Riding home today I had a bad scare. Really bad.
I was heading north, out of town, going through a congested, busy intersection at a mall.
My head was on a swivel here as normal.
But I did not expect what happened.
A black Yukon that was at a red light, in a lane dedicated to turning left, south bound, decided to make a right on red.
The driver was oblivious to his surrounds as he was on his cell phone.
He had to swing wide, very wide as there is an island to prevent this manuver.
He swung out into my lane, not seeing and not hearing me.
I was not running as fast as normal, thankfully, and I swerved hard and braked to avoid either being run over or going under this huge SUV, driven by a complete dumb ass.
At the next light I rolled up beside him, lifted my front shield, called him a dumb mother fucker and flipped him the bird.
It was not my skill or ability that saved me today, it was only God. He is with me on my bike. He protects me and defends me.
I finally bought a cleaning product for my Harley. It is called S100. You spray it on and rinse it off with high pressure from your hose. If the bike feels squeeky clean then you use a fine mist to complete the rinse. This stuff does work like they say! Everything sparkles on my bike just like when I bought it. I used it on Debbies Suzuki, her engine was very grimy and dirt. Now the engine looks new! It is an amazing product.
But on a bad note, it does wash off everything including needed oil and grease. Now my shifter linkage is dry and binds when it is hot in the evenings. Once rolling it cools off, the metal contracting and it shifts normally. I have to tear down the shift linkage and lube it.
I had the left front running lamp go out. It is a two filament bulb. I went to the Harley davidson dealership to buy one, paying almost $6 for a single bulb. I installed the bulb an dturned on the power. I watched in horror as the glass seemed to melt free of the base, the filament flaming out like a flashbulb. I turned on the signal and it did the same!
I went to the local "Batteries Plus" to buy a buld since they claim to carry every type. I give the tech the complete origanl bulb and he matches it up. As we are at the rack of bulbs I mention, as he is removing the two pack from the rack, how much cheaper this is than at the dealership. He asks what the bulb is for, I say my Harley. Suddenly he put the pack back and tells me they do not carry the bulb I need!
I come home frustrated about having to return across town to the dealership. I decide to check some online H-D Forums. I read that a common 1157 bulb will work.
I went to Advance Auto and bought a two pack for less than half the price of one bulb from the dealership.
Guess what?
The 1157 works!
I called the dealership about a fluid change, engine oil and filter, primary case oil change and transmission oil change. All I get from them over the phone is the labor on just the engine oil and filter change will be $80. I am ordering a shop manual and learning how to do all this my self. Even if I have to buy a lift and build a small work shop, it will be cheaper in the long haul as I need to change these fluids and filter at least once a year, preferably twice as I do not ride that much, but the oil some how collects moisture and that in turn will fry the roller bearings in my bike.
I have been riding a lot lately to and from work. Some weeks I ride almost everyday. I love riding in the mornings. The air is crisp, traffic light and I have a blast.
Well guess this is it for this entry.
More to come....
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