Tuesday, November 07, 2006
When the spark is gone...
Very sad story. Alexia is currently out of commission.
Here is the sad, sad tale:
So I went with T to look at RV's Sunday night, just a short jaunt up the 5 freeway. We looked around for 45 min or so and then decided to ride over to dinner. I get on the bike, turn it on, flip the engine kill to on and then push the Start, nothin. I kept flipping the engine kill switch on and off and then tried to start again, and nothin! My headlight dimmed when I hit the Start, so I finally decided it wasn't the starter going out on me. I also tried to start in N and in 1st, nothing. Also tried to run start it, first by myself and then with T pushing along. Big ol' nothin! I figured its probably the engine kill switch causing all the problems as the bike is acting like it is flipped to off.
Anyway, long wait story made short, I had to call AAA to get it towed home. The RV place was closing up, so at about 5:30 I decided to push my bike to the front so they could lock the gates if they needed to. Around 6:00 the Tow Truck showed up. They were nice and cleaned off their flat bed so my motorcycle wouldn't slide around on the oil spill on it. They mentioned that they aren't even supposed to tow motorcycles, but that AAA's contract with the company makes them.
So AAA offers motorcycle/RV coverage for an extra $25 a year. But I am finding out that motorcycle seems to have been tacked on as an after thought. When I had my Vulcan and needed a jump start on that, I was told that while that was covered under my AAA card, they wouldn't jump certain types of bikes. I also needed to have my Vulcan towed once, and was informed that they would send out a request for a tow truck, but that there was no guarantee the one that showed up could haul a motorcycle. AAA needs to get their act together and refigure out their Motorcycle add-on.
So I have been trying to figure out how to get Alexia to Mach 1's, but may have to have it towed to Mission Motorsport. I also think there might be a custom chopper shop around the corner from me. It might as well be as far away as Mission or Mach's as I have no way of towing or hauling my bike to either spot.
So, any suggestions? Comments? Ways to rewire my bike to bypass the engine kill? ¶ 5:32 PM
Here is the sad, sad tale:
So I went with T to look at RV's Sunday night, just a short jaunt up the 5 freeway. We looked around for 45 min or so and then decided to ride over to dinner. I get on the bike, turn it on, flip the engine kill to on and then push the Start, nothin. I kept flipping the engine kill switch on and off and then tried to start again, and nothin! My headlight dimmed when I hit the Start, so I finally decided it wasn't the starter going out on me. I also tried to start in N and in 1st, nothing. Also tried to run start it, first by myself and then with T pushing along. Big ol' nothin! I figured its probably the engine kill switch causing all the problems as the bike is acting like it is flipped to off.
Anyway, long wait story made short, I had to call AAA to get it towed home. The RV place was closing up, so at about 5:30 I decided to push my bike to the front so they could lock the gates if they needed to. Around 6:00 the Tow Truck showed up. They were nice and cleaned off their flat bed so my motorcycle wouldn't slide around on the oil spill on it. They mentioned that they aren't even supposed to tow motorcycles, but that AAA's contract with the company makes them.
So AAA offers motorcycle/RV coverage for an extra $25 a year. But I am finding out that motorcycle seems to have been tacked on as an after thought. When I had my Vulcan and needed a jump start on that, I was told that while that was covered under my AAA card, they wouldn't jump certain types of bikes. I also needed to have my Vulcan towed once, and was informed that they would send out a request for a tow truck, but that there was no guarantee the one that showed up could haul a motorcycle. AAA needs to get their act together and refigure out their Motorcycle add-on.
So I have been trying to figure out how to get Alexia to Mach 1's, but may have to have it towed to Mission Motorsport. I also think there might be a custom chopper shop around the corner from me. It might as well be as far away as Mission or Mach's as I have no way of towing or hauling my bike to either spot.
So, any suggestions? Comments? Ways to rewire my bike to bypass the engine kill? ¶ 5:32 PM
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on AAA: I used to drive a tow truck (the one with the wheel lift and boom sticking out the back) and had to tow a few bikes. Every single time I said to myself "I'm glad this isn't my bike" but I still handled it as if it was. It was painful to stress parts of the bike that weren't meant to take it - like the subframe under the seat. When you call AAA, you can specifically request a flatbed - you may have to wait a little longer but its worth it.
On jumping the battery - I have a red wire attached to the positive on the battery that I keep tucked inside the fairing; I use it for jumping and for the battery tender. I also have two thick four foot wires (a black and a red) under the seat that I have used for jumper cables off a car. Don't know if its good for the bike, but in a pinch it has worked.
Good luck! cMac
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On jumping the battery - I have a red wire attached to the positive on the battery that I keep tucked inside the fairing; I use it for jumping and for the battery tender. I also have two thick four foot wires (a black and a red) under the seat that I have used for jumper cables off a car. Don't know if its good for the bike, but in a pinch it has worked.
Good luck! cMac
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