Well, here it is... just after the Victoria Day long weekend (May16-18 for those of you keeping score) and my net riding mileage this year is... less than one mile (I had the R1 out for a spin around the block to make sure all was OK after the winter layup and oil change).
Why no riding? For one thing, the weather has been garbage - it actually SNOWED last weekend! Secondly, there's been a bunch of other stuff that has taken up time. BUT, I have done some work on the R1 to get it ready, if summer ever comes. First off - the hundred-dollar oil change with Motul full-synthetic bright-green oil. Clever bottles, clever colour, not so clever price. Next - getting my repainted right lower fairing and buffed out tailsection back from Corydon Autobody. Wes is a top chap and biker's friend, he even delivered the panels on a weekend. Thanks Wes! After that, installing the repro decal from The Image Works on said lower panel. And lastly, bolting it all back up with shiny new fairing hardware from Speedy Fasteners.
The oil change went relatively smoothly, except for the most important part - removing the drain bolt. It was stuck fast, so fast that I actually broke a (very cheap) ratchet trying to remove it. Time to call in the big guns... 24" breaker bar purchased from Canadian Tire, job done. The rest was cake; the filter loosened easily and new one went in its place, oil was filled and everything buttoned back up nicely. Sorted.
The last thing to get at was to replace the fairing bolts. The originals were still serviceable - for the most part - but were definitely looking a wee bit crusty and well past their best. Speedy Fasteners sells a package including pretty much every single bolt and fastener you'll need for your fairings and bosywork - including windscreen hardware. They make their hardware out of genuine stainless steel with pan head Allen fittings. Installation was (mostly) just a matter of unscrewing the old and screwing in the new with only a couple hiccups along the way from fasteners that hadn't been unbolted since new. But these issues were easily dealt with and the look of the machine is much improved. Third job down.
Now the last - and most difficult - job looms. That's the job of finding some time to ride that intersects with decent weather to do it in. Stay tuned...
