This is a good read, guys. Fairly long, but interesting, from a fella that just got back into riding, and posted this on Reeky. I thought it was interesting and well written. The fella who wrote it, doesnt seem to be a Reeky regular. (bjay ================================= =====He wrties:)~~This was previously posted in some of the forums that are not in high regard by the virtual drink purchasers. While I agree with those who think this usenet group is clique-ish, I think the following should be read by those not quite as seasoned and know-it-all that frequent this group. ~~~If I save one scratch on one bike, not to mention one scar on a young face, this is worth the read. ~~~~Those of you who wish to make snide comments because I did not set up the bar first, well, help yourself. I'm "shirley" trying to make a difference. Here goes, absolutely true: March 2, 2006 ~~~~Today it was 80 degrees here in NC, yesterday was high 70s. After being dormant as a rider for 20 odd years, I took my newly purchased but gently used 2002 FLHTCI out yesterday. It was my first ride since I sold my Shadow 1100 in the 1980s. ~~~We had trailered the bike home from purchasing a week ago. Yesterday morning was insurance and tags day. Insured and legal, I and the other three bikers at work headed out for the local bike/burger shop for lunch. As I made the turn into the burger barn, something happened and the curb was coming up so fast ~~~I locked down the brakes and dropped the bike. ~~~No serious damage, it kinda just sorta' fell as I was trying to hold it up. ~~I was turning right and I dropped the bike on the left side. Strange, I thought. ~~~Pride shattered, I chalked it up to many years of dormancy. ~~~~There were two neophytes on that lunch run, I (an old fart) and a new rider, on a 2000 Shadow Sabre for the first time ever on a bike. Twice, if there had been oncoming traffic, he would have been road kill for going way too wide on turns and drifting into the oncoming lanes. Inexperience, we thought. ~~~Later that afternoon, I decided to scoot to the bank. Coming home, in a left handed turn in an intersection, ~~I lost it again. This time, I spilled off the RIGHT side of the bike, slamming my head on the pavement and scratching the dookie out of engine guards, rear bag guards, handlebar grip and fairing. ~~~~The impact knocked the scooter hat off my head. Fortunately, a very nice rice rocket rider saw the incident and helped me get the bike up and to the curb. It wouldn't restart, so I stayed at the curb with huge dump trucks whizzing past while trying to restart. ~~~While there, a nice couple on a Wing came and offered to help. They staved off the traffiic while trying to help me figure out why the scoot wouldn't start. ~~~~ note)(I once frustrated the dickens out of myself with a standby generator that would start and then stop. After yanking my arm out of my socket I learned that the low oil sensor was shutting down the generator) ... the scoot exhibited the same sympton, so I thought perhaps the oil sensor was unhappy, being sideways and all, and I waited for it to settle down. ~We were soon joined by a lovely young blue eyed NCSHP trooperette, who dutifully set off her big blues (flashers, not eyes) to make sure the traffic behaved. ~~~~Finally, I checked the oil, had plenty, put the dipstick back and Vroom, the sound we love to hear remained constant. Admittedly scared and timid, I made it back to the office where the scoot is living until it finds a decent home where I sleep. ~~~There were three right turns and one left, and I was shaking as I took each one. Finally parked, I drove home, wondering if I could still ride a bike. ~~~Wife and I discussed the situation. She felt that there was something wrong with the machine. Next morning (today), my son, who has a RK, drove it and said it had a strange quirk of wanting to turn much harder than he had dialed in. He said it almost threw him, ~~~but being younger (he 32, me 55) his reflexes saved him, although he scraped the floorboard. ~~~~Told me to anticipate the lurch and hold her back and everything would be okay. ~~~I continued to wonder how I had managed (not once but twice) to drop the bike on the outside of the curves, one left and one right. ~~~Like in the cartoons, a light above my sore head went off. A tire gauge was found. ~~~The internet provided the proper inflation pressures for the scooter. The gauge told the tale: 15 PSI front and 12 PSI rear. The bike had spent the winter in the nice old man's garage, and I, the fool, never thought to kick the tires before I lit the fires. ~~~The newbie, with the Shadow, checked his. 18 front and 20 rear. ~~Now, why did I bother to take you guys and gals through this novel? ~~~~~~Okay, short story. For the benefit the web-rats who read these forums and then go out and buy a scooter, and those of you, old and addle brained like me, who may have forgotten to check the tires. ~~~~~~~~ ~~Surfing, I found assertions that bikes can lose up to 3 PSI per week while resting. A stealer page from the Rocky Mountains claims that 80% of bikes serviced have improper air pressure. ~~~~I'm lucky. My bike has battle scars, I have a headache, a sore neck, a sore shoulder, a severly scuffed boot, a torn shirt and NO pride left. However, I remember well the thud when my head hit the pavement. Without a lid, you would not have had the pleasure of wading through this. ~~~You know, I'm also a private pilot. I would never, NEVER take a plane off the ground without a flight plan, serious pre-flight check, runup, verbalize checklist, etc. It's just too easy to throw your leg over the seat and hit the noise button. (So, tomorrow, kick the tires before you light the tires.) (Fernman):~
