Prince George Vintage Motorcycle Club

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dennis on November 25, 2019, 04:35:02 PM

Title: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on November 25, 2019, 04:35:02 PM
Saturday sucked (rained all day), but Sunday was beautiful.

(https://i.imgur.com/uGt5Daj.jpg)

I did not get out until around 3:30 and rode until 5:00.

Having a bike with a sidecar is great in this country for exactly these sorts of days.  It fishtails on ice, but at least I won't fall over.

My goal is to have at least one ride in every calendar month through the winter.

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on December 09, 2019, 12:03:51 PM
I've got December covered.  Neil took this photo on Sunday at his place.

(https://i.imgur.com/EB1TmPy.jpg)

I tried to go for a ride on Saturday, but the Chang just spun out on the ice.  No wonder.

(https://i.imgur.com/lPmDGdr.jpg)

I had a brand new replacement, so I put it on.

(https://i.imgur.com/HKE502d.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iQT6XVI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XvbItQa.jpg)

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on December 16, 2019, 01:18:11 PM
Last weekend's ride to Neil's exposed a gap in the left rocker cover gasket.  It was blowing misty oil out which ended up all over my left leg.

I carefully squeezed in some cloth in the gap.

(https://i.imgur.com/KYMAk3e.jpg)

I then tied another wad of cloth over the offending hole.

(https://i.imgur.com/NXsnZYs.jpg)

Went for a ride to Cottonwood Island Park. 

(https://i.imgur.com/9C31OLO.jpg)

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on December 26, 2019, 01:59:16 PM
I got out on December 24th during the snow fall.  It was fun ? until it wasn't.  I got lots of the usual thumbs up signals and smiles.

Near CNC I noticed the rear end sliding way more that just a minute earlier.  Turns out I had a flat rear tire.  I figured there was no way I was going to get a flat deck tow truck during a snow storm on Christmas Eve, so I decided to just ride it slow home.

(https://i.imgur.com/ozNbH9n.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sgbwlOF.jpg)

I picked up a new tube and the rubber strip to cover the spokes (it shredded and fell out during the flat tire ride).  Hopefully I didn't damage the tire riding across town.  It was only a couple weeks old. 

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on January 06, 2020, 03:49:31 PM
Since my last post, I pulled off the wheel and inspected the damage.

Considering that the original Chinese tires did not even last 100 km, I am not surprised that the original Chinese tubes gave up the ghost.

(https://i.imgur.com/m4mS7IV.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6tiNkBe.jpg)

Since both the sidecar and spare tires were bald, I changed three tires in one evening.

(https://i.imgur.com/UNAtqB3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/F9Moj5A.jpg)

Back at riding around PG in the winter.  These are from a week ago; at the end of Domano Blvd and the old CHP.

(https://i.imgur.com/5KevOZ7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aTjl1dZ.jpg)

On Saturday (January 4th, 2020) my driveway was sheer ice.  Good time to test the Chang.

(https://i.imgur.com/34TavJ8.jpg)

On my way home I noticed this entire parking lot just begging me to do spin outs and fish tails. 

(https://i.imgur.com/iZEgC5v.jpg)

The battery is at least four years old, and spent the first three winters parked outside without ever seeing a trickle charger.  Its pretty much done.  From a fully charged state, I've only got about an hour with the headlight on before its too low for the electric start to work.  When I have to kick start it, I know I have to head home.  I'll pick up a new one this week.

Peace & Grease, Dennis



Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: stevecrout on January 06, 2020, 07:04:22 PM
Right on Denis!  I used to have the bikes insured all year, then moving to PG sort of put a damper on winter riding.  Glad to see you have the right kind of stuff to keep moving.  I'm thinking maybe I should follow your lead and keep one or two on the road here.

 (except for today!!!) .
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on January 07, 2020, 10:47:32 AM
Right on Denis!  I used to have the bikes insured all year, then moving to PG sort of put a damper on winter riding.  Glad to see you have the right kind of stuff to keep moving.  I'm thinking maybe I should follow your lead and keep one or two on the road here.

 (except for today!!!) .

Get a sidecar.  There is no way, even with spiked ice tires that I would ride in winter without the assurance that I'm not going over on my side.

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: fj1200 on January 15, 2020, 10:33:27 AM
Hey Dennis, you should take the Chang to Timmy's today.Get a pic of riding on the coldest day of this century. 😆
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on January 22, 2020, 05:06:24 PM
Fancy battery cable repair; electrical tape.  New battery in but haven't ridden long enough to confirm the battery was/is my problem.

(https://i.imgur.com/IAzwk1u.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bZzY1iq.jpg)

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on February 03, 2020, 05:44:53 PM
Checked of February.

Took a ride on Sunday along River Road.  Photo at the boat launch.

(https://i.imgur.com/sQ5xYpx.jpg)

The roads on Sunday were probably the slickest I've ridden on this winter.  Still lots of fun, but took it slooooow on corners.

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on February 18, 2020, 10:44:05 AM
I got out twice this weekend.  On Saturday I made it out for a ride in Pineview, but got really cold.  I prefer riding around town where the speeds are slower and not as cold.

On Monday (Family Day) I had a great ride all around town.  I stopped for a hot chocolate at Bon Voyage, cruised all over and finished at the Alpine for hot rum before the sprint home.

(https://i.imgur.com/9nXuZ5E.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gxFT8Q9.jpg)

Not spending as much time on my projects, but this has been fun.  Lots of thumbs up from other drivers, and always an enthusiastic chat whenever I stop.

Peace & Grease, Dennis
Title: Re: Fall/winter riding
Post by: Dennis on March 09, 2020, 11:29:19 AM
I rode the Chang to Tuesday's meeting.  Olaf pointed out I had no rear lights (tail or brake).

Neil came by on Saturday and gave me a hand finding out the problem.  After a few voltage tests, the culprits were discovered.

(https://i.imgur.com/FHhBROD.jpg)

Properly repaired; soldered and shrink wrapped.

(https://i.imgur.com/HKLiJj3.jpg)

Box of parts arrived today.  I love some of the Chinese company names like, "Golden Crocodile King Motorcycle Parts"

(https://i.imgur.com/euTwa16.jpg)

Peace and Grease, Dennis