During this past week, I realized something: when I ride my bike to work, I'm not commuting.
If I wanted to commute, I'd buy some throwaway Japanese econobox and sit in the lifeless drudgery that is commuting. Commuting destroys your soul and turns you into a spectator. The world goes by while you sit there in your Corolla listening to Kenny Loggins. Don't waste your life commuting and listening to Kenny Loggins.
When you're on a bike, you're riding. Yes, I know that sounds painfully obvious but stick with me. When you ride instead of commute, you become part of the surroundings and part of the world. You're there experiencing things while others are cooped up in their boxes, heading from one climate-controlled area to another.
Earlier in the week, one of my coworkers said it was too cold to be riding. Yes, I said, it was too cold to be riding but I'm doing it anyway. Modern life is so controlled, so sanitary and so safe. You have to break those chains and do something irrational and interesting once in awhile. I try to act irrational as much as I can, just because I can.
Get out of your econobox and get a bike. Then you can turn your dull commute into an adventure and live a little. Put yourself in the wind, crack the throttle open and experience life. Toss the Kenny Loggins CD at the minivan full of bratty kids and instead listen to the symphony coming from your exhausts. Okay, I may getting carried away, but you get the picture.
Live, you only get one chance.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Riding on the Wind
Not only is the title of this post the same as an awesome Judas Priest song, it's what it felt like riding last weekend. The winds were only around 10-15 mph but it felt like a bus was flying past every few seconds. On the bright side, though, temps were in the 60s and the sun was out, so no excuses for not riding.
I chose to go on my normal route, the same route I always take when I just go out for a ride. Whatever, I don't like change. All was well on the early parts of the ride, save for the Ford Focus driver in front of me who couldn't decide whether to haul ass or go the speed limit. We spent a few miles alternating between both.
The wind was a nuisance but it's better than rain and cold. It really didn't become a factor until I was crossing the Ohio river. Gusts of wind were blowing westward, constantly pushing me toward the side of the bridge. A few times it felt like the bike was going to slide out from under me. I had visions of the scene in Mad Max when Max knocks the bikers off the bridge. Swimming in boots, a helmet and a leather jacket doesn't sound like a good time.
On the other side of the bridge, the wind was behind me, giving my bike what felt like 10 extra horsepower. There's a tip for you hot rodders out there: go in the same direction as the wind for a cheap boost in speed. You're welcome.
This change in focus allowed me to look around a bit and admire the sites. It's officially Spring in western Pennsylvania. That means the trees are green, flowers are blooming, and birds are flying inches from your head. The plants are so lush you can hardly see the dilapidated and abandoned buildings.
Spring is such a wonderful change from the depression and gloom of Winter. It's nice to see the sites, smell the smells and to just be outside again. I look forward to not having to put layers of clothing on just to take out the trash. Really, though, I look forward to the riding.
I look everyday at the weather during the non-riding season in the hope of a good day. Very few show up. Even the last few weeks have been mostly cold, rainy or both. This past weekend, I got in the first proper day of riding in a month. It was beautiful the first week of March and total crap since then. I know I'm whining but this is my blog and I'll whine if I want.
Since then, I've ridden everyday to work. The mornings have been chilly but totally worth it. The rides home have been wonderful; sunny, cloudless skies combined with a willing motorcycle. If the soul-sucking eight hour workday wasn't in between the rides, I'd say i was in in heaven.
I chose to go on my normal route, the same route I always take when I just go out for a ride. Whatever, I don't like change. All was well on the early parts of the ride, save for the Ford Focus driver in front of me who couldn't decide whether to haul ass or go the speed limit. We spent a few miles alternating between both.
The wind was a nuisance but it's better than rain and cold. It really didn't become a factor until I was crossing the Ohio river. Gusts of wind were blowing westward, constantly pushing me toward the side of the bridge. A few times it felt like the bike was going to slide out from under me. I had visions of the scene in Mad Max when Max knocks the bikers off the bridge. Swimming in boots, a helmet and a leather jacket doesn't sound like a good time.
On the other side of the bridge, the wind was behind me, giving my bike what felt like 10 extra horsepower. There's a tip for you hot rodders out there: go in the same direction as the wind for a cheap boost in speed. You're welcome.
This change in focus allowed me to look around a bit and admire the sites. It's officially Spring in western Pennsylvania. That means the trees are green, flowers are blooming, and birds are flying inches from your head. The plants are so lush you can hardly see the dilapidated and abandoned buildings.
Spring is such a wonderful change from the depression and gloom of Winter. It's nice to see the sites, smell the smells and to just be outside again. I look forward to not having to put layers of clothing on just to take out the trash. Really, though, I look forward to the riding.
I look everyday at the weather during the non-riding season in the hope of a good day. Very few show up. Even the last few weeks have been mostly cold, rainy or both. This past weekend, I got in the first proper day of riding in a month. It was beautiful the first week of March and total crap since then. I know I'm whining but this is my blog and I'll whine if I want.
Since then, I've ridden everyday to work. The mornings have been chilly but totally worth it. The rides home have been wonderful; sunny, cloudless skies combined with a willing motorcycle. If the soul-sucking eight hour workday wasn't in between the rides, I'd say i was in in heaven.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Oil Change and Some Other Stuff
What, a post about an oil change, the most basic service?
Yes, it's an oil change post. If you are prone to bouts of boredom, I suggest you find a blog about knitting or scrap booking. You're destined to find some excitement there. For those of you bored enough to read an oil change post (probably accountants), keep reading.
This Saturday I decided to tackle changing the oil in my Guzzi. While that doesn't seem like a job worth mentioning, it is. I'll get to why that is later but first we're going to balance some throttle bodies. Let's get to it.
The first step is to locate the adapter block-off bolt in the intake. This is a 5mm hex and needs to be removed so the adapters can go in their place. There are no adapters from the factory because they needed a reason to make you spend more money on your bike.
With the block-off bolt out and probably lost down the drain, install the adapter. Make sure to repeat for the other side.
With the adapters in, hook up the rubber lines and hook up the synchronizer to the battery. I'm using an electronic synchronizer from Carbmate. It works well but it's all plastic so be careful you don't drop it. It seems fragile.
Fire the bike up and let it idle. It has to get to operating temp or, in my Guzzi's case, off the fast idle. When you're off fast idle, slowly turn the synchro knob on the throttle bodies until the green light under the smiley face lights up. After that, you're done. Remove everything and put the block-off bolts back in, provided they didn't go down the drain.
Right, with the synchro done, it's time to move on to the oil change. If you're wondering what the deal is, have a look at the picture below:
What don't you notice? If you guessed an oil filter, you're right. The filter is inside the oil pan. Unless you have the special tool, which I don't, you have to remove the oil pan to change the filter. While not exactly Earth-shattering news, it does add a bit of complexity to an otherwise mundane job. Right, let's get on with it.
First, of course, you have to drain the oil. Grab a ratchet and a 22mm socket and attack that drain plug! If you ran the bike like you're supposed to (and you did because you balanced the throttle bodies first, right?), the oil will be hot, so be careful. If there are children, pets or people with sensitive ears, suggest they leave the room before they witness your cussing fit having just burned your fingers with hot oil.
Before the pan can be removed, this oil line has to be removed. It's 19mm and usually coated with oil from the leaking pan gasket, so it's easy to remove. Once that's off, set to the pan bolts. They're 5mm hex. Once the pan is off, you should see this:
And this:
The black thing in the upper left corner is the pickup filter. The manual says to change it every other oil change. Since I have to drop the pan on every oil change, I'll clean the filter every oil change.
Wrestle the oil filter off and replace it with the new one. With this done, plop the pan back on (after cleaning or replacing the gasket) and tighten the bolts. Now it's time to put the oil in.
Fill the crankcase with three-and-some-odd quarts of oil. You have to aim for the middle range on the dipstick. Measure the amount of oil by resting the dipstick on the fill hole. Do not screw it and measure it. That's the way to underfill the engine and blow it up. Since they are only three Moto Guzzi dealers on Earth, replacement parts will be hard to find.
And with the crankcase filled to the proper level, you are done. See, that was much more interesting than scrap booking and knitting. You got your hands dirty, you created mechanical harmony with your motorcycle and you didn't poke yourself with needles. Win all around.
Yes, it's an oil change post. If you are prone to bouts of boredom, I suggest you find a blog about knitting or scrap booking. You're destined to find some excitement there. For those of you bored enough to read an oil change post (probably accountants), keep reading.
This Saturday I decided to tackle changing the oil in my Guzzi. While that doesn't seem like a job worth mentioning, it is. I'll get to why that is later but first we're going to balance some throttle bodies. Let's get to it.
With the block-off bolt out and probably lost down the drain, install the adapter. Make sure to repeat for the other side.
With the adapters in, hook up the rubber lines and hook up the synchronizer to the battery. I'm using an electronic synchronizer from Carbmate. It works well but it's all plastic so be careful you don't drop it. It seems fragile.
Fire the bike up and let it idle. It has to get to operating temp or, in my Guzzi's case, off the fast idle. When you're off fast idle, slowly turn the synchro knob on the throttle bodies until the green light under the smiley face lights up. After that, you're done. Remove everything and put the block-off bolts back in, provided they didn't go down the drain.
Right, with the synchro done, it's time to move on to the oil change. If you're wondering what the deal is, have a look at the picture below:
What don't you notice? If you guessed an oil filter, you're right. The filter is inside the oil pan. Unless you have the special tool, which I don't, you have to remove the oil pan to change the filter. While not exactly Earth-shattering news, it does add a bit of complexity to an otherwise mundane job. Right, let's get on with it.
First, of course, you have to drain the oil. Grab a ratchet and a 22mm socket and attack that drain plug! If you ran the bike like you're supposed to (and you did because you balanced the throttle bodies first, right?), the oil will be hot, so be careful. If there are children, pets or people with sensitive ears, suggest they leave the room before they witness your cussing fit having just burned your fingers with hot oil.
Before the pan can be removed, this oil line has to be removed. It's 19mm and usually coated with oil from the leaking pan gasket, so it's easy to remove. Once that's off, set to the pan bolts. They're 5mm hex. Once the pan is off, you should see this:
And this:
The black thing in the upper left corner is the pickup filter. The manual says to change it every other oil change. Since I have to drop the pan on every oil change, I'll clean the filter every oil change.
Wrestle the oil filter off and replace it with the new one. With this done, plop the pan back on (after cleaning or replacing the gasket) and tighten the bolts. Now it's time to put the oil in.
Fill the crankcase with three-and-some-odd quarts of oil. You have to aim for the middle range on the dipstick. Measure the amount of oil by resting the dipstick on the fill hole. Do not screw it and measure it. That's the way to underfill the engine and blow it up. Since they are only three Moto Guzzi dealers on Earth, replacement parts will be hard to find.
And with the crankcase filled to the proper level, you are done. See, that was much more interesting than scrap booking and knitting. You got your hands dirty, you created mechanical harmony with your motorcycle and you didn't poke yourself with needles. Win all around.
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