Another 50 degree day in the beginning of February

It's 54 degrees outside right now. The bike is in the driveway and I'm ready to go. Barb has to get ready then it's off we go.

We decided to take a ride to the Plumstead Inn for lunch. It's a favorite place to ride to for lunch. Heather, David and Steve followed in the car and had lunch with us. 

After lunch we took a ride up 537, through Jobstown to Pemberton Borough the up Four Mile Road home.

It was a great day for riding. We saw a few other bikes on the road but not as many as I thought we would. Hopefully we'll have a few more opportunities to go riding before the cruise.

It's supposed to be 50 today...I shall ride

It ended up only getting to 48 today...very little wind. First I installed the new battery in the bike. There's not alot of room to work but I managed. Next I bundled up, put on my new trouser straps to keep the wind from blowing up my legs and took off. I headed up to Ocean County Harley-Davidson to submit my paperwork to get credit for logging miles. After 1000 then 5000 miles you get a pin and patch. The dealer put down 51000 miles and I'm at 52990 so I've already passed the first goal. I'll wait a bit before I submit it. Maybe right before the cruise.
I installed the new iridium spark plugs after I returned. We'll see if it does anything to improve the slight problem I perceive with the way the engine is running, and the lower gas mileage...although I read that a low battery (the one I replaced) can cause a weak spark, which may have contributed to the problem.
I also installed the Dragon Wing variable fairing vents. They should help with ventilation on hot days.
Tomorrow, if it tops 50, I'll install the heat shields. I'd like to have them installed before the cruise since the rides are in warmer climates.

It felt great getting out on the bike again. It's been about two months. I really felt good handling the big bike. Hopefully tomorrow Barb will go with me I can work on riding two-up. Hopefully I can get a good picture of her in her 'leathers' next to the bike.

It's here.,,

The new battery for the Harley is here. Actually I've had it almost two weeks but I've been waiting for a day warm enough to work on the bike. The bike's been sitting quiet and cold for about a month.

 

In addition to the battery I have a few other projects to complete. I need to install the new horn. The old one is all but dead and sounds really pathetic. I have new iridium spark plugs and ignition wires to install which I hope will improve a performance problem I perceive when I'm riding. It feels like one of the plugs is a little fouled.

Other small projects are to install the Dragon Wings and Heat Shields I received for Christmas. Both should help with the heat problems of riding a big-V in warm weather. Both are standard on newer bikes so they must help.

 



Damn

The bike sits...it needs a battery. It's almost 70 degrees around the first day of winter and the bike is 'down'. I didn't have time to be riding around anyway. I haven't been riding in awhile...weather, babysitting, battery.

Out All Day On The Bike - June 1st, 2013

I'm going to be out all day on the bike. First I'll be going to Lakewood to Ocean County Harley-Davidson for their Tent Event...free lunch. From there I'll be taking the parkway to Newark to visit with Heather. Next I'll be going to Hightstown to meet Paul then I'll return home to re-group before going to Burlington for Bike Night.

I went to the Harley dealer for their Tent Event. There wasn't much 'under the tent'; just a bunch of old shirts, gloves and helmets at 50% off. There was music, a one man band, that was pretty good and free hot dogs. I went inside to look at a few items that I was thinking of buying but none of them were on display. When I went back to my bike another rider pointed out that there was something leaking under the bike. I checked it out and apparently is was gasoline from the overflow. I had just filled the tank and really topped it off. When I parked the bike it leaned way over on the stand, causing some gas to spill into the overflow and onto the ground. No big deal...just have to remember that for the next time.

I took off for Newark, heading up the Parkway. The traffic wasn't bad going North but it looked bad going South so for the way home I would be using the Turnpike. I stopped at the last rest stop before my exit, had a drink, took a break from the heat and took my meds. For some reason I was really tired on the bike. I continued on without incident and arrived at the Renaissance House about 15 minutes early. Heather was sitting outside but I couldn't start my visit until it was time so I fussed about with the bike. She said she knew it was me coming as soon as she heard the bike come around the corner.

The visit was nice and when it was time to leave I headed for the Turnpike. There was little traffic on the turnpike compared with the parkway.

Pic By The Bog - May 29th, 2013

 I stopped along Rt. 70 to take a quick pic of the bike in a nice spot.

A ride around Maine - May 23rd, 2013

We trailered the bike up to Maine on Wednesday night in the new trailer. Note to self: check things better before leaving the dealer. The new trailer has one marker light out and a faulty brake light. Off we went anyway. The ride wasn't too bad...a few back-ups due mostly to construction. We arrived about 23:00, checked-in and went right to bed.
We had been watching the weather and things did not look promising for the weekend. Thursday was looking to be the only possible ride day so we got up and ready to go about 09:30. It was pretty overcast but not raining so off we went, with David and Annette leading the way.
Our first stop was Freeport...L.L. Bean. Pretty amazing place. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger. We walked around Freeport for a bit then decided to get going.
We headed up the coast to Wiscasset, ME for lunch at 'Red's Eats'. What a place...very earthy but soooo delicious. All the hype is true.

After stuffing ourselves on lobster and what were probably the best onion rings ever we headed out to Rockland. The scenery was nice, coastal. When we reached Rockland we headed inland to Augusta, the state capital.

In Augusta we stopped at the Harley dealer, North Country Harley-Davidson. We bought the normal stuff...shirt, pin...then headed back to the hotel. First we had to go back through Augusta.

In NJ we have traffic circles (rotarys or roundabouts in Maine). We think our circles are stupid and dangerous, especially the way people drive in NJ; badly and with attitude. The circles in Augusta were wicked crazy! They are several lanes, including the incoming and departing lanes and people just shoot out and across, at high speed. Somehow they work because they plan on adding more.

It was a nice long road along winding, hilly roads. We managed to dodge the rain except for a few drops; nothing heavy. When we arrived back at the hotel we put the bikes back in the trailers. It was just in time because it started to rain.

We went out to dinner at the Great Lost Bear. It is a nice bar / restaurant with a great atmosphere. It also has something like 70 beers on tap. After a great burger we headed back to the hotel, in the rain, and went to bed.