Another Motorcycle First For Me: A Flat Tire

August 2nd, 2012
Concours being winched onto tow truck.

My Concours being winched onto the tow truck.

I had just had new tires put on my Concours on Sunday, in Columbus, Ohio, and I rode on home, arriving in Denver on Wednesday. And as I have mentioned previously, I got my first motorcycle speeding ticket less than 50 miles from home on that 17-day, 3,878-mile trip. On Friday I set out mid-afternoon with Brett and Randy, two of the OFMC, on our annual summer trip. We were to meet up with everyone else in Grand Junction. Jason was supposed to be riding with us but he was delayed so he would be along later.

Nearing Rifle, my bike started handling horribly. I was in the rear but I had to pull over immediately. It turned out my brand new rear tire was flat. Not a defect, as I later learned, but a puncture. I tried to put the bike on the side stand but with the tire flat the stand tipped it just past vertical, so it was inclined to topple over onto the right. To my consternation, it was totally impossible for me to rock the bike up onto the center stand. So I had no choice but to standd there holding the bike up until someone came along to help me.

Of course I figured the guys would notice I was not with them, would pull over to wait, and eventually they would come back to find me. But I just waited. Meanwhile, whenever a motorcycle came along on the highway I waved to them to help me. The first one went by without stopping and the second one did stop, though it was a tenth of a mile later before they could stop from 75 mph. As they walked back to me a guy in a pick-up stopped to help. He was a big, strong guy, but it was all the two of us could manage to get the bike onto the center stand. But we did, and I could finally do something else, like, oh, you know, call for assistance.

While I was standing there, though, I had thought about what to do and concluded my best bet was to try to reach my friends in Eagle, Willie and Jungle, to see if they could help me out. They have a Concours like mine and Jungle is a mechanic. This could be a good thing.

I called and spoke to Willie, who put me through to Jungle, and Jungle said sure, have the bike towed here and we’ll see what we can do. I called the AMA roadside assistance number and told them my situation and they said they’d check for tow services and call me back. While I was waiting, Jason came along. He was very surprised to find me standing there by the road, but by then all was taken care of and there was nothing he could do. What he did do was call Brett, who told him they were in Grand Junction. Where was he (Jason)?

“I’m here on the highway outside Rifle with Ken. He has a flat tire.” Oh. Brett said they had stopped and waited for me three times but I never caught up with them. Duh. Thanks guys.

So Jason went on and the tow truck took me back to Eagle. Jungle said it was too late to get started on the bike that night and Willie said I’d be staying with them. That was fine, and we had an enjoyable evening. The next morning Jungle and I got right on it, me watching him and asking questions so I could learn how to do this myself. Ha! Without theh proper tools I’m not doing this myself anytime.

First we tried patching the tire, but after two patches failed there were two options. Jungle had a new tire of the right size, but bias-ply. My Connie wants radials. He also had an old tire he had taken off his Concours when he was leaving on a trip that would have been too much for the tire. Rather than get new tires mid-trip, he started with new rubber. This tire was the right size and radial, but an Avon. My tires were Dunlops. No matter, the Avon went on.

I was finally on my way at 2 p.m. on Saturday, riding hard to meet up with the guys, who were now headed for Marysvale, Utah. I rolled in there around 9 p.m. and it was time for my vacation to begin. Oh, and although I had expected Brett and Randy to immediately come tell me something like, “Oh hey, we’re really sorry for being so stupid and not going back for you,” if fact, neither of them has ever said one word about it. Thanks guys. You’re real pals.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Hard riding winds up Vintage Motorcycle Days trip

Biker Quote for Today

“Remember that an enduro tests the endurance of three things: your machine, your body, and your wits. Only one has to fail to keep you from reaching the finish line.” — Cycle World March 1966

Tags:
Posted in Biker Issues, Motorcycle Gear, motorcycle problems | 2 Comments »

My First Motorcycle Speeding Ticket

July 26th, 2012
The Kansas/Colorado state line on U.S. 36.

The Kansas/Colorado state line on U.S. 36.

I figured from the outset that by the time yesterday came around, when I had been on the road for 17 days and was headed home, that I would be like a horse headed for the stable. What I didn’t count on was that after a journey of nearly 3,900 miles, I would get stopped for speeding within 50 miles of home. Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.

In all my years of riding, this is the first time I have ever gotten a speeding ticket on a bike. Sure, I’ve had speeding tickets in cars, but never on a bike. I mentioned that to the officer and he laughed saying he had gotten plenty of tickets on his motorcycles when he was younger.

What happened was that I had come across Nebraska and Kansas, coming into Colorado on U.S. 36. Of all the states I’d been through, the only one I didn’t have a map for was Colorado. I was running low on gas and thought for sure there was a town out there called Last Chance. Isn’t there? Figured I’d get gas there. But I reached the Adams County line and passed the hazardous waste facility out there and still no Last Chance.

So without a map, I wasn’t clear on how far it was yet to Byers, where I knew I could get gas. I figured I must be a good ways yet, so I kept blasting. That’s when I passed this Arapahoe County Sheriff vehicle going the other way. I looked in my mirror and saw him pull over and then turn around. When he turned his flashers on I pulled over.

He was a nice enough guy, and I was certainly polite, and I let him know I had been riding for 17 days and was just a few miles from home, hoping he’d cut me a break. No such luck. I asked him how far till I could get gas and he told me Byers was just 15 miles ahead. Fifteen miles? Then the racetrack must be very close by, I said. Oh yes, it’s just up that hill, he said. And sure enough, when I took off again, I crested the hill immediately ahead of me and there was High Plains Raceway. Dang, if I’d know that I really suspect I would have slacked off on my speed a bit, knowing I was so close.

Oh well. It could have been worse. Truth is, I had been going a lot faster not that long before. I’ll take my ticket for going 77 in a 65 zone, rather the 87 or so that it might have been. I understand we need things like speed laws but I still fail to see how anyone was harmed by my going that fast way out there on the prairie with almost zero other traffic.

So one thing I did not do, at the end, was to say “Thank you” to the officer. I know that is a common thing that people do, because they’re trying to be completely polite and respectful to the officer. But that just strikes me as perverse. I acknowledged him and was very pleasant, but I did not say thank you. I really didn’t feel I had anything to thank him for. I really wish I’d never met him. Oh well.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Making the rounds at Vintage Motorcycle Days

Biker Quote for Today

Don’t mind the slidin’, the crunchin’, or even the sudden impact . . . it’s wakin’ up to the wife bitchin’ that bums me out!

Tags:
Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides, motorcycle touring | 2 Comments »

Dropping Five More Benjamins Into The Connie

July 23rd, 2012
Kawasaki Concours on a lift for new tires

My Connie on the lift at Iron Pony, getting new tires.

That’s my Concours up on a lift, getting new tires at Iron Pony in Columbus, Ohio. Five hundred dollars later and a “free” t-shirt and I was on my way again.

The tires weren’t totally shot yet, but I’ll be cruising about 1,200 miles in the next three days coming home from Ohio, and after being home for one day I’ll be taking off again on another 1,500 mile ride. Today was the best day to get the work done and this way I have more peace of mind on the ride home. As it was, I wasn’t at all sure I’d even get home without stopping somewhere–probably at a very inconvenient point.

This is the second time in two years that I’ve had to get tires while out on the road. Last March I headed out for Arizona Bike Week figuring I had enough rubber to get home, but by the time I reached Scottsdale I knew I needed new tires immediately. That time I got lucky, though. I didn’t have to pay for mounting and the whole thing cost me about $270. This time it cost me just a couple dollars shy of $500.

Just as a point of reference, that’s double what I paid for my first car.

So the place I went to was Iron Pony, in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. I had heard about this place before and despite the price I was really glad they were there. First off, it was only just a few miles out of my way, and on top of that, they were open on Sunday. That’s really big right there.

The Iron Pony is quite a place. The building used to be a Super Kmart so as you can imagine, it’s huge. They work on bikes, they sell bikes both new and used, and they sell more motorcycle gear than you can imagine. And judging from what I saw, they have really good prices on a lot of stuff. High volume, low margin, you know.

And they were really nice. Don’t misunderstand my moaning about the price. It would have cost me just as much for tires somewhere else. I just hate the idea that two motorcycle tires cost more than four car tires and last one-fifth as long. But we all know that’s the case, so get over it.

So anyway, I’m set now. Tomorrow it’s on to Peoria, then a stop in Nebraska, and I’ll be home on Wednesday. I think I’ll be glad to get home.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Making the rounds at Vintage Motorcycle Days

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re becoming addicted to riding when you leave on the bike to get some dinner and get home only to realize you didn’t stop to eat.

Tags:
Posted in Motorcycle Gear | No Comments »

Hitting 50 Thou On The Connie

July 17th, 2012
The Connie and Judy at the Mackinac Bridge.

The Connie and Judy at the Mackinac Bridge.

I didn’t ride as much in earlier years as I do now, and I have two motorcycles that I divide my seat time between. At least those are my lame excuses for the fact that I just turned over 50,000 miles on my 1999 Concours. That averages less than 4,000 miles per year, but the last few years I have exceeded 10,000 and am looking at about 13,000 this year.

Or to put it a little differently, I bought new tires last year and am already looking at getting new tires again. Maybe before this trip is over.

So the spot where I turned over 50,000 on the Connie was a pretty nice place. We are in Michigan, and were in the Upper Peninsula (UP) approaching the Mackinac Bridge. As the bridge was coming into sight there was a viewpoint so we pulled off. It was then that I noticed the odometer was at 50000.3. Cool. That’s a shot above with Judy and the bike in the foreground and the bridge in the background.

It has been interesting riding in Wisconsin and Michigan, primarily because the other bikers here don’t seem nearly as inclined to wave in acknowledgement as they do back home. I can’t tell if it’s because they’re almost all on Harleys and we are not or whether they just don’t do that so much around here. I have noted, though, that a lot more people on non-Harleys do tend to wave. Approaching the Mackinac Bridge, though, I also suspect that a lot more of them are non-locals. The bridge and the UP are major tourist attractions.

We did chance upon a sweet motorcycle road once we got across the bridge and down into the Lower Peninsula. We immediately headed west to the coast, picking up MI 119 at Cross Village. Heading south toward Harbor Springs the road is called alternately the Tunnel of Trees and Lakeshore Drive. It hugs the coast.

You might more accurately say this is a motorcycle passenger’s road. The tight, frequent turns keep the rider’s attention totally focused and there is no time at all for sightseeing. Also, because it is barely one and one-half lanes wide, with lots of car traffic coming the other way and no shoulder, there are not that many places to pull off so the rider can enjoy the view.

That didn’t deter the bikers, though. Along with the cars we saw a considerable stream of bikes heading the other way. This is definitely a destination road.

Much of the rest of the time, unfortunately, the riding here is not nearly as interesting as in Colorado. When we ride up and down mountains the views are spectacular and ever changing. In this region you do way too much riding just following straight pavement between rows of trees. You know there is a lot of water, in the form of a lot of lakes and a couple really big lakes, close by, but you often do not see them. They’re over there somewhere.

Oh well. We’re still having a good time and seeing some new places. Today promises to be a nice ride, once again down the western coast of the Lower Peninsula. Now if it will just cool off enough so we’re not drowning in sweat.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Finding a great Michigan motorcycle road

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re becoming addicted to riding when you look for excuses to go to the store to buy a Snickers bar or to the bank just to check the balance . . . several times a day.

Tags:
Posted in motorcycle touring | No Comments »

Off The Prairie, Into The Trees

July 13th, 2012
At a park on the Minnesota side of a river that divides that state from Wisconsin.

At a park on the Minnesota side of a river that divides that state from Wisconsin.

Three days of riding across the prairie and I reached Minneapolis. Picked Judy up at the airport and the next day we headed into Wisconsin. Suddenly it was no longer flat, and we were totally struck by the beauty of the landscape. Judy has never been to Wisconsin before and though I lived there for several years, it has been so long I had forgotten.

After a night in Gordon, NE, with some Motorcycle Travel Network people, I had stayed with a high school friend in Sioux Falls, SD. Then I rode on to the Minneapolis area and Judy and I stayed with another Motorcycle Travel Network person. Then it was on into Wisconsin where we are staying a couple days with friends from college. Tomorrow it is on to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where we have a B&B set up.

The roads here are good, well paved, and on a grid, so if you don’t want to stay on a busy highway you just take any turnoff and get on the lesser roads. The amazing thing was how many bicyclists we encountered on some of these lesser roads. Is Wisconsin really a bicyclist’s paradise?

The weather has been hot but dry, though we really notice the humidity. As long as we keep moving the breeze through our mesh jackets keeps us comfortable, but stop for a few minutes or slog through city traffic and it gets hot very quickly. I’ve hardly seen anyone else in jackets–it’s all T-shirts.

Our UCLEAR communicators are working wonderfully. Being able to talk is terrific, and when it comes to following directions, having a navigator who can say “Turn right here” is very helpful. I’ve even found that the communicators work fine if I’m wearing ear plugs so that’s even better.

This is all new ground for us. We’ve never been up here before so it’s adventure time. We like that.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Boredom totally lacking in ride across the prairie

Biker Quote for Today

“I rode a lot of dirt bikes when I was younger, so I trust the chain and sprockets more than that newfangled voodoo shaft stuff!” –DolphinJohn

Tags:
Posted in motorcycle touring | No Comments »

Finding Curvey Roads In Nebraska

July 9th, 2012
Nebraska Route 250

A pretty stretch of NE 250, though not the curviest of that road.

The most direct route looked pretty darn straight. But off to the east a bit was a squiggly line on the map that had some promise. A no-brainer. I took Nebraska 250 from a bit east of Alliance to U.S. 20 at Rushville. And I was rewarded. Who knew there were roads this squiggly in Nebraska?

So yes, I’m off on my 16-day, 3,000 mile trip out to Michigan and Ohio. The sky was looking threatening when I left home this morning but I figured I’d go cruise over to get gas before I really got going and see, in the process, what the rain would do. Well, I got about four blocks and it started pouring. I pulled into the shelter of an office building and put on my rain suit pants and jacket but didn’t figure I needed anything more. It wasn’t raining that hard.

Except that while I was putting those on it started raining harder. Within a minute my gloves were drenched beyond the point of doing anything about it. And after a few minutes I noticed something flapping and found that I had somehow forgotten to zip up my rain jacket, so my riding jacket was also soaked in the front. By this point I’m about 2 miles from home.

So I pulled into the shelter of the gas station and got organized and totally geared up. Of course, by the time I had done so–this being Colorado–the rain had mostly stopped. So I rode on and headed out by DIA, up Tower Road to Barr Lake and hit I-76 at Brighton. There I stopped and removed most of the rain gear because while the sky to the west looked like a boxer’s face after a title bout, to the east there was sunshine and puffy clouds.

As I rode everything dried out until things might never have been wet. The day remained cloudy and cool, which is to say comfortable, and I slabbed it to Sterling. At Sterling I went north to Sidney, NE, and on up to Alliance. Taking the main road north from Alliance would have taken me by Carhenge but that squiggly line on the map looked pretty good. What the heck, I’ve been to Carhenge several times before. Let’s try something new.

And I got to Rushville, turned east on U.S. 20, and was soon at Gordon, my stop-off place for the night. Staying here with a Motorcycle Travel Network couple. Yahoo! Road trip. I’m gone.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Vintage Motorcycle Days draws riders to Ohio

Biker Quote for Today

Total rookie who decided the best way to learn was to buy a bike in Ecuador and take her for a spin through South America.

Tags:
Posted in motorcycle touring | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »