SERVICE CHECK III & IV

March 20, 2006

muse@bikerenews.com

The other day I was reviewing the articles I've submitted to The Biker eNews. It dawned on me that I had been delinquent in posting reviews of my last two service checks. The problem with trying to reconstruct my riding history is that my memory is as short as other parts of my body (my legs you dirty bikers). So, Service Check III will have to be an abbreviated review. I'll try to do better on Service Check IV.

Service Check III:

To the best of my memory (the short one, remember), I decided to get this service check at the 11,500-mile point. The reason for cheating myself out of the last 500 miles was that I was getting ready for my marathon trip across Virginia's interstate system (HROT Virginia Grand Tour: An Enabler for Compulsive Disorders; Why I'm Boycotting NASCAR). I wanted to make sure the purple machine was mechanically ready.

The only problem I knew about was that my rear brakes were squeaking. Dave (Honda of Norfolk) took a look at them and told me that the pads had a little contamination on them. While annoying, no mechanical risk; I decided to live with the noise.

With my bike's performance tweaked, and with my traveling clothes packed, I went sightseeing (really interstate seeing).

Service Check IV:

Maintenance: The maintenance check was pretty straightforward. Dave and Mike (Honda of Norfolk), were a little backed up when I dropped off my bike around 10:00 AM, but told me they would do their best. Later that day they gave me a call and told the bike was ready. That afternoon with my oil changed, engine tune-up, general inspection and new tires (remember to be careful on those new tires), I picked up my bike and was on my way. This is the fourth time I've had service done on my bike at Honda of Norfolk and I continue to be pleased with the service. THANKS Guys.

Cost of bike: Just to keep the accountants out there posted, the cost per mile (CPM) continues to go down. When I bought the bike, the CPM was $8,500. It has continued to go down: $2.13 (4,000 miles); $1.06 (8,000 miles); $.71 (12,000 miles); $.54 (16,000 miles). Pretty soon, Honda will be sending me a check to ride their product. I am starting to look at the CPM like a stock market investment indicator. When the CPM goes down to a "yet to be decided point," it will be time to reinvest in some new stock.

Key riding events: I won't relive the interstate adventure with you. I will state that my most vivid memory of that trip was taking "Green Water" over the bridge wing of my two-wheeled purple attack boat out on I-81. That experience would be the one I would most like NOT to repeat.

One of my favorite trips was a trip up to Charlottesville (This May Be Heaven). I traveled out US-60 and home on VA-6 and VA-5. In between the small towns, secondary roads are some of the most enjoyable roads in Virginia. In my three year riding plan (backside retentive gene), I hope to make a long, extended tour of Virginia's Scenic Byways. Of course, I've first got to work my way through the primary roads that crisscross the state. Why? Because, THAT'S THE PLAN!!!

Several weeks ago, a fellow-riding enthusiast (Dave L. - an enthusiast's enthusiast), asked me if I had made any more obsessive road trips. Well Dave, this one is for you. One of my riding goals was to visit each of the 10 Virginia Welcome Centers. Of the 10, I had photographed my bike at 8 of them. Of course, I had to repeat the visit to the US-13 Welcome Center (south of Maryland), because I didn't know how to work my digital camera and ended up taking a video instead of a photo. I needed a photo. Do you really have to ask why?

The last two Welcome Centers are ones that I had been past (going in the opposite direction), but due to other commitments (THE PLAN), I didn't stop. This meant that I had to make a trip up to Manassas via Fredericksburg. The Fredericksburg Welcome Center is located on I-95 south at mile marker 131. I hit this one first and headed for the Manassas Welcome Center on I-66 west at mile marker 48. As if this wasn't enough obsessive behavior, on the way back from Manassas I realized that I had not travel the full length of I-295 around Richmond. So, instead of taking I-64 east back to Virginia Beach, I decided to follow I-295 around Richmond. I then proceeded to take I-95 down to Emporia, and US-58 back to Virginia Beach (500 total miles). Why, because this behavior is written in my core DNA; like I said, Dave THIS ONE'S FOR YOU.

Riding Skills: Now this is a hard one; at Service Check II, I gave myself a B-, and after an additional 8,000 miles, I feel like a solid B. On the upside, I feel comfortable on the bike and capable of riding in a variety of traffic and weather conditions. On the downside, I think it is a time for basic (maybe some advance) riding safety / operator review and practice. My elbows still wander away from my body in curves. I'm still sloppy at the slow parking lot maneuvers. I don't move my butt in the seat as much as I should in the corners. And most concerning, is that I let myself get caught up in traffic and don't maintain a good safety margin. Of course, this one is hard to do with cages taking advantage of the smallest of openings to change lanes. However, the B puts me on the Rookie Rider's Honor Roll (lowest on the list, but on the list). I do seem to be getting smarter. At least now I realize how much more I have to learn.

Summary: I'm caught up with my writing (if not my riding). The bike is running well. My enjoyment for riding is high. THE PLAN IS IN EFFECT!

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