Sunday, June 1, 2014

It starts with just a look

I was a little early for Saturday morning breakfast with the guys so I decided to just sit on the bench and enjoy the sun


when I notice some artwork on the road


This is a well traveled side street


but the designs are eye catching.   With all the cars rolling over these images I hope these last for a while


I rode over to my neighbourhood mechanic and there seemed like a lot was happening down there.   I got the idea to hang a ribbon on the tail of my bike for higher visibility.   I got this idea from another rider.


Often when drivers are following behind they cannot see you so the idea is that the ribbon is fluttering in the wind and it sort of, grabs the attention of those following.   If you are behind a large truck or other larger vehicle you would be lost in the background and possibly be rear ended

I am trying to tidy things up at home and I have already thrown out some stuff.   I bought this riding jacket a few years ago and because it was such a good price, I bought it,  even though it was one size too small.   Well, it fit for a few years and now it doesn't.   I couldn't bear to give it away, until now . . .


I wore this jacket to Oregon twice.  Once around 2008, and the last time was to our iMBC2010 International bloggers convention in Bend, OR.  It is virtually new and converts to a full mesh riding jacket by removing a few panels

Today I am donating it to EMS: essential motorcycle services


I know that a lot of riders donate their surplus riding gear to new riders and I hope that Ted finds this jacket a new owner who will enjoy it more than I am able


Inside the shop someone is doing a ground up restoration of a VFR750.  Here is the yellow frame


Here is a Pro photographer using a sliding rail to video the restoration of another bike.  I am not sure what this is as I didn't want to get into his way but there is a Buell lightning engine sitting on the lift


Outside another Harley pulls up and here is a view of his custom painted tank.  Notice how filthy


my bike is.  I am thinking I should wash it soon.   I did not go to our recent motorcycle show in January


but I was interested in sitting on the new Vstrom DL1000.   It is much lower than the old DL1000 as I can flat foot without difficulty.  It now comes with an adjustable windscreen and has traction control


and there is my older DL650 straight ahead


It seems like a very nice machine and while the tank is smaller even with the larger engine it is suppose to get much better fuel mileage than mine


and this year they offer the choice of 4 colours and here they are,  all in stock ready to ride away


I seem to be attracted to the Tan one, but I was told that it was NOT tan, but rather referred to as Khaki


The factory bags attach just like the ones on my Beemer.  Two anchor points up top and stabilized by the 3rd point near the passenger foot peg and keyed to the ignition.  I only wished that it were shaft drive but chain drive is easier to maintain should there be a failure


I couldn't help but keep staring at the Tan one.


I don't need a new bike this year as I have no plans to ride anywhere.  In fact I don't plan to ride past mid July.  This is not a bike touring year but I need to make some decisions for next year


26 comments:

  1. I liked the white and red ones. The new Vstrom looks much better than the old ones. It looks a little bit BMWish in some ways.

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    1. Steve:

      the new Vstrom does have a sort of BMWish look to them. The luggage attaches the same way but it is much lower to the ground. I cannot ride a GS using tippy toes. On the Vstrom I can flat foot. I think the price difference between my trade in value is too much and all I would gain is traction control. My Beemer already has traction control, but also has other options like TPS, trip computers and shaft drive.

      Delete
  2. Bob

    I could see you on a BMW R1200GSA LC in khaki..then again a V-Strom won't bankrupt you!

    best wishes from knutsford,

    N

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    1. Nikos:

      the simplicity of chain drive means no drive line failures. I think the GSA LC is too high for my short legs. I would need boots with 2" heals

      I don't believe you were in Crofton 3 years ago and I didn't know about it

      Delete
    2. ...I think it was some 30 years ago Bob! You were probably a toddler then.

      Delete
    3. Nikos:

      I mis-read "there" as being "three"

      Quote: "LOVELY! I went to visit a paper mill there years ago - beautiful sunsets!

      I wished that I were a toddler 30 years ago

      Delete
  3. Re the ribbon floating in the wind behind your motorcyle to attract attention, I could see it doing that, I could also see it being blown into the rear wheel if long enough and with a strong enough tailwind? I am sure you checked that....same concept I've seen with guys on Goldwings....they hang small metal "ornaments" for want of a better word, which spin and move in the wind, reflecting, catching one's eye.....

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    1. Dom:

      That ribbon is a cheap roll of very light vinyl and can be ripped apart easily with your fingers so it would cause no damage if it caught the wheel. I was looking for a fabric one in fluorescent pink. In rush hour traffic it think it works well enough. It already melted when it touched the muffler so I had to change it to the left side

      Delete
  4. On a bicycle trip down the Baja peninsula, I had an orange flag on a fiberglass pose. Bus and truck drivers down there said that it was really visible fluttering in the wind. I'm not sure how visible a thin ribbon would be.

    I still believe that a chain drive is more effort on long trips and ask Dom about "no drive line failures" with chain drive.

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    1. Richard:

      My top box is at driver's eye level and when I am straight ahead I think they will notice it. In rush hour I think it would be too high.

      I forgot about Dom's "chain failure" but it was due to the securing bolts, not being secured

      Delete
  5. Bob

    I like the red Wee, but then I am attracted to red bikes it seems. Hmm if the new version is lower maybe I will meander down to the dealer to throw a leg over and just see and if its comfy add to my list. I am not really sure why I am keeping a list, because I am not seeing a new bike in the near future, but you never know.

    You should hop the ferry one day and go riding on the Island.

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    1. Dar:

      You just never know when one day, you may find a new(er) bike under your tree, just like the last time. I like Red, but I also like White. This newer Vstrom is suppose to have much more power and more fuel efficient than my smaller DL650

      I was thinking of coming over on the May weekend, but then my foot acted up again and I could hardly walk. I was thinking Mid June to visit my Uncle but he said he had visitors around that time so no room so still working on it

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    2. Power yes. Fuel efficient no. The new 1000 will have a shorter range than my 1000 with it's smaller tank and the loss of O/D in sixth gear. Compared to your 650 the new DL 1000 will have a much shorter range. It might be fairly close if you never rode the new 1000 quicker or faster than your 650. I've seen a video of the difference in roll on performance between the 650 and the new 1000. Good luck with that.

      Delete
  6. I would never go back to a chain drive. Too much hassle and maintenance. Whatever is propelling the Vespas, works just fine and is zero maintenance, and the belt drive of the Harley is also good without issues. Not talking about the literally spotless rear wheel ;-)

    Before you consider another bike (you didn't really seem to have bonded with your Beemer...), you should think about where you want to travel. Maybe your trusty V-Strom is still be best bike for you...

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    1. Sonja:

      I don't mind chain drive as compared to a BMW drive line spline failure. There are many threads regarding lubing the chain. It seems that whether you lube or not lube makes no difference. The chains will last the same either way. So that means no maintenance required and no dirty rear wheel. They don't put belt drives on adventure bikes in case a rock gets stuck in the belt grooves. All (most) of the adventure type bikes are chain drive, and all the performance bikes like Ducati, etc all have chain drive.

      I may gather my thoughts for a blog post regarding the two

      Delete
    2. I don't really understand why; but my chain drive bikes become balky about shifting if I don't keep enough lube on the chain, especially if I need to make a quick getaway. The dry chain crowd are forgetting about the sprockets, especially the front one.

      Delete
  7. As Sonja recognized, you don't seem to have bonded as well with Nu2Me. Maybe you can sell, or trade in, both the Beemer and WeeStrom and replace it with the one??

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    1. Lori:

      There are a few reasons which I may blog about. I do like Nu2Me but I worry about the impending failures, if , when, or never . . .

      I am coming to a crossroads next year, that's why I'm thinking about it now

      Delete
  8. Bob, talk to me before selling either of your bikes :)

    Oh, ditch the ribbon, buy some Admore lighting and contribute to Alberta's economy.

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    1. David:

      I have to get down to one bike by next season. I like my BMW more than my Vstrom BUT there are some issues which I have to sort out and I may blog about it. I went to the dealer to find out the price of the new Vstrom, and how much my bike is worth so I could think about it. If I had a buyer in Montreal (or even if he moves to Toronto) I could deliver it myself next year and use it for my Summer 2015 tour. It is reliable and has ABS and Gear Indicator

      The Beemer has the Canbus system and everything works like drive by wire so many products are not Canbus compatible. But if the Admore works, then it may look more elegant than a streaming ribbon. Alberta needs no help, they are much richer than BC but I like that we can speak English there

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  9. It never hurts to look at bikes. I like the 'tan' one too. I think it is the best color combination of the new 1000s.

    Of course I like the bright colors of that pavement painting too.

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    1. Trobairitz:

      I generally don't sit on too many bikes, unless I am truly looking for one. Too bad there wasn't a Blue option :( Tan looks so retro with the two tone. I have to decide to sell either the Vstrom, or the Beemer, or else sell them both and get a new bike. Based upon what I know now it would be to keep the "R" but if the Vstrom isn't worth much then I could just use it as a spare for visitors

      I should have stopped to snap more photos. There was a group of teenagers painting more colours on another street which they had closed off to traffic

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  10. Always fun to look at bike options. Tough decisions to be made it sounds like. Can't really help you there, except to wish you good luck in your decision making. I like the colorful fish and leaves - so cheerful.

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    1. Kari:

      The only bike I would be interested in would be this newer Vstrom but I am not sure it is worth it it as I already have reliable bikes. It's just that I thought I would treat myself to my "last" bike and use it on my tour next year. Just thinking for now, nothing to decide until the Fall when the market is dead and there may be deals

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    2. Farmer Hank on page 119 and 129 of the 2014 V-strom thread on ADV as well as page 150 with Desert Dave. Both these guys give very detailed write-ups of what it's like to ride the new 2014 Strom 1000 and the improvements. It's probably as good as your BMW in terms of braking handling and suspension as long as you can live with the loss of the shaft drive. Relative to my riding ability; I'm sure that the new Strom is better, but not enough to justify the huge cost. Like you I already have good reliable bikes and they are paid for. I can service them both; cover the insurance and repair them for a fraction of the cost of a new bike. I would rather spend the money on travel.

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    3. David:

      My BMW R1200R gets nearly the same mileage as my Vstrom DL650. Only about 10% less but the Vstrom has a greater range because of the 22.9 L tank vs 17 L. I can get nearly 500 kms in city riding. I don't know why they gave the new DL1000 a smaller tank. My Beemer has more options than is available on the new Vstrom so I would be paying more, for less

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