May 2009
2 posts
1 tag
Second passenger on the road
I took Martina for a ride today. She has ridden as a passenger before; her dad used to take her on motorcycle rides.
We rode the twisties to the outlook in Schenley Park (Route). In some parts of our routes, we had to ride on Forbes Ave., but she told me that I could ride in Schenley Park the whole time. I tried out this new route.
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First passenger on the road
The second helmet I ordered from Competition Accessories arrived at noon today. Finally, I can give people rides on Kat.
Ruthie has first dibs on the ride, but unfortunately she is got a cold while traveling from Santa Barbara this past weekend. When I arrived at school, I asked Erin if she wanted to ride and she emphatically said “yes”.
Before we started the ride, I told her some...
April 2009
4 posts
2 tags
Picked up the bike
Rain delayed getting my motorcycle. But today’s respite from the downpour allowed me to pick up the motorcycle . My friend Gary gave me a ride to Jack Maggs Agency (notary) to transfer the title.
After I picked up the bike, I had enough sunlight to head over to Schenley Park to get this picture.
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Got one!
I planned to look at multiple motorcycles today (in order): 1983 Honda CM250, 2004 Kawasaki Ninja EX250, 1986 Suzuki Intruder VS700, and a 1985 Honda Rebel. I ended up getting the second one I looked at.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the motorcycle home today because we need a notary to transfer the titles. The owner said I’ll have to wait until Tuesday.
Here’s one of the...
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First look
Today, I checked out the first motorcycle I found on Craigslist. The motorcycle is a 1989 Yamaha Radian YX600. The Radian appealed to me because it was within my price range and it reminded me of Elle (a 1989 Kawasaki Eliminator EL250). I know the EL250 is a cruiser-type motorcycle while the YX600 is a standard, but there was something about their looks that appealed to me.
Ruthie joined me to...
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I miss Elle.
Here is the problem with leaving Elle in California. As Pittsburgh approaches the Summer, I cannot participate in the annual ritual of preparing bikes out of storage for the first taste of hot asphalt. Instead, I can only watch motorcycles come out of their winter hibernation.
To not miss the summer biking season, I started looking at motorcycles on Craigslist last week. I should have done it...
December 2008
5 posts
Goodbye, Elle!
I sold my motorcycle today. I had to sell it because I am finishing my internship and moving back to Pittsburgh. I could ship the motorcycle, but it costs about $700; more than half the price of the motorcycle!
I’ll miss the bike a lot. I’ll miss putting on my gear to ride. I’ll miss the hours riding in the hills.
I think the motorcycle found a good home. The buyer just got his...
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Motorcycle Resources
These are my notes on resources for anything related to motorcycles.
Websites
BikeBandit - Very good place for parts. This is where I bought my replacement air filter and tail lights.
LeatherUp - A site with good deals for motorcycle jackets. The jackets I bought didn’t fit me, but they’ll fit someone taller.
KawasakiMotorcycles.org - The forum is a good resource for other...
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Craigslist Post
I’ve decided to sell my motorcycle. Shipping the motorcycle from San Jose, CA to Pittsburgh, PA costs too much, about $700.
Here’s my post on Craigslist with a link back to this blog:
This is a good condition 1988 Kawasaki Eliminator EL250. This classic motorcycle beats all of the other 250-class cruisers in style hands down. It shares the same 250cc engine as the Ninja sportsbikes,...
November 2008
13 posts
1 tag
Skyline Ride
Longest ride yet! Beat the record set with the Thanksgiving Ride. Rode out at noon from San Jose to Los Gatos. I experienced some problems early on similar to this one. However, I fixed it by clearing the carburetor (I loosened two screws in the carburetor to let out its contents). After a short lunch at a local Costco, the motorcycle was good to go.
From Los Gatos, I took the winding roads that...
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Thanksgiving Ride
Went to my friend Helen’s house for Thanksgiving. She lives in Oakland, CA about 55 miles from where I live. It took me 2 hours to get to her house because I only took side streets to avoid the freeway. Here’s the path I took to get there.
So full from turkey, stuffing, gravy, and dessert, I started riding home at 10pm. I didn’t get home until 12:30am because I got lost after...
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Mt. Hamilton Ride
One of the observatories on the Copernicus Peak of Mt. Hamilton.
Rode up Hamilton Road to the Lick Observatory. The Lick Observatory is on Copernicus Peak, the highest point near San Jose (4360 ft). This is the path I took.
Hamilton Road has some scary sections. Very tight turns with high dropoffs, turns with loose rock, narrow roads with oncoming traffic, and bumpy pavement. I felt vertigo in...
1 tag
Replaced Air Filter Cap
Replaced the air filter cap today. The old air filter cap had been tampered by one of the previous owners to let more air in. I’m assuming to add more power to the engine. However, I haven’t noticed any difference with the new air filter.
I also replaced the damper (the rubber ring surrounding the bolt that fastens the fuel tank to the bike frame).
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East San Jose / Mountain View Ride
Rode a lot today (56 miles). This is the farthest north that I have taken the motorcycle. Here’s my riding path:
Worked at IBM Almaden Research.
Volunteered as a judge in a science fair at Latino College Preparatory Academy.
Went to a friend’s housewarming and birthday potluck in Mountain View.
Back home in South San Jose.
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Replaced Air Filter
I went home early from work today to replace the air filter in motorcycle. I used K&N Filters that I ordered from BikeBandit as replacements.
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Reservoir Ride
View of Guadalupe Reservoir
Rode around the mountains near San Jose and saw the reservoirs along the way. Here’s the path I took. The reservoirs I saw (in order) were:
Uvas Reservoir
Chesbro Reservoir
Calero Reservoir
Almaden Reservoir
Guadalupe Reservoir
Check out the pictures of the ride.
After the ride, I stopped by Target to get wine for an Iron Chef Cook with Zoe’s...
1 tag
Replaced Oil Filter
Replaced the oil filter today:
HifloFiltro Oil Filter
2 liters of Pennzoil 10W-40
a socket to remove the oil drain plug and the oil filter bolt
I had to visit three Kragen’s Auto Part stores until I found one that will recycle the old oil.
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Replaced Clutch Cable
I left work early to take the light rail and bus to Grand Prix in Santa Clara, CA. I picked up the clutch cable. I took the bus back to Wendy’s and replaced the clutch cable. Elle is back!
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Diridon Ride
Went to the Caltrain Diridon station to catch the train to San Francisco. The weather was quite gray. I saw Helen and Mark at the Ferry Building and we saw the mushroom festival.
When I arrived at 7pm, the weather had turned into rain. I waited until the rain subsided to drizzle and braved the wet road so I can get home. However, I had difficulty riding because I couldn’t see through my...
1 tag
Replaced Fuel Tube
I found that the motorcycle fuel tube is leaking, so I bought new tubes in addition to a motorcycle cover at Road Rider Motorcycle Accessories. I also bought an oil pan for when I replace the oil filter later.
Went to Target to get a toolbox and WD-40 for hard to remove screws, but to my dismay the tools did not fit the motorcycle. Instead, I went to Kragen Auto Parts near my work. Instead of...
October 2008
10 posts
Same drill today, rode the motorcycle around the residential streets. This morning the ride seemed to have improved; I could shift up and gain some speed around 40 mph.
I returned to the motorcycle after work. It had just rained and the motorcycle was wet. I rode it and surprisingly it works again. Woohoo!
Now that the motorcycle is fixed, I should treat it with a motorcycle cover to better care...
I was running late for work. So to catch the shuttle at the Santa Teresa Light Rail Station, I rode the motorcycle along the residential streets (3 miles). The bike still won’t pass 30 mph, but I got to the shuttle in time.
I noticed that the throttle would continue to work until I reach the halfway point. Maybe the throttle is the problem.
This morning was foggy. It looked like it might...
Did not ride the motorcycle today. I took the bus instead to get to work.
The motorcycle won’t run :(
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Los Gatos Brunch Ride
Went to brunch at Southern Kitchen in Los Gatos, CA with Ferleine, Shenna, and Ryan. I had grits and pork chop! After brunch, we had a photo shoot around the motorcycle.
We also went to Vasona Reservoir, Tapioca Express in San Jose (Snell & Blossom Hill), and Santa Teresa County Park. This is the farthest I have ridden the motorcycle (28 miles).
Unfortunately, while riding up the hill to the...
Went to DMV to transfer the title. Waited at the DMV for half an hour. Not too bad; I thought the wait would be longer. Taxes cost me $97. I have to register the bike by Dec 24. However, I am returning to Pittsburgh by that time, so I’ll register it closer to that date or register it in Pittsburgh.
I almost dropped the bike this evening. I was making a right turn on an intersection. When I was about to make the turn, I noticed a car was coming. I didn’t notice it at first because some bushes blocked my view. I braked immediately when I saw the car. But since I was on a turn and the bike was leaning, it fell like a rock. However, I caught it. Thankfully, I braked early enough, I...
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Thomas dropped off the motorcycle this morning. Unfortunately, it rained right after he dropped off the bike, so I had to wait 3 hours before I was able to ride.