Coop's Corner: February 2016

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Went For A Drive Ride

Same attitude as a motorcycle ride, same destination(s) and almost so close, close enough to the same level of enjoyment.

Heading down river, most likely much like my first ride of the new season will no doubt be. Still in the last half of February, the sun's greater intensity and wider sweep through the sky are giving all of we northerners hope. Our recent higher than average temps have only helped and I'm both hearing it and seeing it from my friends. Lighter steps and brighter dispositions, not withstanding caucus and delegate commotion.

It's been a week that's felt way extra long resulting in only a 2 day weekend (boo hoo, I know) for me and even that was seriously threatened yesterday, possibly making an even shorter break, avoided with great help from a dear friend. Thanks so very much Rick, that's twice now that you've saved me in very big ways.

Bright and mild this morning, blue sky with a blue-sky-orange sunrise, I felt a bit foggy and knew I had to get some quiet "woods" time. Peg was invited though wisely turned me down...."too much mud right now or were you thinking about paved?"

Paved was NOT what I had in mind so I headed out alone. She's so much more effective as well as efficient at Saturday cleaning than I am anyway; I'm sure that all went better without my help. :)

Lake Pepin, the lake's ice ledge here where the Mississippi River transforms into its narrower and faster self. There were a few bald eagles fishing, most of them seemed to only be casually thinking about it while resting at water's edge.

Lock and Dam #4 at Alma doing no fill/empty cycles at this time of year, only maintaining Pool Depth on the river. There were fishing boats on the river downstream and countless ice fisher people on the frozen backwater ponds upriver.

I stopped in Buffalo City for a coffee and there was a guy there with an interesting boat and to me, a very interesting boat motor/drive unit. Didn't have the camera after leaving the car. Little did I know that he and I were both headed to the Whitman Bottoms Swamp.

"Mud Motor....air cooled, don't need water, just like a lawnmower", he explained. To unknowing me, an interesting V engine and drive unit.

Not really a boat landing though serving as one today. "Roller trailer.....the only real answer" I was told. More new knowledge for my little adventure and all I'd really been seeking was some quiet time in the woods. It didn't take very long until I got the quiet that I was after......

It is absolutely as icy as it looks between the rear truck wheels and where these guys are standing. The truck is on solid ice covered ground, the guys and their trailer on river ice sheet. The truck/trailer combination slid back 6" after he put it in Park and got out.

I couldn't really tell if it was loping from being too rich via the choke being on or not but what really surprised me was when he put it in gear and actually had the prop spinning. Lugged down to what sounded like 200 rpm.....and it seemed to take it, never stalled or hiccuped. Then he got it spinning faster as they headed upstream through the backwater.

Then I got the quiet that I was after..........

Common here, large trees with very shallow root systems. Topple in winds, often after the river floods.

Yes, there was a faint bit of traffic noise, a train now and then, tracks on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin side of the river. Other than the birds, this was the best sound though......

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Morphous On The Lift

Finally getting to the black Yamaha, the long and low scooter is warm and in the shop. Yesterday I took the old 400 Automatic outside and gave it 15 minutes of exercise to the best of my ability with snow and ice everywhere....which wasn't very much. Knowing that far too much of our parking area in front of the garage is just about a skating ring, I gingerly waddled the Honda over to the deeper snow, foolishly thinking that with that much side to side 'resistance', I'd at least be able to idle through the 5" of fresh snow that we received the other weekend (no knee high boots required in our neighborhood).

It didn't work.

Still fumbling with the idle speed and idle mix screws, engaging Speed 1 left the rear wheel spinning and it spun so freely in the snowy yard that I wondered if I'd missed something and failed to engage the transmission. One, almost fall down look at the rear tire told me that the wheel was going around but we weren't going anywhere. A bit of paddling, just enough traction to put the bike down and on its side. Oh well, it's running well enough for a road test when road tests are again reasonable. For now, back into the garage in one of the snug corners.

I purchased tires for the Yamaha Morphous almost a year ago, looked in my PDF manual at the instructions for removal of the rear wheel and decided, "not now but soon." Anxious to use it more last summer, especially since both it and the Helix were ready for tires, the Honda's tire much more in need of a change, it wasn't a big season of scooter riding though I did take the Morphous on a few short rides, willing to use up that last of those wear bars. So, in a word, I was intimidated by the look and scope of the project.

Taking this black bull by the horns, I finally went at the project this morning, printing out the 8 or 10 pages of the manual relevant to the tire change. Last night I spent time looking through the convoluted instructions...."See Engine Removal - Section 1-4"....."See Swingarm Removal - Section 3-17" ....."Remove Muffler"....."Remove Tool Tray" and on and on. I thought rear wheel removal on the Helix was bad.

I decided to trade some scuffed up fingers for leaving one of the body panels in place and I'd do it again, gladly.

Here, the wheel off but only after various body panels, the muffler, swingarm and too many other odd bits had to come off first. Brake caliper hung from Zip ties. I should be thankful that I didn't have to drain the coolant and interrupt the brake line I suppose.

Speaking of muffler, it almost broke my arm when that last bolt came loose.

Take a look at the bolts, fitments and hookups on the swingarm....hopefully I'll be able to get everything back together without any extra parts left over.

It might be best to not wear this tire out, instead push the scoot aside, polish it up and take THIS one to next year's Bike Show for parking. Only another 11 years until it's ready for the Vintage classification.

Friday, February 5, 2016

At The Show

The Progressive International Motorcycle Show that is. Progressive Insurance does it up big at the show, a large exhibit, the slot car races, coffee, the bags that get handed out at the entry gates, etc. This year a few new things, one of which was Flo's Chop Shop. Hair cuts, shoe shines, pedicures and once the show actually opened at 3:00 Friday afternoon, I never saw any of the chairs empty while I was around.

I spent the morning with my mom; a doctor's appointment, a bit of shopping, some paperwork and so on. Then on to see my dad's sister in the assisted care facility and from there, I decided to go downtown, very early considering that the Show wasn't going to open until 3PM but I knew where I wanted to park (the lot was empty as I'd predicted) before it got busy and figured that I'd walk the Minneapolis Skyways for some exercise pre-show.

Unknown to me, Mike was at the show, inside helping the Viking Antique Chapter get set up and when I received an email with a very expensive HD photographed, I knew that he was inside. I replied, letting him know that I was right outside the Mpls Convention Center building and headed toward the lobby. He came out to greet me within seconds and with his Credentials, he led me inside to an almost empty room, save for the last minute setup that some of the vendors were still busy with. That meant I had great access to take some photos without throngs of people to jostle through, still early before the 3PM opening.

So photograph I did.......

I like these.......

A couple of 2WD models.......

Some large posters......

Large Studs, a different type.....

Here I'd finally worked my way to the corner where the Antique and Vintage Japanese bikes were.

I know these guys and proudly admit it......

I have one of these but mine hasn't looked like this since 1963. On 2nd thought, I doubt mine looked like this on the day it was imported.

About 1 PM at this point and I thought it wise to exit the exhibition hall and wait until the 3:00 official opening.....since I only had a ticket, no Credentials. So it was out for a coffee and a quiet table in the lobby area. Only seated a few minutes with my coffee cooling, Virgil sat down at the next table. For the next 45 minutes we got caught up and Virgil did an extraordinary job in tweeking my interest in Fat Electric Bikes; he the owner of 2 of them. I just might have to get rid of one mine that has no pedals and trade for one that does. Absolutely new to me, Virgil gave quite a sales pitch.

To be considered.

With my coat checked (2nd coat on the rack) I went back to the entrance doors to our section of the large Mpls Convention Hall, knowing that I'd start seeing friends. Soon there were more familiar faces and familiar faces is the primary reason I attend the Show these days. It's a social event for me; the only thing I bought today was a quite-good cup of coffee. These wonderful new bikes need to be purchased and well cared for by all of the attendees and then in a few years, with 2k-3k accumulated miles, made very available to Coop at reasonable prices.

Mike, Virgil, Bob, Roger, Bob, Ron, Gary, Tim, Nels, Marty, Doug, Sheri, Dave, Dave #2, Rick, Mike and other familiar faces, only some with names I know, all within the 1st couple of hours on Friday afternoon. Worth the price of admission always.

21 Helmets......

Lots of questions and comments about this recent arrival.....

Like the ones I own, dirt from 3 seasons ago still present.......

This one caught my eye......I intend to learn more about the Mosquito.

Mike found the Ducati ladies.....I spent some time at the Indian booth.

These Yamaha assistants must have heard about our recent 12" snowfall and brought their winter boots, ready for conditions. That's the best part about our annual February show.....we're normally over the hump at this point with Spring just around the corner.

I'll finish with (one of) my favorite bikes.....so very good there's little that needs changing from year to year.

Others say....

"it was auspicious to approach any situation from a deferential, inquisitive place. Conceding that there is much to learn is the best blueprint for discovering something new." ----B. Fuller

The Man straightened stiffly above the block of salt fixed to the stake and looked at the young cattle ringed about him. The pasture was holding out well and the stock was looking good. This bunch would be ready to sell in another month, maybe sooner if the market was right.

A stir among the cattle down near the river brought him round to face the swinging bridge he'd built years before. Someone was coming toward him from the bridge. Someone in breeches, but it didn't look like a man, somehow. What was a woman doing in his pasture this time of night?

He bent over the salt again; maybe if he paid her no heed she'd go on past and let him mind his own business. He heard her footsteps come nearer and stop. "Good evening," she said.

Her voice was smooth with book learning but friendlier than most, and somehow almost shy. When he made no answer she went on, "I've been sitting on your swinging bridge....I thought I'd like to say thank-you...." Her voice stumbled a little, then she tried once more.

"You are Mr. ____". His name sounded strange in her voice, but she went on to tell her own.

"That's what they've called me the last sixty-eight years," he said, looking past her face to the hills fast darkening under a single star. "I reckon the woods are free for those that like to walk there."

The unfamiliar voice laughed a little. "That's what Emerson said: the grove belongs to the man who walks in it with an open heart....On that basis I guess I've owned part of your woods for a good many years.....". She made a final effort. "I've always wanted to thank you....."

Something deeply hidden stirred in him. "There's a stump up there, in the notch of the woods", he said slowly, "that before the timber grew so tall you could stand on it and see all over this country."

He kept still a minute, remembering, then, "I used to stand up there an' look at things, an' wonder how they come to be like they was, an' how the hills was created, an' all the things in Nature.... I told my wife I guessed all the religion I ever had I got standin' on that old stump, a-wonderin'..." He turned his face away from her.

She helped him out. "I know about that, a little. This afternoon I saw......." Her account of a thing she had really taken time to look at eased him, and he answered with telling of the badger den at the foot of the swinging bridge.

When she had gone, he turned to watch her. After a moment she stood clear and unmoving against the sky. You could hear the sounds of the river where she stood. She was one that could stand still long enough, he thought, really to hear what a body was saying, or a river.

Then she walked down the farther side of the slope and was gone. ------Margaret Snyder from A Chosen Valley

Fall was the end of harvest, end of the growing season, a burst of color and sun-warmth before killing frost turned the land gray and cold. Fall was a moody time, full of both life and death, a time when we were reminded of the power outside of us, reminded that the seasons happen to us. We do not invite the change to come.-------Ben Logan, from The Land Remembers

When you get those rare moments of clarity, those flashes when the universe makes sense, you try desperately to hold onto them. They are the lifeboats for the darker times, when the vastness of it all, the incomprehensible nature of life is completely elusive. So the question becomes or should have been all along, what would you do if you knew you only had one day, or one week, or one month to live. What lifeboat would you grab onto? What secret would you tell? What band would you see? What person would you declare your love to? What wish would you fulfill? What exotic locale would you fly to for coffee? What book would you write? ------- Ben Tyler

We were also cautioned about journeying far from home. As an example of the dangers, the town had a badly crippled lady named Lucy, who as a girl had traveled to New York City. As she traveled along a sidewalk, sightseeing, she was struck by the outstretched hand of a suicide who had leapt from high above. Her spine had been shattered and for the rest of her life, she was to walk bent forward at the waist, tapping the sidewalk with two black canes. Whenever the subject of travel to a big city was raised, someone would say, "Just remember what happened to Miss Tripp." ---- Ted Kooser, from Local Wonders

"Steamboats are like wedding cakes without the complications...." ----Mark Twain

"It's not about having lots of money, it's about having lots of options......." -----Chris Rock

As the very proud father of three former ponytail wearers, hopefully I can get away with this....."For the past few years it's been fashionable for young women to wear ball caps and to snap the strap on the back under their ponytails. I like the looks of that, their shiny ponytails jauntily swinging, but it's hard not to think of the rear ends of horses. There's a piece of harness called the crupper that goes just under a horse's tail to keep its nose down. If the horse lifts its head to look for a way out of whatever predicament it's in, the crupper tightens and hurts the horse. But it's foolish for parents to think that a ball cap might keep a young woman from running away. Anybody can see they're made for running." ------Ted Kooser, Local Wonders

"I tell the guy's girlfriend that the only difference between the book's main character Phaedrus and myself is that I am neither brilliant, tortured or insane, she looks at my bike and there is an uncomfortable silence." --------ahendepe (a.k.a. Vermin)