the Versys was that it was very easy to ride, but the high revs required even at putter round the valley speeds made it less relaxing for lazy rides. It is an amazing all weather commuter, however and I was glad to see it go to a good home. It is the perfect adv bike to learn on -- light, super easy clutch, almost impossible to stall, easy to pick up. </p><p>I can tell you why I wanted the Guzzi from a practical standpoint. I wanted the simplicity of air-cooled,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfquSJtNKicgEbI3XE6kdkhUwLpHV-tcLG_YnZxMvR8TU5CC6uLyUJ8ZGJy_o7jTPESR5iMZLoe-KM_sSpbcN0nAa-y-kONloaF6OIIhlUJE97s2K_XWpZ8Dc6bYTOC8q0EHbTuD-_5h1wfSHhzJGQuPMPcZwD3IGIarryXu3UpdM7nlqAe6oQjrjZQ/s4032/PXL_20230319_201816896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfquSJtNKicgEbI3XE6kdkhUwLpHV-tcLG_YnZxMvR8TU5CC6uLyUJ8ZGJy_o7jTPESR5iMZLoe-KM_sSpbcN0nAa-y-kONloaF6OIIhlUJE97s2K_XWpZ8Dc6bYTOC8q0EHbTuD-_5h1wfSHhzJGQuPMPcZwD3IGIarryXu3UpdM7nlqAe6oQjrjZQ/s320/PXL_20230319_201816896.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> v-twin, shaft drive. Get on it and go type of bike. I wanted to be able to do maintenance jobs without first disassembling an jigsaw puzzle of plastic panels. <p></p><p>In truth however, I wanted practical magic and I finally realized that only Moto Guzzi could give it to me. </p><p>The bike I found is beautiful. </p><p>There is simply no other word. The lines, the color ... it is just handsome. It was almost too beautiful for me to buy it. I'm going to be flogging this bike in the rain after a 12 hour night shift, what if I scratch it?</p><p>I looked at other Moto Guzzis around - the Stone version has less chrome no chrome in fact. It is all attitude and blacked-out bad-assedness, but I wasn't trying to impress anyone anymore - if I ever was. I don't recall every riding motorcycles to look cool, or to make people think I was cool. I've ridden automatic Hondas and three-wheeled scooters not because they were cool, but because they were fun.</p><p>This bike was a blue and orange not seen since my 1978 CB400A, but so much deeper and alive.</p><p>Part of me is getting old enough to just say what I like and embrace it. In truth, I am in a mood to celebrate what has been overcome and embrace living and not just surviving.</p><p>My older daughter is just about to graduate from college -- debt free. That's a huge accomplishment for her and for our family. At the same time, I am seeing men my age die in their beds. Makes me think a that putting off what you love in life is a gamble all its own. </p><p>Riding around this week under clear blue skies on a burbling V-twin powered, willing work of Italian industrial sculpture, I felt guilty. I felt overwhelmed by a mountain of blessings I don't deserve. </p><p>But I am going to embrace those blessings, and ride that mountain road as long as I can. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpcOg-pOAQzQ_6Bgw5MzBE0hvXi02PXrTWZsWgpZVc_YKfljAmO7khjz0yzb1klzVBk_Sj2ERwJ3o3e2k0InqJ3L8l-qxy3rcvj4p8HZsBsEKyMaCqJWLRlTBZWDqCAiJgwguV0pmLumSU-zJtJnTlv3oJQIRMaa088KLXQJkckQsvWAK6lC-DhYJRg/s4032/PXL_20230321_214250773.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpcOg-pOAQzQ_6Bgw5MzBE0hvXi02PXrTWZsWgpZVc_YKfljAmO7khjz0yzb1klzVBk_Sj2ERwJ3o3e2k0InqJ3L8l-qxy3rcvj4p8HZsBsEKyMaCqJWLRlTBZWDqCAiJgwguV0pmLumSU-zJtJnTlv3oJQIRMaa088KLXQJkckQsvWAK6lC-DhYJRg/s320/PXL_20230321_214250773.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-39851901666208160462017-09-26T00:16:00.000-07:002017-09-26T00:16:10.464-07:00Simson - East German Technology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpgHcnsUYxNHD_9-KRKnU7-zQ_yR2E7Nb7WdTuJ0ZX1xDhA071Er0gu6dKMMWWH1-iMxgt-UNyygmDnf_zjCWsO_5pVGMhoAmPws7Per35NiSJ5n-p7Smowzyp6Dz_BlxEPRqgFf4iSa1/s1600/IMG_4842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpgHcnsUYxNHD_9-KRKnU7-zQ_yR2E7Nb7WdTuJ0ZX1xDhA071Er0gu6dKMMWWH1-iMxgt-UNyygmDnf_zjCWsO_5pVGMhoAmPws7Per35NiSJ5n-p7Smowzyp6Dz_BlxEPRqgFf4iSa1/s400/IMG_4842.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About a year ago, a friend from high school contacted me. Willy was a foreign exchange student in high school in the little town of Lyle where i grew up. He lived a few houses down and we hung out quite a bit during his year abroad. Willy asked if we would host his daughter Lia for an exchange and of course we said yes. She was a joy to have and when her year was done, Willy asked that we call come to Germany for a few weeks as their guests. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One night while sitting and having a beer, Willy asked if I would help with getting his scooter running. We took a look at it and I managed to diagnose the problem. The main sprocket had fallen off and so power wasn't getting to the back wheel. Willy and I found some spare parts and slapped it back together. As the sun was setting, we got the bike running up and down the hills and roads around his home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I probably scared the neighbors, laughing like a mad man while riding on the back with Willy driving us down the road. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The scooter was an East German <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simson_(company)" target="_blank">Simson</a> that Willy had picked up when he and his family first moved back to Germany after living in the US for several years. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Simson was founded by a Jewsish family in Germany at the turn of the century. It was seized by the Nazis during World War II and change names and directorship for a few years. In East Germany under communist rule, it made cheap transportation including this <span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3704px;">KR 51/2 </span><i style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3704px;">Schwalbe</i>, which actually had quite a bit of style. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After reunification, Schwalbes are cheap to come by and due to their utilitarian nature, rough and ready and a lot of fun. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Willy planned to use the scooter to commute to work in Sankt Blasien, but after just a year they moved a little further away and he started a much longer commute into Switzerland -- too long for a ride on a two-stroke scooter. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So the scooter sat for several years until he and his boys started fixing it up. That had it running for a few days, and then it broke down. He was afraid that the transmission had gone out. I was proud that I'd diagnosed the problem and even got it running. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We let the girls take rides on it around the property, it still needs sorting before it is ready for the road, but already Lia was asking if she could ride it to school. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q924TpcpJK-CvWIv7p8yxOFF0hnYfMxDtKZ3s1i2bNiRpcAw6Tabg37jneXbf3PCJ6qvyiXTcF2ne7hyphenhyphenK5jWtj1e67Om3WJdgdBHQFZkx0eZRKd8HRqVC5s9PIaJOVTAddMuHRXuoB0D/s1600/IMG_4844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q924TpcpJK-CvWIv7p8yxOFF0hnYfMxDtKZ3s1i2bNiRpcAw6Tabg37jneXbf3PCJ6qvyiXTcF2ne7hyphenhyphenK5jWtj1e67Om3WJdgdBHQFZkx0eZRKd8HRqVC5s9PIaJOVTAddMuHRXuoB0D/s320/IMG_4844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dY7-pe84bp8uOIWjgE6U2FEp2BHtsGTFtmmTn8KTWdUpS2fbneBmlq6e76L9YQwf463OATPsrTrTahnc4IeqdGnUB4_-bxSbXmVBLt9KWqYBq5uycsLR_wbiQyZcKDWyjTn9hVckdzAx/s1600/IMG_4836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dY7-pe84bp8uOIWjgE6U2FEp2BHtsGTFtmmTn8KTWdUpS2fbneBmlq6e76L9YQwf463OATPsrTrTahnc4IeqdGnUB4_-bxSbXmVBLt9KWqYBq5uycsLR_wbiQyZcKDWyjTn9hVckdzAx/s320/IMG_4836.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willy showing Grace how to work the clutch. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSjwyXJdZj9Y1uop-4Co82xh-qwlZniraEkC2dUyTCYSPadhXsIRQtuqIJ5s28kV-j8gSBHHO8KlL-_V8PRRq_NSR8XnQY9wx8P3XfigssaiLm2hJJlEh2gd-G9e__5a_bBeTQqMCU-uM/s1600/IMG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSjwyXJdZj9Y1uop-4Co82xh-qwlZniraEkC2dUyTCYSPadhXsIRQtuqIJ5s28kV-j8gSBHHO8KlL-_V8PRRq_NSR8XnQY9wx8P3XfigssaiLm2hJJlEh2gd-G9e__5a_bBeTQqMCU-uM/s320/IMG_4841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia was already asking if she could ride it to school. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__fEB3IZhGvOIXN6QHsmhKjQ8dpVAA95u_yBvkuI98Xsq7ioQll2X23ngpPyP5I1C1wEP7Mmz_z2xDQ8kUgNf0b4ZBcItyt19o7jVLnoE3otQaRlUaWdzH9ZCeLyP2wGxQU9ZspYH8F2H/s1600/IMG_4838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__fEB3IZhGvOIXN6QHsmhKjQ8dpVAA95u_yBvkuI98Xsq7ioQll2X23ngpPyP5I1C1wEP7Mmz_z2xDQ8kUgNf0b4ZBcItyt19o7jVLnoE3otQaRlUaWdzH9ZCeLyP2wGxQU9ZspYH8F2H/s320/IMG_4838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-34116238280557602822017-09-25T23:16:00.002-07:002017-09-25T23:16:33.846-07:00Saying Goodbye to Felix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMX-Kbvmio4OrLs-Rp5U_373uqPo86ml1CcSEYxvtE6qYtqCAtuXsLkcactRg4VhyphenhyphenYMXuCOj_gW9ShnMQ-0agBpgOp13WoA_lMnAl5W-l8RezyVb7wMGIxjSSzMDUwLC3FMBS9Gz5S2-J/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1267" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMX-Kbvmio4OrLs-Rp5U_373uqPo86ml1CcSEYxvtE6qYtqCAtuXsLkcactRg4VhyphenhyphenYMXuCOj_gW9ShnMQ-0agBpgOp13WoA_lMnAl5W-l8RezyVb7wMGIxjSSzMDUwLC3FMBS9Gz5S2-J/s640/IMG_2411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
After a year of riding Felix, I sold him to a nice gal who is just getting back into street bikes. The bike sold for the asking price a week after I posted it. Amazing and I'm glad he is going to someone who is excited to ride.<br />
<br />
There was nothing wrong with this bike, but it just didn't fit my riding style. It was comfortable for the 45 minute rides to work, but the long wheelbase was a pain - taking up a lot of my garage and was not something Amy could move into the basement if I was away and the water started riding. It had a wide turning radius too, and so turning into the driveway or reversing directions was a pain on the two lane roads.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IDfmNJnERy-EK5QipLw1wLOljJ9O5sTE8bNEVvBD7aVYxW2An3vC3pNlfkHvPMd3NOn4XiDo1WtV7gGsVUJijLzKXJFrdo5Kzsbn9s5nE1ZuFZZKK8Sk_haykDeZhwSferEUucM0Jyqw/s1600/IMG_5279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1368" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IDfmNJnERy-EK5QipLw1wLOljJ9O5sTE8bNEVvBD7aVYxW2An3vC3pNlfkHvPMd3NOn4XiDo1WtV7gGsVUJijLzKXJFrdo5Kzsbn9s5nE1ZuFZZKK8Sk_haykDeZhwSferEUucM0Jyqw/s400/IMG_5279.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgneYEbJ76_JuASTOEK3uh-E1hIGGw_0mB-07zsAZ2BCMmrczpldzS65GRtqPJzsHARRQlL63xWyNrt2FBDoLFkOAxf5KGYKDZap_xfH8HV9mol6LasWtD5jtfGjCh2dP0cqEAdnTK6b4/s1600/IMG_5277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgneYEbJ76_JuASTOEK3uh-E1hIGGw_0mB-07zsAZ2BCMmrczpldzS65GRtqPJzsHARRQlL63xWyNrt2FBDoLFkOAxf5KGYKDZap_xfH8HV9mol6LasWtD5jtfGjCh2dP0cqEAdnTK6b4/s320/IMG_5277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeDhvz0WKHxN0GJsZmlm4s_fEQPrS4NiQr02KnjVm99k0weB_F9ABFOuSOdLK_tmCM4YrVGp1W3TYqGtodzTUQNV6ZPO2iS5RNH4071a60LOUrnIO1YhWkhwG1WVy3_c_n7bA4W_xTTdL/s1600/IMG_5213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeDhvz0WKHxN0GJsZmlm4s_fEQPrS4NiQr02KnjVm99k0weB_F9ABFOuSOdLK_tmCM4YrVGp1W3TYqGtodzTUQNV6ZPO2iS5RNH4071a60LOUrnIO1YhWkhwG1WVy3_c_n7bA4W_xTTdL/s320/IMG_5213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hm-3fHiOU7hoX7mvujSCgaxm9BYKuzPAwtXmMm9yU5hpO-nslzajn-xhDncwZJU3yzlirx0hM7RK1p47CVekWDyKvhVdYn3hJOOsMQ_F1624q03x-dPMvVNusptNUb5iiWw7GhyphenhyphenwLtcQ/s1600/IMG_5212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hm-3fHiOU7hoX7mvujSCgaxm9BYKuzPAwtXmMm9yU5hpO-nslzajn-xhDncwZJU3yzlirx0hM7RK1p47CVekWDyKvhVdYn3hJOOsMQ_F1624q03x-dPMvVNusptNUb5iiWw7GhyphenhyphenwLtcQ/s400/IMG_5212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TkKhIVErPeBHk2C-WfJPezo-j3YHg-NVRb1YE43dAfxCH53fb-sEEnDK9rf6KioRvUlVms37MAXQHcHgA5k2lQz3uvridlO0AW79LrpUFy3VlAq20ESyMztsqqFPJ821WmoHN7rTcdOQ/s1600/IMG_5211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TkKhIVErPeBHk2C-WfJPezo-j3YHg-NVRb1YE43dAfxCH53fb-sEEnDK9rf6KioRvUlVms37MAXQHcHgA5k2lQz3uvridlO0AW79LrpUFy3VlAq20ESyMztsqqFPJ821WmoHN7rTcdOQ/s320/IMG_5211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPs7GIStTdRny7NGn_6pKgipAYy-f0-3zvk0DMaMsP8Y76pI3mqDvrZSP1aDFDLNXFQYVThKg_KFGRlu8Ngi1Jrqrip8CtkFjFIyqNBgP4Jy4vNVy2j9gh4t3dplRDRuovg99aeZ5zwB4/s1600/IMG_5210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPs7GIStTdRny7NGn_6pKgipAYy-f0-3zvk0DMaMsP8Y76pI3mqDvrZSP1aDFDLNXFQYVThKg_KFGRlu8Ngi1Jrqrip8CtkFjFIyqNBgP4Jy4vNVy2j9gh4t3dplRDRuovg99aeZ5zwB4/s320/IMG_5210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Finally, the brakes were not great. It had a drum brake in the back -- braking was smooth for emergency stops, but stops were relatively long and the back would lock up.<br />
<br />
I had rebuilt the carb and fiddled with the lollipop turn signals, replacing them with some cool aftermarket fogs that served as foglights and turn signals. Very bright. I added a few farkles, but not much. It was such a new bike, I couldn't bring myself to mess with it much. I had the idea of selling in the back of my head from the day I brought it home.<br />
<br />
It was pretty, and I have lots of pictures I've taken of it on my rides. A very photogenic bike, but I don't ride motorcycles to impress anyone or to look good. I've never been a chrome guy, and a year of commuting to the beach had the salt air already threatening the steel and chrome of the bike.<br />
<br />
Felix was a survivor and deserved to stay pretty and with someone who loves him and wants to keep his chrome shiny. That's not my thing. So while I was glad to have him for a while, I was glad to see him go to a good home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8vftr3bKmTiCIWbc8YEc278-yknRQiRSrgoXEqKkN1xQJmdUgZ3cfzFdNA8XftdE6BM-dN4AsFTouWD1G_mxaR4QeREpz1cRKQfV9cdviXsS7a-D-1IwRMosOAe2WjWv4f0dzX3uOx7Q/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1368" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8vftr3bKmTiCIWbc8YEc278-yknRQiRSrgoXEqKkN1xQJmdUgZ3cfzFdNA8XftdE6BM-dN4AsFTouWD1G_mxaR4QeREpz1cRKQfV9cdviXsS7a-D-1IwRMosOAe2WjWv4f0dzX3uOx7Q/s320/IMG_3006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkByYHj8t3wRNOynN-6rx2uIsg-pDE5T5F5-iaVXQPn5vfK4N0ewrWbajdd0ZAraVIeWDi40DQMSIwdxNocXO8xl-9tUqrAyNyHxIXe51ziZJ2jqLwF5j_r3PT2lXJA7jM6ZBDDE_eYFOD/s1600/IMG_3007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1368" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkByYHj8t3wRNOynN-6rx2uIsg-pDE5T5F5-iaVXQPn5vfK4N0ewrWbajdd0ZAraVIeWDi40DQMSIwdxNocXO8xl-9tUqrAyNyHxIXe51ziZJ2jqLwF5j_r3PT2lXJA7jM6ZBDDE_eYFOD/s400/IMG_3007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-36583927441726583402016-09-06T14:20:00.000-07:002016-09-06T14:20:41.706-07:00Meet Felix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2NarFNroI_L_tUKhqfySY7RT8FJH4H7Ij9cwZ75oOT0g25wPeUcTqFrivyjIDXgTVliysFWxdexJsUyKNtAT1UeL1CtHf8oHZE8uVi9fv4D6Xk68fc9cA3e2REkCk6nfeQBR1xy0Gk5s/s1600/14183713_10207208571356927_2437512414659485006_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2NarFNroI_L_tUKhqfySY7RT8FJH4H7Ij9cwZ75oOT0g25wPeUcTqFrivyjIDXgTVliysFWxdexJsUyKNtAT1UeL1CtHf8oHZE8uVi9fv4D6Xk68fc9cA3e2REkCk6nfeQBR1xy0Gk5s/s400/14183713_10207208571356927_2437512414659485006_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I've been riding the Piaggio all summer and having a lot of fun over the past two years. It's a fantastic commuter-scooter. It is super-stable, safe and has great storage and gets great gas milage.<br />
<br />
It is not, however, very motorcycle-ly. I found myself longing for something that had a bit more soul.<br />
<br />
My daughter, Lindsay, also didn't want anything to do with the scooter -- and she LIKES scooters, but mine was just not cool. One of her teachers bought a Honda Shadow. "You should get a bike like that dad, it's cool."<br />
<br />
There is a special kind of peer pressure that comes from daughters and it has a power over their dads.<br />
<br />
I loved my Vstar 650 Classic. It was a great bike. I rescued it from rusting away in Yelm, stripped it to its frame and restored it to glory. It was a small bike, but felt like a big bike going down the road. With its air - cooled v-twin, it was also as motorcycle-ly as a motorcycle could be.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3Jr2snE9936D_hHIiDsg6-HLqiiAXHQDBeDEkaAgQEFagPFB710-AtVSOzbI5TAxCSaGukhXhFjx-LhRRfCkxrdrKsCIUlZ7jdOY-LApnQks3fwz-xvn7fxPFNhIbR_JjIYaRdsrsowo/s1600/14202605_10207208571756937_5524473736928899062_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3Jr2snE9936D_hHIiDsg6-HLqiiAXHQDBeDEkaAgQEFagPFB710-AtVSOzbI5TAxCSaGukhXhFjx-LhRRfCkxrdrKsCIUlZ7jdOY-LApnQks3fwz-xvn7fxPFNhIbR_JjIYaRdsrsowo/s400/14202605_10207208571756937_5524473736928899062_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I put the Piaggio up for sale, and started looking at what was out there in my price range. The Vstars are plentiful and a newer one can be had for not much more than an older one. I knew how to work on them. I knew they had a great support community and I even had some parts from my last bike laying around.<br />
<br />
Then I noticed an ad for one up north - the owner said it had less than 100 miles on it, and he specifically wanted to trade for a Piaggio MP3.<br />
<br />
What are the odds that someone has the exact bike you are looking for and just happens to want to trade for the exact bike you have -- that never happens.<br />
<br />
Felix means luck.<br />
<br />
So after working all night I picked up a U-haul trailer, loaded up the Piaggio and headed to Puyallup where a retired Boeing engineer had a 2008 Vstar with 99.7 miles on the ODO.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HxxdX32MivqXqEAuhv6wcvf2SCqHBMG-IFB7Bcdsew-l7fUJQKxxO5WwZ1PymzftDA4Eo7FgPVXVwC29y4HLkL8Dn5CiKXV3cxK5c611U5tjA_NvXAHJSWfxiVdxTY10ilqjcMAmsMH-/s1600/14211928_10207208573276975_2941464990694231594_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HxxdX32MivqXqEAuhv6wcvf2SCqHBMG-IFB7Bcdsew-l7fUJQKxxO5WwZ1PymzftDA4Eo7FgPVXVwC29y4HLkL8Dn5CiKXV3cxK5c611U5tjA_NvXAHJSWfxiVdxTY10ilqjcMAmsMH-/s320/14211928_10207208573276975_2941464990694231594_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
He explained that he'd bought the bike brand new in 2008 after trading in his Goldwing. The long and heavy cruiser, however, was too hard to manage to get out of his garage--which was stuffed with other bikes and cars -- including a perfectly restored 1968 CT90.<br />
<br />
He had ridden it a few times, maintained it with a battery tender and running the engine every now and then, but otherwise, it just sat in the heated garage. It looked brand new.<br />
<br />
In fact, it looks so new, it is kind of a puzzle. I'm not used to buying something shiny and kitted out with every bell and whistle. It is the Silverado model - which came with floorboards, matching bags and studded seats. It is what the Harley guys call a "Garbage Wagon" - a stock bike loaded down with the entire accessories catalog.<br />
<br />
It has floorboards -- which will take me a little time to get used to, but so far feel pretty comfortable. They allow me to move my feet around a little and to change position. I'm not a fan of the studded seat and all that chrome -- not really my style.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1uF6ywUOLyMdlCnecdV537pRg32HmuBZ0Vi31X0B8JxB9GWHUKoxWpVarxIY9CcRQh4v2v3FBPqRg_Vw03TggNx2EALJuvmft4ay3XcwoMpjqRFmf5ehfpMLalufySjQmh9t_0n9t9_i/s1600/14237609_10207208572716961_8054764205176199685_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1uF6ywUOLyMdlCnecdV537pRg32HmuBZ0Vi31X0B8JxB9GWHUKoxWpVarxIY9CcRQh4v2v3FBPqRg_Vw03TggNx2EALJuvmft4ay3XcwoMpjqRFmf5ehfpMLalufySjQmh9t_0n9t9_i/s320/14237609_10207208572716961_8054764205176199685_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
That said, it is interesting riding a bike that is brand new. I've never had that. The Piaggio was pretty new, but already had 3,000 miles and a few scuffs in the plastic. This bike is shiny and looks like it rolled off the showroom floor. Heck, I need to read up on break in period -- I don't think I've ever owned a vehicle with these few miles on it -- even my new car purchases had more than 100 miles of test drive and delivery drives on the odo.<br />
<br />
Felix is immaculate - but is still going to need some work.<br />
<br />
Of course, I couldn't wait to get it out for a ride. Sure it was raining a fine mist and they are halfway through chip sealing the road next to my house. Sure the bike still has the factory oil in it from 8 years ago.<br />
<br />
There was no way I wasn't going to get on the bike and put it up over 100 miles -- so I took it out this morning and let it warm up a looooooong time with the choke. It's pretty cold blooded and wants to stall as soon as the choke is off. My guess is the previous owner let the gas sit in the bike. He swapped out some old gas right before I arrived, but I'll still need to clean the fuel lines before it runs right.<br />
<br />
Out on the road it handles like I remember -- it is a heavy bike the parking lot, but stable once underway. I did a little parking lot practice -- nursing the clutch and trying not to stall it. On the way back I decided to open it up a bit more - CLUNK as it went into 5th gear -- still motored fine, then I realized -- this bike has probably NEVER even seen 5th gear in its entire life.<br />
<br />
I've got to get some new oil in it and change the filter before I ride it much more. Seafoam to clean those carbs a little. The AIS has to come off too -- this bike just runs so much better without its emissions system which is supposed to reburn gases. The clutch is a known problem with these bikes -- my guess is the clutch on El Burro had been modified before I bought it since it was never a problem. In any case, I have some projects ahead of me.Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-84789446459172807482016-02-23T07:13:00.000-08:002016-02-23T07:13:27.473-08:00Getting It RunningGot a chance to go over the new motorcycle yesterday. The one downside with this motorcycle is the notoriously awful TK Carb. I had one on the TTR-125 and it just never worked -- but I never did switch it out. The girls had gotten into horses by that time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisixZtnrUk-kebQF-uJBYsQBSwaEO2n1gdju56ZHMLsSFK0FHu_uYKHHR4jmMyZTAOl0Zi9XkC0nPHm4QuwmU_lmXz63nTdmtzQpfLtypTksFLHGinkVJrgl94xYAD7KGQ8OxjU6FdAihf/s1600/IMG_20160222_111032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisixZtnrUk-kebQF-uJBYsQBSwaEO2n1gdju56ZHMLsSFK0FHu_uYKHHR4jmMyZTAOl0Zi9XkC0nPHm4QuwmU_lmXz63nTdmtzQpfLtypTksFLHGinkVJrgl94xYAD7KGQ8OxjU6FdAihf/s320/IMG_20160222_111032.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The trouble with the TK is that it is cold blooded and takes forever to warm up. That was a leg breaker on a bike without electric start. A battery killer on one with.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd try to clean and start the stock carb on the TW200 -- but when I looked, the float bowl drain screw was completely stripped. Not a good sign.<br />
<br />
Instead I came inside and ebay'd a new BW200 carb from China. New throttle too since the TW uses a side mount push-pull system. Should be here by the end of the week. Goody! More toys in the mail.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the old battery is toast. I have a gel battery laying around that will do the trick, but it is smaller. Still seems to charge up and crank the TW no problem. I think it is the old battery out of my VSTAR but I'm not sure.Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-49736734941502724742016-02-21T09:55:00.001-08:002016-02-21T09:55:09.296-08:00Babe the Blue Ox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrpD2kzOS3Q-k2NxzaWisoTpeI7QEFFkjtoITucw7-wAeZSs4yJUelVwNIyosHhthX6PUo9_qmsSeGSOsE4qrsN42_wGVbfCkV4_1ZosFGk79_EVTowfWQLodUq0nNgWOlRuXyCMK5iPC/s1600/IMG_20160220_183231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrpD2kzOS3Q-k2NxzaWisoTpeI7QEFFkjtoITucw7-wAeZSs4yJUelVwNIyosHhthX6PUo9_qmsSeGSOsE4qrsN42_wGVbfCkV4_1ZosFGk79_EVTowfWQLodUq0nNgWOlRuXyCMK5iPC/s320/IMG_20160220_183231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdejXBV48BQ3zPb5vLcqcEb8F0Gj-IA-cWP2sjVlN1s5dASjuIw3aq3mIxchDdAoxHit1AOyNxhlclizybs332v1GFxWfnLfD8YGY7JsvvGiqles0eX-sNFeaTPZ2kuadWDJInZMSvr_A/s1600/IMG_20160219_205736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdejXBV48BQ3zPb5vLcqcEb8F0Gj-IA-cWP2sjVlN1s5dASjuIw3aq3mIxchDdAoxHit1AOyNxhlclizybs332v1GFxWfnLfD8YGY7JsvvGiqles0eX-sNFeaTPZ2kuadWDJInZMSvr_A/s320/IMG_20160219_205736.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJPpQfC0A0nt6J9VhFSL24p344lxc-tytcCMX6xzPb6dyJ_5IS1b3jsNFQ4mDFq1TcC7MSLGt-sT9Fh3By5nJKy8lvJ7Zt317yR3lmR-FjhIi7zvC7K-B2PABVqWPScQCxHqUhRsz_uMg/s1600/IMG_20160220_183201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJPpQfC0A0nt6J9VhFSL24p344lxc-tytcCMX6xzPb6dyJ_5IS1b3jsNFQ4mDFq1TcC7MSLGt-sT9Fh3By5nJKy8lvJ7Zt317yR3lmR-FjhIi7zvC7K-B2PABVqWPScQCxHqUhRsz_uMg/s320/IMG_20160220_183201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Well the CT is in parts in the basement. When I did ride it around out in the fields, it was pretty rough. Clearly this is a supercub made for rough gravel roads and not for riding off road out in the fields. I got bounced all over and at times had trouble keeping it under control.<br />
<br />
Upgrading the suspension will help, I'm sure, but in the mean time Grace has been wanting to ride and I've been wanting something a little more old-bones friendly to ride with her out in the fields. The horses are nice, but they are high-maintenance. I wanted something I could push a button, put on my gear and go on a sunny afternoon before heading to work.<br />
<br />
I've always wanted a TW200 - the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjWCf8LtufU" target="_blank">ultimate trail motorcycle.</a><br />
<br />
I finally found one that fit my budget.<br />
<br />
Babe is a 1992 TW200 that sat in a Forest Service cabin most of its life. I bought it from a guy in Seattle that had it up on Craigs for a great price. Being a Forest Service bike, it had never been registered with DMV (so that's one cost I won't have to pay until I want to put it on the road.)<br />
<br />
I headed up to Seattle in a wind and rain storm and arrived after dark. He had a garage full of TW200s. He told me he used to fix them for the Forest Service and gets them surplus. Sometimes they get a lot of use from the rangers, and sometimes they just sit.<br />
<br />
Mine did not look like it had much use. The plastics are all in good shape and the pain looks like it has never been outside. Must have been a dry environment too -- no rust that I can find!<br />
<br />
The downside is that it comes from the factory with the same crappy stock carb as the TTR-125. Since the seller was a TW expert I picked his brain for a few suggestions. His advice was to Seafoam the fuel system and then buy a $30 carb and swap it out when it arrives. He showed me his daily rider -- a well farkled TW -- and the cheap dualsport carb on it. "Starts faster, warms up faster, runs smoother."<br />
<br />
I've got the plastics off now and am hoping to have it running around the fields by the end of the week.<br />
<br />
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-86688932723819954952016-02-18T13:47:00.000-08:002016-02-18T13:47:52.270-08:00Ct200 running <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_i363FTZF3Pb4iv8wnmVXdjeqS0rReLkZer4qXRQ_YncoGnKYjAmb3ep19Xg1iV56HJnMfAjuEnzj8rOEpw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-25869347509234182022015-07-27T10:14:00.000-07:002015-07-27T10:14:05.481-07:00Cee Baileys Windscreen and Maintanence on Piaggio MP3<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeLuaP-Ya2RP7uDf7BwnVoPoVIrx3cAd_qM_2UoDoGO_Ki9YtU2TbJnpzru_tkPbUdNromr9me4apUjKNUoO8SYRsQbuXb6aY47OMWCe1rLR_l6ABmoRcF-rIy9oaLE6UPjkoTGHGzSLK/s1600/IMG_6114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeLuaP-Ya2RP7uDf7BwnVoPoVIrx3cAd_qM_2UoDoGO_Ki9YtU2TbJnpzru_tkPbUdNromr9me4apUjKNUoO8SYRsQbuXb6aY47OMWCe1rLR_l6ABmoRcF-rIy9oaLE6UPjkoTGHGzSLK/s400/IMG_6114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiron with the new Cee Bailey windscreen. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Piaggio MP3 has been running great and getting me good gas mileage. With summer here, I've been driving it back and forth to work every day. It is very relaxing to hop on after a long night of work. Motorcycle therapy is good for the soul.<br />
<br />
I put a new <a href="http://www.ceebaileys.com/cycle/motorcycle_windshields.html" target="_blank">Cee Baileys</a> windshield on and love it. It is a custom job in light green to take up the glare of sunshine on wet roads. Works -- and looks -- very nice.<br />
<br />
When the spring rains were still constant, I had the big bug shield on -- which was okay for cold weather. I hate looking through a windshield rather than over it, but I'll put up with it if it means I can ride dry 4 seasons.<br />
<br />
That said, I think I'll ride with the Cee Baileys as long as I can. It is very comfortable and sheds light rain over my shoulders. It forms a great cushion of air around me that makes the ride very easy while still cool on a warm day. I'm very happy with it and the price was very reasonable even with the custom color.<br />
<br />
Already I've added 3,000 miles to this bike commuting to work and hopping on it for rides whenever I can. It is amazing I've ridden that much since December, but it really is a great all weather bike.<br />
<br />
I've changed the oil, but now it is time to do the 6,000 mile service. Too far from the nearest Vespa dealer, I'm on my own. Actually, I have the help of the <a href="http://modernvespa.com/forum/forum13" target="_blank">Modern Vespa community</a> which is very friendly and helpful with great <a href="http://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-belt-change-procedure-for-mp3-400" target="_blank">how to videos and pdf files</a> on everything you need. I set my laptop up next to the scooter and began removing layers of plastic.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-QjZsCF6WPNW0B1XfDEBCOhXXjEsPS5f5lUU3diOI0y6ae5vrrptVWdBWx_5NBFHQlF51dy4loTp1EP8OSaxBZyRhRzFPi_OvZZzWKfkcC2EnbrXvdZW-C6M-HCSlZElcGl2Eev4Uc9r/s1600/IMG_6469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-QjZsCF6WPNW0B1XfDEBCOhXXjEsPS5f5lUU3diOI0y6ae5vrrptVWdBWx_5NBFHQlF51dy4loTp1EP8OSaxBZyRhRzFPi_OvZZzWKfkcC2EnbrXvdZW-C6M-HCSlZElcGl2Eev4Uc9r/s320/IMG_6469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under all the covers, the CVT is pretty simple. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The job itself is straightforward, but I'm always very nervous when tearing apart a perfectly fine running motorcycle.<br />
<br />
It pays to have a breaker bar and good torque wrench. What it didn't know was that I'd need an 8 mm socket to remove 7 cover bolts. All I had was an 8 mm open end wrench so that was tedious. Seating the new belt was also tricky -- the video has you pound in a dowel to make space for the belt to go down - that spooked me but worked fine.<br />
<br />
I got it all back together and gave it some throttle while it was still on the stand to see if the belt change was a success. The engine cut out -- panic loomed. I tried it again, then noticed that the dang parking break was on. (facepalm). So I went for a little ride and everything seems to be okay.<br />
<br />
Still need to do the other stuff on the list, but it now has a new belt and Dr Pulley sliders which seem to smooth out the acceleration. I start my commute back to work tonight. Wish me luck!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-mp3-400" target="_blank">Modern Vespa Wiki - MP3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ceebaileys.com/cycle/" target="_blank">Cee Bailey Windscreens </a><br />
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-52206357301366550262015-06-10T08:30:00.002-07:002015-06-10T08:30:37.176-07:001966 CT200 -- New rust to restore!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc-LrRx88dSBjLLpLQcrGxGb5l9zDC2rjRtbDsvazjOs_pYnJu5f56qW2MZ_eIYv_rYFqHQ8Hr8zeXEV-HxQteLvZWQAkzEojt2Xj_CR41lES0LF9voSNTedsYQ4MHLZ7pCl2OlHAJmtj/s1600/IMG_5780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc-LrRx88dSBjLLpLQcrGxGb5l9zDC2rjRtbDsvazjOs_pYnJu5f56qW2MZ_eIYv_rYFqHQ8Hr8zeXEV-HxQteLvZWQAkzEojt2Xj_CR41lES0LF9voSNTedsYQ4MHLZ7pCl2OlHAJmtj/s320/IMG_5780.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_BaV39upH3N7dQ6gKLM9hThILbY1oco1PzC4C8Wx4UXY6cJpV1ocWEkndJsJ-0CEkl8indQ5Ywn9hq7u-A4iOdJEWAkS_CfNbZ1aSK87_P4miWOYOK1HOHpwc7z-tH0tq_2qGShSBzSD/s1600/IMG_5784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_BaV39upH3N7dQ6gKLM9hThILbY1oco1PzC4C8Wx4UXY6cJpV1ocWEkndJsJ-0CEkl8indQ5Ywn9hq7u-A4iOdJEWAkS_CfNbZ1aSK87_P4miWOYOK1HOHpwc7z-tH0tq_2qGShSBzSD/s320/IMG_5784.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAjyZjm6noJFmuY0tMzHhbD6Z1lcNbYjRXUpkXgkuufdbndEkYFwjIf83sjBt5ahCG_VWSyvN-MogCMcLVCkG8fE2ars3GcDzflpw0buQfbTGReXwXxvdPVNty6zf58cDg42BTTg4HYnR/s1600/IMG_5783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAjyZjm6noJFmuY0tMzHhbD6Z1lcNbYjRXUpkXgkuufdbndEkYFwjIf83sjBt5ahCG_VWSyvN-MogCMcLVCkG8fE2ars3GcDzflpw0buQfbTGReXwXxvdPVNty6zf58cDg42BTTg4HYnR/s320/IMG_5783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb0r71nTjXz9Gps5IdYRc1BMeR7xIsBhN2jbhGNDtPzXGopTj1Kaxdk0RjKzUxIzbS9rS__hwQoMCiIiMGSpI4KgUzF5as01j7yDffyukE-ljToc_fji_t_AVRbNc0TBiU2zqFPo3QRQA/s1600/IMG_5782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb0r71nTjXz9Gps5IdYRc1BMeR7xIsBhN2jbhGNDtPzXGopTj1Kaxdk0RjKzUxIzbS9rS__hwQoMCiIiMGSpI4KgUzF5as01j7yDffyukE-ljToc_fji_t_AVRbNc0TBiU2zqFPo3QRQA/s320/IMG_5782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbos8sQT5V3JdYE2qgiWgBeKKW_oc-rNxvNWbJBhExBR9_lfyZbJhWZVabgnuvPDtPT5jAzT1ar2z4wHsKlz2_4Llyxq4AjEKDJsoOO1_t6PCOCa9tEhzvHVaDDkZSaQneuXvSHf-KPF_/s1600/IMG_5787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbos8sQT5V3JdYE2qgiWgBeKKW_oc-rNxvNWbJBhExBR9_lfyZbJhWZVabgnuvPDtPT5jAzT1ar2z4wHsKlz2_4Llyxq4AjEKDJsoOO1_t6PCOCa9tEhzvHVaDDkZSaQneuXvSHf-KPF_/s320/IMG_5787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc8x6IN5bCBwmFW_eW5ux2oSGENq5cxzoCJwR4E3JDlkmTdlFz7HIzDq-IJ3LFk4et5ssnxyBW0dMt67N8fMdHRQY79hYVZCa2LPwGbRfowFgEJWUw1go_9CyspsgM65v5OF1PFmBfyGG/s1600/IMG_5788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc8x6IN5bCBwmFW_eW5ux2oSGENq5cxzoCJwR4E3JDlkmTdlFz7HIzDq-IJ3LFk4et5ssnxyBW0dMt67N8fMdHRQY79hYVZCa2LPwGbRfowFgEJWUw1go_9CyspsgM65v5OF1PFmBfyGG/s320/IMG_5788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvsS-Y95pr7GtBef4lK1dCIIhVVDrqTSbCzRgmNp-vVNp9aKXXRkzyIH_M2quAwABv8G26jVqP3FcYR1nfugxQr6ofsR1guB2y5U1_JztCRgriShh1wuwzQnbZC6pXVKxv7wc8i3ExPcp/s1600/IMG_5903.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvsS-Y95pr7GtBef4lK1dCIIhVVDrqTSbCzRgmNp-vVNp9aKXXRkzyIH_M2quAwABv8G26jVqP3FcYR1nfugxQr6ofsR1guB2y5U1_JztCRgriShh1wuwzQnbZC6pXVKxv7wc8i3ExPcp/s320/IMG_5903.MOV" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-76951240263086471862015-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:002015-01-04T16:00:23.820-08:00New Year and COLD<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY9-FO7KsqvJEKxY9ZwuQmwDKeDqENzCyr4HPtjnBwp2ECZeo15v8EJAFF0QYP8Oyg9IKcuqhpDpXa-SZcOOQuG5fZGaXb00cXTHCKVCx4kTBFQaXSOfki5i3zp3TZdpH-Q-kSD1jP9JE/s1600/IMG_5151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY9-FO7KsqvJEKxY9ZwuQmwDKeDqENzCyr4HPtjnBwp2ECZeo15v8EJAFF0QYP8Oyg9IKcuqhpDpXa-SZcOOQuG5fZGaXb00cXTHCKVCx4kTBFQaXSOfki5i3zp3TZdpH-Q-kSD1jP9JE/s1600/IMG_5151.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's been pretty cold in Grays River the last few days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
'</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-g2QjfRKC69Iqlsb2qW5d_pF48yssBCr3ru50F3xlrkqzDNujfMBjKdqcBTehrb_834HLos7LiNnVg6vkW0BohGZ05xAmVhTa0Ps1jh7FQF4eCoXwFIrBGqvTFMnY-3cKU9fe4hRyQa-/s1600/IMG_5099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-g2QjfRKC69Iqlsb2qW5d_pF48yssBCr3ru50F3xlrkqzDNujfMBjKdqcBTehrb_834HLos7LiNnVg6vkW0BohGZ05xAmVhTa0Ps1jh7FQF4eCoXwFIrBGqvTFMnY-3cKU9fe4hRyQa-/s1600/IMG_5099.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But that hasn't stopped me from riding the new scooter as often as I can. Here it is on the Rosburg Bridge. I love how easy it is to hop off and take photos. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAYN8kzuTMxhETg8XtNI0au3BQxMkpv7sjQFXJqwZWvViXCTU6sQv-qIm_2xxT0nreMwijlDAa50lTaulYMf1pmX2YXzmBifVOE4uPv4eXBqE-932h2VgrKp44EF-IsYr_cOKBgmHGArj/s1600/IMG_5158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAYN8kzuTMxhETg8XtNI0au3BQxMkpv7sjQFXJqwZWvViXCTU6sQv-qIm_2xxT0nreMwijlDAa50lTaulYMf1pmX2YXzmBifVOE4uPv4eXBqE-932h2VgrKp44EF-IsYr_cOKBgmHGArj/s1600/IMG_5158.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it looks cool .. at least to me. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTLPBHaI61unbq8SpX3V6-PWGShjd3-yjrE8FEGOnh40rR5a2-EaRQ5-7F8yQnDqu6oqofwUjokskqWBm5Q9V4_fm4Dqu_whZc8YsEbjU1G9lsBMhaOz-ya-T5WoehjJA7yXQPc_-lHjX/s1600/IMG_5156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTLPBHaI61unbq8SpX3V6-PWGShjd3-yjrE8FEGOnh40rR5a2-EaRQ5-7F8yQnDqu6oqofwUjokskqWBm5Q9V4_fm4Dqu_whZc8YsEbjU1G9lsBMhaOz-ya-T5WoehjJA7yXQPc_-lHjX/s1600/IMG_5156.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am new to scooters, I love how easy it is to run into town and get some groceries. Lots of storage under the seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2bS7yCpgsYqtfoV7FYYIwPJZlOpQ82RjWVdsg9lgR5fCfwkWIpxks14wu1cJhZcwDVHZAXJANOZpeazjX67QeqEClPogmk6Vgj-sgTZHMQa9T70hE07btHJ_jOWgpylt06l3CnIIHcqU/s1600/IMG_5153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2bS7yCpgsYqtfoV7FYYIwPJZlOpQ82RjWVdsg9lgR5fCfwkWIpxks14wu1cJhZcwDVHZAXJANOZpeazjX67QeqEClPogmk6Vgj-sgTZHMQa9T70hE07btHJ_jOWgpylt06l3CnIIHcqU/s1600/IMG_5153.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I live in a great place to see beautiful scenery. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-11868027957616436412014-12-20T17:39:00.001-08:002014-12-20T17:39:33.246-08:00Rain riding<div><br></div>I took a ride to Naselle and around the valley the other day. Here are a few pics.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaw4WBZtWsTy97rpr61PoGBC7KpmVpK1wpDpqOSLJBZ0t3b7BjPXDxrq_pIX-RmibPkO0hHPyQtTezBCR5YdOLTsDdkvuqoBQGaB9tWQDFLkDEGAQGpHp1p7Ax0N4vVTEWwa5z3aOuLyw/s640/blogger-image--1580775867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaw4WBZtWsTy97rpr61PoGBC7KpmVpK1wpDpqOSLJBZ0t3b7BjPXDxrq_pIX-RmibPkO0hHPyQtTezBCR5YdOLTsDdkvuqoBQGaB9tWQDFLkDEGAQGpHp1p7Ax0N4vVTEWwa5z3aOuLyw/s640/blogger-image--1580775867.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaw4WBZtWsTy97rpr61PoGBC7KpmVpK1wpDpqOSLJBZ0t3b7BjPXDxrq_pIX-RmibPkO0hHPyQtTezBCR5YdOLTsDdkvuqoBQGaB9tWQDFLkDEGAQGpHp1p7Ax0N4vVTEWwa5z3aOuLyw/s640/blogger-image--1580775867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTty3wzRWuELkZ_DeFfrI0Eo_s4IJdz6Xjeo1neu7l8EPJ_FJoeSzyVi7fS4HUXF-b7r33wlIQkj-1QkcJkEwkWBLMysYozmx0oG_SnTp1v6Kjs4QK_5e-_lm0jdBCMNN53RWZVrao0t2/s640/blogger-image--1498865602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTty3wzRWuELkZ_DeFfrI0Eo_s4IJdz6Xjeo1neu7l8EPJ_FJoeSzyVi7fS4HUXF-b7r33wlIQkj-1QkcJkEwkWBLMysYozmx0oG_SnTp1v6Kjs4QK_5e-_lm0jdBCMNN53RWZVrao0t2/s640/blogger-image--1498865602.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZUu_6LXsO1BVcOCwgT3Y9pve9svPsQIRFasmwJOwPguJyhpOwCFiyj_rAaiC1cdMuPOc0T7B8ivZiPUNH3Bw6jsU47nc07xLubl-kTMfTGzNx71fbzxgZd8MQxT990KhDhXGN4QQpIWr/s640/blogger-image-622567122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZUu_6LXsO1BVcOCwgT3Y9pve9svPsQIRFasmwJOwPguJyhpOwCFiyj_rAaiC1cdMuPOc0T7B8ivZiPUNH3Bw6jsU47nc07xLubl-kTMfTGzNx71fbzxgZd8MQxT990KhDhXGN4QQpIWr/s640/blogger-image-622567122.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZUu_6LXsO1BVcOCwgT3Y9pve9svPsQIRFasmwJOwPguJyhpOwCFiyj_rAaiC1cdMuPOc0T7B8ivZiPUNH3Bw6jsU47nc07xLubl-kTMfTGzNx71fbzxgZd8MQxT990KhDhXGN4QQpIWr/s640/blogger-image-622567122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOLcJD-n0I4-Iu1KyasBzw5nG7ygfIiMIsC_fA5xhYxbK6ZkjLthiDKEvwC_dZouXZ8CgtF7Y8fQQLDaDEY81fBhDDsHQ89ZJQqbyneIGIzGPE8Dk3Q0LW99PSPGZyceHEGoIuNvY3lB0/s640/blogger-image--1054397262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOLcJD-n0I4-Iu1KyasBzw5nG7ygfIiMIsC_fA5xhYxbK6ZkjLthiDKEvwC_dZouXZ8CgtF7Y8fQQLDaDEY81fBhDDsHQ89ZJQqbyneIGIzGPE8Dk3Q0LW99PSPGZyceHEGoIuNvY3lB0/s640/blogger-image--1054397262.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOLcJD-n0I4-Iu1KyasBzw5nG7ygfIiMIsC_fA5xhYxbK6ZkjLthiDKEvwC_dZouXZ8CgtF7Y8fQQLDaDEY81fBhDDsHQ89ZJQqbyneIGIzGPE8Dk3Q0LW99PSPGZyceHEGoIuNvY3lB0/s640/blogger-image--1054397262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG11bw2BsEF8THnIOVYet5VsDpWYHgRAFgEw3Mua3FV8CaD5C8SvhtNUGo8mciUeHqQmunxSpVCmWqBvHpArBlnxA0rKm4TnJSkUwmG4LmnNt4zknk_On_MOLB1V2twdAM8zmXBSoy7Yvn/s640/blogger-image--507985792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG11bw2BsEF8THnIOVYet5VsDpWYHgRAFgEw3Mua3FV8CaD5C8SvhtNUGo8mciUeHqQmunxSpVCmWqBvHpArBlnxA0rKm4TnJSkUwmG4LmnNt4zknk_On_MOLB1V2twdAM8zmXBSoy7Yvn/s640/blogger-image--507985792.jpg"></a></div></div></div><br></div></div><br></div>Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-53306522725790586562014-12-17T16:04:00.000-08:002014-12-17T16:04:54.939-08:00My New Scoot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOEaLv_PHuC5tZ-yq0L9fZFnxA_k_0BShohEUi8d7-lPw7IM4c2G1MgBxaWsHRKzXyLn_XNpCNL4ZjwsVrE9cROjCYo-3AxmodEMXf2bz-5Zvhh4oet4OrewZU3Ijb5p8BAg1vXKy7TUE/s1600/mp32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOEaLv_PHuC5tZ-yq0L9fZFnxA_k_0BShohEUi8d7-lPw7IM4c2G1MgBxaWsHRKzXyLn_XNpCNL4ZjwsVrE9cROjCYo-3AxmodEMXf2bz-5Zvhh4oet4OrewZU3Ijb5p8BAg1vXKy7TUE/s1600/mp32.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Okay. That'd didn't take long. Actually, I've had my eye on one of these since they first introduced them a few years ago. I am the new proud owner of a 2009 Piaggio MP3 400.<br />
<br />
Yes, it has 3 wheels.<br />
<br />
Yes it weird looking.<br />
<br />
Once you are on it, however, it rides just like a motorcycle -- or I should say a 400 scooter. You counter-steer just like on a bike, you can really lean the thing over in the twisties and it is smooth and fast.<br />
<br />
I think there are a lot of misconceptions about this three wheeler compared to the Can-Am Spyders. The Can-Ams don't lean, which is kind of the fun part of riding motorcycles. I can't fly planes, so riding motorcycles is as close as I've been able to come in my daily life. It's the leaning that gives you that feeling of motion and speed. Sometimes when I'm driving, I'll even feel myself leaning in to the corner, trying to cut a little more off the apex before accelerating out.<br />
<br />
So when people see it they say "oh, it's more stable, right?"<br />
<br />
Not exactly. Motorcycles operate by the gyroscopic principle. If the wheels are rolling at speed, they are hard to knock over. They are very stable, even going around corners. In this regard, the MP3 does have a little extra gyroscope up front, (are two 12 inch gyros better than one 20 inch one?) but the real advantage is on slippery and uneven surfaces. That's where the MP3 is brilliant. That's why they've sold gobs of them in Paris -- wet cobblestone streets.<br />
<br />
When leaning into a corner, the MP3 has an extra contact patch up front that stays on the ground even when leaned over 40 degrees. That outrigger wheel keeps contact with the road in the event that the other wheel loses grip or hits unstable ground. I found this out yesterday coming around a cover and finding the road covered in mud and pine needles from a recent storm. The Mp3 stayed planted to the road like it was attached with velcro. That's where the advantage is.<br />
<br />
At low speeds, it is no more stable that my VStar 650. You can lock the front wheels when rolling to a stop so you don't have to put your foot down, but I'm still in the habit of putting my foot down. The turning radius is very tight and so it is easy getting into my driveway.<br />
<br />
So far, my daughters do not like it. They think my old motorcycle was cooler and that dad isn't cool anymore. I'm surprised they thought there dad was ever cool. My wife likes it a lot. She loves the back seat and smooth nature of the CVT. Mama Bear is the opinion that matters most!<br />
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-4150900814796076092014-11-10T07:05:00.001-08:002014-11-10T07:05:59.553-08:00Sold! Now What?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHhkqEGm-Wg/VEm_SriDzzI/AAAAAAAA7z8/gcU0eFzyq7g/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHhkqEGm-Wg/VEm_SriDzzI/AAAAAAAA7z8/gcU0eFzyq7g/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Yesterday I skipped church and spent the morning puttering around the garage putting spare parts and accessories together. A couple came all the way down from Seattle to buy El Burro.<br />
<br />
Shelly was excited about the big red bike. She promised to give it a good home.<br />
<br />
It was sad so see my old friend go.<br />
<br />
It is not the end of my motorcycling, but I'm left with a hole in my garage and a fog hangs about the future. What's next?<br />
<br />
One of my goals is to get something that is an every day ride. Something I won't hesitate heading to work on even if the weather is a bit damp.<br />
<br />
Last winter I didn't tear the bike down and found I rode it quite a bit over the winter. That said, a big carbureted cruiser is not the best all weather machine.<br />
<br />
Alas, I shall not speak ill of the so recently sold.<br />
<br />
That bike did everything I asked of it. I sorted through a lot of emotions behind those bars.<br />
<br />
It was time for something new however, Time to move on. I mistrust nostalgia and am skeptical of sentiment. I could have tottered away until my beard ran long and gray with that bike, but that's not me.<br />
<br />
I now have my wandering eye on some younger Italians with fuel injection and anti-lock brakes.<br />
<br />
There are new things in the world. Always new places to go.<br />
<br />
Adios El Burro,Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-63946863080860178222014-10-31T16:32:00.002-07:002014-10-31T16:35:46.991-07:00Fall Riding Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DthK9-L_OTM/VEm2orfzeDI/AAAAAAAA7us/ZYsyZ43ybcs/s1600/IMG_4804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DthK9-L_OTM/VEm2orfzeDI/AAAAAAAA7us/ZYsyZ43ybcs/s1600/IMG_4804.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm selling El Burro. Not sure why, it just seems time for something new. Maybe it has too many memories already for me. Or maybe I'm just looking for a new challenge. It is certainly not the bike's fault. El Burro continues to run like a champ.<br />
<br />
I've stripped it down to go more in the bobber direction. I think it looks tough and it is fun to buzz around without the bulk of the sissy bar and bags.<br />
<br />
With a sunny day, I took some nice snaps. Check them out. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqqCSeTiEpE/VEmg5a_1IeI/AAAAAAAA7qs/yn5cmVJBZb8/s1600/IMG_4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqqCSeTiEpE/VEmg5a_1IeI/AAAAAAAA7qs/yn5cmVJBZb8/s1600/IMG_4786.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHhkqEGm-Wg/VEm_SriDzzI/AAAAAAAA7z8/gcU0eFzyq7g/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHhkqEGm-Wg/VEm_SriDzzI/AAAAAAAA7z8/gcU0eFzyq7g/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWBNqZmu7Kg/VEm_bksKo6I/AAAAAAAA70E/utqvT4k5UDc/s1600/IMG_4791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWBNqZmu7Kg/VEm_bksKo6I/AAAAAAAA70E/utqvT4k5UDc/s1600/IMG_4791.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sk9I1MPpUKY/VEnAFTBVAoI/AAAAAAAA70w/1y4lUhlLjqM/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sk9I1MPpUKY/VEnAFTBVAoI/AAAAAAAA70w/1y4lUhlLjqM/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9cMIt5GRQE/VEm_6a-CBNI/AAAAAAAA70o/V72EUm5NR5g/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9cMIt5GRQE/VEm_6a-CBNI/AAAAAAAA70o/V72EUm5NR5g/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rU7Swc39Ck4/VEm-37AnzII/AAAAAAAA7zc/fP1CDRzMnFo/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rU7Swc39Ck4/VEm-37AnzII/AAAAAAAA7zc/fP1CDRzMnFo/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dztVy8Gv3fE/VEmg5zpyByI/AAAAAAAA7q0/DDv4MOvdrk0/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dztVy8Gv3fE/VEmg5zpyByI/AAAAAAAA7q0/DDv4MOvdrk0/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-73478023114585454672014-06-24T09:31:00.000-07:002015-07-27T11:12:10.619-07:00The Church of the Motorcycle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3Hd0h1zB_j58BBX0vInM0fTcLf07Ga8Cpa5gKJhg4akGoapcqocK0-gJgTJ37DX38OBkahTFewi6ZSoqG2ZuuojwL8w4XECFpemgG50Ig0BL1SFDF_KzBCN66JVAM6P8aw75gT3bvJeO/s1600/10482574_10202194964419887_492252584429862007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3Hd0h1zB_j58BBX0vInM0fTcLf07Ga8Cpa5gKJhg4akGoapcqocK0-gJgTJ37DX38OBkahTFewi6ZSoqG2ZuuojwL8w4XECFpemgG50Ig0BL1SFDF_KzBCN66JVAM6P8aw75gT3bvJeO/s1600/10482574_10202194964419887_492252584429862007_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I went for a long ride on Sunday while my wife and daughters went to church.<br />
<br />
My sister Mindy passed away last week. I didn't feel like talking with anyone at church about it just yet.<br />
<br />
I didn't feel much like talking.<br />
<br />
So I skipped church and went for a long ride along the Willapa Bay road to the Long Beach Peninsula.<br />
<br />
The bay road is full of perfect curves and natural beauty. I listened to the music of the engine.<br />
<br />
We used to live and work on the Peninsula. I used to drive this road every day, but I tried never to take it for granted.<br />
<br />
Long Island, Baby Island off to my right, the great wood of the Willapa Hills to my left, mudflats shinning silver in the sun. Motorcycles move with your mind, they become a part of you on twisting roads like this. Shifts and brake, twist and accelerate, poetry and prayers.<br />
<br />
At the beach, I rode past the apartments where Amy and I lived the first year we were married. I rode my bike up to the Beard's Hollow overlook and watched the waves crash against the shore. This used to be just a gravel pull out over the steep cliffs. So much has changed over the years. Now it is paved and dotted with tourists. It used to be a secret place. Discovered by others now, it is still a great place to listen and watch the ocean pound away at endless time.<br />
<br />
There was little traffic on a Sunday morning, a few RVs and other people on bikes. I was unhurried, I made it back to Grandma Nelson's just in time for Sunday dinner, but was tempted to go out riding again.<br />
<br />
There are times when I think I'll sell this old motorcycle ... but never when I'm riding it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonxSgA7jeqrUM3m4k0A1QZqjJhmwUgfmKt_XTrSRiBw_j12qk_8JjP_JTuLHwQZ4uAXE8jfevVMrMS6qPSCLbsQO89RN2kVk4BCyVvPXlnsOFmhTLzCWebZgvcbWRW63oZLSfasmq2G8U/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonxSgA7jeqrUM3m4k0A1QZqjJhmwUgfmKt_XTrSRiBw_j12qk_8JjP_JTuLHwQZ4uAXE8jfevVMrMS6qPSCLbsQO89RN2kVk4BCyVvPXlnsOFmhTLzCWebZgvcbWRW63oZLSfasmq2G8U/s400/IMG_4794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-75793732186699804082014-04-27T08:24:00.002-07:002014-04-27T08:24:53.575-07:00Ed's Knob Mod<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLcdArv5eNjrI4aHxlwyHIk4lS3ThuwIIrA1svcXk_hVgoHSkC6WPlVM-4WCqEDFsoAdvR3MCm-5l3svO2FgLqVo_O21OA_sHcMu48nNdb_IS7XAW4hn2TIi238Zs2037_x7J8O720vDV/s1600/photo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLcdArv5eNjrI4aHxlwyHIk4lS3ThuwIIrA1svcXk_hVgoHSkC6WPlVM-4WCqEDFsoAdvR3MCm-5l3svO2FgLqVo_O21OA_sHcMu48nNdb_IS7XAW4hn2TIi238Zs2037_x7J8O720vDV/s1600/photo5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;">I've never liked the hex-head over the battery cover. It meant I had to get out a wrench to check fuses and the battery. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Unfortunately, I've had lots of opportunity to do this lately because I had a bad battery that I eventually replaced.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">I also installed a quick connect trickle charger hook up but didn't fish it up under the seat, so I had to remove the cover to plug it in this winter. </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">Finally, On a ride a few months ago, the bolt wasn't snug and rattled out. </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">So I went to the local Wilco and bought a 6mm male knob and voila - easy access.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IuPAF9bSKxN354QRiUsjT4FG_7GjnF9ibTmusY4_JqPhjUkWIlxFn5xoenJBXEkNG_Qirh1DYtWP3jGiv98p96hp1Zc09uCSfRVkiFtf5DonBKcNPQJb5uAvLXzJpR4BIjznOwgvu2TN/s1600/photo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IuPAF9bSKxN354QRiUsjT4FG_7GjnF9ibTmusY4_JqPhjUkWIlxFn5xoenJBXEkNG_Qirh1DYtWP3jGiv98p96hp1Zc09uCSfRVkiFtf5DonBKcNPQJb5uAvLXzJpR4BIjznOwgvu2TN/s1600/photo6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-91955847169729854712014-03-30T17:03:00.001-07:002014-06-24T09:35:45.560-07:00Keep Your Head Up, Eyes Down the Road<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIN6YCT9CI2mc1eHaXVktJFc-9Sz9EugauMugLrthZb6JO0aGdjYZrGuIUimdDuAtS4_PcXGXo_91xzkT42_OLZ_fK1rTiCx4C4v-jMSmRlUx5Omoi0ifUKf1pcaiJ_qq6eP2sPXPQ91g/s1600/cb400a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIN6YCT9CI2mc1eHaXVktJFc-9Sz9EugauMugLrthZb6JO0aGdjYZrGuIUimdDuAtS4_PcXGXo_91xzkT42_OLZ_fK1rTiCx4C4v-jMSmRlUx5Omoi0ifUKf1pcaiJ_qq6eP2sPXPQ91g/s1600/cb400a.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsay and I with my CB400A the day I bought it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was probably a mistake. Bad timing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, I’ve never regretted it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was an ad on Craigslist for the exact same make and model as the motorcycle I had when I was in college. A 1978 Hondamatic CB400A with a dent in its tank.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">They all have a dent in the tank.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hadn’t ridden motorcycles for almost 20 years at the time. I never really gave it up, just like I never officially gave up learning to fly airplanes. I started flying lessons when I was 14. One day I couldn’t take lessons anymore - I was too young and the instructor found me out -- and I just never got back around to it. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was the same with motorcycles. On campus at WSU and at home in the Columbia River Gorge, riding a motorcycle was fun and thrilling and practical too. Riding it was a wonderful release of stress, a mind-clearing exhilaration. It was an </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it’ll-be-OK</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> machine that ameliorated the tumult of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">College was stressful because money was tight. It didn’t help that I had quit school for semester because I became too focused on the debt of student loans and the girlfriend from Hell. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tried to take a shortcut that turned out to be a dead end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a brief moment of wisdom I admitted my mistake and went back to college. My dead end decision, however, forced me into a dingy off-campus apartment with a disgusting roommate. My financial aid was delayed, so I worked three jobs and slogged through the slush and snow in wet sneakers, unable to afford a parking permit for campus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">One spring day the check arrived, but I’d already managed to pay my books and tuition and fees. That left some money to buy food and pay rent. Somehow, I still had some money left over. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the snow melted around me, I lingered by the used motorbikes for sale at the Honda dealer downtown. It was orange, cheap and ugly in that late 70s sort of way. It also had an automatic transmission which would be perfect for a new rider negotiating the hills and traffic of Pullman.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theoretically the $600 I spent that day on the motorcycle and helmet could have been put to better use. Yet, I cannot for the life of me think of a better dollar-per-joy return on investment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was not fast or reckless or daring. My CB400A was one of those “you meet the nicest people on a Honda” type bikes designed to be unintimidating. It was simple and fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moreover, when you are riding a motorcycle, it demands your full attention, which allows all the other intruding thoughts to ease away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sold that bike with every intention of buying another. It paid my airfare to Alaska to work in a fish processing plant for the summer. My plan was that I would come home with full pockets that would not only allow me to pay for the next year of college, and to buy a new motorcycle. I had my eye on a Harley-Davidson 883. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fishing and the pay wasn’t as good as my wild expectations. My pockets were only deep enough to pay off some credit cards and fund my final year of college. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking back, I could have bought another old bike, but I didn’t. Always meant to. I even test rode a Yamaha 850 special a couple years later. Instead, I invested it in a wedding ring for Amy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was the best decision I’ve ever made.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">For twenty years - years of commuting and working and even a return to school to study nursing, I always thought I’d get around to motorcycles. I just didn’t. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, there it was. The same bike I sold, the same year -- the same user-friendly automatic transmission -- for $600 and only a short drive away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The timing was all wrong. Amy’s dad was sick and we were helping on the farm. My mom was coming down for a visit later that day. I got up in the early morning hours and hopped in my truck driving up to Raymond to meet the guy in Dairy Queen parking lot. After a short ride around the back streets, the grin was stuck on my face. I realized what I was missing. I couldn’t get the money out of my pocket fast enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tore that bike down and rebuilt it, using an owners manual and parts off of ebay. There are lovers of these old bikes all over the world and they are willing to share their knowledge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amy’s dad fully recovered and but then first my mom, then my sister were diagnosed with cancer. The motorcycle didn’t occupy all my time -- it didn’t solve any problems. Yet, it was there for reassurance and relaxation, distraction, escape. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">The restoration allowed for little projects in the basement and garage to occupy the rainy days. I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and unlearned all the bad habits. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">During that course you pick up little lessons that apply to life as well as to riding. On two-wheels exposed to the elements, your life is in your hands and the world presents itself with much greater immediacy -- much less room for error - than when caged in the metal shell of car. Your mind is the most important piece of safety equipment on the bike. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you ride, you are constantly scanning for things that may come into your path, drivers who probably don’t see you as well as potholes and oil slicks that can force you to lose control of the bike. You can look for these objects, but you don’t look AT them. You are so connected to the bike that to ride smoothly, you have to keep your eyes down the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bike wants to follow where your eyes go. If you are looking at the stick in the road - you will hit the stick in the road. Instead your mind traces the path ahead, the smooth line between and around the hazards that confront you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can’t trust others with your safety. You anticipate potential hazards and plan a path around them. Actions are smooth and confident. Panic doesn’t present solutions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Focus not on the obstacles, but on the escape. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five years after that trip to Raymond, I have a different motorcycle, and a different Spring is battling the rearguard of winter. There are deadlines and bills to pay and any number of catastrophes waiting around the corner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet I keep my head up and eyes on the horizon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I have a motorcycle. </span></div>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-60704250160127451672014-02-26T12:40:00.001-08:002014-02-26T12:40:32.133-08:00Lights<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCAnFwjWhpdYPRNl7k4741YXJwdm9AnhCKzXnOyUjDCZ83OylE6SHtWn9Qnvo7bTPtlCUzHA5xgbIyl-gyoWtg3HNs2RY7EhRn2KkwoEWqyGzmwNEXwuVBeOonORtIXYMTMjU6YQBdlZy/s640/blogger-image--194258536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa0InYR-L02ANiI60oeljZ9Vlmmc2GLyYjPKUEHPre9vyloWlZjL-GyMX92izszKgZWgqFhyphenhyphenCJOwlqxUa6cIb_JWVque2vs_y9pxRGnzQeuOOZfEwlIMSpbm33ljYpGUWwNpuWa1LP87d/s1600/taillight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa0InYR-L02ANiI60oeljZ9Vlmmc2GLyYjPKUEHPre9vyloWlZjL-GyMX92izszKgZWgqFhyphenhyphenCJOwlqxUa6cIb_JWVque2vs_y9pxRGnzQeuOOZfEwlIMSpbm33ljYpGUWwNpuWa1LP87d/s1600/taillight.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">temporary solution until I could get a new tail light. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCAnFwjWhpdYPRNl7k4741YXJwdm9AnhCKzXnOyUjDCZ83OylE6SHtWn9Qnvo7bTPtlCUzHA5xgbIyl-gyoWtg3HNs2RY7EhRn2KkwoEWqyGzmwNEXwuVBeOonORtIXYMTMjU6YQBdlZy/s640/blogger-image--194258536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>It all started when one of the mini bikes fell over and broke the tail light on El Burro. I was fixing that when I noticed that one of the turn signals on the front wasn't working -- and I couldn't get the bulb out. Drat. So now I've got the whole light bar off the front and it looks much cleaner, I just need to figure out where to put the turn signals. This is a big departure from my more-is-better lighting solution. I'm also thinking I finally have a location for that Ford emblem I found. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtykcZFT8SrT3gloBMXvf4HctBfpsUQIlnmSrMsCuvh4VgRR3BYsPRzpbdjv3U3Pp9EubkPtHRS0BSY3WpaZvgA5mneXq_23Mu1Dz4pOGhQRI8YDit1jj04VxHateA5OMI1KAL2Tjys6XX/s640/blogger-image-1020980322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtykcZFT8SrT3gloBMXvf4HctBfpsUQIlnmSrMsCuvh4VgRR3BYsPRzpbdjv3U3Pp9EubkPtHRS0BSY3WpaZvgA5mneXq_23Mu1Dz4pOGhQRI8YDit1jj04VxHateA5OMI1KAL2Tjys6XX/s320/blogger-image-1020980322.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thought this would look cool. Could hide the horn behind it even. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCAnFwjWhpdYPRNl7k4741YXJwdm9AnhCKzXnOyUjDCZ83OylE6SHtWn9Qnvo7bTPtlCUzHA5xgbIyl-gyoWtg3HNs2RY7EhRn2KkwoEWqyGzmwNEXwuVBeOonORtIXYMTMjU6YQBdlZy/s640/blogger-image--194258536.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what it looked like last summer. Lots of lights, but maybe not so bright. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-3513606779548446002013-09-12T16:03:00.003-07:002013-09-12T16:04:50.777-07:00Summer fun on El Burro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDlcXJ_KAuY/UjJE2ahU3tI/AAAAAAAAOS4/Pj_mbMEY0Ew/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDlcXJ_KAuY/UjJE2ahU3tI/AAAAAAAAOS4/Pj_mbMEY0Ew/s320/IMG_2390.JPG" width="320" /></a>It has been a while since my last post, mostly because I've been having fun riding rather than sitting at computer. In fact, I just got done riding around the valley with my wife. Good fun on a sunny fall day. The bike is running well. I've had a few little glitches, like when I realized that the battery needed replacing, or when I ran the reserve dry 200 yards from my driveway. I'm also planning more changes to the bike including removing the lower yellow lights from the front and investing in some new pipes. Meanwhile, I thought I'd update the site with some pictures of the finished product taken over the summer. Enjoy!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euYvPsXN4Z4/UjJE5KEvxeI/AAAAAAAAOS8/lI2mFwr93UQ/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euYvPsXN4Z4/UjJE5KEvxeI/AAAAAAAAOS8/lI2mFwr93UQ/s400/IMG_2375.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NV-1hpuubT4/UjJExJ7aPxI/AAAAAAAAOSg/GprhQoMNTaE/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NV-1hpuubT4/UjJExJ7aPxI/AAAAAAAAOSg/GprhQoMNTaE/s400/IMG_2372.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAwrXGInGb4/UjJEyz5sMqI/AAAAAAAAOSo/IcEbFxlWIZ4/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAwrXGInGb4/UjJEyz5sMqI/AAAAAAAAOSo/IcEbFxlWIZ4/s400/IMG_2373.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aqnt2dr8PEo/UjJE0oZD7WI/AAAAAAAAOSw/RZo2Tatez5k/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aqnt2dr8PEo/UjJE0oZD7WI/AAAAAAAAOSw/RZo2Tatez5k/s400/IMG_2374.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5Mt3HXtSHs/UjJEvY5JtcI/AAAAAAAAOSY/Z8Td3K97Qpg/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5Mt3HXtSHs/UjJEvY5JtcI/AAAAAAAAOSY/Z8Td3K97Qpg/s400/IMG_2370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRUfNj46Qzk/UjJFrc1tITI/AAAAAAAAOVo/htiQc-6kapk/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRUfNj46Qzk/UjJFrc1tITI/AAAAAAAAOVo/htiQc-6kapk/s400/IMG_2368.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ws9rk2u7PQ/UjJFondf7NI/AAAAAAAAOVg/8YBchtTSZs8/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ws9rk2u7PQ/UjJFondf7NI/AAAAAAAAOVg/8YBchtTSZs8/s400/IMG_2371.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYGudPDBZNA/UjJFgyF2FFI/AAAAAAAAOVA/iRqQ6BL8FYA/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYGudPDBZNA/UjJFgyF2FFI/AAAAAAAAOVA/iRqQ6BL8FYA/s400/IMG_2332.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UVbpx4dPDA/UjJFjKnRKzI/AAAAAAAAOVI/Ma_vGJQIwJY/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UVbpx4dPDA/UjJFjKnRKzI/AAAAAAAAOVI/Ma_vGJQIwJY/s400/IMG_2354.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Z9S10I6kPo/UjJFlORptSI/AAAAAAAAOVQ/KkDEhbueCv4/s1600/IMG_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Z9S10I6kPo/UjJFlORptSI/AAAAAAAAOVQ/KkDEhbueCv4/s400/IMG_2351.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bAF8E00Ns8/UjJFWbFIGjI/AAAAAAAAOUY/-9ohemBtPnk/s1600/IMG_2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bAF8E00Ns8/UjJFWbFIGjI/AAAAAAAAOUY/-9ohemBtPnk/s400/IMG_2490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONuIQevI0Zc/UjJFMq7DErI/AAAAAAAAOT4/lldcoyFq_ug/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONuIQevI0Zc/UjJFMq7DErI/AAAAAAAAOT4/lldcoyFq_ug/s400/IMG_2385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQY24DLgM38/UjJFPaJauiI/AAAAAAAAOUA/q6B8bkNulfg/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQY24DLgM38/UjJFPaJauiI/AAAAAAAAOUA/q6B8bkNulfg/s400/IMG_2386.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HqF1QUDH7U4/UjJFUNZ_2_I/AAAAAAAAOUQ/Gskp7955Xu8/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HqF1QUDH7U4/UjJFUNZ_2_I/AAAAAAAAOUQ/Gskp7955Xu8/s400/IMG_2389.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--AKzk_0n0kY/UjJFHw92KUI/AAAAAAAAOTo/dx8EX_r69N0/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--AKzk_0n0kY/UjJFHw92KUI/AAAAAAAAOTo/dx8EX_r69N0/s400/IMG_2382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvf5c0aOim0/UjJFEhUDl2I/AAAAAAAAOTg/yTxtjRy4p24/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvf5c0aOim0/UjJFEhUDl2I/AAAAAAAAOTg/yTxtjRy4p24/s400/IMG_2379.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9dEvhr49a8/UjJFBeQOwZI/AAAAAAAAOTY/PiKQ1rgYXP0/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9dEvhr49a8/UjJFBeQOwZI/AAAAAAAAOTY/PiKQ1rgYXP0/s400/IMG_2378.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euYvPsXN4Z4/UjJE5KEvxeI/AAAAAAAAOTA/Vu_gassubCs/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euYvPsXN4Z4/UjJE5KEvxeI/AAAAAAAAOTA/Vu_gassubCs/s400/IMG_2375.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFnIqNAoQ88/UjJE8FL0sbI/AAAAAAAAOTI/9Yk0FXxluk8/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFnIqNAoQ88/UjJE8FL0sbI/AAAAAAAAOTI/9Yk0FXxluk8/s400/IMG_2376.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjtBBcAep5I/UjJE-6V5yEI/AAAAAAAAOTQ/2ol1RRBhm9s/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjtBBcAep5I/UjJE-6V5yEI/AAAAAAAAOTQ/2ol1RRBhm9s/s400/IMG_2377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-52484730936443066542013-06-01T09:22:00.003-07:002014-02-26T12:41:23.812-08:00El Burro Lives! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_m3NhSAl3hzkmkIfJTlRJARjaBrWufuZ2FcDSADJvVSoosYxYb_MkuS59CNp58WKlrbeQKJFIvmIuVl-5eDG1fm5IAPGlzuuGkgKvSKB2-l02xNbj88JD35WtJxYrMUJpzzDa_NB8Kgm/s1600/983819_4895186461823_1520020964_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_m3NhSAl3hzkmkIfJTlRJARjaBrWufuZ2FcDSADJvVSoosYxYb_MkuS59CNp58WKlrbeQKJFIvmIuVl-5eDG1fm5IAPGlzuuGkgKvSKB2-l02xNbj88JD35WtJxYrMUJpzzDa_NB8Kgm/s400/983819_4895186461823_1520020964_n.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runs great. Working this week, but I got a quick ride in. More next week. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-15955675391694121562013-05-22T22:42:00.001-07:002013-05-23T13:47:21.591-07:00El Burro Reborn! Almost ....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4UrjNzmZ7qea7hAPjR-4hqtvtqgfL3xhhzczv0KFyMVSkwm_Id7oXtpZ9hIwcaY71k3z1FO8Iul2TC8o89aRAVq3qT-4f6yiLHwEJw2WA_-UrY5mQlHLMQcSXrEU-4iniD3Bl3qgoBTt/s640/blogger-image-188985140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4UrjNzmZ7qea7hAPjR-4hqtvtqgfL3xhhzczv0KFyMVSkwm_Id7oXtpZ9hIwcaY71k3z1FO8Iul2TC8o89aRAVq3qT-4f6yiLHwEJw2WA_-UrY5mQlHLMQcSXrEU-4iniD3Bl3qgoBTt/s400/blogger-image-188985140.jpg" width="299" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is getting exciting. Yesterday I got a lot of work done. Got the rear brake on and <a href="http://ziariderblog.com/2010/05/v-star-650-spline-lube/" target="_blank">lubed the splines</a>. Then I reassembled the whole back wheel. Wired up the rear fender and then --- holy Moses! It looks like a motorcycle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Actually, it looks more done than it is. Needs the gas tank sanded, plumbed and reattached, then I need to put the exhaust system back on and install the front brake ... Wow, it is looking good! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to stop there and clean the garage - tearing down my temporary paint booth and using the plastic to protect the bike from a leaking roof. It has been raining cats and dogs out there and a slow drip had found the bike - luckily I had the cover on. Now the shop is a lot cleaner and the bike is nice and dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The front driving lights are all wired up. I've installed new grips with a boss crampbuster on the throttle. This is the third pair of grips I bought on line. The first two didn't fit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The wiring is wrapped with braided wire cover and looks tons better. I've also installed the battery with the quick charger wires tucked under the side cover so no more need to disconnect the battery to trickle charge. I just vented my gas cap -- a needed mod after removing my California emissions canister. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What else have I done? Oh yeah, painted the engine with a high-temp black! Only snag so far is that my red brake light doesn't come on but I don't think that's a short. It might be something that's not connected. I'll have to dig further. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73pPpaohvw_EJ91G-JBMUw2Dx-oWVLFnRmiEhKJEYirbfb1CGsnBJnjjJCHA_Vwzaasr5gAcuekSngF27b_PWJsQY7s7b8WAuvnYoQXGnzIb0XBayt32Chywx34jVOUgNzDLwrfwpjEB2/s640/blogger-image-256650765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73pPpaohvw_EJ91G-JBMUw2Dx-oWVLFnRmiEhKJEYirbfb1CGsnBJnjjJCHA_Vwzaasr5gAcuekSngF27b_PWJsQY7s7b8WAuvnYoQXGnzIb0XBayt32Chywx34jVOUgNzDLwrfwpjEB2/s400/blogger-image-256650765.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fnPYW1ndBoGhQRbBkLsaJGdMLOhzjODj4lZgteAbLOzfxSZzBLmNyizcvWDOPoPX-LjMET02ocHuH5srvmXuydGaAtECT0LVQxVktgjF97Al4u2fJdbyyYwCafjZasEXAhvViWxPm1JE/s640/blogger-image-1285312322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fnPYW1ndBoGhQRbBkLsaJGdMLOhzjODj4lZgteAbLOzfxSZzBLmNyizcvWDOPoPX-LjMET02ocHuH5srvmXuydGaAtECT0LVQxVktgjF97Al4u2fJdbyyYwCafjZasEXAhvViWxPm1JE/s400/blogger-image-1285312322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hade1Mm0X0hyphenhyphenvTLHWV9EtnrCXr0bvzXP8tJ0GPJWHtCSy3tCSXf2Jpojou-qNPe-nErVMlva0XWf2Qq8u3WL5f7US3IWpk7eJWL1Y5aY8RSUUUNxpF_KYDQPf30N_chkgQqIBY18Biei/s640/blogger-image--481720077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hade1Mm0X0hyphenhyphenvTLHWV9EtnrCXr0bvzXP8tJ0GPJWHtCSy3tCSXf2Jpojou-qNPe-nErVMlva0XWf2Qq8u3WL5f7US3IWpk7eJWL1Y5aY8RSUUUNxpF_KYDQPf30N_chkgQqIBY18Biei/s400/blogger-image--481720077.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pJWjICbEVZl6uH6EyHzdrijeCXQPHLIEqzBRA4x5jkJZrprvfMH2J9waEVZM3ZJF3JISzxB0hVD2ZrzSdCCH5KWF-jcGi2LdyHxiduAPqf0dxGxiTN83z7Rv57EtksPvKAG14ugkP7tZ/s640/blogger-image--470853733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pJWjICbEVZl6uH6EyHzdrijeCXQPHLIEqzBRA4x5jkJZrprvfMH2J9waEVZM3ZJF3JISzxB0hVD2ZrzSdCCH5KWF-jcGi2LdyHxiduAPqf0dxGxiTN83z7Rv57EtksPvKAG14ugkP7tZ/s400/blogger-image--470853733.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSLUOrGuIaRyp6YJ1iClsTVxu3gNnwIwKlWerHn5NwVMJFRY45qj-zjrCYtWRBRQ-nw02_rlgAql1aK7FJWp8Ie1ve81oF-83NsKRHF6_hi8lKgi11GUQbJpasY7M3xaAk0CyDsP-D0CC/s640/blogger-image--1151490148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSLUOrGuIaRyp6YJ1iClsTVxu3gNnwIwKlWerHn5NwVMJFRY45qj-zjrCYtWRBRQ-nw02_rlgAql1aK7FJWp8Ie1ve81oF-83NsKRHF6_hi8lKgi11GUQbJpasY7M3xaAk0CyDsP-D0CC/s400/blogger-image--1151490148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2q43ePr3LOFfg10QscoFXFSfGZ5CGMDRc8pH-zaXmU9rscYRlu_ao7f1Qj0K1OkkYeELhRbRAxHxasHSukiCBe-Y_uvpTciTrcRXhG7Le8JDFffvYCOPf76j3uioD0eXljeJZJo8WWCP/s640/blogger-image-699457502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2q43ePr3LOFfg10QscoFXFSfGZ5CGMDRc8pH-zaXmU9rscYRlu_ao7f1Qj0K1OkkYeELhRbRAxHxasHSukiCBe-Y_uvpTciTrcRXhG7Le8JDFffvYCOPf76j3uioD0eXljeJZJo8WWCP/s400/blogger-image-699457502.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9ommtJxWpC6IivojfbhxACdUIdGSICeyA-CZFEtS5OVnRv-z1uyxPrEz_BFUovBrrM_xR6Nv3iyyo1zLQNS53mfaPcUB1CkvI2F1V5zMUBdrELkdQwrGXjt9CZQnsg3p9tJ-iDrXzyrQ/s640/blogger-image--1851846547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9ommtJxWpC6IivojfbhxACdUIdGSICeyA-CZFEtS5OVnRv-z1uyxPrEz_BFUovBrrM_xR6Nv3iyyo1zLQNS53mfaPcUB1CkvI2F1V5zMUBdrELkdQwrGXjt9CZQnsg3p9tJ-iDrXzyrQ/s400/blogger-image--1851846547.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS4M4YpJxfMOojEyWc6ExnTqnnX_q37vTUPZ0cdoSwfIgfIn7Ov12WiPiLvdY7LErJP7xAl_1RDVLGtNxsyj5SQDT2VUHtOpbZLoMFQPNp6gWp1AdpuxtEEWPHtEIbnQTyFvzRXHWmeFm/s640/blogger-image--1473416697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS4M4YpJxfMOojEyWc6ExnTqnnX_q37vTUPZ0cdoSwfIgfIn7Ov12WiPiLvdY7LErJP7xAl_1RDVLGtNxsyj5SQDT2VUHtOpbZLoMFQPNp6gWp1AdpuxtEEWPHtEIbnQTyFvzRXHWmeFm/s400/blogger-image--1473416697.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1EnvvQeO-Tz19JYMRmmaQtpjEq9ONbiXd3c7NOkPUXpx6xYA_CWSjx07Prp56yyO_3Zyp8DPsjJySR7fTtccgf5hF9R1HbL0Zu-N7Rs2i9bbo-R_i5-HsB6FTmJf7GO2EB4u4t1I6Jl5/s640/blogger-image-964136864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1EnvvQeO-Tz19JYMRmmaQtpjEq9ONbiXd3c7NOkPUXpx6xYA_CWSjx07Prp56yyO_3Zyp8DPsjJySR7fTtccgf5hF9R1HbL0Zu-N7Rs2i9bbo-R_i5-HsB6FTmJf7GO2EB4u4t1I6Jl5/s400/blogger-image-964136864.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-26551795797499631072013-05-17T12:14:00.001-07:002013-05-17T12:41:04.897-07:00You Can Do A Lot With the Stock Light Bar<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_CUXbQw7aKfon1kCNMMzfWee0ce5fPnPCkuDqt4j_Bz_8xVdMY0XFoadzBTUwmPdLiQLJTIwPaKpMnBnFa5T5v8UdmOEtxJpF5i_nD0ROxkoXnEphhckYHcdFul_F7emqtm_kF95anJV/s640/blogger-image-2014530046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_CUXbQw7aKfon1kCNMMzfWee0ce5fPnPCkuDqt4j_Bz_8xVdMY0XFoadzBTUwmPdLiQLJTIwPaKpMnBnFa5T5v8UdmOEtxJpF5i_nD0ROxkoXnEphhckYHcdFul_F7emqtm_kF95anJV/s320/blogger-image-2014530046.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still need to wire them all up. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the VSTAR 650 Classic, the stock lightbar is boring, but that boring can be dressed up with a couple of clamps and some aftermarket lights. (see my <a href="http://motorrecycle.blogspot.com/2012/09/let-there-be-lights.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>.) I bought a lightbar and lights off of ebay from China thinking that would be an improvement. Well, the result was that the bar mounting holes didn't fit - likely it was for a 650 Custom - since I've made that mistake before. <br />
<br />
I had thoughts of drilling new holes in the lightbar, but instead decided to see what I could do with the stock bar. The result is kind of funky, but I like it. That describes a lot about this motorcycle. It ain't for everyone, it's for me. That's what customizing a bike is all about, right?<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3wY4n8Z5tQHpNKm3t1qDw_fwPa6ytvyd6bEFjQggV1DItTcKU9gHAZB06GNeIfV8GB4awejD1JEGgIV71gWzBYzMLUUHtZ_OQVujaKRG2mcgZnD2TpHQMsnjHeUkXV74309fDAiqH2Ku/s640/blogger-image--2139305134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3wY4n8Z5tQHpNKm3t1qDw_fwPa6ytvyd6bEFjQggV1DItTcKU9gHAZB06GNeIfV8GB4awejD1JEGgIV71gWzBYzMLUUHtZ_OQVujaKRG2mcgZnD2TpHQMsnjHeUkXV74309fDAiqH2Ku/s320/blogger-image--2139305134.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sort of a Quadrafenia look. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Essentially, I just clamped my old driving/fog lights below and added the China lights up top. Should give me a lot of visibility going down the road. Stock lollipop turn signals are still there. <br />
<br />
Oh, and I shot the bar and light housing of all the lights with Appliance Expoxy. Shiny black is good. <br />
<br />
Speaking of shiny black, here's a pic of the final drive and rear wheel. Just have to lube the spines and put the new brake shoes in, then I can put it all back together. Appliance Epoxy on the drive and VHT brake caliper paint on the rear drum. I don't know if the drum gets so hot that it needs the VHT - but it is also next to the pipes. Besides, I have all whole can that I bought just for the front caliper and why take a chance?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19PVMItMXQ63HDVFaBpOF1EwevbhBSF69XC2qmCLFZuN1SlOex-ylA-uZbQaZQGMOr4A-R_UiRMMDviLhlwD87QieQD4zhLG1ABCJjBDR212BMKSlhh2GuFCr85TF-MpA5YwUXLKnlrbJ/s640/blogger-image-1079121325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19PVMItMXQ63HDVFaBpOF1EwevbhBSF69XC2qmCLFZuN1SlOex-ylA-uZbQaZQGMOr4A-R_UiRMMDviLhlwD87QieQD4zhLG1ABCJjBDR212BMKSlhh2GuFCr85TF-MpA5YwUXLKnlrbJ/s640/blogger-image-1079121325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19PVMItMXQ63HDVFaBpOF1EwevbhBSF69XC2qmCLFZuN1SlOex-ylA-uZbQaZQGMOr4A-R_UiRMMDviLhlwD87QieQD4zhLG1ABCJjBDR212BMKSlhh2GuFCr85TF-MpA5YwUXLKnlrbJ/s320/blogger-image-1079121325.jpg" width="320" /><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gENrv6EsuxER_OvLP6U1xaZ38e5Tggl_rhGcwYhbHLNGux1PXsIn3FPiCsagwzMmdiP8v5DuiS5vA-gF8NWPbRjQQXBLfHcPbLYliQ5f-ZDI7qfp-O0EYBs83wNYsMzTEe3102B_1AZv/s640/blogger-image-98429400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gENrv6EsuxER_OvLP6U1xaZ38e5Tggl_rhGcwYhbHLNGux1PXsIn3FPiCsagwzMmdiP8v5DuiS5vA-gF8NWPbRjQQXBLfHcPbLYliQ5f-ZDI7qfp-O0EYBs83wNYsMzTEe3102B_1AZv/s320/blogger-image-98429400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-18070497766873087872013-05-13T13:11:00.000-07:002013-05-13T13:11:47.517-07:00Final Countdown? Amost, but not yet.No pictures, but a bit of an update. I've got the new back tire on and the rim all painted. Looks great, also painted the final drive and the drum. Still need to change out the shoes and lube the splines, but I'll be able to reassemble the whole back end once that is done. Meanwhile, I've got the handlebars off to give them a coat of paint. I've painted the driving lights with appliance black too and that's made them look very cool. Can't wait to put it all together in a week!Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-13445981464760621802013-05-02T16:09:00.000-07:002013-05-02T16:09:29.897-07:00Changing Tires, Making Progress While the Sun Mocks Me. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh8aUR8pg0L7mkFybsvTRer7r9AM3jr5LN8yUhfjsRH3MZgw2ASZFTnlZtNham89oQV20zWS_n58lHKdIIN2j341hHTNGArh8_7d5neXoTYQ3jKJ5xx8kMtbPro3of7gbv5fSK4k7ZLro/s640/blogger-image--1335968366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh8aUR8pg0L7mkFybsvTRer7r9AM3jr5LN8yUhfjsRH3MZgw2ASZFTnlZtNham89oQV20zWS_n58lHKdIIN2j341hHTNGArh8_7d5neXoTYQ3jKJ5xx8kMtbPro3of7gbv5fSK4k7ZLro/s200/blogger-image--1335968366.jpg" width="200" /></a>The closer you get, the more there is to do. From the picture it may not look like I'm making progress, but I'm actually really doing great. Unfortunately it is sunny and 80 degrees this weekend and it would be perfect for a ride. (sigh) Oh well, inspiration to work harder. <br />
<br />
As you can see the front fender is on. The wheel has a new tires on it and was masked and painted with <a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=161" target="_blank">Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy</a>. Looks brilliant - almost like an old <a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/05/28/rustoleum-epoxy-appl.html" target="_blank">German bike lacquer finish</a>. I took the brake caliper off and noticed a ton of brake dust coating it. I had already cleaned it once and so I suspect at leak either in the seals or in the brake line. So I'm replacing them both rather than expose the new paint to a potential brake fluid leak -- and my ass to brake failure. The line is brand new and braided, the caliper is off a 2010 VStar which means the seals will be 10 years younger than the mine.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzglz986D8UtmIs1leYNxaQCWbk7HxSAh-_jL8DpWi9FuVObNwQcdQQ4rS8Cbc-5VVgtBDdmhtZzdYGNC5nBCFAot21ZpZhHjgMqB7htoMk1J-TfiYY0A6AlqlcXPn5qyZDIaiVxrRRm6q/s640/blogger-image-451680386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzglz986D8UtmIs1leYNxaQCWbk7HxSAh-_jL8DpWi9FuVObNwQcdQQ4rS8Cbc-5VVgtBDdmhtZzdYGNC5nBCFAot21ZpZhHjgMqB7htoMk1J-TfiYY0A6AlqlcXPn5qyZDIaiVxrRRm6q/s320/blogger-image-451680386.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get the picture?<br /><br />I also polished the front forks. Considered painting them all black, but they were so scuffed that I had to sand them down to get them smooth anyway, ended up liking the polished aluminum look and I'm going to leave them that way. Can always paint them next winter if I change my mind.<br />The tank is polishing up nice and there is no trace of the dent even when buffed and polished to a nice shine. Unfortunately, I did manage to put an all new scratch in another section of the tank. (DRAT!) Will repair that and put on more clear before the tank goes on, but it is nice to see how good it is going to look polished up. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I bought a new lightbar off of eBay. Cheap, but not an exact fit. It will fit with a little drilling and should look good. Anyway, I'm getting excited and will be able to play around with all that stuff while I wait for my wheel paint to cure -- did I mention that this epoxy takes a week to cure? Yeah, that's the downside, but otherwise it looks great and is hella cheaper that powdercoat.<br />
<br />
That back wheel if off and going to get the new tire on and balanced tomorrow. I also got new rear drum shoes because -- well, I have the back wheel off and I have no idea how old they are. Why not start out with new brakes. Will change the fluid in the drive and lube the splines while I'm at it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbh_Y70Gyj2v_Y2FbxYjrAdcf4aEgSsZvg8TdOdnkI96IerAhCHtyen1ZXcjWzIg7V8VISMbAdHdmIylCcYcVnCXcJ_BEJU3XXc6Qpx-aEX8HhG-5lY8RQcrNiWX9LBEh4OsV0I8N0ELJ/s640/blogger-image--487685074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbh_Y70Gyj2v_Y2FbxYjrAdcf4aEgSsZvg8TdOdnkI96IerAhCHtyen1ZXcjWzIg7V8VISMbAdHdmIylCcYcVnCXcJ_BEJU3XXc6Qpx-aEX8HhG-5lY8RQcrNiWX9LBEh4OsV0I8N0ELJ/s320/blogger-image--487685074.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see a dent? Nope. Looking good. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizepbpkiEIIzQ8lZEgYDrW6se5zaoB3LSPuk_jhiv5puG3khA3eiGGwWO2QFGjb_zSNWSMqkYObEqvQwJ9dlbBeFcLIyCvMIb_f_k0iJOO8KCiv8sh-YBLDt_CJJd8IMXyE3hYYndQ6U7P/s640/blogger-image-1045527545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizepbpkiEIIzQ8lZEgYDrW6se5zaoB3LSPuk_jhiv5puG3khA3eiGGwWO2QFGjb_zSNWSMqkYObEqvQwJ9dlbBeFcLIyCvMIb_f_k0iJOO8KCiv8sh-YBLDt_CJJd8IMXyE3hYYndQ6U7P/s320/blogger-image-1045527545.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front wheel looks good. Like this Appliance Epoxy stuff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclckRWrPdx32LiAEOaciyywYpKwmoFtIs4MuHuin5gPP4kXGIVKRYwfQbMYtMLxOnmA0Xg45fmrAGXY2yNuU-vJ_Rs5POGLtVYRlh_mbXLuLuN_Cn6h6m7oPtSSplN2DQtHrWyRwzW-tX/s640/blogger-image--1010756130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclckRWrPdx32LiAEOaciyywYpKwmoFtIs4MuHuin5gPP4kXGIVKRYwfQbMYtMLxOnmA0Xg45fmrAGXY2yNuU-vJ_Rs5POGLtVYRlh_mbXLuLuN_Cn6h6m7oPtSSplN2DQtHrWyRwzW-tX/s320/blogger-image--1010756130.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One coat appliance epoxy. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdvuj_FutVB_jV6qyIkrywXOtSTR435LSKiS58R_-ng687KhqeIWE-GwKOC5y2W5ZDQyg7APeZinsXTHxP3ZhForv3Sya7KHcBYyiNmzFHnBfnymVN7ZmoyUnIFH-UK6A0AS8D2sWd-MP/s640/blogger-image--1315075038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdvuj_FutVB_jV6qyIkrywXOtSTR435LSKiS58R_-ng687KhqeIWE-GwKOC5y2W5ZDQyg7APeZinsXTHxP3ZhForv3Sya7KHcBYyiNmzFHnBfnymVN7ZmoyUnIFH-UK6A0AS8D2sWd-MP/s640/blogger-image--1315075038.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the look I'm going for. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYRKqH4w1hrn4fTRHI1Ot862HZYoBdb-QQSYiWdOqdzK1Hy3IxSUdkev5FNYCnVEvdDSHxFQqEAswY_Imh061Cf2ElJc7Z9DMZM1p8vf8-ihKNMwsubP_PsvE7A4CGSTTik0hj-nHrL3r/s640/blogger-image--287126109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYRKqH4w1hrn4fTRHI1Ot862HZYoBdb-QQSYiWdOqdzK1Hy3IxSUdkev5FNYCnVEvdDSHxFQqEAswY_Imh061Cf2ElJc7Z9DMZM1p8vf8-ihKNMwsubP_PsvE7A4CGSTTik0hj-nHrL3r/s640/blogger-image--287126109.jpg" /></a></div>
Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593942792158766835.post-5756834853253481042013-04-15T13:10:00.000-07:002013-04-15T13:10:48.015-07:00Fun with Spray Paint<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFmTQ4dZuqZVpahDfwjfPBZFQBZvhMXIIX-Vuq_ClNqAInW4Fwdit6fb9VOBEKYIxUZjnHvk7N1OoiH1CftZyIYNUCUqbU9Lk1uZYMfCGoYHR8JQ6xbdcGSSOTYTEhLGVDwQQJtGb9mds/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFmTQ4dZuqZVpahDfwjfPBZFQBZvhMXIIX-Vuq_ClNqAInW4Fwdit6fb9VOBEKYIxUZjnHvk7N1OoiH1CftZyIYNUCUqbU9Lk1uZYMfCGoYHR8JQ6xbdcGSSOTYTEhLGVDwQQJtGb9mds/s320/photo+(9).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hammered paint with appliance epoxy over.<br />Doesn't look like plastic -- more like enameled cast iron. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cosmetically, I'm having fun with this project. The bike when purchased was red, purple and rusty chrome.<br />
<br />
So I have set out to rectify the appearance of the bike by eliminating as much chrome as possible and getting rid of the purple. The great thing about the VSTAR 650 Classic is how much of the bike is steel rather than plastic.<br />
<br />
Those big sculpted front and rear fenders are made of metal and so I can sand it down to the metal and start from scratch. That said, the bike does have some cheap plastic bits on it and I don't like plastic.<br />
<br />
At one point I removed the decals and painted the side covers with<a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=29" target="_blank"> Rustoleum Hammered</a> metal to get rid of that too-smooth plastic look. It worked great, but now I want the side covers to be black. I could strip off the old paint, but again, I don't want it to look like plastic when I'm done.<br />
<br />
So I tried painting over the hammered with <a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=101" target="_blank">Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy</a> - a paint intended for painting refrigerators but used successfully by<a href="http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?topic=10281.0" target="_blank"> motorcycle folks</a> to get that powdercoat look without the cost. I used it on the smooth plastic speedometer binnacle and very very happy with it. I wasn't sure how it would look over the hammered paint finish. Turns out, it looks pretty good -- if enameled cast iron is what you like. Beats plastic. I'm also using the same combo of Hammered with Appliance Epoxy over to make the cheap looking plastic covering the neck frame look less horrible. It is not a look for everyone, but I like it.<br />
<br />
You can also see I'm playing around with some graphic ideas for the El Burro - I like the type above, but I think I'll try to mimic the sweep of the side covers somehow. Early days yet.<br />
<br />
Another part of the bike I wanted to change was the rear tail lights -- It is kind of a droopy mustache looking thing that broke when we were getting the bike out of the truck. I've repaired it but always kinda hated it - it was rusty and funky looking. Over time, however, I've started liking it. It is very distinctive of the V-Star model line, and I've found it a neat way to identify other Vstars the road or in pictures.<br />
<br />
The rusty chrome had to go, however, so I sprayed it with <a href="http://dipyourcar.com/" target="_blank">Plasti-dip</a>. It actually doesn't look that bad -- the plastic stuff hiding the imperfections and even the electrical tape holding the left side up. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the rest of the paint is coming together. I really like the<a href="http://www.art-paints.com/Paints/Enamel/Rust-Oleum/Gloss-Spray/Regal-Red/Regal-Red.gif" target="_blank"> Regal Red</a> as it the layers get thicker. The earliest parts have already had clea rcoat and I started sanding with 1000 grit and polishing with the <a href="http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g17216-ultimate-compound/" target="_blank">Mequiars Ultimate</a> last night. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MsVWj3fGkY" target="_blank">as demonstrated by this guy</a>) It looks great -- amazing for rattle can spray paint. Can't wait to see the tank and fenders with this finish.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUES_0Y_jghPW30SK-B62mWgFgukBEC01X2guiiRY1J0rt2cGy1F16fWMSvSXFYlQ7zHRRkJv36yyxTlYZ2mcgzOoZCD_9xV33SEAAZWyYZcgtI72jBDXsTXc5z-2ICphZsAgXO3CtAry4/s1600/69093_4674784511912_1129392567_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUES_0Y_jghPW30SK-B62mWgFgukBEC01X2guiiRY1J0rt2cGy1F16fWMSvSXFYlQ7zHRRkJv36yyxTlYZ2mcgzOoZCD_9xV33SEAAZWyYZcgtI72jBDXsTXc5z-2ICphZsAgXO3CtAry4/s320/69093_4674784511912_1129392567_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Ed Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13782557190034683718noreply@blogger.com0