Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater
Fri, 10 Apr 2009
That default standard picture set
Enjoy! Click on "High Res" for 14.7 megapixel versions
Posted at 15:15 permanent link category: /motorcycle
After a gonzo few hours spent fanatically measuring the CL175's clutch, and consulting with one Michael Bateman, we determined the problem: the previous owner of my bike had put in the wrong clutch parts.
Michael, inveterate tuner and hopper-upper that he is, has replaced more clutches than god, and had some spare, correct-size clutch plates for me. He sent them along, and I got them on Wednesday. In a brief fit of madness, I installed them after I got home that night -- of course, I didn't get home until 11 pm, which is so far past my "Do not start in on new projects" hour that it's not even funny. However, the job was easy, and I was done half an hour later.
Today, I finally had winnowed enough free time out of my schedule (mostly by missing sleep) to get oil poured back into the engine, and the footpegs reinstalled. I fired up the bike and gave it a few test-runs along the shoulder, and the clutch felt just right. I decided that it would be worth riding it into work today.
The trip was effortless. It's amazing how much of a psychological difference a correctly working clutch makes. The engine and transmission are always connected when you expect them to be. There's no limit on how far you can hit the throttle before you have to worry about breaking the clutch loose. The bike is suddenly grounded and centered.
I'm still floating on the happy cloud of working-clutch, which is delightful. I think I might even take the bike out to my traditional photo spot (which has been disrupted by years of construction), and take my now-traditional round-the-bike photo set. And, happy day, I have the new G10 to do it with. It's all coming together.
Posted at 12:14 permanent link category: /motorcycle
Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater