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New 850 Ride. Big Road Trip

  • Thread starter Thread starter RobertGS
  • Start date Start date
I almost forgot to mention a super important tool, a tube of gasket maker. Something that is high heat, oil resistant. If it is useable quickly that's a bonus. After loosing a valve cover gasket in Montana a couple of years ago I never travel without one now. I use a product called "therightstuff", the black stuff. Did 4000kms after that blow out and it held perfectly.
 
Great thanks earlfor and azr for the additions. I'll put together the final list of suggestions in one place and post.

Have the sylvania. silverstar h4 spare bulb, got a headlamp flashlight and a small powerful led lantern for setting up camp in the dark. Need to find my "net" bungee, found that useful for wrapping the pile of gear I'm likely to have behind me (tent, sleeping bag, tarp and such).
 
I put my tent, sleeping bag and tarp into a wet bag I picked up at the local outdoor shop.

IMG_3695_1382x1037.jpg


it can also come in handy to help support this

IMG_3241_1382x1037.jpg
 
850 Combat said:
That '79 didn't come with a Halogen headlight. I would make sure about that too.
Click to expand...

That's one of the few things that hasn't been upgraded yet. There is no H4 headlight in there yet. It's a very good point, don't plan on doing any night riding till you get an H4 in there :D
 
Ok thanks,

Have a new H4 so I'll put it in there if the PO hasn't done that already. I remember coming down out of the mountains into Vancouver at night, in hard rain with a big truck behind me and couldn't see squat with the headlight.

I"m convinced.
 
Almost time

Almost time

Bags are packed! I'm flying out to Victoria Friday, picking the new to me 850 up Saturday. Thanks to Trevor for welcoming me to Victoria and making sure I don't get lost after arriving, looking forward to checking out his rides and having a beer. And to AZR for putting me on to this bike in the first place and going to the trouble of heading out to the bike and installing a luggage rack for me.

Saturday will be a "get the bike sorted with a permit and loaded up, windscreen on". Then my buddy who rides and lives in Vancouver head out for a bit of ride on the island, ending up in Vancouver Saturday night.
After that it's 7 days of riding ending up in Toronto, the first 5 averaging about 850km (530miles), last two I'm taking it easy, more like 350km (210 miles). I'll camp each evening and have booked some great campsites.

I'll be taking pictures and writing a few notes along the way. I'll only have my phone with no data so any real updates and pictures will have to wait until I get back after the 27th.

It's been 10 years and two kids since I've been on a bike trip like this.

It's gonna be good.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like this trip/purchase is well deserved. Have a great, non eventful trip Robert. Looking forward to the pics when you get home.
 
Well I met Robert.
I picked him up at the airport...looking for a guy with a motorcycle jacket.:p
We came back to my place for some beers and pizza. His buddy showed up with a bottle of wine (thank you Jeff). Just realized Robert left a bag here...oops must have been the alcohol.:D
Great to meet you today Robert!!

robert_zpsaae25a81.jpg
 
So this adventure just got more challenging. The bike is not charging. Made it about 150kms before I found that out. Did q quick test with a new battery installed.

1) battery not connected to bike. 13.2
2) battery connected with bike not running droped to something like 12.5 and with high beam on 12.2
3) running at 2500 rpm about 12.3
4) running at 5000 rpm still about 12.5

We tried following the testing chart and got stumped right away not knowing how to do connect the red multimeter lead to the red output wire of the RR. I see the red wire but don't see a way to obviously clip the lead to it...

Fuses look ok. (I know that doesn't mean they are).

Other interesting information is the low beam headlight is not working and the brake lights are not working.

So for someone entirely not experienced at electrics... and still hoping to start this big trip.... suggestions?

I've got a call into the PO, no response yet.
 
Hi all,
I wanted to say a big thank you to Trevor and his wife for the amazing welcome to Victoria yesterday. It was great to meet him and he went out of his way to pick me up at the airport and we had a great time at his place. Looking forward to being back in August and going for a ride then.

So got a much needed night's sleep and I'm going to see what I can do to zero in on the electrical issue I'm having. I would really appreciate ideas and I know it's a whole bunch to ask, but if anyone is around North Vancouver, (that's where I managed to make it yesterday) I would sure appreciate a hand running through the electrical fault finding chart... Had it towed from the ferry to Lynn Valley area in north van.

Still hoping that within a day or two I can get it sorted and start the trip east.

Thanks guys.
 
Just to see if it's a ground issue run a ground wire from the r/r directly to the negative battery terminal and recheck your readings. Electrics aren't my strong point so I'd be of little help. I just replaced my r/r and got lucky as that was the problem.
 
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