Not much to report other than beed adding minor farkle to the Adventure. Everything works as intended but I'm a bit unhappy with the performance of the Adaptiv Radar Detector. Though it suits a motorcycle well it is less than stellar detecting LEOs with radar.

Anyway, a nice ride over to Ellensburg then along the Yakima Canyon and home via Chinook Pass - pretty cold up there @ about 47 degrees. Didn't Iron Butt the ride - just loafed along at the speed limit, which was a good thing given the weak performance of the detector.

So, looks like the bike is set up and ready for my September ride. Can't wait!

Later

Made a few updates to the site in Farkles and Clothing. Had some outdated material to replace with new material.

Later

Been on the road....



Awesome biscuits and gravy in Ferndale, CA. Then took off down the Lost Coast Highway








Saw all kind of neat stuff including a bunch of vultures.

The Big Red Truck is now an honorary GS as the road is torn up severely.

Of course we rode it anyway




and it shows!

Later

The Vulture

Location:Fir Ln,Garberville,United States

I suppose I love every bike I get but I'm truly amazed by this big machine. 400+ miles on the first tank of gas, and it handles surprisingly well. I shouldn't be caught out by that as many customers have told me the same thing, but I'm truly stunned with the performance.

Installed a StarCom1 Advance system today. I'd had it dry fit in my tank bag for a while and decided it was a keeper so went to the shop and installed it more permanently. Though I don't use a phone I was interested in how it would work with my iPhone via the Garmin GPS. It works.

Now I just have to install a radar detector and I'm good to go for the September trip. Really looking forward to that as well.

Later

Laurie and I headed out August 8th with friends to go look at big trees and flower sniff.

Will be using the Big Red Truck - should be fun as the trip takes in some nasty twist bits - hope the big bike (or me) can handle it. Not into flower sniffing, but the recent work environment would make any self respecting motorcyclist devolve to a state of actually wanting to flower sniff.

So, I'm ready :)

Later

Rode the RT to Windy Ridge with the boys and enjoyed the ride. RT ran sort of OK at first, but perfectly after a gas stop at Randall, WA. Thereafter, not so good. The issue is becoming more minor but puzzling for the technical side and I had a decision to move upon. So I did.

RT is gone and replaced with a 30th Anniversary GS Adventure. It runs correctly, is surprisingly fun to ride for a bike that looks as big as the Titanic, and eliminates the need for an extra fuel cell. I'll live without a fairing and go do the rides I have planned.

First shakedown ride in September after I get break in miles accrued, first service done, and enough additional miles and heat cycles to be ready for a ten day ride.

Later

Rode the RT today and it still has the sickness - will put a bunch of miles on it tomorrow and see if it improves - doubt it; but at least I'm riding with the Service Manager and he can have a go at it to really understand what it does.

Later - disappointed!

The techs in my shop have been working on my new RT for a while and slowly working down to a resolution to the rough running engine. I think they finally nailed it. Seems the valve timing on the left cylinder was off a tad perhaps accounting for the off and on again run-ability issues. Will pound a few miles on Monday and see how we do. Pretty excited as the engine runs so much better and I really like this motorcycle.

Later

Still an occasional rough running but the boys are drilling down to the solution. Man I like this bike; handles like a dream and thrifty with gas. All I really need to do is get the saddle done by Rick Mayer and I should be good to go.

I'm about to put some miles on the bike to determine its real fuel range. Once I have that dialed in I can work the timing for some long delayed Iron Butt rides. Looking forward to September ride with friends as well.

Later

Got my RT back from the shop. Main problem seems to have been a bad sensor. Power is up and throttle pick-up is much better. Still a bit intermittent as sometimes it runs rough - so not fully sorted but we re moving in the right direction. Hope it gets fully resolved soon.

Later