Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 22:15:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: Hope
Subject: Getting back on the horse
Well, I've done it. I've been back on the horse, and I'm eager for more. :)
Tonight, after a bit of minor finagling, I got Darkangel back on the road, or at least the sidestreets. I've got a *lot* of practicing to do before I'll be ready for primetime again (e.g. real street riding, or at least very much street riding), but I had a good time riding the sidestreets in Corsa's (the bike's temporary home) subdivision and going round and round in a mostly-empty parking lot.
I'm definitely going to have to work on the right-hand tighter corners - that's the turn I lost it on in July, and I don't know how much of the difficulty I'm having with it is psychological and how much physical. I do know that because I'm right-handed the right side tends not to want to let go enough for the lean, but it seems worse now. Not quite the same as getting back on a bicycle, but even in the space of the hour or so of riding this evening I did I noticed a difference, and felt a lot more confident.
Turns out the starting problem was just lack of gas, and I've discovered that she doesn't seem to like premium (oh, here I was thinking I was pampering her, and it turns out she backfires with the 93 octane stuff - too rich, I guess, for her tastes). The headlight - hell, I *still* don't know what was up with that. I took out the fuses again, cleaned the contacts, and then quickly discovered why it's a good idea to have the fuse box cover back on before trying to turn the ignition - fizzt! - I apparently sparked something and blew the main fuse. Ken must be a psychic, as he gave me a solenoid/main fuse combo from one of his older bikes last Thursday, and his main fuse was the same amperage (sp?).
Of course, after doing this, and replacing the fuse, when I go to turn the key, nothing. Dead silence, except maybe a faint click emanating from somewhere near the rear of the bike (huh?). I go through the routine of removing the main fuse, cleaning the contacts, replacing it, trying it, (no dice), removing the fuses from the other fusebox, cleaning contacts, replacing, trying, (still no dice), etc. for several go arounds. Take the headlight off to check the wiring in there, and make sure the wiring from the handlebar fusebox isn't bound up or anything. Everything seems fine.
Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, repeat. Suddenly, one time I turn the key, and vroom! she comes to life. Now I see how some folks are inclined to say bikes are as fickle as women. ;)
Not only is she happily revving, the headlight works. Go figure. I musta rattled something right, I suppose. I turn off the ignition and back on several times just to be sure the headlight isn't going to decide to flake on me - it cooperates.
All in all, a nice first night back on the bike. The weather forecast for the rest of the week looks pretty good, warmer than the 30-55 range we've been having the last three days, though chances of rain later on in the week. Tomorrow should be nice, and warm, and I'm really, really looking forward to it. Maybe I'll even get out on the streets. :) (Though I'll probably only use them to proceed to the local community college's MSF range).
It sure feels good to be back in the saddle.
Hope
~~
'83 Honda Shadow VT500C
http://home.intranet.org/~hope/riding
Published by Hope, shadowriderhope@gmail.com