Yestarday , here in Illinois...

[Stealthblade]

Well, it starts like this...

 

My buddy and I have been working on his Valkyrie over at his garage this winter.

We changed his timing belts and fixed a minor radiator leak. While wiping up the coolant mess, I found a mess of oil on the outside of the oil pan and pipes on the shifter side.

We narrowed it down to a shifter seal linkage bolt seal, and his parts came in last week.

 

Here's where fate comes in.

 

He says to me.... it's too bad your shed ( where I keep my 2001 RSV ) isn't heated, or we could work on your bike too. You should bring it over here.

 

Mind you, we have had over 19 inches of snow in this area, so I responded with "there's not a chance in hell I can get my bike out of the shed".

 

Turns out, Mother Nature and my buddy John had other ideas.

 

Last Saturday was a balmy 39 degrees around here, so he met me in my driveway to make a path through the snow.

 

 

Now that that was done, time to melt the snow on the cement pad next to my shed and back her out.

 

 

 

 

The next part was the hardest of the day, traversing that sopping wet ground to the asphalt of the driveway. Got stuck as soon as we got off the slope from the pad to the grass. Couple times rocking it fore and aft and I got her moved about 5 feet towards victory.

The next 7 times I got stuck ( in 60 feet distance ), he pushed from the back as I let the clutch out ever so slowly. The back end kept trying to swing to the left no matter how hard he was trying to force against it. Every time I stalled it, there were laughs and talk of "maybe we shouldn't have done this".

 

Well, after about 5 stalls, we finally made it to the driveway and I took a couple minutes to relax after that ordeal.

 

Then it was time to get out on the roads, which were as pristine as a salt covered, mostly wet road in February could be here in Illinois.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, after about an hour and a half of digging out and salting and scraping the pad, we were at our destination.

About 2 miles from my house and a 5 minute ride, but it felt really good to be on the bike again.

 

Now she's sitting next to her "sister from another mister"

 

 

The plans for the rest of the winter into early spring are to mount and balance my new Elite 3's, change the coolant, plugs, carbtune, drink some good scotch, change oil, rear pads, re-lube everything, drink some good scotch, re-tighten everything, tap out a couple holes the PO buggered up so my light bar hangs correctly, clean and polish every thing, drink some good scotch, maybe help my buddy with his bike in his nice warm garage.

 

All of Puc's riding stories got me motivated enough to do this, so I blame him.

 

Have fun,

 

Bob

Edited February 9, 2015 by Stealthblade

[cowpuc]

OUTSTANDING SB!!! Downright fantastic!!

 

Looks and sounds like you got yourself one heck of a fine neighbor there Bob!! Seems like there is not much worse in this life than having a really bad one BUT, there is also NOTHING like have really good ones either! Hats off to both you fellers for being there for each other!

 

Best wishes in getting them scoots done before spring!! LOVE THE PICS AND THE WHOLE STORY - THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!

 

PS, dont forget to wash off the road salt!!

[Illinois]

/the plans for the rest of the winter into early spring are to mount and balance my new Elite 3's, change the coolant, plugs, carbtune, drink some good scotch, change oil, rear pads, re-lube everything, drink some good scotch, re-tighten everything, tap out a couple holes the PO buggered up so my light bar hangs correctly, clean and polish every thing, drink some good scotch, maybe help my buddy with his bike in his nice warm garage.

All of Puc's riding stories got me motivated enough to do this, so I blame him. Bob

 

Hard to believe the difference a few hundred miles makes. Just across the river from St. Louis here; have had less than an inch of snow all winter, tied the record temp yesterday at 70* (hope I didn't jinx it). Good to hear you found a heated workspace. Think Spring.

[djh3]

Think about using the tire balance beads in your new tires. They work well.

[Du-Rron]

"...melt the snow on the cement pad ..."

 

Melt the snow so you could get your bike out!?!?!?! You're Unstoppable Hardcore! I like that!

[Marcarl]

Inquiring minds want to know,,,,,, who's buying the scotch???

[Oldodge]

Clean some salt off, drink some good scotch, clean some more salt off, drink some more good scotch. Ok, enough with the cleaning already, drink some more scotch.............repeat.

[Yammer Dan]

How much Scotch ya got??

[Stealthblade]

There's plenty of scotch.

 

We usually keep a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, some Johnny Walker Black, and once in a blue moon, The Balvenie comes out.

There's also some Jack Daniel's Single Barrel whiskey, if you know where to look.

 

Have fun

 

Bob