291 Motorcycle Skills

I found this book a while ago at Half-Priced Books. At ~$10, it looked to be a great bargain.

It didn't disappoint. Written by Mark Lindeman and the editors at Cycle World, "The Total Motorcycling Manual" reads like magazine articles; each item is direct and informative, though not everything is a "skill."

Though I could have skipped over a lot of the content--riding a motobike through the desert or popping a wheelie, I didn't read anything in the book that I regretted. In fact, I really enjoyed hitting it a few items at a time.

The book has good tips and remainders about staying safe, and my OCD editor's eye picked up only two obvious errors. Skills 273 and 274 have incorrect photos. Not a deal-breaker by a long shot, but then those errors might be why it was a new book selling at Half-Priced Books.

New JetBoil Camping Stove

JetBoil Flash

My REI dividend came in the mail today and that thing must have been on fire because I couldn't seem to hold onto it--within a couple hours I was standing in line at the Redmond REI buying my next travel item; the JetBoil Flash Cooking System.

Ever since I camped in Eastern Washington two years ago I've had my eye on the JetBoil system. It's a clever combination of intense heating and compact storage. Perfect for backpackers and a really great option for lightweight travelers... especially those riding a Triumph across the US.

I still have my old camping stove and probably could have made it work on the trip, but it's a little awkward and has two burners--one more than I need for the trip.

The JetBoil Flash Cooking System sells for $99.95 retail.

Also, REI has a 20% sale starting Friday. I'm just sayin'.

JetBoil Flash assembled

Won't be Runnin' on Empty

It's pretty difficult to get lost or get stranded these days in America. You've got GPS, Google Maps, AAA, and Apple Maps.

OK, that last one was a joke. But still, going on a cross-country run with side trips can more likely to lead to emergency situations or just running out of gas. And though it's more common with true adventure (off-road) riding, I made the investment in an extra fuel bottle, canister, and mounting bracket.

Common configuration.

One of the most common mounting configurations for an extra fuel container for a bike with side cases like mine is to locate it on the left side of the bike, between the side case and rear wheel. The set-up is pretty straightforward; all you need is a canister and mounting bracket. However, since we're dealing with motorcycles, parts suppliers know they can charge high prices. So though the solution is straightforward, the expected costs for the parts are outrageous. But I was able to find some shortcuts which kept the costs down. Read on...

MSR Fuel Bottles are the most common solution for carrying extra fuel. I purchased mine on Amazon for $20. Since I'm a Prime member, shipping is quick and free.

Fuel bottle and tube.

The canister was trickier. I also bought it off of Amazon because my usual parts provider would have charged me $14 for shipping for a $15 item. By wrangling with Amazon's search engine I was able to find the canister at the right for $18 ($8.50 for the tube and $10 for non-Prime shipping). Here's the thing about these canisters--I think there's just one company or a few that make them and they get resold by companies with specialized names. Cost savings for me: $11.

DIY--with connections.

The mounting bracket was another cost-savings opportunity. Again, my usual parts supplier had the high price; $25. That's right, $25.

But in really looking at the item on the website, it was a simple bracket sold with bolts, washers, and locking nuts. And then I would have to add in shipping costs. Let's say $14. So I called my buddy Josh, who's a student in the Machinist program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and asked if he could make the brackets, to which he delivered within a couple days.

The brackets are cut from carbon steel and I had to painted an anti-rust coat on them (which I bought at Home Depot along with 2 bolts, 2 washers, and 2 nuts for a grand total of $6.41).

Make sure your supplier
accepts your currency.

The best part about 'hiring' Josh is that he takes liquid currency.

Josh--I'll bring this over later today.

Once I had all the parts, mounting the canister was easy. I just needed to remove the left side case, loosen two of the existing bolts, mount the canister and bracket, apply a little blue lock to the bolt threads, and tighten everything.

There was only one hitch, and that was ensuring the canister mounting bolt heads didn't interfere with the opening and closing action of the canister. Fortunately, the canister has 3 holes at the top for mounting. Simple to fix.

So what does all this get me?

The bottle and canister in place.

My Tiger averages 220 miles to the tank. The fuel bottle I purchased is 30 ml, so it comes out to about an extra 12 miles, which isn't much on a 6,000 mile ride, but that 12 miles might make the difference between calling AAA and pulling up to a gas station on my own terms.

So getting back to the costs, the extra effort of pulling everything together might not seem like it delivers a lot of pay-off, but in addition to saving money, I also invest in more intellectual capital in my bike, so if something does happen on the road, I have more knowledge on how to fix it.

Total cost for parts:

• Fuel bottle $20
• Canister $18
• Mounting hardware $6.41
• Machinist fees $20 (Jameson Irish Whiskey)

Total cost $64.41.

Projected costs of buying all parts from my usual supplier $88.

Cost savings should equal nearly two full bottles of fuel.

Boom Shack-a-Lack

Went for a ride. Shot some video. Had some fun.

Blogger won't let me embed it for some reason so here's a link.

Purdy

Seen at I-90 Motorsports.

So, so purdy...

KTM Adventure

Lunch Break

I had time during the day so I grabbed the motorcycle and headed into Seattle over to Golden Gardens Park to get some sunshine and get some water views. 

I also found what is probably the best option for my launching off point for the Puget2Potomac run. This is the boat ramp at Golden Gardens Park. Plenty of space here to dip the front tire and not wind up in over my head down in the Puget Sound. 

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Sunday I rode down to Gig Harbor for the first time and instantly fell in love with the town. I can easily see myself living there once the kids are off to school.

For you DC residents, Gig Harbor is a lot like Occuquan, but bigger, nicer, and with the Pacific Northwest vibe.

On the way home, I set the HD Ghost on the handlebars for the ride across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The angle is a little off but you can just make out Mt Rainier off the to the left.

A good day

I regret the earlier use of the word "gaga"

But still...

Gaga for Gig Harbor

Have Motorcycle--Need Food

The latest entry from Motorcycle.com was surprising, not because I discovered new places to add to my list of destinations for the Puget2Potomac, but because one of the restaurants is 4 miles from my house and I had no idea it was motorcycle-friendly.

No. Idea.

Cafe Veloce in Kirkland is a pretty unassuming restaurant that we pass every time we go to Guitar Center or Big 5 Sports. I mean, we drive within100 feet of it. I've never noticed an unusual amount of motorcycles out front and from the street it doesn't really call out any kind of rider heritage.

That said, I am now bound to go. One of these days.

As for the list of restaurants in the article, Kegel's Diner in Rockford, IL is now on the itinerary for the trip. It's a Harley hang-out, so let's see how they do when a weathered Triumph rolls up.

Let's just hope it doesn't end up like this:

You're My Density

So I was showing Cece on Google Maps where I intend to dip my tire once I reach the East Coast, and this is what we saw when viewing the street view for Bellehaven Marina:

Looks like those north-bound riders enjoyed getting the Google camera's attention.

I'd say fate is telling me that I've chosen well.

Here's the link.

Coast-to-Coast on a Motorcycle... 8 Times!

The American Motorcycle Association recently published a profile of Bessie Springfield, the "Motorcycle Queen of Miami," and African American woman who rode coast-to-coast 8 times.

When Springfield rode across America in the 1930s and 1940s, motorcycles were far from reliable, the safety equipment was rough, there were no Eisenhower highways, and she was an African American woman riding solo. Makes all my planning and worrying for one trip seem a little... excessive.

I recommend reading her bio--it's a great story--and should inspire you to take on just about any adventure. Here's the link: Bessie Springfield Bio.

Destination: Zombie Central

The current episode of "The Walking Dead" on AMC has our hairy band of heroes trying to settle down in Alexandria, Virginia--the ultimate destination for the Puget2Potomac Ride. As you might imagine, my geek-brain is in overdrive.

My brother-in-law recently snapped this photo
of my old house. That's my paint job and
landscaping still in great shape.

I lived nearly half my life in and around Alexandria. First, growing up outside the city in Fairfax County. Then returning in the mid-90s to live in the city proper for a few years before moving south outside the city limits again.

It's a beautiful city with a rich history that touches on the American Revolution and the Civil War. The first house I ever bought is a sweet little townhouse on South Columbus Street. It was 60-years old at purchase and the bricks used in its construction came from the dismantled British Embassy in DC years before that.

So while I'm watching "The Walking Dead" in full knowledge that the producers did not shoot any of the footage anywhere near DC (Atlanta to be exact), I'm enjoying the possibilities of where, in one of the most congested cities in the US, would an off-the-grid housing development be situated?

• South of the city limits. Fairfax County directly south of Alexandria is an established community of brick and split-level homes. Not a good fit.
• Duke Street and Cameron Station. This area saw a lot of new development mixed in with the old when I was living in Virginia. The new development didn't always seem tied to the architectural heritage of the area, which would suit the homes in the show.
• Del Ray. The cottages and bungalows of this area sell at a premium. Maybe a new development could find its way in with an aggressive developer who had the money for mass teardowns.

Truth be told, the homes in the show are better suited for the outskirts of DC, say in Ashburn. But all this idle thinking has me looking forward to the ride east--to which--I'm revisiting the route.

The start and end of the trip are still the same--leave Seattle and ride east on I-90 to Montana and eventually dip my tire at the Bellehaven Marina in Alexandria--it's the in-between that needs improvement.

With the side trips planned for Beartooth Highway, Devil's Tower, and Mt Rushmore combined with the long stretch of road in South Dakota and Iowa, I need better planning on the in-between part. Nine hours on a bike will be tiring for one day, not to mention doing it a couple days in a row. So I'm mapping out stop-along spots. It looks like Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is now a night stop as might be Davenport, Iowa. The tent will be packed so stopping before exhaustion hits will be an option.

Goodbye Spock

Ah Spock. You were the rock on which my childhood love of science fiction was built. Though I missed the original airing of "Star Trek" for its first three seasons, I caught plenty of it in re-runs. Kirk was the swashbuckling hero who sought to place himself in danger's path, you were the logical counter. Those of us who paid attention knew that you could pummel Kirk without breaking a sweat, should you see fit. That was the quiet danger of Spock--if he could rationalize a beating, he would inflict it.

Then you transformed into other entities; Leonard Nimoy the actor struggling for roles while a Vulcan shadowed you at every turn, the narrator of the pseudo-science TV series "In Search Of...," and the feel-good psychologist who tries to convert Donald Sutherland in the classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Your zenith arriving in a parody of yourself in one of the greatest episodes ever of "The Simpsons."

We'll miss you, Leonard. Thank you for everything.

Do-it Yourself Motorcycle Flagpoles