Fear of the dark

It's been ten months since I acquired the Triumph and already the fork seal is leaking. Some things never change. To be fair, the bike is 20 years old with 42 thousand miles on it and I purchased it knowing that it needed some maintenance. I've never attempted to pull a fork apart so I was a little apprehensive about doing this job. Time to put up or pay up.

If I screw this up, it's going to be expensive or worse dangerous. But the real motivation for not screwing up is that I didn't want to walk into the dealership with my tail between my legs. (real mechanics love us pretenders)  "Go slow and do your homework" I tell myself. With most mechanical work, the trick to not breaking things is to not put yourself in a position to break things. Buy the special tools, do your homework and get help from someone you trust. (better yet pay a professional) Wrench like you ride, commit or get off the pot.

Keep it clean. My shop may be a mess, but it's a clean mess. Keep the parts in the order they were removed and do one leg at a time.

A homemade tool makes things possible but not easy. The dampening rod is at the very bottom of the stanchion and requites 2 feet of extensions to reach. If installed correctly, it's locked down with 40 foot-pounds of torque. It's not going to break loose easily, making for a sketchy situation. The key to not striping the top of the dampening rod is to keep your extensions in line with the fork leg. The torque you're about to put on it will twist the extensions out of line and can cause the tool to slip.

This is a good place to screw it up big time. Strip this out and it's game over.

Don't forget to replace the crush washer. And use a torque wrench! All sliding bushings and o rings can be replaced at this time as well. All the parts (aftermarket seals and dust covers) were about $120. Labor was inexpensive but slow. 

Three days and 700 miles later, the bike is handling great with no leaks.

There's not much you can't do with a little common sense and the internet, or a competent professional. Consider stress, time and risk before digging into any project. (You probably already knew that but some of us need to learn the hard way.)

- Ride North

Bike show weekend!

The Minnesota chapters of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America and the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club assembled yet another fine gathering of people and machines at the State Fair grounds this weekend. The annual Vintage Motorcycle Show / AMCA meet / VJMC show / Largest Antique Motorcycle Meet in Minnesota continues to be a spectacular gathering of motorcycle history.

The featured model this year included examples from every year.

Some stock. Some not.

The mighty CBX. 

It was interesting to see the changes over the years. They must have had some issues with the alternator because year two on was completely different. The only thing missing was the big hondaline fairing, which for some reason I find attractive. 

Talking paint. One of the many Q&A sessions. 

The National Motorcycle Museum  brought out this period, unrestored bobber. 

Black and gold. Good motorcycle colors.

This original and unrestored CL350 had a hand full of "best of" credentials.

I know an RD took home a prize, I'm guessing it was this one!

Another fast and furious CB550. Well done sir!

Out of all the bikes, this was one of my favorite, probably because it took me totally by surprise.

The Sears catalogs have been lacking in recent decades.

Some old race bikes to inspire your next "Street tracker" project.

A beautiful Hustler (this comment will ensure this post Googles well)

Is it just an old bike or an unrestored classic? 

I spent so much time looking at the bikes in Kawasaki Conner that I forgot to take a decent picture. 

Some top notch Triumphs 

Kawasaki brought in a 550 and 750 version of the Zephyr in the early 90s, cool bikes if you can find them.

An example of the signage present for most bikes in the show. 

Light weight carbon fiber rims made of the finest Canadian maple! 

A swap meet AJS with some bits missing.

An early sportster, one of my favorites from The Motor Company

I don't know how this snuck into the parking lot, but it did. Ooo the sounds.

The Guzzi 1000SP Spada, so much to like.

- Ride North

AMCA/ VJMC motorcycle show this weekend!

Friday (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM) and Saturday (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM) at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds. The clubs do an excellent job of providing information on each bike and setting up all the period extras: advertising, sings, gear, etc. This is one of the most well organized shows I've been to. It's far cry from being just a bunch of old bikes crammed into a barn.

Link to the schedule: http://vikingmc.org/national/schedule.html

Pictures from last year's show:

Much thanks for all the hard work that goes into putting this on!

- Ride North

Support your local bike shop!

Being a former Moto Guzzi owner, I have had many excellent experiences with one of Lakeville Minnesota's finest, Leo's South. They take excellent care of their customers. One time, they even saved a cracked transmission housing. Me: "I have a problem..." the Service manager: "we've got a guy who can weld that, I've seen him weld a BMW transmission housing that was cracked in half." That bike had a ton of miles on it when I sold it and it shifted better than ever.

Now that my tire sizes are measured in archaic English units, I decided is was time to see someone who specializes in these unique measurements. Go Moto in Minneapolis had a more modern tire (measured in mm) that worked great with my XS500. The price was very reasonable and turn around was quick. I will be a repeat customer. 

To borrow a phrase from the bicycle scene: Support your LBS!

- Ride north

Chasing Storms

 

I was out chasing the gaps in the clouds this evening. Dark clouds were were playing hide and seek with the sunlight. I'd spend one mile in gear piercing downpours and the next in sunshine. 

While riding along a ridge beside a small lake, the sun was at my back. The lake was under a dark storm cloud. Looking down I could see the force of the approaching cold front whipping up the water. The lake shore and surrounding trees were light up but the water was black. A dead tree stood on a small isthmus. In it were four egrets. They were doing their best to hunker down, looking like four plastic bags rather than the elegant birds of the marsh.

You never know what you'll find out there, sometimes you just got to go looking. And sometimes you've got to play in the rain.

- Ride North

Shopping with dad

I took the boy on a parts run this weekend, I think he had fun.

- Ride North

Home run

I do love the work. Even when it's trying it's rewarding in ways I couldn't have imagined. I start at 5:45 AM and usually wrap up around 8:30 or 9:00 PM. Not too long ago, this was a 24 hour gig with short naps now and then to keep you going, or not. It's a crazy lifestyle that people all over the world pray for and thank their god or gods for. It's something I've always wanted, something I've worked hard for but in the end I realize it is a gift.It's also directly at odds with my wander lust. If I told you I've never felt confined, I'd be lying to you.

I fully understand why parents sell their bikes after starting a family. Like many things in our lives, it is dangerous, made more so by being sleep deprived and distracted. Those sunny Saturday morning rides, the ones where you are well rested and have no obligations until Monday morning, are a thing of the past.

That doe eyed ride stares at me as I depart, child screaming in the back seat. It taunts me as pull in, just in time for dinner. From some dark corner of my garage I hear, "Where are you going in such a hurry?" It is constantly reminding me of my desire to escape from under the burdens of responsibility and taste freedom.

Raising a family is not easy. The motorcycle becomes a symbol of conflict, I understand why people want it out of their garage and out of their minds. It’s also a tattoo, cleverly hidden beneath layers of cotton and polyester. It’s a commitment to yourself to be the person you know you are, or were.

I want that burden of freedom and responsibility, it’s my responsibility to show my family that freedom exists and they too can participate in it.

I live 300 miles from my parents, my brother, sister-in-law and my three nephews. The six hour car ride means our family spends a significant time apart and opportunities to get together are not to be wasted. I recently scheduled a solo trip home and when the time came the weather was just on the right site of rideable. 

It was 45 F and sunny when I set out at noon on Friday. Properly dressed for a comfortable ride, the blast down I-94 was enjoyable. It felt great to be out there putting miles on the bike again, knowing that my destination was three wonderful boys and their awesome parents.

The boys were pretty excited when I showed up on a motorcycle. I explained to them how I dressed warm and rode safely, taking brakes when I needed to. I like to believe that it left an impression on their young minds. Between their dad and their grandpa, they have plenty of exposure to bikes and "things that go." I was just doing my part.

I was happy to have the boys climb all over me all weekend. I even got out for a night on the town with their parents and mine.

We visited Brenner Brewing in the Walker's Point neighborhood of Milwaukee. These guys make fantastic beer. They have a room dedicated to open fermentation and 10 foot tall oak fermentation vessels imported from France. 

Walker's Point is an interesting neighborhood, full of gems in the rough. 

The Allen-Bradley clock tower, the largest four faced clock in the world, keeps watch.

Lovely day for a Guinness! 

Sunshine and beers with the family.

Castle Rock/ Camp Douglass is located along I-94, half way between Saint Paul and Milwaukee. It's a great place to stop and stretch your legs.

Riding a motorcycle requires strategy both on and off the bike. It's this part of our "sport" that keeps me engaged. Combining trips, be it a work-day commute or a weekend get together, keeps me in the grove. And being in the grove keeps life in perspective, one hand on responsibility the other on freedom.

 - Ride North