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Signs of Spring Fri Apr 28, 2017 11:41 am
Two Wheels Better
Moderator
Greetings, fellow K brethren. It's been yonks. It has been beaten to death so I won't linger on the wetness of the Winter in the Pacific North Wet this interminably long, drawn-out, cold weather season. Today there are signs of Spring as the weather folk are saying we've had the wettest in umptygobblin years. I think the skiers, farmers and the spawning salmon will have come out ahead this year.
I just noted that it was end of November when I last logged on here. I took a new job when I returned from Down Under early November. I didn't truly realise just how much windscreen time I'd be getting into, and for travelling round Washington state along the I-5 corridor whilst the snow and rain fell I have actually bought a car, the first I've owned since early 2007. I have driven 9,000 miles between Centralia/Chehalis and just above Seattle since assuming the position. I am toiling for a crust for a nationwide aftermarket motorbike parts and accessories distributor. It was a solid ten year run solely on motorbikes between OZ and the US with only the occasional use of a girlfriend's four wheels for hunter/gatherer tasks at the shops.
While I haven't had more than three very short rides on my bikes this Winter I haven't been slack on the parts gathering front. I have managed to secure two complete sets of K1100RS bodywork - one burgundy, one black - and am only missing the side covers for the burgundy model. I've also begun the task of welding up some cobbly bits and painting the frame on the Big Block, as it was fitted rust pitting and all thirteen months ago when I first rolled it out. I've modded the K1200R even more, adding a K1300S lower control arm (half the weight) and Delkevic exhaust. I managed to (at last) clean the Alaskan wildlife off the RT, as well as perform the arcane ritual of bleeding the servo ABS module after replacing the softly failing rubber hoses for Spiegler braided stainless versions. My friend the landlord moved his stored Ford Ranger and R1150GS out of the two-bay garage in the house we've lived in for the past four years, and I have at last bought a proper motorbike lift, tyre balancer and tyre changing machine. It's good to have some room to move about and some tools for the job. I obtained a new Arai Corsair-X and a pair of Gaerne (long overdue) riding boots as pressies to myself, as well.
Christmas day I was riding to my storage shed two kilometres away from home. It was about 3(C) degrees, cold tyres, 300 metres from home, when I rounded the familiar corner onto the main drag and ended up arse over tea kettle. I landed on my right shoulder (well armoured) as the bike low-sided away from me, ending up facing the opposite direction of my intended path. The front brake lever, RH mirror, 'bar end indicator and crank cover all suffered some rashing. I had a reddish bruise the shape of Gorbachev's map of Poland forehead up my right side for several days and can still feel the shoulder blade when the weather shifts. Ain't none of us getting any younger.
I hope all have had a good season, whether Winter or Summer. I'll try to stop in more often, catch up, have a squiz at your various projects, and generally be less hermetic. Cheers and beers.
~Daz
I just noted that it was end of November when I last logged on here. I took a new job when I returned from Down Under early November. I didn't truly realise just how much windscreen time I'd be getting into, and for travelling round Washington state along the I-5 corridor whilst the snow and rain fell I have actually bought a car, the first I've owned since early 2007. I have driven 9,000 miles between Centralia/Chehalis and just above Seattle since assuming the position. I am toiling for a crust for a nationwide aftermarket motorbike parts and accessories distributor. It was a solid ten year run solely on motorbikes between OZ and the US with only the occasional use of a girlfriend's four wheels for hunter/gatherer tasks at the shops.
While I haven't had more than three very short rides on my bikes this Winter I haven't been slack on the parts gathering front. I have managed to secure two complete sets of K1100RS bodywork - one burgundy, one black - and am only missing the side covers for the burgundy model. I've also begun the task of welding up some cobbly bits and painting the frame on the Big Block, as it was fitted rust pitting and all thirteen months ago when I first rolled it out. I've modded the K1200R even more, adding a K1300S lower control arm (half the weight) and Delkevic exhaust. I managed to (at last) clean the Alaskan wildlife off the RT, as well as perform the arcane ritual of bleeding the servo ABS module after replacing the softly failing rubber hoses for Spiegler braided stainless versions. My friend the landlord moved his stored Ford Ranger and R1150GS out of the two-bay garage in the house we've lived in for the past four years, and I have at last bought a proper motorbike lift, tyre balancer and tyre changing machine. It's good to have some room to move about and some tools for the job. I obtained a new Arai Corsair-X and a pair of Gaerne (long overdue) riding boots as pressies to myself, as well.
Christmas day I was riding to my storage shed two kilometres away from home. It was about 3(C) degrees, cold tyres, 300 metres from home, when I rounded the familiar corner onto the main drag and ended up arse over tea kettle. I landed on my right shoulder (well armoured) as the bike low-sided away from me, ending up facing the opposite direction of my intended path. The front brake lever, RH mirror, 'bar end indicator and crank cover all suffered some rashing. I had a reddish bruise the shape of Gorbachev's map of Poland forehead up my right side for several days and can still feel the shoulder blade when the weather shifts. Ain't none of us getting any younger.
I hope all have had a good season, whether Winter or Summer. I'll try to stop in more often, catch up, have a squiz at your various projects, and generally be less hermetic. Cheers and beers.
~Daz
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How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. - Annie Dillard, author - born 30 Apr 1945
1977 R75/7-100, '93 K11/K12 Big Block, '95 R100 Mystic, '96 K1100RS, '98 K1200RS, '06 K1200R & '09 K1300GT. Projects: 1993 & '96 K1100RS, & 1st '98 K1200RS.
The Mystic, Big Block, 2nd K1200RS, K12R & K13 are running & ridable.
