Featured Everything Old Is New Again! A Road Trip To The Past

Here's the latest update on Steve's "new" Fat Boy. It is currently in the garage of our non-dealership mechanic who is trying to figure out why it won't run well. Steve and I went to pick it up at our mechanic's place and it cut out after about three blocks. So back it went to the garage. Now Steve and mechanic are at work trying things one by one to get to the bottom of the issues. Neither is worried about figuring it out--it just means Steve's not able to get out for a ride at this point.

For those of you who know bikes as well as what makes an old bike run, here's the scoop so far. The first thing M (shorthand for our mechanic) suspected and replaced was the ignition coil. After doing that he rode it and all seemed well...until it wasn't. So next up he had Steve order a carburetor rebuild kit (it's a Mikuni) and also a crankshaft position sensor. Steve brought those over to M yesterday and dropped them off. M has a full-time mechanic job and also works side jobs so this is one of those side jobs. Hopefully they'll get it figured out soon.

In the meantime we're working on motorcycle storage at the Sandi / Steve house. That's another whole deal. We have a two-car garage that currently houses my Mustang and our four motorcycles. Three of those motorcycles are mine and one is Steve's. Well, now there are five bikes and truly only room for four--indoors. Initially Steve planned to store his Fat Boy on a foundation slab that is under our kitchen window. That area, though, is pretty small and he had to build a ramp in order to even get a bike up onto that surface. Well, long story---and MUCH discussion!--it will be my Triumph Speed Triple RS that gets to be the outdoor bike. Though I'm not thrilled with that (who would be?), it's truly only fair that his bike is inside since he already has to park his pickup truck outside in the driveway and he only has one bike in the garage. So now we're figuring out how to make the storage work in a way that I am able to navigate the getting in and getting out of the motorcycle when I want to ride it. We shall see.

More updates to come! Photos, too....

P.S. At one point during some somewhat heated discussions, I actually contemplated selling my Speed Triple. But then I thought, "To heck with that! I love riding that bike!" So THAT's not happening.

 

Today's update:

Steve finally rode his Fat Boy home from the mechanics house! He said it felt and performed great and he's very happy that it's now in our garage. Speaking of which, the other part of today was spent prepping the yard so that I'm able to get my Speed Triple (eventually) in and out of the back yard independently...since that is its new home. But...that's how much I love my hubby. Plus, as I mentioned previously, it's only fair that we each have two bikes in the garage. And his truck--as always--parked in the driveway since there's no room due to other vehicles. And since it won't fit anyway! Some photos from today...


Riding home from M's house.


Note that this is my Speed Triple's last day in his coveted garage space.


The Fat Boy in his new home meeting his new buddies!




Here's Speedy, all by his lonesome. I'm waiting on a big-arse lock and have put out the requisite contraptions we here in the desert need to ward off packrats. I'll get more photos tomorrow of the ramp up to this little foundation slab (on which NONE of our other bikes would fit including the Fat Boy) and the route I'll be taking through the backyard gate and the front yard to get Speedy out to the driveway. If nothing else, it'll be a great workout! That's the kitchen window so I'll be reassured that my bike is still there every time I get a drink or do dishes.

 

Thanks,@Helmut Visor. We're both very glad the Fat Boy is home at last. Especially Steve! Evidently there were several issues with the bike, all of which are now resolved. Those things included sand in the fuel line; the carb needed some TLC; and a new crankshaft position sensor was in order.

Today Steve rode the Fat Boy about 40 miles to breakfast and home and the bike rode smooth as silk! They--Steve and the Fat Boy--are happy campers. The bike got a good wash and wax once back home, too.

 

Thanks, @Wessa! We definitely will relive some fond memories. But...I was thinking we'd ride two up on some of the routes we did when we were first dating. Imagine my surprise (and a little disappointment) when I learned that he removed the passenger pegs. But, hey, we were riding that bike (which now seems quite small, relatively speaking) together when we were 15 years younger!

 

Hi @Martine! How cool that you added a Triumph Thunderbird to your (large!) stable of bikes because of the sentimental value of it. I think that's wonderful and now understand that even more than I did before Steve bought Fat Boy #2. I hope that HH is able to get everything dialed in so that you can enjoy that bike fully!

Wow, I'm not sure we'd ever be able to iron out storage issues with not five but A DOZEN bikes! Actually, we'd have to keep some in the living room and the kitchen and the bedroom to even start to store that many bikes! Which is probably a very good thing. I agree with you about the perils of giving up a bike that you love. I watched Steve go through that for years. And as far as my Speed Triple goes, even though I know that life would be much easier and simpler if I sold it, I know in my heart and gut that I would REALLY regret that decision. Simpler isn't always better! I do think I'll get used to moving the bike in and out of the back yard fairly quickly and might even become more confident with bike handling in the process. We shall see.

 

Thanks, @Markus. I'm glad you're enjoying the saga of the bike that was...and now is again!

 

Yes, those thoughts about Speedy's thoughts have definitely crossed my mind, @Pegscraper! I try not to anthropomorphize my motorcycles but I'm having a hard time seeing Speedy back there with a cover over him and all by himself looking sad and lonely. I wonder if the other bikes in our family are wondering what happened to their buddy? And might they be "banished", too? Well, perhaps it'll make them behave themselves just in case...

But all in all, it had to be done and all will be ok. Yes, I get to keep my bike AND make Steve and Mr. Fat Boy happy. That bike is most definitely his new favorite (er, favourite) new toy!

 

Well, I have to admit that my car being "the sacrificial lamb" has crossed my mind as a possibility, @RevPaul. But it truly would have been a sacrifice as I'd rather sell it than have it sitting out in the drive day and night. My car is right up there next to my motorcycles as my mechanical loves. Prior to this car I might well have parked any of my other cars outdoors. Yes, even in 115ºF summer heat! But not this one! Not sure if you've ever seen a photo of it on the forum here. It's a 2019 Mustang Bullitt. And with 6 speed standard transmission. My favorite car ever! I plan to drive it 'til the wheels fall off...either the cars or mine.

BTW, moving the car out of the garage would mean room for not one but THREE more bikes! Hmmmmm. Maybe I need to rethink the car thing.

 

@Martine, riding our old two-up dating routes with Steve on Fat Boy #2 and me on one of my bikes is a great idea. Most things in life don't really have to be all or nothing, do they?

Ahh, it now makes sense why you'd have to many bikes--kids and off-road riding. I think we are safe, although to have three more garage spaces could still be a bit "dangerous" in terms of motorbike accumulation goes. I do think you're right about getting used to maneuvering my bike but at this point I'm feeling a bit nervous. Even though that bike is my lightest bike, it's still 500+ pounds and taller than my other two bikes. Thanks for the vote of confidence, though. Steve agrees with you that I'll have it down in no time--and NOT the bike down but the maneuvering.

I think Steve actually looked at the storage contraption that HH might have used for his Harley. Was it made by a company called Car Capsule? Here's a link to what he was looking at. https://carcapsule.com/9-outdoor-bike-showcase/ What we quickly realized, however, is that not only did we not really have space for his bike but we REALLY don't have space for this "shed"! Steve has a friend who actually has one of these and loves it. I'd love to see a photo of it inflated with the bike in it and where he actually sets it up.

 

Thanks, Joe! My Mustang is by far the coolest car I've ever owned and definitely the most fun to drive. I just don't see getting rid of it ever unless I something happens that I can't drive a standard transmission.

Sadly, a car port or garage add-on isn't an option. First of all, we have absolutely zero space to do build either of them. Second, I'm sure that our HOA wouldn't agree to it. We'd have more luck kicking one of the neighbors out of their garage as you suggested! I did actually think about seeing if one of our neighbors had an available garage space for either the Fat Boy or my Speed Triple. But that stirs up another whole pot of having access to someone else's house and things that might come up because of that. We have great neighbors but I don't think they'd go for it.

 

Fat Boy #2 Update:

Eek! This past week Steve Rode the Fat Boy over to our friend, Roe's, house to show him the bike. Roe is an old bike aficionado who loves to ride and restore old Harley's. (The bikes are old, not Roe...) While they were looking at the bike, they checked out the tire date and were stunned and appalled to learn that the tires were the original stock tires! Steve knew the tires needed replacing and had already ordered a set. But none of us ever dreamed that the previous owner wouldn't have changed the tires since 2001! Steve had measured the tread which was ok so he rode it to the mechanics and back and he rode is to breakfast and back home last weekend. Today he and I rode to our local dealership to have his new tires installed! And now knowing he was on 23 year old tires, he rode VERY conservatively! One more old bike issue addressed....

Here's his bike waiting to be brought back to the tech who was to install Fat Boy #2's new shoes.



On the lift





I rode my Low Rider ST today. I'm only 300 miles from needing my 5K maintenance service.



The tech, Dave, riding back into the service area after test riding the new tires



The lot tech, Seth, riding the bike out to the breezeway where completed bikes are parked to wait for their owners



The bike to the left of Steve's Fat Boy is a Road Glide Ultra--pretty similar to Steve's Road Glide touring bike. What a size difference!!



This new addition to our moto family sure does make Steve smile! And that makes me smile!