It's So Flat, and So Straight

So, I've taken to using motorcycleroads.com to look for rides. The ride I did today was in the bottom 10% for Ohio, but goddamn... that anyone thought this was an especially noteworthy ride?  I've taken shits that were more exciting.

Here's The Rocinante, parked at my "scenic" destination. A municipal park, an hour west of my location. I fueled up on the way, as the one gas station where my Ohio Lottery points count towards free fuel was on the way, here. I only had two gift cards, both with about $1 credit on them, so after gassing up to the tune of $2.01, I was on my way!

After docking The Rocinante and walking up a steep hill, I was at the bottom of another steep hill. I need the cardio, so up I go.

Fraboulous joy -- a roadway bridge. Hiking for 10 minutes, into... the somewhat-manicured rural... greenery. This was visible from the top of the hill depicted in the prior photo.

Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at what three park markers assured me was the "scenic overlook." Um. Yeah. About that. I've seen more scenic ditches filled with mosquitoes and tadpoles.

Walking back, I notice Escape Stairs. As in, "God, get me away from this tick-infested hellscape of a completely non-interesting nature."

Well, it was a nice ride. I saw soybeans on my left for miles, and corn on my right. Then, I saw miles of corn on my left, and soybeans on my right. My grandchildren will tell this story for their entire lives, I'm sure of it.

Shitty April

Ohio takes some getting used to for a southern boy.

Still, the last two days have made for nice riding. 79°F yesterday, 62°F today. I can deal with either, but today it rained up until time for leave for work, then it stopped. While at work, it started raining again, and yet it stopped before I left work. After I got home, again the rain commenced.

I take this as a good sign.

Gonna buy a warm-weather helmet (3/4 with full-face shield) on one of my days off this week -- whichever day is nice enough to let me ride to get it.

I'm An April Foo'

At least Bert is impressed with The Rocinante. I wish ridin' weather would come to stay, although 45°F isn't terrible.

Although It's Cold, Still I Roll

A frosty saddle gathers no moss.

Introducing: Rocinante

Named for the re-named Martian corvette featured in The Expanse, she's no broken-down horse. A 2013 Honda PCX150, she is missing the backrest (such as it is), and has a couple of scrapes from being dropped (not my doing), but she's mine, and she runs like a scalded ape.

Wintertime is the time to buy bargain scooters, I tell ya.

The Times, They Are a-Changin'

Hey, there's now a PCX 150 in white, like my Wanda!  And I was asleep this year in scooter news (pretty much), so not sure if this is a 2015 or '16, but they've changed some of the design, as well. Lookit the right of that photo above. TURN INDICATORS that aren't bug pods!

Honda changed the headlamp cover a bit, too, and again -- NO BUG PODS -- I reckon the integrated the turn indicators to fall in line with the rest of the world's version of the PCX. I personally like the starker angles of Wanda's headlamp cover, but this is a vast visual improvement over the Burgman-samey Forza front-end. Why they didn't do something like this on the Forza boggles my pointy haidbone.

A better shot of the rear turn indicators. Don't like the tail lamp cover as much as the old one, either.

I was shocked to see a DN-01 in person, but wasn't shocked when the owner offered to sell it to me for 50% off list. That'd still be $8K, but man, what a load of white elephant dung this  sucker must be on his floor. I'm thinking it'd be a great motopickle for moi, but I understand why only one one person at this dealership took it out for a 3-mile test ride, and said, "Nuh-uh." 680cc fuel-injected v-twin that is supposed to be tame (but still 100MPH+), non-CVT automatic transmission, no storage... but look at it. Just look. Holy Batman, Batman.

Sorry for the poor lighting and equally-crappy camera in my Moto E.

Scofflaw

Kroger, La Vergne.

Washing Wanda

Yes I did!  In honor of her 26,000th mile.

The view to my south, at 5:50 p.m., CDT.

The view to my north at 5:50 p.m. CDT.

Now, you may speculate as to why I didn't ride to Nashville, tonight.  :)

... but the truth of it?  I could not get the effin' 12mm bolt on Wanda's gearbox drain to break loose. In fact, I ruined my Lifetime Warrantied HDX t-handled driver in the attempt, twisting the motherfathering plastic handle by more than 90° (and will get my refund later this week, as I'm no fookin' brute). Chinese shit, y'all. ALWAYS LOW PRICES.

Scootnashville Saturday Social Scramble

Glorious morning, feeling more like September in Nashville than August!  75°F upon leaving Smyrna @ ~9:50 a.m., and little to no humidity! This is odd. Above: Ed and Dan converse al fresca at Eighth and Roast.

Ross welcomes all, and explains the lack of a route, and the non-lack of ride rules.

Ed is The Man.

These ladies are also The Mans.

"Git yer helmets on, effers!"

Bomber art on a modern Vespa.

The coots pull into a spot across from the Percy Warner Golf Course, to receive n00b instructions from Rossifer.

Ancient Mayan architecture. Left by aliens. From space.

I like stone walls.

Wanda, with Nashville down in the hole behind her. Luke Lea Overlook, in Percy Warner Park.

The well-stocked Wanda.

Scoot'Za

Workhorse Wanda, doin' her duty.

An array of Hondas (mostly), a Yarmerhar, a Suzuki and a couple of modern Vespas. Tonight's showing @ Pizza Perfect.

Goofy fucker.

Less goofy.

Planet Janet

Black Card (Premium) Member #8 at the Smyrna Planet Witless, opening late September, 2014, just a mile away from me on Nissan Drive. Gotta have the sticker to win goodies.  :)

Either Way

Catblog?  Scootblog?  Eff it!  BOTH!
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Wanda Shots

Hiding behind the dumpster. Beer under seat: Check.  This is how laundry gets done in the heartland.

A man, a plan... BUSCH.

Total Eclipse of the Fulmer.
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PCX Rear Wheel Removal Video

Dang, what an upload time.

Anyway, here's how I spent my day off. Well, some of it, anyway.

Back in early June, Ross and others assisted in getting Wanda's front tire changed. That was such a bitch -- dismounting the old tire, and mounting the new one -- I decided on a completely different course for the rear tire.

Tire World in La Vergne said they could do a 14" tubeless tire. no problemo, and for just $20, while I waited. SOLD! They were good to their word. Tire World have been awesome  to me in working on my work truck, always getting me back on the road quickly, and without hassle. It was only natural that I asked them about the scooter tire last time I was there on business. Good people, honest work!

While I waited for Tire World to do their magic, a city alderman stopped in with a minor tire issue. No one was available to assist her (TW stays quite busy, and has a tiny parking lot), so I told her I'd be happy to check her tires, and air them up two doors down at a convenience store, and she gratefully accepted. Since the alderman told the mayor about this, and I got pulled aside by the mayor afterward for embarrassing praise, I have to think we had us a win-win-win situation, in the end.  :)

NOTES

What's the screwdriver for?  To remove the old exhaust gasket ("crush washer"). Mine was stuck in the exhaust port of the head pretty good.

5mm Allen wrench:  To loosen the mudguard/rear fender, but not strictly needed. Like the plastic heat shield, you can skip this part if you are good at working around tight places. I found it easier to remove the heat shield (2 x 10mm bolts) and to take the left side of the mudguard loose removing this one Allen bolt rather than fighting it.

I did leave the bottom splash pan on throughout, but only because it looked like the left side body panels were involved in its removal. It was flexible enough for me to get the ratchet and 3" extension in there for the rear header bolt, but only barely. There were curse words.  :)

Clarification: Re-assembly order is large spacer, wheel, swingarm, small spacer, axle nut. Important!  :)

Also, during re-assembly, please re-torque all bolts to their OEM specs. You don't wanna lose anything riding down the road like a Harley rider.  ;)

Wanda Has A Watchcat

Scofflaws and would-be-ne'er-do-wells be-freakin'-WARE!
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Fat Guy On A Scooter

Not a fat gal and  a moped. Ivy snapped this after work.

Before long, this should be a notably more svelte angle. I'm hoping before cold weather sets in, but I gave myself a year. 6/21/2015. Target: 167lbs.

Wanda Down

Winds must've picked up, last night. Coffee and shower first, then to survey the damages...

Halfway

Wanda's got a new front tire!  Ross & I wrestled with it for hours, and then a guy named Joe showed us a trick, and then another, and finally the bead popped, and the tire was mounted.

I was so exhausted after that, I didn't even want to start on the rear. So, here we are.

Puzzlement: the sipe pattern, make, model and size on this replacement are identical to the OEM tire that came on Wanda, yet this one says "rear only." I hope that doesn't mean anything.

Easy Sunday Photo Bloggin'

The carnival, on my landlady's property, across the street. Last day.

Fulmer and bird shit. At the laundromat. Glad I left the bark-busters on... had a few mornings in the high-40s this past week.

This laundromat does NOT want you stealing their trash!  ;)

What a sky!

Almost as clear and bright as mountain air!

Whoa. Almost got away. Big damned insects around here.

One every three minutes, on average, between 4-5:00 p.m.. today.