Hobbies – Page 108 – Not Your Average Engineer

November 14, 2008July 1, 2020

Lost plastic side panel and trickle charger for winter

Today on my motorcycle ride I managed to loose my left plastic side panel. New ones aren’t available at any price so far as I can tell. On ebay I can get a used panel, that is if I can find it in the right color and without too much damage, for about 50 USD. The bike doesn’t strictly need that panel to function but it does decrease its value and its astetic qualities. Maybe I will see about making my own cover instead.

Last week I bought a trickle charger from NewEnough.com for a very reasonable price. I chose the Deltran Battery Tender Jr. It cost me 30 USD plus a few bucks in shipping. I credit the charger for the easy time I had this morning starting my bike in the cold. Unfortunately, it was also partially the reason why I lost my left side panel. The panel has to be removed to access the battery terminals for charging. When I went to replace it, I must not have done a very good job re-securing it.

The rest of the winter I believe I will be riding around without any extraneous plastic bits that can fall off. Earlier in the summer I already lost one of the mini bullet bolt covers for my license plate holder. That time, the piece wacked Carl in the leg. This time I have no idea what happened to my poor plastic side panel. After I realized it fell off (as soon as I got home), I jumped in my car and drove the route to see if I could find it. Alas, it was all for naught.

October 24, 2008July 1, 2020

Fall Colors From the Seat of a Motorcycle

This evening Jaime and I rode our motorcycles west and south of Corvallis over the hills on Decker Road down to the Bellfountain Highway to Bellfountain. We stopped in the little hamlet to take a few photos in front of the church on our motorcycles. All of the trees are fully ablaze in color. Every corner we turned, ever hill we crested presented us with a fresh vista full of Fall.

On the ride back, the air temperature dropped with the setting sun. By the time we hit Corvallis, both Jaime and I were a bit chilled. Next time I go out riding, I will have to wear a thermal layer or two. The colder weather has arrived.

In related ride news, my oil level remains fine. There is no evidence of burning oil.

I also purchased gas today. 1.55 gallons for 72.3 miles which works out to 46.6 gallons. That would be the second worst fuel economy I have had to date. The worst was from the maintenance ride I had to do a few months back.

In total, my ride was about 54 miles. Jamie’s ride would be about 51 miles.

Our Route Map

October 13, 2008July 1, 2020

Picking up Carl from the Harley Store

This afternoon I buzzed out on my motorcycle to the Albany Harley Davidson store to meet Carl who was picking his bike up after getting it serviced. I nearly missed him at the shop because I got stuck in the nightmareish traffic that pops up in downtown Corvallis every evening at about quitting time.

From the shop we rode north, passed under the freeway, went through Millersburg, and accidentally got on the freeway headed south. We went all the way down to the Brownsville exit where we jumped off and headed west trying to find Peoria. We mistakenly turned onto 99E instead of going further west to Peoria Road. The ride up 99E was fine just the same.

Total mileage: 72 miles.

Gas purchased with 91 miles on odometer. 1.745 gallons. $5.76 total. 52.2 miles/gallon.

My Route Map