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Well, as I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, I had a little trouble with my motorcycle.  I am a little disgusted by this but cannot say that I am disappointed with the bike.  I have had relatively little trouble out of it in spite of all the arduous traveling that I have put it through.  The list of mechanical problems are:

Rear light fell off back fender  OOPS (factory flaw fixed with hillbilly ingenuity)

Handle bars get twisted out of straight line when on extremely bumpy roads

and then routine stuff:

Change spark plugs

Several rear tires

I need a front and rear tire

Rear brakes replacement

All in all, for a motorcycle that has traveled 11,500 miles that is very good.  This is including that around 1/3 of its mileage is off-road, snow, mud, and hill climbing travels.  So again I am still satisfied with the motorcycle.  Besides that is a lot of miles on a bike anyway.

Well, now for the matter at hand.  I have sprung an oil leak.  In a car this is a minor annoyance that will cost extra in oil replacement.  ON a motorcycle that problem remains along with the lovely saturation of my pants leg on the guilty side.  Yep, I drove all the way to Dale Hollow with an oil leak that totally ruined a pair of jeans and got my leg nice and oily…yum.  It appears that driving at around 70 MPH will keep the leak off my leg but travels it to the rear brakes.  Hmm, the lesser of two evils?

It appears that the problem is in the jug.  More specifically it is where the cylinder head meets with the block.  So in order to fix this I will have to tear down half of the bike.  More fun for me…yay.  Luckily the replacement gasket only costs around $20.  That is a small consolation for the time without my motorcycle in prime riding season.  Anyway, rest assured that there will be a blog entry as I tear this thing down and run into a multitude of problems.  Until then you will have to content yourself with looking at pix of the leak on the bike, its messy carnage, the bald tires and the beautiful sky I was driving into.

As I discovered the menacing leak, the sky looked ominous in the distance.

The irritating leak in all it’s glory.  What a mess.

And the mess continues all the way up to the rear flares.

               

As if the oil leak was not enough I have two bald tires that need replacing…sigh.  That will be $200.

Ok if you are just interested in the Pumpkin Festival you need to look below at my previous entry.  If you like cool cars and motorcycles, then please continue.  I have posted some of the cars and bikes that really caught my eye.  I have created a Flikr account to show all of the cars that stood out. 

This year was also exceptional as I gave an estimate of over 150 cars present at this years showing.  Cars ranged in every form of automobile.  If you could not come here and find a vehicle that you would want to drive home in, then you just won’t ever find one.  There were trucks, muscle cars, new cars, rat rods, clunkers, customs, and the list goes on.  I was really amazed at the diversity of it all.  It was also neat to talk with the owners as many set up lawn chairs and greeted those willing to talk.  One could get a complete vehicle history from some of these friendly persons.  I say persons because one of the nicest Corvettes here was owned by a lady.  No guys, I don’t think she is single.  So wade through the pictures below.  If you want to see more then go here to my Flikr site.  Don’t forget to hover over pix for more info.

Below are some examples of the motorcycles that were in the Motorcycle Show.  Pay special attention to the first and last entries, they may surprise you.

So I had to run an errand tonight, and it proved to be one of my favorite things to do.  No, making a dash out to the local utility to pay a bill is not fun, but getting to ride my motorcycle while doing it takes some of the pain out of the experience.  I love to ride my bike, but when I am going out after ten o’clock it is awesome.  Especially if the conditions are right.  So just envision for a moment…

I stroll out in an almost totally pitch black dark night.  I use my cell phone to illuminate my way.  I open the doors to the motorcycle barn and the faint light from the impromptu flashlight falls upon the it.  It glistens in the meager illumination.  I routinely pull the keys from my pocket and place them into the slot.  An action done so many times that I don’t even need the light to find the proper opening.  I click the ignition switch and instantly my dark night is enveloped with light streaming from the single headlight.  I place the cell phone back into its case and sit upon the bike.  It is a familiar feeling but never lacking in enthusiasm.  I push the button and the motor roars to life.  Suddenly I am aware of the coolness of the night and the moisture in the air.  A talent that I have picked up from riding.  One must be aware of the environment when taking his body and placing it upon a vehicle that offers no outside protection.  That is just the thrill of the entire journey.  No windshield to protect from glorious breezes.  No barriers to block all the world in a way that commonplace transportation has shielded us from.  I roll back the throttle, pull back the clutch, and pop the gear shifter lever into place.  The motorcycle jumps a little, almost as if anxious to begin the trip.  Releasing the clutch lets the bike loose.  Suddenly, what would normally be a mundane trip is an experience of emotion and a test of control.  I roll the throttle, shift, ease up on the throttle, and repeat the process.  With the expiring of each gear I wind the next out tighter.  I gain speed and torque quickly but always craving more, more, more.  Soon seventy miles an hour is upon me and some sensibility must come into play.  I begin to notice my surroundings more now that they are not just adrenaline-based blurs in the corners of my eyes.  I feel the moisture upon my skin, the air rushing through my hair and around my visor, and then I notice two things.  First I am amazed that there are practically no cars sharing this enormous four lane road with me.  Second, I look into the distant night sky and see clouds with lightning streaking across  the horizon.  It bounces as if playing from cloud to cloud.  I feel the raw energy in the air.  That while combined with the raw power of my bike is exhilarating.  I want to go faster, but know that some times it is better to maintain some control.  Still the urge pulls at me.  The lightning taunts me, the bike strains to break the constrains of some invisible force, and soon I am surpassing the speed limit and gaining more speed every millisecond.  No matter how much the bike gives, I want more and the motorcycle seems all too willing to provide.  Street lights are nothing more than streaks in my visor and all too brief reflections on the gas tank.  I can see the lightning flashes reflecting on my helmet.  MORE!  I crave it and it supplies.  MORE!  The force of the wind is setting me back and I can feel the torque.  MORE!!!  I brace and tense my whole body in what should be terror and discomfort, but is nothing more than sheer bliss. 

I nearly pass my stop.  I pull in and drop off my delivery just like some normal, non-adventure seeking individual.  Check to be sure that the lid closes properly.  Ease on the throttle and soon it calls to me again.  Wind, lightning, street lights, speed, RAW POWER!  all at my fingertips and just waiting to be tapped to their fullest potential.  Time is irrelevant and then…I am back home.  I pull the bike back into its stable and dismount.  Turn off the key and it slowly shuts down almost in disappointment at the journey’s end.  I place the key back into my pocket and reflect on the trip and smirk in spite of myself.  How does a simple vehicle totally change who you are?  The answer….Who cares?  The destination is good, but how you got there is what is important.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love my motorcycle.  I ride every chance I get.  I have had only one real complaint since I got the vehicle.  Man, that seat hurts after a while.  I was on a Poker Run one time and met up with an elderly man riding a dirt bike.  He told me he had a similar bike and just hated the abuse that the seat puts one’s derrière through.  He said that they quit making them for comfort and concentrated mostly on style.  I would have to agree.  Usually after about an hour and a half, my hindquarters are aching for some relief.  I am like most men when I make a trip, it is all about getting gone and getting there fast.  We seem to have a whole Nascar lap-time mentality.  I have heard multiple men state that they reached a destination three minutes faster than last time, as they puff up with pride.  Hey I am not criticizing, I do it too.  Anyway, I find myself, in the name of saving time, standing up on my foot pegs to ensure that I don’t have to stop and waste time.  Thus you may see me driving 60 mph, standing on those foot pegs just to save those valuable 3 minutes. 

What it all really comes down to is, I need a new bike.  No I am not willing to give up my old one.  I love my DR650.  It can go anywhere, as long as you don’t take a long time to make it there.  I am needing (or actually wanting) a cruiser.  So Suzuki, if you are listening, since I am a long time supporter of your products, you should gift me with a cruiser.  If you can’t do that, at least send me a more comfortable seat.  My rear is begging for it.

It may look sporty and comfy, but it will add new meaning to pain in the butt.