Steve's Most Expensive Day Ride Ever!

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 01:07 PM

Ok, so here was the plan...a quick two day road trip of the lesser traveled roads of California's central coast. A "head clearing" ride after a LONG week at work was just what I needed. But, as John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans."

The day started out uneventfully. Eager to get out of the rain, Bikeopotamus and I headed inland at CA 33...Soon I was above the drizzle and heading for warmer regions...

Over the summit at Mt Pinos the riding was superb-no gravel on the roads and no snow yet!

After dropping down off the mountain, I had choices to make:

I chose CA 33. My stomach was starting to rumble, and when that happens there is no better place to stop than Tina's in Maricopa. You can't miss Tina's Cafe, it is one of the few stores still open in "downtown" Maricopa. Tina is a real person who sings beautifully while she cooks. I love stopping here.

I reviewed Tina's here: www.ridesroadsandeats.com Check it out and send me some comments about my websited-I'm new at this and always looking to improve my skills.

I am an off-pavement noobie, so I thought I'd go here:

Here are a couple of shots from the Soda Lake Overlook. It was a little hazy in the valley, but I liked the reflection of the foothills in the water. It was probably spectacular at dawn!

I was by myself, so I trained a kangaroo rat to take a picture of me:

I was heading out to CA 58, and decided to explore Seven Mile Road on my way out...

It was fun riding off pavement and I didn't have too many difficulties, but sand really scares me. I don't know how to ride in it, so when I hit the stuff, I tense up which is exactly the wrong thing to do!

It was a great ride so far...weather was comfy, almost zero traffic, and the scenery was great. It was all perfect, so far!

It's fun to blast along CA 58, but it's easy to get lulled into the wide open, high speed spaces. The highway is straight with great views until you reach two very sharp curves. I wonder how many people missed this one?

For you cow fans:

Off, CA 58 I found this little gem. I could tell you the name of the road, but then I'd have to kill you...

Eventually I dropped down into Atascadero, off CA 41. I think I could live here! The roads are amazing, and bbq places are plentiful!

By now, it was later in the afternoon, so I decided to head back to the coast and check out Morro Bay. From here, I was intending to head north. I am glad I didn't, because my GSA had other plans...

The sea otters are now plentiful in the bay. A far cry from 15 years ago!

Ok, time to head south on CA 1. Why didn't I head north to Big Sur? Something told me to find lodging in San Luis Obispo. Four miles south of Morro Bay I was cruising at about 70 mph when I head a large metallic explosion!

The bike started to wobble and shake violently as I gingerly let off the gas and steered to the shoulder. I put Bikeopotamus in neutral and she ran fine. I fished around for first gear and slowly let the clutch out. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Just a sound of large rocks turning around in a metal trash can...

So how much did the ride cost?
$10.00 for breakfast
$35.00 for gas
$560.00 for tow back to Glendora (226 miles)
$$$ New transmission???

Hey, at least the riding was awesome! The twisties were wonderful, I got off the pavement which this noobie needed, and the food was spectacular!

Ride safe,

Desert Skies · 10-17-2010, 01:11 PM

Looks like an awesome ride, up until the breakdown, that SUX!

Fook'n awesome shot.

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 01:19 PM

Thanks, taken with my little Panasonic P&S. I can imagine what it would have been like with the sun just peeking over those mountains...

prometheus rising · 10-17-2010, 02:04 PM

Ouch, but it was a beautiful ride and the pics are magnificent

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 02:09 PM

Thanks....it was a great ride. I wonder how much this little adventure is going to set me back? I am not a mechanic-I didn't see any leakage around the final drive seal, but the mechanical banging around was incredible.

I wonder what actually broke?

Steve

Hay Ewe · 10-17-2010, 02:22 PM

.

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hay Ewe

.

???

JPSpen · 10-17-2010, 02:28 PM

Hopefully it's the drive shaft... Or maybe the input splines or the clutch..
Or the transmission..
Who knows.......Sorry about your mis-adventure....But, You didn't wreck and you lived.. So, It can't be all bad...

Start at the back and take things off till you find the broken piece...
It'll be fun...

Good luck on the repairs...

John

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPSpen

Hopefully it's the drive shaft... Or maybe the input splines or the clutch..
Or the transmission..
Who knows.......Sorry about your mis-adventure....But, You didn't wreck and you lived.. So, It can't be all bad...

Start at the back and take things off till you find the broken piece...
It'll be fun...

Good luck on the repairs...

John

Thanks, John

When the thing let go, it was pretty gnarly for a few seconds. I'm just glad I had on all my gear!

I am pretty philosophical about it...hey, it's mechanical, and mechanical things can break! I just wish I knew the difference between a claw hammer and a ratchet. I'm pretty envious of those who can do their own repair work!

But on the other side of the coin, I'll be stimulating my dealer's economy!

Cheers,
Steve

tserts · 10-17-2010, 02:39 PM

Beautiful scenery and roads, too bad for the bike but at least you're OK, it could have been much worst...

I don't know how it works over there, but here in Greece one has the option of paying towing services nation-wide with his insurance for a very small amount. I always do that for all my bikes (thankfully I've never used that service until today) and I always advice my friends to do too. It can be very expensive to have a bike towed back to your town, and when that happens, 20 euros per year sounds like a bargain, but then it's too late...

I hope the damage gets repaired as cheaply as possible, and you get back on those roads to give us more pictures like these!

zgfiredude · 10-17-2010, 02:54 PM

Nice pics, nice ride report, crappy ending.......That tow bill is rediculous! You need your own trailer so someone can come and get you.

It's all part of the adventure, look on the bright side, it broke on day one, so you saved the hotel bill!

Llamaha · 10-17-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steves1150RT

For you cow fans:

Nice!!!! Excellent physique!

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zgfiredude

It's all part of the adventure, look on the bright side, it broke on day one, so you saved the hotel bill!

I like the way you think...another thing is, my bike got great gas mileage all the way home!

Steve

GB · 10-17-2010, 03:05 PM

Well, that started out beautifully. Awesome pics

. Most likely stripped input shaft splines.

You might want to give us a report on this in GSpot Boxers.

AdventurePoser · 10-17-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAJourneyman

Nice!!!! Excellent physique!

I don't know much about cow physique, but they were very inquisitive!

Steve

10-17-2010, 01:07 PM	#1
AdventurePoser ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2001 Location: in The Cloud Oddometer: 1,553	Steve's Most Expensive Day Ride Ever! Ok, so here was the plan...a quick two day road trip of the lesser traveled roads of California's central coast. A "head clearing" ride after a LONG week at work was just what I needed. But, as John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans." The day started out uneventfully. Eager to get out of the rain, Bikeopotamus and I headed inland at CA 33...Soon I was above the drizzle and heading for warmer regions... Over the summit at Mt Pinos the riding was superb-no gravel on the roads and no snow yet! After dropping down off the mountain, I had choices to make: I chose CA 33. My stomach was starting to rumble, and when that happens there is no better place to stop than Tina's in Maricopa. You can't miss Tina's Cafe, it is one of the few stores still open in "downtown" Maricopa. Tina is a real person who sings beautifully while she cooks. I love stopping here. I reviewed Tina's here: www.ridesroadsandeats.com Check it out and send me some comments about my websited-I'm new at this and always looking to improve my skills. I am an off-pavement noobie, so I thought I'd go here: Here are a couple of shots from the Soda Lake Overlook. It was a little hazy in the valley, but I liked the reflection of the foothills in the water. It was probably spectacular at dawn! I was by myself, so I trained a kangaroo rat to take a picture of me: I was heading out to CA 58, and decided to explore Seven Mile Road on my way out... It was fun riding off pavement and I didn't have too many difficulties, but sand really scares me. I don't know how to ride in it, so when I hit the stuff, I tense up which is exactly the wrong thing to do! It was a great ride so far...weather was comfy, almost zero traffic, and the scenery was great. It was all perfect, so far! It's fun to blast along CA 58, but it's easy to get lulled into the wide open, high speed spaces. The highway is straight with great views until you reach two very sharp curves. I wonder how many people missed this one? For you cow fans: Off, CA 58 I found this little gem. I could tell you the name of the road, but then I'd have to kill you... Eventually I dropped down into Atascadero, off CA 41. I think I could live here! The roads are amazing, and bbq places are plentiful! By now, it was later in the afternoon, so I decided to head back to the coast and check out Morro Bay. From here, I was intending to head north. I am glad I didn't, because my GSA had other plans... The sea otters are now plentiful in the bay. A far cry from 15 years ago! Ok, time to head south on CA 1. Why didn't I head north to Big Sur? Something told me to find lodging in San Luis Obispo. Four miles south of Morro Bay I was cruising at about 70 mph when I head a large metallic explosion! The bike started to wobble and shake violently as I gingerly let off the gas and steered to the shoulder. I put Bikeopotamus in neutral and she ran fine. I fished around for first gear and slowly let the clutch out. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Just a sound of large rocks turning around in a metal trash can... So how much did the ride cost? $10.00 for breakfast $35.00 for gas $560.00 for tow back to Glendora (226 miles) $$$ New transmission??? Hey, at least the riding was awesome! The twisties were wonderful, I got off the pavement which this noobie needed, and the food was spectacular! Ride safe, __________________ "Converting oxygen to carbon dioxide since 1951." www.ridesroadsandeats.com

10-17-2010, 01:11 PM	#2
Desert Skies One brick shy... Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Tejas Oddometer: 2,058	Looks like an awesome ride, up until the breakdown, that SUX! Fook'n awesome shot. __________________ “Sorry I'm late, feck'n off takes a lot of time.” " The 'Wing is my wife's bike - I'm just the feck'n driver." - USMCG_Spyder " This post is full of VonBadenisms." - Gordy Tripn' with Tom Some pictures ZZ Rider - Tom Lowry Texas Blue - Tom Lowry

10-17-2010, 01:19 PM	#3
AdventurePoser ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2001 Location: in The Cloud Oddometer: 1,553	Thanks, taken with my little Panasonic P&S. I can imagine what it would have been like with the sun just peeking over those mountains... __________________ "Converting oxygen to carbon dioxide since 1951." www.ridesroadsandeats.com

10-17-2010, 02:04 PM	#4
prometheus rising Ghost In The Machine Joined: Jul 2008 Oddometer: 595	Ouch, but it was a beautiful ride and the pics are magnificent __________________ Joe And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. - Antoine De Saint-Exupery The Adirondacks and Beyond

10-17-2010, 02:09 PM	#5
AdventurePoser ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2001 Location: in The Cloud Oddometer: 1,553	Thanks....it was a great ride. I wonder how much this little adventure is going to set me back? I am not a mechanic-I didn't see any leakage around the final drive seal, but the mechanical banging around was incredible. I wonder what actually broke? Steve __________________ "Converting oxygen to carbon dioxide since 1951." www.ridesroadsandeats.com

10-17-2010, 02:22 PM	#6
Hay Ewe Just a Wannabe Joined: Jul 2005 Location: FNQ - AUS Oddometer: 1,404	. __________________ Plan the Day, Fill the Day, be Rewarded by the Day. Moments before you die, your life will flash before your eyes - make sure the film is worth watching - my Grandad - Preparation + Opportunity = Luck

10-17-2010, 02:28 PM	#8
JPSpen At Large Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Keeping up with the Joneses, OK ? Oddometer: 1,169	Hopefully it's the drive shaft... Or maybe the input splines or the clutch.. Or the transmission.. Who knows.......Sorry about your mis-adventure....But, You didn't wreck and you lived.. So, It can't be all bad... Start at the back and take things off till you find the broken piece... It'll be fun... Good luck on the repairs... John __________________ '03 BMW R1200CLC "Flipper"(Tis but a scratch!) '01 BMW R1100RT "Lucky" '91 BMW R100GS "itsnotamoneypit" I like the wind in my face and Boobies too !!..

10-17-2010, 02:39 PM	#10
tserts Gas Burner Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Yunanistan (Stans baby!) Oddometer: 1,952	Beautiful scenery and roads, too bad for the bike but at least you're OK, it could have been much worst... I don't know how it works over there, but here in Greece one has the option of paying towing services nation-wide with his insurance for a very small amount. I always do that for all my bikes (thankfully I've never used that service until today) and I always advice my friends to do too. It can be very expensive to have a bike towed back to your town, and when that happens, 20 euros per year sounds like a bargain, but then it's too late... I hope the damage gets repaired as cheaply as possible, and you get back on those roads to give us more pictures like these! __________________ Africa Twin RD07 '00 - My Kleopatra Malfunction specialist... Road Rush (Romania, Serbia) Peloponnese Peninsula on two Africa Twins 9 countries in 15 days - Tserts.com

10-17-2010, 02:54 PM	#11
zgfiredude Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Aspen, Colorado Oddometer: 493	Nice pics, nice ride report, crappy ending.......That tow bill is rediculous! You need your own trailer so someone can come and get you. It's all part of the adventure, look on the bright side, it broke on day one, so you saved the hotel bill!

10-17-2010, 03:05 PM	#14
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,467	Well, that started out beautifully. Awesome pics . Most likely stripped input shaft splines. You might want to give us a report on this in GSpot Boxers. __________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

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