anyone go for a ride today? Pics?

[lurch12_2000]

I remember taking a ride in February on my GS. I took a ride in my mind today....does that count? The ice and snow didn't affect me at all on my imaginary ride.

[Burque73]

I went out today for my birthday...






... I'm not handicapped so I guess I'm just... old.

Boy that's a frightfully attractive bike! Aptly named too as it does take on the curves of a falcon!

Very interesting carvings there. Where is that?

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

[GS1150Pilot]

Thunderbird Park?

[trevor]

Those carvings are at the Songhees Firsrt Nations Health and Wellness Centre. Beautiful.

[GSXR7ED]

Happy Birthday HayaBuser. Love your bike!


Ed

[GS1150Pilot]

Hayabusas are amazing, and Hayabuser-happy birthday!

[Burque73]

With a fresh oil and filter change, valves adjusted, and full tank of fuel I headed South yesterday morning. My plan was to visit my son at his school and maybe meet Mr Bill while in Las Cruces. While the visit with my boy was nice, meeting my Southern GSR neighbor has yet to happen (my fault).

Here's some pics of yesterday's ride starting with Caballo Lake shortly after sunrise.



I like stopping for pics. May be maddening if anyone rides with me, but that hasn't been a problem

After leaving Cruces early afternoon I had plenty of daylight hours left so figured I'd explore a bit before heading back home. I headed North for a bit to the Elephant Butte lake area and was drawn to Hwy 52 for some reason. Through the small towns of Cuchillo and Winston, passing Reilly Peak and Iron Mountain was a great ride.



Warning, fun roads ahead...





Stopped to say hi to a few locals taking a stroll...



Then a crucial decision. To the left, a really long way back to home but paved, straight ahead dirt but more direct. A very well leveled and maintained dirt road at that. Hopefully I don't regret this but....



This was the finest dirt road in the state! Easily cruising at 50 mph in straight spots, very cautiously of course. Even the cattle guard crossings were flat. Steep passes and wash out spots had pavement, but otherwise just dirt as far as I could see. I really wish I had planned better, had a GPS with the ability to tell if roads were paved or not....someday maybe!

To my delight the road ended at the VLA radio telescope. I had wanted to visit here and stumbled acrossed it.



My next atop was Magdelana for gas. I decided once again to take the unknown road from there. Heading North through the Alamo Navajo Indian Reservation. This was a decent road at first, then after a while that changed....drastically! Pavement got rippled, split, then non existant. There is a huge difference in road conditions on the Res.




Too late to turn around, so carefully press on. Now I'm regretting the comment I made to Mr Bwringer about the KLR650, wishing I had mine back. Hindsight, what can I say.



No GS's were harmed in the making of this post! Just a scratch on the Windjammer, case guard and side bag. This was however the end of a fun day. Upon being upright again, nothing worked. No lights, couldn't bump start, tested battery and completely dead. Maybe this caused or simply revealed a bigger problem. Only 45 miles to go, almost home so I made the humbling call. Honey, the trailer is ready to go, would you mind picking me up? Hours later in pitch dark nowhere of the Navajo Reservation, I discovered a treasure the Indians have enjoyed for hundreds of year, silence! It was awesome, standing under the clear starry sky. Watching falling meteorites and satellites zip by miles above my head. Truly the best break down I've experienced.

The only thing worse than a bike on that road, was a trailer with a bike in it on that road! Home just before midnight, unloaded, and crashed HARD! 18 hours of adventure, 520 miles, and a few pics so I don't forget!

Sorry for the incredibly long post.

[Hayabuser]

Dave, happy birthday!

Boy that's a frightfully attractive bike! Aptly named too as it does take on the curves of a falcon!

Very interesting carvings there. Where is that?

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday HayaBuser. Love your bike!


Ed

Hayabusas are amazing, and Hayabuser-happy birthday!

Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone!

[GS1150Pilot]

How old did you get?

[Gorminrider]

(.............. my edit for space see original post)
With a fresh oil and filter change, valves adjusted, and full tank of fuel I headed South yesterday morning. My plan was to visit my son at his school and maybe meet Mr Bill while in Las Cruces. ................................................



No GS's were harmed in the making of this post! Just a scratch on the Windjammer, case guard and side bag. This was however the end of a fun day. Upon being upright again, nothing worked. No lights, couldn't bump start, tested battery and completely dead. Maybe this caused or simply revealed a bigger problem. ..................edit

.

Man, nice ride! I wish today I had your climate! but oh sorry for this! . Looking at your bike looks exactly as sad as my bike lying down. Did it fail because fluid drained out the tube? I am slowly replacing batteries with sealed ones but meanwhile I am thinking a rainy day project would be to do something with the breathing tube! some precaution ...If it had say, a tire's air valve in it, it might vent when there is the pressure it is meant to relieve? but not drain from a dropped bike...?
add: I just looked it up..I think a "valve" might be worth a try with the right spring. I'm guessing a bike left down on its side long enough will only lose half its juice but ...

http://www.yuasabatteries.com/faqs.php?action=1&id=12

[GS1150Pilot]

Go AGM for batteries.

[Burque73]

Gorminrider, I have an AGM sealed battery as Mr Pilot mentioned. Its odd that an hour before this spill the engine started as it always had. I was prepared for electrical repairs, but only in Ideal conditions. Blowing dirt, fading daylight, and exhaustion set in. Tow home, deal with it later!

[dorkburger]

Sounds like a great ride, and you even saw the good in your tip over. Sometimes life forces us to stop and take notice of our surroundings. Glad there were no injuries, and minimal bike harm.

I'm thinking an electrical connection got knocked loose. Even a dry charged battery shold at least turn on the lights.

edit.... just saw the sealed battery comment.

[Burque73]

I just popped in another battery and it fired up. A little slow to start maybe due to the tip over. However that AGM battery is not chargeable, maybe overcharged, rattled loose internals??? I checked the output and now it's charging at 18+ volts. Guess what I sold off of my parts bike to a friend... the R/R, Ugh! I'll get it sorted and back to good health soon!

[Redman]

....... I checked the output and now it's charging at 18+ volts.....!

you have a stock type R/R,... or one with a sense wire? If the sence wire came loose in tip over, or if the circuit it is connected to has lost power, then the R/R will put out everything it can. (had that happen, in rain storm, 250 miles from home)

.