Going into hibernation ... :(
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:44 am
Being in central NY, our riding season is somewhat limited unless you have knobbies and a dual sport. It's been raining the past three weeks, and getting steadily colder - if it breaks past 60ºF it's "nice out" ; except it's still raining.
Anyway, the Monster is back on the road, and just in time. So it's time for the Paso to go under the knife and give those sneakers a break. Just in time too; I got around 10k on the Michelins and the rear tire shows it. I know I rode it past the safe zone but since the Monster was still getting its wrinkles ironed out - I just took it easy. No threads showing or anything, but it was getting pretty bare back there. I was fine as long as I stayed on the sidewalls - still had some tread left there! But I didn't want to shell out for a new pair of sneakers only to have her sit idle on them - come the next season, she'll be fine + dandy.
So between now & then ... it's valve service time, and Martin Brickwood's collets are going in, in place of the stock half-rings. I installed these in the Monster and love them. They supposed allow you to stretch out the valve check interval to 18k, but I still check every 6k. Doesn't hurt. They work great though. New belts too, of course. And finally going to get down and implement the wiring upgrades and put jslocum's awesome "how to tune your weber" write-up to task. Unless I can find a decent set of Mikuni's in the meantime, but still - with a couple Webers in the garage, this is a mod I can do mostly from my living room. Wish I could do everything else from the living room too, but that would probably mean I'd have to sleep in the garage.
So, after another great summer turning mile after mile (not that I saw it on the odometer - having busted speedo cable #3 while down at Mid-Ohio) it is with some tightening of the chest that pull the key out of old Blue for the last time this year. But I'm really looking forward to next riding season, with a fresh set of internals and a new pair of sneakers to scrub in. At least I can wax the bodywork in the house over winter, too ...
Who else has winter projects and whatcha doin'?
Anyway, the Monster is back on the road, and just in time. So it's time for the Paso to go under the knife and give those sneakers a break. Just in time too; I got around 10k on the Michelins and the rear tire shows it. I know I rode it past the safe zone but since the Monster was still getting its wrinkles ironed out - I just took it easy. No threads showing or anything, but it was getting pretty bare back there. I was fine as long as I stayed on the sidewalls - still had some tread left there! But I didn't want to shell out for a new pair of sneakers only to have her sit idle on them - come the next season, she'll be fine + dandy.
So between now & then ... it's valve service time, and Martin Brickwood's collets are going in, in place of the stock half-rings. I installed these in the Monster and love them. They supposed allow you to stretch out the valve check interval to 18k, but I still check every 6k. Doesn't hurt. They work great though. New belts too, of course. And finally going to get down and implement the wiring upgrades and put jslocum's awesome "how to tune your weber" write-up to task. Unless I can find a decent set of Mikuni's in the meantime, but still - with a couple Webers in the garage, this is a mod I can do mostly from my living room. Wish I could do everything else from the living room too, but that would probably mean I'd have to sleep in the garage.
So, after another great summer turning mile after mile (not that I saw it on the odometer - having busted speedo cable #3 while down at Mid-Ohio) it is with some tightening of the chest that pull the key out of old Blue for the last time this year. But I'm really looking forward to next riding season, with a fresh set of internals and a new pair of sneakers to scrub in. At least I can wax the bodywork in the house over winter, too ...
Who else has winter projects and whatcha doin'?