smilespergallon
Well travelled
- Location
- Durham, NC
I took my first 'long' ride on the Classic this weekend. The plan was to meet a friend around 9am friday for a short discussion of projects on her new house, then head north on a ~300km/150mi (each way) ride. 3.3 hours according to Tripper and assuming you don't stop or get slowed down. Right before heading out I checked weather reports and radar to make sure I was doing this and everything said backroads on the 350 rather than highway in the miata.
About 11:30 at a bit over an hour on the road the rain started. A cold rain with stinging drops that find their way into the cracks between your gear. By the 2 hour mark I was looking for a place to stop and at least pour the water out of my boots, which I did with a change of socks and shirt plus the addition of cold weather (water'proof') overpants and gloves.
At 2.5 hours I got stuck behind a truck carrying dirt, which had become mud. Got past quickly, but it absolutely coated my bike with mud, a vehicle which until that day had yet to feel the touch of water. Shortly after it stopped raining and I just had to content with spray the rest of the way in.
A bit over 3 and a half hours, I arrived needing to borrow clothes so I could put all my stuff through the dryer. Still had to wear plastic bags between my socks and boots for the rest of the day, during the party that night, and even on the way home the next day when it never did get as warm as expected and even with the cold weather gear a damp chill made the ride unpleasant in general.
Got home and realized that I pretty much need to disassemble my bike to properly clean it. Oh look, the rear exhaust clamp is loose. Wonder how long that's been there, it was physically impossible to put right without tools so I don't imagine it happened on the trip. Explains the low RPM rattle I'd randomly notice and thought it was just part of the 'retro sound' or something.
The cats came off with a 1/4 twist and the downpipe swung loose to hit the frame. The whole system was loose. Which was handy as I needed to remove every piece from the bike for cleaning, but less confidence building in the dealership that did the 300 mile service 20 miles before my trip. I may have to ask the service manager to get someone other than 'Tony' to work on my bike for the rest of my service contract.
But no parts were damaged, no loss of health, so a successful voyage for the Classic's first real outing.
Oh, and with a loose exhaust and opened up air filter box I used 2.108 US gallons over 113 miles literally full throttle from pump to pump. The worst mileage I expect from my bike for the rest of its life is 50 MPG, less than that and I'll consider the engine worn out.
About 11:30 at a bit over an hour on the road the rain started. A cold rain with stinging drops that find their way into the cracks between your gear. By the 2 hour mark I was looking for a place to stop and at least pour the water out of my boots, which I did with a change of socks and shirt plus the addition of cold weather (water'proof') overpants and gloves.
At 2.5 hours I got stuck behind a truck carrying dirt, which had become mud. Got past quickly, but it absolutely coated my bike with mud, a vehicle which until that day had yet to feel the touch of water. Shortly after it stopped raining and I just had to content with spray the rest of the way in.
A bit over 3 and a half hours, I arrived needing to borrow clothes so I could put all my stuff through the dryer. Still had to wear plastic bags between my socks and boots for the rest of the day, during the party that night, and even on the way home the next day when it never did get as warm as expected and even with the cold weather gear a damp chill made the ride unpleasant in general.
Got home and realized that I pretty much need to disassemble my bike to properly clean it. Oh look, the rear exhaust clamp is loose. Wonder how long that's been there, it was physically impossible to put right without tools so I don't imagine it happened on the trip. Explains the low RPM rattle I'd randomly notice and thought it was just part of the 'retro sound' or something.
The cats came off with a 1/4 twist and the downpipe swung loose to hit the frame. The whole system was loose. Which was handy as I needed to remove every piece from the bike for cleaning, but less confidence building in the dealership that did the 300 mile service 20 miles before my trip. I may have to ask the service manager to get someone other than 'Tony' to work on my bike for the rest of my service contract.
But no parts were damaged, no loss of health, so a successful voyage for the Classic's first real outing.
Oh, and with a loose exhaust and opened up air filter box I used 2.108 US gallons over 113 miles literally full throttle from pump to pump. The worst mileage I expect from my bike for the rest of its life is 50 MPG, less than that and I'll consider the engine worn out.
