Categories: all aviation bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater

Wed, 21 Dec 2005

An interesting time the last few days, to be sure.

After the phone conversation with the dealer's service manager, I went in and dropped off the manual. Then I waited.

In the mean time, I've been wearing my new Shoei X-11 helmet (if I don't put the dash in that name, I just think of windowing systems). It's really tight. Not so tight as to be bad, but really tight. If I don't put it on and take it off the right way, it's painful.

Right now, it's pressing a bit around the base of my skull, but otherwise the fit is right. I really want it to break in a little bit, though. I can't really comment on any of the clever venting features (one of the claims to fame this helmet makes) because, of course, it's winter. Temperatures have generally been hovering around 30° F, although the last day or two has been warmer.

It does look nice, and all their claims about aerodynamics may even be worth something, as I don't notice as much wind pressure or buffeting on the freeway. In any case, it seems like a nice helmet, and it's certainly the best fit I'd found.

The Goldwing's choke cable has gotten so bad now that I have to actually operate it two-handed: one on the proper choke handle, one on the carburetor lever it actually operates. It's workable, but it sure ain't right. I have a new choke cable on order, which will hopefully solve the problem.

This morning, I got another call from the Kawasaki dealership. It went something like this:

Them: Hey, so I don't know if Chris told you this, but he's left to work for another dealership, and I'm working on your bike now. I'm starting from scratch here; what was the problem again? Something about fuses?

Me: [pause] Wait, who's Chris?

Them: He's the old service manager, thank god he's gone.

Me: Ah. [moment of flabbergastation] Yeah, it's popping ignition fuses, but only when underway.

I went on to explain how the problem occurred, and what I thought he should check for: abraded wiring, faulty ignition components, etc. It ended up that he also wanted me to bring in my electric vest to test with, begrudgingly following that lead from his now-absent service manager.

I was... not pleased. It was one of those moments where I hung up the phone and, had it been a TV show, I would have looked at the camera and said, "what!?"

So, this evening, I brought in my electric vest. I found that the guy was actually not very worried about it, but his boss had told him to check it, so he was. We discovered that the vest made absolutely no difference to the operation of the motorcycle. Big surprise.

I did end up talking with the tech for about half an hour, and he seemed like a reasonable guy. He didn't have any more clue about solving it than I do, but he also seemed capable of finding the problem, given enough time.

So, I'm not feeling confident that I'll have the Z back any time soon, but I suspect I will see either it or a replacement bike by the time January is over. I guess it all depends on how successful the new tech (he's not new, he's just not the same guy) is, and how far up the chain I have to go to get a resolution.

Posted at 09:33 permanent link category: /motorcycle

Categories: all aviation gadgets misc motorcycle theater

Written by Ian Johnston. Software is Blosxom. Questions? Please mail me at reaper at obairlann dot net.