NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Need to do some work on the virago. Getting a single click when I hit the starter. Gotta get the solenoid cover off and try jumping it and see if it’s thebsokenoid or starter.
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Well no real success getting the solenoid cover off so what I decided to do was bring the bike to the shop and get them to get it running. I’m getting the work done in NY state and then will trailer it up to Ontario and get a safety and plates for it since I can get the work done cheaper down here even with the exchange rate. Shop rates up north are almost a third more then down here. So hopefully by summer riding season I should have the new bike up and going.
I’m selling my house up north as well since the contracting game has me flying from about an hour away from the wife’s house and I don’t really need it anymore. Should make a few bucks on that. Happy days. Lol. My mother in law just moved up this way as well, will be snow birding it and renting a small house in the area. Will make life easier on the wife when I’m gone and give me a reason to be on the bike when she’s around. Lol.
Hope everyone is doing well and waiting on the nice weather!
I’m selling my house up north as well since the contracting game has me flying from about an hour away from the wife’s house and I don’t really need it anymore. Should make a few bucks on that. Happy days. Lol. My mother in law just moved up this way as well, will be snow birding it and renting a small house in the area. Will make life easier on the wife when I’m gone and give me a reason to be on the bike when she’s around. Lol.
Hope everyone is doing well and waiting on the nice weather!
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Bikes still in the shop (it’s mostly a boats repair I’m told) and it’s that time of year. Hopefully they get a chance to peek at it this run while I’m at work. Going to bust out the sr this time off after camping I believe.
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Well with no progress on the virago I went out and bought a 1988 Vulcan 1500. Good deal but seems to have done electrical issues. Charging systems not working right so while I’m at work it’s at an actual motorcycle shop getting fixed. Pretty happy with it though so far. Big bruiser. Lol
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- jstark47
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 3534
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:58 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: '12 Tiger 800, '03 Trophy 1200
- Location: Lumberton, NJ
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
I feel for ya, Pete. I just got my Tiger running after two months of being down with a weird electrical problem involving multiple fuses (including one fuse Triumph separated from the rest of the fuses and buried at the bottom of the bike...
)

2003 Triumph Trophy 1200
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Well, got my bike back last week. Lol. So missed out on riding season pretty much. But it’s running. Bad voltage regulator seems to have been the issue.
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Winter can "pee" off anytine. Lol.
Waiting on summer. Bikes, camping and boating. Time for some fun.
Waiting on summer. Bikes, camping and boating. Time for some fun.

1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- ZooTech
- Legendary 3000
- Posts: 3226
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:23 am
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 18
- My Motorcycle: Nomad / Ninja 500 / VLX Bobber / C3 / VS
- Location: Ohio
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Best six weeks of the year, eh Pete?!

- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Ahhhh... updates and whatnot. I’m laid off due to covid 19 bull chit. But I’m making the most of it and it’s supposedly temporary so we do what we does. Got my bike up and running, some new Mac pipes on it (which failed at the welds after 2 hours on the bike) but they were replaced under warranty so when I’m back I can replace them. I’m currently though up in Canada with my daughter enjoying some outdoors fun with my side of the family. I did get some riding in up here though. My brother bought himself a cruiser style bike. A 2004 Suzuki 1500 intruder that I got to take for a spin. I discovered I’m a fan of floor boards. Might have to get a bike with them next time. Now time to enjoy the day. Maybe go for some walleye fishing. Toodles!
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:28 pm
- Sex: Female
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Yamaha V-Star 1100
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Whelp. I can’t cross back to the USA for the moment (had some misinformation from the border people but it is what it is now) so most of my belonging are in the states with my wife. One of those belongings is my motorcycle. So I just picked up a 2009 Suzuki gs500f. Gonna get it certified so i can do a little bit of riding with my brother. Should be interesting. Never owned a sport bike before. Even though it’s a little putt putt should be fun.
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:28 pm
- Sex: Female
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Yamaha V-Star 1100
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Judging from all the news stories, you are probably better off here anyway. Unfortunate you are stuck.
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
I’m not overly worried since the area I am in has little to no cases of covid. The GS is in the shop getting a safety. I’m heading back to the USA next week for a few weeks to see the kids and mama. Then back to Canada for a quarantine and what not (I’m flying down) hope everyone is having a great summer!
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:28 pm
- Sex: Female
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Yamaha V-Star 1100
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Alrighty. September. I’m back in Canada and done my quarantine after my trip to the USA. This whole situation sucks since I honestly don’t know when I’ll see my wife and kids in person again. Aiming for Christmas hopefully should all this border closure bull poop continue as it is. But enough on my personal covid policy issues I guess.
Yesterday I picked up my safetied and tuned up gs500f. What a fun little bike. Never had a bike with fairings and a semi sport style to it. It’s a nice ride. Lots of pep. If the weather cooperates I’ll go for a spin today.
Yesterday I picked up my safetied and tuned up gs500f. What a fun little bike. Never had a bike with fairings and a semi sport style to it. It’s a nice ride. Lots of pep. If the weather cooperates I’ll go for a spin today.
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
I think this bike could get me speeding tickets. It’s got a lot of zip and gets there quickly. Lol
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Well, got a job end of October. Working steady since the 27th. But Saturday got sent back to the hotel because someone underground tested positive for covid so we have to isolate now (job away, so I’m put up in a hotel room) so I’ve got a week of sitting in my room. Lol. Getting paid at least. Next week heading back for a few shifts then off until January. Going to head home for a couple weeks.
Bikes are all stored and winterized. Had a pretty good month and a bit with the 500. Lots of fun. The 1500 I got a few rides on but since it’s back in the USA and I wasn’t there too much It sat most of the season. Next summer. Lol
Bikes are all stored and winterized. Had a pretty good month and a bit with the 500. Lots of fun. The 1500 I got a few rides on but since it’s back in the USA and I wasn’t there too much It sat most of the season. Next summer. Lol
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:28 pm
- Sex: Female
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Yamaha V-Star 1100
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
- NorthernPete
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 10:24 pm
- Real Name: Pete
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 11
- My Motorcycle: 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
- Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: NorthernPetes Bike Adventure
Could be worse. And it’s only a week (we didn’t get informed until a week later) done full quarantine twice already, and got another round coming in January too. Keep on keepin on. Lol
Thanks for the concern though, it’s much appreciated! Hope everyone is staying safe!
Thanks for the concern though, it’s much appreciated! Hope everyone is staying safe!
1988 VN1500
2009 GS500F
2009 GS500F