Update: Bike is back on the road. Might have to bleed the brakes one more time to get that last tiny bit of air out of the system.

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.

Health

I tried to take control of my health early in 2009. I ‘m not usually proactive but I went to the doctor for a physical in April. Other than high cholesterol I was in decent shape for a sedentary cubicle drone. One week later an infection kicked my ass and put me in the hospital for 12 days. My leg still isn’t better, my left leg is now “acting up.” The only bright side to that experience was losing 17lbs., but I’m still on the hook for a few grand after my insurance paid 90%. I tried Weight Watchers and had some success but I’ve plateaued and now have to figure out what to do next.

Relationships/Family

I’m still dating Sherri. December 1, 2009 was the second anniversary of our first date. It hasn’t all been wine and roses (what relationship is?), but we seem to be making a go of it.

In August my dad decided to clean out his shed and brought me a truckload of tools, including a rollaway toolchest, an air compressor and a router table. He also brought a nice computer desk.

In September, my paternal grandmother died at the ripe old age of 89 (or so). She and I were not close but I rushed down to California to support my father (primarily) and the rest of the family (secondarily) during this trying time. I was able to reconnect with my family, even the completely cuckoo ones. I saw all my cousins together for the first time since the early 80s.  I took a leap of faith and drove my Shelby Dakota, taking it out of town for the first time, and not 100% confident in its condition. But it performed admirably, suffering only one minor problem. Saw this crazy cat on the way back. I also took the opportunity to not only indulge my love for In-and-Out Burger, but torment Sherri’s son who also loves a double-double. I tried to make it up to him by bringing one back but the little shit basically spit in my face. So I ate it.  No good deed…

House

I made virtually no progress on my house remodel. The palette of bamboo flooring to this day remains parked in front of the mustang in my garage. However, I did dip into my savings to buy a new roof. What came later in the year with my job made me glad I didn’t further empty my savings to work on the house.

Career

At the end of October I was called into the site director’s office and told I was on a 30-day furlough. Needless to say this career-limbo inspired me to think about other options. While it sucked in general I was heartened by my awesome co-workers who donated vacation time to me during this period. I’ve been back at work since the Monday before Thanksgiving, but the future is very uncertain and I can’t afford to rest on my laurels. Trouble is, there isn’t much for me to do in this town and I may have to consider moving if another furlough (or a full-fledged layoff) comes along.

Freelance Web Design Business

During the first half of the year I let SSDD Web Design languish. I didn’t seek new business and other than some ongoing maintenance for a couple clients and a stalled out project for one other, I had nothing going on. I even took down the web site and redirected the URL to JohnBedard.com. Then July brought me the opportunity to do a web site for a friend who was running for Helena City Commission. This project (and the aforementioned furlough from my day job) re-energized me and my desire to do freelance work and build something for my future. I updated my resume, started a portfolio web site and relaunched SSDD Web Design (redesign pending).

Shelby Dakota (aka “The Money Pit”)

I drove the Shelby most of the year without problems. In the Spring I purchased a set of Cragar Soft-8 wheels and shod them with Sumitomo tires. As mentioned above it made it to California and back. I had a bit of a wake up call, however, when I started totaling up all the money I’ve spent on it. At this point I’m basically pot-committed. Hopefully I can paint it in 2010 so at least it looks decent.

Friar’s Ride

With everything that’s happened I forgot it’s only been about a year since I established this blog on this domain, harvesting all the motorcycle content out of my old blog. I do intend to post more this year, update the design to an upgraded version of my old blog design and generally just try to grow it a bit. It will continue being focused primarily on motorcycling and secondarily on all things gearhead.

Motorcycles

Saving the best and worst for last. Not sure where to start. In June I took a nice little day ride with some of my coworkers. I managed to cross the 45,000 mile mark on my bike (picture taken just before), but I only put on 3k for the year (I had been averaging 6k). The annual British Columbia trip as just a clusterfuck. I try not to swear very often on this blog but there’s no other way to describe it so succinctly. Electrical problems. Trucking my bike to Spokane. Speeding tickets. Watching a friend crash and get air-lifted to Spokane.

The good news is that not only did my friend John survive and recover, he just bought a replacement motorcycle and will be riding again this Spring.

For the first time in a long time my Year in Cities had more car-based travel than motorcycle-based.

I didn’t make any progress towards my bike makeover (I blame my health issues in April), but I did go back to chain final drive, ditching the piece of shit aftermarket belt drive. Got to rivet my first chain ever. I also installed a Scottoiler; half the reason I tried the belt drive was that I hated lubing the chain. The battery I bought at the Triumph dealership in Langley, British Columbia in July 2008 died and when I contacted them they basically said go spit.

The good news for 2010 is that my buddy Gene and I did start on the gas tank mods. After the electrical problems that plagued me on the British Columbia trip, I removed the cheapo driving lights and the factory tachometer that was freaking out on me (I just hope it’s the tach and not my electrical system). I still need to go through all the wiring connectors and see if there are anymore shorts, burn-throughs or corrosion. I even contemplating ditch the stock harness and starting over, but I can’t imagine doing a better job overall than the factory.

Watch this space for a post about my updated plan for my bike mods for 2010.

Wrap it up, Friar

All in all 2009 was a real bitch. But life happens and usually it keeps going on. All things considered I’m probably more upbeat than I was this time last year. I call it laughing in the face of impending doom. Cheers.

Garage Day 20090822

Odometer: 44512.7

With all the electrical problems I’ve had this year, it’s tempting to start from scratch. Yeah, yeah, I know. That would be just as big a headache as sorting things out on the stock harness.

In light of all the problems I’ve been having with my bike, time to start figuring out just what I need to do to it. I don’t have any trips planned for the rest of the year, but I do have the Experienced Rider Course in Great Falls at the end of August. It ran fine on the way home from Nelson, but there is something I absolutely have to address before the class, and that’s the stretchy chain. The Maintenance list is obviously (?) much higher priority than the Modifications list.

Maintenance

• Clean bike stem to stern — always a good place to start
• Check every single connector for corrosion and redo dilectic grease
• Check every single wire for damage (may require unwrapping and rewrapping wiring harness)
• Diagnose Remove tachometer issues
• Diagnose short in Remove driving light sub harness (replace connectors with waterproof versions and solder connectors)
• Drain carb bowls and check for contaminants (unlikely)
• Drop main jets to 140-142 (verify that there are 145s in there now)
• Try stock needles with 2 shims (compare performance to TBS needles)
• New chain and sprockets (also buying tool for rivet-style link)
• Drill and extract sprocket cover bolt
• Inspect fuel filter

Modifications

• Install Kuryakyn voltmeter
• Install Dual disc front wheel, right side caliper, crossover brakeline, bleed brakes, swap out extended fender bracket for stock bracket
• Install Speedmaster handlebars with pullback risers and stepped riser bolts
• Build aluminum rear luggage rack
• Test fit D&D pipes
• Build new battery bracket from stock bracket
• Take gas tank to Jamie
• Rearrange headlight and hand control wiring (connectors in stock headlight) for new 5 3/4″ headlight and install
• Grind fins off stock (extra) sprocket cover, trim, drill speed holes and power coat black

• Several electrical problems plagued (and still plague) my bike
• Day One saw rain most of the way to Thompson Falls
• Day Two involved trucking my bike to Spokane from Thompson Falls because it just wouldn’t run
• Day Three was probably the best, picking up the bike in Spokane, riding back to Thompson Falls, loading up and then straight on to Nelson, BC, skipping Jasper and Kamloops.
• Day Four saw more electrical problems, running on one cylinder
• Day Five brought a speeding ticket, 118kph in a 90kph zone. After early payment discount and exchange rate it should be about $100USD.
• Day Six made me watch my good friend total his bike in front of me and nearly total himself
• Day Seven was loooong, going through Spokane to see said friend after he was air lifted there the previous night for surgery

The actual route definitely looks a lot different than the planned route.

View Larger Map

Of course, one and a half of those trips between Thompson Falls and Spokane were in a truck, not on the bike.

Here’s my report on the accident, posted on BonnevilleAmerica.com:

Yesterday, mid-afternoon, Freedom crashed between Kaslo and Nelson, BC, a few clicks south of Ainsworth Hotsprings if you know the area. I was right behind him when, during a low blood sugar diabetic episode, he drifted off to the right into the ditch. His front wheels caught on the rocks and he was catapulted over the handlebars, coming to rest in the middle of the road about 30ft past the bike.

His pelvic bone was fractured and his hip joint, though intact, was shoved up into his abdomen. He has a huge gash in his chin (open face helmet) and a chunk of his lower lip is missing. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Nelson then transferred last night by helicopter to Spokane.

Zmilin and I stopped at the hospital this afternoon but John was in back-to-back surgeries for his face and pelvis. I just got home and talked to him on the phone. Neurologically he is fine. No paralysis, no cognitive issues. He has at least one more surgery to go. He is missing two front teeth.

He was very, very lucky. Lucky that at the rather remote crash site I had cell signal to call for help. The first car to stop had an ER nurse with a big first aid kit. Several Triumph riders attending the Kootenay Raid were in the area, stopped and helped with traffic and such. He didn’t hit the rocky cliff face on the right. He didn’t go over the rocky cliff drop off to the left. Didn’t hit a tree. Another car wasn’t coming right when he flew into the middle of the shoulderless two-lane road.

The bike is absolutely totaled. The front end was ripped clean off. The front wheel is a pretzel. It was leaking gas out the cap but when the RCMP officer and I lifted it upright, gas poured out the split bottom of the tank. Not a surface on the thing remained untouched.

I don’t have the hospital address but maybe someone could look it up for me. He’s in room 425 of Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital in Spokane. He’ll be there at least a week if not three.

This was a horrible end to a the worst week of vacation I’ve ever had. It started with other problems that I will describe in another thread.

Here is my post on BonnevilleAmerica.com about my technical issues:

I had the perfect week from he||. The worst is detailed here. But leading up to it I had electrical problems and my chain is dying I think.

First, I rode in the rain most of the day on Monday from Helena to Freedom’s house. During a stop in Missoula, a bit over half way, it wouldn’t start for several minutes. After that it ran without fail the rest of the way to John’s.

Tuesday morning after gassing and loading up, it would die, it would miss and pop through the carbs and exhaust then die. It would run ballz out for 10 minute and just shut down, then not restart for about another 10 minutes. Mind you, we were leaving Freedom’s house for a little (?) tour of British Columbia. I couldn’t trust it.

So we trucked it over to Empire Cycles in Spokane (Tingley’s in Missoula didn’t have a mechanic on duty all day). We left it for them and they got right on it (I’m pretty impressed overall with Empire), but we returned to T-Falls. The mechanic started tracing out and testing every circuit. He found “a resistance” and repaired some corroded connections in the neutral light and/or kickstand kill switch circuits. He said he noticed that the neutral light was now much brighter. Early Wednesday morning we went back to Spokane and I rode it back to Freedom’s so we could load up and salvage some of vacation. We made it to Nelson without any problems.

Thursday morning on the way to do some laundry it ran like crap. Right cylinder wasn’t firing at all. Exhaust was dead cold. I was freaking out by now. Thinking it was the coil I started calling all the dealerships in the NW that could’ve had people coming to Nelson for the Raid. They insisted that the coils generally don’t go bad and they don’t even stock them. After fiddling with it and trying to swap coils (at the laundromat) to test it and having no joy, I put everything back and limped it back to the hotel and started poking around some more. A new friend from Wyoming started helping me and wonder of wonders, he found the right coil wire wouldn’t stay in the coil. So that was fixed. Zmilin said this happened on Karen’s bike. Bike ran great after that.

Also, I ran without my fog lights turned on because they keep blowing fuses.

The last electrical problem manifested itself today on the way home from Spokane. The tach needle is going CRAZY. It’s bouncing around all over the place. Nothing else seems wrong.

Next, my friggin chain keeps stretching. I kept adjusting it, probably 3-4 times in the last week. It’s sagging a ton right now. I’m assuming that means it’s worn out and the o-rings are toast. One guy in Nelson said I should’ve dropped it in a can of oil when I put it away in 2003 after installing my belt drive kit. Thing has less than 10k miles on it total.

Anyone care to comment on any of this? I’m amazed, after the week we’ve had, that it got me home. The upside is that the engine is running like a bat out of he||. Basically I’m going to tear the bike apart and go through everything if I ever want to take it out of town again. Probably get a new chain and sprocket set and Nology coils and wires just to be sure.

Eff Lucas.

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.

P.S. I think my leg is healed enough to ride. It didn’t seem to bother me yesterday.

So the weekend before that all went down I did manage to remove the belt drive belt and sprockets and reinstall my stock chain (with about 8k miles on it so plenty of life left). I also installed a new “cush drive” in the rear hub, a tighter model from the Triumph Thunderbird Sport. It was very snug but I managed to get it together and get the rear wheel reinstalled. Now I have to go back through and make sure everything is good-and-tight and install my Scottoiler and I’ll be back on the road (oh, and my leg has to finish healing, of course).

As time allows I’ll get the dual disc front wheel and associated parts installed and hopefully make some progress on the bobber conversion. These health issues have really thrown a wrench in my plans.