I haven't had to scrape my windshield for over a week now. I'm a shorts and T-shirt kind of person and this was my first outing of the new year
I had been thinking about getting my bike insured soon. During the past week I have seen several bikes on my commute to work so riding again was certainly on my mind. I keep thinking of all of those in the East who are still experiencing Winter storms and all I could think of was which bike to ride.
I haven't ridden my Vstrom since last May or June, 2013. I decided to take my BMW R1200R to the East coast last year and I needed some bonding so from about May last year until I departed in July, I used my Beemer exclusively so I could get used to those stupid turn signals and the different ergonomics. I remember starting my Vstrom once, sometime last October and it started up right away but has just been sitting there under the bike cover, and attached to a battery tender, ever since.
Saturday there were torrential rains so today was the day. I decided to re-activate my Vstrom. It came to life on the first try, like I used it yesterday. I started up my air compressor and pumped up the tires. The front was down to 20 psi, and the rear was around 25 psi. And I had to lube the chain. I still had some left from Sonja who gave me a can of the Teflon stuff which she bought in the USA (for our Oregon iMBC2010 trip) I even bought my insurance tags.
I am ready for my commute to work tomorrow . . .
That wasn't too long of a wait was it? Now I am expecting video from the first commute of the season...
ReplyDeleteRichard:
DeleteWell, I arrived at work but was a bit wobbly. For a moment I thought I needed a sidecar but I got smoother the more I rode. After riding the R1200R all last year, my Vstrom feels like it has NO brakes. You have to think about stopping a block away . . . Most have already upgraded their brakes to the GSXR dual piston but I am not sure as I may trade this in for the new one
Bob: The new one looks like a worthwhile upgrade: Better suspension, brakes, stiffer frame and an honest to goodness open auto style charging system instead of the usual full boogie, shunt the excess to the ground motorcycle BS which results in hot running and short life electrics. IMHO ABS is good; but you can skip all the other mostly useless power modes and traction control, cruise control and linked brakes…..and just give me a high quality long lasting basic charging system, like my el-cheapo Korean car has.
DeleteRant over.
David:
DeleteI was thinking of buying a new bike for my next long trip. Perhaps even take delivery of it in Toronto to save riding one way across the Country. I need something with low maintenance with a big dealer network. I was thinking of the new Vstrom. Only thing is I wished it had a shaft drive.
My current Vstrom is already set up but after riding my R1200R to PEI last summer I am missing the power and lack of brakes. Anyway I have a year to decide . . .
What about the BMW? It already has the shaft drive, power and brakes. What would it take in modification to make it perfection? BMW's are funny things. They are either complete junk ( like mine was) or they last forever, many times longer than any Suzuki. Not having to buy a new bike could pay for more trips……maybe?????
DeleteDavid:
Deletethat is the other option, to keep the Beemer but maintenance costs are higher and if anything breaks, like the ABS pump it could be over $1K to fix, or the fuel strip issue, or the driveline failures. All of these things go through my mind as I am riding far from home.
The trusty Strom...waiting patiently for you!
ReplyDeleteKen:
DeleteTouch wood. It generally starts on the first push after months of hibernation. It is super reliable. Just regular maintenance, and Fuel
I know you don't need my advice but be extra careful tomorrow. The first ride out after the winter hiatus can be fraught with challenges especially when the forecast is rain. Most of the grime is washed away but visibility even during daylight hours is reduced. The roads seem to have uneven surfaces hitherto undetected during the 4-wheel commute. Glad to have you back on the road. I'll keep my eyes open for you!
ReplyDeleteRobert:
DeleteNo worries. I always "test" the ground first before I make a decision to ride. The lower limit for NO frost is about 3°c, and this morning it was 3°c. I went outside and tested the roadway then I check windshields for frost. All was okay so I rode. Other parts of the country have "dry" cold and the roads stay dry. I can endure colder temps but I don't ride with threat of slippery roads.
I suppose you have never stopped riding. Hope you managed to get rid of that Flu Bug
By the time you headed to work this morning, it was a perfect day for taking the motorcycle. Not so @ 5:00 am but almost. The ride home in the afternoon was fantastic. The weather gods were with you. I only used public transit twice this winter and the car a few more times than that when the monsoon's hit. It was a good year for riding year round. Scared myself a little while back hitting a skating rink where normally roadway existed. There are quite a few variables between my house & work in so far as temperature and road conditions go. Did a lot of sub 8 degree Celsius riding with no frost or black ice. The skating rink occurrence was during a early morning commute with ambient temperatures of plus 3-4 degrees Celsius. You never know! Flu is gone, but still a touch of bronchitis. Oh well.
DeleteRobert:
DeleteThe ride to work was great except it took a few miles to get back into the groove. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to hit gridlock on the way home. Slippage is easier to handle on a lighter machine. I go with the 4+°c rule. You can't afford to make mistakes at our advanced age . . .
Of course the V-Strom fired up - how could you ever have been worried?
ReplyDeleteOn ya bike Bob!
Andrew:
DeleteI have to keep my bike outside under a carport. I add fuel stabilizer, top up the tank and plug in the battery tender. It sits there with minus temperatures all winter and then, when I am ready, it usually starts on the first push. I check the battery tender from time to time to make sure the lights are showing the correct battery status. OH, it is always parked with fresh oil
It felt so good to be zigging and zagging this morning
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteLet the Enjoyment roll my friend .
Tis the season to be jolly;)
All the best from a water logged England!
Regards
Len
Len:
DeleteI have seen video on the news of your flooding. Hope you are okay and that the rain clouds move away soon. It should be nearly Spring where you are too and that you manage to get out and about
Suzukis are a reliable lot. Glad you made it to work safe. Let the riding season begin........
ReplyDeleteTrobairitz:
DeleteI have had brand new Suzukis since 1979. First was a GS400, then GS550L, migrated to GS1000L and shortly thereafter to a 1981 GS1150L. All were the same colour so Mrs Skoot didn't know. She once remarked that my 1150 looked larger than she thought.
Suzukis are bulletproof. I have had a few Hondas but I keep going back to Suzuki. We have lost a lot of dealers her in Vancouver and there are rumours of the last two Triumph dealers closing. Last year two major Suzuki dealers closed as well as one major Yamaha dealership.
you know the old phrase "you meet the nicest people on a Suzuki"
I should be posting a similar tale about now, but alas it was still -22 this morning here and snow and ice covers everything insight. Beginning to despair that we'll ever see spring.
ReplyDeleteCanajun:
DeleteYou knew I was trying to rub it in, didn't you ? Riding is still marginal out here as it generally freezes at night and not so good to commute at 7am but later in the day the roads are bare. I still can't believe you are still getting that cold. Doesn't the guy upstairs know that Spring will be here in a few days ? All I can say is that "your time will come", either that or it won't come
Bob I am getting a twitch in my throttle hand, I haven't looked at Scarlet once since last October. I am getting close to pulling the ICBC trigger, but going to hold a little more. Last year I insured in March, but then hardly road until April because the weather was so rainy that is was a grind trudging into work with wet gear & then getting ready fir the day. I think too I want to get out in her parking lot & run some manoeuvres and practice quick stops & get used to Scarlets weight again. Getting really antsy though and definitely feeling the need of throttle therapy. Come on summer bring it on!
ReplyDeleteDar:
DeleteI decided to renew my insurance on Sunday. I have full coverage but ICBC with only the basic, and Beacon with the collision and extras. Beacon is for yearly coverage so it also covers storage and it is in effect all year. I only needed the ICBC portion to be able to ride.
It only makes a $70 difference (per month) whether I insure now or wait a month and I will not be able to ride past August anyway as I am leaving on another big trip around then so the bike will be sitting anyway so no use to have insurance which I can't use.
I rode to work yesterday in our heavy traffic. Not ideal to be the first ride of the season as you are getting co-ordinated again. Also I have gotten used to the BMW ergonomics and I had not ridden the Suzuki since around last June. I notice the obvious lack of power and lack of good braking. The BMW has me spoiled, so smooth and can stop on a dime, plus it is much lower to the ground. (ie: not top heavy)
I like this idea of sticking with one color, a variation on my multiple of machines. Suzuki's have been very, very good to me and I'll not have a bad word against them. :)
ReplyDeleteCoop:
DeleteIt was a case of "CC'itis" I knew I couldn't just keep buying larger motorcycles so I decided it would be okay if I just bought the same colour and no one would know. And it worked ! I think it worked because no one mentioned otherwise. Suzukis have always had a reputation for being bullet-proof. Their engines are dead reliable. Not the latest cutting edge technology but built to a price point and good value for what they are
Bob, I just noticed you've got a toboggan. I know you got an inch of snow last week or so, but really, you went out and got a toboggan?? Is this pessimism or optimism? Inquiring minds want to know.
ReplyDeleteDavid:
DeleteThat Toboggan has been there for over 25 years. It was inside at one time but it is so cumbersome we had to put it outside. We did use it once at little Mountain, which is like one of those Montreal hills but we had a station wagon back then. We now have no way to take it anywhere, plus we don't get much snow here. Mainly slush or ice. How about you take it on the plane the next time you visit.
I'm hoping that Spring has Sprung
Very nice!
ReplyDeleteBack in my Dad's day, one would have said, "First Kick", referring to kickstarting. Oh, aren't we all glad there's none of that anymore!
I'm glad you're riding!
Smooches,
Sash
SashMouth
Tina:
DeleteAll of my first few bikes had Kickstarters. It wasn't easy to start. You needed to really kick it hard and if it slipped you got hit "you know where" and it really hurt. Of course you wouldn't know anything about those appendages.
only the smaller bikes have kickstarters nowadays. I don't think it would be easy to start a modern, high compression engine with FI manually
Yay! You look so happy and ready to ride! Tomorrow is the first day of spring, so enjoy!
ReplyDeleteDeb:
DeleteI did ride to work yesterday but it took a few miles to get rid of the rust. Tomorrow is the first day of Spring. Hope you can get out for a ride too
from: VStar Lady March 19, 2014 at 6:50 PM
ReplyDeleteBob I loved my Suzuki(s) too ... then I met the VStar and I loved her also. I wished I could have kept Suzi for around town and the Star for long distance (one can love two bikes!)
The first ride always freaks me out. I meticulously plan the route home, praying I don't drop it in the parking lot at the storage spot, avoiding as much traffic as possible, remembering I'm a year older than last year...then I seem to get my groove on just about by the time I arrive home
.
Congratulations for a safe first ride!
(Karen: sorry, I was trying to get rid of the deleted comment and it deleted the real one too)
Karen:
DeleteI don't have much problem going to work as I am riding the opposite direction to most traffic but I go through 3 cities. Coming home I am in the thick of it. I should have ridden on Sunday to get my co-ordination back. I haven't ridden since last September even though my insurance didn't run out until late October.
Plus, I haven't ridden my Vstrom since last May as I rode my BMW all summer.
I hope you get to take your first ride of the year soon too.