How Much More Can I Put On It?

Well the Boulevard is all snuggled up in the shed but I find myself, on a daily basis, still researching various things that are motorcycle related. I'll probably be surprised when I start to wrap Christmas presents how many of them have to do with motorcycling. I think I went a little overboard this year.

I guess I never really got the idea about not overloading a bike with too much stuff or "farkels". Saddlebags, tank bag, clock, grip heaters and then all that stuff that goes into the bags. Communications and all the little things that go with it too- mp3 player, dongle, cell phone. Then there's the gear- heavier textile jacket for spring and fall with a zip out liner for when it gets warmer. Then a mesh jacket for those 90+ degree days, but it has a liner for when the sun goes down and it gets cool. Then there's the 4 pairs of various weights of gloves. An extra thermal shirt packed away, extra socks, maybe a light-weight fleece if I want to leave my jacket with the bike while strolling. The list, freighteningly enough, goes on.

Surrounding myself with comfort is my way of taking away a little of the apprehension of riding I still have. Even though I've had my license for several years I didn't actually put solid miles on a bike, while piloting, until this year. Having background music and being able to talk to Blaise while riding seems to keep me calmer. On a few rides this year Blaise got ahead of me (I told him to have a blast on the twisties) and I wasn't nearly as nervous to be out there alone. I ride my own ride and I am definitely getting more comfortable with it.

But sometimes I ask myself how much is too much to take on the bike- to the point of thinking "I could have just taken the car". Ah, but the point is the ride. And if I can ride in comfort then I ride with less anxiety but not with any less attention to all that needs attention on the road when you are a cycle rider.

So I won't chastize myself too much for perusing tool bags to hang on the Boulevard's front end, or a cool matching thermometer to go next to my clock. I know where this need comes from and I'm conquering it- one ride at a time.

Necessity = Modifications by the Husband

In case I haven't mentioned it here on this blog, Blaise is quite the mechanic. He has a nice set up in the garage and has accumulated a variety of tools. But the one thing he has is a true knack for modifications and fabrications of all kinds.

I recently decided that I needed grip heaters to extend my riding season. So Blaise went online and researched a bit then ended up purchasing two grip heater kits from a gent on his Concours board. The issue with regard to installation on the s50 is that I have no fairing so there isn't a good spot to mount the hi-off-low switch. I went in search on the internet and found a handlebar mounted switch housing complete with a round hole in the center for a switch. The grip heater kits Blaise ordered included round switches so I was hopeful that the switch would fit in the switch housing.

Unfortunately we don't usually have good luck like that. The switch housing opening was too small for the switch that came with the kit. We probably could have found a smaller switch to fit the housing but the kit came in the day before we were to take a long ride and Blaise was ready to do the install.

The heater pad portion of the install went well. Blaise added a small piece of rubber inner tube to the clutch side of my bars. This is used to keep the metal bars from sucking away the heat. Then he installed the pad, made a notch in my grip ring for the wire, made a notch in my light switch housing to pass the wire through and then went to work on the throttle side. This side needed to have the ridges on the plastic twist ring ground down so the heater pad would install flat against it. He made quick work of those ridges by using a Dremel tool and a sanding tip. On the throttle side a loop needed to be added to the wire so when the throttle is twisted there is enough slack in the wire. He pulled all the wires through existing wire pathways and hooked the power wire to my headlight.

Next all the wires were run to the switch. At this point Blaise had to open the round hole in the switch housing to accommodate the switch that came with the kit. He used some files to enlarge the hole and then he had to open the bottom of the switch housing to make room for the connections. He did all of this without cracking the switch housing. As you can see (or not) the switch is fairly inconspicuous. It looks great up close but I can't get a good picture of it.

Start to finish I think he worked about 2-2.5 hours on the project. I was tickled pink the next day when we started out in 30 degree temps and my hands were toasty warm!

A Long Winter's Nap

We got up this  morning after a 331 mile ride yesterday. When we started out on Saturday morning it was about 30 degrees and it really didn't warm up into the 50's until late morning. By the time we got home at 9:30 pm it was in the mid-30's. Our trip consisted of taking back routes down toward Newburgh NY where we met up with other member of the Concours Owners Group. Blaise and I left our house at 7:30 am, met up with his brother John at 8 am and we were on our way.

On Friday Blaise worked very hard to add grip heaters to the s50 because we knew the ride was going to be cold. My hands have been the biggest issue with post-summer riding this year. I get very stiff and feel like I'm losing control on the throttle. Once my hands are cold it seems to radiate up my arms and adds to feeling cold all over.

The grip warmers were a bit of a challenge-Blaise likes his installs to be neat and clean and inconspicuous. The switch housing we purchased was a bit small for the hi-off-low switch that came in the heater pack but he modified it and it the switch came out looking great. He hid the wires well and when they warmed up I was tickled pink! The throttle grip heater gets warmer than the clutch probably due to the throttle grip being thinner than the clutch grip. Either way my hands were quite toasty on the ride and it really helped keep me warm right up my arms.

We have discussed more heated equipment but my opinion is I would rather move south to extend the season and be a bit more comfortable. Until we can do that, I'm thinking of adding an extra pair of socks to my trunk bag or wearing tights under my jeans (which are under my riding over-pants) and then thermal socks. My extremities were the only parts of me that get cool-cold on a regular basis (I love my windshield).

This morning we were discussing the days chores and I mentioned to Blaise that my Virago and the s50 need to be washed and have accessories pulled off before going into storage. He asked, "Are you done for the season?" and I replied with no hesitation, "Yes". It's time for a long winter's nap for the bikes. Some of the back roads we rode on yesterday already had sand and salt on them from an early week storm of wet snow/sleet/freezing rain. I think sand/salt scares me more than anything on the road surfaces, probably because the one time my Maxim went down it was a slow drop to the pavement because my foot was sliding on sand. With more seasonable weather guaranteed to be heading our way I have no second thoughts to putting the bikes away.

The new bike covers I purchased for the Virago and s50 should be delivered in a few days and both bikes will be mechanically prepped for storage. My winter will consist of thinking about my gear, which I will talk about here, piece by piece, and possible modifications to the bike along with trip ideas for next season.

If I ride again this year it will be two-up on Blaise's Concours. At least that way I can stay warm by keeping my hands in my lap and maybe having a drink or two!

So have a good winter's nap, my lovely bikes. It was a grand 2,500+ miles we shared this season and I'm hoping to top that next season. Until then, snuggle up with your Sta-Bil and rest!

Last trip of the season- Catskill Mountains 11/13/2010

MC Stands for Merry Christmas AND MotorCycle

My Christmas wish lists usually revolve around whatever it is I have taken an interest in for the months preceding the holidays. Last year was a camping wish list year. This year it's the motorcycle.

Most of what I'm looking for is small but they are the little things I think would make my riding experience that much more fun! So my wish list consisted of:

A thermometer from Clocks4Bikes to match my clock
A new balaclava that doesn't have the furry collar
Motorcycle cover
Throttle Buddy
Grip heaters

I've been doing a lot more cold weather riding this year and I really love it but my hands don't stay warm no matter what I try. My Memphis Shade windshield doesn't do much to keep the wind off my hands. Blaise has a nice contact on his Kawasaki forum that has a nice deal on heated grips so we're both taking advantage of it. And I need the thermometer so I can brag that I was riding in really cool-cold weather. It's those little things that make me smile!

I had my  present part of Christmas in May and again in August when I purchased first the Virago and then the Boulevard. Now I'm just getting the little things that make me grin more through my rides.

I'm thinking that next year I'm going to ask to move south so our riding season is a bit longer. I don't know what the chances are of that but I'm going to ask anyway.

The Pack Mule

When my kids were young they were always asking me if I had a tissue, band aid, piece of gum, pen, a quarter (that went to dollar(s) as they got older), and anything else I could stuff in my handbag. (They still give my mother a hard time because that woman carries everything in her her handbag and it's all labeled!) My kids would also ask if I could "hold this" or "carry this" and it would end up in my handbag. My usual response to them, when asked to drag their stuff around was, "What do I look like? A pack mule??" This would usually elicit a look that said, "what's a pack mule??"

When my husband and I used to ride two up, poor Blaise would get about 1/2 of one of the saddlebags while my stuff would take up the other saddlebag and the tour trunk. For him, 1/2 the saddle bag was good because all he ever carried was a hoodie. Me- I had to have a hoodie and extra shoes so I could change out of my riding boots, my handbag, maybe a tee shirt if it got too warm for whatever I was wearing, extra gloves, scarf etc. you get the point- I turned that poor machine into my own pack mule and really, that is what saddlebags are for!

I've used the same pair of Tour Master Cruiser saddlebags on all three of my bikes. They aren't very big but I do stuff them with all sorts of things. When we started doing longer rides this year I added a Tour Master roll bag to my luggage rack. My poor Cortech tank bag is usually straining at the zippers.

So what the heck am I packing on my poor bike these days? Go ahead and name it! Really, I have some fairly odd stuff packed away on the s50 but it's all useful. Like gloves- 4 pairs of gloves as of today. One pair is summer mesh, which could be put away in the wardrobe in the garage but then they get lost. I then have one pair of leather gloves with a Thinsulate lining for cooler weather riding, a textile pair of heavier gloves that are waterproof and a pair of glove liners. Then I have a pair of FroggsToggs pants for rainy days, a balaklava, an extra pair of socks, a long sleeve thermal shirt, nylon mittens to cover gloves that aren't waterproof, nylon booties, to cover my boots in the rain. That's just the stuff in the roll bag on the luggage rack!

I also carry a charger for my bluetooth headset, an extra phone charger, a first aid kit, a cloth and lens cleaner for my helmet shield, a tire gauge, mini-mag flashlight, pens and paper, triple a batteries. Those things are always in my saddlebags. The poor tank bag is usually stuffed with a small handbag, mp3 player, bluetooth dongle and my cell phone. Oh and a small Leatherman tool and a footie to go under the kickstand. Plus each bag has a rain cover.

Blaise insists that I will be on something with integrated luggage on it in the very near future. I'm not convinced but I'm also the one that bought two motorcycles this year! So my poor little pack mule seems to be holding up under the weight of all my stuff- for now. Of course, when I run out of room on my bike I usually commandeer one of Blaise's saddlebags. It's not fair that only one of the bikes is a pack mule!

I wonder if I could put a hitch on the s50 and get one of those cute little trailers................

The Tortured Soul

I worked for an eye doctor many years ago who was always asking the office workers what time it was. Of course, we never had clocks on the walls because the patients waiting would be staring at them to make sure they weren't going to be kept waiting to see the doctors. Ha! But I digress....

I once asked Doc why he didn't own a watch. He told me, "Only people with tortured souls have to know what time it is". Um...ok. Whatever that meant I figured I am definitely a tortured soul.

Clocks and watches are two things I really like and am attracted to. I would someday love to own a grandfather clock complete wit the moon phase dial at the top. I'm a collector (of sorts) of Movado watches which i find sleek and classic looking. We even own an Atmos clock that my father gifted too us many years ago.

So an issue for me, while riding on my bike has been not having a clock. From my first ride, the Maxim, I had a small clock and compass combo unit I purchased for $3 at a local auto parts store- a little Velcro and I was good to go. I have no idea what it is, but when I can glance down and see what time it is I feel........well- less tortured I suppose.

Walking around the Americade in Lake George, NY this past spring I saw a vendor that had clocks for handle bars. They are these really cool little devices that slip onto your bars and tighten down with a little Allen wrench. The face is just like a standard watch. I ended up mounting it on the Virago right over the light display.

I purchased the clock on  from these folks:
clocks4bikes

I have gotten more comments on that darn little clock than anything on the bike or anything I wear (none of which is anything out of the ordinary). It's just kind of cool looking and I've had several people ask where I got it and how it's mounted. My only issue with the darn thing is that I can't see it at night- it's not a glow-in-the-dark type of watch face; however they do offer a back light option for an additional charge. The folks at Clocks4Bikes include an extra battery and Allen key with the clocks so they are easy to mount.

When I purchased my Boulevard s50 the first thing I bought was another of these clocks. The one on the Virago is 7/8" and the bars on the s50 are 1". Clock4Bikes offers many different styles and sizes for their clocks so I was able to get a new one for my new ride with no issues.

If the temperature is something you have to know at any given time or you'll be a tortured soul, have no fear- Clocks4Bikes also makes a thermometer as well. I'm asking for one as a stocking stuffer this year!

If you like weird little farkles for your bike that are useful, this little clock may fill the bill.

My Rides and all the Crap I Added

I've been piloting my own bike since 1998. Before attending a Motorcycle Safety Foundation 3-day licensing course I had been riding two up on my husband Blaise's 1982 Honda V45 Sabre. I finally got the nerve up and signed up for the MSF course. After 3 brutally warm days in September on the hot pavement of Hudson Valley Community College, I passed the road test portion of the course and walked out with my motorcycle license.

Blaise had purchased  a 1982 Yamaha Maxim as my first ride. It's a nice upright ride that came with a windshield and not much else. I rode that bike on and off for about 10 years. Blaise rode it a lot when his Sabre was down for repairs. It's small but it never failed to start on the first try when coming out of winter storage. The Maxim weighed no more 380 lbs but it felt heavy to me, even heavier when it went out from under me while I was stopped at a red light and my foot did a slow slide on sand. I eventually bought a set of Tour Master throw overs for it. Tanks bags were an experiment and I received a nice Cortech magnetic bag for Christmas one year.

This spring I decided I wanted to ride more. Blaise had purchased a Kawasaki Concours and I always felt I was trying to catch up to him when he had the Sabre. Now he's riding a 1000cc touring bike so the 400 Maxim wasn't going to cut it. Unfortunately I was still not displacement savvy so I purchased a mint condition '94 Yamaha Virago xv535s. I threw the windshield and bags on it and quickly put 1,000 miles on it. Of course it still wasn't enough bike, so I started shopping.

My next bike was purchased in August 2010. A 2005 Suzuki Boulevard s50 with 3,000 miles on it. When purchased it had a Memphis Shades windshield on it, some fork wind deflectors, and a sissybar/luggage rack. The Tour Master bags got moved again and as of today I have put another 2050 miles on the bike.

Over my next several posts I'll talk about and review some of the farkles and accessories I've obtained just this riding season including communications and riding gear. Check back- there may be something that interests you!

Writing Backwards

It's October 31, 2010 and I've decided to start a blog because I was thinking about it while out for a motorcycle ride today. That doesn't sound out of the ordinary except for the fact that I live in Upstate New York and it was about 40 degrees when the ride started. It's also not unheard of for people up here to ride year 'round, but I'm not one of them. Riding in snow and riding in early spring when there's lots of sand on the roads from the winter are two conditions I don't ride in.

The cold doesn't bother me. I'm fairly well equipped for cold weather riding- textile riding jacket and pants, sturdy motorcycle boots. Gloves are the one thing that I find difficult to decide on. The insulated winter ones tend to be bulky. So I'm experimenting.

I kind of feel like I should be writing this blog in the spring. And with my last ride more than likely coming up in a few weeks it seems like I'm doing this backwards. Oh well, that's just who I am.

As a 46 year old female rider I hope to give some insights on riding and the things I take along with me, the stuff I learn along the way and the people I meet. It's been a very interesting riding year for me and I figured I'd put that info out there for anyone that may trip over it or actually be interested. So read, comment- what ever you like.