Barney's now an organ donor...

Well,

From my last post, many may assume that this one would center around the sale of Barney and the trade-in of my beloved Vulcan 900. Guess what? You're all wrong!

I spent last Saturday morning installing the newly rebuilt front suspension and then went for a test ride.  The ride did not turn out as planned and I augured into a guard rail and broke my leg.  I also messed  up my face a bit, but no one notices that.  I was ugly enough to begin with.  

I think its about time I updated my blog, especially with the riding season soon upon us.  There have been some changes in the Stable since I last posted here, so in the coming months, I'll be adding some posts as I prep the bikes for the year.

In the meantime, please take a minute to review some things that I did LAST year as a primer for good things to come!

The first video is from the run a few of us did to New France.  We stayed the night in the pouring rain and had a rather "damp" ride home in the morning.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Most folks are probably familiar with the Title of this post. Its a book which has some sort of cult following...but I've never read it. I'd like to, but there just doesn't be the time.



I'd like to comment on the fact that Motorcycle Maintenance takes up a good portion of my evenings and weekends.



I have to admit, I like Vintage Rides. There's something in my psyche that likes to show folks that just because something is older...it doesn't mean it needs to be discounted outright.



My first bike was a 1978 Yamaha XS 750E. When I had it, it was 28 Years old. It ran great, needed a bit of TLC from time to time, but it was a classic and gave me hours of conversation talking to folks about old bikes. When I sold it becuase I'd bought my '07 Vulcan, I was sorry to see it go and realized I'd sold it for far too little money. Oh Well.



Fast forward a couple of years. I bought Barney. 1990 Kawasaki Voyager XII. Not quite to the Vintage Class, but still an oldie but a goodie. Kind of. So far, I've rebuilt Barney's Water Pump, replaced the Cruise Module, upgraded the Suspension and replaced the Driveshaft.

However, it seems, that Barney absolutely hates me. Everytime I do something, whether it be Preventative or necessary, he seems to throw me a chunk of shit to go along with it. Today, I decided to change his oil. Now, this is not a difficult task. I pulled the Drain Plugs, popped in a new, Hi-Flow filter, replaced all the O-Rings and went to button him back up. Guess What. He threw a wrench at me.

There are bad threads on the second oil drain plug and now, I can torque it down because it won't tighten. I tried to re-cut the threads, but it appears the plug itself is screwed. Oh well, if its just a new plug thats required, it no big deal. For Me.

For Barney, it means the For Sale sign. That's right. The post is on Kijiji. The first person to offer me 4 grand, rides away on the big purple monster.

I'll be sorry to see him go, but I just can't find the Zen in wrenching my weekends away fighting with that big, purple Bastard.

Anyone got $4,000?

C.

Is there another LD Rally within 1500 miles before the snow flies?

OK.

I admit it.

I'm either a sucker for punishment or totally insane.

If you ask Larry...he'll say he's the sucker and I AM insane...but he keeps coming with me so I'd say he's equally crazy.

I've been back for almost two whole weeks now and "Barney" is still in the shop waiting for his fluid change, new spark plugs and a new fender. Part of me has been lazy and the other is just plain beat from the drive back and forth to work and the workload I've been under. A very busy son in the mix doesn't help getting to the shop at an early time either.

But lets suffice it to say, I'm really looking forward to another LD Rally, LD Ride or just eating the miles out there. Even though I've put Barney on hold, I've been riding my Vulcan 900 back and forth to work, and I'd even consider a LD Ride on it again! All I want to do is go out and eat the miles...

The Internet is also another big problem...I've been reading blogs in the evening from guys that are touring from Alaska to San Diego and another from a Chap riding Round the World on a '62 Panhead with a Rigid Frame. (Do I ever feel like a pussy...)

So I think it comes down to this...

There's a 12 hr Rally in Quebec in September.

I should have Barney's issues ironed out by then.

Larry's interested....

Now all I have to do is beg for permission.....

Hmmmmmmmm.....What will this cost me in the end???????

Keep checkin' in to find out!

Tour Details...

When planning a Long Distance Motorcycle Tour, its not only important to wear the protective gear...but the right protective gear is even more important.

When I make short hauls on my Vulcan 900 Classic LT, I like wearing the leathers and half helmet to go with the "look". Its all about image, right?

Well, since we were heading out on a LD Endurance Tour, I figured I'd post a description and review of the gear I used for the Trip. So, without further delay...from head to toe here goes!

HELMET: HJC CL-MAX Modular with Dark Shield for Daytime Riding and Clear for Nighttime.

This helmet performs relatively well when riding behind a large windscreen. Its a little noisy for a modular lid, and the shield changes are a real pain. The venting also leave a little to be desired. Its not bad for a $250 helmet, but I'm already shopping for a replacement. Black is also not the right color in 20+ Celcius Heat. Rating 5/10 for the difficult shield changes and ineffective venting.

JACKET: Joe Rocket Ballistic 6.0

This coat is armoured in the elbows, shoulders and back and offers good protection should a rider ever go down. It includes the ability to zip it into the Joe Rocket pants and a baffle as well. I've been riding with this coat for the past four years and its comfortable and functional. Its Water Resistant and offers venting in the arms and back. When its time to replace it, I'll certainly shop for another Joe Rocket product. However, I'll be searching for a color other than black. The afternoon heat behind the Voyager's big windscreen made the jacket particularly warm during the days, but the zip in liner was appreciated at night. I did remove the back armour because it interferred with the Voyager Back Rest. Rating 8/10

PANTS: Joe Rocket Ballistic 5.0

The pants offer armour in the knees and pockets in the front, but no traditional pockets for keys, etc. The zip to coat feature is nice. These pants are also water resistant but offer little in the way of venting. Warm on the sunny days, but appreciated on the cooler nights. My next pair will NOT be black. Rating: 7/10

PANTS: Joe Rocket Mesh

Nice alternative that took up a little extra space in the saddlebags, but nice during the warmer days. Nice, zipped pockets and a non-mesh ass section. The kness also offer armoured pads as well. These pants are new and will definately be worn on a regular basis. My only complaint was the heat rash I got on my ass the first day of riding...but that could have been the Gel Seat pad I was using as well. Ditto on the color. Rating 9/10.

BOOTS: J. H. Brown 12" Prospector - Canadian Military Issue Garrison Boots

Not a common choice for bikers, but I like the high boot which provides me a bit of ankle protection and the fact they are gortex lined, making them relatively water-proof. The boots had a good coat of Dubbin and Polish prior to departure and I didn't notice additional warmth. They were comfortable while riding and easy to walk in. My only complaint is the larger toe which does not fit well under the shifter. Rating: 9/10 with a caveat: I will replace these boots with a proper Motorcycle Touring boot in the future..but for now, they are my boot of choice.

GPS: Citizen GPD 3559

Previously available at Canadian Tire at a sale price of $49 and features Sygic Mapping software. Easy to use and offers an audio out which I routed to the Voyager's Clarion Sound System. It provided fairly accurate directions, except for once, but Google Maps is wrong too and that Farmer's Cornfield was well kept. :-) The screen was clear, easy to read and I haven't fully learned all of its features yet. There were a couple of times when the GPS didn't like the road choices we made and demanded we turn around and it didn't offer alternatives when planning routes, but the price point and ease of use gives it a 9/10. I made it there and back didn't I?

OTHER ELECTRONICS: Chatterbox 50, Philips 8G MP3 Player & Sirius Satellite Radio

I used the Chatterbox to wire my helmet for the MP3 Play and SiriusXM Radio. It fits well in the helmet and offers additional volume control. It worked well the entire trip, but the small buttons make it difficult to use while on the road or at stop lights. Rating: 6/10

The Philips MP3 Player was half full and I only heard 1 song twice during the 10 hours I listened to it during the Rally. It worked well and will be a regular companion. Rating 9/10

SiriusXM provided hours of Music, News and Talk. The antennae adjustments I made before leaving gave me good signal for most of the trip. I was able to keep up with Canadian News, listen to Howard Stern and have almost 100 music channels to choose from. Its definately staying on the bike. However, Howard Stern's interview with Denise Richards almost made me drive off the road....she's quite a lady! [Lady may not be the most appropriate word..] :-) Rating: 10/10

Stay tuned for some more updates and additions from the trip!

C.

The Minuteman 1000

My participation in the 2009 Minuteman 1000 has now come to a close. It was a great time, and I'm really looking forward to participating next year. So without further ado...here is my Ride Report for the trip to, including and post MM1K.

June 3, 2009
T-Minus 1 Day.

The morning started out as usual, getting up at 0530 hrs to get ready for work, only this time I was hopping on the Voyager for a 50 Km trip to Kentville for an EHS Inservice. It'd been less than a week since I gotten the bike back from its Driveshaft replacement and I was still a little nervouse about heading out on such a long trip. I completed the 10 hr day and rode home, arriving to pack after 2000 hrs. After some last minute additions, the beast was loaded and ready to go.


June 4, 2009

Larry and I left at 0600 hrs on Thursday morning to the Digby - Saint John Ferry which is about an hour away from where we live. When we arrived at the Ferry Terminal, Larry mentioned he had noticed a fair sized shimmy to my front end, which I had noticed started shortly after I changed the tires, so I had attributed it to either a wheel out of balance, tire pressures or a bad tire! Turns out, it was a loose head nut. We got off the boat and I grabbed my tools and tore the front end down right there in the parking lot. I could move the head nut with my fingers! Now, I don`t carry a torque wrench with me, so we found the nearest bike shop and begged to borrow a wrench and a 27 mm socket. We were back on the road within an hour.

View from the Stern of the "Princess of Acadia" as we leave for Saint John, NB

By the Grace of God, a Torque Wrench and a 27mm Socket, Barney was back on the road with a properly torqued Head Nut. (Not the one holding the Handlebars)

We made it to Gorham, NH the first night and pulled in shortly after 8 local time. Took a campsite at the White Birches Campground outside of town and pitched our tents. The Mosquitos and No-see-ums were pretty bad that evening and we called it a night. Apparently, I snore and Larry was awoken by a South-bound freight around 3 am. I don`t believe him, because I heard neither. We broke camp early the next morning and headed to Jefferson, NH for breakfast at the Water Wheel Restaurant. After a hearty breakfast of French Toast, Sausage, Juice and half a pot of coffee, we were back enroute for Northampton, MA.

Gorham, NH

We had decided to head down US116 to US302 and rode some of the prettiest mountain roads I`ve ever had the pleasure of riding on. It was a lot of new Blacktop and the scenery was beautiful. It probably hasn`t changed much since I was there in 1993, but my perspective sure has. We arrived in Northampton around 1400 hours and did our mileage check and check in. We probably would have been a little earlier, but Simon, my GPS decided that we needed to see some prime Agricultural Land in the Heart of Northampton before we got to our destination. Apparently, there is not a map in existence that give a proper location of Atwood Drive. Thank God the local Postal Worker was having a good day.

"Barney" against the backdrop of the White Mountains, and one of the reasons we took the US116 and US302 to Northampton, MA. Some of the nicest biking roads I've seen through the Mountains of NH.

The Rally Reception and Dinner started at 1800 hrs and after an Ice Cold Corona, a buffett supper and chocolate cake for dessert, we all received our Rally Books and started scrambling to read the bonus information. There were lots of questions from the other participants, and it was easy to tell, the competition was starting already. The Rally Crew broke up early and I think that the lights were out in our room before 2230 hrs.

This is Brian and Mike. Larry and I met them while we were checking into the Hotel, and as they were Minuteman First Timers as well, we ended up travelling with them from Bangor to Wyoming, RI. Larry DID stay with them till the end...they all just left my ass on the side of the I-95.

The Wake Up call came at 0430 hrs on Saturday morning and while I finished packing my tank bag, Larry went in search of breakfast. The only thing he could find was passable coffee and our riders meeting began at 0530 hrs. After some last minute questions, the line up started and the first three riders were on the road at 0600..with Larry and I in th e staging box at 0608. Àt 0609 hrs, we were off and running North to Swanton, VT. We rode for a couple of hours and decided to find some breakfast in Northfield, VT. Northfield is a relatively small College town and we could find a Dunkin` Donuts and McDonalds or anything as we rode through. We settle on some Convenience Store fare from a Cumberland Farms on the Main Drag. Tanks were topped off and we continued on to Swanton.

Rob Nye, Rallymaster, gives out final instructions at the Saturday morning Rider's Meeting. Rob is an Iron Butt veteran, having competed in the 2007 Iron Butt Rally an 11,000 mile, 11 day Odessey.

Final Preparations on ole Barney before we leave for the next 21 hours.

We arrived in Swanton shortly before 1100 hrs and with our existing distrust of Simon the GPS, followed the Google Maps directions to the Carman Brook Dairy and Maple Farm. We should of listened to Simon. His way was shorter. We purchased the requisite 2 pints of Syrup, took a pit stop and were back on the road for Bangor, ME. We returned whence we had came and followed the I-89 back to Montpelier, VT. We got off the I-89 and followed every slow driver, every pot-hole and every construction site to Bangor, ME. We collected the Bangor bonus and headed out with two other riders to Wyoming, RI.

The Wyoming run wasn`t too bad, we stopped in Cumberland,. ME for fuel and to change dark visors for clear. We then pushed from Cumberland to Wyoming non-stop 217 miles, around Boston without stopping. Arrival at the Wyoming Mobil Station was uneventful until I realized that Mastercard had suspended my Credit Card for suspected Credit Card Fraud. Clearing that up, we ate a quick, non-nutritious gas station meal washed down with a Red Bull and took off to Milford, CT.

This is where it gets interesting. About 14 miles in, I could smell rubber burning. Thinking it was industrial sites nearby, I continued on. Wrong. Something hit me in the leg and I needed to pull over. I crossed the 3 lanes of traffic to claim my own little piece of Real Estate on the I-95. I realized that I`d lost two of the four bolts holding my fork brace and fender on, and that the rubber burning was my tire. I found an appropriate size Allen Wrench in my tools and quickly got back on the road. I continued to Milford, CT looking for the Riding Group who had, in my eyes, left me behind. I met up with a bunch of Harley and cruiser riders who were at the Mobil in Wyoming at the same time. My first words when the other group asked if I was OK, was ``I don`t know...did you see the f***kers I was riding with?" When they replied that they hadn't, I thought the guys had collected the last mandatory and were headed back to Northampton to go to bed. I checked the Blackberry in my Tank Bag and saw 7 missed calls. Five were from my wife and the other three were from the guys I was riding with. They'd called my wife looking for my number which Larry thought he had but didn't, and in doing so left her worried beyond belief. I reassured her I was alright, got my fuel receipt and left with the Cruiser guys who said they'd make sure I'd get back to Northampton regardless of what happened. If you've never been to the Pilot Truck Stop in Milford, CT at 0130 hrs in the morning, you should. Go in your car. Don't get out...just watch. Its something like I'd never seen before.

I arrived back at the Hotel at 0321 hrs, 21 hours and 12 minutes after leaving. I did check in, scoring and found out I'd be getting my IBA certificate and promptly had a shower and went to bed. Larry and crew arrived over an hour later and we all had a bit of a laugh at the whole episode and found out he was wonder how to apply for refugee status should he not know my whereabouts.

We left Northampton and headed North to Montreal, QC for supper at the Bar B Barn Chicken and Rib spot. The 500 some odd Km was nothing and we had a great meal and spent the night with a friend in the suburbs.

Departure Monday morning occured shortly after 7, again, we grabbed breakfast on the road and headed for home. We had almost 1600 km to make and since we were now Iron Butt veterns, we didn't think it would be an issue. It wasn't. We pushed every tank of fuel to the reserve light and I pulled into my driveway shortly after 0100 hrs. If we had had the forethought, we would have registered it as our second Saddle Sore Ride and put another LD feather in our caps.

It was nice to see my wife and sleep in my own bed again. The dog was ecstatic I was home and I've been unable to move 3' today without her or my son strapped to my ankles. Its nice to go away, but is it ever nice to come home! I'm still tired, but planning on the run for next year!

Props to my "Crew Chief"

I'm somewhat mechanically minded, but every once in a while, I get to a point where I just need a little help, and occasionally, its nice to have some "male bonding" time involving tools and coffee.

My friend and occasional riding buddy Clarence "T-Bone" Tidd is the guy I turn to for help to get things done when I'm over my head.

Clarence started helping me last year with Barney when I replaced the Cruise Module and fixed the Water Pump Seal. Mind you, Meagan came out and finished both projects in a shorter time than Clarence and I together.

T-Bone is the kind of guy who always seems to have those tools that I don't own, and will often bring them over and drop 'em off for extended periods of time. Outside of all his help, I really couldn't ask for a better guy to have as a friend.

Well, Clarence was over again tonight assisting with the final prep work on Barney for the trip to Northampton. We got a set of Auxiliary Lights wired up, a bracket fabricated and installed and all the lights aimed to potentially piss off most of the drivers south of the border. At least I'll be seen!

So, tonight, I'm given Clarence a new title. He's now my official "Crew Chief" and "Technical Advisor" for my participation in the 2009 Minuteman Rally.

Thanks Clarence..I couldn't have done it without you!

C.