What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

Our Sunday ride group started with breakfast at Poco and Mom's (New Mexican food) then decided to ride up Mt. Lemmon for the first time this year. We started out with ten of us at breakfast (a short 10 mile or so ride from our gas station start-up point) but four folks opted to ride home after breakfast and forgo Lemmon so then there were six. Ahh, it was their loss. And one of the opter-outers was my hubby, Steve!

At any rate, it was a glorious ride up the mountain which is about 25 miles from base to summit. Even with the temperature at the top (8,000' +) around 60ºF, there was still LOTS of snow! I suspect that'll be the last of the white stuff that we see until next winter.



I was on my Harley Street Glide this morning. Probably not the bike I'd have chosen if I knew the group would decide to ride Mt. Lemmon. But that big orange bike is a marvel and handled the road beautifully!



A nice gentleman offered to take a photo of our group with me in it--a rarity. In most of my photos, I'm nowhere to be seen. Which is fine with me, BTW. I'm not sure what Russell was doing off by his lonesome to the far right in the photo.



Here's the little ski run at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley with the last remnants of snow this winter.



A lovely 95-miles this morning. My bikes mileage is nearly 11,400 miles so I'll be ordering new tires tomorrow morning from my local dealership in anticipation of two big summer road trips. I'm planning to get Dunlop American Elites this time around. In the past I've always gone with Michelin Commanders. Anyone out there who's had either or both of these?



Ahh, no snow back down in Tucson, I'm afraid. At 86ºF today, is would seem that summer's just around the corner.

 

A brisk run out this morning, back home basking in the sun, neighbours runabout in the background. A second Moggy is often parked there as well.

 

Did a recky yesterday on some local tracks I haven't done for quite some time. It looks like the track that runs down into Stoney Middleton, officially known as Stoney Middleton BOAT 15 and unofficially as Jacobs Ladder is now permanently closed to motorised traffic due to safety concerns despite still being classified as a BOAT. The middle section is steep, rocky and very narrow with high banks either side which means meeting anyone coming the other way, walking or on 2 wheels, is a problem.........for some!

is

 

That's a shame as I recall doing that in Landrovers around the mid 1990's.

That really is the problem I'm now going to face @Pegscraper as my prior knowledge is overwritten by the various acts and downgrading...... so much for the " national parks were created for enjoyment by all"

 

I took the Hyperstrada out today for a potter, without any destination in mind really. I did about 122 miles on some lovely roads in glorious sunshine, stopping at the Baffle Haus and the Silver Fox Cafe.

The Baffle Haus was pretty busy for a Monday with a few interesting bikes, including a massive, noisy, squeaky - braked Boss Hoss.



The more I get used to the Ducati, the more it reminds me of......

 

I first started "green laning" on a TY250 in the mid 1980's with a friend, sadly passed away now, who lived in the Hope Valley and knew dozens of tracks and trails. I had a break from the offroad stuff from around the mid 1990's to 2010 when I bought a Honda XR650, only to discover that many of the trails we used to do were now downgraded and illegal thanks to the flippin' NERC act of the mid 2000's with the threat of a Section 59 notice if caught.
Even the remaining legal routes are constantly under threat from the feckin' NIMBY's who like nothing more than pissing on off roader's strawberries!

 

Yes, I know loads of greenlanes in the Yorkshire Dales which are now just memories and no longer accessible.
The NERC act has a lot to answer for.

A friend back in 1994 bought a book in the Isle of Man called "You couldn't do it now" or something similar, and I didn't realise the significance of it, especially how I would witness peoples freedom and choices eroded even within my lifetime.

 

Last night I dropped my Blade off for a service and MOT and I can collect it tomorrow.

Today I took my Hyperstrada to Moto-Vation in Cheltenham to see Tim to sort the few bits and bobs that have been an issue as Fowlers cannot fit me in until May and even then can’t guarantee when work will be done, plus suggested a few weeks ago that I drop it off then in case it can be done beforehand, which means they’d have the bike for a long time, which doesn’t fill me with confidence. Half an hour’s labour and £45 later, Tim had things sorted .

The weather is gorgeous, so after Tim had finished with the bike I went for a little potter into the Cotswolds and thought I’d seek out Mr Watson’s Cafe as I have been meaning to for a while. It is next door to Watsonian Sidecars; they have some lovely machines there…

 

Pray tell what bits and bobs needed sorting on your new bike?

 

Not too much; the gear lever retaining bolt fell out when I visited my parents and Dad repaired it as I was stranded by the side of the A30 - luckily it happened very close to their house - however it needed sorting properly. It also occasionally just cuts the engine when I pull the clutch to engage first when slowing down so needed diagnostics; this showed no faults with sensors etc at all and that the latest software is installed but I know I'm not stalling it - Google suggests that this is something that happens on the 821 Hypermotard / Hyperstrada so it's something that I'll jut have to live with (has happened maybe 4 or 5 times so far, including this morning!).

 

I recall your gear linkage issue but figured your dad’s fix was most likely a better job than the Italian original . Anyways as long as you got sorted and hope the software update has resolved the cutting out issue

 

It has the latest software and no sensor faults showing, so the cutting out is just something that will need to be lived with I think.

 

Out on the Kove today for 170 miles or so with a very mixed set of roads, from the traffic on the A64 dual carriageway, to pretty much isolation on sand and stone tracks.



A light lunch for dinner from the local Co-Op and picnic'd at this lovely old packhorse bridge.



Then back to some more playing Dakar around the North York Moors

 

I would check for vacuum leaks with the pipes that are connected to the throttle bodies, as they will cause this type of problem.

 

Thank you; that is very useful. Like I said I KNOW I am not stalling it.

 

I had a similar experience Mrs V, with my 1198SP back in 2011 and the issues I had. After talking to the dealer about them it was a case of, "that's just how they are sir", which p*ssed me off a bit TBH after being used to and expecting the seamless performance and usability of SOTA Jap stuff, like the R1 I part-exed for it.
After 3 months I decided I couldn't live with it and got rid.
A shame really because it had looks to die for.

 

The cut-out micro switches on clutch and sidestand can play up and I don't think they show up as fault codes. Not unique to Ducati.Not unknown on KTM's either. Some people have been known to by-pass the sidestand switch.

 

That's sort of where I am at right now with the advice I have been getting apart from on here; jumped on my 21 year old Fireblade to bring it back from its service and MOT today and it was just so easy!! (It does, however, have a small oil leak that was identified, that is being sorted in a few weeks' time).

I have had to say fairly strongly that I am not just stalling it; I am not saying I don't ever stall, however have stalled the Blade once and Striple about four times in total and we all know how bikes are stalled. This issue with the Hyperstrada is not me stalling it, it would be easier if it was .

 

Funnily enough, just been reading a thread on the Rocket 3 forum about stalling. In this instance it's the engine dying when coasting to a stop. Several members reported this and found it to be loose battery terminals. Possibly worth inspecting those and if necessary disconnecting the battery cleaning up the terminals and refitting good and tight with a covering of silicone grease.

 

You could try increasing the idle speed a little and see if that helps?