Note to self:

[Bogfarth]

Several notes to self here...

a) When you're done reading your plugs, reinstall them per usual and oh, don't forget to reconnect the plug wire on #1 before hitting the starter. The bike will sound strange, feel stranger, and have you going, "WTF is wrong now? Feels like it's on one cylinder."

b) If you're going to use up the last "dibble" in the Seafoam can, kindly see to a pair of important facts. Those being 1) the "dibble" is really half a can and 2) there's more than a gallon of gas in the tank. If you don't, the exhaust will look like a Cuban smoke shop is doing business in the pipes. Did this a few days ago. OTOH, it has never run so smooth!

c) A Work Sharp 221 will take your Leatherman Wave's serrated blade from "can't cut mustard" to "cuts with a wish." Use your thumb to trip the liner lock, but get that finner out of the way before you snap the blade shut. Lest the aforesaid piece of toothed cutlery remove a dime-sized volume of tissue from the pad of your phalanx, right down through and transecting the sub-q. Bleeding? Yes, yes there was.
I've never seen rubbing alcohol turn Hot-Rod Red that fast before.

To the inmates: buy a Work Sharp 221. It is compact enough for a tank bag, handy on anything from pen knives to axes, and when they say "shave sharp in minutes" they aren't kidding. Best $30 I've spent in the past year. Instructions are rolled up under the rough diamond plate. Read them, and you can sharpen anything.

d) When you're done playing with the zoom-zoom, use those two glassy spheres in the front of your head and LOOK at the ignition. See that black-capped stick with the two little silver sticks on a ring? Those are called "keys." Ignore them, go inside the house, and go about getting dishes n' stuff done. When the motor suddenly fires up two hours later, it will scare you shitless that some inbred, half-ganked felon is trying to steal your baby. Storm outside with a bat to wallop that hood-rat into the ICU. Instead of a toothless, cracked-out vagrant in the saddle, it's really the neighbor boy. This kid -- all by his nine year old self -- figured out the petcock, choke, kill switch, ignition, and starter button. See? Keys = important.

[Dastard]

Originally Posted by viajero

Rear steering is a bitch, too

Put it in reverse

[sein]

If you're installing frame sliders which come with a long bolt intended to replace a bolt that goes through the engine, it might be a good idea to look at the entire bike in case there are actually two (or more) identical bolts that go through the bike at different points.

Even if you do decide to just knock out the first bolt you find and set to screwing on your new sliders, you should probably look down from the sliders once they're mounted. In case your foot pegs are directly beneath them. Otherwise you might have to shift gears with your heel when you find out the next morning as you're late to work.

[playinatwork]

When the bike is up on the centerstand with the sidestand down also, don't be wearing sandals when you roll the bike off the centerstand. My foot was positoned perfectly under where the sidestand should touch the concrete when the bike rolled off the centerstand.

[VTvfr]

+1, crushed my big toe

Originally Posted by playinatwork

When the bike is up on the centerstand with the sidestand down also, don't be wearing sandals when you roll the bike off the centerstand. My foot was positoned perfectly under where the sidestand should touch the concrete when the bike rolled off the centerstand.

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by VTvfr

+1, crushed my big toe

Removed big toe nail one shot

[DrunkWombat]

Originally Posted by playinatwork

When the bike is up on the centerstand with the sidestand down also, don't be wearing sandals when you roll the bike off the centerstand. My foot was positoned perfectly under where the sidestand should touch the concrete when the bike rolled off the centerstand.

Yup, broke 2 bones in my foot doing this.

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by DrunkWombat

Yup, broke 2 bones in my foot doing this.

I was gonna say, I thought it was kinda odd everybody was complaining that they just had an owie. Seems like an almost surefire way to break a bone even with a relatively small bike.

[Kampfire]

When lubing your chain....And not wearing gloves like the label says.... you know with that really sticky spray stuff?....

Remember one of Murphy's Law.

"The severity of the itch is direct proportion to the dirtyness of your hands."


As the wife comes home later and says.........."What's all over your nose?"

[DrunkWombat]

Originally Posted by xymotic

I was gonna say, I thought it was kinda odd everybody was complaining that they just had an owie. Seems like an almost surefire way to break a bone even with a relatively small bike.

A 1200GS will do that!

[bigskydrift]

when rolling bike off of centerstand and going to the sidestand, make sure side stand is ALL THE WAY FORWARD !

[Geek]

Originally Posted by bigskydrift

when rolling bike off of centerstand and going to the sidestand, make sure side stand is ALL THE WAY FORWARD !

...and if the sidestand is deployed.. make sure your foot isn't in line where it's going to whack the ground as the bike's weight transfers

[murgatroid42]

It is funny to call ATV riders "quadtards", but one has time to repent while hoping that some would come along to help you pick up your loaded bike when it takes a dirt nap in a hole, and lies below horizontal.

Fortunately, some very nice ATV riders came along and were glad to help.

[ChuckS]

When removing the starter on an F150, it is important to remove the starter mounting bolts. Do not substitute by removing a transmission bolt.

Pay particular attention not to do this while laying in a snowbank on a side street in a rough area of Detroit in the late afternoon.

[Pugsley/Hobbfather]

Originally Posted by murgatroid42

It is funny to call ATV riders "quadtards", but one has time to repent while hoping that some would come along to help you pick up your loaded bike when it takes a dirt nap in a hole, and lies below horizontal.

Fortunately, some very nice ATV riders came along and were glad to help.

I have no need for a quad, and even less for a snowmobile, but the guys who have 'em are some of the best-natured, most helpful in the world.


...except the guys who ride on the street!