Pineville, Mo

Randy and I stopped at Pineville, MO to take a quick break. We asked the lady working in the store how the country road was east of town and the lady said it was fine. This was a road we tried to ride down last year, but found it was impassible then because of high spring water.

-- Photo and original text sent from cell phone, edited later.

Leaving Trent and Shary's in KC

Jim's son Trent and his wife Sheri put Randy and I up with Jim and Stan Wednesday night. Its nice to be able to roll in their garage and just leave the bikes. This is a photo of Stan and Randy waiting for Jim and me the next morning on the street below their steep driveway.

Photo - Stan and Randy waiting for Jim and I.

-- Photo and original text sent from cell phone, edited later.

Disappointments with parts and service

I have been trying to support local companies by buying parts and services locally when I can. This seems to often be an uphill battle and is often discouraging when it comes to motorcycles. I'm starting to think Internet shopping sites are not only generally much less expensive, but many cases they do a better job and provide a higher level of service.

A couple weeks ago I had the radiator off L's Shadow. There is a widely discussed shop on the net which is a highly regarded which specializes in aluminum motorcycle radiator repairs. The shop ussually charges $35 + shipping for most repairs. A friend had used and recommended a radiator shop in South Sioux City, NE last year after they pulled him out of bind and fixed his son's Honda radiator. So I took over to that shop and they said they would run pressure tests for me for no charge and if it needed repair they would try to fix it. I went back the next day and they told me it didn't leak, but they had gone ahead and cleaned it for me (not discussed or needed). With 2 clamps (the clamps did not fit btw) the total cost was about $20. The first problem I noticed was that they had scraped a lot of paint off and bent a lot of the fins on the back side of the radiator. I wasn't very happy about the damage, but since the same may have happened had I sent it in the mail, I decided to avoid conflict give them a pass on this. So a couple days later I put it back on the bike, replacing the thermostat, and finished flushing the entire cooling system on the bike. No sooner than I had everything back together, I noticed that radiator was leaking slowly, just as before. After pulling the plastic radiator guard off, I was quickly able to find the leak with a bright flash light. It was near a mounting stud at the bottom. I ended up taking it to a different radiator shop locally (in Sioux City proper) and they listened to me, did a great repair, and repainted the areas the other shop had beat the paint up. Their cost was $40 even. Total cost now $60 and a slightly beat up radiator. By the time I got the radiator back on, I had lost another week to work on the other bikes.

The next week, after some discussion, I ordered 2 wind screens (for VFR and GS) and a air filter for my V-Strom. The dealer convinced me to buy a paper filter, after telling me they were better and that the K&N was $83. I had been reading about this discussion on the web and there seemed to be a lot of different opinions on paper vs. reusable filters. After a few days both the big ticket items, the wind screens came in. After about 12 days I finally asked where the air filter was and the person working the parts counter could not find the order. So I asked them to cancel the order if they ever found it, and went bought a reusable K&N filter on the web (I ended up paying $48.30 with discounts and free shipping). The non-reusable paper filter was approx. $46 with tax locally. The correct K&N filter arrived 2 days later in the mail and I was happy. This process threw me back another week on getting the V-Strom ready.

Finally, last week after changing the rear tire on my V-Strom I found that the rear pads on it were nearly gone. The next day I dropped by yet another local dealer to buy some new pads. They looked up the part number and sold me what they said I needed for $43 + change. Over the weekend I tore the brake apart and noticed the old pads looked nothing like the new purchased replacement pads. So today over lunch I returned the pads and ordered a set from SW Moto Tires for $29.95 with free shipping. The Strom is still on the paddock stand and I have managed to drag it to the side of the garage so I could work on the GS.

The worse part of all these trials is all the wasted time working on the bikes and running around town. The whole process is taking too long and I don't seem to be making much progress on my spring repairs.

To top everything off, my K1200RS chewed up the engine output shaft about 10 days ago within 14K of my second clutch replacement (hadn't shifted right since the repairs). Part of that clutch repair service should have included inspection and lubrication of that output shaft. The service cost to get to the clutch plates is over $600. Frustration! Maybe I should sell the bikes and build radio controlled airplanes like Ryan.

Pierlucio Tinazzi - March 24, 1999

Pierlucio Tinazzi was a motorcyclist. He was an simple, everyday man living an average life and he enjoyed riding his BMW K75 motorcycle. On March 24, 1999, when a disaster availed itself and others stopped in their tracks, Pierlucio Tinazzi heroically rode his motorcycle again and again into a blaze. He saved ten people and then perished while trying to save the eleventh. March 24th should be declared Pierlucio Tinazzi Day, a day to ride your bike in Pierlucio's honor. The story here.

Shade Tree Mechanic

A shade tree mechanic is flying a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"

The man below says, "Yes, you're in a hot air balloon, hovering 30 feet above this field. "

"You must be an engineer", says the shade tree mechanic.

"I am", replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well", says the shade tree mechanic, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but it's of no use to anyone."

The man below says, "You must be a shade tree mechanic ."

"I am", replies the shade tree mechanic, "but how did you know?"

"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's my fault. "

New R1200RT

I got an email from Bak BMW telling me they have a new R1200RT in and on the floor. Not sure what all has changed, except the 2010's have newer version of the R1200 engine which borrowed some of the technology from the HP2 engine (namely a new dual overhead cam). The new RT's are suppose to be smoother across all RPMs with a smidge more power, higher RPM (necessary?) and better power torque. Hopefully there is a little less maintenance. A wet clutch like the newer K1200/K1300 series would have been a better improvement. I'm not too excited about it... but maybe if I can ride it at the open house on March 27th.

Bak has free pancakes again this weekend (March 13th).

http://2wheeltuesday.com/2009/11/introducing-the-2010-bmw-r-1200-rt-with-new-double-cams/

New BMW Motorcycle Dealer In Iowa

I heard a rumor a couple weeks ago that there was a new BMW Motorcycle Dealer in Central Iowa. This morning I found them on the Web. Looks kind of interesting as they carry a lot of brands, including Honda and have quite a few locations. I'm sending out some feelers to the BMW riders in that area trying to get more information. Looks like the have BMW bikes currently on showroom floor in Perry (between Des Moines and Ames) and they are building a new BMW shop in Des Moines.

VanWall Powersports

Welcome to the new dealership!!

Wish List

With Birthday and Holiday Season coming up, I'm putting together a wish list here. Just some ideas.

Wee-Strom fork brace - I keep flip-flopping on which bike to sell, maybe I should just sell the Adventure, hehe. There are so many more cool things for the Wee.
Bumper Sticker - inexpensive.

Riding a motorcycle makes you smarter?

This is a very interesting article. Motorcycling forces me into a higher degree of alertness, and it forces me to use a lot of different motor skills while simultaneously focusing on all those cage drivers on cell phones who seem to be unconsciously trying kill me. Strangely as well, while riding our reasonably straight midwestern highways, I seem to relax and also think about an incredible amount of topics and solutions to problems which are totally unrelated to the dangers of motorcycling.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/03/scientific-study-motorcycles-m.html

MSF Preception Tests

This is kind of a fun Flash website. Test your sign perception and accident avoidance skills.

http://www.msf-usa.org/riderperception/

Saturday and Sunday

Saturday Leta and I road from Bozeman, MT Holiday Inn through the Gardiner, MT and the North Entrance of Yellowstone Park. We didn't get to use our new annual National Park Pass because the Park Service was having a free weekend for the public. I was a little disappointed after spending $80 on an annual pass.

Leta did some shopping at the Park's General Store at Mammoth Springs, sat and watched people and an elk for a while. We then took the northern road 47 miles across the park, getting to see some areas which were inaccessible to us when we last visited due to road closures. Near the North East gate of the park we saw a lot (hundreds if not thousands of buffalo), a black bear near the road, and a lot of fly fishermen.

North Gate - Yellowstone near Gardiner, MT

After leaving the park, we road 4 miles of mostly gravel (due to road construction) to Cooke City. Leta road the gravel like a champ. Someone back in the park told us that all the hotel rooms at Red Lodge were full due to "The Rodeo". We had originally planned to stop in Red Lodge, eat at the Red Lodge Cafe, and get a room there, but figured from what we heard that the town was full of rodeo cowboys and fans. When we got to Cooke City we were found that "The Rodeo" was actually a huge Harley Rally everyone but us knows about. There were literally motorcycles everywhere.

Cooke City, MT

From Cooke City we road Bear Tooth pass, which something we had missed when we were at the Red Lodge/Beartooth BMW Rally a couple years ago with Shannon. It was definitely worth the wait and we both enjoyed the road thoroughly, but should have stopped for more photo ops. My GPS showed me that we got up to 10,992 ft before heading back down the pass. The many switchbacks and huge vista were awesome, but I had to stay pretty focused on the road. We were easily able to deal with the patches of gravel from road construction on the higher parts of the pass.

Leta and her Honda on Beartooth Pass - Chief Joseph Highway in the background.

Leta got some great photos from the Rally at Red Lodge. We did some shopping and relaxed until 11 PM. From there I got to try to new HID light setup and man did it work well. We got to our hotel in Billings (Billings Hotel and Convention Center) about midnight after booking the room on Priceline from Red Lodge. Leta fell a sleep shortly after midnight, but I was too excited from the pass and Red Lodge and couldn't sleep until 3 or 4 AM.

Red Lodge Cafe - Where we ate with Shanon's friends
a couple years ago when last here.

Good Bye Glacier National Park, Hello Yellowstone and Chief Joseph Highway

Y

Yesterday morning we split up from Dave, Sharron, Sonya and Jane after breakfast at the Johnson Cafe near St. Mary, East gate of Glacier National Park. Leta and I bought some stickers and then headed out. We got a few last photos.

Glacier National Park is awesome and some thing every American should see it at least once.

After the park we rode down to Helena, MT. I think we found some of the worse drivers in Montana there. People drive like they are in New York, running red lights, driving either really fast (at 70 mph on the back roads, 80 seems kind of fast), cutting each other off, except there is no reason to do so. It was pretty crazy and we felt a lot safer once we got out of there.

We got to Bozeman, Price-lined the Holiday Inn for $50 and had a nice meal at Johnny Carino's . It was a pretty decent day, just wish it would have been a little cooler.

We are shooting for Yellow Stone NP and Chief Joseph Highway today. Stopping at either Red Lodge or Billings tonight.

Glacier KOA West

Got a cabin for six at KOA St. Marys, near east gate of Glacier Natl. Park Thursday night. Maybe Yellowstone today.

Starting 09 Vacation

Left Friday after work. Trailered across South Dakota. Could not find Hotel, no vacancy. Slept in rest area for 4 hours past Murdo, SD.

New Bak BMW Commercial is a Hoot!!

I was down at the shop yesterday and Dave Bak showed me the new commercial they are going to run. Its a hoot.