British Electrical Fun

This is what a burnt out ignition switch looks like. Fun!

Crank Toss II

I had an amazing weekend with my fellow BIR brothers and sisters up near Lake Isabella. Hundreds of miles of backroads and slab. Can't wait for next year.

Brass Balls

via 407autobike

Itchin' For A Ride

SoCal's version of winter decided to overstay it's welcome this year. The rain had me itchin' for a ride, so when it showed the slightest sign of clearing out, I snuck out for a little ripper.

I headed north a bit, then cut east on the 14 and hopped on the Soledad. Still a little wet out so the slab left me cold and damp. No problem because it cleared up as I headed further out. Got back on the highway and it was dead straight and windy all the way to Rosamond.

I've been wanting to check out Willow Springs Raceway for awhile and even though it was what passes for a "slow" day up there, it was still very cool to see. I definitely have the bug to take a rider course up there sometime soon.

On the way back home I took a detour over to Vasquez Rocks. No surprise that they used this as a fake backdrop for old sci-fi movies.

I can't remember if I ever saw them this closely when I was kid. I only remember seeing them from freeway on the way to wherever. The weirdest part was how they just seemed to come out of nowhere as I rode up. I even got to get into a little dirt and mud.
Looking forward to more clear skies this spring.

Pasadena MC Poker Run

Had a great time at the 31st Annual Pasadena Motorcycle Club Poker Run. It was about 240 miles of riding through a lot of areas I've never ridden in before. Ortega Hwy, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Palm Desert, and back up through Banning.

Lots of laid back people and great riding. On the last leg leading up and out of Banning, we hit the most hardcore wind I've yet encountered yet. The desert was everywhere and dirt was getting blown into the bikes and us pretty hard right before the 10 fwy. Once I was on the freeway it continued, and riding around 80 mph in that kind of wind was let's say...intense.

We Have Power

So far that battery charge did the trick. Looks like the old charger still has some life left in it after all. Had a nice ride scout today through the Santa Monica mountains. As usual, I have little to no idea where we were through some of the parts, but it was beautiful. Looking forward to going back next week for the real deal.

Chaaaaaarge!

So the Bonnie wouldn't start yesterday. Luckily a buddy from work was around to help me bump start her to get home. We had tried jumping it with his car, which I've done before, but I think his cables were bad.

So I broke out the ANCIENT trickle charger that used to belong to my dad. It seems to be working fine so far. I got some advice on the Triumph Rat forum and it sounds like it should be OK to use even though it's a little higher amperage than a typical motorcycle specific charger.

So I guess it's time to let it cook and see what happens in the morning.

Farewell Vacation

It was nice while it lasted. Now back to the grind. arg.

I'm looking to try some new things in 2011 though, so it will be nice to get off my ass. Here's to a safe year full of new adventures.