Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
new boots
Got some good used Alpinestar Tech 8 boots. These are not road boots, but really more of an off-road/MX boot. I took a 5 hour ride this last weekend and for the first time riding I felt like my feet and ankles were really well protected.
another day, another fall
(click to view larger image)
There are a few new scratches on my bike after another offroad fall last week. The tank, handguard and valve cover took a beating this time. In addition, I snapped the clutch lever and beat up my left Jesse sidecase.
The old Salt Ponds in Key West have some nice coral and dirt mounds that make an excellent practice riding area. They are steep and bowl shaped, so you can ride up the side and turn down, going as high as you are comfortable. There is a 2" to 3' wide area at the top, then the mound slopes down the other side. After riding there many times, I thought I might be able to ride my bike up onto the ridge and stop. I stopped by after work last week, not planning to try to top out, but I foolishly decided to give it a go.
(click to view larger image)
In the photo above, you can see my tracks on the right, where I enter the "bowl." The red dot is where I was aiming for to crest the top and either stop or turn down and ride out. I have made endless runs along the ridge but have never completely come out at the top. I decided to give it a try and when I reached the top I was unprepared, lost my balance and came tumbling down. The bike fell sideways and slid about half way down the slope and I stepped off and ran out the rest of the hill to the bottom. I was fine, but the bike was not.
(click to view larger image)
Here is the side view, showing the slope and the point at which the bike began its long and painful slide. It took me about a half hour to get the bike down and back up on its wheels, grinding along the rocks the whole way. Riding home was difficult, as I had to get it in first using the stub of the clutch lever, then try not to have to shift or stop until I got home.
Deep scratches and a small dent in the tank, deep scratches in the valve cover, broken spark plug cover, broken clutch lever, broken but serviceable left hand guard and a dented and scratched sidecase were the casualties of the day. Along with my dignity. I know better than to not go home straight after school...and now, according to my wife, I am grounded.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
the $1529.00 water hole
So...went riding off Card Sound Road 2 weeks ago over some muddy roads and back trails with John Baltzell.
Heading up a road that was covered with puddles, most covering the entire width of the road. After going through many many puddles that were 4" to 8" deep, I entered a puddle that dropped off to about 2' to 3' deep. The front of my bike dropped out from under me and suddenly felt the water around my knees. I gunned the engine, the front wheel started to come up but I hit a ridge on the far side of the puddle which lurched the bike to the right and down I went. I hopped up, turned the bike off as quickly as possible and muscled the bike back upright. Water was just over the cylinders at this point.
John, who was behind me on the road, stopped, took a picture and came over to help me get the bike up and out of the puddle. I put the bike on the centerstand and regrouped. At this point, I decided to try and start the bike. Hit the starter and, amazingly, the bike started up! We both cheered and made comments something like "now that's BMW engineering for you" as the bike idled happily.
For a few seconds...then the bike just died and that was the last time the bike ran for several days.
We were stranded quite a ways from anywhere. We did all the basics. Took out the air filter (wet and dirty), took out the plugs, checked the oil (water in the engine) and tried everything to get the bike started. In retrospect, we tried almost everything. It wasn't until later that we checked for spark and fuel. It turned out there was none. No fuel or spark were getting to the engine, but for whatever reason we didn't check that, probably because the bike had started after it emerged from the water hole.
We made a few attempts to restart, but were getting hydro lock in the engine, which made a pretty bad sound. With the plugs out, the bike turned over fine, but under compression, it just made a horrific noise and locked up. During this time, a guy rode by on his ATV and checked with us to see if we were okay. We told him the story and he said he would be back by and check on us. On his last trip by, we were ready for some help. He offered to tow me out, then load the bike up on his trailer and take us to the nearest gas station in Florida City. His name was Mitch.
Mitch is one of the good guys. He came back to help us. He towed me out. He loaded my bike on his trailer and took me to civilization. He would take no money. He simply said "there need to be more people like me." Mitch is exactly the kind of guy you want to meet when stranded in the back country.
He towed my out with a strap looped around my front forks and to the back of the ATV. When we got to Florida City, I drained the oil, put in new oil and tried starting again. Nothing except a really bad noise. At this point we finally checked the fuel injectors and the electrics...no spark and no fuel. A huge storm was on top of us and it was clear that my bike was going nowhere.
I moved the bike from the station to the Denny's next door and called my wife to come get me. A phone call I do not want to have to repeat. She was at home, on her day off and 120 miles down the Keys. On Memorial Day weekend. She was a complete Angel and dropped everything she was doing to come get me. I am forever in debt, again.
Sat at Denny's for the next 4 hours or so, secured the bike in the parking lot and headed back to Key West. As if that wasn't enough, I got a speeding ticket in Marathon.
On Tuesday, I had the bike towed to 441 Cycles in Ft. Lauderdale. By Thursday they had diagnosed the main problem, which was that the water killed an already old Hall Sensor. And in the course of trying to start the bike with the plugs in and the hydro lock in the cylinders, I had managed to break the casing on the old starter. So a new sensor, new starter and all new fluids and I was good to go.
On Saturday, I took a cab to the Key West Airport, rented a car, drove to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, took a cab to 441 Cycle and picked up the bike. I headed off into a major thunderstorm and made for home. Just about 12 hours after I left Key West, I was back home with my bike.
Let's break this down:
Towing: $232.00
Cab to KW Airport: $11
Rental Car: $45.00
Cab to 441 Cycle: $25.00
Bill at 441: $1100.00
Speeding ticket: $116.00
Total: $1529.00. That's an expensive puddle.
Heading up a road that was covered with puddles, most covering the entire width of the road. After going through many many puddles that were 4" to 8" deep, I entered a puddle that dropped off to about 2' to 3' deep. The front of my bike dropped out from under me and suddenly felt the water around my knees. I gunned the engine, the front wheel started to come up but I hit a ridge on the far side of the puddle which lurched the bike to the right and down I went. I hopped up, turned the bike off as quickly as possible and muscled the bike back upright. Water was just over the cylinders at this point.
John, who was behind me on the road, stopped, took a picture and came over to help me get the bike up and out of the puddle. I put the bike on the centerstand and regrouped. At this point, I decided to try and start the bike. Hit the starter and, amazingly, the bike started up! We both cheered and made comments something like "now that's BMW engineering for you" as the bike idled happily.
For a few seconds...then the bike just died and that was the last time the bike ran for several days.
We were stranded quite a ways from anywhere. We did all the basics. Took out the air filter (wet and dirty), took out the plugs, checked the oil (water in the engine) and tried everything to get the bike started. In retrospect, we tried almost everything. It wasn't until later that we checked for spark and fuel. It turned out there was none. No fuel or spark were getting to the engine, but for whatever reason we didn't check that, probably because the bike had started after it emerged from the water hole.
We made a few attempts to restart, but were getting hydro lock in the engine, which made a pretty bad sound. With the plugs out, the bike turned over fine, but under compression, it just made a horrific noise and locked up. During this time, a guy rode by on his ATV and checked with us to see if we were okay. We told him the story and he said he would be back by and check on us. On his last trip by, we were ready for some help. He offered to tow me out, then load the bike up on his trailer and take us to the nearest gas station in Florida City. His name was Mitch.
Mitch is one of the good guys. He came back to help us. He towed me out. He loaded my bike on his trailer and took me to civilization. He would take no money. He simply said "there need to be more people like me." Mitch is exactly the kind of guy you want to meet when stranded in the back country.
He towed my out with a strap looped around my front forks and to the back of the ATV. When we got to Florida City, I drained the oil, put in new oil and tried starting again. Nothing except a really bad noise. At this point we finally checked the fuel injectors and the electrics...no spark and no fuel. A huge storm was on top of us and it was clear that my bike was going nowhere.
I moved the bike from the station to the Denny's next door and called my wife to come get me. A phone call I do not want to have to repeat. She was at home, on her day off and 120 miles down the Keys. On Memorial Day weekend. She was a complete Angel and dropped everything she was doing to come get me. I am forever in debt, again.
Sat at Denny's for the next 4 hours or so, secured the bike in the parking lot and headed back to Key West. As if that wasn't enough, I got a speeding ticket in Marathon.
On Tuesday, I had the bike towed to 441 Cycles in Ft. Lauderdale. By Thursday they had diagnosed the main problem, which was that the water killed an already old Hall Sensor. And in the course of trying to start the bike with the plugs in and the hydro lock in the cylinders, I had managed to break the casing on the old starter. So a new sensor, new starter and all new fluids and I was good to go.
On Saturday, I took a cab to the Key West Airport, rented a car, drove to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, took a cab to 441 Cycle and picked up the bike. I headed off into a major thunderstorm and made for home. Just about 12 hours after I left Key West, I was back home with my bike.
Let's break this down:
Towing: $232.00
Cab to KW Airport: $11
Rental Car: $45.00
Cab to 441 Cycle: $25.00
Bill at 441: $1100.00
Speeding ticket: $116.00
Total: $1529.00. That's an expensive puddle.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
mileage check
4157 miles
Just over 3 months, 97 days total, average of 44 miles a day.
Just over 3 months, 97 days total, average of 44 miles a day.
Sent from iPhone • 305.304.7804
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
1st service @ 4000 miles
Saturday was the big first maintenance day. 4000 miles on the bike and time for some work. I got the complete 12/24k Super Maintenance Package from Beemer Boneyard:
Mann air and fuel filter
NGK BKR7EKC-N spark plugs
New alternator belt
Bosch oil filter
5 quarts of Liqui-Moly Racing 4-T Synth 10w-50 engine oil
1500ml of Liqui-Moly 75W90 Synthetic Racing gear oil
O rings, and fuel line clamps, new Viton O rings for the fuel line quick disconnects and crush washers for final drive and transmission.
With this in hand, some $150.00 worth of consumables, I took off the crash bars, sump guard, seats and tank. Did the valves, added the fluids, changed out the filters and put it all back together.
The process was a comedy of errors most of the way through. I can't begin to explain the chaos I went through with taking the tank off. Gas everywhere, tank almost falling, banging things, crimping wires, etc. However, at the end of the day I felt like I knew 500% more about my bike than I did at the beginning. A very rewarding experience.
Some details: oil from the tranny and final drive looked good, better than it could have. A slight muddy appearance, possibly from water. I haven't changed out gear oil before, so I don't know what to expect. They both have magnetic drain plugs and there was very little clinging to the bolts, so that is another good sign.
Next step, redo the wiring and possibly move the fuel filter out of the tank and to a more accessible spot.
Mann air and fuel filter
NGK BKR7EKC-N spark plugs
New alternator belt
Bosch oil filter
5 quarts of Liqui-Moly Racing 4-T Synth 10w-50 engine oil
1500ml of Liqui-Moly 75W90 Synthetic Racing gear oil
O rings, and fuel line clamps, new Viton O rings for the fuel line quick disconnects and crush washers for final drive and transmission.
With this in hand, some $150.00 worth of consumables, I took off the crash bars, sump guard, seats and tank. Did the valves, added the fluids, changed out the filters and put it all back together.
The process was a comedy of errors most of the way through. I can't begin to explain the chaos I went through with taking the tank off. Gas everywhere, tank almost falling, banging things, crimping wires, etc. However, at the end of the day I felt like I knew 500% more about my bike than I did at the beginning. A very rewarding experience.
Some details: oil from the tranny and final drive looked good, better than it could have. A slight muddy appearance, possibly from water. I haven't changed out gear oil before, so I don't know what to expect. They both have magnetic drain plugs and there was very little clinging to the bolts, so that is another good sign.
Next step, redo the wiring and possibly move the fuel filter out of the tank and to a more accessible spot.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Mileage milestone
105,502. That's just over 3000 miles since February 17, and almost exactly 1000 miles a month.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
first time down
Sugarloaf Key backroads trail riding
End of the trail...time to turn around and explore some of those side trails I saw on the way in. They looked muddy, but I should be fine.
Here's where I was. Where the water cuts across the trail is where the photo above was taken.
I found some great trails, winding through the underbrush, ducking low-hanging trees, really learning to throw the bike around in the ruts....and here is the result. I found the limit of mud, a 500lb. bike and my street/trail combo tires.
After pausing to take the pictures like a proud father with a newborn baby, I spent the next several minutes struggling to get the beast up again. I then promptly spun the back wheel deeper into the mud trying to get out. Mental note to check on knobbier tires when I get home.
I am so proud. Mud on the bike.
10 minutes later I was back on my way. Only damage: a missing PIAA light guard. I will have to go back and look for that...
Home ... safe, sound and washed.
End of the trail...time to turn around and explore some of those side trails I saw on the way in. They looked muddy, but I should be fine.
Here's where I was. Where the water cuts across the trail is where the photo above was taken.
I found some great trails, winding through the underbrush, ducking low-hanging trees, really learning to throw the bike around in the ruts....and here is the result. I found the limit of mud, a 500lb. bike and my street/trail combo tires.
After pausing to take the pictures like a proud father with a newborn baby, I spent the next several minutes struggling to get the beast up again. I then promptly spun the back wheel deeper into the mud trying to get out. Mental note to check on knobbier tires when I get home.
I am so proud. Mud on the bike.
10 minutes later I was back on my way. Only damage: a missing PIAA light guard. I will have to go back and look for that...
Home ... safe, sound and washed.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
old and older
1982 R100 in the background and the GS in the front. The R100 is the bike I sold to get the GS. An amazing bike that I am sorry to see go.
My friend Theo Glorie has it now. He started with a red paperclip and traded his way up to get the bike. Yes, seriously. You can read the full story here. Things like rubber balls, necklaces, fountains and even a coin from the shipwreck Atocha passed through his hands on the way to the R100.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Gas Milage
Last tank got 220 miles from about 6 gallons, or about 37 mpg. Should be better. I will be adjusting the valves soon and maybe that will make a difference. 90% of the mileage was on the highway, which helped a lot. It drops quite a bit around town.
Gas gauge was down to 0-1 bars, and the fuel light was on. It is an 8 gallon tank and it took 6 gallons, so conceivably there were 2 gallons left in the tank. BMW says that the light will come on with 1.1 gallons left in the tank. Everyone else says that the tank has two lobes that hang down on either side of the frame and that fuel is only taken from the right side, so that you have extra fuel in the left lobe that you can't get to. (Unless you lean the bike way over to the right.)
I don't yet know how low I can go before I sputter to a stop. I am sure I will find out.
Gas gauge was down to 0-1 bars, and the fuel light was on. It is an 8 gallon tank and it took 6 gallons, so conceivably there were 2 gallons left in the tank. BMW says that the light will come on with 1.1 gallons left in the tank. Everyone else says that the tank has two lobes that hang down on either side of the frame and that fuel is only taken from the right side, so that you have extra fuel in the left lobe that you can't get to. (Unless you lean the bike way over to the right.)
I don't yet know how low I can go before I sputter to a stop. I am sure I will find out.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
1787 miles
1,787 miles on the bike since Feb. 17th, 33 days.
Added 2/3rd of a quart of Mobil 1 High Milage 10w-40 today. There is a small leak coming from what looks like the seam between the case and the transmission and I am sure the engine, with 104,287 miles on it is burning a bit of oil. The leak is so slight that it dirties the case with residue, but doesn't leak enough to drip at all.
Still need to fix it. I don't like leaks, no matter how small. I had a chance meeting with Fred and his wife, owners of 441 Cycle, a BMW shop up in Ft. Lauderdale. Very nice people and I will be taking my bike there for service in the future.
Added 2/3rd of a quart of Mobil 1 High Milage 10w-40 today. There is a small leak coming from what looks like the seam between the case and the transmission and I am sure the engine, with 104,287 miles on it is burning a bit of oil. The leak is so slight that it dirties the case with residue, but doesn't leak enough to drip at all.
Still need to fix it. I don't like leaks, no matter how small. I had a chance meeting with Fred and his wife, owners of 441 Cycle, a BMW shop up in Ft. Lauderdale. Very nice people and I will be taking my bike there for service in the future.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
...bikes that could survive the apocalypse
Just found this posted on ADVRider:
Excerpted from "The Horse Back Street Choppers" magazine:
"I had gone over 50 miles and my fuel was running short. In front of me I saw a bike going a little faster then I was. I was keeping my speed down to try and squeak a few more miles out of my tank. The bike was steadily gaining distance and my hope of bummin' some fuel off him disappeared as he crested the horizon about a mile ahead of me. I was officially screwed.
I crested a hill and the smell of sulfur hit me like nothing I have ever had the dishonor of experiencing. There at the side of the road was the bike, a fully geared BMW, with its owner taking a photo of the stink ass lake! The guy was from Sweden and didn’t speak shit for English. Through some creative sign language I was able to convey I was out of gas.
Now you can make fun of anybody on any kind of a bike, but NEVER make fun of one of those BMW guys! They ride alone for thousands of miles on bikes that could survive the apocalypse and have everything that they will need for any catastrophe, including extra fuel! This guy was strapped with ten gallons of high test in small jugs all over his bike and he was more then happy to share. A goddam lifesaver this guy was and in the middle of hell on top of it! I finally made it to a town some 50 miles away and filled this guy up with gas, a total of 12 gallons of it!”
Excerpted from "The Horse Back Street Choppers" magazine:
"I had gone over 50 miles and my fuel was running short. In front of me I saw a bike going a little faster then I was. I was keeping my speed down to try and squeak a few more miles out of my tank. The bike was steadily gaining distance and my hope of bummin' some fuel off him disappeared as he crested the horizon about a mile ahead of me. I was officially screwed.
I crested a hill and the smell of sulfur hit me like nothing I have ever had the dishonor of experiencing. There at the side of the road was the bike, a fully geared BMW, with its owner taking a photo of the stink ass lake! The guy was from Sweden and didn’t speak shit for English. Through some creative sign language I was able to convey I was out of gas.
Now you can make fun of anybody on any kind of a bike, but NEVER make fun of one of those BMW guys! They ride alone for thousands of miles on bikes that could survive the apocalypse and have everything that they will need for any catastrophe, including extra fuel! This guy was strapped with ten gallons of high test in small jugs all over his bike and he was more then happy to share. A goddam lifesaver this guy was and in the middle of hell on top of it! I finally made it to a town some 50 miles away and filled this guy up with gas, a total of 12 gallons of it!”
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