fired up

[k_enn]

With the weather getting up into riding temperatures this weekend, and with some forecasts of several good riding days this coming week, I decided to get the bike ready to ride.  

I put in the battery (stored in the basement on a tender over the winter), repaired the wire from the battery to the alarm, check all fluids, checked tire pressure, and checked all lights.  Then I checked to make sure the clutch was not stuck again (it has a tendency to get stuck when it is not used for any period of time, but this year it was ok).  Ready for the moment of truth.

I turned the key.  The starter engaged and spun strongly.  It took at bit of cranking for the engine to finally catch - about 45 seconds of cranking total done in about 10 second intervals.  It ran a little rough for about 15 seconds, and then settled down and ran nice and smooth.   I hopped on, and took a nice ride.  It ran good, and had plenty of power even with the old gas (I have used SeaFoam as a stabilizer and gas dryer for several years now, and have never had a stale gas problem after winter storage).  The brakes were still nice and firm after last year's brake job.  After 45 minutes, I was back home, with my hands and legs well chilled but with a warm place in my heart for that old bike.  

For me, the riding season is now underway.

k_enn

[steve hawkins]

I went out for my first long (ish) ride for the year on Sunday to a hill climb event at Prescott near Cheltenham.  Lots of old Bitish singles and twins roaring up the hill, a few offs, but not too many.

Quite a few of the new Morgan 3 wheelers going up as well.  They look tidy and there is already a 2 year waiting list for them.  Expensive though!

It was a cold day early on, with an easterly wind keeping the temperature down.  Got frozen hands on the way there (less than an hour away), but a nice ride back as the day warmed up (still in single figures, e.g. 8 or 9 degree Celcius).

Saddle quite firm on the Bobbery R65.  My backside will get used to it.

Cheers

Rev. light

[suecanada]

Yeah Kenn!! I can get pretty apprehensive on that first start up. LRB not tried yet and will get the spline lube done first while a bunch of stuff is off the bike. LRB will need full choke for sure, then babying at 1/2 choke for a bit. I just bought a new Odyssey P-680 for him and his 'maybe' long trip west this year. The original battery is fine but it is 7 years old...good spare for whatever. I just figured I did not want it on my mind that a battery could fail some morning on a trip. I have enough to ponder staying upright!

[k_enn]

Good luck on the start-up of LRB when you get to it.  Your's probably gets more TLC than mine does, so you should not have a problem.  

The weather is holding up, and I am getting a bit of riding in.

k_enn

(P.S., with a spline lube, I don't think you will have a stuck clutch issue    )