FYI, DIY
If you can ride a motorcycle, you can fix a motorcycle.
My personal motto is to give everything a try because if you are going to hire a professional to fix something, it might as well be properly broken.
You don’t have to be a mechanic to take your bike on an adventure, but having basic knowledge of how a motorcycle works can get you out of a jam.
If you know the order of events required for a motorcycle to work properly, you can isolate the part of the system that needs attention. In my line of work, this is called (signal flow). The basic concept is to start at the source and logically work your way through the system until you find the point where it stops working. This is a very simple concept to understand but difficult to implement properly. Most people start at the wrong place or jump around aimlessly, only to create more confusion. Think of the system as a multi-story house, with many rooms and many doors. If the source originates in the kitchen but needs to get to the basement, what doors does it need to open, what set of stairs does it need to take to get there? If it’s not making it to the basement, figure out what door is locked or what set of stairs is broken, then fix them.
I didn’t know how to turn a wrench for a big part of my riding journey. I changed the oil a few times a year, did zero forms of winterizing, bought new tires when I got a flat, wore the sprockets smooth, and only replaced the chain once it snapped. I was a bad rider on all accounts. Equal parts ignorance and laziness allowed this dangerous nonsense to continue for far too long. The thing that got me out of this neglectful habit was deciding to try motorcycle racing. Up until that point, a motorcycle was just a cool form of transportation, nothing else. Getting into racing opened a new pathway and approach to motorcycles.
They do not make a 1972 CB350 that is race-ready, you must build it. With the help of my friend Motor Jones, a cool, old-school motorcycle racer, I was able to take an old beat-up bike and completely transform it into a race bike. The process taught me about engines, suspension, frames, but mainly, it gave me the confidence to just go for it. Prior to this, I never would have split open an engine case, but once you do it, you realize that there is no magic keeping the engine together; it is just parts and good engineering that work together to create a system. If a part fails, you can usually fix it or replace it. This applies to the whole motorcycle. No wizardry, just an awesome machine that can take you on great adventures.
Basic signal flow:
Problem
- Bike will not start.
Troubleshooting procedure:
- Is the key/ignition switched to the on position? Easy fix.
- Do the headlights turn on or flicker? Dim lights mean the battery is weak.
- Is the battery charged? Use a multimeter to check for voltage but especially the amps.
- Is the fuel pump working? There’s usually a clicking sound next to the tank when you turn the key.
- Is there a fuse for the ignition system and is it blown? There are usually a couple of spares in the fuse box.
- Is there a fuel valve/petcock, and is it on? Can’t start an engine without fuel.
- Still no luck? Sell it and buy a new bike. This bike is a pile and the new DRZ looks badass.
- Actually… you forgot about the start button. It needs to be set to the ON position.
Apply this method of thinking next time you’re in a bind, you might be able to keep the fun going or save a few bucks.
It’s just metal and stuff
Riding with friends
Go with the flow
When it comes to riding with buddies, specially on long trips like the BDRs, you have to be mindful of their time and yours. Some people like to plan everything down to the minute, others barely plan. I tend to go with the flow. Sometimes I tag along for the ride and only care about what time to wake up, other times I plan the routes, stops and lead the way. Finding the balance of when to lead and when to follow is a key part in enjoying long trips with friends. Everyone should be able to “ride their own ride”. Following doesn’t necessarily mean riding in the back; it just means you’re not the person in charge of where the adventure is going during that time. If you’re riding with friends I recommend having a loose expectation and creating a mindset for the adventure. Do this as a group so that everyone is on the same page. This is useful to keep things on track and to bring spirits up when things don’t go as planned. Some of my past mindsets have been; enjoy the ride, no matter what, this is what we are doing, explore, relax, technique.
Adventure riding is not a science, plans will change, things will go wrong, injuries might happen. Some of my treasured memories include terrible riding and broken bones. On the other hand, some of my favorite memories also include epic hill climbs and amazing views; riding a motorcycle alongside wild horses is about as good as it gets in my book.
When your riding with friends, you cannot be selfish. Work as a team, respect each others skills and boundaries. Push each other to go further, but also know when to call it a day.
Friends
G.A.S
Gear Acquisition Syndrome
If you have a passion for anything, you will eventually suffer from this. It usually starts with an extra set of gloves, a spare pair of goggles, maybe your jacket isn’t as warm as you wanted so you buy the newer model and before you know it you end up with a pile of jackets, a bin full of goggles, and enough tools to arm a couple of shops.
For me it started with trying to save money. I couldn’t afford nice gear so I would buy used or bottom of the line brands. I quickly found that this route leads to a lot of returns and gear causing more issues than they solved. You will get lucky every once in a while and score a sweet deal, but usually people sell things that didn’t cut it. I’m not a gear snob so I’m for whatever gets you riding and exploring, but after years of trying to make things work on the cheap, I’m realizing that “buy once, cry once” might be a better way to go.
Motorcycle gear is pretty cool and who doesn’t like cool things? I definitely do. I can never have enough pocket knives or flashlights. On the other hand, for motorcycle gear I prefer to only have the things I really need and the things that will work while on my travels. The only thoughts I want floating in my head while riding are about technique and my surroundings. Everything else can be dormant until needed, but once it’s needed it has to function!
Managing gear can be fun for some people, but I don’t want to think about it. I like to put effort into planning things once and moving on. Once I build a kit I try to leave it alone unless I see that something isn’t working.
Gear is never going to stop evolving, it’s only going to get better and cooler. Having said that, there is a point of diminishing returns on investing in new gear. Investing money, investing time, investing effort in general, effort that could be used to practice technique or to read about properly setting your suspension.
To elevate gas I recommend the following:
- Save and get the nicer gear. You will ride longer and better if you’re not soaking wet and freezing.
- Buy the nicer tool. It will last longer and you’ll have less stripped bolts and nuts.
- Only add as needed. Spend a bit more time on the bike and really figure out what you need.
- Less time on the web and scrolling through videos. Use that time to read the manual.
- Ride more! Can’t buy shit if you’re out riding.
Gear Junkie
rain and tears
Squint Goggles
Stigmatism, rain, fog, refraction, cold hands, anxiety; These things make for a very long ride, no matter the distance. It’s like a shitty time warp. I can spend a day out in the woods riding tricky terrain without experiencing real fear of injury or death, but every time I get caught in bad weather at night, I find myself gripping the handlebars more than I should.
Some of this can probably be minimize with better care for my gear. I never thought much about where I place my helmet. It usually ends up on my mirror or the right side of the handlebars, no big deal, that is until you need a nice seal from your visor on a rainy day. Turns out a handlebar is not the best option for hanging a helmet. The handlebar or the mirror would push on the visor creating a warp. That is very lame $60 lesson.
Living in the Pacific Northwest you get used to being wet and cold. It’s either that or ride only a few months out of the year. That just wont do. Good gear helps, but sometimes the only thing you can do is to hold tight, stay alert and power through. I wouldn’t advise this. If you feel like you can’t ride safely, the best thing to do is to pull over and wait it out. I am able to ride in these conditions because like the Sherpas from Nepal, I have also adapted to my environment. I have developed a stronger cornea from years of riding into rain with my visor wide open. I also have a technique called squint goggles that kind of sucks and actually hurts more than trying to keep your eyes open. If you apply this technique you’ll notice that after a few seconds your teary eyes will blend into regular wet eyes. It’s almost like the whole world is crying with you; but fear not, no one will notice. You will just look like badass riding in the rain with your eyes open like a maniac.
What is all this rant about? Definitely not that I cry when I ride. It’s about riding safe in the rain, knowing when to take a break and taking care of your gear.
It’s ok.