BuffaloR3
.060 Over
So life dealt me a job that doesn't allow me to take the bike to work very often. Because of this I don't use it for a daily rider or trips to the store, and with that my routine becomes a matter of pulling it out of the garage on a weekend morning, take it to the station to fuel up and head out for a full day of riding. Well this week I've been fortunate enough to be able to take the bike a couple half days at least, today being one of them. I left the house after lunch and the bike was barreling down the highway without any problems, nice to get out in the fresh air while still on the clock. My afternoon appointments took me into the city, uncommon for my routine, and the bike started acting up a bit on the city streets to my first client. It wasn't bad enough to worry me and I figure it was the new PCIII which hasn't been tuned yet. On my way to the second appointment the roads got really rough, too many trucks have ventured through this part of town and the tarmac was as rough as the lake on a windy day. All the bouncing around got the throttle burping and I was riding my clutch most of the way to keep the horse from bucking on the road. Bike was really starting to run like crap, hesitations and burps everywhere, even let out a terrible backfire. I figure it was all the up and down revs with the bumpy road. Finished the second client, last one of the day so time to go home. I had been hoping to hop on the highway just past this location but once I got to the onramp and saw the construction backup I quickly changed my mind and recalculated a different route. The road started smoothing out but the bike was running even worse now, **** near stalling, I'd twist the throttle and it would suddenly kick in, I must have look like I was riding a wild bronco. I hit a red light and it calmed down, and then the light bulb went off in my head - when's the last time put gas in this thing? It hadn't occurred to me to check as it usually comes on annoyingly early, I twist the button to check the trip odometer (old habit to set the trip odo every time I fuel up). Well that would explain why she's running so bad, now I'm in the middle of the city where there's hardly any gas stations. I check the street signs and remember a station just down the road (only one for a couple miles). I gently pull away on the green light and start off on my quest, the bike goes for a hundred yards and I think I may have over-reacted only to have my heart stop as the engine looses power, I go through this cycle a couple of times and then I can see my destination ahead, dammit the light turned red. Do I cut the engine to try and save fuel and risk not being able to start it again? No, let it idle. Green light, c'mon car get moving, it's the pedal on the right you idiot, no don't slow down to turn into McDonalds you fat pig, mooooove! Almost there, the engine cuts hard, I twist the throttle hoping to squeeze another drop, I am rewarded with a big pop and the bike lunges forward one more time. I get another 50 feet and power drops again, it's different this time and I know what's coming next but I'm right there, can't take the first entrance as some douche bag is coming out and blocking with a trailer in tow, I pull the clutch as the dying engine is slowing me down and then it happens, the Jardines lose their rumble and the bike goes silent. I approach the second entrance coasting, big truck coming out so I have to hit the brake to scrub speed to take the turn tight, I squeeze in past him but am going uphill now and losing precious speed quickly, I just cross the crest of the ramp and magically the very first pump is available. I coax the powerless beast along and just as I am perfectly lined up with the pump the speed is gone and the bike leans gently over onto my side, kickstand down and dismount. I stepped back with disbelief at my fortune but of course had to give the cool outward appearance like "I meant to do that, I knew I had just enough gas to get me here. Never worried once".
Now imagine if there was no construction on that freeway onramp, would have been a real sucky afternoon. Now I just have to figure out what wire I managed to disconnect to break my fuel indicator warning light.
Now imagine if there was no construction on that freeway onramp, would have been a real sucky afternoon. Now I just have to figure out what wire I managed to disconnect to break my fuel indicator warning light.
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