Today? I walked by the Uly to get my USB phone charger out of the Victory to plug into my CanAm SxS so I could charge my phone while plowing out the museum's parking lot.
Yesterday, however, the sun had finally melted off the snow and ice, so I plugged in the Uly to my battery maintainer to top up the charge before firing it up. While the bike was warming up, and before gearing up, I walked down the street to a steep, downhill corner to see that the run-off from up top had run down the gutter, then across the road in the shade, where it had frozen, and gotten churned up by car traffic. So, I walked back up the hill, put the bike in gear, then neutral a few times, shut it down, closed the garage door, went in the house, and changed back out of my riding pants. See above-- more snow this morning...
I sold it. Sad day. Really. This bike has been my faithful companion for 8 years. Nice guy from Atlanta bought it. I hope he will enjoy it as much as I did. Weird not to have a bike in the garage but Tuesday should change that. Loved that bike. Hope I didn't make a mistake. Please welcome the new owner if he checks in. I know he's a lurker.
I have never owned a bike that I had more fun with. I'll still follow here. Like I said, sad day.
I am planning to buy a Yamaha FJ 09. I sure hope that I will enjoy it as much as I did the Uly. I expect that not all will be perfect, just like with the Uly, but I hope that the overall verdict will be positive.
On my 06 I swapped the low beam power with the auxiliary power so that low and high beam are both on when switched on high. Soon will be replacing fork seals.
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2016 - 12:48 pm:
Glad to hear it Vern. I got out on mine on Sunday and knocked some rust off my riding skills. Boy were they rusty! Fortunately my right foot is able to hit the brake pedal a lot easier than a couple of months ago!
Beautiful day in CA. Rode from Hollister to Alice's Restaurant in Woodside for a late breakfast. Took the back roads from Gilroy to San Jose, then H9 and H35 (Skyline) from Saratoga to Woodside.
After breakfast rode west on H84 to Stage Road to Pescadero then H1 south to Watsonville. Took some secret back roads from there.
Took my ignition switch apart today on my '06. Had gotten pretty tough to actuate and sometimes wouldn't turn on the power until the key was jiggled. Not sure it was the culprit but the last straw was last weekend, my wife and I were running the gauntlet in a construction zone with oncoming traffic and concrete barricading 8 feet left and right, engine cut out momentarily 2-3 times with cars bearing down from behind.
Mechanicals were crapped up with mud-like hardened old grease, electrical contacts similar. Cleaned and greased everything up and it works great again. I'll probably pick up a new switch body anyway.
Tomorrow I pull the fuel pump, regulator housing is damaged and sometimes lets the regulator get loose, and the pump is sounding funny. Always something...
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 03:36 pm:
The plan is to replace the steering head bearings, rear isolator, swingarm bearings, a few other odds and ends, replace my shock and forks with the Lightning Long pieces I have (3" shorter than before, 4" shorter than stock X height), and powder coat several pieces while I have them off. Maybe even throw some paint on the swingarm and frame as well, we'll see.
Phelan- I'm curious about the condition of your swingarm bearings (and how many miles on them).? I've wondered if this was something I've been neglecting, but actually didn't realize they were bearings instead of bushings. Also, was there a problem with the rear isolator, I've never had that apart.
Hugh, I did a three way trade. My friend Jake, who has a Lightning Long, was interested in converting it to a Uly, and my friend Joe wants my XT shock, so I had Joe buy an X shock from Paul and send it to Jake, and Jake send me his SS forks and shock (and now kickstand as well), and I'm sending Jake my X forks and kickstand, and Joe my XT shock.
Arry, the swingarm bearings, steering head bearings, and rear isolator are original as best as I can tell, and the bike has 74,000 miles on it. I'm also doing a lot of powdercoating and painting, so I decided to change them as preventative measure to tighten up the feel, and in the case of the rear isolator, get rid of bad vibrations. The rubber is supposed to be boneeetoo the aluminum carrier, and not pop off.
Last night I cut off the factory handlebar risers and smoothed the top tree. I'm going to install Rooke billet Risers of using the Pre Eng fat bar adapters I was using before.
Thank goodness I have other bikes to ride while that ordeal continued...Many things contributed to the delay - as they always do.
But she sure sounds a LOT quieter with oil running through the oiling system!
Now to replace the back tire and fix the license plate light so I can pay the state of NC for their motorcycle inspection, renew plate and pay the STUPID personal property tax... 1313