7/25/09 Shop time, Good old boys & Secret handshakes

365 Group (f)

These last few days have been great. The weather was almost perfect and I even got in some riding.
I have an old eccentric bike, A Virago 920, that I was told over the years was Yamaha's first attempt at Harley's Sportster design, that quit firing as I pulled into my drive about a year and a half ago. I really enjoyed this bike even though it has several quirks that most people find hard to live with. Notably the starter. It sounds at times like your dragging a chain through a box of tin cans. That is due to a poor design for the starter. I love it.
Anyway, I had checked and replaced everything electrical you could think of short of replacing the wiring harness. I was shopping around ebay for a new harness. Nothing that I did worked. No fire.
On Thursday afternoon I ran by the shop with a new gismo that I had borrowed off a friends bike to try as a just in case I missed something the first time around. Missed something is really putting it mildly. While I was hooking up this new CDI I dropped my glasses and when I bent down to pick them up, I saw it. A little square box under the head light. Two screws and that's it. Wondering, as I had never saw this before, got a screwin stick and popped out the screws and there it was! A fuse box. Not just any fuse box. No! This was a double secret, totally undercover, have to know the secret handshake-good old boy fuse box. It has to be as it wasn't shown in any of the manuals that I have for this bike. Later I called a friend at the Yamaha shop and had him look on the big computer manual and tell me where the fuse box was. He said the "fish" showed it to be under the seat. He didn't show an extra fuse box on his microfiche for the bike. I found that it had a 10 amp ignition fuse that had blown at about fifty three thousand miles. Still don't know what caused it to pop. I replaced the fuse and hey, we got fire.
To put it mildly, I was happy!!
Thinking back over the last year and a half at all I had put into trying to get back on the road. Pick up coils. New stators, tried three of them. All the friends that I had pestered. Yep! I be a happy camper.
Firing the old bike up and listening to the sound of that old offset Vtwin words cant describe how it made me feel. I seem to have a weird connection to the unusual, like this old bike.
There are still a few odds and ends to work out before it'll be ready for a shakedown ride. Got to flush the fuel system and clean out the carbs. New tires, check the brakes, Little things.
Now, I am curious. This fuse box. It is a factory job. It is well hidden. I'm wondering since it isn't shown on any of the service material, was this some Japaneses idea of a joke. Got to be something like that as this bike has two fuse boxes and two main ignition fuses. I can just see this guy or gal cracking up just thinking about someone, like me, pulling their hair out over this. This bike is a keeper. I cant say that strongly enough where the average person would understand. I mean, in any shape if I had to move it would go along like the fridge or TV. Now it's my turn to laugh. Now I'm a card caring member of the "good old boy" club. I'm now getting ready to go through the system again and see what other "good old boys" I can find. To this afore mentioned Japanese with the sense of humor. "I'm with ya bro". Cracks me up just thinking about the whole deal.
Now it's time to go polish my "decoder ring" and work on the little odds and ends.
They didn't make this model for very long. Too many little things people couldn't grasp. The starter and it's a shaft drive at a time when that was a new unheard of thing. Also it had a "backbone" frame like some of the old 60's model Honda 90's and it's plain ugly in some lights. In a way it's kind of a cult bike. People that have Acquired the taste for them have nothing but good things to say about them. I'm tickled as heck with this one. I've put fifty two thousand of the sixty one thousand miles it has on it. I literally have taken it everywhere in all kinds of weather.

catch ya on the road

7/16/09 Photo Safari (Really just an excuse)

365 Group (f)

This morning I had planned a Photo Safari. Just grab the cameras, jump on the bikes and head down toward the Buffalo River and amble along.

I figured to just take it slow and eventually run out to my mom's and see how she was doing.
I loaded up and headed out to my buddy Luther's house. He, like me, dabbles in the Photographic arts on an amature level. He was going to be my number 2 co pilot for the day. As I pulled up to Luther's shop I noticed he had his Bandit all primed to take off.

Pulling out we ran down and caught Hwy 45 East to Hwy 412. There wasn't much traffic and it was a good early morning ride. About twenty five miles into the ride we came up on a car beside the road with the trunk open. A young woman standing beside the car with a small child. Thinking that they may be having trouble we did a quick turn around and went to check. The woman explained that her daughter had just gotten car sick "all over everything!" She thanked us for stopping and but assured us she had it all under control.
Pulling back out we made a small stop at a business just outside of Marble where Luther could clear up a small business snafu.
Back on the road we ran down a couple of miles and caught 21 toward Kingston. This was a good slow paced six or seven miles. In Kingston I saw that there was a yard sale going on on the square. I rounded the square at about forty and didn't see anything I couldn't live with out. Pulling the hill out of Kingston I opened the old bike up and topped the hill at seventy five. The best part was listening to the pipes bark. I had saw a couple or three bikes and their riders parked around the square in Kingston. I'm sure they enjoyed hearing my pipes as much as I did.
We ran along to the Boxley Mountain and pulled over at the brake check area. I had manage to pinch a nerve or have a heart attack or something. My whole right side was numb and tingling. First I thought it was from the vibration of my old twin. The English bikes their design is supposedly stolen from caused this a lot. My old Bonneville was really bad for numbing your body parts. But, in riding this one everyday for over three years, I hadn't ever had it happen before. I pretty much ruled out a heart attack. I had one once and it was sorta but not quite the same feeling. So that left a pinched nerve. With a bad back, I've done that several times. I explained to Luther what I had figured out and that I needed to walk around and stretch a bit. I poured a cup of coffee and after about ten minutes I was back to normal. While we were "un pinching" my nerves a bike roared up and a couple from Hot Springs visited with us for a few minutes. They were in Kingston when we came through. It was a nice morning in the warm sunshine.

Pulling back on to the road we ran on down to the bottom of the mountain and decided to hook a left and head for the possums shank.
Along the way we pulled into the old bridge at ponca and took a few snaps.The river was low and made for some good swimming right around the old bridge.

The run up the possums shank was all that I remembered it to be...loads of fun. Just not long enough. About half way up the possums shank I noticed that I had lost my "L S I". This was a minor cause for concern. I do like to know how fast I'm going into some of these curves. We pulled into the Junction at Jasper and topped off the bikes. While there I looked over the broken LSI. and decided that it would have to wait till we were back home and I could change out the drive gear in the hub. Funny. You'd think that the Japanese would have designed things to last longer that thirty two years. I mean your always hearing about their craftsmanship. This bike is just now getting broke in and parts are going south.
Leaving Jasper on Hwy 7 south, we pulled the mountain and as always really enjoyed the tight curves. Again, they just didn't last long enough for me. At the top of the mountain we pulled in to the Scenic point and climbed the tower for a great view to the north. After a few snaps we headed on south toward Deer and mom's.
Along the ride to Deer there are several great spots to stop and view what is billed as Arkansas Grand Canyon. We pulled over at the Green Thumb Pull Off and took a few shots of the valley. Thinking about it, if it wasn't for all the greenery, this would resemble the Grand Canyon. It's bigger than you realize just casually looking at it.
A quick run on down the road and we pulled into Mom's. Mom was doing pretty well and had fresh cornbread made. So as we visited we made this our lunch stop. It was just a real slowed down and relaxed lunch. I really didn't want to leave. But then I never do. After saying my goodbyes we headed back out to Hwy 16 and the ride back to the house.
16 hardly has any traffic on it and you can blast along and really enjoy your ride which is what we did. Coming back into Kingston I gave Luther the word that we would be stopping at Marble. I wanted some ice cream. He gave me a big smile and nodded. Kind of like being a kid again. We chowed down on ice cream and just generally shot the breeze. Neither of us was in any kind of hurry. A real rarity for us both. An actual lazy Saturday with nothing to rush around for. Man! it was nice.
Grabbing my mandatory Hush Puppies we loaded back up and headed on toward the house. I had a fleeting worry about running into a "Big hat" with my LSI broken. But this had been such a good trip, I don't think even a ticket could ruin it. So I just jammed on.
Back at Luther's shop I changed out the gear in the hub and got my GFM back on line. A good finish to a great trip. Close to Two Hundred miles...I enjoyed each and every one of them.

Here is a group we met over by Lost valley. The only Harley in the bunch was spraying oil all over the rider. He was like Luther and I, loved those old contrary machines, and was having a blast.

One of the views from the Green Thumb Pulloff on Hwy 7.

These are a few snaps of what the photog-ra-fa-kator saw during this short trip along the Buffalo river..

Catch ya on the road

7/16/09 Old and Bullet Proof

365 Group (f)

This evening, Monday 7/13/09,I had a call from a man in my area wanting some information about an old Honda motorcycle. He had found one as he put it, a Craigs list deal, in a barn, for sale. He also told me that at one time he used to ride a lot but that was years ago. This was the reason for the "barn find". Something to tinker with and get back his riding moves.
We talked for about an hour and I told him all I knew about the old Honda CL 350 twin. He sounded all excited when I mentioned that they were almost bullet proof if they had been maintained even just a minimum. He said that this one was suppositly in a barn over by Alpena. That the owner was the original owner from 1972 and that it has been in this families barn since the guy left for college years ago. And...The guy wanted around a hundred bucks for it and whatever else he had that went with it.
We ended our conversation with me feeling like this guy might have made one of those "finds of the century".
About 11:00 a m, Wednesday 7/15/09, I got another call from my new buddy that had found the old Honda in the barn. He said he had bought the old Honda for a project and was wondering what I would charge to go with him,check it out a little and help him get it home. Thinking about it, this sounded kind of fun. Short road trip and some tinkering. I told my new friend, Martin, that I was at work and if he wanted to pay me what I was making there I'd go with him. That said mostly as a joke his instant comeback was," how much"?
We finally agreed that it could wait until I got off.
Two PM, I pulled out from work heading East on Hwy 412. I planned to meet Martin over by Hindsville and we would run on down to Alpena and pick up the bike. Floating down the road I had a mental picture of this "barn find" and it wasn't a good one. Bikes didn't do to well in the hands of North Arkansas farm boys back in the seventies. At the Gas station in Hindsville I meet Martin and his wife Linda. As I topped off my tank they explain the plan. We would meet the guy with the bike down at the Indian Cafe in Alpena and he would take us to it.
Telling them to go on ahead of me I fired up and pulled back out onto 412. Traffic was light to none at all most of my ride down. I made good time and had a nice ride.
Pulling into the Indian Cafe I noticed Martins truck and headed over to it. He was talking to the guy with the bike. We all headed out and on East a couple of miles to a side road that led to a house with a bunch of lazy hound dogs and "the barn".
The bike was all that the guy had said it was and more. Original everything, Except for the handle bars. Today they are called baby apes. Back then they were called high rise. It tickled me to hear the guy call them that. Showed him to be of my age bracket. Looking over the paperwork that he handed Martin, he and his dad were the original owners. He said he had taken decent care of the bike and had stored it when he left for college. He said he lost any interest in motorcycles and never got back to it.
The bike looked pretty good for its age and all. At one time he said it had a tarp over it. The paint was faded badly and it would take lots of cleaning. Dust and hay and dirt was thick on it. The tires had a couple of dry rot places and most of the rubber was showing the start of drying and cracking and where critter's had been chewing on it . It would need to have most of it replaced.
We rolled it out into the light and I was more impressed. It really looked good. The seat was a little rough. A couple of major tears. Hitting the kick starter the engine wasn't locked up. The oil even looked good.
Joking, I told Martin that I might be able to get it started and he could ride it home. The battery was shot but for grins and giggles we hooked it up to his truck battery with jumper cables, gave the carbs a shot of starting fluid and on the third kick she fired up. Only ran for a second or two, but it was enough.
Money changed hands and we loaded it in Martins truck. I told his wife to have him run it by the car wash and knock the dirt and dust off it before he started trying to work on it. Every one was happy and I headed back to the highway for a lazy ride back to the house.
Trips like this are a fun way to kill and afternoon. The fact that the bike was in such good shape just made it better. Pulling into town I saw Martin and Linda had made it to the car wash. The old bike looked even better with all the dust and hay off of it. They thanked me again and again offered to pay me. We finally settled on a burger and a coke.
While we ate I made a list of things for them to work on first. New tires and battery. Change the oil and to try washing out the carbs with carb cleaner before taking them off.
This was going to be a fun project and I was having a good time just watching them. After we finished eating we talked a little about the old bike and I told them to give me a call if I could help with it. They pulled out heading for home and I opted for another cup of coffee.
Thinking over this afternoon. There were lots of bikes around this area during the seventies. Probably still are lots of them in someones barn. I just need to get out and locate me one. Heading for the house I decided to advertise for one on Craigs list and see what I come up with.
Thursday, 7/16/09, 8:15 am, Two messages from Martin and Linda on my machine. Yep! This is going to be a fun project!

Catch ya on the road.

7/11/09

365 Group (F)

This morning looks like a good start to what will turn out to be a beautiful day.

I tried to get in gear a little earlier this morning. As usual it put me behind. I had intended to go over to the work site and spend the morning working on my buddy's Harley. Hoping to get the little things he needed done finished before it got too hot to fool with.
Pulling out there wasn't any traffic to speak of and I had the thought I can make up the time on the road.
Sure enough, traffic was light and I made up my time. I guess that since it was Friday everyone was sleeping in. I pulled in the drive to work and there was my friends old "Iron Head" setting at the Guard shack. I guess he took me seriously when I told him I wasn't going in to the office.
The Guard poured me a cup of coffee and I started putting on the new brake assembly. It went together pretty well, even though all the parts weren't there. Not a biggie, we'll just have to make a cable end. After making all the adjustments and a list of what we need to finish all he want to do, I called him and passed on what all I was able to do and what he needed to pick up for his forward controls.
We agreed to meet later, after he got off and grab a bite to eat. I pulled out and headed toward the highway. It was early yet and I wanted to get in a few miles before the heat got really up there.
From Springdale I headed East on 412 thinking that I might run into one of the groups of bikes that passed while I was at the Guard Shack. They looked like they were vacationing and maybe headed to Eureka or Branson. Once out of town I opened up and started to eat some miles. Coming into Hindsville I saw a couple of bikes turning toward Eureka. I figured that I'd just tool along and catch up. I finally caught up with the riders I had seen turning off at the intersection, They were from the Rogers area and were heading back to the house from a morning ride. We visited a little and I headed on toward nowhere.
Pulling into Eureka Springs I stopped at the intersection. Holding up traffic a little I flipped a quarter and headed west. The rest of my ride was kind of a blur. I got into a good cruse and before I knew it I was coming out of Missouri and heading toward Rogers. I like rides like that. Comfortable.
I stopped in Rogers at a gas station and topped off. Several bikes were out and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in spite of the heat and humidity. After gassing up I pulled out and fell in with a bunch of Harley's heading over to Pig Trail Harley. Guess they needed a reboot on their computers. Creeping along in traffic I finally made it down to I 540. Thinking that it had been a few days since I had really opened up and ran the bike I pulled on and headed back to Fayetteville. Hanging in the left lane I opened up and ran through the gears till I hit a hundred. Backing off a little I cruised along just letting the engine breathe. As I came up on the State Weigh Station I noticed a Trooper setting in the driveway. Backing off the throttle, figuring he had me, I started looking to get over to be pulled over. Just as I leaned into the right lane I was passed by a couple of real fast blurs. A couple of Sport bikes running well over 100 mph. I would guess them to be closer to 130. The way the Trooper jumped out after them I don't think he had even saw me. Here I was about ready to surrender and throw myself on somebodies Mercy and he hadn't even noticed me. I kept things down to close to the posted speed and got off at my exit. Don't know if he ever caught up to the Sport bikes. I do know that they were really moving and that I was relieved he didn't catch me.
I picked my way through town traffic and headed out to the house. The Pups would be hungry and I needed to get ready for dinner with the "buds".
Yep! The Pups were glad to be fed. Little Vermin always want to eat. Anytime any place.
Later, I heard that the Police chased a couple of Sport Bikes around all afternoon finally catching them when they got back in town where they could box them in. Yep I was lucky. I checked on the fine for thirty over and it made my nose bleed just hearing about it.
Well its almost time to head back out again. The Pups are all happy and enjoying a little nap. Now it's my turn.
Catch ya on the road

7/8/09 Coffee maker died

365 Group (f)

Today started out like a normal Wednesday morning with the Pups whining and me really wanting to stay in bed. I managed to drag myself out of bed and let the guys out to terrorize the front yard and headed for the coffee pot. Here is where the day started going south. My coffee maker died last night. I always set it up for the next morning before going to bed. I guess while waiting it gave up. I walked into the kitchen to find water everywhere and it was dead. After years of faithful service I hope it went peacefully. I dug around and found my camp coffee pot and made some on the stove. By the time it was ready the pups were through alerting everyone in the neighborhood that they existed and were wanting back in. They also had a bad case of "oh yeah, you can feed us now". Little vermin anyway. I set out their food and headed to the shower.
Finally I got my morning started and moving along. Today is payroll day at work and so I grabbed all my executive junk and headed out. Strapping on the briefcase on I made a command decision then and there. I was going to put my sissy bar back on. Make it easier to carry all this junk.
Kicking the old gal to life I wondered about just turning in the payroll and heading out to someplace I haven't been in a while. There is a real nice place to eat at Roaring River, just over the line in Missouri. Not too far away. If I took my time and run the back roads I could have a real nice morning ride. So, with that thought in mind I headed down the drive to the street.
There wasn't much traffic anywhere this morning but there was some morning fog. It was thick for about three miles. I just hugged the white line on the shoulder and hoped that no one ran over me. When I came out of the fog it was all of a sudden and one of the most beautiful sights I've seen in a while. The fog was in white fluffy walls ahead of me each a little taller than the one before it with the morning sun sitting on top. Felt kind of weird seeing it and riding through it. Due to the fog I didn't gain anything this morning. But I did have a great start to my ride.
I ambled through the traffic lights and idiots up to work. Pulling in I saw several others on their bikes were held up at the gate. Thinking that something was up I pulled up beside a shop guy on his Harley. Whats up? Nothing. We all just got here at the same time. Talk about timing. We all blasted away from the gate and woke everyone up in the office building next door. The day was starting to come around.
Payroll went through without a hitch and worked on a few small odds and ends and before I knew it it was to close to lunch time to make the run up to Roaring River. Bummer! Well maybe the weekend.
A bunch of us had decided to tear out for lunch. Thinking about heading out to that I got a call from my Doctor. Need to head in for some more tests. Hummm, didn't even give me any time to study. So I packed up and headed out to the Hospital in Harrison.
I was a nice ride down. Traffic was light and I made good time. Sitting here waiting on the doc, I'd much rather gone to Roaring River.
Catch ya on the road

7/5/09 The envelope

How many times have you seen a fund raiser of one sort or another for someone where a group is asking for help for someones bills or whatever? Mostly it's a poker run or bike related raffle or some other thing along the biking theme.

Usually they are looking for an amount to cover a months rent or utility bills or whatever.
The other day I was at a bike gathering and was asked by a lady to consider helping one of her groups injured brothers. She told me that they were asking for donations to help with day to day little stuff. Like a burger or a beer or a pack of smokes or whatever... She then handed me an envelope and asked me if I would give a buck. That was all she said. Would I consider helping. Just put it in and drop it in the mail. I didn't know this group other than to know they existed and see their patch occasionally as someone rode by. Asking what had happened to their member the lady said that he had been forced off the road by a car passing another car. A broken arm and leg with some road rash. And a busted bike.
The lady walked on to talk to some other folks and I got to looking the envelope over and thinking about it. The envelope was pre addressed. It had a note in it that simply said "hope your back on the road soon". While I was pondering this envelope a couple of couples came by talking about this same thing. One of the men was saying that it was an obvious scam and through the envelope in a trash can. Thinking about it the lady asked that I only give a buck. There was no one around to know if I did or didn't. I could easily throw the envelope away and go on. But. What if? What if my buck or two helped make it a little easier on some one that was down for a while. I have always heard that the little things make the difference. In something like this, especially where a persons pride comes into play, I could really see where anonymously receiving some cash would help. All I would be out was a buck and a stamp. I waste more than that everyday on cokes, crap and bad habits.
Then there's karma..... Well, I may have been "scammed", wont be the first time and doubt it will be the last time. I tucked a Ten in with the note and dropped it in the mail.
Just never know. I went back and dug the other envelope out of the trash. It might be a scam but it might make the difference.
Catch ya on the road

7/4/09 Fourth of July

365 Group (f)


Today is the Fourth of July.
I had a couple of rides to pick from today. People that I know were going on a poker run for someone and there was a ride over into Oklahoma. I didn't have too much info on the poker run other than where it was talking off from. The ride over to Oklahoma sounded good till I talked with a few of the people going. Rain was in the forecast and they were about to back out. Before I knew it the day was wasted from waiting around on someone to let me know if we were going anywhere. Finally with no definite plans I headed out toward Fayetteville and a late lunch. One of those days that things didn't really start happening till dark anyway, I figured to just ride around till almost dark and then head on over to the lake for the Fireworks display. I had gotten a new Camera and was looking forward to taking some pictures of the fireworks.
Lunch was at a little out of the way burger joint. The locals were holding court and it was quite a comfortable place to just sit and eat and listen. After my lunch I topped off my tank and started out to go over and hit the East side of Springdale and the lake area. Traffic in town was a real Zoo! People seemed to be out in droves. Most were dragging a boat around like they were heading toward the lake. From what I could see, everyone was just running around town pulling their boat. Once I got on the highway' I didn't see anyone with a boat. Funny how a holiday effects people.
I hit a few of the lake areas and landings. A few people were sort of camped out. It wasn't anything like last year. Leaving the Blue Springs launch area I decided to run on down to Huntsville and then over to Withrow Springs Park and see if they had anything going on. The ride over was a nice one. I didn't even see a Trooper. That has got to mean something... The Ranger at the Park kind of hinted that there wasn't anything of a planned nature going on. There did seem to be several campers in the area. I figure that maybe they had some kind of rules against fireworks in the park. I headed out and started back towards home.
Back at the house, I got word that some of our local Churches had some things planned for kids in the area. I made a quick pass hoping to maybe get a shot or two of the kids?
Pulling into town I didn't see anything going on anywhere. Guess it was a little too warm and sticky for people to be out and be comfortable. I hit the local hangouts and had a coke and listened to the locals for a little while. After an hour or so I headed back to the house.
Finally it started getting dark and the "war" started. I rode around town for a little while and took a few shots of the fireworks. Finally I headed down to the lake to try and get shots of the really big displays. It was literally like a combat zone for about two hours with different groups trying to out do each other. I filled up all my memory sticks and about midnight or so kicked off for the house. I took the long way around the lake and watched the straggling fireworks, making a nice ride home.
Catch ya on the road

7/2/09 Retread Road test

365 Group (f)

Today I saddled up for a road test of my brain storm. My retread rear tire.

I packed up everything to turn in my payroll at work, picked up my road bag and spare cell phone. Strapping it all on I went over the days plan in my head. Run by work and get the payroll turned in so all my people will be happy then head out for the Buffalo River area, making a loop around and back to the house. Everything in place I jumped on the starter and half way through the kick, she fired up. Sweet! The motor Settled into a low rumble. I let it warm a little. In this heat it didn't seem to take much warming.
Bouncing down the drive to the street I had a spooky thought of how my luck will most likely let me pick up a rock and have a flat before I get on the road.
No flat. I made it to the Highway and light traffic. Pulling out I eased through the gears and thought I'd stop and check my tire every couple of miles for a while. See if anything is happening and maybe head off a problem.
At each stop along the way I was impressed as I couldn't find anywhere that looked like the Shoe Goo stuff was coming off or anything. Finally I just said to heck and let the hammer down for the last seven or eight miles to town. I did stop as I came into town and topped off my tank. Still nothing.
I was a little nervous in the heavier town traffic but I made it up to work without any problems.
After the Payroll bit, I ran around to the companies truck shop and got the guys to put my bike on a lift. I looked the tire over really well. Again nothing.
The tire looked almost like I hadn't done any patching or anything. I couldn't see any place where the cord was showing.
I made a fast call to one of my riding buddies thinking he might want to make a run to the river. After talking with him I promptly changed my plans. He was off today also and wanted to go for a ride down the Pig Trail.
So I headed over to his house and we took off down Old Missouri Road to Hwy.16. At the junction of 16 and Old Missouri we headed east to Elikns and on down to Hwy 23.
Turning onto Hwy. 23 we had a nice ride. I had forgotten how much fun this ride is. Shady and just the right amount of curves to make it what people refer to as sweeping. That is until you start down the mountain. Very tight switchbacks, a bunch of them. Kind of like what you'd find on the Dragons tail. Just not in anyway as many. Most of them,depending on your level of ground clearance about 25 MPH. Slower or faster depending. On a couple I scraped my pegs on my crash bar. Nothing but pure fun.
After the mountain we tooled down to Ozark to grab a bite to eat. We found a little diner just off the main drag that was packed with people so we opted for it. That many people it was either that good or they were giving lunch away. Whatever the reason. It worked for us. The food was great. and we lounged over coffee and dessert. A few other riders drifted in and it wasn't long before they asked about the Pig Trail. These riders were on vacation from Texas and were heading to Eureka Springs and Branson, Missouri. They had heard about this stretch of road from friends that had rode it a couple of years earlier. After a few minutes of chat we invited them to join us headed out to the bikes.
I looked over my back tire and found a small place on the edge of my patch job where it was showing damage. Man! A hundred and five miles and not anything to speak of. I'm sold on this as an emergency quick fix. The real test will be what it looks like when I get back to the house.
I hit the kick starter and we eased out into the small town traffic and back to the highway. Turning onto Hwy. 23 we met a group of bikes coming into town. All the riders had big grins on their faces. They must have found the curves to their liking. I had told our new partners all about these curves and told them that we would keep a pace to make them comfortable with them.
The run up to the curves was enjoyable at about a fifty five pace. It gave me time to look over the country side and just relax a little.
We all made it through the curves. Stopping at the junction of 23 and 16 I asked everyone what they thought. The grins said it all. I explained where they were at and where Jim and I were going. They started pulling out maps to figure out where they were going form there. Jim and I explained the area a little, closest gas station and how to get across to Eureka from where we were.

I pulled in to the house in a very relaxed state. Funny how that always happens.
My tire held up. The patch job had only a couple of places that showed anything. Like I said. In an emergency I think this stuff would be a great tool to have. Looking at my "GFM", the tire held up nicely for a total of 227 miles. Now the fun part, putting on my new back tire.
Catch ya on the road

7/1/09 Shoe Goo update

365 Group (f)

I had tried a product called Shoe Goo on a badly worn spot on my back tire. After letting it cure most of the day today I saddled up and took it out for a road test. I was impressed with how this stuff held up. After a couple of miles on some real sandpaper type pavement it looked really good. I made a short ride around my neighborhood, running errands, and did not see any new damage. Like I said, I'm impressed. I'm going to try a longer ride on it tomorrow and see what it holds up like. I think that I have found one of those products that ya need in your tool kit when you take a trip.
Also, this stuff patches a tear in the seat rather nicely.
let ya know more as it develops.
catch ya on the road

7/1/09

365 Group (f)

This morning I went out and checked on my "retread" attempt on my back tire. It was looking good if I do say so. This stuff needs at least twenty four hours to cure out properly so by this evening it should be ready for a road test. Who knows, this may be the next "big thing", as far as being in a tight while out on the road. That's what I'm looking at, something to make an emergency repair.
I am finding it hard to find a tire for my bike. When ever I call up some of the Bike Shops in the area and tell them what I need, they don't seem to grasp what I'm needing. They mostly seem to be familiar with newer bikes and that's about it. The numbers on the tires are apparently not a standard that they are used to dealing with. When I tell them that it's a tube type tire it seems to confuse them even more. One place told me they never saw a motorcycle tire with a tube. Then there is the number conflict. My tire doesn't seem to be made by anyone anywhere under the model number that I have for it. I'm having a tough time finding the new model numbers. The tires are still being made. Evidently the numbers "have been changed to protect the innocent". I just don't know which bikes to tell them to cross match them with. This time around I'm asking when someone locates them to check and see what other bikes use them so I can have a pool to draw from next time.
I have decided that since I'm down anyway, I'll use this time to look everything over pretty well. This morning I saw a tow truck go by with a bike strapped to it's butt. I couldn't see any damage to the bike. I looked over the rider sitting in the passenger seat, he didn't look too happy. I'm figuring that it "konked" on him and he had to call a tow truck. "ouch"! So, since I have some pretty good trips planned for a little later, now be a good time to look the old gal over.
So for the next couple of days I'm going to grease the greasy stuff and oil the oily stuff and might even shine something? Doubt it. But I might
With all that I have pop up, this bike is still the most fun out of all the bikes I've owned or ridden. I'm thinking it's because it's so ornery.
Catch ya on the road.