PNW Riders - Blogs http://pnwriders.com/blogs/ Motorcycle rides and riders in Washington Oregon Idaho British Columbia en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:33:13 GMT vBulletin 60 http://pnwriders.com/images_pnw/misc/rss.jpg PNW Riders - Blogs http://pnwriders.com/blogs/ Routing to the Unknown http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/637-routing-unknown.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:20:59 GMT As I continue to do my route planning, and research of exactly where and what I want to see, I continue to discover points of interest that jump out at me. My route has evolved from what seemed like simple jaunts between major points of interest, usually little towns along the way, to even more little points of interest of natural and man made wonders. I sat down one night, and first tried to define what I wanted out of this trip, and where I wanted to go. I do not have the time to do... As I continue to do my route planning, and research of exactly where and what I want to see, I continue to discover points of interest that jump out at me.

My route has evolved from what seemed like simple jaunts between major points of interest, usually little towns along the way, to even more little points of interest of natural and man made wonders.

I sat down one night, and first tried to define what I wanted out of this trip, and where I wanted to go. I do not have the time to do both Inuvik and Prudhoe Bay without giving up some down time to actually enjoy the sites and locations we are passing through, and so a decision had to be made.

Continue reading at: Life's a Breeze ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/637-routing-unknown.html The Proof http://pnwriders.com/blogs/gamuru/636-proof.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:41:10 GMT ...is in the pudding. That's how the saying gos, right?

I just posted (really late, mind you) my mileage numbers for October. Pathetic. :angry7:

I put a whopping 278 miles on the bike and 11 miles on the truck. Yep, it truly is the end of Riding Season for me.

Perhaps it's time to take the seat off and start planning for its recovery. ]]> Gamuru http://pnwriders.com/blogs/gamuru/636-proof.html The GS Diary: day 74 http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/634-gs-diary-day-74.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:28:33 GMT I didn't get much done tonight..
combination of 4 hours sleep.. 2 hours at the gym, pushing the weights to hard, full day of work..kids gone wild.. I lack the mental capacity to do anything useful :fallinga:

So I did something useless. I started out just trying to clean up the surface rust on the axle bolt so the spacers would slide on without the use of a hammer. I ended up polishing the axle bolt and spacers to a nice shine....
Really it's all I can handle tonight :mrgreen: ]]> sschering http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/634-gs-diary-day-74.html Ingenuity in the Pacific Northwest http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/633-ingenuity-pacific-northwest.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:23:23 GMT The Pacific Northwest is in my opinion, one of the greatest area’s of land mass in the world. Very few area’s in the world compare to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, nor do they offer the diversity, nor environments that the Pacific Northwest does. No matter where you live here, no matter where you go. There is always something magical near by. Whether it be the Olympic Rain Forest of Western Washington, the Crater Lake of South Central Oregon, or the massive Hell’s Canyon in Idaho,... The Pacific Northwest is in my opinion, one of the greatest area’s of land mass in the world. Very few area’s in the world compare to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, nor do they offer the diversity, nor environments that the Pacific Northwest does.

No matter where you live here, no matter where you go. There is always something magical near by.

Whether it be the Olympic Rain Forest of Western Washington, the Crater Lake of South Central Oregon, or the massive Hell’s Canyon in Idaho, there is something near, and something in between any destination that is sure to surprise you.

And just as well with our diverse geology, we have just as diverse of weather.

Continue Reading at: Life's a Breeze ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/633-ingenuity-pacific-northwest.html The GS Diary Day 71: Going Backwards http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/631-gs-diary-day-71-going-backwards.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:49:16 GMT Just when I thought I was getting some where it looks like I'm going backwards.. But it's a good thing..

Most of the parts are in except the seat cover.

The Tires are in at the shop so I pulled both wheels off last night. Forks are also coming out for new seals.

I started putting the new bars on.. I have most of it figured out but it's going to take re-routing the the throttle cable and brake line.

Rear sets are on.. They are built for a GS550 so I had to make 3 spacers and a plate to mount them.

The new rear shocks are on but decided I didn't like the stack of washers Suzuki used for spacers. I made up a couple 8mm spacers from 1" aluminum bar to replace them...

Nothing else exciting going on..

This is progress?
]]> sschering http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/631-gs-diary-day-71-going-backwards.html Dried Fruit, Jerky and Tasty Table Scraps http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/630-dried-fruit-jerky-tasty-table-scraps.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:44:10 GMT The dehydrator (http://mic.phrozen-phaze.com/?p=708) came in yesterday, which makes me very happy. I wanted to start making stuff right away with it, so what better foods to start off with than fruit and jerky? Simple enough, so my roommate and I headed to the grocery store for a roast. We first hit up Fred Meyer. No cheap roasts. Damn So we head to Safeway. Again, no luck. They had a couple bottom rounds, but at nearly 4 bucks a pound, I wasn’t going to even think of making Jerky... The dehydrator came in yesterday, which makes me very happy. I wanted to start making stuff right away with it, so what better foods to start off with than fruit and jerky?

Simple enough, so my roommate and I headed to the grocery store for a roast. We first hit up Fred Meyer.

No cheap roasts. Damn

So we head to Safeway.

Again, no luck. They had a couple bottom rounds, but at nearly 4 bucks a pound, I wasn’t going to even think of making Jerky with that. Not when knowing I can get a large roast from the Cash and Carry of much better quality for less.

Continue Reading at Life's a Breeze ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/630-dried-fruit-jerky-tasty-table-scraps.html Research Overload - Tents http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/629-research-overload-tents.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:08:20 GMT In my continuing research for my trip planning I have focused on shelter. Now, I am by no means even slightly educated when it comes to tents. Anything camping really. So my research, criteria, and decisions were based on talking with more knowledgeable friends, taking note of their criteria, then picking out the most important features that appealed to me. Shelter, along with food and water, is an important aspect of survival, so I figured I better spend some time researching tents. I... In my continuing research for my trip planning I have focused on shelter. Now, I am by no means even slightly educated when it comes to tents. Anything camping really. So my research, criteria, and decisions were based on talking with more knowledgeable friends, taking note of their criteria, then picking out the most important features that appealed to me.

Shelter, along with food and water, is an important aspect of survival, so I figured I better spend some time researching tents.

I actually started researching tents awhile back, and come across a couple I thought fit the bill. Over the last week, I have continued to read sites, reviews, and peoples personal experiences.

Continue Reading at Life's A Breeze ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/629-research-overload-tents.html Research Overload - Food http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/628-research-overload-food.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:58:51 GMT There are so many thing that one needs to do a successful trip on 2 wheels. The most needed among those things, is well, the 2 wheels that will carry you, then everything else can be debated. I’ve been spending a large amount of my free time with research. Research of pretty much everything one will need for an extended trip. Being that this is my first true “Adventure” ride that I will take part in, I need a lot of supplies. And with needing supplies comes the age old question “Which... There are so many thing that one needs to do a successful trip on 2 wheels. The most needed among those things, is well, the 2 wheels that will carry you, then everything else can be debated.

I’ve been spending a large amount of my free time with research. Research of pretty much everything one will need for an extended trip.

Being that this is my first true “Adventure” ride that I will take part in, I need a lot of supplies. And with needing supplies comes the age old question “Which one?”.

I have been researching everything from sleeping bags, tents, to even clothes and bags.

My latest bit of research got me looking into food supplies. Food and Water are two very important things one must need to survive!

Continue Reading at Life's a Breeze ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/628-research-overload-food.html The GS Diary Day 63: Another gift from the PO. http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/626-gs-diary-day-63-another-gift-po.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:23:23 GMT Once again I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what the hell the PO was thinking (or smoking)

What started this was the box sitting where the voltage regulator belongs. It's a CDI from a 1980 GS850 and it's wired into the bike somehow.. going over the wiring diagram shows the coil outputs are hooked up to ?? The wires run off into a ball of tape.. the pickup lead is just taped off and left hanging.. I can't see how the hell this thing is doing anything.
Voltage regulator is MIA.. a mystery to be solved.

With the GS wiring diagram in hand I started tracing the mess of wiring, electrical tape and garbage to see what the hell was going on..

First thing is to check the ignition.. a CDI must be tied into that somehow right? umm no.. points and coils are still wired up stock..
Good to know.. moving on..

I started from the CDI and worked my way into the mess.. Only 2 wires are hooked to the bikes wiring harness.. both are the coil outputs from the CDI.. Following those through a bunch of patches I get to a pair of wires spliced into the main harness.. These are Yellow and white/green wires.. Eh? those go to the stator..

Tracing the wires confirms it.. the stupid CDI is plugged into the stator where the voltage regulator goes.. Whoever did it even took the time to make up a little wiring harness to make it a plug in install.. Lucky thing for me it's easy to unplug & chuck in the parts bin.

I thought I'd get all smart and use the regulator from the GS750.. That's not going to work either .. It's a single wire regulator.. the GS1000 unit controls 2 fields on the stator..

Not wanting to throw good money at a old unknown regulator to go with the unknown rectifier I chose to upgrade the whole thing.

I ordered up a FH008 FET style R/R from a 07-09 CBR600RR.. Should be here in a few days..

Other than that I picked up some aluminum plate and bar stock I needed to get the rear sets mounted..

Carbs are mounted.. another mess.. I thought I'd use the GS 750 throttle cables as the GS1000 set was broken.. Well as it happens the GS750 uses a different handle bar housing that the cables don't fit so I had to swap the housings out till the new cables arrive..

I'm now 3 weeks behind my original schedule to have it running.. :banghead:

Good news is The Dyna S ignition is here and new GXL wire is in with the correct tracer colors to repair the wiring harness. :mrgreen: ]]> sschering http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/626-gs-diary-day-63-another-gift-po.html My Old Friend: Part 9 - The Rebirth of an XT http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/625-my-old-friend-part-9-rebirth-xt.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:43:07 GMT Decisions Decisions Decisions. It has all come down to Decisions. The bike is up on its own wheels, carb is in place, exhaust is in place, and the wire harness is somewhat in place. All the pieces needed to start her up, and I just let it set. More time spent thinking, planning, measuring than actual work took place in this update, so it is short, simple, full of babble and a couple pictures to compliment it.

"Any man who believes he controls the machine is in a state of denial that can only be accompanied by his obsession of power over things he can not yet understand. The heart of the machine has the power to take control of our mortal self, with our adrenaline infused hearts pumping in complete rhythm to the stroke of the motor, our minds linked at the wheel sensing every inch of the ground below us, and our souls melded into a single entity that cries into the open night sky, begging for it to never end. Any man, who believes he controls the motorcycle, tossing aside all respect for the mechanical being in which sits before him, will most likely die for his mistake."

Read More at: Life's A Breeze - The Adventures and Projects of Mic ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/625-my-old-friend-part-9-rebirth-xt.html GS1000 Part ??? Ding! Carbs are done.. http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/621-gs1000-part-ding-carbs-done.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:11:00 GMT I finally finished the carbs last night..

I didn't think they would drag on so long..

I replaced most of the fasteners with stainless, all new O rings and gaskets.







Next on the hit list.. petcock and tank cleanup. ]]> sschering http://pnwriders.com/blogs/sschering/621-gs1000-part-ding-carbs-done.html My Old Friend: Part 8 - The Rebirth of an XT http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/620-my-old-friend-part-8-rebirth-xt.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:59:02 GMT Part 8: Published 10-26-09

Finally seeing the bike take shape, and getting caught up, we see what stood as a skeleton of bare metal, start to take form of a motorcycle, but not without a hiccup here and there.

"Boy! What a weekend!

I was originally going to name this issue of MOF “The exploady burny” issue, but decided against that… And more on that later. Right now, lets jump right into things!"

Continue Reading at Life's a Breeze: The Adventures and Projects of Mic ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/620-my-old-friend-part-8-rebirth-xt.html Back to Basics - The Rain of Insanity http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/619-back-basics-rain-insanity.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:26:14 GMT I see them. The gentle leaves falling to the ground, blotting out the once green neighborhoods in tones of yellow, orange and red.

Our sky's give in to the clouds. Slowly removing the blue from our sights, and replacing it with the dreary gray that has moved in, bringing with it, the pat pat pattering of rain gently striking the ground in rapid succession.

It's autumn in the Pacific Northwest. And while the people pack up their motorcycles, along with their lawn furniture and volley ball nets, I dust off my own, and prepare for the winter ahead.

I'm not certain why, but this time of year brings something out in me. Something that drives me to want to ride. I am the opposite of the fair weather rider. I am the adverse weather rider. A sick dieing breed of individuals, who some believe are crazy, and require the help of a psychologist to study the pure insanity that courses through the veins of our bodies.

What drives us to wake up each morning, only to stare outside at the precipitation, as if calculating in our minds, each inch to be traveled in the days commute? Then grinning, as you take one last drink from your coffee, dawn your gear, and ride off into the morning traffic.

I'm not certain. Maybe it is our souls begging to feel apart of the natural environment around us. Isn't that why we originally got our bikes to begin with? To feel apart of the environment, to feel the wind against your body, the sun radiating down all around you, encompassing your body in a warm glow. Isn't that what we consider the freedom that we enjoy so much, and others just cannot understand?

I believe it is the same nature. Some of us feel the freedom in the sun, while others of us, feel it in whatever nature throws at us.

I am not much of a summer rider. In fact, I enjoy it only if I can go somewhere worthwhile. I don't enjoy sitting in traffic in the summer. Oddly enough, I don't mind the traffic in the fall and winter. I get some sick thrill of sitting in it, while the rain falls around me.

It is odd, for the 3rd fall in a row, on my R6, I have done just that. Yes, I ride in the summer, but I enjoy the commute more in the later months. I spend more time on my bike during these months, than I do throughout the rest of the year. Why is this? Why do I enjoy what seems to be against the norm?

I believe it comes from my upbringing, a trait that was instilled in me by nurture, rather than nature. Much like how I enjoy waking up early mornings before most people even show up to work in New York. I was raised on a farm, and my clock was that of my father, waking us up for work. It was the need to always be ready.

Twelve years later after leaving the farm, and my body still reacts the same. It is programmed to sleep lightly, wake early, and eat quickly.

Summer meant work on the farm. Lots of work. The bikes were used for work. Fall and Winter was down time. It means time to have fun on the bikes. Was this fun I experienced the root of this feeling, this need?

I realize even more now, that getting back to my roots is more important than ever. Much of my childhood was spent exploring the neighboring White Bluffs Nature Reserve, which was formally thousands upon thousands of acres of land in the Central Region of Eastern Washington that once formally belonged to the Atomic Energy, or what has now become known as just the Handford Reservation.

I explored these deserts from a young childhood, until I was an adult. Hours upon hours were spent in this expanse of sagebrush, cacti, and sand. Landmarks found, once forgotten, I would ride blindly in any direction, just to find the next piece of history.

Years passed and the miles passed by, and eventually I would end up with a riding partner. Another avid young adventurer who much like myself, grew up on bikes starting from a young age. Hell, I remember when he broke his leg at 8 years old from hitting a circle track wrong. He later would have this same experience later in his life, about 10 years later. We never learned from our prior mistakes, and continued to ride wherever, and however we wanted to. If any part of my childhood could be considered the best of, this is the period of time in my life that would be considered the best years of them.

Owen and I would put down the miles almost every day for several years. Enough, that my XT that I obtained in the Fall of 92, would eventually brake the fifty-thousand mile marker. A bike that was never licensed for public road use, took the beating of the Eastern Washington terrain for several years.

I believe this, is the root of what others consider my insanity. I was born and raised in this fashion, raised to adventure, and did so. Even if only limited to one region, I explored almost every square inch of what I was given in my 10 years or so of riding back there.

And I believe that is why I find excitement in the rain. It gives me back a piece of my childhood, as if my body, my brain is telling me I need to return. To get back to the basics, the beginning, where it all started.

With that, I look at myself, and my choice of ride. A 2007 Yamaha R6. A great fun bike, one that I do not regret purchasing, but it really was to scratch an itch. I've owned mainly dirt bikes and dual sports over the years, and a cruiser. But now it was time for a sport bike, and with that thought, I bought it.

It opened my world up to the track, the the race, to the adrenaline of bombing down the front straight at over 150mph. To put my skills once again, against others. It created friendships with some of the greatest people I've met. So I cannot say I regret what that R6 brought me. But it is time to move on, to find a better suited bike for my day to day travels, for my day to day adventures. It just does not work for what I enjoy doing, and it took all these years to realize just exactly what it was, that I was missing.

So what will my next bike be? Well, there is the old XT, which I have been restoring, and modifying over the last year. It is the heart of my childhood, so it is time to make it apart of my adulthood. Then there is what is next? Maybe a KLR? DR? GS?

I am not 100% certain at this moment what my choice will be to carry me on my adventures and for once I don't care. I am more excited to see where the breeze eventually takes me. ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/619-back-basics-rain-insanity.html Cheating With Four Wheels http://pnwriders.com/blogs/gamuru/618-cheating-four-wheels.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:08:13 GMT It's been well over two weeks since my last post. Why? I hate to say it, but with the change in weather, the bike has been parked for the most of it. I did manage to sneak away from work early last Thursday for a short ride. I was to be off on Friday and planned to do some riding, but Mr. Weatherman said it was going to rain. And, boy, did it! I'm glad I did get in what little riding I did. Had I waited till Friday, I would have either been really upset or really wet.

Eighty miles is what I put on that day. It'll have to hold me until the weather shapes up a bit. Perhaps Sunday... Don't know and I haven't looked at the extended forecast.

But that's not why I'm writing today. Two reason, really. One is to make comment on a feeling I've been having and the other is to exercise the writing muscle. I find that if I don't stop and put something down on (digital) paper ever once in awhile, it gets harder and harder to do it.

Now, that feeling I mentioned. As I said before in a previous post--which I'm not going to find--I've now got the use of the company truck to run me back and forth to work. While it is nice, I often times feel like I'm cheating on my bike. Is that odd or what? :tard: I don't know what it is, but when I stop and think about driving the truck and leaving the bike at home, I actually feel slightly guilty. Hmmm. I wonder what Freud would say about that. :scratchea

Anyhoo.... That's all I got for now. To you all still up on two wheels: my hat's off to you. Ride safe! 8) ]]> Gamuru http://pnwriders.com/blogs/gamuru/618-cheating-four-wheels.html My Old Friend: Part 7 - The Rebirth of an XT http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/616-my-old-friend-part-7-rebirth-xt.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:32:22 GMT As mentioned in Part 6, this blog has officially moved over to my own personal blog site in order to not have to post it and format it for multiple sites.


A wet weekend of more time spent driving than working proves that even a little progress is good progress.

“ Quote:
"What I set out to do this weekend, was finish what I was unable to do last weekend. Which was put the engine in the frame, swing-arm attached, wheel bearings put in, steering stem with front suspension put on, and wheels so it will stand on its own.

What I did get this weekend, was a lot of sit down, rethink planning, a lot of back and forth driving all over the place, and then just a lot of bull shitting."
Continue reading over at my Blog

Part 7: Published 10-19-09 ]]> Mic http://pnwriders.com/blogs/mic/616-my-old-friend-part-7-rebirth-xt.html