motorcycle

My motorcycle battery failed a couple of months ago after seven years of service. Seven years is a long time for a motorcycle battery; they usually last about three years. This battery survived freezing temperatures, tropical temperatures, and two hurricanes – not bad!

After saving up my nickels and dimes, I searched for a high quality replacement battery. The original battery was made by Yuasa, who has a reputation for making good motorcycle batteries. I was hoping to find a replacement battery by Yuasa for less than $100. A little research showed that AGM-style batteries were high recommended for bikes these days. I found an AGM battery, manufactured by Yuasa, under their “Motocross” brand, for $92. Winner!

I quickly discovered that the local stores were charging 50% more than on-line sales, even when taking shipping into account. I relented to the limits of my wallet, ordering my new battery from batterystuff.com.

Batterystuff.com is in Oregon, about a day’s drive south of us. I was hoping for a quick delivery – alas, I was denied!
Batterystuff.com shipped the battery promptly, the next day, via the US Post Office. They included the Post Office tracking number in an email receipt. I eagerly began watching my battery’s journey to Edmonds.

Three days later, the Post Office tracking system reported that the battery was, “Out for Delivery,” from the Post Office substation in Perrinville. It was a Friday and I had no meetings, so I finished my work day at my home office – checking the front door every few minutes for my package. Hour after hour passed with no package delivery. That evening, after the Post Office had closed, the status changed to “Forwarded.” This seemed quite odd to me. According to the Post Office website, this was often the result of improper addressing. A quick check of the Batterystuff.com receipt showed an accurate address; it even included the zip+4.

The next morning, Saturday, I visited the local Post Office to enquire about my package. They agreed that the tracking system showed that the package had been forwarded. When I asked, “Where,” I received the response, “I dunno. I’ll have to ask the carrier. He’s out on deliveries right now” So, they don’t track packages in the computer system when a manual re-address is made – nice. “What address were you trying to deliver the package to?” “I dunno. It’s on the package.” The fellow at the Post Office took my phone number, the tracking number, and promised to call me after he spoke with the carrier. I found it interesting that they couldn’t tell me where it was supposed to go, where it had been re-routed to, or where it was at that time. He never called.

Saturday night, the tracking status changed to “Undeliverable as Addressed.” Interestingly, the Post Office location changed from Edmonds (Perrinville), to Lynnwood, a near-by town. Since the status didn’t update until almost 5:00 p.m., and they closed at 5:00 p.m., I didn’t have any chance of catching the package at the Lynnwood Post Office that evening.

Monday morning, at 8:30 a.m., I was first in line at the Lynnwood Post Office. I asked the teller if they could check to see if my package was still there. I had high hopes, since it just changed status at 5:00 p.m. the previous business day. “No. If the status said, ‘Undeliverable,’ then it’s gone. It’s not here.” There was no way she was going to walk around the facility to see if the box could still be there. 17 hours later the Post Office tracking system logged the box 20 miles south, in Kent.

Somehow, I suspect it was still in the Lynnwood Post Office when I was there on Monday morning.

Yes, the package went all of the way back to southern Oregon after being less than a half-mile from my house.

Batterystuff.com reported to me that the address of the box was originally correct, but someone had written on top of it after it left their facility. They promptly re-boxed the battery with the same address and sent it back to me: UPS. I hope to see it next week and I really appreciate the quick response time by Batterystuff.com.

By the way - Batterystuff.com reviews their addresses with verification software, then looks up the location on google maps to make sure that there is a building at the address before shipping... they had seen my house before shipping the package... sigh.

My Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter 1500 motorcycle has always run rich, was cranky to start, and never felt “right” until it was warmed up; today I discovered why. Apparently, one of the four spark plugs wasn’t installed correctly when the motorcycle was originally assembled. It was close enough that the machine ran, but with ongoing side effects:

• Cold hearted beast – until it was warm, it didn’t run smoothly
• Very rich – it has always run rich
• Hard starting – was often difficult to start, particularly in cold weather

After cleaning up the residual goo in the offending spark plug socket, I completed installing four new plugs – being careful to cinch them down just enough to crush the washers into place. I also cleaned out the throttle body with a toothbrush and some Seafoam.  The tooth brush turned incredibly black – I kept rinsing it with Seafoam, then scrubbing more – careful to clean the throttle body and the butterfly valve.

I pushed the starter and the bike roared to life. I immediately noticed that the idle sounded different – as if it were hunting for the right spot; it was idling too fast, so I backed off the idle adjustment and everything settled down. I quickly realized that the bike was idling smoothly, with the engine cold, with no encouragement from me… this is a new experience for me.

Rolling on the throttle brought a very smooth, even response from the engine. In fact, I found myself grinning and grabbing way more throttle than I should have. I’m going to need to keep a close eye on the speedometer until I’m used to the new performance. I think I'll put the GPS on the bike tomorrow for my ride to work - as a reminder.

Two odd side-effects from this maintenance: it appears that the amount of deceleration during full throttle-off is less (I’ll need to use my brakes a bit more), and I’m getting some popping in my exhaust. I think I have the fresh air injection system blocked (to eliminate popping), but perhaps one of the marbles(!) slipped? I’ll have to check it.

I’m really looking forward to getting a few miles on the bike now - I wonder what might happen to my mileage? I recently achieved 46 mpg around town - quite good for a 1500.
 

In my ongoing fight to be safe on the motorcycle, I recently modified the LED lighting surrounding my license plate. While I only have the "after" picture, I think the description may be enough to inform the curious. The license plate frame was purchased from Signal Dynamics. The LEDs will show in dim and bright - mapping to running lights and brake lights. The frame is made of steel (powder coated black) and the LEDs are pretty bright.

After observing various LED installations on cars, I realized that the less interference from daytime ambient light, the more effective the LEDs became. The LED housing on the motorcycle frame extends past the frame about 1/2 inch and is made of the same red, transparent plastic all around. To reduce how much ambient light competes with the LEDs, I've recently painted the outside edges of the housing so that only the rear section is clear.

I don't have any empirical data to report, just my subject review; the most obvious difference to my eyes: each of the LEDs now appears as a distinct "dot" against a much darker background, and the difference between running light and brake light seems more pronounced. I certainly haven't lost any functionality and the modification appears "stock." Would I recommend this simple modification to others with similar set-ups? You betcha.

About a year ago I replaced the stock air-boxes on my motorcycle with custom-built boxes using K&N permanent airfilters. The K&N filters are made from a permanent fabric that should be cleaned, and re-oiled, on a regular basis. They are designed to be used for up 30,000 miles between cleanings. I haven't put nearly that many miles on them in the past year (closer to 6,000 miles), but they looked a wee bit dirty, so I thought I'd clean them. Perhaps it is because my filters are not enclosed (directly exposed to the outside), but they were really filthy. I couldn't believe how dark and sludgy the water flow became during the cleaning. After an overnight drying, then re-oiling, they are back on the bike. It definitely idles more smoothly. I guess I'll have to keep a closer eye on these!

I ride a motorcycle – I’ve ridden motorcycles for 30 years. It’s common for me to ride in weather that makes most car drivers uncomfortable. Having a motorcycle in Seattle means that you either are willing to ride in the rain or your bike is parked most of the year. I have the water resistant jacket, pants, gloves, and boots; I draw the line at snow and ice.

Riding in the city is dangerous. Riding in the rain is dangerous. Riding in the dark is dangerous. Put these together and you have the perfect cocktail for paranoia. Motorcycle riders refer to other vehicles as “cages” that are often only placed on the road in an effort to run them over. This understanding of motorcyclists common “enemy”, combined with the freedom afforded by motorcycling, results in a sort-of fraternity, usually. This is usually demonstrated through a friendly wave, or congenial conversation at a watering hole.

Most of the year there are few other motorcycle riders on the road with me. I get very used to only occasionally seeing other hearty souls who brave the cold, wet elements – and not waving (we’re too busy trying to stay alive).

Now we are entering the time of year when a sunny day brings fair-weather bikers out from hibernation in droves. I find myself jaded by the introduction of spotless machines, poorly driven by riders who are wrapped in leather that still smells new, as they wave at me from the opposite lane. Suddenly they’re in the club?

I’m doing my best to encourage others in the motorcycle hobby, but where were you guys last week? If I don’t wave, it’s just because I’m not used to see you there...
 

Product Quality

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One Concern

Five Stars

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