anyone go for a ride today? Pics?

[Noreg]

i did have a ride. I went to visit my grandparents and to buy a 12v usb c charger. When almost home the traffic was stopped because of construction.Since it wasnt moving at all, I killed the engine. Started up fine. The second time the bike was DEAD. Nothing happened when Ipushed the button.

I figure I need to go somewhere more sensible to stand still, so I push the bike like 300 feet up a hill and then like 200 more to get to a downhill. I hoped my battery was dead, so Itried to roll start it, but it just sputtered but didnt fire properly.

So I took off my helmet to try to fix it, then some rabid seagulls started attacking me. They are angry now because of the young birds. I figure they were just diving and showing off. But NO, they decided to *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$ all over me and my bike...

I get back to pushing the bike, as I didnt want to stay with the hostile seagulls. Since I am pretty winded I call my wife to bring some water and some rags to clean off me and my bike (should hsve snapped a picture).

I did manage to get it started again after opening up the switch thing. First I just managed to get the starter to engadge but not the coils, and was confused. Then I found what to short to get the coils. I rode home holding the wire with my index finger and thumb hoping I wouldnt stall it.

And now we are going on a weekend trip to Alta (in car sadly), so I cant do anything about it now...

[Wingsconsin]

The upside to a bike tire wearing out in 5000-8000 miles is that the bearings, races, chain, sprockets, etc all get inspected every 5-8K miles during the tire change. With a car tire lasting 10x that long, there's a very good chance that regular inspection items will be ignored with possible life-threatening consequences down the road.

Having said that, I look forward to the mile-long rolling burnout video, Justin.

This is actually another of the minor issues and reasons I took it off..
The GL1500 has a troublesome rear drive system adn required maintenance to make it last -
Every 40 to 50K was not enough -- I did it every 15K while I ran the Michelin Pilot GTs - that was a good schedule for the Goldwing

[Grimly]

Yeah... Trying something I've never done before, ride from yesterday:

You're lucky you have a rear rim that's wide enough, as many modern bikes do.
I'd have had a car tyre on the 850 years ago if it weren't for the skinny rears of the 80s era, and I've spent four out of the past five years slowly gathering parts to enable me to fit something else onto the back (a Cavalcade rear), but it's not a simple or straightforward conversion.
Then, in February, a custom-made rear wheel from a GS1000G that was used as a sidecar hauler appeared on ebay for not a lot of money.
I grabbed it quick before anyone else saw it (in reality, probably not a lot of competition for it) and it will be making an appearance on the 850 soon, complete with skinny European car tyre of 135/80-15.



It's a 15" car alloy wheel been lathed out and welded on to a standard GS shafty hub. Very neatly done, and I've no doubt whatsoever it was done properly and not by some goon in his back shed.
Sidecarists still get wheels like this made for them, but less need nowadays as the wider rims on standard bikes rule out the necessity for it. I know that the cost of getting one made from scratch would have ruled it out for me. The experiment just isn't worth that amount.

I have to face off the tubed valve hole for a tubeless valve and fit a brake disc, then good to go.

[Redman]

i......... I cant do anything about it now...

Will want an update on this story.

[Redman]

Have been dealing with a personal health situation myself, last 4-5 weeks (better now).
And during that, FatherInLaw in hospital and nursing home, and back and forth. And us making trips there (150miles) doing stuff for MotherInLaw. And then his funeral.
And on day of his burial, a terrible shocking tragedy in the family gathered there, with our nephew stepping outside and ending his life with a pistol. (Not a sight that anyone needs to know what that looks like.)
Stayed a couple more days.

Home yesterday, and got out for about an hour and half ride.

Stopped at one of the creeks/rivers I sometimes stop at.
Just to watch the water flow, look for fish, sometimes see muskrat or something.
But with recent heavy rain, this creek was real muddy...... fitting.
Was thinking what usually can see, must still be there, but different now..... fitting.
Water running faster than usual now ..... fitting.

Strange place for a grieving session. Was there for a while.

Continued on my way.
Further in my route a bridge was closed, so could not make a loop out of the ride, so came back the same way.

When coming up out of this valley (other direction from view of picture), at top of hill, road turns left, and more pavement comes into view,,, with some gravel/sand on the pavement right in my arc I was going, I started to steer (countersteer) harder to avoid it, but then thought I would still hit some of it, so let off on the steering to not have the steering pressure when did hit it, front did skip and slide out some and rear slid out some, but I wasnt going down, but was headed towards edge of the road, then gave more steering (countersteering) and stayed on the road.
THinking of it later, I though i should have been more on the inside of the tire lane, not the outside of the tire lane, so am further from center of the lane were debris might be.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Good to see you back on the horse Dave. Be careful out there.

[Redman]

Have revised my posting to state something of the "family tragedy" (now that I CAN bring myself to mention it)..

[cowboyup3371]

Take care of yourself Dave and be careful

[alke46]

Sorry to hear about your family tragedies Dave. My condolences for you and your family. Hope you are doing better day to day. And yes, do be careful out on the roads with sand and gravel in the curves. Way to keep it upright. Some with less skills would have panicked.

[Brendan W]

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. It's too awful to imagine.
Be strong and stay together. Family can get through this. You are not alone. This seems to happen all too frequently at times of change in a family.
It's good that you can talk to us about it.

[Redman]

Thanks Guys.

(maybe I should have made a separate thread.)

Lets proceed with regular went-for-ride stuff.

[GS1150Pilot]

I think organic is good here, Dave. Being able to express yourself in a thread you contribute a great deal to is the best way.

Sending you good thoughts.

[Burque73]

It's hard to just resume talking about riding without pausing and showing support for you Dave. That is some seriously heavy stuff you guys have been going through.

So sorry to hear it. Hang in there buddy.

[Burque73]

I did get out for a while yesterday. Actually most of yesterday, as it turned out. 11 hours on the bike, three stops for gas and around 450 miles.

With temps climbing to record highs in Albuquerque, I headed up into the mountains. It was nice up there but the lower elevations between mountains was crazy hot.

Here's the route I took. You can zoom in and see some of the amazing landscape and click on the road, then click the little thumbnail pic to get a street view.

I thought I'd just ride to the Jemez mountains, but I kept going. Then decided to go to see The Valles Caldera volcano, and kept going. Los Alamos to have lunch. On through Espanola to Taos for gas. Through the hills to Angel Fire. Farther through the hills passed Eagles Nest lake through Ute Park into Cimmaron. The further North I got the cooler it got. The cloud cover, ground water and just wonderful mountain air made me want to just get lost up there.

After passing through Cimmaron it was pretty much grassy plains. I was so amazed how cool it was though. With an overcast evening and a tail wind I was enjoying the evening and the GS was just gliding along getting great fuel mileage. That 50 miles to the gallon was about to change though as I approached I-25. I passed by a deer grazing on the side of the interstate near Las Vegas and had a reality check to stay alert.

Some pics from the ride.

7-11-20 ride by Roger, on Flickr

Jemez Pueblo area by Roger, on Flickr

Valles Caldera by Roger, on Flickr

20200711_140850 by Roger, on Flickr

20200711_140341 (1) by Roger, on Flickr

20200711_174137 by Roger, on Flickr

[Buffalo Bill]

Hey Roger, what's your highway speed on a tour like that?