[coloradobob]

fall color rides rule

The 3 twins: 72 Triumph, 72 BSA, and 72 Norton Commando rode up to Estes Park Colorado for the afternoon. I was mostly pleasant sunny weather, but a little cool when a cloud was overhead. We got way too close to 3 big bull elk that were lounging in the shade next to the golf course. I was able to stare down a cow elk that was considering darting into my path and she wheeled and ran away from the road. The aspen trees were in fine yellow and red colors and there was fresh snow on the high peaks. The bikes sounded good, ran good, and looked good. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

That's a good choice. The time is now for fall colors. They had a 100mph wind last week and the exposed trees lost their leaves. Downtown Estes was surprisingly crowded for a weekday. The elk are in large groups down in town with the new snow covering the tundra. There's plenty of spectacular big bulls (6 and 7 points) on Fish creek Rd along the golf course and Rd 66 by the YMCA camp. There was a small herd by the cemetery (museum) near the North Entrance. Take the old road to Allen's Park which usually has the best colors (didn't go there today) and drink water from the artesian well. I swear, it's the world's best tasting water. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

fall-color club ride

We kept the mileage down for this weekend's ride with 20-25 members of our club. I clocked a little over 110 miles. We had bikes from every decade from the '30's to the present represented with 3 old Triumphs, 2 old BSA's, 3 BMW's, 3 old Indians, a Buell, and various Harleys. Other than Jon hitting reserve on his 47 Indian and an unscheduled gas stop, all bikes ran well. I didn't take any pictures on the ride up Apple Valley toward Estes Park, but after editing, I hope there will be a good video along with some stills that Joanie took. The season is almost over and it's time to repair the wear-and-tear and do a couple of performance upgrades. I expect to remove the cylinder heads on the T120, T140, and T150. I don't expect to do any bottom end work. It's time for new tranny oil, fork oil, and brake fluid. I'm putting a Venhill front brake cable, no switch, on the conical-hub '72 ; stainless lines on the T140 to go with the HH pads; Barnett clutch plates, cush rubbers, both sprockets, and a new chain on the '72. It may be time for new rubber hoses or a helicoil for a rocker-box bolt. I've had them all apart before, so I'm hoping for a lot fewer surprises. If all goes well, I hope to have enough parts left over to complete a long time apart '72 motor. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

riding without a motor

I drained all the gas tanks except for the 72 TR6 and rode this:http://youtu.be/CQokljaUNMY Today we have rain and lightning, so I'm doing the job that I dread the most: I'm adding up the receipts for the '73 TR7 rebuild last year (CRINGE). Bob

 

[coloradobob]

good wiring and fall color rides

Nice ride, Bob. You live in a great part of the world. How much farther did you get after the camera shut off?



I found the loose connection from my ignition switch that disarmed my kill switch relay. Didn't rake the leaves. Went riding instead. Great autumn day ride! Not many left like these.

It's always a relief to find a simple solution on wiring issues. Fall riding amongst the falling leaves is always a bonus at the end of a shortening riding season. In the video, that's the end of my property. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

fall ride

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrBowser2011#p/a/u/0/ayGzmW7xnMQ
Here's a ride up Apple Valley road near Lyons Colorado. Years ago, this area was full of orchards. Lyons is between Boulder and Estes park on hwy 36. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

riding and smiling

After rejetting and setting the card a few days back I went out for a 74 mile ride this morning and the bike ran like a dream. Cruised at 65 m/h for most part and then gave it some stick on the last stretch of my ride. Freeway, slight downhill...90m/h!! Confirmed with my GPS. Tucked my fat ass in as much as possible and the old girl obliged by running smoothl and stable. I love riding this old girl!

silverfish

That's wonderful news. I long fast ride puts a smile on every time and makes the hard work and frustration worth while. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

^&*(*&^xx flat tire!

I mounted my old camera to an old helmet and took a ride on the county road near me. I used Plewsy's suggestion and taped a clear hose over the sound aperture and taped it over my helmet. The bike was handling poorly and I had to limp 5 miles home on a completely flat front tire. On the way home I noticed some drywall scraps in the road. I'm going to have the Kawasaki dealer fix the flat for $15. Happy New Year. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

Nice part of the world, Bob. How does the camera/mic set-up work on the road? Pic of setup if you can. I'm experimenting with cheap $15.00 ebay camera with less success. Thanks for posting.


Edit: You must have changed uploads (first vid was view from top looking down. now I see on the road vid). Vid looks great! Relatively smooth. Which bike are you riding?

I tried to take a picture of my set-up in the mirror. The flash swamped it out. There are 4 holes in the top of my camera for the speaker/mic. I cut a 45 on a piece of 1" hose and used foil tape left over from my furnace installation. I mounted the camera on a small right-angle bracket fastened with 2 ski binding flat-head posi-drive screws. I was riding my 72 TR6 which started on the 2nd kick. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

helmet mounted camera.

Nice deer.

Can't picture it. The right-angle bracket fits into the end of the hose? How big is the camera? Thanks.

I tried this set-up below but quality is not great. (didn't expect much for $15.00 so I think I'll upgrade the camera).

The hose is only to keep wind noise away from the microphone. My camera is attached through a hole in the right angle bracket with a 1/4-20 bolt (the threads for a tripod on the bottom) My camera is the size of a deck of cards. I've had it for 6 or 8 years. Wind noise seems to be a common problem. I'll try a small bit of foam next. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

riding videos

Thanks for posting, Bob. Looking forward to vids.

Likewise.
I called a guy yesterday that has 3 Trident motors and frames for sale. He got them from a fella going to prison for a long time. There is no good paperwork on anything. Do you see any potential problems? Bob

 

[coloradobob]

The craigslist ad says they're 1974. He's really proud of them and turned down $1000 for one of the motors. He referred to one of the motors as "the complete one". Colorado requires the bike to be running to initiate the lost title process. Some have successfully transferred NH registrations and gotten a Colorado title. I have not added up the receipts from the T150 I rebuilt 3 years ago, and rode it an hour after I bought it. 3 incomplete, untitled Tridents are quite a project. I won't go $1k for the complete motor and not $6500 for the lot. Bob

 

[coloradobob]

today's ride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpQ5PVS40Hs&feature=youtu.be

 

[coloradobob]

flat tire

I went to Motoadventure in Loveland to get my flat fixed from yesterday. they had this flat tracker with lots of goodies for $4000. I want it but don't know what I'd do with it.
Bob

 

[coloradobob]

This is the next segment of the last ride video 1/2 mile further on. It is the narrows of the Big Thompson river. Bob: when I came back out of the mouth of the canyon, I hit a wall of warm air. Bob