| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
So when I got up at 5:15 on Sunday, July 4, I knew it was gonna be a good day. Got on the bathroom scale: 140.8 lb. I've shed about 25 pounds this year; feels good to be back to my weight as a hotshot bicycle racer in SoCal 40 years ago. Was gonna go for this ride Saturday, but fork seals got in the way. Since I had the parts on hand, Mrs. Greg and I got it done, and the coast was clear for Sunday. My goal for this ride was the beautiful San Juan Mts. of northern New Mexico. After four "stranded" rides, this one has gotta work. Rather than I-25, I always head north on NM 14; there's wonderful scenery and some great twisties north of Madrid, NM (where I broke down recently). This time I made it through! Santa Fe may be nice for some folks, but it's must a roadblock for me. Thank goodness for NM 599, the "relief route" around The City Different. The route joints NM 285 north of SF, and I take it until the Nambe cutoff at NM 502. This (if you take the portion through Cundiyo) is a lovely little narrow throwback road, until one joins NM 76. Now NM 76 is a highway every New Mexico rider is proud of...beautifuly mountain scenery, challenging 50-80 mph curves, and a mixed road surface. In other words, Uly territory! And this time it didn't disappoint. I once got stuck behind a funeral procession here...but not today. If one takes the turnoff at the "Rock Wall" (NM 518) this is also called "The High Road to Taos." And it is. The high point is "U.S. Hill" and the curves on the north side are wonderful. I always wait at the turnout for a gap to develop, then take off. It always works. It was SOOO NICE to actually be out RIDING!!! A gorgeous day, the Uly was running wonderfully...this is why I ride! Once at the southern edge of Taos, take the "Taos bypass" (not marked, but I know it) around the tourist traps to US 64, and west across the Rio Grande Gorge. It's a pretty good gorge (and suicide point), but I'm not stoppin' there today. Onward to Tres Piedras (Three Rocks). Now...US 64 from Tres Piedras to Tierra Amarilla is perhaps my favorite road in New Mexico. Beautiful high country, sweepers, views...just amazing. Near the descent into Tierra Amarilla the photo below shows the Brazos Cliffs and the view beyond...  I figured my range would be good enough to get all the way to Cuba, NM via some little-traveled roads, so I didn't stop at Tierra Amarilla. It was a hot day, and I was looking forward to a rest stop at Abiquiui Lake. However, before that, I stopped at "Echo Amphitheater." I have passed this point perhaps 100 times (well...) and never stopped. But today I have plenty of time. Here it is...  Walking up the path, here is a closer view,  Once I got to the "apex," I thought..."what do I say/yell?" So I clapped my hands...said HELLO, etc. There is a very crisp, very quick echo. Actually quite satisfying. Anyway, I was satisfied. My highly-anticipated rest stop at Abiquiui Lake was perhaps ten miles ahead, and I got my gear on looking forward to taking it off quite soon. I was about halfway to Abiquiui when I looked down and... OH, NO, NOT AGAIN!... The "Check Engine" light was on!!! Not again!!! However, the bike was running fine. I looked down again, and it was off. Luckily, the junction at Abiquiui was where I was planning on turning west and traveling through some very remote areas. Well, I quickly changed routes and went towards (always shunned) Espanola and Santa Fe. At Espanola I called Mrs. Greg and alerted her (NOT AGAIN!?!) As I proceeded towards Santa Fe I thought to myself..."was it really the CEL or was it the Oil Pressure light that I saw?" In my panic I wasn't really sure!? On my previous '06 Uly I had problems with the connection to the oil pressure sender...maybe that was it? Great... Anyway, I made it home. The oil level was fine (which I knew), and I cleaned the connector to the sender. We'll see. Tomorrow I'm taking part of the same ride to Taos, NM, and coming back the same way. It's a 300-mile ride. Mrs. Greg is confident. I think I am. --Doc P.S. The Duc dealer is willing to loan me a Duc Multistrada 1100S for the weekend; I think next weekend I'm gonna take him up on it. I'll write up a ride report if anyone's interested. P.P.S. When the Uly's running right, ain't no more fun bike. Well, maybe the MTS 1200...we'll see. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
You sure have some beautiful places to ride. Happy to hear the Uly is back running again. I would be interested in your Multi Ride, my local dealer has one for testing and It's on my list of to do's Cheers | ||
| Pso |
+1 on your P.P.S. The three times I have driven through N.M I have thought this is a wonderful state. Everytime my 06 breaks down (has always been electrics so far), I think "once I get this cow pie fixed I'm selling it". Then I get it running and realize this is the best handling, rideing, most comfortable and all around bike that I have ever had and figure I will give it one more chance. So today changing out plug wires, wed repacing front engine isolator, then bike will be back on probation. | ||
| Thesmaz |
Pso, I'm in the same spot as you. Mine's still not together; gotta find a fix for the upper shock mount bolt that stripped out and I'm waiting on a new rear wheel. I've really just about had enough.... If I had the means, there'd be a different bike in the garage. Dr Greg, Glad to hear you're back up and running. I've always enjoyed parts of NM, just not the ones out near Clovis which was my first duty station 21 years ago. | ||
| Bosh |
Hmmm.... I've had my 12X since 2005. It's never let me down. I just finished a 900+ mile two day ride to Northern CA and I can't think of a bike I'd have rather taken. I had so much fun I had to turn around and ride some parts of highway 1 twice. | ||
| Jphish |
Always interested in "first hand" test rides - let us know how the 1100S compares. I plan to keep the Uly for as long as parts are available - but it will NEVER be my ONLY ride. Got too many miles left in me (but not enough years) to be down for 2 months awaiting critical pieces. j | ||
| Ghostrider |
Hope you bring your rain gear. Looks like today you'll need it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Dr. Greg, I had an intermittent oil light with my Uly. I checked out the sender connection just like you did. It turned out to be a loose battery connection. Don't know if your symptoms are indicative of the same problem, but it can't hurt to check. |
