Wilsons Sandbox

> > Friends, > Here a few of my latest riding experiences. > Last week, while I was passing, overtaking, two 18 > wheelers, on a two-lane road, all of a sudden my > engine died. I thought, Oh my! But after a few > confusing seconds, I saw that my ignition key had > flipped backwards. So, I turned it on again, almost > did a wheelie, and got myself out of harm s way. > > My ignition key has two more keys on it, so I keep it > tensioned with a small spring, to avoid rattling, and > a bit of fishing line. I have rerouted this set up, > to avoid repeat performances of this kind of > excitement. > > I still have the sidestand switch, but the neutral > gear switch has long been eliminated, unecessary and > problematic. If the sidestand switch gives me issues, > I think I can just cut the wire? Is that good > thinking? > > Yesterday morning I left my friend s house in the > green hills where I was visiting at daybreak, but less > than one mile down the road the front tire was wholly > flat, same Oh my again. But I carry a wooden prop, so > I can lift up the front wheel just clear off the > ground. It is a piece of half inch by two inch timber > more or less. But it not a safe reliable prop, if it > slips away, the bike without the front wheel will > fall. So I dug out a few pebbles from the side of the > road, one of them must have been about 75 pounds, to > put under the skidplate, as a safe guard. And that > warmed up my circulation, as the mountain air was > pretty cool, perhaps around 19 Centigrade. I must > agree that a motorcycle lift is very nice for old > geezers, and every one in general, because yes indeed, > my back was protesting after about one hour of bending > down. > The Slime (R) that was in the tube did cause me no > problem, since I changed the tube. The valve had been > torn out of the tube, so the Slime did no good. > When I order the parts for the waterpump seals and > gaskets, I plan to order more Slime, for small > punctures it could be good. > > When I drove back from my swimming hole, there were a > few horses by the side of the dirtroad. I said good > morning, but one of the horses snapped at me, and > twisted my rightside rearview mirror. Probably a > overzealous mother. Anyhow, the mirror can stand up > to horsebites better than my arm. > > The bike is using coolant, so I guess it is time to do > a waterpump ovedrhaul? > > Why did the lowering links not work well with my bike, > and others seem to have a good time with them? > Did I abuse the rear suspension too much? Well, I > thought that was the idea of having this thing. > > Enjoy your springtime riding, Jacostarica.