new fluids for the bike...

with all the snow and ice lately, the weather and roads haven't been conducive to riding. so i spent a little time yesterday working on the bike... okay, maybe a little time turned into more time than it should have taken!

i started the day out thinking i would just change the fluids - oil, transmission and primary chain. then i got to thinking while i have the primary case open, i may as well go for a clutch adjustment as well. my father-in-law has helped me through the process before, but this was the first time attempting the feat on my own. and even though i have the service manual, i called him to talk through the process before starting.

to get to the primary cover off on my road king, i have to start by taking the passenger footrest off the bike. how crazy is that? looking at my maintenance records, i see i didn't change the primary oil. probably because i couldn't find the tool to take the footrest off.

foot rest removed

next was putting slack into the clutch line by loosening the adjusting nut.

adjusting nut loosened

once the clutch cable is loose, the lock nut on the adjusting screw needs to be loosened ad the adjusting screw backed out a bit. once that's done, the adjusting screw needs to be screwed in until there's a slight bit of resistance. not quite knowing what a slight bit of resistance is, a call was placed to my all-knowing father-in-law. after some discussion, i felt comfortable with how it should feel. after getting to that point, the screw should be backed out 1/2 to 1 full turn. then, without moving the adjusting screw, the lock nut needs to be tightened again. easier said than done!

adjusting the clutch adjusting screw

time to tighten the clutch cable. the cable needs to be tightened until there is 1/16th to 1/8th inch between the ferrule and clutch bracket. again, a little easier said than done - i mean how much pull on the cable is needed to test the clearance? experience, i guess. once it's adjusted, the clutch lever should be pulled in a few times to seat the ball and ramp and then the clearance checked (again). repeat as necessary. when the cable is adjusted, the jam nut can be tightened and the boot replaced.

clutch cable adjusted

boot replaced

clutch adjusted, victory call made to father-in-law, time to move on to replacing the fluids. at this point, it's simple a matter of removing the primary fluid drain plug under the primary cover.

draining primary fluid

as usual, once the fluid is drained, time to put the plug back in and fill up the primary case. i find that draining the fluid is best when the bike is on the side stand. but putting the fluid into the primary case is much easier when the bike is level. once quart of fluid and time to close up the primary case and reattach the passenger footrest.

clutch adjusted and primary fluid changed

time to move to the other side of the bike to change the oil and transmission fluids. the oil needs to be done at operating temperature. since i couldn't take it out for a ride, i started the bike and let it run while i tinkered around the garage for a bit. satisfied it was warm enough, the oil drain plug was removed. with the oil draining from the pan, i move on to taking the oil filter off.

oil cap and transmission cap removed to assist in draining

i bought this handy little tool to help catch the oil when the filter is removed. i put it in place, run the hose to the catch pan and start removing the filter. one thing i didn't think of/realize, with the tool in place, as you turn the filter, it runs through the draining oil, making the filter slippery and harder to take off. as i'm fighting with this, i notice oil gathering on the tool and none going into the catch pan. this is when 20/20 hind-sight kicks in. i probably should have made sure the line was clear before hooking it up. so now, with good intentions of keeping things clean, i've got a head start on making a mess!

a mess brewing

oil filter removed. oil still in precarious place.

after some careful maneuvering, i manage to get the filter tool away from the engine without making much of a mess. i also checked the tube and it seems a family of critters decided to make it home while i wasn't using it. you can believe it's not a mistake i'll make again!

new filter on

with the new filter in place, it was time to replace the oil plug and drain the transmission fluid. both plugs are on the underside of the bike and not far apart.

transmission fluid draining

once the transmission fluid was done draining, the plug was put in and fluids added to both oil transmission cases. i cracked up the engine again to get it back to operating temperature to make the final check on the oil level.

job accomplished. now i just need some good weather to get the bike out and check the clutch adjustment. maybe lunch one day this week..

40000…

took the bike to ray price last week for the 40k service… a smaller service this time. the usual fluid change and general inspection of the bike. i did manage to get new spark plugs too.

i have an extended service plan with ray price which is due to expire next month. the service plan has really been a good deal for me. when i got the bike i didn’t know anything about maintenance. over the years i’ve picked a couple things up. next month i’ll be picking up a lot more. and i’m looking forward to it.

the service department at ray price has really taken care of my bike. i’ve been extremely pleased with the service they’ve provided – i feel they’ve gone above and beyond to take care of me and my bike. i would definitely recommend their service department…

for this service i managed to trade my bike for an ultra classic. unfortunately i was only able to get a picture of it on the road…

it’s the one on the left…

great service…

was heading back from the smoke out last weekend when the shift lever shaft stripped. luckily i was close to home and could temporarily fix it by tightening the screw on the backside of the shaft.

i took the bike to ray price tuesday to have the shaft replaced. i asked them to also check the front brakes and do an inspection. when the bike’s dropped off the tech looks over the bike. he noticed that i could also use new tires.

overall i’ve been very pleased with the service i’ve gotten from ray price. i have to give them props for this last experience. it’s nice to know they go above and beyond instead of just settling for getting the job done. it’s always good to have another set of eyes looking over the bike.

and it’s especially nice to have new tires on the bike before i head out for another saddle sore 1000 tomorrow. look for an update next week on how i made out. as well as updates on the smoke out and rolling thunder – on which i’m woefully behind…

37500…

picked up the bike today from ray price after having it serviced… it didn’t as take too long since my last service to rack up the miles. the trip to milwaukee helped that out.

not much done at this service – usual oil and filter change. they even changed the air filter for me. best of all, the bike got cleaned. not as clean as i would have done. but i can’t complain since i didn’t have to do it.

while the bike was in for service i got to cruise around on a 2010 electra glide classic.

35000…

took the bike in to ray price this week to have it serviced… i can’t believe it’s been so long since my last service. only twenty five hundred miles in six months. sad… (I do plan on making up for it over the next several months, though.)

i was actually looking more forward to having it cleaned than the service itself… it’s been a while since it’s been cleaned – since the last service!! considering the long cold winter we had, i can’t be blamed for choosing riding over cleaning…

it was nice to be back on my own bike today. every time i get back on my bike after being on a different one, i like mine so much more. the seating position and the handling feel so right. my wife talks about getting an ultra classic one day. while i do look forward to getting another bike one day, i can’t imagine not having this one to ride.

this service i was hooked up with the same bike i had for my last service. fun to ride the newer model with the updated frame, electronic throttle and larger engine, but nothing new to report. and i guess i can’t complain since this is the first time i’ve gotten the same bike in all the years i’ve been taking the bike in for service…

32500…

took the bike in for the 32,500 mile service this morning. ‘twas a brisk but good ride. nice to be out in the morning, riding in the cool air. something about riding this time of year just seems so refreshing – even if it is in rush-hour traffic.

i was going to wait for my bike to be serviced. upon further thinking i decided to drop it off. mainly for two reasons:

1. they’ll wash it – and it desperately needs washed. with what little riding i’ve been able to get in this year, i’ve done even less washing!! i figure they’ll get the bulk of the dirt and grime off the bike, leaving detailing to me. works for me.
2. i get a rental. what else can i say?? a chance to ride another bike.

this time i was hooked up with an ‘09 road king. nice ride. too bad i had work today else i may have been out all day riding. i did manage to have an errand to run at lunch, so i did get to take it out a little.

30000 service…

the trip to dc for rolling thunder finally put me over 30k… and looking back at my last service, i haven’t been riding very much - gotta start riding more…

took the bike to ray price to have them do the service – a big one this time. in addition to the normal oil/filter change, gaskets and plugs, they also, replaced all the brake pads, mounted a new rear tire, replaced the steering head beams and a cam bearing kits. the best part, other than finally getting the bike back was it’s was all free!!! what?!?!?! because i’m a preferred customer. okay, i did have to pay to become a preferred customer, but the cost of this one service was more than i paid to become a preferred customer.

and… the above doesn’t include the cost of the rental i got when my bike was in for service – a crossbones this time.

i like the looks of this bike, the mini-apes, the tires, the solo seat. but i don’t like the ride. what really surprised me at first was how much i feel like i’m sitting *on* the bike. even with my road king, i feel like i’m more in the bike than on the bike.

another thing that really surprised me was the lean angle around corners – as in the non-existence of. i was surprised when i drug the floorboards just leaving the dealership. i don’t know if it’s something i could get used to. of course, i wouldn’t want to think about having to replace the boards every year or so because i ground them off.

i’m glad i got the opportunity to ride the bike as long as i did. the more i rode it, the more i got used to it. but that might have been because i was just itching to ride and, since my bike was in for service, i made due with what was available.

27500 service...

hard to believe i'm at the 27500 mile service... i've been able to squeeze in a lot of good riding this year. would like to be able to hit 30k by the end of the year, but don't know if i'll make that.

when i think back on the miles i've put on so far this year, the thought quickly changes from the number of miles to the journeys i've taken. some planned, more unexpected, all good... it really does come down to the quality and not the quantity. although having the quantity opens more opportunity for quality...


when i picked up my bike, randy, the service manager at ray price, helped me out... what impresses me about him is he seems to know and care about his customers. as soon as he came downstairs, he knew who i was and greeted me by name. he always has a positive attitude and will take the time to talk to customers. it'd be nice if more people were like that...

while my bike was in, i got to ride around on an '09 road king. i was looking forward to testing out the new model because of the changes to the frame. let me say, what a nice bike...

the riding position is a little higher. i didn't know if i would like it or not. after riding for a few minutes, i got used to it and it didn't bother me. the bike certainly feels bigger with the larger tank. i think it's more of a perception thing because the bike wasn't any harder to handle. that may be due to the new frame...

the bike seems more balanced. i don't know if that was my imagination or the new frame. but i like it. i liked the power the bike had. nothing outrageous, but pretty peppy.

i've been liking the changes harley's been making to their bikes over the last few years. it gets me closer and closer to wanting a new one. this road king really put me even closer to that feeling. of course there's that part of me that says wait, see what they come up with next...

then reality kicks in and says there are too many other things before a new bike... but it doesn't hurt to look and dream...

here are a couple pics of the road king...

 

  

  

who says harleys don't leak??

well, i'm starting to lose confidence in the service department at ray price...

after my last service and having the clutch replaced, while getting ready for the york trip, i noticed a couple things wrong with the bike. the clutch wasn't adjusted properly, one of muffler clamps bolts was loose and the rotors on the front wheel are on backwards... these are things i think the dealership should have fixed - maybe with the exception of the muffler clamp bolt...

when i got back from the smoke out, i was unpacking my bike and noticed a leak...

closer inspection found the primary drain plug was loose, almost to the point of being completely out. good thing i got home before that fell off!! so i tightened the drain plug and the other bolts around the primary...

a couple weeks later, i'm riding around and notice it leaking again... this time i take it back in to have them check it out and replace the gaskets - there's something more serious going on here than loose bolts.

while it was in, i had them do the 25000k service as well, a few hundred miles short, but close enough... while it was in, i got to tool around on a buell lightning... fun on the twisty country roads but wouldn't want it as my full-time bike...

22500 service...

took the bike in a little early, about 100 miles, for it's 22500m service... mostly because i wasn't sure if the clutch was going to last.

i did some riding over the weekend and it didn't seem to be getting worse, although it was still slipping when i cranked on the throttle. i was still a bit concerned about being out somewhere if/when the clutch finally gave out...

while it was in for it's regular service, i had them look at the clutch as well as replace my front tire - finally...

i picked up the bike a few days later to find the service done, a new front tire and parts ordered for the clutch. they did adjust the clutch again and said it was ridable. i forgot to ask them what was wrong with the clutch or what parts they ordered. but they did say they would call when the parts were in.

while the bike was in for service, i got to ride around on a softail deluxe. nice ride. each time i ride around on the new ninety-six inch motor, i like it more and more. this one had after market, and loud, pipes.

not so sure i like riding around with loud pipes. you'll hear some bikers let out the mantra, loud pips save lives... i've never really believed the slogan. my thinking is if the cage driving it's paying attention, they're not going to hear/see you just because you have loud pipes. in addition, the majority of sound is blasted behind the bike. the majority of accidents are cages failing to yield your right-of-way; left turn in front of you or right turn out of a parking lot in front of you. the sounds going behind you doesn't help either of those situation...

i didn't like the loud pipes for a much more personal reason, not how it affected the traffic around me but how it affected me. the loud sound drown out all the other traffic and environmental sounds i rely on to help keep me safe in traffic. in addition to looking, i like to hear where the cages are on the road, i like to know where the sound of screeching tires is coming from. loud pipes don't allow that luxury...

anyway, while my bike was in for service, this is the bike i got to style around on. again, nice bike. i didn't care for the seating position. it was a bit to cramped for me. but fun to ride a different bike for a couple days. makes you glad to be back on your own...

new shoes and a hat...

took the bike in for new shoes yesterday... had planned on getting both the front and rear replaced. rear needed replaced - it was in the red zone on the depth gauge. front was getting close - still in the green, but barely.

but more important than the gauge was my comfort factor... i just didn't have the confidence riding through corners. i realize i probably still had more traction going through corners that i would use, but i wasn't confident. and since motorcycling is mostly mental, i was putting myself at a disadvantage...

checking in at the dealer, their suggestion was to only replace the rear since the front still had a little left. i suggested since i had the bike in and it was close enough, i would prefer to have both replaced, even though the front probably still had some miles left in it. check-in dood says we'll let the service-dood decide. fair enough.

the bike heads towards service and i head into the dealership to pick up my free neck gaiter from buell. (note to self: check the neck gaiter link to see if it's still valid after the offer expires.) unfortunately the weather hasn't been cold enough for me to use it riding. although i did get to use it once as a beanie - worked nicely...

i decided to check out grips for the handlebar replacement i'll be doing soon. my goal was mostly to narrow down my choices. a quick scan ruled a lot out quickly. and it didn't take long to get it down to one. guess picking them out is going to be easier than i thought.

with not much else to do in the dealership, i head back to service to read a couple motorcycle rags until the bike is ready. while i'm waiting, service-dood comes out and asks about replacing the front. i could tell he's a little hesitant to replace it. he says there are a few miles left in it. when i tell him i've already got over twenty grand on it, he strongly suggests i should wait. and since i only have two thousand before my next service - i decide to go with that. when i take it in for the next service, it will definitely be replaced. while i was mostly concerned about the rear, i'll definitely feel a lot better when both are finally replace.

after a new tire and clutch adjustment, the bike comes out and is ready to ride. it feels good. i certainly have more confidence in the bike again.

pick up...

picked up my bike today... was nice to ride the new '08, although i didn't get to ride it as much as i wanted. i would have really liked to play around with the 'lectronic throttle a bit more. maybe next time...

i did get to confirm the worthiness of the 'lectric gloves and the elephant ears. ride to the dealership was without and ride home was with. well worth the time running the wires through the coat and hooking up the gloves. i could have made it home without using the electric gloves, but why?? it's also nice to know i can ride in colder weather since i didn't have them cranked up all the way...

was a little disappointed in the service this time. i had asked for the clutch to be adjusted to bring the friction zone back a little as well as have the front brakes bled. didn't seem like either of those happened. thinking about taking it back earlier to have those done. will be needing new tires soon too.

on the bright side, i finally got my fender fixed from my little fiasco... well, it was fixed before, the finish on it just needed to be, well, finished. looks so much better now - although, for the most part, i had forgotten about it...

nice to have my own bike back in the garage. now i just need to make some time away from work to ride!!

peace...

20k service

took the bike in for service today... 20k!!! finally hit 20k. a mark i was hoping to hit last year, but fell a couple miles short.

temps outside were a little chilly. so i bundled up for the ride in - throwing on the 'lectric gloves and elephant ears. i was actually quite warm on the ride, thinking i may have overdone the bundling up part... i always say it's better to be warm and strip a few layers off than to get cold and have to try to warm up...

i get to the dealership, drop the bike off and pick up the rental. managed to pick up an electra glide classic. oh-eight model. with the anti-lock brakes and fly-by-wire throttle. i've been hearing a lot about these and finally have a chance to see what they're all about. well, maybe not the anti-lock brakes - i'll just trust they work.


on the ride home, i discovered how well the 'lectric gloves and elephant ears worked. i didn't get cold to the point of being uncomfortable, but the ride home was certainly colder.

as far as the bike - i really like the throttle. maybe, just maybe a fraction of delay between twisting the throttle and feeling the response. it seems some people are leery of it - thinking it's new technology and prone to failure. yeah, it's probably new to harley - at least the implementation - but the technology has been around for years.

the fly-by-wire is the first technology harley's come out with since i bought my bike that makes me consider getting a new one sooner. i know there's no chance of that right now - but, it did get my attention...

17500 service...

here i am, taking the bike in for it's 17500 mile service - hard to believe. although it actually has closer to 18300 miles... it's been a very frustrating adventure - if i can call it that...

started out with the ride in - traffic wasn't too bad with the exception of one or two cages. since i was riding in the morning commute traffic, i was expecting to see (and avoid) a few bozos. they're usually easy to spot: reading the paper, on the cell phone, putting make-up on, shaving, still rubbing their sleepy eyes, trying to drink their hot coffee without spilling it in their laps, etc - we've all seen them... i'm cruising down the road - keeping with traffic but keeping a margin around me. then i get some asshole riding my tail. i've got nowhere to go - i'm in the left lane, cages to the right, cages in front. it's not like i'm holding traffic up. and he's got to be riding on my rear wheel. i tried looking back at him, thinking it might make him realize - nope, that didn't work. if i slowed any, he got closer. not what i needed this morning. eventually he was able to weave in and out of traffic and get in front. funny thing is i passed him a little later on. seems his cutting in and out of traffic got him stuck in a slow lane.

i make it to the dealership and talk to the service doods. seems my preferred customer plan has run out. last month!!! i explain to service dood that i called last month, explained that i was close to the 17500 mile service, had about 17200 on the clock, and was planning a trip. the trip would take me over the 17500, closer to 18000+. would that be a problem. they told me it wouldn't be a problem - besides, they were booked and wouldn't be able to get my in before the trip anyway. long story short - took trip, got fender fixed, called to schedule service, couldn't get me in for two weeks. i'm arguing they should give this service to me. i also throw in the fact that i thought the preferred program was until 2011 - that's what it has printed on my card, and i show handy dandy card. service dood explains that the program wasn't explained clearly and a lot of customers have that confusion. then it hits me - what about the rental bike?? that's usually included - now i'm going to have to pay for that too... he says hold on, he'll talk to a couple people and see what he can work out.

one thing i will mention, the service people at the dealership are super - they really go out of their way to help out. and this dood was certainly doing what he could to take care of me.

he comes back a little later and tells me the rental is taken care of. at least i can get home without a lot of hassle. he says he's still checking on the service and has to wait for someone else to come in. he says that no matter what, he's still going to service my bike as a preferred customer - prompt service, bike cleaning, etc. he preps the bike and i wait.

he comes back and tells me that i can renew my preferred customer plan. he quotes me a price and tells me what i've already saved being a member of the plan. without going into exact numbers, it's saved me over seven grand. i have to admit - it's been a great plan. i just wasn't expecting to drop that much money today.

now i have to go talk to underwriter dood. main dood isn't there, so i have to talk to assistant dood. he doesn't seem too friendly and quotes me a price twice as much as service dood. i about fall out of my seat. i tell him that's not what i was quoted. he asks if i talked to main dood. i tell him i talked to service dood who talk to someone else - that's how i got the price. in addition, i wasn't expecting to drop that kind of money and wouldn't be able to pay today. we work it out so that i can pay when i pick up the bike.

i get the rental bike and start my venture home, not happy... on the way home, some woman decides to try to run me out of my lane. she was oblivious to the fact that i was even on the road. i'm in the middle lane, a cage in front, a cage to the right, this woman to the left and, thankfully, someone not too close behind. the woman in the left just starts coming into my lane. i can't go into the right lane and i can't speed up past her. i start hitting the brakes and the horn, quickly moving to the right portion of the lane to avoid her running into me. i was able to slow down enough that by the time she was fully in my lane, i was behind her. i don't think she ever knew i was there - even after that little mishap. today's a day i'd be happy to park the bike and wait for another day to ride...

here's a pitcure of the rental bike i got this time - a 2007 softail custom. rides smoothly. i like the lower seating position. i don't like the position of the forward controls - they need to be out a little further for my liking.

yikes!!!

guess it's been a while since i've posted - too long... instead of sitting here making excuses, i'll just say i've been busy - extremely busy. which has also affected the amount of time i've had to ride. i've been getting some riding in, although it hasn't been as much as i wanted.

i've been on a couple rides - most just short rides around here. the one most worth noting is probably taking my sister-in-law for a ride... she and her son were visiting for a drum-line competition and she stayed with us. she's ridden before and has been contemplating getting back into it. she also has a early 70s honda 350 that needs repairs and is another story... we were talking about motorcycles and riding and, of course, she wanted a ride.

we hopped on the bike and i took her for about a forty-five minute ride around the area - avoiding traffic and sticking to two-lane twisty roads. i think she was pretty excited and enjoyed the ride. i think it confirmed for her that she wanted to get back into biking.

since the alst time i've written, i also had the 15,000 mile service done on the bike. some people would consider that average mileage, some low mileage. i'm impressed by the number of miles on it. to me, i just never really imagined putting that many miles on my bike. and it makes me think about putting 50k or 100k on the bike. it'd be neat to put 100k on it. it's working out to about 5k a year. and each year i say i'm going to put more miles on. this year, i think i will...

i took the bike in to the dealer for the service. because of the time crunch i was in at work, i decided to leave it there and pick up a loaner. what a great deal and chance to try out a different bike. this time, i got an '07 fat boy.


it was a fun bike to ride. i liked the new engine - it definitely had more get-up-n-go. i'm sure part of it was the lighter weight of the bike (compared to mine) and the larger engine. i also like the seating position on the bike. of all the bikes i've gotten while mine has been serviced, i think this has been my favorite. i wish i would have had more time to ride it around.

one final note, which may seem like an odd place to post this but is connected to motorcycling, i got a lesson in pre-judging people. while i try not to do it, sometimes it just happens - i think we all do it. i came across a guy, a guy in his 50's, that could barely read and write. i started thinking to myself, how could someone get by in life barely being able to read and write?? why wasn't he motivated enough to make more of/for himself?? i just don't understand it. after working with him for two days, i had the opportunity to sit down and have a real conversation with him. he opened the door by saying, you know, i used to be able to read and write really well. back in the 70s, he was in an accident that left him paralyzed, basically a vegetable. doctors said he would never be able to walk again. here is today, walking around - you'd never know he was ever in a wheelchair or an accident. and he's progressed far enough to not only walk, but learn to ride a motorcycle. i had a brand new respect for him - and a little bit of embarrassment for myself because i was quick to jump to conclusions. looking back, i wish i would have gotten some contact information from him to stay in touch with him...

peace...

new brakes

took the bike in to get new front rotors and brake pads that were found during the 12500 mile service...

it was a good ride in - a lot warmer than my last ride to the dealership. today's the kind of day you just want to blow off work and keep riding. but, on the bright side, i am out and riding a bit, which beats not riding at all.

i got to the dealership before they opened. i have a knack for doing that. i guess coming in so far, my fear is getting stuck in traffic and being late. i would much rather show up a bit early than late. so i had a couple minutes to kill waiting for the shop to open. made small talk with some of the mechanics before they headed in.

took a couple minutes but i finally realized the shop doors were open - so i could go inside and wait. scan through a motorcycle rag or two while i'm waiting. i looked on the shop floor and saw the mechanic that i thought was going to work on my bike. he was the one who would have worked on the bike had that parts been in stock originally - i just figure he'll be the one doing the work...

after a couple minutes, the service counter dood shows up, punches in on the computer and start printing out some paperwork. i figure i'll give him a couple minutes before i check in. before i know it, he's handing some paperwork to the mechanic who's supposed to work on my bike. after the exchange, he looks over at me and says i'm all set, should be about an hour or so. i'm thinking cool... this is the way service should be!!!

i sit back, relax and read through some more rags, just killing time. after reading for a bit, i decide to watch the guy work on my bike. i don't know why, but i feel kinda odd doing that. it's almost like i'm at a zoo or something, watch the exhibits. and i'm wondering what these guys are thinking about people watching them. of course i think it goes something along the lines of, what a bozo, doesn't know how to work on his own bike. and maybe that's true...

so i start to watch him and notice he doesn't even have the wheel off yet. hmmmmm, maybe this is going to take a little longer than expected. which i really don't care about - i'd rather the job take longer and be done right than rushed and wrong.

i keep switching from reading to watching, waiting for the wheel to come off. i do believe they have to take the wheel off to replace the rotors. could be wrong... before i know it, he's riding my bike out of the shop. a couple minutes later he returns and says it's done. wow!! that was quick. he says he took the bike down to be detailed but it didn't look that dirty. he offers to take it down there anyway. i decide to pass. and finally confess that i had only ridden the bike once since it was detailed last. so they busted my chops a bit for not riding more. of course i wasn't going to offer any excuses since they would only give me a harder time and there weren't really any excuses for not riding...

the ride home was beautiful. temps had warmed up a bit and the brakes felt sooooo much better. it's amazing how much your confidence increases when your bike is in top shape - or at least you believe it is but just don't know any better.

i was enjoying the ride home so much, i decided to stop and pick up some flowers for my wife. it'll be a nice surprise for her.

12500 mile service...

took my bike in for it's 12500 mile service today. was a good morning for a ride - the ride in was a little chilly, but not cold or nasty. the ride home was awesome - perfect temps, clear...

as i usually do, i decided to wait for the bike while it's being serviced. i also asked them to check out the front brakes because they seem to shutter or shake when i apply them. nothing bad, but it seems to be getting worse.

while they were working on the bike, i decided to pick up a face mask... i figure if i'm going to be riding in the colder weather, i might as well get one. i've been using my wife's, but it's a little small and tight - not something i want distracting me while i ride...

after my purchase, i wander back to the service area. they tell me the front brake rotors are warped - they have the parts in stock and are going to replace the rotors and brake pads. after about thirty minutes, they realize that what's listed as stock in the computer doesn't match what's actually on the shelf - they're short on rotor. they've ordered the rotors and i'll have to come back to have them replaced - no big deal...

in the meantime, they've sent the bike to be cleaned and detailed - a nice service they throw in for preferred customers. i wait... and wait... and wait... and wait... seems it takes them longer to clean the bike than it does to service it... not that i'm complaining - they do a really good job. at this point, i don't know if i should be happy or starting to get upset. it is taking longer than expected - but i guess that means they are doing a thorough job. i guess i just wasn't counting the added time to clean the bike and wanted to get back to get out of there.

i finally get the bike back. i must say, it is really clean - nice looking. what's really nice is i got it cleaned after my trip to the tail of the dragon and i didn't have to do it myself!!! i guess it was worth the wait...

so, 12500 miles... don't really know if that's more or less miles than i've expected to put on it by now... i guess if i was still working at an office and riding, i would have a lot more miles. but since i work from home and most of my miles come from weekend riding, that's not bad... i know it's not a while lot of miles, but it does seem like some sort of a milestone. wonder if i'll be able to squeak out 15000 before the end of the year??

ride safe...

picked up the bike today...

although i picked up the bike today, it started yesterday with a phone call saying they replaced the wheel!!! excellent - the wheel was replaced. but... there was a fiddy dollar extended warranty charge. what?!?!?!

confession time... when i bought the bike, i got the preferred customer plan - some sort of extended warranty. the deal is it would cover everything with the bike for x number of years, including the regular service. they said if a bulb blew, they would replace it free. figuring this was my first bike, i wasn't real familiar with servicing it myself, this might be the way to go. yeah, yeah, i know, sucker born every minute!!! since i've had the bike, i haven't paid for a regular service - and i've been getting them every twenty-five hundred miles. they even replaced the back tire free of charge when i needed it replaced. so, it seems like it's been a good deal for me so far.

so, when the service-dood left the message saying the wheel was replaced and it would be fiddy bucks, i was very surprised. i called them to find out the scoop. service-dood says that he was under the same impression when he bought the preferred customer plan too and didn't find out until after he started working there and had his bike serviced. seems whoever was telling the story - selling the plan - was leaving some details out. now i can appreciate someone trying to sell the plan and highlight the positives. now i can't exactly remember what i was told - hell, i have problems remembering what i had to breakfast yesterday - but i'm pretty sure i understood the plan to cover everything one hundred percent. turns out that if an item is out of warranty, then check it under extended warranty. if it's not covered there, then they cover it under the preferred customer plan. my wheel isn't covered under warranty anymore, but it is covered under extended warranty, which carries a fiddy dollar charge. news to me!!! i say that's not right because i was told (under the impression) that everything would be covered one hundred percent. service-dood says i can talk to a manager type to straighten it out.

i don't know if i mentioned i just went through this with the rental bike. the dood that sold me the plan said, if available, i could get a rental bike when i brought my bike in. apparently it only covers service, not repair. i was on the phone with another service-dood when i discovered this little gem. when i told service-dood who lead me to that impression, he said screw it and put me through to the rental department to arrange a rental. see, sales-dood-who-leaves-out-details move from being sales manager to general manager. i'm thinking this was a way for service-dood to stick it to sales-dood-who-leaves-out-details. bottom line, i learned to schedule my repairs around when i can get a rental bike. as long as they have one available, i can get it. when it comes to service - they are more obligated to get me a rental...

okay - back to the story at hand... i get patched through to manager-dood, but he's not in, have to wait until today to talk to him... today comes and i give him a call. i explain my situation. he apologizes for my misunderstanding and without breaking stride, says they'll pick up the tab. wow, what customer service - although i don't think i'm the first one to come to them with this story. i tell you, i don't think the dood could have bend over backwards any further.

later in the afternoon i took the vrod back and picked up my bike. i asked what was wrong with the old wheel, but never found out. the service-dood was too busy trying to take care of too many things at one time; including verifying manager-dood was picking up the tab for the new wheel.

ride home was awesome - what a great feeling to be back on my bike again. and an even better feeling not to have it wobbling when i ride. it feels good again...

peace...

bike in for repair...

took the bike in to have the wobble repaired today... that was an experience...

the ride in was okay... of course i had to contend with the wobble that i was getting repaired. i didn't think i would have to deal with traffic because i had decided to take the bike in after lunch, instead of first thing in the morning, like i normally do. i was right in that i didn't have to face morning rush hour traffic. i did, however, have to deal with heavy traffic. i don't know what was going on, accident, road work, whatever, it sure was making traffic heavy and slowing things down. which might have been, in some sort of cosmic way, to keep the speed of the bike down and help prevent the wobble.

it was so nice to get to the dealership. no problems getting there - thankfully. first order of business, get the rental. i wasn't dropping off the bike without a rental - not that i was really contemplating riding my bike back home. no problem picking up the rental. they didn't really have much to choose from - so i'm glad i called ahead and made reservations. i was hoping to get a touring model, at least something with bags... all they had was a wide glide, a buell blast and a vrod. pretty much no brainer - give me the vrod. i've been wanting to ride of one these. can't say that i'd want to own one of these, but definitely wanted to take one for a spin... so i fill out all the paper work and finish up and head over to the service department.

i tell the service-dood that i'm dropping off the bike to have the wheel replaced. of course, me being the customer and him being the service-dood, my diagnosis of needing a new wheel couldn't be right. he replies with a comment about needing a new tire. i clarified that i needed a new wheel and not a new tire. he asks how i know - i tell him that the spokes are loose and i can move the wheel back and forth, causing a wobble when i ride. he agrees that something is wrong, but again, my diagnosis of the spokes being loose isn't correct. he tells me it's probably the hub or bearings. no, i tell him, it's the spokes. i've had the bike up on the lift, i can move the wheel back and forth and watch the spokes move. i offer to get the bike up on the lift and i'll show him. he declines my offer. i tell him it will take less than thirty seconds if we can get the bike up on the lift. again, he declines saying they'll take a look at it. i told him i was expecting a new wheel since i didn't know what damage to the spokes or rim might have happened as a result of the loose spokes. he didn't say much - but i figured i'd wait until they gave me the diagnosis before pressing the issue of replacing the whole wheel. i get checked out (or is it checked in??) and service-dood tells me he'll give me a call tomorrow afternoon about the bike... good with me...

i head over to the awaiting vrod. rental-dood checks me out on the bike. reinforces that this will be different than my road king - something about a little more power and speed. stresses being careful - not getting too aggressive until the tires have warmed up. excellent!!

so i head home on the vrod. i'm not really sure i like the position of the foot controls. not sure if it's because i'm used to my bike or if they are just awkward on this bike. it does have a lot of power - although i can't really push it since i'm in traffic on crowded roads. once i get closer to home, out of all the traffic, i start pushing the bike a little. while i just want to open it up and see what it will do, i don't want a traffic ticket even more - so i keep myself in check.

the ride home was fun. nice bike, but i don't know that i'd really want one. by the time i got home, my ass was sore - and it's only a twenty-five mile ride. a new seat would be the first investment for the bike. foot controls never really did start feeling right. fun to ride - but i'll let someone else purchase it...




btw, i would definitely remove the bag and the sissy bar - if you can call it that!!!

inspection...

took the bike in for its inspection this morning. got there early enough so they were able to get me in quickly. i figured it would be quick, so i didn't bother to walk around the dealership - just decided to stay in the service area and read a couple motorcycle rags...

while i was there, so dood was having his bike serviced. not sure exactly what he was having done, but he wasn't real pleased. mentioned something about his previous service experiences - tire put on backwards, steering bearings tightened too tightly, wasn't sure spark plugs were changed during the last service. i think he was in there just having his bike checked out as he mentioned he was leaving tomorrow for a 7k trip.

after getting his bike checked in, he came over and we started talking. he's heading to california with his cousin - a trip/dream they had talked about as kids. pretty cool to live out a dream like that. then he tells me that within four days of buying his bike he "killed" it. apparently he dumped his bike. jokingly he says, "who knew it took more than four days to learn to ride a bike?" in the back of my mind i'm thinking we teach people to ride a bike in a weekend - with really only two days on the bike. but of course that's just an introduction - there's still a lot of practice that needs to happen. anyway, i responded to him that i don't think you ever stop learning to ride a bike. to which the service dood agreed.

so the dood tells me about how he "killed" his bike on the fourth day. after not being able to handle a turn in the road, he tells me he was run over and dragged by a car. he wasn't injured. i told him he was very lucky. they he proceeds to tell me about other near misses he's had. i'm thinking to myself that i wouldn't want to ride with him. seems to attract trouble and, worse yet, seems proud of it. changes are low that i'll see him again. and even lower that we'll ride together.

oh, while we're waiting for our bikes to be serviced, they're running bikes in and out of the service area, as they usually do. i can't figure it out, sometimes they wheel the bikes in and out and other times they fire 'em up and ride them. anyway, they fire up and ride this road king out... i say, "man, that's one nice lookin' road king." accident dood agrees. then i laugh and tell him it's mine!!! he chuckled. although i'm wondering if he wanted to check it out some more. when i was getting my gear on, he came out to take a look at it. admired the color...

besides all that, the ride was nice. wasn't as hot as i expected, but that's probably because it was still early. it'll be hotter later today. and traffic was good - i was expecting worse. but maybe it was light because schools out for summer. whatever the reason, the ride was good this morning...

all for now... ride safe...