10th August
So today I ride my bike again – no more domesticity or dog walking. Well, not until this evening, anyway…
I’m up early (0600) and after a quick cup of coffee, I say goodbye to Jorge & Sheila (Jorge is going to work in 30 minutes and is, therefore, fairly responsive to my smug grin), and head off into a glorious morning. It’s 70º F and completely cloudless – the forecast is for temperatures of 93-95º later in the day – although this is forecast to be the coolest day of the week. I ride over to Greg’s house. He’s just starting his GS when I arrive, so we wave goodbye to Connie and get on our way. The plan is to get to Bend, Oregon, and get my bike dyneod to try to sort out the fuelling problem that is causing it to ‘surge’ and hesitate. I recently fitted new throttle cables, and this had improved the situation, but I’m hoping for a complete cure today.
We get out of Portland and, at Estacada, join Highway 224, which wends its way through the Mount Hood National Forest, following the eastern bank of the Clackamas River…
The riding conditions are perfect. It’s cool and dry and we’re riding on an excellent road surface. In fact, the only slight niggle is the sun occasionally appearing through the canopy of trees which shade the road, causing us to slow as it robs us of the ability to see into the next shadowed bend.
Greg is very patient with me, as I stop occasionally to take pictures. He did more miles than me today
… I stop for a photo down by the Clackamas River and notice that my fog lights have packed up. So, it seems, have the spotlights which are linked to the main beam. Hmmm – seems I have a relay problem…
Shortly after setting off again, the lights start to function normally – ah well…
About 25 miles before we get to Detroit (no, not that Detroit), we find two chaps standing at the side of the road. Since there’s no vehicle nearby, we stop to see if they’re OK.
Apparently Jim (who is on the right, a bit like Jamie), has blown a wheel bearing in his ‘Rig’ (lorry), several miles up a side road. The two of them have hiked down to the main road looking for help. No problem – Jim can ride on the back with me to Detroit, where he can phone for help. Whilst we’re talking, a pick up truck arrives from the direction of Detroit and stops. The driver agrees to take Jim’s mate to a town up near Portland, where he can get back home from. Jim’s just getting on my bike when a RV turns up, heading in our direction. I suggest to Jim that he asks them for a ride, as I have no passenger insurance on the Adv and he has no protective clothing/helmet etc. He talks to the RV driver (it’s a family of 4 with two teenage sons), but the RV driver makes it clear he’s not going to give Jim a lift… As the RV driver ‘passes by on the other side’, Jim gets on the back of the Adv and we set off. What a bunch of assholes.
25 miles later we arrive in Detroit and drop Jim off at a service station to arrange to recover/repair his vehicle. Greg & I stop for a bite of breakfast…
…and end up giving the ADVRider site address to the owner, Rick, who is a Gold Winger at the moment, but is keen to get into ‘Dual Sport’ riding – which is what they call riding around on one of these ‘dirt bikes on steroids’ over here…
We’re soon back on the road and, predictably, running into road works…
Since the ‘Stop’ man is alongside a lay-by, Greg & I filter to the front of the queue and, after we set off, I amuse myself by trying to capture a picture of our reflections in the sign mounted on the Pilot Vehicle…
We’re soon out of the other end of the works and, with me leading, start making good time through the forested Highway 22. I’ve just completed a fairly rapid overtake, which Greg joined me for, when I notice Greg has suddenly dropped back and is flashing his lights – I immediately roll off the throttle and, at the same time, see an Oregon State Trooper’s car coming in the opposite direction. I glance at my speedometer as I brake – 78mph – ooops – this is going to hurt – we’re in a 55 zone…
Amazingly, the trooper brakes, but doesn’t turn his car around. Greg and I shrug and continue, with Greg (who has a radar detector) leading, at a slightly more sedate pace. Discussing it later, we decide that God let us off that one for doing a good turn earlier that day…
At about midday, we arrive at CO Euromoto in Bend. This little bike shop was recommended to me by Sylvia, the Doc with the Dakar (she’s also got a 1200GS, but ‘Doc with a 1200GS’ doesn’t have the same ring to it somehow). The shop’s run by David and Kathy-Jo…
After finishing off the dyno job on a Ducati 996 (I bet you could hear it a mile away), David gets straight to work on the Adv in his immaculate workshop (I got told off for leaning against his workbench 
)…
He checks the throttle body balance, removes and inspects the plugs, cleans the contacts on the Techlusion chip, then re-sets the chip using Techlusion’s trouble-shooting guide. Interestingly, Techlusion immediately offered to replace the chip, free of charge, if it was found to be faulty. Pretty impressive, bearing in mind that I had it fitted over a year and 54,000 miles ago
…
Whilst David is tinkering, I wander about and look at the bikes parked outside. From my own experience as a Police rider many years ago, I know that a mechanic who is given Police bikes to service generally has a reputation for knowing what he’s doing…
Note secure doughnut dispenser…
Whilst I’m browsing, another customer arrives on his, erm, slightly modified Hayabusa (for non motorcyclists, this is the fastest production bike in the world in standard form)…
Yup, that’s a turbocharger…
Nice exhaust (actually, the manifold has a crack in it)…
Couldn’t work out how to fit an intercooler into the available space, so he fitted water injection instead…
It produces 345 bhp. It’s also street legal (or is when he fits the mirrors, anyway…).
Only in America…
Anyway, back to the puny power of my Adv. David puts it up on the dyno and straps it down…
For my non-technical readers, a dyno tester is a sort of rolling road, which allows a technician to tune the bike whilst its travelling at all speeds and power settings. It also accurately measures the power and torque produced at the back wheel. Doing a dyno check involves running the bike at maximum speed on a roller – hence the need to strap it down.
The dyno gives an instant readout of what’s occurring via the screen of a PC it’s linked to.
David checks for high speed tune…
…and for low speed, off road – he has to stand on the footpegs at low speed to lower the centre of gravity*…
After declaring the bike fit, I take it for a test ride and, sure enough, just about every trace of surging is gone. I return to the workshop and settle my bill - $100, or 1 ½ hrs labour- bargain! Unfortunately, since the dyno has only recently arrived, David is unable to give me a print out of the graphs. He promises to send me them by email in a couple of days. For the gear-heads out here, it developed 76.8bhp and 68.8 ft/lbs. This compares with 81.5bhp and 73.0 ft/lbs in June last year. The difference may be explained by the fact that I had a Remus Race can fitted last year and have a standard one now and, probably more significantly, the dyno here at Bend is at an altitude of over 3700 ft…
Greg & I set off in the full heat of the day. We stop for an outstanding cheeseburger at the Sno Cap Drive In at Sisters…
…before taking the 242 through Deschutes National Forest, which crosses through the McKenzie Pass. You may remember I was trying to get through here on the day my final drive packed up, but it was still closed for the winter. Well, today it’s open, and it’s a great road, which takes us through some lava beds (very much like Craters of the Mood NP, in Idaho)…
At the top of the Pass (just over a mile up), someone had the idea to build an observatory…
It’s too hot to go clambering about dressed in bike kit, so we ride on. We’re soon back under a cool canopy of trees, descending down the winding road which will eventually lead us to the 126…
We join the 126 just after 1700 and start heading north towards Highway 22 and our route home.
Greg’s in the lead now, and we’re enjoying the quiet roads, keeping up speed purely for cooling purposes…
After stopping at the same café in Detroit for a quick drink, we’re back on the 224, heading north west – once again into a low sun – D’Oh!
Apparently we pass another (almost unmarked) Police pick up, from the fisheries department, heading the other way, but he didn’t have his radar switched on – so we’re again lucky – phew!…
We arrive back at Greg’s house at 2000 – I’m knackered and, after a quick drink, set off for Jorge & Sheila’s. I get in at 2030 and, after a brief chat, upload my photos and hit the sack. A brilliant day’s riding – I really must start doing this more often…
*No, not really…
So today I ride my bike again – no more domesticity or dog walking. Well, not until this evening, anyway…
I’m up early (0600) and after a quick cup of coffee, I say goodbye to Jorge & Sheila (Jorge is going to work in 30 minutes and is, therefore, fairly responsive to my smug grin), and head off into a glorious morning. It’s 70º F and completely cloudless – the forecast is for temperatures of 93-95º later in the day – although this is forecast to be the coolest day of the week. I ride over to Greg’s house. He’s just starting his GS when I arrive, so we wave goodbye to Connie and get on our way. The plan is to get to Bend, Oregon, and get my bike dyneod to try to sort out the fuelling problem that is causing it to ‘surge’ and hesitate. I recently fitted new throttle cables, and this had improved the situation, but I’m hoping for a complete cure today.
We get out of Portland and, at Estacada, join Highway 224, which wends its way through the Mount Hood National Forest, following the eastern bank of the Clackamas River…
The riding conditions are perfect. It’s cool and dry and we’re riding on an excellent road surface. In fact, the only slight niggle is the sun occasionally appearing through the canopy of trees which shade the road, causing us to slow as it robs us of the ability to see into the next shadowed bend.
Greg is very patient with me, as I stop occasionally to take pictures. He did more miles than me today
… I stop for a photo down by the Clackamas River and notice that my fog lights have packed up. So, it seems, have the spotlights which are linked to the main beam. Hmmm – seems I have a relay problem…
Shortly after setting off again, the lights start to function normally – ah well…
About 25 miles before we get to Detroit (no, not that Detroit), we find two chaps standing at the side of the road. Since there’s no vehicle nearby, we stop to see if they’re OK.
Apparently Jim (who is on the right, a bit like Jamie), has blown a wheel bearing in his ‘Rig’ (lorry), several miles up a side road. The two of them have hiked down to the main road looking for help. No problem – Jim can ride on the back with me to Detroit, where he can phone for help. Whilst we’re talking, a pick up truck arrives from the direction of Detroit and stops. The driver agrees to take Jim’s mate to a town up near Portland, where he can get back home from. Jim’s just getting on my bike when a RV turns up, heading in our direction. I suggest to Jim that he asks them for a ride, as I have no passenger insurance on the Adv and he has no protective clothing/helmet etc. He talks to the RV driver (it’s a family of 4 with two teenage sons), but the RV driver makes it clear he’s not going to give Jim a lift… As the RV driver ‘passes by on the other side’, Jim gets on the back of the Adv and we set off. What a bunch of assholes.
25 miles later we arrive in Detroit and drop Jim off at a service station to arrange to recover/repair his vehicle. Greg & I stop for a bite of breakfast…
…and end up giving the ADVRider site address to the owner, Rick, who is a Gold Winger at the moment, but is keen to get into ‘Dual Sport’ riding – which is what they call riding around on one of these ‘dirt bikes on steroids’ over here…
We’re soon back on the road and, predictably, running into road works…
Since the ‘Stop’ man is alongside a lay-by, Greg & I filter to the front of the queue and, after we set off, I amuse myself by trying to capture a picture of our reflections in the sign mounted on the Pilot Vehicle…
We’re soon out of the other end of the works and, with me leading, start making good time through the forested Highway 22. I’ve just completed a fairly rapid overtake, which Greg joined me for, when I notice Greg has suddenly dropped back and is flashing his lights – I immediately roll off the throttle and, at the same time, see an Oregon State Trooper’s car coming in the opposite direction. I glance at my speedometer as I brake – 78mph – ooops – this is going to hurt – we’re in a 55 zone…
Amazingly, the trooper brakes, but doesn’t turn his car around. Greg and I shrug and continue, with Greg (who has a radar detector) leading, at a slightly more sedate pace. Discussing it later, we decide that God let us off that one for doing a good turn earlier that day…
At about midday, we arrive at CO Euromoto in Bend. This little bike shop was recommended to me by Sylvia, the Doc with the Dakar (she’s also got a 1200GS, but ‘Doc with a 1200GS’ doesn’t have the same ring to it somehow). The shop’s run by David and Kathy-Jo…
After finishing off the dyno job on a Ducati 996 (I bet you could hear it a mile away
), David gets straight to work on the Adv in his immaculate workshop (I got told off for leaning against his workbench )…
He checks the throttle body balance, removes and inspects the plugs, cleans the contacts on the Techlusion chip, then re-sets the chip using Techlusion’s trouble-shooting guide. Interestingly, Techlusion immediately offered to replace the chip, free of charge, if it was found to be faulty. Pretty impressive, bearing in mind that I had it fitted over a year and 54,000 miles ago
…Whilst David is tinkering, I wander about and look at the bikes parked outside. From my own experience as a Police rider many years ago, I know that a mechanic who is given Police bikes to service generally has a reputation for knowing what he’s doing…
Note secure doughnut dispenser…
Whilst I’m browsing, another customer arrives on his, erm, slightly modified Hayabusa (for non motorcyclists, this is the fastest production bike in the world in standard form)…
Yup, that’s a turbocharger…
Nice exhaust (actually, the manifold has a crack in it)…
Couldn’t work out how to fit an intercooler into the available space, so he fitted water injection instead…
It produces 345 bhp. It’s also street legal (or is when he fits the mirrors, anyway…).
Only in America…
Anyway, back to the puny power of my Adv. David puts it up on the dyno and straps it down…
For my non-technical readers, a dyno tester is a sort of rolling road, which allows a technician to tune the bike whilst its travelling at all speeds and power settings. It also accurately measures the power and torque produced at the back wheel. Doing a dyno check involves running the bike at maximum speed on a roller – hence the need to strap it down.
The dyno gives an instant readout of what’s occurring via the screen of a PC it’s linked to.
David checks for high speed tune…
…and for low speed, off road – he has to stand on the footpegs at low speed to lower the centre of gravity*…
After declaring the bike fit, I take it for a test ride and, sure enough, just about every trace of surging is gone
. I return to the workshop and settle my bill - $100, or 1 ½ hrs labour- bargain! Unfortunately, since the dyno has only recently arrived, David is unable to give me a print out of the graphs. He promises to send me them by email in a couple of days. For the gear-heads out here, it developed 76.8bhp and 68.8 ft/lbs. This compares with 81.5bhp and 73.0 ft/lbs in June last year. The difference may be explained by the fact that I had a Remus Race can fitted last year and have a standard one now and, probably more significantly, the dyno here at Bend is at an altitude of over 3700 ft…Greg & I set off in the full heat of the day. We stop for an outstanding cheeseburger at the Sno Cap Drive In at Sisters…
…before taking the 242 through Deschutes National Forest, which crosses through the McKenzie Pass. You may remember I was trying to get through here on the day my final drive packed up, but it was still closed for the winter. Well, today it’s open, and it’s a great road, which takes us through some lava beds (very much like Craters of the Mood NP, in Idaho)…
At the top of the Pass (just over a mile up), someone had the idea to build an observatory…
It’s too hot to go clambering about dressed in bike kit, so we ride on. We’re soon back under a cool canopy of trees, descending down the winding road which will eventually lead us to the 126…
We join the 126 just after 1700 and start heading north towards Highway 22 and our route home.
Greg’s in the lead now, and we’re enjoying the quiet roads, keeping up speed purely for cooling purposes…
After stopping at the same café in Detroit for a quick drink, we’re back on the 224, heading north west – once again into a low sun – D’Oh!
Apparently we pass another (almost unmarked) Police pick up, from the fisheries department, heading the other way, but he didn’t have his radar switched on – so we’re again lucky – phew!
… We arrive back at Greg’s house at 2000 – I’m knackered and, after a quick drink, set off for Jorge & Sheila’s. I get in at 2030 and, after a brief chat, upload my photos and hit the sack. A brilliant day’s riding – I really must start doing this more often…
*No, not really…
