She deserved better than me. Back in my university days, I purchased what looks like my last motorcycle – a 1985 Yamaha FJ100. I got it with about 20k miles and proceeded to drive the bike another 70k or so. Mr. Vogon can appreciate the ‘butt in seat’ time it takes to do that on a bike. I’d do runs from Minneapolis to California, then up the coast to Seattle, and back home again. Also put it to hard use going to the East coast as well. All over the continental US (including Alaska), and most days at the U of MN (yay free motorcycle parking, in the day). The bike would come out as soon as the snow melted, and go down for the winter after I came to accept the snow was there to stay. For the most part, I was able to do all my own maintenance, fixing stuff as it came along. Very few subsystems were not anointed with sweat and knuckle blood, but the bike never really let me down in the field.
Years back, my Bride-to-be and I were waiting to take a turn at a T in the road and a school bus turn left, clipping the front of the bike. I was able to push back enough that we did not even tip over, but the front cowling did get some damage. I was well versed in fiberglass / foam work and fixed it – but it took me the better part of three years before I got it done. By then, the gas dried and bringing the carbs back to life was beyond the scope of my skills. That, and my Bride viewed the bike as a fastrack to widowhood. Deals were made along the line of, “I’d rather you were in a titanium cocoon, wrapped in leather, than on it…”. So I gave it up… more or less gave it to a friend of 20+ years who will give it the home she deserves. (That, and it frees up the garage space I needed to rebuild the wings this summer.)
Initial reports from the fuel system engineer (my buddy works for one of the major recreational vehicle companies) that looked over the carbs confirmed that it was in the ‘top 5 worst messes’ he has ever seen, but fixable. I don’t feel bad about giving up now. May the material components to “raise dead” be inexpensive….
And as a side note – looks like I’m flying home to a major storm. Bride calls to tell me she will be late to pick me up, as she turned around, put the car in the garage, and is on the way to pick me up. With 65 mph strait winds and hail, I think she might camp in the mall / parking ramp for a bit. She so graciously reminds me that both cars now fit in the garage. Sort of spooky to hear the airport folks here at MSP to start the emergency processes in the airport. This place is all windows…
