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I should have listened to my GS 750 when it told me it wasn't feeling welll instead of listening to the mechanics that assured me "It sounds OK"
My neighbors have had no need to complain about the exhaust note from my GS. I was elated to have my bike back from Montana Power Sports. The top end was clattering and in need of adjustment. The motor still had the same mechanical clatter it had before I took it in for repair. I returned to MPS and had them listen to it and was told it was OK.
The lure of a sunny day in the wind outweighs the foreboding noise and better judgement.
Sunny, Sunday morning; Rex, one of my favorite riding pals and I decided to take advantage of the day and set forth on a journey to points unknown. As we traveled east on the Baker highway, I thought of a loop with one of my favorite stopping places, an overlook that defines SE Montana so we headed out around the Mizpah, over the Powder River and on towards Kinsey which would eventually lead back to the Baker Highway and pavement. Rex's BMW, Paris/Dakar loved the back roads and so did Rex. With the exception of about one mile of new scorrio(sp?) the roads were in good shape and we took turns swapping the lead. Rex, an adventuous soul, had never been in this part of the world before and I think he was enjoying the new scenery. It was a good day, sunshine, motorcycles and open roads.
Back to the highway; After a stop to let the bikes rest and bask in the quiet of the landscape it was time to head back towards town. As we left the overlook we were greeted by the only Homo Erectus we had encountered so far. It was a couple in their Ford truck. After confirming that we were not making improper advances towards the livestock, we had a nice visit. It was time to head home. As we made the final turn toward the highway, and a long run of dry, hard, gumbo and gravel ahead I could see that Rex wanted to give the PD it's legs. With my GS weighing in at five hundred plus pounds and wearing street tires I was obliged to watch as he disappeared into a cloud of dust. Just wait til we get to the highway.
The highway; As we turned on to the pavement it was my turn to show Rex what the "four cylinder universal Japanese motor" was made of. It is tough, it is dependable, it is FAST!. The exhilaration of acceration has never changed for me. What a great way to end a great day, by blowing the fairings off of a good friend and his Teutonic, machine. Wellll......up through 3rd gear, the day had been perfect. Somewhere, just below red line, things went ka-runch, ka-pow, Pop-Pop-Pop then quiet. I saw a yellow plastic blur whiz past on my left. Rex must have been pretty focused on not falling to an imperial foe as he was almost out of sight as my Suzuki crunched to a halt on the asphalt shoulder. Silent, broken, defeated, the day was over. I returned to town on the back of Rex's BMW.
I waited a few days after towing the GS home to pull the head. I feared the worst, I just didn't want to confirm it.
Rex would suggest from time to time that "the summer will slip away and you will miss it, hurry (he assured me) it's probably just a loose wire."
Journey of Discovery; All, yes, each and every rocker on the intake side was lying in pieces on top of the head, two on the exaust side were missing adjustment screws and in ruin. I stopped for the day. I couldn't take much more carnage. The second trip back to my garage exposed one loosened cam bearing which still baffles me and my missing cam chain that was retrieved in two pieces. God, the horror! Where is the humanity?
Anyone out there have a lightly wrecked GS for sale? Sorry Rex I still haven't found that darn loose wire.
My neighbors have had no need to complain about the exhaust note from my GS. I was elated to have my bike back from Montana Power Sports. The top end was clattering and in need of adjustment. The motor still had the same mechanical clatter it had before I took it in for repair. I returned to MPS and had them listen to it and was told it was OK.
The lure of a sunny day in the wind outweighs the foreboding noise and better judgement.
Sunny, Sunday morning; Rex, one of my favorite riding pals and I decided to take advantage of the day and set forth on a journey to points unknown. As we traveled east on the Baker highway, I thought of a loop with one of my favorite stopping places, an overlook that defines SE Montana so we headed out around the Mizpah, over the Powder River and on towards Kinsey which would eventually lead back to the Baker Highway and pavement. Rex's BMW, Paris/Dakar loved the back roads and so did Rex. With the exception of about one mile of new scorrio(sp?) the roads were in good shape and we took turns swapping the lead. Rex, an adventuous soul, had never been in this part of the world before and I think he was enjoying the new scenery. It was a good day, sunshine, motorcycles and open roads.
Back to the highway; After a stop to let the bikes rest and bask in the quiet of the landscape it was time to head back towards town. As we left the overlook we were greeted by the only Homo Erectus we had encountered so far. It was a couple in their Ford truck. After confirming that we were not making improper advances towards the livestock, we had a nice visit. It was time to head home. As we made the final turn toward the highway, and a long run of dry, hard, gumbo and gravel ahead I could see that Rex wanted to give the PD it's legs. With my GS weighing in at five hundred plus pounds and wearing street tires I was obliged to watch as he disappeared into a cloud of dust. Just wait til we get to the highway.
The highway; As we turned on to the pavement it was my turn to show Rex what the "four cylinder universal Japanese motor" was made of. It is tough, it is dependable, it is FAST!. The exhilaration of acceration has never changed for me. What a great way to end a great day, by blowing the fairings off of a good friend and his Teutonic, machine. Wellll......up through 3rd gear, the day had been perfect. Somewhere, just below red line, things went ka-runch, ka-pow, Pop-Pop-Pop then quiet. I saw a yellow plastic blur whiz past on my left. Rex must have been pretty focused on not falling to an imperial foe as he was almost out of sight as my Suzuki crunched to a halt on the asphalt shoulder. Silent, broken, defeated, the day was over. I returned to town on the back of Rex's BMW.
I waited a few days after towing the GS home to pull the head. I feared the worst, I just didn't want to confirm it.
Rex would suggest from time to time that "the summer will slip away and you will miss it, hurry (he assured me) it's probably just a loose wire."
Journey of Discovery; All, yes, each and every rocker on the intake side was lying in pieces on top of the head, two on the exaust side were missing adjustment screws and in ruin. I stopped for the day. I couldn't take much more carnage. The second trip back to my garage exposed one loosened cam bearing which still baffles me and my missing cam chain that was retrieved in two pieces. God, the horror! Where is the humanity?
Anyone out there have a lightly wrecked GS for sale? Sorry Rex I still haven't found that darn loose wire.
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