A little off topic, but BikerBill's motorcyle is extremely ill with some serious electrical problems, and stranded him out of town. Those that believe that motorcycles have a soul, please pray for his bike's now.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Thursday 11th of August 2011 06:17:31 PM
he's got my prayers, I went through that a few weeks ago when Der PanzerWagen (my 72' Mercedes 350SL convertible that is my latest Pride amd joy and harsh mistress -read:obsession) died 100 miles from home...went through everything, decided it was an impossible to find, impossibly expensive electronic device that runs my ignition system....turned out to be dirty points and a frayed wire, the actual "fix" took about 5 minutes, the drama, pain, and troubleshooting took 2 weeks lolol
Aprillia, Ducati, Jaguar, Old Mercedes, Fiat, old american car....carry tools and an electrical tester....and of course a AAA card, had to go platinum, figure this won't be the only time, I -need- that unnlimited towing lolol
So in short, I feel your pain Bill, and you have my prayers to the motorcycle Gods
-- Edited by LinBaba on Thursday 11th of August 2011 09:21:40 PM
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it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
Bill and I are in the early planning stages of attending the 104th annual Isle of Man TT race next June. The aprillia's recovery is an integeral part of that plan.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 12th of August 2011 12:07:09 AM
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 12th of August 2011 12:12:28 AM
I had a motorcycle for about a year - part of two summers. I quickly found out that if you don't like to work on bikes you shouldn't own one. And mine was brand new. The repair people ripped me off twice to "fix" the electric starter, which died after its first winter. Never did actually fix it. I just never was comfortable riding in heavy traffic especially on an interstate. Country roads - much different. It also was kind of hard to carry home a 12-pack... about the only place to put it is between your knees and talk about calling attention to yourself. Even rode it home 20 miles from work late one night in a huge downpour. Like the Billy Joel song. I sold it for what I owed on it. Just as well. I just felt naked out there.
When I was a teenager, I rode my bicycle all over the place and traffic didn't bother me then. A few years back a friend of a friend was killed riding a bicycle... by a drunk driver. These days I prefer the secure feeling of sitting up in a full size pick-em-up truck. Actually I'd really like to be driving a 1960-something Detroit full size barge (which is what I was driving when I got sober) but an F-150 is a decent substitute and a bit newer.
Not me Bari, I try to ride every day, and at 60 mpg it pays handsomely . I keep a dryrider® rain suit in my saddle bag. But generally, the rain here in FL only lasts an hour. Usually I just duck in somewhere for a sarsaparilla till it's over
Well people, thanks you for your prayers. By coincidence I'm reading Robert M Pirsig - Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which has little to do with Zen and less to do with motorcycle maintenace but a lot about attitude. The beast is back with me and diagnostics start on Saturday. I've had a lot of help from other Capo riders off the web, with several suggestions of possible faults, best practice for testing and alternative components. Finally, I've bit the bullet and bought a car - quit laughing at the back - my company car is being repo'd by the company I work for - it's not a contractual car and has to be business justified each year, only now it's every three months and my business case failed - so I'd like a car for personal use, but I'm aware that I'm an impulse buyer and was likely to spend a lot of money that I don't have on the first big shiny unsuitable car I could find, then spend the next 3 years regretting it. So i've spent £500 on a 20 year old BMW 520i. Cheap insurance, full service history and 3 owners from new. Pick it up on Friday. And maybe I'll spend the finance on another great big motorbike for the TT.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Ah now, new battery - still faulty. New rectifier, still faulty. deeper investigation required BEFORE I jump to any more conclusions. Taking the Pirsig approach.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
. I keep a dryrider® rain suit in my saddle bag. But generally, the rain here in FL only lasts an hour. Usually I just duck in somewhere for a sarsaparilla till it's over 