| Author | Message | ||
     Nocompromise |
So I finally went riding on Friday for the first time in about 4 years! It felt great to be back in the saddle, but I'm definitely going to take it really easy until I can shake the rust off. I didn't get to ride any twisties on Friday, so I was going to take my old favorite route today (at a nice slow pace)... but my choke lever plastic housing broke again. I had superglued it a week ago, but I figured it might not hold. So, I JB Welded it and I'll let it sit overnight. Hopefully that will do the trick. In another thread I posted about how my S1 would backfire/cough occasionally when I was riding on Friday. Well, I was thinking if the choke lever was stuck partially out that might cause something like that. I also reseated the carb to make sure that wasn't an issue. I'll take her out for a proper ride tomorrow afternoon, and hopefully she'll be running strong like she used to! She's been sitting for the last ~4 years and I haven't done a proper detailing (just a good wipedown/polish/wax), but I think she's looking pretty dang good!! On a personal note, I landed my dream job today!! I've been working towards becoming an airline pilot for the last 14 years, and Southwest Airlines offered me a job today!!  I was planning to celebrate with a nice ride, but it looks like I'll have to wait until tomorrow.   | ||
| Sooner |
Congratulations on your new job, I hope you don't mind working for peanuts. As for your backfireing issue, you should run some carb cleaner through your carb. After sitting that long, you probably have some buildup in your jets. They may look clean, but any fuel in the jets will turn to shellack after sitting that long, and cause exactly the issue you are describeing. It's an easy fix, and a cheap one. Then, blast around those s curves. Just remember, leave the lift to the airfoils, or you may be "dragging" your kiester out of a ditch. Again, congrats on the job. I am a General Aviation pilot, and envy you a LOT. Be safe. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Nocompromise, I can see why your not sure whether to mess with changing it or not. Not sure if I would mess with it either. That bike is gorgeous! Congrats on the new job  | ||
| Mikef5000 |
That thing looks killer! And Congrats! | ||
| Nocompromise |
Thanks for the congrats guys! It's been a long road to get here, but I'm sure it will be worth it. Southwest is definitely my dream job! I went for my first ride in the twisties today! Man, I've missed riding!!  I took it relatively easy since I'm rusty, but I still rode at a 'brisk' pace through many of the corners.  She still handles great, just like I remember! I think she only did the backfire/cough once the entire ride (couple hours) and it was almost like the engine was running just slightly rough on trailing throttle into a corner. I don't know if this is indicative of rich or lean running. I'm hoping to get some engine work done at some point in the near future, so maybe it's all moot. I rode behind a nice guy on a brand new CBR1000 for a little bit. We stopped an talked at a rest area. He just traded his Ducati 996R in for the CBR. I'm not sure I would've done the same, but they're both awesome bikes! He was going *very* slow in the corners, but I'm glad that somebody is riding safe rather than crazy. He was shocked when I told him that my bike is a 97 model - I'm guessing because it's still in good shape.  He was also shocked when I told him it puts out 80-something horsepower - I'm guessing because it's around half of the CBR's output.  I would like to get around 100 horsepower, but honestly I don't see why you need much more for street riding. As it stands the Buell suits my riding style very well. Even when I had a GSX-R750 I rode the same way - high corner speed but take it easy on the straights. I loooove to rail through a nice corner, but if I nail the throttle on the exit I'll be doing 100+ before I can blink. If a cop is hiding somewhere nearby, it's game over man!!  From what I've read of the new liter bikes, they are scary even on the racetrack. Guys get to crazy speeds on the straights, which makes them brake too early and thereby screw up their corner entry. If people really want 160 hp on the street, then more power to them... but for my riding style I really don't need it. One last thing occurred to me while riding behind the CBR: No offense to rice rocket owners (I have owned and still like sportbikes), but I think they enjoy their bikes for what they can DO rather than what they ARE. My Gixxer was my first bike and I could already see the cycle (pardon the pun) of sportbikes. Sportbikes that were a generation or two old just looked BAD, no matter how modded or well maintained they were. The style was outdated and the performance was poor compared to the latest, greatest wonderbike. So, basically you're jonesing for a new bike every couple years.  I wanted a bike that would meet my riding needs and would still make me happy 5-10 years down the road. I think I made the right choice. My only complaints are the poor comfort and suspect reliability. I have been EXTREMELY fortunate to not have any major problems thus far (vigorously knocking on wood), but it's always in the back of my mind that something BAD could happen at any time. Sorry to ramble on for so long, but it's amazing what a couple hours of riding will do for stimulating thoughts and improving your mental health. Here are a few pictures from today:    | ||
| Firemanjim |
Bike looks good, pics at Berryessa? Very nice roads around that area. Will you be flying local or have to move? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Gorgeous bike. I have a detail question for you - the swingarm brace over the front sprocket - painted black? Powdercoated gray? Looks great...I need to do something like that on my S2, it really stands out being bare aluminum. I may make it white on my S1W, but not sure how that would look.... At any rate, enjoy your riding and keep sticking it to those ricers!  | ||
| Nocompromise |
Joel - Thanks for the advice! I did a thorough carb cleaning when I revived her, so I really hope that's not the problem. I cleaned each individual jet very well. After this most recent ride it appears to be 98% gone, so I'll just keep monitoring it. I'm running some fuel system cleaner through the gas right now. Keith - I keep going back and forth on what to change (if anything)... I'll probably do some engine work first and put some DEEP thought into any cosmetic mods before I do anything.  Jim - Yes, the pics were taken at Berryessa. That used to be my favorite route - Pleasant Valley Road up to the first bridge at Berryessa, then turn around. Some of the turns are in worse shape than they were 4 years ago.  Those are the closest, nicest twisties that I know of (plus good scenery). If you know of any other good rides nearby please share the wealth! I'm still up for going for a ride anytime you like. The nice thing about the Southwest job is that I'll be able to keep my Reserve job (KC-10s) and drive to Oakland for Southwest. We live in a 3 bedroom house with 2 kids, so we'll probably move to a bigger house in another year. We really love it here so we might just move to another house in Vacaville, but I'll also be doing research on areas between here and Oakland (maybe Pleasant Hill or someplace along 680?). It's sooooo nice to be able to start planning for the future.  Joe - I think it's powdercoated black. Almost all of the mods were done by the previous owner when I bought it back in 98. He owned if for less than a year but he did a bunch of nice stuff already. I just rejetted the carb, ceramic coated the pipes, put on the rearsets and the Force seat. I'm guessing that the swingarm brace over the front sprocket came that way stock, but I could be wrong. I'm definitely loving riding again! | ||
| Firemanjim |
Pleasant Valley Rd to 128,right on Cappell Valley,R on Berryessa-Knoxville Rd.,L on Pope Canyon,R on Chile-Pope Cyn. Rd.,L on Ink Grade Rd. (it's an easy one to miss,but is like a goat trail)R on Howell Mt Rd.,L on Silverado Trail,L on 128/Sage Canyon Rd. Takes you right back to where you turned off at Berryessa. That is a short one, also try the uphill into Angwin instead of Ink Grade,it is a hoot.Or make a loop out of Ink Grade Rd.and Howell Mt. Rd. into Angwin, up one and down the other. Another route continues with following Berryessa Knoxville Rd all the way out past Berryessa all the way to Lower Lake, then come back down 29, L on Butts Cyn.which will take you back to a left on Chiles-Pope Valley Rd.,right back to 128. Great rides. I have lots more---- | ||
| Onahog |
Nice Bike and Congarts on the new Job.. When ya get your first pay cheque, go buy a new choke cable...Your bike will love ya and by the look of the bike, glued cable just dont cut it...HB | ||
| Nevrenuf |
nice bike and congrats on the job. you'll be going to work for the best company in the business from what i have ever seen. worked a number of years ago at tampa airport and to me they were the nicest people to work around on a construction standpoint. good luck. | ||
| Joesbuell |
That has to be one of the nicest and cleanest S1's around! Enjoy the ride  |
