Rain = drift day.
Well yesterday it rain, and it rained a lot. So I went out for my favorite past time in the 240SX and wasted tires on public roads.
It started off well, most drifts were seamless and even had several back to back sweeps. Shane called during and ask if I was out; "What do you think, its raining? I’m guessing you are at your parents?" And he was so I picked him up shortly after and that is when things started to go wrong. Not even a mile after picking him up I started to drift a 2 lane to 2 lane road; very slick intersection and spun out; well that was fine and dandy except for the Honda Accord coming in hot at us. I watched as he almost took out my driver side rear panel. He literally stopped 6 inches from the car; thank god. I lit up the tires and proceeded to the next drift. I hit a series of drift roads and that was fun. Doing 50MPH sweeps is exciting. After that I think I ran out of tread because I started spinning out a lot more. That was a kill joy when I jump a small curb and my diff ate grass. A few more drifts after that I and I decided to head home.
Well there was a parking lot on the way back to the apartment that I hadn’t ever drifted so I decided, lets hit it up. I drift it and leave, as I’m leaving my radar goes full blast and I see a car pull off from a group of cars and then slows just behind me. "Shit, I’m so getting pulled over." and within 1/8 of a mile I do. I pull over and my driver side window wasn’t down all the way and I kill the engine without thinking, realizing my mistake I turn the car back on and roll it down the rest of the way; well the LEO was quick and was outside of his car by then and heard my V1. After some dialog he lets me leave without a ticket, I let Shane drive me back to the apartment (as I don’t probably wouldn’t of had the self control to make it without sliding.) Oh and because the tires were so borderline bald, Shane accidentally let the back end slide out, it was hilarious to watch him freak out and try to countersteer.
All-in-all it ended well considering.
Automotive Machine comes through again for the bike.
Automotive Machine not only gave me the thread size of a the nut I brought to them but they also allowed me to borrow a die and tool to repair the threads on the main shaft. Which worked out excellently.
USPS fails though. They were suppose to deliver the parts today but alas they haven’t. Hopefully tomorrow they will.
Still without a working motorcycle.
All the parts are finally on order. I was waiting for the front sprocket nut and washer to actually ship before ordering the sprockets, chain, chain tool, and lubricant. It took 7 days for the OE products to get to the supplier. I expect everything to arrive on Friday maybe Saturday. The only thing I will need after that is a die to re-thread the damaged main shaft of the transmission for the front sprocket nut.
Assuming the re-threading goes without a problem the motorcycle should roll again by Sunday evening.
So far its cost me:
525 Chromoly Steel Front Sprocket – 15 tooth: $15.00
525 Steel Rear Sprocket – Honda – 45 tooth: $40.95
TORCO Powerslide Chain Lube – 14oz: $10.95
D.I.D. 525 VM Gold X’ring Sealed Chain – 110 Links: $114.00
D.I.D. KM501-E Chain Rivet and Cutting Tool: $104.95
OEM Front Sprocket nut for Suzuki SV650S: $8.95
OEM Locking Front Sprocket Washer: $1.32
Total Shipping: $16.95
Grand Total (So Far): $313.07
This has been an expensive lesson to learn, which is keep up with the chain maintenance and lubricate thread surfaces generously before applying an excess of 300lbs/ft to remove a nut. I expect the die to be at least $20 if I can’t find a kit which I can just return to the store I rent it from.
P.S. I’m jonesing to ride any motorized two wheeled vehicle; every time a rocket passes me, or I hear one I get perky and I start grinning.
I have a working theory that a horse was to western times as a crotch rocket is to now. There is a good number of females who will have your babies just because you ride one. And it seems everyone notices you on one; (except the guy in the SUV talking on the phone changing into your lane, trying to occupy the same space as you.)
I’m quite annoyed with Chiquita at the moment.
Well I threw the chain as mentioned in the previous post; which means I have to replace it and the sprockets. I’m in the process of assessing what needs to be replaced and therefore bought.
So far I definitely need to replace:
front sprocket: $20-65
rear sprocket: $30-90
chain: $90-170
front sprocket nut: (don’t even know yet, I’m sure the dealer is going to screw me on this one)
locking washer for front sprocket nut: (again, dealer only product)
tool to rivet chain: $100-130
labor to rethread axle for front sprocket: $60-$100
I might have to replace:
swing arm: ~$40
cush drive/wheel hub: ~$60
It looks like about 3 weeks of downtime; not because its difficult but I must have a curse with threads because I seem to damage them all the time. Hopefully the threads on the front sprocket axle (which goes into the transmission) is repairable because I have no idea nor do I want to know the cost of replacing the shaft or transmission.
Awesome, missing/damaged thread on important components.
And to add complication of this mess the rear wheels is from a Honda F3; yes on my Suzuki, no I don’t know which of the two generations of the F3, and yes the sprocket bolt pattern is considerably different.
33 days in and I have a serious incident.
Well I made it a month without a serious incident. I think 3229 miles without an incident is pretty good for a new rider.
But last night while going home from work I almost laid the bike down. I was cruising at 50 MPH on a state highway (not to be confused with an interstate or freeway.) I intended to make a left 1/2 mile ahead of where I was, so I pull into the center lane which is a designated turn lane of this 4 lane highway, I down shift 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 thinking I was originally was in 6th I downshift again. Keep in mind the clutch never fully disengages for one reason or another especially in 1st gear. Okay so 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1 > chain lashes > lashes enough to cause it to have enough slack to hit the tire > tire yanks the chain off the rear sprocket > chain jams in-between the swing arm and the wheel hub > rear tire locks up while still doing 30 MPH > ass end start coming around to meet the front. I, being dim-witted at times, thinks "Hey I might be depressing the rear brake too much." so I’ll let off both brakes. There is no change except I’m not decelerating as quickly now., I think to myself "Well this can’t be good." I get back on the front brake and stop as quickly as I can.
So I’m sitting on the bike in the middle lane of this highway as cars are doing 50 each direction. I can’t push the bike off the road because the rear tires is locked up to the point where not even the engine can break the chain free. I looked back and see a 30 foot skid mark leading back to my rear tire; and think "That could of been nasty." Then I start thinking what am I going to do from getting to work tomorrow working back into the present moment. Then I realize I’m still standing in the middle of this highway and probably should at least remove my person’s from what is likely to become an accident.
I walk to the side of the road and I kid you not, not even 30 seconds after getting to a safe spot, someone comes up to me asking about the bike and whatever whatever. It amazing how everyone is your friend when you have a broken bike parked on a highway. So much so that before even implementing my recovery plan a police officer showed up and wanted to know why I parked my bike there even though the skid mark or contorted chain weren’t give-a-ways. I eventually got it out of the street with the rear jack and a set of tools. Then rode it to my mother’s for future repair. Its going to end up costing ~$200 for a new chain, and front and rear sprockets.
I live to ride another day. Although per the advisement of several people I should sell it now because I don’t "fear the bike." not even after this incident. I see this as "shit happens" and "thank god I bought a 240, otherwise the ass coming loose would of been a new experience."
Also the lease on the apartment is up in 2 months and I’ve already given the manager a notice to vacate then (i.e. not renewing the lease.) So I’m back on the "buy a house" bandwagon. Good thing I work 14 hours a day.
Yellow center strip = two direction road.
While delivering packages in downtown Fort Worth, I parked on the left side of what I thought was a 1 way road. Well I come back out to a bicycle LEO writing out a parking ticket. I was delivering packages with a 8am commit time and it was 7:10am and I still had 9 stops to go.
The officer didn’t complete the ticket but handed it to me anyways. I’m going to contest it on that alone, otherwise its just a $25 fine and work doesn’t care because it wasn’t a moving violation.
Life of a swing driver.
Last week and weeks to come are passing twice as slow or perhaps seem twice as long. Last week I worked from 6:45am until 7:44pm everyday with a 1-3 hour break somewhere in between. I’m in a constant state of tired. But on the upside Chiquita will be paid for much sooner than expected. Which is a good thing because I want another motorcycle.
Its late and time to sleep.