Hey gang,
Well, it warmed up to 41°F today, nice and sunny, 10mph winds.
Tried to start my bike about 2 weeks ago, but my battery was dead, then I overcharged it and boiled it dry.
So, today I went to Fleet Farm and bought a rectangular AGM battery ($67) to replace the Yuasa T-battery; and while I was there I bought a Schumacher charger/maintainer ($25) so I don't wreak another juicebox.
Got 'er charged in an hour, popped it in the bike.
I drained the float bowls of the gas that's been sitting, and then made sure the fuel pump filled them up with the gas that has not been exposed to air for several months.
After a few cycles of cranking and waiting, it finally caught with the choke off and the throttle just slightly cracked.
I increased throttle until I was in the 3K range, then eased on the choke and slowly released the throttle.
The rev's dipped momentarily, then settled at about 1600.
I took some time to suit up and TCLOCS my bike.
After about 5 minutes the revs climbed into the 3K range and I backed off the choke.
Threw a leg over and rolled away.
Now, 41°F is riding temp, but not at all warm.
(At 70mph, feels like 23°F)
Even with longjohns, jeans, chaps, shirt, sweatshirt, leather jacket, fullface and gloves I still got cold after a while.
The worst was my exposed wrists (I need gauntlets) and my neck (shoulda brought the scarf or gaiter).
Anyway, I put down 30 miles in the farmland adjacent to my little town and had a real blast! (Too cold to go further, hands need to have feeling in them to work safely.)
I've had a ton of stress in my life lately, and getting out in the wind, burning off some energy today, was just what the doctor ordered.
The whole next week is supposed to be in the 40-50's everyday, woohoo, so hopefully I can do this again soon!
Well, just thought I'd tell you about my short, but nevertheless wonderful ride today.
Cheers!
-Kris
Well, it warmed up to 41°F today, nice and sunny, 10mph winds.
Tried to start my bike about 2 weeks ago, but my battery was dead, then I overcharged it and boiled it dry.
So, today I went to Fleet Farm and bought a rectangular AGM battery ($67) to replace the Yuasa T-battery; and while I was there I bought a Schumacher charger/maintainer ($25) so I don't wreak another juicebox.
Got 'er charged in an hour, popped it in the bike.
I drained the float bowls of the gas that's been sitting, and then made sure the fuel pump filled them up with the gas that has not been exposed to air for several months.
After a few cycles of cranking and waiting, it finally caught with the choke off and the throttle just slightly cracked.
I increased throttle until I was in the 3K range, then eased on the choke and slowly released the throttle.
The rev's dipped momentarily, then settled at about 1600.
I took some time to suit up and TCLOCS my bike.
After about 5 minutes the revs climbed into the 3K range and I backed off the choke.
Threw a leg over and rolled away.
Now, 41°F is riding temp, but not at all warm.
(At 70mph, feels like 23°F)
Even with longjohns, jeans, chaps, shirt, sweatshirt, leather jacket, fullface and gloves I still got cold after a while.
The worst was my exposed wrists (I need gauntlets) and my neck (shoulda brought the scarf or gaiter).
Anyway, I put down 30 miles in the farmland adjacent to my little town and had a real blast! (Too cold to go further, hands need to have feeling in them to work safely.)
I've had a ton of stress in my life lately, and getting out in the wind, burning off some energy today, was just what the doctor ordered.
The whole next week is supposed to be in the 40-50's everyday, woohoo, so hopefully I can do this again soon!
Well, just thought I'd tell you about my short, but nevertheless wonderful ride today.
Cheers!
-Kris