The Blog of Blues

[blues2cruise]

So jealous!
I've got a Nikon D50 (D100?) with a 1.5f lens, but I think something's wrong with it. I can't get a clear picture in the EVF and every shot I take with it comes out blurry.

Hmmmm. The D100 is a superior camera to mine. Have you tried a different lens? Is the sensor clean? Is the mirror clean? Can you try focusing manually?

[blues2cruise]

I have decided I am not enjoying the rides on my 1100cc V-Star. Aside from the loud pipes...I am finding it a bit heavy. My thumb joints aren't as good as they used to be, so once in a while I get a bit wobbly hanging on to the handlebar when I need to do something slow...like backing out of my yard in the dirt and stopping on gravel. Riding at street and highway speed is ok, but I need a new throttle rocker. That will help with the longer rides.

I have looked, but so far haven't been able to find stock pipes for a 2000 V-Star. Currently, the bike is LOUD. Too loud for enjoyment.

[NorthernPete]

What pipes are on it? Perhaps you could order some aftermarket baffles?

[blues2cruise]

What pipes are on it? Perhaps you could order some aftermarket baffles?

DG Hard-Krome. Thanks for the idea. I can have a look.

[blues2cruise]

Some days.....A week ago....
I went for a ride with a pal across to Spence's Bridge to go have lunch. The ride there was fine. After lunch, he went his way home via the Fraser Canyon back to Vancouver, and I rode the hour back to Merritt. The ride was mostly uneventful, until I turned onto a side road looking for potential fishing spots for when my brother came to visit. As I rode on the side road, I noticed a big dog running toward me from another side road. I kept going but when I stopped a bit further up to turn around, I saw the dog sitting right behind me. I'm not what you would call a dog person...and big dogs scare me.
I turned around to head back to the highway and as I started to move, the dog started chasing me. So, I rolled on the throttle to move quickly, but the dog was running ....in my mind....to "get" me....I made a quick shift to 2nd and was able to get away from the dog. I felt a sense of glee for not missing the shift so I could get away from that dog. I was so glad my rusty skills were working that day.

[blues2cruise]

The advertising right underneath this post is about reducing sagging jowls. I won't click on that one....I'm learning to live with the signs of aging.....I can still ride. I can still fit into my gear and my 53 year old married neighbour seems to think my eyes are below my neck. hahahaha

Sometimes I do click on some of the ads because every click is money for TMW.

I read the review that jack wrote about the ear plugs. I may look for some. Though the decibel reduction is only moderate, it sounds like they fit well. I have some custom ear plugs but can't find them, so have been using the sleeping ear plugs. Regular foam ear plugs won't stay in.

I also read the article that Mr. Total Motorcycle wrote about the DCT transmissions....wondering if the days of standard shifting are coming to an end. I don't believe those days are going to end anytime soon, but I would certainly consider an automatic transmission if I get another motorcycle. My thumb joints have some arthritis and some days I make the decision to not ride because the joints ache. Not having to pull a clutch lever in and feathering it or doing rapid shifting would make riding longer a possibility.

[blues2cruise]

One more entry for today. I went for a ride yesterday to Kamloops and back. It's a bit over an hour each way. Most of the ride went well. The Coquihalla portion was great. All the other motorists and truckers behaved. I was making my way through Kamloops to go see my niece. Riding along, going with the flow, but not tail gating....thankfully....the car in front of me suddenly stopped....not at a crosswalk...but just suddenly stopped. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that it was stopping and because I was getting close, I had to grab my brakes. I realized I was not going to be able to stop in time...so I veered to the left side of the car to avoid rear ending the car....of course, I braked too hard and started fish tailing....then the whole bike went sideways...then I skidded a little more...before managing to straighten up and ride across the road in front of the car that had suddenly stopped. I got to the curb.Once in front of that car, I could see the break in the fence and a pedestrian standing there. He looked rather wide eyed. I gather that the car driver had seen that person and suddenly stopped, but from where I had been, you could not even see the break in the fence, let along a person in there. There was a crosswalk painted farther along from where the car had suddenly stopped. Phew. That was such a close call. I found out that I am stronger than I realized. I kept the bike upright.
I keep going over it in my mind. Did I lose focus? Did my attention get diverted? Why didn't I notice the car stop? Was it because the crosswalk so farther away and I was looking up there and never expected a vehicle to stop so far away from a crosswalk? I'll never know, but I am so glad I missed it and stayed up right.

[blues2cruise]

Laying awake in the night makes the brain start ruminating.....I kept replaying in my head the incident in Kamloops where I nearly rear ended the car in front of me....and I nearly dropped my bike. The whole scenario replayed in my brain and I realize now that the car in front of me did not have any brake lights. We (I) are so conditioned to be alerted by red brake lights, that I didn't notice on time that the car in front of me was stopped. Of course, we don't expect cars to stop suddenly for no apparent reason in the middle of a block.
I must do better.

[jstark47]

The whole scenario replayed in my brain and I realize now that the car in front of me did not have any brake lights. We (I) are so conditioned to be alerted by red brake lights, that I didn't notice on time that the car in front of me was stopped. Of course, we don't expect cars to stop suddenly for no apparent reason in the middle of a block.
I must do better.

Blues, if you haven't been riding regularly, that automatic "distance to the vehicle in front of me" loop we all have running in our brains is probably a little rusty, that's all. When I've been riding daily and then don't ride for a couple weeks, the "skills rot" sets in quickly for me.

It's been so stinking hot and humid here I've ridden very little since early June. I was out riding today, and very self-consciously kept talking myself through the SIPDE loop through the whole ride. It takes me a couple hours of riding to get my scanning, alertness, and eye discipline back to top level.

[blues2cruise]

Blues, if you haven't been riding regularly, that automatic "distance to the vehicle in front of me" loop we all have running in our brains is probably a little rusty, that's all. When I've been riding daily and then don't ride for a couple weeks, the "skills rot" sets in quickly for me.

It's been so stinking hot and humid here I've ridden very little since early June. I was out riding today, and very self-consciously kept talking myself through the SIPDE loop through the whole ride. It takes me a couple hours of riding to get my scanning, alertness, and eye discipline back to top level.

Thanks for that. Yes, probably rusty skills.

It's been hot here, too, but dry. Despite the heat, I have ridden a few times. Mesh gear helps a lot.

Now, I am helping out family by looking after my nephew so the parents could have a week off. Kids have been home in lockdown since mid March, so parents and kids need a bit of separation to help keep the peace. haha

[blues2cruise]

I spent a week with my 14 year old nephew. I took him to Victoria with me so his parents could have a break. It was very different than I had planned. I had looked up some things to do, but he didn't want to do anything. Technology, AKA, smart phone, was his preferred activity. I did manage to get him out a few times though. Recently he has discovered cars. Muscle cars. Mustangs, Shelby, Lambos ( as he calls them), Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes, etc. Suddenly he is an expert. LOL He spends a lot of time watching YouTube, and yes, he does know a lot, but has also become quite a snob about them. He thinks he'll get his driver's licence in 18 months. I told him if he doesn't change his attitude about speed, he won't have his licence for very long. He constantly harangues me for driving too slow. I told him, I drive the speed limit.
#1 My truck is a gas hog, so driving conservatively helps with gas mileage.
#2 I don't want a ticket or points
#3 I had a passenger whose parents rely on me to keep him safe.
Even his own parents tell him, It's not that Auntie Donna drives too slow, It's that we (his parents) drive fast. I drove one of his parents to the train station one morning. I was told I could go a little faster. I said, I was already going 70 in a 50 zone. Sitting in a big truck feels slower than in a little sedan. I was a professional driver for a lot of years and I still maintain those good driving habits. If the speedy people don't like it, they can go around me.



I wish I could say I've been out riding, but alas, I have not. Due to the forest fires south of the border from me, the air is too smoky. It's not horrible where I am compared to Washington, Oregon and California, but bad enough to want to stay inside. This morning at 5 am the stars could finally be seen in the sky. We had some super high winds that helped.

My friend came to visit despite the smoke. He had been visiting family in the eastern part of the province and had no choice but to travel to get home. He said it was like riding in the fog. He rides a Super Tenere 1200. I managed to work in a motorcycle into my entry.

[blues2cruise]

This is the first time I have logged onto TMW with my phone.
I was going to upload a picture but darn..
Even the cell picture is too big.

I'll try to resize it.

My bike is put away for the season.