I am giddy, I am so dang giddy, I might pee

[iowabeakster]

I last rode my bike in mid October. The battery died. The rest of the riding season was going to be so short that I decided to wait until spring to buy a new one. I'm glad I did, 'cause it rained constantly, until it snowed. I did get a few rides in on the wife's bike. That's cool and all, but, it wasn't MY BIKE.

Tomorrow, a new battery and front tire are going on my bike. It'll be rainy, but warm enough to monkey around in the garage.

Next week...sunny and day time highs temps in the 50's.

[boxermania]

Glad that the weather is turning up.....time to get the old girl out for a spin. I share your feelings......

[rdsmith3]

Similar story here. I have not been riding since last November for a variety of personal and weather-related reasons.

I went to ride my bike on Sunday, as the temps were in the 50's, and I got click, click, click. The Battery Tender is not charging it -- I don't know if the battery is beyond hope, or the Tender is malfunctioning. In any event, I bought a new Odyssey that should be here soon.

I also bought a fuel filter from Beemer Boneyard. I thought I would replace the fuel filter while I have the tank off. I hope I don't regret doing this myself.

[twindave]

Similar story here. I have not been riding since last November for a variety of personal and weather-related reasons.

In any event, I bought a new Optima that should be here soon.

Pray tell....what Model Optima battery did you purchase for your R and where did you purchase it?

Thank you very much!

[rdsmith3]

I bought the Odyssey PC 680. I ended up buying from Amazon. There are a bunch of places that sell it in the $120-$125 range. You just have to compare the total cost, inc. shipping. Even within Amazon, there are several vendors that sell it. I went with Amazon, with the free shipping option.

[twindave]

I bought the Optima PC 680. I ended up buying from Amazon. There are a bunch of places that sell it in the $120-$125 range. You just have to compare the total cost, inc. shipping. Even within Amazon, there are several vendors that sell it. I went with Amazon, with the free shipping option.

Please forgive me if I seem dense, but I can’t seem to locate an “Optima” battery for motorcycles. Are you referring to an “Odyssey?”

Thanks!

[iowabeakster]

Bob,

I thought I would replace the fuel filter while I have the tank off. I hope I don't regret doing this myself.

I am guessing that you've found all the relevant info about that job. You will regret it for about 30-45 minutes... oh, you will! It's a nasty trifle of a job. After a short period of time, the regret will pass, and you'll be happy.

Tire and battery are installed! But now my front brake seems to rub (just joking around, for the old timers). I have a couple more rainy days to inspect and play in the garage.

Look at this forecast...gotta get to the potty now...it's leaking down my leg.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54

.

[rdsmith3]

I bought the Optima PC 680. I ended up buying from Amazon. There are a bunch of places that sell it in the $120-$125 range. You just have to compare the total cost, inc. shipping. Even within Amazon, there are several vendors that sell it. I went with Amazon, with the free shipping option.

Please forgive me if I seem dense, but I can’t seem to locate an “Optima” battery for motorcycles. Are you referring to an “Odyssey?”

Thanks!

Yes, you're right. Forgive me -- I turned 50 last month and I'm having these senior moments.

[rutheugene2]

I'm in the North West and ride all year around. Except for snow and ice which never showed up this year. My K75 has a full fairing and a tall windshield. I sit in a little bubble of still dry air. Very comfortable down to freezing. Only way to go.

[macx]

Beamoaning turning 50?! What I wouldn't give to BE 50 again!!

Well, wait a dang minute - then I'd have to work all those many more years!

Heck, when I think about it that way, I'd give up the next 3 or 4 years if I could
wake up and be retired tomorrow!

But, yeah, I just had to go out in the garage and start mine this afternoon, even
while it was raining and with the bike on the trailer. Just HAD to hear and feel
it alive again!! Will be a couple more weeks b4 it's warm enuf for these old
bones to go down the road on it, but now I can dream about the sound and those
"good vibrations" in the meantime. :-)

[hawkdad]

I'm with you... Up here in in the mountains of Dubuque.... my Mistress and I were last together (yes...that's her name ) on December 1st... Now... I've had her out a couple of times already... it's going to turn cold again next week.. so... riding to work in the mid 30's is doable... mid teens is pushing it a bit much.

Last week was fun riding with all that snow on the ground... even if it was in the 50's...

So... why does 50 degrees in the spring... seem SO MUCH WARMER.. than 50 degrees in the fall?

tomorrow I have to figure out how to bleed the clutch, I've never done it before... so we'll see... I did the brakes yesterday.... took about 2 hours, but then I figured out how to get the mityvac working right...

I put 10K on her last year... going for 20 this year!!!

[rdsmith3]

I did the fuel filter on Saturday. It wasn't nearly as bad as some people said, or maybe I was just lucky. I even had my 3 year old "helping" me.

I bought the filter and gasket & clamp kit from Beemer Boneyard. Everything came out of the tank OK. I got the clamps off the two fuel lines without a problem and also off the filter without a problem. I put on a new gasket and greased it very lightly. I put new clamps on the hoses and installed the new filter. I slipped the sock end of the assembly in first, then over to the other side and squeezed the wires and electrical connectors into the small opening. Oops! The gasket is inside the tank. I had to remove the assembly again, pull out the gasket, and then put everything back in place. I tightened the nuts in a cross pattern. I had no idea what torque value to use, and I was on a roll, so I did not bother to research it. I kept going around in the cross pattern, getting to a point where I applied firm pressure with a tiny little 1/4" socket wrench.

I put everything back together and cycled the fuel pump about five times, as cyclerob suggested. Then it was time for the real test. I put a minimal amount of fuel in the tank. With a new Odyssey battery, the starter cranked vigorously and it started up on the second try. I observed no fuel leaks from the fuel disconnects or from under the tank.

I rode to the gas station and filled it with almost five gallons. Wow, I have never put that much gas in it.

I took a short, spirited ride and everything seems fine. Back in the garage, I kept checking the garage floor to look for leaks. There is actually about one drop of oil per day dripping down, but no gas!

I am ready to ride!

Now we have another two days of heavy rain.