Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Rectifying An Electrical Problem in Italy - 1

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #46
    12. Rectifying an Electrical Problem in Italy - 12

    I had been posting regular updates of my trip on Facebook. I am a member of quite a few bike related pages (Suzuki Owners, GS1100 owners, GSX/GS1150 Appreciation Page and so on) and there was this one guy back in the UK who latched on to me and my solo navigations. He started suggesting routes for me and helped me plan my journey home. He seemed to be available at just the right time when I needed advice or a route suggestion. It was a great help and I loved that I was being mentored in such a fashion.









    He was sharing with me all about his trips in France and suggesting routes. I was sharing my journey with someone who had been there and done it all before. It was a comforting and entertaining use of social networking especially as the guy turned out to be an expert on electronics and Suzuki GS motorbikes. The journey home was turning out not to be as lonely as I thought and a good deal more entertaining with our Facebook updates and chats at each stop off.

    I hit the motorways hard, keeping in the 80 to 90 mph range. Pushing the bike to a higher average speed than at any time previously. I had already put in the spare half litre of oil I had brought with me and I was conscious of the fact I was now entering the zone where this had probably been consumed and I was again getting to a low oil level. I was up to about 1,600 miles on this trip and had added the oil around the 1,000 mile mark. Pulling into service stations and slowing down for tolls, I swear I could hear knocks, rattles and noises I had never heard before. Was this from lack of oil or was my imagination playing up on me?

    Not only was I now pushing the bike at a pace where I felt it was being tested but my own endurance and sanity was also being tested. My body and mind were beginning to tingle along with the vibrations of the motor. I was moving into that semi-zombie like state, which I had only experienced once before. That was doing an all-nighter, biking across the Prairies of Canada back in my youth. It’s that sort of state that your mind and body enters when you have thought all your thoughts and there is nothing else to think about except the road ahead.



    My Facebook buddy was sending me mileage reports and estimated times of arrival and the port of Calais. If I just focused and kept going I could even make it that night. But there was something else too, that started to take over from this fixation to complete the journey. Something that would continually take my attention, divert my eyes and cause my mind to start a new trajectory of thought. For some unknown and inexplicable reason (perhaps it was because I had moved into an elevated level of vibrations due to my increased speed) one of the two screws holding the speedometer facia down decided to unwind and eject itself into the space between the facia and the speedometer glass. This happened over a 120 mile section of motorway and there it was jiggling around under the glass screaming at me to notice it.



    This little screw started to do things inside that speedometer that were simply unbelievable. I discovered that if I held the engine at just the right number of revs, the silly little thing could be made to move around the outside edge of the speedometer in an anti-clockwise manner. I could get it to the 3 o’clock position, which equated to 75 mph on the dial, before it would hit the speedometer needle and be forced back down. It was a great game to play to see how far I could get it to move up the face before it met the needle coming in the opposite direction.

    However hard I tried, it was almost impossible to ignore this new distraction. I realised that it was a hazard and compromised my attentiveness to the road ahead but at the same time it was an entertaining little game that helped while away the time and take the focus away from my aching back, tingling feet and sore butt.

    Within what seem like a fairly short time, even though I had now been in the saddle for 7 hours, I was seeing sign posts to the Port of Calais. My destination was in sight. I could taste it now. Even a lose speedometer screw would not divert me fully from my purpose. It was to be; home or bust.

    Next part: Part 13
    Last edited by londonboards; 01-27-2015, 04:59 AM.
    Richard
    sigpic
    GS1150 EF bought Jun 2015
    GS1150 ES bought Mar 2014: ES Makeover Thread AND blog: Go to the Blog
    GS1100 G (2) bought Aug 2013: Road Runner Project Thread AND blog: Go to the Blog
    GS1100 G (1) Dad bought new 1985 (in rebuild) see: Dad's GS1100 G Rebuild AND blog: Go to the Blog
    Previously owned: Suzuki GS750 EF (Canada), Suzuki GS750 (UK)(Avatar circa 1977), Yamaha XT500, Suzuki T500, Honda XL125, Garelli 50
    Join the United Kingdom (UK) Suzuki GS Facebook Group here

    Comment


      #47
      EuroTrip

      First off, I love that you took a picture of your "only in France" breakfast. Spending 10 of my 25-yr military career in Europe really made me appreciate living in a different culture (England 89-93, Germany 03-06, & Italy 08-11). My favorite is the fresh crusty bread...every country has their own way of presenting a breakfast and my family and I simply enjoyed it.

      Having that mentor-style friend on FB is a great connection too. Being on the road (alone) sounds awesome but also a bit scary considering you're on a 30-yr bike. That little screw in the speedo got you a little distracted...easily done and I've been guilty of staring at the instrument panel on straight-aways. But at some point, we have to focus on the road.

      Having enough cushion on your seat and good shocks does wonders on a ride. In your case, going on long trips (all-nighters), vibrations are noticeable disturbances when concentrating on the road becomes monotonous.

      Thanks for sharing your story on GSR. I appreciate your updates and reminisce about Europe with those pictures.


      Ed
      Last edited by GSXR7ED; 12-31-2014, 09:23 AM.
      GS750TZ V&H/4-1, Progressive Shocks, Rebuilt MC/braided line, Tarozzi Stabilizer[Seq#2312]
      GS750TZ Parts Bike [Seq#6036]
      GSX-R750Y (Sold)

      my opinion shouldn't be taken as gospel or in any way that would lead you to believe otherwise (30Sep2021)

      Comment


        #48
        In case anyone doubted it, I have more than one loose screw.



        My 82 650g



        My 83 1100g

        I totally understand the distraction thing. I plan to pull the glass on these gauges and apply a bit of loctite to the screws.

        cg
        sigpic
        83 GS1100g
        2006 Triumph Sprint ST 1050

        Ohhhh!........Torque sweet Temptress.........always whispering.... a murmuring Siren

        Comment


          #49
          Charlie - I have taken one of these apart before but it's one heck of a job. One slip and you have messed it up. I guess these is no magic way of doing it though. Best to do it before the screw disappears into the speedo and it stops working!

          Greetings
          Richard
          sigpic
          GS1150 EF bought Jun 2015
          GS1150 ES bought Mar 2014: ES Makeover Thread AND blog: Go to the Blog
          GS1100 G (2) bought Aug 2013: Road Runner Project Thread AND blog: Go to the Blog
          GS1100 G (1) Dad bought new 1985 (in rebuild) see: Dad's GS1100 G Rebuild AND blog: Go to the Blog
          Previously owned: Suzuki GS750 EF (Canada), Suzuki GS750 (UK)(Avatar circa 1977), Yamaha XT500, Suzuki T500, Honda XL125, Garelli 50
          Join the United Kingdom (UK) Suzuki GS Facebook Group here

          Comment


            #50
            Wow, I don't know how I missed this thread before now. Fun and inspiring write-up!
            Charles
            --
            1979 Suzuki GS850G

            Read BassCliff's GSR Greeting and Mega-Welcome!

            Comment


              #51
              A very entertaining read indeed.
              1983 GS 1100 Guided Laser
              1983 GS 1100 G
              2000 Suzuki Intruder 1500, "Piggy Sue"
              2000 GSF 1200 Bandit (totaled in deer strike)
              1986 Suzuki Cavalcade GV 1400 LX (SOLD)

              I find working on my motorcycle mildly therapeutic when I'm not cursing.

              Comment


                #52
                13. Rectifying an Electrical Problem in Italy - 13

                Because it is such a popular destination (it is the route to the UK), Calais is signposted from a greater distance away than you would expect for a city of it’s size. This lulls you into a false sense that you are nearer to your destination than you actually are. So despite seeing the signs, I never seemed to arrive. This problem was further aggravated by that fact that when I did arrived at Calais, I had forgotten that I still had a little way to drive to go past it and get to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Sangatte. I know its not far but by now I had had enough. The last hour was pretty much the most tiring of the trip. It was dark, I was hungry, I wanted to get home and it seemed like this hour lasted for days.

                I finally arrived. My check in was flawless and I virtually rolled straight onto the train. I was pleased about this as there are no facilities here for a weary motorcyclist to take shelter, have a bathroom break or get a bite. Once you are lined up to get on your train you are trapped. Not even a place to sit. And the same goes when you get on the train. If you want to sit down you have to do it on the floor. But the great advantage over the ferries is that the train gets you home quicker. By now I was calculating that I could be back home at the latest by 10:00 pm. Thankfully I only live 25 minutes from the Port of Dover in the UK and 35 minutes from the Channel Tunnel terminal, so once you are on the boat or the train, you know you are pretty much home.



                They always hold the bikes back when boarding the train, so that they all load together. There were 3 of us on this train and it was nice to finally have the opportunity to speak to someone in English and that had been travelling in Europe on a bike like me.

                There was one guy and his wife on a well kitted out Gold Wing, who had travelled 700 miles to get the train that night. And the other guy on a beat up Bandit had done 4,000 miles in the last 4 weeks. Made my little trip seem trivial by comparison.



                The Gold Wing was complete with lounge type seating, heated everythings and 3 Satnavs. One for the passenger on a moveable stalk, who would plot the routes as they travelled and 2 on the bars (the displays set at different degrees of enlargement) for the driver to navigate the roads ahead. It had more screens and buttons on it than the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. There was even a display to give a running read out of tyre pressures which was somehow wirelessly linked to pressure sensing air valve caps. The owner described how necessary this was as the bike was so heavy and traveling at speeds would cause the tyre pressures to nearly double in number, so he had to be careful not to over stress them. He had just given me another thing to worry about. What would my tyre pressures be like when I was doing 85 mph on those hot Italian roads? What would have happened if one of them had exploded? Now I could understand why flats were sometimes called blow outs. Perhaps I needed to get a tyre pressure readout system? Perhaps not.

                The other guy was an oil rig worker who was on his months shore leave. He had bought a beat up old Suzuki Bandit for a few hundred pounds the week before he left and set off to visit friends in Norway (in the oil business) and other friends in Italy. Thus he racked up 4,000 miles in a four week period with an unknown bike and with just a back pack strapped on his seat. I never had time to recount any of my adventures (the train only takes 30 minutes to reach the UK), which were, by comparison to his, of very little drama.

                These 2 bikers certainly brought me back down to earth. I had almost got to the point of believing my own publicity about this trip. That I was an heroic survivor of an epic journey and that without my ingenuity, skill and determination to get home, my trip would have ended in that town square in Italy. Here I was thrown back into the reality that there were plenty of guys out there doing stuff like this with bigger, better, harder and faster stories than my little, what now seemed like, school boy adventure.

                When I rolled off the train in England, I did so with the knowledge that I would be home soon. I had a sense the other guys were still in the midst of their adventures and I’m sure they could see the relief in me that mine was about over. The Gold Wing guy was heading off to Manchester (another 295 miles away) and the Bandit Boy was going back to oil city Aberdeen (another 600 miles away). Both saying they were continuing their journey that night. I offered Bandit Boy a stay over at mine but he had to get back for work! That was impressive. We said our farewells and set off in the dark for our final destinations.

                And 30 minutes later I drove straight into my garage, which was welcomingly open and waiting for me. Bike and rider and new rectifier and battery, safely restored into their rightful place. A lesson well and truly learnt. I should have known.





                THE END.
                Last edited by londonboards; 01-27-2015, 04:32 AM.
                Richard
                sigpic
                GS1150 EF bought Jun 2015
                GS1150 ES bought Mar 2014: ES Makeover Thread AND blog: Go to the Blog
                GS1100 G (2) bought Aug 2013: Road Runner Project Thread AND blog: Go to the Blog
                GS1100 G (1) Dad bought new 1985 (in rebuild) see: Dad's GS1100 G Rebuild AND blog: Go to the Blog
                Previously owned: Suzuki GS750 EF (Canada), Suzuki GS750 (UK)(Avatar circa 1977), Yamaha XT500, Suzuki T500, Honda XL125, Garelli 50
                Join the United Kingdom (UK) Suzuki GS Facebook Group here

                Comment


                  #53
                  Sounds like a damn fine trip to me. A good story.

                  V
                  Gustov
                  80 GS 1100 LT, 83 1100 G "Scruffy"
                  81 GS 1000 G
                  79 GS 850 G
                  81 GS 850 L
                  83 GS 550 ES, 85 GS 550 ES
                  80 GS 550 L
                  86 450 Rebel, 70CL 70, Yamaha TTR125
                  2002 Honda 919
                  2004 Ural Gear up

                  Comment


                    #54
                    I Love Europe...great Euro Trip!


                    Ed
                    GS750TZ V&H/4-1, Progressive Shocks, Rebuilt MC/braided line, Tarozzi Stabilizer[Seq#2312]
                    GS750TZ Parts Bike [Seq#6036]
                    GSX-R750Y (Sold)

                    my opinion shouldn't be taken as gospel or in any way that would lead you to believe otherwise (30Sep2021)

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X