Moto repair update

WE HAVE IGNITION Houston!! The CDI arrived from the Czech Republc on my birthday - WOW! What a present. Motorcycle Man picked up the parcel and then meticulously spent the afternoon putting Scarlet back together. Kiwi Deb and her good friend Brian came by for a visit. While they were visiting we were ready to see if Scarlet's CDI was going to work. I held my breath when Motorcycle Man twisted the throttle and hit the switch - she purred to life! I was back in business, it was the longest 6 weeks I have ever endured.

All is good in my moto world! We went 2up for a test rip and there was a terrible squealing sound 30 seconds into the ride, it turned out the wheel well came loose and was rubbing against the tire. We fixed that and off we went.

IT WAS GLORIOUS!!! We went out for dinner to Fisherman's wharf & then back home and I went for a solo ride. She is running better than when I first got her, clutching is better, she purrs and sounds better and acceleration - OH MY GOSH! She was so much more pep. Motorcycle man is going to sync her carbs and thinks she will be even better. I am such a happy moto mama right now!

PS - I had the best birthday breaky chocolate cake French toast - yup you read it right, CHOCOLATE CAKE FRENCH TOAST!

The Return trip home - blog challenge

 The return journey home varies for me a bit, it all depends on what I feel like at the end of the day, sometimes I take the down & dirty straight home route or if I really want to decompress from a stressful day at the office and the weather is nice I usually take the scenic beach drive along the Dallas Road waterfront and back through downtown Victoria past the Legislature & Government street home. Today was a scenic tootle route, the weather was off, but it was a nice ride just the same today. Blogger was giving me nothing but grief when I tried to post the return trip pics.

                                            Leaving the scooter lair at the end of the day.

Daily Commute Challenge - the beginning

The beginning of the commute - a very well packed garage, scooter, 2 motorcycles and a vintage beetle.

I love blog challenges and when I saw this one I just had to do it!  Martha issued the daily commute challenge on her blog Living Among Tourists.  My commute is not extraordinary or even epic, its a down and dirty 15 minute rip to work in the morning through the crazy traffic of BC's capital city Victoria.  By commute standards this is a piece of cake because most of my fellow bloggers have heavy traffic and longer distances to do than I.  So when I get grumpy because someone upsets my scooter/bike sensibilities I have to remember that.  My commute takes me through the heart of downtown Victoria up to the relatively sedate municipality of Oak Bay - this is where all the blue hairs live who are the sidewalk commandos in their electric scooters.  You see one of the babies coming you best get out of the way because rules don't seem to apply to these sidewalk mayhem makers.

The destination - the bike lock-up at work, which I share with 2 or 3 bikes and a lot of building junk.
It's Vixen or Scarlet's daytime nest, I have to admit it is easier manoeuvring Vixen around in there than Scarlet.

I am having trouble with blogger today so the return journey is going to be Part 2

ITS ON ITS WAY!!!!

My bike may be back on the road within the next few days!  Keep your fingers crossed!  The CDI unit we ordered from Ignitech in Czech Republic has been sent.  Currently it is in Prague.  This motoing diva needs to have a ride fix.  I have been riding wee Vixen and feeling the love again, but it is definitely not the same as it was a year ago.  But then again I have to say it has been a treat parking her in the bike-lock up because there are no 6 point turn manoeuvres needing to be done to get the bike parked.  So keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer for luck for me that all is well after we get the unit.

Tracking Delivery Progress of CDI unit:

UPDATE THURSDAY, JUNE 14TH - IT IS IN RICHMOND!!!!!! 

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13th it is in Cincinnati - Getting closer!

Now @ 3:41pm:  It is in Leipzig Germany - woo hoo
1)  As of early this afternoon it was in Prague

Moto Funk

I am in a complete moto funk.  I have been without my beautiful bike Scarlet for a month.  We have narrowed the problem down, but are having trouble sourcing the part.  Vixen was insured yesterday and I have to say I am not in the least little bit excited about riding a 50cc scooter.  NOT AT ALL.  I remember how I felt last year about her, but things have changed so much since then.  Today when I rode her to work I felt uncomfortable, the scooter feels too small and there is not the stability of the bike or the acceleration.  In fact I actually feel vulnerable riding her.  It is funny how things change in a year. 

I think the Moto Universe is sending me a message.....

I am still dealing with a sick bike, Scarlet is still down with her bike ailment with no end in sight. I have been riding Motorcycle Man's 1983 V45 Magna 750, UNTIL tonight. I rode to a meeting I had, all was okay until I got home. I was going to put Monster away & tuck her in for the night and that is where things fell apart. I was going to put the bike in neutral & park. I pulled the clutch in all the way and was gently toeing up when there was a loud 'snap' sound and the shifter went floppy. NOT GOOD. Oh my goodness I just about had a heart attack on the spot & threw up, I hurt Monster. But the worst is yet to come.

So who rounds the corner but Motorcycle Man, all I can say is UGGGGHHHH!!! How do you tell a guy who has been good naturedly letting you go freewheeling on his bike that there is now a problem. I told him what happened and let's just say he is NOT a happy camper right now. I am officially dubbed the 'Bike killer'.(Let's just forget that the bike is 30 years old) He rolled Monster to the fixing spot under the deck and started taking it apart, the shifter linkage snapped off and needs to be welded or a new/old/used one found. I have already looked on eBay and located some. I am going to phone the motorcycle salvage place tomorrow & see if they have the linkage assembly/shifter/footpeg.

Tomorrow getting to & from work is complicated by the fact I have no transportation to get to/from work. I am going to have to cancel the insurance on Scarlet because I have no idea when or if she is going to be fixed. My scoot is not insured and that in itself is complicated because I can't insure it because Motorcycle Man is on the title & he has to do it. I am feeling exasperated, frustrated and completely overwhelmed by my 2 wheel transportation issues. I don't know if the moto universe is sending me a message that the riding thing needs to stop or it's just bad bike juju, I just dunno.

I wish the bike fairy would plop a bike on my doorstep......

VISC - Vancouver Island Safety Council Open House June 16,2012

Come join VISC instructors and alumni and learn everything you wanted to know about getting a motorcycle license!  Click here for the link to Vancouver Island Safety Council Open house June 16, 2012 10:00am to 4:00pm.  Everyone is welcome!