All around the Pacific northwest!

[Whiskerfish]

Proper machine shop should set you straight in no time!

[mr west]

There the bike got in the hands of a very nice man with 38 years experience of extracting screws.... so after some time he had sorted most of it for a cost of 125 dollars. Totally worth it at this point.

So I went on to install the Dyna S, clean out the fuel pump, and stiffen up the front forks. New oil in the forks, 2 cm spacers for pretension, and the bike started to feel like something you can ride around a corner..

[mr west]

Some screws still loose, everything not perfect, but 16:28 on thursday 4:th I deemed the bike fit for carrying us to Canada and back.

Still so much better than last year! We got luxuries like:
New grips..
Crisp non binding throttle
Rust free fuel
Both fuel pick ups working
Upgraded suspension
New timing belts
Working fuel gauge
Fresh tires
And last but not least, thanks to Amanda, a portable coffee grinder, presso, in the fairing pocket, to make sure I never again need to be dissapointed by that strange beverage they are selling under the name "regular coffee"...

So around 7 pm, we head out east, bound for grand canyon!

First night we make it to a motel in Barstow.

[mr west]

[quote="mr [/quote]

[Track T 2411]

On the road again!

[Rat]

What prevents the beer from spilling when you hit a bump ??

Gord

[fish]

every picture tells a story

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[gltriker]

don't it!

[Rednaxs60]

If you are so inclined to visit Vancouver Island, I'm in Victoria be glad to assist if I can. Send a PM if you are coming over.

Ride safe and have a great time.

Cheers

[mr west]

Thanks for the invitation! Would be great to make it all the way to Vancouver island, but I doubt we will go that far. Will keep in mind though!

Barstow

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While getting ready to leave barstow in the morning I notice some drop of coolant under the bike... not good. I hope its not beacuse of the broken stud. I can only make sure everythings tight and we head off.

One eye on the temp gauge and one on the road we head into the desert. Its really hot. Above 40 c, or 100 F. Would have been good to start earlier, but now were here right in the early afternoon. The strong dry desert wind gives you two options: open the helmet and your nose and lips dry up completely in two seconds, or close it and sweat like crazy...

Its a bit challenging mentally too as this interstate is just going straight, making it hard to keep concentration up... this goes on until we finally decide to stop for lunch and just sit the worst heat out. A beer from heaven, large amounts of water, and in the diner its all-you-can-eat fish friday!!

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A little while after this the landscape becomes more hilly, we get on a winding road that is actually part of route 66, and it feels the roadtrip is actually starting now!

Soon we roll into a the small town of Oatman, where everything is route 66 stuff, cowboy hats and donkeys... feels like being in a theme park. We just take a few pictures and carry on..

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More winding roads, and evetually we make to Kingman, where we check into the Lido motel. Its a hell hole. Smelly, dirty, and bugs in the bathroom. Maybe my body starts to relax after all the stress in sweden, the flight, the jetlag, the intense work on the bike... so i crash real good and let whatever animals are crawling around in the carpet do their thing..

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[katawest]

Good to hear you are on your way! Drive carefully and enjoy that exciting and wonderful country!
Take care both of you,
Morsan/Mum

[Rednaxs60]

You came over from Sweden, did some work on your bike and headed off for a trip around the US. My friends here are amazed that I would want to take my '85 LTD on a 3000 Km trip around BC even though I have the benefit of starting from home after doing the maintenance/work on it and riding it.

Good on you and your pics are great!

Cheers

[mr west]

Thanks! The good pictures are from Amanda and the bad ones from me...

[mr west]

May 6:th.

Woke up around 6 am after the early night, and still full from the all-you-can-eat fish the day before, we got on the road around 6:30..

So from Kingsman we made our way to Seligman where we pulled over for gas and breakfast. Turns out the annual Fun Run is taking place these days so the small town was full of people and lots of muscle cars, beetles, or any imaginable enthustiast vehicle.
I was most impressed by the Ultravans. Strange round creations in aluminum without chassis, powered by a corvair engine. Conceived by an aircraft mechanic and made late 60's. Looks something like an inflated VW camper!

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After that it was a nice ride to the Grand Canyon. Wheather is much nicer around here than the desert earlier. Then trying to navigate into suitable parking lot, getting contradictory instructions in my right ear from Amanda, and at same time changing lanes and making sure there are no cars in the crossing, I ran the stop sign! Right in front of the Park Ranger too!

Stupid as I am, I was more excited than intimidated by finally getting pulled over by an actual ranger! Its just like TV! First time ever stopped on a bike! Luckily we had no drugs or weapons and all papers were in order, so he was kind enough not give me a ticket. He just told me to drive defensively and behave in traffic. After that I asked if we might have a picture together, he refused, but Amanda saw that he was blushing.

The Canyon was nice... rocks dating back billions of years gives perspective.

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When we felt finished with hanging around the canyon we drove around it, coming up on the east side. There was a lot of driving this day. That means a lot of thinking. On a bike your always alone with you thoughts in your helmet. I feel there is two modes of thinking while driving, one when youre going fast, just reacting and concentrating on the task. Just like when doing sports, it can be very stilling of the mind. Then on the other hand while gently steering a touring bike through a beautiful landscape, you can get into a more contemplative mood. But my thoughts are sometimes going in circles that makes me crazy, so it was quite tough. We did 380 miles before checking into "Canyon Motel"..

As we finished dinner nearby I figured I drive to the gas station to pick up some beers... bike dead. So I walked over there and walked in. "Where you from?" I explained to the gentleman behind the desk im visiting from Sweden.... "oh yeah? Do you know hoos carne?" I didnt get exactly what he was getting at so I was somewhat surprised when he pulled his gun on me!

But yes, surely it was manufactured at Huskvarna Vapenfabrik in sweden. "1952. When they knew how to make things. Not like the shit thats pouring in from China nowadays"

Back to the bike, wise from last year, I quickly changed the main fuse, and we're good. But now its been twice it has blown in two trips. Always during long rides.. whats up with that?

[Sagebrush]

IIRC you have the upgrade to the modern spade type fuse, also IIRC you were not the one to install it. Could be the previous owner used a fuse holder rated for less than 30 amps. I would visit any auto parts store and purchase on rated for 30A and change out your old one. Could also be corrosion in his connectors leading to excessive current draw and heat. Since you're on the road the easiest thing would be to change it and see what transpires. Keep a few spare fuses handy.