Wabs, an Itty-Bitty-SixFiddy

[Tenchi]

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]Interesting, how fantasy and reality can juxtapose..

The bars ain't right. To far forward, to far up.

The Bill Mayer seat is crunching mi Boyz. WTFO, Tim <_< .

...

Still on the list to do:

1. Eliminate 1 headlight bulb relay circuit to save output juice when running other consumers (heated vest, HID's, etc)

2. Install true knobbie tires

3. ????

Have you got risers on there? I've never hopped on a bike where the bars were this high before. One advantage I find is taking it off road, you can really appreciate being able to stand up basically straight and still reach the bars.

btw, #3 should be Profit.

 

[Brian R]

Hey Brian,Thanks for the good advice!

Very much intrigued by your Alaska ride... any links? I'm ALL ears. Well, ok, not like SkooterG ears, but for me, all ears!

Sure - not many pics here but look for the posts by Alcan Jack - he has a great website FULL of stuff about riding Alaska. He has personally made the Haul road his ****** riding it in all seasons of the year (including in th dead of winter).

Ocean to Ocean to Ocean trip report

I did not put many pictures in the trip report but here are some.

Pictures (as they are)

Brian R.

 

[dcarver]

Brian R... great post.. Thank You!

Edit - Phuck Dude, you are one tough MF.

6 1k days in a row on a Vstrom? Holy **** Batman..

This was interesting too.

After riding this stretch I was very surprised at how often the bike was hitting hard parts going over these long duration swooping bumps. As long as I was on the pegs it was fine but with my weight on the bike I kept dragging the centerstand. I had lowered the bike about 1 1/8” and have been having problems with that stand in left hand turns since then because the foot of the stand sticks out so far, but this was the first time that bumps had affected it so much. You have to be attentive up here and I kept my hands on the bars at all times ready for an anomaly at any time.

Did you find a cure for this?

I'll be editing more later.. gotta get ready for work..

Wow, great post..

 

[dcarver]

[SIZE=12pt]Wabs, 1 Oil Change, 1,500 miles, and some modifications later[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Wow, time passes quickly. Take note folks, it may pass you by too. Pink Floyd stated it well in song. Can you ID the song?[/SIZE]

I tried to change the bar position, but doing so puts the bars into the tank bag, and the cheap-**** Vista throttle lock into tank paint.

The bars will have to go, and a call to MADCO for a decent and working throttle lock too.

The good news? WABS is a fooking hoot to ride! :clapping: Serious fun, light weight (as compared to Krzy8), scoots down the road nicely and handles dirt alot better than she should.

Random thoughts, free-form typed...

Phuk Wabs is scary on left hand corners when the suspension drops. Something is hitting HARD and leveraging the back tire *off* the ground. I ran 229, full of dips and elevation changes, and the back end stepped out by more than 25 yards. Seriously, I wouldn't lie to you. OK, it may have been 6-10 inches of leveraged lift, but my oh my...

After 1,200 miles, maybe the handlebars and seat aren't so bad. Either that or my boyz have shrinkage due to cold weather.. Like the FJR, which took many miles for my body to assimilate the position, Wabs is much more comfortable.

Charging voltage now routinely runs between 14.2 and 14.8 with low beam headlights on. Electric vest, (Widder, circa 1991), GPS, StarCom1, Hi Beam lights and normal house load = volts of 14.5 as read by Escort 8500 connected directly to battery. In other words, this charging circuit is healthy and I now have full faith in Wabs to deliver my happy *** to the next destination.

Changed the oil as I have no clue the last time Tim changed oil. New NAPA oil filter and Delo 15-40. Easy-Peasy change too. 14mm drain bolt, Oil filter right up front... I could change the oil on this bike even when in an Odot moment. Oh, I was.. Also, Wabs seemed 'quieter' with fresh oil.

Re-installed all the electrical farkles. Recall I removed the incredibly high current draw GPS (Zumo 550) and Radar Detector (Escort 8500) so the shop would not claim these devices caused the charging circuit failure. StarCom Advanced, radar detector, GPS mount, and FuzeBlock. Pleasantly surprised that all circuits WORKED with no engine noise.. :yahoo:

The FuzeBlock is cool because you can lop off the in-series fuses for various devices and use the FB to handle the chore. I'll take pix later... Not that my install is anything cool, but IS functional and serviceable. Remember I'm staging Wabs for an Alaska run, and ease of servicing, and simplicity, are at the top of my list. Somewhere, someday, I may be very cold, brain not working well, and I may have to effect an repair...

Anyway, the root cause for low charging volts was in fact the fuel pump starting to short out, intermittently blowing the 10A fuse and dragging the charging circuit down.

Wabs needs new tires.. The front is stock, and Tim changed out the back with an Avon Distenza. I plan to replace these shoes with a more aggressive dirt pattern, I think they are Continental TX2's? Highlander, you reading this? Same tires you're running...

Wabs is incredibly fun to ride! I'm now LOOKING for dirt roads, the weather is scheduled to SNOW tomorrow, and I'm riding!

Thanks for reading along... I'm having so much fun with this bike...

 

[RadioHowie]

Don,

This thread has been a joy to follow and I (we) hope you continue the tale.

Tim is proud Wabs has such a great new papa.

 

[ionbeam]

[SIZE=12pt]Wabs, 1 Oil Change, 1,500 miles, and some modifications later[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Wow, time passes quickly. Take note folks, it may pass you by too. Pink Floyd stated it well in song. Can you ID the song?.....[/SIZE]

Glad that Wabs is coming along!

(What are you doing listening to music groups like this? Oh wait, you were young once, weren't you? )

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine

Staying home to watch the rain

And you are young and life is long

And there is time to kill today

And then one day you find

Ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run

You missed the starting gun

And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking

Racing around to come up behind you again

The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter

Never seem to find the time

Plans that either come to nought

Or half a page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way

The time is gone

The song is over

Thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again

I like to be here when I can

When I come home cold and tired

It's good to warm my bones beside the fire

Far away across the field

The tolling of the iron bell

Calls the faithful to their knees

To hear the softly spoken magic spells

 

[dcarver]

[SIZE=12pt]It's Official, I'm Wabs new Step-Daddy![/SIZE]

Today, the magical Pink Slip arrived, declaring me as Wabs new official stepDaddy.

Called Patti to let her know she is cleared of liability and what not, to release the insurance, and she was .

I've been riding Wabs almost every day now, and have been researching the 2010 Alaska journey..

What a long strange trip it's not even been yet!

For a great read.. check this one out.

Again today, Wabs n me left for work.. 23 F on the outdoor t-meter when we left.

Some trepidation... icy roads and all...

About 10 miles in, hit the ice..

slipped about 3 feet from center left lane to dirt..

gathered her back up..

..then went back to the house;

released the beast from the hacienda, ([SIZE=8pt]fearsome black labbie dog) [/SIZE]opened the front door, flopped on the bed, riding gear, helmet on..

and went back to sleep.

No need for all of us to die today..

Phook work...

[SIZE=12pt]Wabs, 1 Oil Change, 1,500 miles, and some modifications later[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Wow, time passes quickly. Take note folks, it may pass you by too. Pink Floyd stated it well in song. Can you ID the song?.....[/SIZE]

Glad that Wabs is coming along!

(What are you doing listening to music groups like this? Oh wait, you were young once, weren't you? )

T

icking away the moments that make up a dull dayYou fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine

Staying home to watch the rain

And you are young and life is long

And there is time to kill today

And then one day you find

Ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run

You missed the starting gun

And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking

Racing around to come up behind you again

The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter

Never seem to find the time

Plans that either come to nought

Or half a page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way

The time is gone

The song is over

Thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again

I like to be here when I can

When I come home cold and tired

It's good to warm my bones beside the fire

Far away across the field

The tolling of the iron bell

Calls the faithful to their knees

To hear the softly spoken magic spells

Edit - IonBeam wins the prize...

 

[Old Michael]

..then went back to the house;released the beast from the hacienda, ([SIZE=8pt]fearsome black labbie dog) [/SIZE]opened the front door, flopped on the bed, riding gear, helmet on..

and went back to sleep.

No need for all of us to die today..

Phook work...

Some days, you have no choice Don.

This thread has been a joy to follow and I (we) hope you continue the tale.

Yup.

 

[dcarver]

[SIZE=12pt]Wabs needs new Shoes![/SIZE]

Well, I guess enough is enough. The front tire now has 12k on it (I've put 2k on Wabs :yahoo: ) and it's just about as bald as Warchilds noggin. I believe this is the original tire, as the rear has been replaced by a Distenzia, it too is at wear bars.

Today, the county finally got off their collective butt to grade the dirt road. Me, being a MX racer and all, saw the soft dirt just behind the grader (that was ripping 6 inches deep), waved to the grader operator, then gave a thumbs up when I hit the soft **** at 35 mph. No worries that the front is as bald as... oh, wait, did I already say that?

Oh phuck did it go bad after that! LOL, what a freaking ***** I are! I KNOW the grader dude was watching as the front washed out, the landing gear came down, and I went more sideways than forward for about 20 yards. Swapping ends, bar lock to lock, the rear passing the front, **** flying left and right... but I finally gathered ol Wabs up and it was cool.

[SIZE=8pt]Then I found a spot on the very, very left hand side of the road where the grader had not yet molested the dirt and tip-toed to the glorious pavement...[/SIZE]

Sooo, after reading various Strom forums, AdvRider, etc, I've distilled the choices to two brands/models.

These are Continental TKC 80's. They have been reported to be pretty competent street tires and decent in the dirt too. Conflicting reports on mileage; some on AdvRider report 8k plus on the WeeStrom (650) but Highlander, a feller I know and trust, reported much,much less..

Notice the rear tire on right.. 3 nicely rounded knobs. This is what supposedly allows for good streetability.

And here is a more aggressive dirt tire, the Metzler Karoo.

Interesting tire sizes on a DL650..

Front - 110/80 R19

Rear - 150/70 69H

Soo, after looking at both these tires, I've decided to pull the trigger on the..

TKC 80's. Right now, my major dirt road is in to and outta da house, 6 miles per day. The Karoos look a little too aggressive. After all, I still like to ride the 229 at full tilt...

:yahoo:

Interestingly enough, the highest gas prices for regular gasoline is 2.41 in.....

Anchorage, Alaska!

 

[dcarver]

[SIZE=12pt]Parking Lights, Really?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Road Wabs to work today, chilly in the AM, about 28F. For some reason, the heated gloves didn't seem to work, especially the right glove. Hmmm. Dum-de-Dummm, off ta work I go. Over the hill, through the valley, burrrr, then soon enough I'm there. [/SIZE]

Ahh, beautiful work, the warm glow of the cubicle farm, the lack of heat in the building, (2 of 3 boilers are broke, so no heat); a cup of decaff is sounding pretty good. 'Head' to the uni-sex restroom and only drinking water in the building. Of course it's right next to the urinal, less than 18 inches separating the two. [SIZE=8pt]I wonder how many folks have, uhh, you know, then, you know, then used the sink immediately after?[/SIZE]

Gawd, has my life come to this? Get water from the toilet, piss in the sink, call it all good. Decaff on the way, yeah, that will get me going.

Finally, end of day. The decaff worked so good I worked late to help a friend out. Dark-Thirty outside, walk over to Wabs and WTFO, why is the rear tail light on? Radar detector too? WTF, 10.9 vdc? Oh crap.

Fellow state grocery groper unfortunately, for him, walks by and is willing to help. Searches his truck for jumpers, no luck. Back to the shop he says, be right back with cables. 5, 10, 15, he comes back with lovely Lisa but no cables.

Hope though, springs eternal. Lovely Lisa has cables, in her car. Soon enough, Wabs is jumped and running. No heated gear on the way home, no tunes, no GPS. ****, how is a feller to find his way home without GPS? I soo need a long ride. [SIZE=8pt](For you folks going through yet another tough winter, move the phuck out and get on with living la vida de loca or whatever it was that sacred prophet ricky maritin sang about) [/SIZE]

Mananna, priority goal, as my fine grocery feeder calls it, is to see if a fuse exists for freaking 'parking lights'. If so, it is history, gone, sayonara, bye bye baby. Worthless piece of **** that circuit is, WWII ended what, 50 years ago? Don't need no stinkin' parking lights. :glare:

 

[CHRIS_D]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[doctorJ]

[SIZE=12pt]Parking Lights, Really?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Road Wabs to work today, chilly in the AM, about 28F. For some reason, the heated gloves didn't seem to work, especially the right glove. Hmmm. Dum-de-Dummm, off ta work I go. Over the hill, through the valley, burrrr, then soon enough I'm there. [/SIZE]
Ahh, beautiful work, the warm glow of the cubicle farm, the lack of heat in the building, (2 of 3 boilers are broke, so no heat); a cup of decaff is sounding pretty good. 'Head' to the uni-sex restroom and only drinking water in the building. Of course it's right next to the urinal, less than 18 inches separating the two. [SIZE=8pt]I wonder how many folks have, uhh, you know, then, you know, then used the sink immediately after?[/SIZE]

Gawd, has my life come to this? Get water from the toilet, piss in the sink, call it all good. Decaff on the way, yeah, that will get me going.

Finally, end of day. The decaff worked so good I worked late to help a friend out. Dark-Thirty outside, walk over to Wabs and WTFO, why is the rear tail light on? Radar detector too? WTF, 10.9 vdc? Oh crap.

Fellow state grocery groper unfortunately, for him, walks by and is willing to help. Searches his truck for jumpers, no luck. Back to the shop he says, be right back with cables. 5, 10, 15, he comes back with lovely Lisa but no cables.

Hope though, springs eternal. Lovely Lisa has cables, in her car. Soon enough, Wabs is jumped and running. No heated gear on the way home, no tunes, no GPS. ****, how is a feller to find his way home without GPS? I soo need a long ride. [SIZE=8pt](For you folks going through yet another tough winter, move the phuck out and get on with living la vida de loca or whatever it was that sacred prophet ricky maritin sang about) [/SIZE]

Mananna, priority goal, as my fine grocery feeder calls it, is to see if a fuse exists for freaking 'parking lights'. If so, it is history, gone, sayonara, bye bye baby. Worthless piece of **** that circuit is, WWII ended what, 50 years ago? Don't need no stinkin' parking lights. :glare:

If you locked the handlebar with the key for security, there is a position that will leave the tail light on. I'm not sure why but you can check that out. I've done it once or twice but caught it each time. I don't know if that was the reason for you, but it is a simple fix by key position only. If your GPS is directly hot wired, just turn it off unless someone turned it on for you. How do you keep it from being stolen?

doctorj

 

[Checkswrecks]

If you locked the handlebar with the key for security, there is a position that will leave the tail light on. I'm not sure why but you can check that out. I've done it once or twice but caught it each time. I don't know if that was the reason for you, but it is a simple fix by key position only. If your GPS is directly hot wired, just turn it off unless someone turned it on for you. How do you keep it from being stolen?
doctorj

+1 btdt and it sucks, especially when not the first time!!! Arrgh

Keep the thread going Don! Am enjoying it.

Bob

 

[dcarver]

[SIZE=12pt]Wabs New Shoes Arrive[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Woot-Woot :yahoo: new shoes for Wabs arrived today! [/SIZE]

Visually, the TKC's look exactly like what I'm hoping for - nice big block knobbies for good street handling, yet with enough depth and space to fling mud out enabling traction.

Boy oh, Boy, I can't wait until ol' Jeff Ashe gets around to testing these tires! :blink: :yahoo: :blink:

Install date = tomorrow.

I might just let them suckers sit in the hot tub to get them nice and warm prior to install...

after all, happiness is a warm tire, ohh yeeaahh...

 

[RadioHowie]

God Bless an understanding and generous wife.

That's all I got to say about that.

 

[wheatonFJR]

[SIZE=12pt]Wabs New Shoes Arrive[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Woot-Woot :yahoo: new shoes for Wabs arrived today! [/SIZE]Visually, the TKC's look exactly like what I'm hoping for - nice big block knobbies for good street handling, yet with enough depth and space to fling mud out enabling traction.

Boy oh, Boy, I can't wait until ol' Jeff Ashe gets around to testing these tires! :blink: :yahoo: :blink:

Install date = tomorrow.

I might just let them suckers sit in the hot tub to get them nice and warm prior to install...

after all, happiness is a warm tire, ohh yeeaahh...

I think those blocky treads might be prone to premature cupping.

 

[beemerdons]

wheatonFJR: Help me out, Bro! Doesn't it say "Who wants to ride Alaska" in the thread title. Where are dates and routes??

 

[wheatonFJR]

wheatonFJR: Help me out, Bro! Doesn't it say "Who wants to ride Alaska" in the thread title. Where are dates and routes??

I'm wid you...where are they?

 

[CHRIS_D]

Me three, Im just not seeing these dates in the post. :dntknw: :dntknw:

Maybe he's afraid my ugly-fugly-kaboom nine-nighty may just scare his Itty-Bitty-SixFiddy

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

wheatonFJR: Help me out, Bro! Doesn't it say "Who wants to ride Alaska" in the thread title. Where are dates and routes??

I'm wid you...where are they?

2010 IIRC

Plenty-o'time