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The heat at home finally broke enough (relatively speaking) to the point where I decided to take the bike on my bi-mthly work trip to Las Vegas. I wore the Water cooled vest that I spoke about on another thread. Huge difference riding 260 miles on back roads in 100 degree temps. Great ride though.
I was however freaking out that I was on low travel roads riding the bike that I just put new brake pads, tires, and a rotor on. Coupled with the fact that when I put my wheels back on, I truly didn't check alignment of anything other than torque values and such.
So I dropped into an indy two blocks away from our shop here. Super nice guy named Trik at Las Vegas Cycleworks. He took the bike in this morning, drove me to the office and within a couple hours had gone through and checked alignment. I had definitely not done my best work, it was out enough to notice and the belt was a little loose as well.
He also didn't want to charge me which was very nice of him, but settled on an amount that I pushed on him.
So now I'm confident in my ride home. Attached is a pic of the bike by my office so that I can get some brand recognition in
Looking forward to the ride home tomorrow. The new brake pads and rotor are great although I've now skidded with over application of brakes twice. Gotta practice my threshold braking again.
That clunky axle adjuster, looks and works like something Stalin would have approved for the boys on the eastern front
That's something they could have easily fixed with better adjusters.
anyword from dna... turns out that the wheel i used on the dead bike was a dna. (clocking)
Nope sorry. I kind of gave up on that project due to spousal concerns... If you get my drift!
Originally Posted by Suede Blue Man
That clunky axle adjuster, looks and works like something Stalin would have approved for the boys on the eastern front
That's something they could have easily fixed with better adjusters.
Yeah agreed, still probably pretty simplistic of me to think that if I used the right spacers and simply counted the turns on each (ancient design or not) that I would be good to go.
Better safe than sorry I guess!
Heading home tomorrow aft, going to take some shots of the scenery this time around.
Be nice to hear how your trip home went and whether there was a noticeable improvement in how your bike felt to ride.
The ride back was awesome though still warm (102). Strangely the bike did feel different but not really in a good way. I know this is a horrible explanation but the bike felt a little "loose". Ihave no idea why, but it's definitely tracking straight and balanced. Kind of freaked me out a little.
There are a lot of areas on the backroads with drifting sand and gravel. Every time I drive that way (even in the car), I make a mental note of where and clear lines so that I can be hyper vigilant when on the motorcycle going 75mph. So perhaps I was so intent on that, that I made myself a little squeemish, holding on too tight or something. Dunno.
Either way though the ride was awesome, so good to be back on the bike.
Just cause I trust everyone here so much to laugh at me just a little and not break *****, here's a pic of the bruise that's spreading throughout my arm. Stupid yet funny story:
When I got to LV, before going to the hotel I decided to stop in to the Large LV HD Dealer and check out the new bikes. I swooped in looking all cool and pulled into a parking space. As I was parking I must have touched the front brake (can't freaking believe it) doing maybe 1 mph and the bike went down. In my embarasment, I reached down to grab the bike and try to hold it up and wrenched my arm pulling the bicep. Thought I had torn something the muscle was so knotted up.
Went into the dealership where thankfully nobody saw to work on flexing my arm since it was in so much pain, thinking I'd have to do the call of shame or something. At any rate just a pulled muscle which started to feel better the next day but then then bruising started. Two days later it's all up my arm. All feels fine, must have just broken some blood vessels!
I remember, many moons ago (late '80s?), cruising down Main Street in Daytona during Bike Week, trying to look all cool. I was in first gear going like 5mph when my old ironhead Sporty decided to stall, instantly stopping the wheel from rotating. It caught me so unexpectedly that I just kind of keeled over. But in my case, EVERYONE saw!
I don't even mess with the adjusters unless I'm doing the belt tension, I just verify the alignment afterwards. Pretty easy to do with a small metal rod and a o-ring. If you're feeling fancy get the V-Twin mfg hollow axle plugs "tool" for $20 vs the Jims one that sells for $130 or use tape/cork with your fancy welding rod/coat hanger tool. Belt tension gauges aren't much either.
I remember, many moons ago (late '80s?), cruising down Main Street in Daytona during Bike Week, trying to look all cool. I was in first gear going like 5mph when my old ironhead Sporty decided to stall, instantly stopping the wheel from rotating. It caught me so unexpectedly that I just kind of keeled over. But in my case, EVERYONE saw!
Ha!
I felt so freaking goofy and stupid. The worst was when I thought I had actually damaged something. Kept thinking that I'd have to leave the bike and fly back home after work, would never live it down with the spouse who worries incessantly about my taking the back way where phone service is sporadic and very little traffic for 240 miles. But I hate Interstate driving and that actually takes longer in the end.
I don't even mess with the adjusters unless I'm doing the belt tension, I just verify the alignment afterwards. Pretty easy to do with a small metal rod and a o-ring. If you're feeling fancy get the V-Twin mfg hollow axle plugs "tool" for $20 vs the Jims one that sells for $130 or use tape/cork with your fancy welding rod/coat hanger tool. Belt tension gauges aren't much either.
I have the belt tension guage but should have gotten the alignment one as well. I had planned on doing it prior to leaving and then when I didn't I just sort of felt that I shouldn't be driving long distances on untraveled roads being worried about it.
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Vegas and wheel alignment
