Fear And Loathing on The Way To Red River (or, My Tales from the Red River Rally)

[TheCafeKid]

Sorry Guys, more to come...Trying to get a bit written at a time between working and catching up everything else that ive neglected while being gone.

[TheCafeKid]

You might want to get a gel seat pad for long rides--helped me a lot. Besides, you have a shaftie so you're supposed to have a dozen or so funny touring accessories.

I tried one, and i couldnt move around enough. I have only done bout 150 or so in one sitting, so i havent really ridden a long ride yet..lol.

[TheCafeKid]

Thankfully, Mike had with him every tool one could possibly need on one of these old GSs short of an impact driver and a torque wrench, neither of which I would need. By shear dumb luck, this place had storage units for rent. Odd, but it served to help out tremendously. We went in and talked to the lady in the store again, and found that renting one of the units would only be $20 for a month. Worse came to worse, I could store the bike there if I couldnt fix it, untill I could figure out how the hell I would get it home. So, Mike and I pushed it into the storage shed, where at least there was respite from the sun. It would still be hot, but the sun was simply unbearable at this point.

I set to work, undoing the shocks from the top mounts to drop down the swingarm far enough to allow access to the axle without removing the exhaust system. I undid the caliper from the hanger, Mike hung it with some safety wire so as not to stress the still stock rubber lines (havent got to that on my list of mods yet) and I removed the axle and then pulled the wheel. Brian was absolutely right. The inner hub splines were more or less dust. There were about 1/8 inch nubs left on them, but this was where the pumpkin splines wouldnt contact those on the inner hub ring. The rest of the teeth back were completely stripped out.


So, we called Brian back with our findings. He told me that he wouldnt be down to the cabins in Red River untill around 9 or 10pm, but that he had a 79 ring gear he would bring with him. The plan was beautiful. Mike's sun Chris would be coming up to Morehead. Mike would have Chris go get his car, and then come on up to where we were. We would take the wheel with us, along with all my gear and whatnot, and when Brian showed, I would install the new hub gear, and we'd bring the wheel back in the morning, re-install it, and then go get Chris' bike and drop off the car. It sounded like a winner to me, and my aggrevation was fading quickly. I paid for the storage locker, and we gathered everything up and waited for Chris. He was also bringing a lock for the storage unit. This, while not what anyone would want to have to deal with when on a trip like this, was turning out rather well. We waited for a bit, and bullchitted around, ate some lunch and soon Chris showed. Mike was looking especially dashing in his outfit, minus his riding gear. Im sure all the Goddard women that drove by lusted after him..hehehe


So, when Chris arrived, it was on to the cabins. Mike rode in front, picking the route for his enjoyment, which was actually pretty enjoyable for Chris and I as well, even though we were caging it. We arrived at Cabin 2, where I met Adam (AOD) and we all hung out for a while, waiting for the other Thursday attendees to arrive. Adam found in the bag of potatos he'd brought to cook, the new poster for the Red River Rally.
It goes something like this:
You need Heart,

AND BALLS, To ride the RED RIVER RALLY



Shortly after, Spindle arrived on his gorgeous GS1000G. He pulled up in the dark, and I was out there to greet. He asked "Is this the GS rally?"
I replied "Yup, sure is"
He says "Good, cos if not, Im having a drink with ya anyway!"

We all went inside, and had a couple of drinks while waiting on Brian and Al and crew to arrive....

More to come...

[dardoonk]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck, but this is a great story!

[TheCafeKid]

How did you manage that in 6000 miles? Did you accidentally lube the spline with lapping compound instead of grease?

It was another one of those sh1tty mid 81 and up splines. Stripped it clean. Let that be a lesson to you shaftie owners, if you have a doubt in the world, and ride with any aggression at all, buy a new one, or find an old old one.

[DanTheMan]

Nanner, Nanner, Nanner...........No spline problems for me yet (knock on wood, aluminum and anything else available.....) mine's an '80 model. BTW, I'm abot 2/3 of the way to NC now, visited with Skreemer this morning,rode down the Great River road, half on the Iowa side, the other one is on the Illinois side, passed through a town that belongs to IA, but in the middle of the river;t was a great ride so far. I also went throught Iowa's only island town

It was another one of those sh1tty mid 81 and up splines. Stripped it clean. Let that be a lesson to you shaftie owners, if you have a doubt in the world, and ride with any aggression at all, buy a new one, or find an old old one.

[bwringer]

Nanner, Nanner, Nanner...........No spline problems for me yet (knock on wood, aluminum and anything else available.....) mine's an '80 model. BTW, I'm abot 2/3 of the way to NC now, visited with Skreemer this morning,rode down the Great River road, half on the Iowa side, the other one is on the Illinois side, passed through a town that belongs to IA, but in the middle of the river;t was a great ride so far. I also went throught Iowa's only island town

Your splines should be fine, assuming you lube them properly (60% moly paste, NOT 3% moly grease). '79-'80 shafties and a few '81 examples had the earlier, properly hardened spline units. They are matte black in color.

Most '81 and all '82-'83 shafties had the next generation spline couplers, which are the crappy soft ones that leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. They are a shiny, sort of gold color.

The next iteration of the spline coupler part number is a shiny silver and doesn't have any known problems. Not sure when it entered service, but these types of failures are rare or unknown on later shafties, even the mighty GSX1100G. It is still available new from Suzuki for around $100, and I believe it is still in use in a few new models.

So a new one or a '79-'80 coupler will solve this problem. If you're riding an '81-'83 shaftie with the original spline coupler, you ARE riding on borrowed time. Replace this coupler pronto, but take a good look at yours first just in case some PO already saved you the trouble.

Now, back to the story...

[seuadr]

Your splines should be fine, assuming you lube them properly (60% moly paste, NOT 3% moly grease). '79-'80 shafties and a few '81 examples had the earlier, properly hardened spline units. They are matte black in color.

Most '81 and all '82-'83 shafties had the next generation spline couplers, which are the crappy soft ones that leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. They are a shiny, sort of gold color.

The next iteration of the spline coupler part number is a shiny silver and doesn't have any known problems. Not sure when it entered service, but these types of failures are rare or unknown on later shafties, even the mighty GSX1100G. It is still available new from Suzuki for around $100, and I believe it is still in use in a few new models.

So a new one or a '79-'80 coupler will solve this problem. If you're riding an '81-'83 shaftie with the original spline coupler, you ARE riding on borrowed time. Replace this coupler pronto, but take a good look at yours first just in case some PO already saved you the trouble.

Now, back to the story...

wow. good to know. i have no idea, i'll have to check that.can you remove what you need to to check it without dumping the final drive gear oil? couple someone show me a picture or point it out on a prats fisch?

[marvinsc]

If You are having no symptoms, check it the next time You are installing or having a rear tire installed. The Honda Moly Lube sold at Honda shops is the Best and the splines should be lubed at each tire change.

[seuadr]

If You are having no symptoms, check it the next time You are installing or having a rear tire installed. The Honda Moly Lube sold at Honda shops is the Best and the splines should be lubed at each tire change.

ok, i'm gettign ready to do the tires.. i'd be happy to lube them with moly.. but i don't know what part it is :P

[marvinsc]

I'm sure someone will post a Pic. soon but the Splines are the "Teeth" found on the Rear wheel and the mating Drive unit "some call the Pumpkin"

[Draketh]

Is that a blunt I spy in Adam's hand?

[TheCafeKid]

THESE are splines. Or were anyway.


And THIS is what it hooks up to.

[TheCafeKid]

Sorry for the delay in the story, so much time, so little to do. Wait, strike that, reverse it....On we go.....


The night drew on, and it occured to us that Brian and Al and crew were much later than had been expected. There was some worry, but at about 1am, they finally rolled in. Turned out, Brian had some troubles of his own, with his brand spankin new, gold embossed, triple platinum, one of a kind, you wont find one anywhere else in the world, much less the back woods of Kentucky at god knows what hour on a Friday night Yusa AGM (I do believe) battery, or Bahtree, as they would likely call it in most places one might look for one, for his VX800. Once they were somewhat settled in, Brian gave me the inner spline, some molly60 and some tools, and I set to work on the picnic table in the light from the porch. He even gave me some brand spankin new shiney phillips head screws to replace the crappy chewed up ones currently in use. I have to say folks, I have proclaimed numerous times in my year on this board that the people here are top notch, first rate individuals. I cant begin to thank Brian, his wife Marge, Mike, Jeff, Scott and everyone else who came to my aid in this time of near crisis. Without them, I could possibly still be trapped in a hut somewhere in the hollers of Kentucky, likely being sodomized by Cletus, while his missing link of a son played the banjo... So, Again, Thanks you guys, from the bottom of my heart. My other bottom thanks you too...

We all BSed around for a bit more after that, and soon, it was time to turn in. My brain was fried from the days events, the unrelenting sun, which im sure is at least a light year closer to this part of Kentucky than anywhere else in the world. I was soon fast asleep, only to be woken seemingly minutes later by Mike, telling me it was time to get up to go back to my bike to fix it. He and I piled the wheel and ourselves into his Passat, and back toward "FLAMINGSburg" we went. Some choice roads followed, and even in a cage, they were quite amusing. We stopped for breakfast, and then at the place my bike was being stored at. I set to work getting the wheel back on the pumpkin, and Mike assisted me in getting the axle back thru whilst I held the spacers in place, and voila, she was road worthy again. While I was tightening things up, Mike had disappeared, only to return with my $20 rental fee for the shed in hand. He had simply mentioned to the lady inside that I wouldnt be needing the storage unit any longer, as the bike was fixed and we'd be on our way. She went to the register, and fished out a 20 and handed it to him. There ARE some good people out there after all.

Plan Two was to return to the cabin, where Mike's son Chris was waiting. A brief phone call to him where we stopped for a cool drink revealed that Chris was not feeling well. Apparently he had a touch of a stomach bug, or a bit of a hangover, not really sure which, but he was sick, and that sucked. However, by the time we returned, he was doing better, thanks in large part to Brians wife playing nurse. Shortly after our arrival back at the cabin, he was feeling well enough to go get his bike and return Mikes car.
On our way out, we simply HAD to stop at a wonderfull photo opertunity....

Ahhh, to be young and insane again...hehehehe. Its weekends like this that make being alive worth it most times

After returning to Morehead to fetch Chris's bike and drop off the car, we headed back to the cabins, this time OUR cabin, as we werent able to check in till 3 on Friday. Luckily, Adam had been gracious enough to allow us to cop some floor at Cabin 2 on Thursday night, again, fantastic people on here!

We arrived at our cabin to find a few from Cabin 2 there, and shortly after, Jim (RageZro) and Scott (MarvinSC) and Victor (BlokV1100) returned from a grocery run. Everyone was present and accounted for now, and the group milled around for a bit, chatting and razzing back and forth. I immediately cussed Jim a blue streak for "RZing" my bike, even though he had nothing to do with it, but he needed cussed anyway. I also found out that Cole (N1Elkyfan) had dropped a chain on the way down with Jim and Victor in almost the exact same spot *I* had broken down, only a day later. From this, combined with the deliciously evil heat in that area, Jim took to calling Flemingsburg, PURGATORY. Truely and apt name for the place, because the time that I spent there was worse than Hell I am quite sure...

Everyone conveined at Cabin 2, where a MASSIVE meal was being prepared by Brian and Al. I cant recall seeing that much food being made in such a small kitchen in all my years in the food service biz. It really was quite amazing. Even more amazing was the food itself! It was delicious! Pasta with a chicken and mushroom marinara, a broccoli and carrots and something else slaw type salad. GRILLED garlic bread. I was stuffed, and now pretty beat. Cabin 1 clan bid Cabin 2 goodnight, and we all retired to our place to watch the moon come up over the gorge from our deck. I dont think I got any pictures of THIS unfortunately...

[TheCafeKid]

Is that a blunt I spy in Adam's hand?

Not hardly, simply a cigar. He had quite a few of different types, and was sampling them most of the weekend.