Ride #14 6 + 6 + 127 = 139 miles A Beautiful Day!
Wow! Today was the day we have been waiting for: mid 70’s, smoke gone, humidity gone, blue skies and abundant sunshine. I wasn’t quite sure if I should hit the road or go sample the Indian demo rides, then I thought this thread has been missing Buds Indian rides and maybe I could fill in a bit. Well, I got two 6 mile rides through suburbia not Hill Country Texas, and no breakfast tacos. I started on a Challenger Dark Horse, maybe the biggest and baddest at 826 lbs and 126 hp. My exit from the parking lot was not the most graceful, but at least successful. I think I need to spend more time on a modern fuel injected bikes with rocket quick throttle response. There’s nowhere on the route to get up to highway speed or wind up a gear or two, oh well.
Next up was the Scout Bobber Limited in Nara Bronze Metallic. Theres 1250cc’s pushing out 105hp. Once again, I’m not used to the feet forward riding or the 25” seat height, but throttle roll-ons were very effective, no downshifts required. This bike had a combo speedo/tach. I couldn’t make out the redline but 5000rpm was getting the best of it.
The ride format was less formal than before, just choose any parked bike and ride the six mile rectangular route on your own. Maybe 6 bagger/touring sized bikes and 6 Scout sized bikes, ok except the Scouts were getting the attention, and the big bikes were gathering dust. Thanks Indian for letting me try your nice rides. I just didn’t find the one that suited me.
About noon I got back on the CB and set off westbound. It’s comfortable and familiar but I noticed my voltmeter at 15.0vDC. I’m a lights on rider and the slide switch was at L, when I moved it to H the voltage dropped to 13.8vDC, back to L and 15. WTH?? At a stop I waved my hand in front of the beam and learned that the low beam was out on my 20+ year old Sylvania Xtravision 6024 sealed beam.
Amazon will bring me a new beam Saturday. I have not yet got the $20 Toyota upgrade kit.
At one point I made out the red high beam indicator for the red oil pressure indicator. The red lamps are rarely lit, the text below both red lamps was hidden behind cables. I stopped for a hot second thinking my oil pressure was bad. I want a blue lens for the high beam indicator.
