thebaldgeek

Im a pretty healthy guy, usually only get a little crook once or twice a year, and now that I have had my hayfever shots I am even better…..so, try and imagine my annoyance when we have 4 days off (xmas) and I get a ripper head cold that leaves me in bed!!

Anyway, while it seems that nothing is happening, I have to remind myself that things are progressing, really they are.

I bought a little MP3 player 2nd hand, seems it will do the job, its 2Gb, its a movie player and photo viewer as well, but the tiny 1.6 inch screen really is useless on the bike for that sort of thing, so I filled it with assorted music. It also has an FM radio in it.

I think I might have temporarily fixed the alternator bolt hole oil leak thats been anoying me for some time now. I found that the nylon plug that I machined up was not covering the whole crack, so I used some two part “metal” epoxy to fill the crack. Then, I also figured that perhaps the crank case pressure was pushing on the plug and was causing the silicon to flex. I made up a plate that jams between the show chrome bolt and the rear drive housing. Then, I put 3 large washers on the back of the plug, this way it has pressure over the whole plug….. Using some “oil resistant” black silicon to hold the whole thing in, we will see how we go.

Have started to try and collect parts for the trailer……watch this space (and a dedicated web page as well)……

(The title of this blog comes from the movie Contact….if you have not seen it, go hire it)

I finally got time to make the GameBoy external buttons. So now I can change maps and stuff from a bunch of switches on the RHS fairing. Its got the mapping back up and running.

I fixed the oil seep on the top of the motor. The glass that is in the ‘top dead center’ viewing port was lose. I am glad that it did not pop out, oil would have spewed all over the place! I Alradlyted it back in. It should hold. Its nice to have a clean motor again.

15 emails and 3 months latter, I got my SuperBrace for the front forks. Its a nice looking hunk of aluminum. It has not made as much as a difference as I thought it might, but the ride is definitely stiffer, seems to corner a little more precisely as well. I feel better to have it on, if nothing else, the fork seals will last longer!
I got my intercom back. Its better than the last one, but still nothing like working, still nothing like worth 550 bucks. So, I have it disassembled on my work bench at the moment, I am installing some pots for mike gain control. I am convinced that it has wwwwwwaaaaaayyyyyyyyy too much of it.
Also, while it is out of the bike, I am going to make a switch / speaker harness for it so I can switch between the helmet and the speakers on the faring. Least that way I can have a few tunes while riding with out having to hook up the helmet.
Next will be an AM/FM radio.

I do. It must look a bit odd. Ridding down a road, smiling from ear to ear. Whats the longest period you have smiled for? Try it, its not easy when you have no one telling jokes, or tickling you, just try turning off the radio, wind down your window (I am assuming you are in a car) and smile, a big broad, ear to ear smile……..

What can I say, riding my bike makes me happy. Really really deeply happy.
Its relaxing, its exciting, its rewarding its among the best memories I have. (Sad I know).
Is it the bike its self, is it because of all the time and effort I have put into it, it is because of all the personal modifications I have done to the bike…..I dont think so.
For me, its because of the way it frees my mind……. this is really hard to explain. When I am on the bike I am not restrained by all the things that seem to weigh me down in life. For those moments on the bike I am weightless. Sights and sounds go from black and white muted muffles to ulltra vibrant colors with a full symphony orchestra. Its like flying above it all and thus any problems become smaller than ants, they totally disappear and only the big beautiful picture remains.

When I am riding, its like I can be the real me……..

This is not working. I cant even really begin to get close to what its like to ride a bike though the Australian country. The gold from the crops, the blue in the distance from the ecualypts, the blue sky above, the long shadows on the hills, we were not created to be muted in cities and crushed by others unrealistic expectations.

Im not saying we all should ride bikes, I am saying that I am truly and deeply greatful to be given this chance, at this time in my life, to ride a 1982 Honda Goldwing Aspencade.

The bike is running well. Really, really well.
I want to just take a moment of my time (and yours if you can be bothered to wade though this) and talk about it.
The time on the bike has become, rather surprisingly I might add, a very important and special time to me.
Even (especially?) the daily commute, those 15 to 20 odd minutes is something I look forward to, and try and savor when they are happening.
I sure miss the radio, but this quite time has given me more time to contemplate things, even bike things, like how quite the motor is.
Its an old bike, you would think that the wizzing bits are not exactly state of the art, and yet, at 90kph they all do their bit with surprisingly little noise. I dont have the quietest helmet, and yet I often find myself marveling at the fact that I honestly cant hear said wizzing bits. I have to duck down under the windsheild and have a close listen. Even the wind noise is not the loudest most obvious sound. It all is about the same level and I feel like I am on some sort of ‘silent’ flying carpet.

I am still surprised at the fact that this bike has cured my ‘fear’ of corners. One of the main reasons I enjoy touring so much is that it generally does not include too many corners, I dont know why I dident like them, I never really had anything bad happen on one. It was my brother in law that rode off the side of a mountain trying to go around one, not me. Anyway, point is, I now dont notice the difference in a road full of twists or the Nullarbor, they are the ‘same’, the bike foats over either with the same ease.

Of course, I know the bike is old, it can not run like it currently is for much longer, so hence this entry, its a reminder, when it all goes pear shaped, of better days. A reminder why I should spend the time and money to repair it. A reminder to myself that it is good for the heart and soul to be on the bike, that it brings inner peace and calm in a world full of stress and pressure to do things you would rather not. Yes, its an escape, but I know its not also not reality, so I just enjoy it for what it is.
I guess I am trying (badly) to make the point that the time on the bike frees the mind and soul from the shackles of another life, one that you can leave behind for a short time.

On Wednesday, I have to ride to Melbourne to do a job for a friend, I think I will take the back way……