I'm going to have to do that, ESPECIALLY AFTER SUNDAY NIGHT.....
I've got a story for ya'll...
When I lived in the metro last year, I would occasionally take the bike out at night, on the interstate, just me and the minimal traffic. It's at times like these when I'd pass by a semi, and give them the whole horn pump gesture, and actually get a response. My earbuds would be rocking out to TOOL and Rage Against the Machine in my helmet, weather was a crisp, clean, perfect temperature and the road generally bug-free and comfortably lit up by the city lights. I'd then proceed to weave in and out of traffic, twisting that throttle to arguably illegal speeds and having an absolute blast.. When I'd arrive to my destination, about 30 miles one way, I'd dismount the bike and let out a "woo!" with an ear-to-ear grin across my face. What a blast!
Since I moved back, recently, to a smaller city 1.5 hours south, it hit me for the first time that I will really miss the riding up there, in particular, these gorgeous evenings on the interstate. What I won't miss is the traffic jams and rush hour, but I did make short work of those from time to time splitting more than hairs....hehe.
Anyways so it's Sunday night. My gf of 2+ yrs has got her kids for the weekend (2 boys, 6 and 10, great kids). I had been hanging out at her place for a bit after I scouted some public hunting land that afternoon. We grilled some brats and I helped with dishes and her youngest started whining about whatever, and
I had to get the hell out of there. I'll start another thread to talk about that sorta stuff..., so I decided to go for a ride that night.
I charged up my phone and decided to hit the highway and go north towards the metro. I figured it'd be the safest alternative to the interstate as far as likelihood of hitting a deer or other animal, etc. I had no problems on that realm. I left after 9pm, filled up with fuel and hit the road. My bike has been performing like a big wuss as you all know but I want to put the miles on this year and figured, why not, as long as I wasn't doing damage to it and riding it before cleaning the carb rack as I have said I will do on this thread. Well, I went 58 or so miles and decided it was a good time to turn around. I was having fun, earbuds in, helmet on which gives me fictitious safety confidence. I'd have to warm up my hands on the engine here and there, but things were going well.
I was aware that I'd potentially see the red fuel warning light on the way back, and planned on fueling up in the town 10 miles from home, if need be. Well, I got to that town 10 miles away, and no red light. By this time I had 110 or so miles on the tank, and I'm thinking, wow, decent mileage so far! Yay!
When I left the town to make my final 10 mile jaunt home, the bike seemed to really bog down. I know she has been limping and power has felt 75% of what it should be, but this was different...I had her in 5th, at 4K rpm and it sounded different as well. I was nervous because it was 11:30pm and I felt like I might not make it home. I was able to baby the bike to exit off the highway. The road goes downhill and good thing. I was losing power. I thought it was a gas issue and switched over to Reserve even though the light hadn't come on fully. I saw it fade in like it does and black out again, like it will before it comes fully lit and I have .5 miles to switch over to Reserve. At this point I wasn't sure where I was with the switch, ON or Reserve, but the bike wasn't doing well.
Good thing I was going downhill. She died. I was rolling along at 5-10 mph down this hill thinking about how this will shake down to get a tow back to my place, or will I be pushing this thing 3 miles to my place, or what? I was rolling along and decided to try to start it up, well to my surprise, she started up, limping and running like she was on her deathbed, on life support with her only family there with her saying her goodbye...temporarily resuscitated-enough to open eyes and share a final goodbye stare...
I was able to keep it running, letting off the clutch to get some more momentum to make it to the gas station just ahead of me while gingerly feeding the engine with whatever fuel I thought I may have had available...
Finally I was getting excited as my confidence grew that I would be able to at least reach the gas station, and worst case scenario-park for the night and pick it up in the morning...ugh...
She died 15ft short of the pump....of course, but I'll take it! I started to fill her up and expected to see 3.9xx gallons dispensed, but she only took 3.1xx!! OOOOOOOOOOOOO--KKKKKKKKKKKKKK........
I knew the reserve light was operating properly, since it hadn't lit up for good. I was at the cusp of that, but figured gas supply was sufficient....it was something else....
I told the cashier I may be leaving the bike overnight- she notified me that I had 24 hours before it got towed. No problem, thanks.
I gave her a good throttle twist as I pushed the red START switch.. VRooooM!
A big puff of black smoke immediately exited the right side exhaust (Supertrapp slip-ons)... I was relieved she started, but not sold. I had a few miles to get home. I took it slow and fed fuel at the stop lights, fearing another DeadOnRoadEpisode, but made it home safely. As I got closer to home I started to give her a little bit more to test it out and she seemed to be running as well if not better than she did at mile 1 on this trip...
What do you all think....????
I know I need to rebuild the carbs, and will be ordering the Keyster full kits mentioned earlier in this thread (39.99 each).
WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY THE POOR PERFORMANCE AT MILE 110 or whatever? Why did I lose that power then?
It was a roller-coaster ride, happy I made it home...