The Adventures of FriarJohn on Two (and Sometimes Four) Wheels

Here’s the plan. Leaving Wednesday morning. Arriving in Nelson Thursday afternoon or evening. Taking “the scenic route” (as if there’s a non-scenic route in the Kootenays).

View Larger Map

I purchased the Track feature for my SPOT GPS Personal Tracker, so I don’t have to hit the ‘OK’ button to mark a waypoint on my Google Map (link in the side bar). The map above is the plan. Could change a bit. If I make good progress Wednesday I might jump over to Banff and/or Lake Louise. I’m planning on averaging 360mi per day. Easy on a super-slab. A little more taxing on two-lane twisties with lots of tourist on the road. May not make it all the way to Radium the first day. Probably take Friday ‘off’ in Nelson and do a day ride with the gang on Saturday. Home Sunday.

Excellent trip. I’m at a loss for words if you can believe that (mostly because I’m tired). Other than running with my choke partially open for most of the day Saturday, the trip was flawless. Here’s the map (Google maps threw a hissy fit when I tried to map Scott’s attempt to get us lost in Harlowton, so that’s approximate). Pictures coming soon.

View Larger Map

Also, my SPOT personal GPS tracker page shows the points at which I pressed the “check in” button. Unfortunately I haven’t figured out how to limit the page to just this weekend’s activity, so it show last weekend as well. Figured out how to delete those couple from last weekend.

Photos

Think I’m going to do this next weekend (Friday-Monday). Visit John in Thompson Falls, MT, Del in Bonners Ferry, ID, and Keith in Trail, BC. Then swing down around Lewiston, ID, and come home up Lolo Pass. I’m sure there will be subtle differences in the actual route, but this is the basic idea.

View Directions to East Helena, MT in a larger map

Traveling alone. I’ll have my dual disc front wheel for the first time, as well as my SPOT GPS transceiver and the iPod Nano. If the GPS works like it should, I’ll post a link to the Google Maps page it generates. My plan is to hit the “report in” button at each gas stop or overnight stop. Probably won’t have the Kuryakyn Grips and Breakaway cruise control installed. A little too close to start making new mods.

This machine is absolutely amazing. The delicate mesh work is stunning.

The hardcore Harley guy will NEVER go for liquid cooling, though…

(source)

[Update: This will probably be updated frequently. People keep asking me for more pictures. Stuff is going fast. The sissybar is going to Taiwan! Damn, I haven't even STARTED with ebay yet...]

On the heels of my last post about selling the D&Ds, I just listed several items on BonnevilleAmerica.com in the classifieds. Here is the gallery of images, but I don’t have the prices listed in the gallery, only on BA.com.

Current Item list:

1. The aforementioned D&D mufflers–need stripping and coating SOLD
2. Triumph tall sissybar and luggage rack–usually a very popular item SOLD
3. Stock tail light housing–good for blacking out while still saving your original chrome piece
4. Triumph chrome rear brake reservoir cover–chromosexual approved SOLD
5. Stock dash–again, good for color-coordinating with your tank or just blacking it out SOLD
6. Optronics fog lights–cheap, lots of light SOLD
7. Triumph chrome front brake reservoir cover  with British flag sticker–also chromosexual approved SOLD
8. George Foreman Grill (stock sprocket cover)–good for hacking up and customizing
9. Aftermarket horn–meh
10. Triumph chrome control levers–again, chromosexual approved SOLD
11. Phantom Pad–weird, but if that’s your thing, okay–WON’T FIT A TRIUMPH
12. Thunderbird Sport front rim, 17×3.5″, with spokes–good for you fat front tire fans, 1″ shorter than stock, 1″ wider than stock–laces right on to the stock America hub SOLD
13. Triumph tachometer–could be fried, need someone to test it for me and only pay me if it works (which means my bike is still screwed up) SOLD
14. Triumph rear fender luggage rack–still chromosexual approved SOLD
15. Someone’s interested in my effed out Belt Drive kit SOLD

More to come. That’s good enough to get started.

[Updated 4/2/2010 --FJ]

Okay, since I got through the recap of last year, I’m looking forward now. Specifically thinking about my bike and all my failed plans for modifications, and trying not to beat myself up too much. Taking stock of all the parts and supplies I have accumulated since I decided to give my bike an “Extreme Bobber Makeover™” a few years ago and upgrade the braking, I have the following:

Read more

With my Experienced Rider Course looming one week hence, it was (past) time to get my bike back on the road. Here’s a few pictures of the process, and a couple of the goodies my pops and uncle brought me from California last weekend, including a compressor, router table, computer desk and rollaway tool chest.

Garage Day 20090822

Odometer: 44512.7

Or am I just being cautious?

I have the aforementioned British Columbia trip coming up in about a week and a half. My bike is running sweet. Yet I want to start making mods to it, which I know is a no-no this close to a big trip. This is what I have on tap yet for this year:

• Triumph Thunderbird Sport dual disc front wheel upgrade with new tire, new rotors and new pads
• Speedmaster drag-style handlebars with pullback risers (4″ up, 1.5″ back) with stepped riser bolts
• Kuryakyn Voltmeter
• Custom 5 3/4″ headlight with frenched trim ring (requires some rewiring)
• Reinstall my cheapo fog lights using my homemade lightbar
• Contruct a new luggage rack out of aluminum bits I picked up at the hardware store

And that’s just the list I expect to accomplish this year, not including several bits involved in my long awaited makeover:

• New paint on modified tin (tank still needs work)
• Kuryakyn retro bullet turn signals with brake module (rear signals act as brakelights)
• Veypor performance computer to replace stock speedometer (need wiring harness and billet cover with indicator lights)
• Black header wrap
• Fabricate mount for custom taillight and license plate mount

And those are just the parts I already have. There are many more bits I want to add for the makeover and a few I’d like to make. But those will have to wait until I settle up completely with the hospital from my little ordeal in April.

The point of all this is that I want to get on with it. I really want to make some progress on the bike this year. Granted, I have the rest of the summer after my trip and all of Fall to make these mods before putting her up for the winter. I just need to be patient I guess. But I can at least do the Kuryakyn Voltmeter and the fog lights before vacation. In fact with my recent electrical issues I’d say the former is key.

Crappy cell phone picture warning:

Actually it came out pretty good, like I hit it with some funky filters in Photoshop. I really have to start keeping my Canon digital camera with me.

Took a little shakedown run on my bike yesterday. I always like to do a little local riding, mixing up speeds, roads and terrain to make sure everything holds together. I was also fiddling with my Scottoiler. It works pretty good but I think I’ll need to switch to the blue fluid. The red just flows too much.