Just a Little Setback

<chuckle> I've always been hesitant and reluctant to buy anything without
first looking it over, carefully.. hmmm.. I suppose you might call me an
"impulse buyer" or something like that.. I like to examine the product and
touch it before I plunk down my money..

Last week, I ordered an item from a company which I'd never heard of, much
less done business with.. Since I'd had the opportunity to take a first hand
look at their product, even testing it firsthand, I made an exception to my
usual attitude..

As I reported on this newsgroup, I'd ordered a belt conversion kit, through
a trusted (by me, of course) Dealer in my area.. After considerable
discussion with the company representative, who is a very nice lady (again,
my own impression) delivery times were established, by her.. Best I can
recall, she repeated the delivery committments no less than two times..
Wednesday or sooner.. Twice, she assured me that the company would have no
problem with the delivery schedule..

Installation appointments were set up to install that product on my
motorcycle .. When Wednesday came and went without receiving that belt
conversion kit, my trusted dealer called the fabricator for shipping
information..

Seems as though, the delivery times were ignored and the kit wasn't actually
shipped until late Tuesday, with a delivery expectation of Friday.. Not a
real big deal, but the installation appointment had to be re-scheduled for
Saturday..

Quite a few have expressed their interest in this little modification to my
motorcycle and are waiting to hear about my impressions of the product..
Guess we'll all just have to wait a little longer.. right ?

Anyway.. this only serves to justify my reservations about ordering online,
e-bay or from pictures in a catalog.. Especially when such an expensive item
is involved.. The few times that I've deviated from my position on this
issue, there have been disappointment in the product when I actually got the
damned thing.. Ah well.. just let that be another lesson to me..

The belt conversion kit should be here tomorrow, better late than never,
right ? We'll get 'er installed on Saturday and by Monday, I should be able
to know if I made a wise decision in this modification to the Green Vulcan..
lol......

Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Bill, didnt you say you rode with fellers that had it done to their
Kawas?


'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

Yep.. sure did.. Two of them, just like mine only later year models.. One of
those guys traded with me for a few miles.. Not quite enough for me to
really take the performance to the level I'd like.. I wouldn't do that on
someone's else's bike, anyway.. lol...

Hell, for me to even ride someone else's motorcycle, or let them ride mine..
is not my style.. We'd ridden for quite a few miles together and talked
about that belt conversion thing considerably.. Guess my curiosity got the
better of me and I just couldn't resist when the fellow suggested we ride
each other's bike for a bit.. I'm glad I did it, but I don't think I'd risk
it again..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

I know what you mean about riding someone' Bike. I did ride my SIL's
(KB) Heritage, when he first got it, two years ago!! Probably would
again, but dont wanna.
He ask me if he could ride the big Valk, of course he could. But this is
family. I have never rode Sparkys Vstar, Skunks 1100Shadow, LB's Harley,
Brads 1300VLX, lets see, that's all I can recall now, besides my Family
of Bikers. I rode ost of them, they always want my approval, heh-heh- I
guess heh-ehe-
But, it is not a good idea, ya' never know what might could happen, and
just merely dropping someones Motorsickle.
Bill, hope everthing gets done tomorrow, Friday. I know you'll certainly
enjoy, not having to oil and adjust, a belt, like a Chain.
How often did you have to oil and adjust the chain on the Mexico trip?
talkAtchaLater. bjay~

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

I am sure whenever he needed some oil on his chain, he just pulled up beside
one of those Harleys and let some spew on it.

 

Red-Shad responds to Bjays stuff;

‘‘I am sure whenever he needed some oil on his chain, he just pulled
up beside one of those Harleys and let some spew on it.’’


With the little bit i wrote about oiling a chain, and your oneLiner
above, shoot this could be incorparated into a funny Harley Joke.
(Hell, it was already, LMA0)

 

I don't keep track of how many miles I'm riding, gas stops, oil checks..
etc.. I kind of make mental notes and am unconsciously aware.. If I have to
stop too frequently .. then of course, I commence to pay close attention to
such details..

Gas stops are usually pretty well pre-planned before I start the trip..
There are always deviations from those plans because of strong headwinds,
leaning on that throttle too heavy or other highway conditions which affect
gasolene mileage..

Service before the trip is mostly what I depend on.. Cleaning and lubing the
chain is part of that.. After ten years riding this Vulcan, I know the
motorcycle pretty well.. Engine noise is important and the performance of
the motorcycle is an indicator that certain things like motor oil should be
attended to.. Same thing applies to the chain.. That sucker will talk to me
when it needs attention..

I seldom check the motor oil on a trip.. Under extreme heat and high speeds,
I'll pay attention to the oil level.. To answer the question of how many
times I lubed that chain on the Mexico trip.. hmmm.. seems like I recall
twice.. That was something like 3000 miles .. When I dropped the trip oil,
there was maybe less than half a pint used on that trip.. The oil capacity
for this engine is roughly three and a third quarts.. I've also been known
to change the motor oil when I'm on the road.. The oil filter is changed
every other time I change the oil, so it works out pretty good..

When the chain failed last year, there was some warning before it
happenned.. I heard a clicking noise coming from the drive train when I'd
decelerate.. I attribute that chain failure to a defective chain, because
I'd done a change out on it shortly before the trip.. Who knows..

Anyway.. the Green One is the first motorcycle I've ridden with chain drive,
in many years .. After ten years of good service from this little cruiser, I
can't complain.. But, with an alternative drive system available.. I'm
anxious to try out the belt drive.. not having ridden one for any length of
time.. All the good reports I'm getting, tells me that I'll be more than
happy with it.. We'll see..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Bill,How often did you have to oil and adjust the chain on the Mexico
trip? talkAtchaLater. bjay~

(Bill Walker)

Bjay,I don't keep track of how many miles I'm riding, gas stops, oil
checks.. etc.. I kind of make mental notes and am unconsciously aware..
If I have to stop too frequently .. then of course, I commence to pay
close attention to such details..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To answer the question of how many times I lubed that chain on the
Mexico trip.. hmmm.. seems like I recall twice.. That was something like
3000 miles .. When I dropped the trip oil,~~~~~~~
Bill Walker)



Reason I ask about you lubing and tightning the chain, was because you
rode a lotta miles. Most manuals say to tighten the chain atleast every
500-1000 miles.
(I think) I remember years ago, that we would have to tighten our chains
on every sizable trip. But lubing the chain, I usually lube the Magna
once on a 500/600 round mile trip. I used the chain wax.
I, too, usually put on a new filter every other oil change, on the Vtwin
Hondas.
regards, bjay!