Saturday, April 19, 2008

Electric Horseman


A good ole fashion serial tale. What helps make it seem dull is not only the oral verbosity I tried to capture on the page, but also the facts are not embellished. My Poetic license has expired, so trust me I am not fishin' for time in the "Gray Bar". True, sometimes the truth can ring dull if the man in charge of the belfry is tone deaf and cannot make the bell ring true. JW 4/20/08

With the gas price at a permanent high I finally realized the only reasonable thing to do was hunt for a motorcycle, honestly I realized I needed something I could identify which meant dirt friendly, that would save me big time on gas, its all about my “carbon footprint”. I was looking for something I could commute to work on and also do some dual sporting or even ride into Copper Canyon if the opportunity showed itself. I searched the papers, Craigs list and ebay for a month or two and finally I discovered that a friend of mine had a 2001 KTM 640 Adventure he was ready to release from his corral. I called him and he told me about the bike, I asked him “what color is it” and he changed the subject. The bike it turned out had just less than 4,000 miles on it, with new tires, chain and sprocket not to mention new oil and a tank full of gas. These facts sold me, so without hesitation, right or wrong, I bought his bike. I figured Fred was someone I knew which meant in the event the thing proved a lemon I could both slander and libel his good name whichever came first and then I could repeat until his reputation was destroyed which would help ease my lemon buying mind. I was satisfied with this plan. To be continued ...

16 Comments:

At 10:31 PM , Blogger Cléa said...

You had me at 'dirt friendly'...

 
At 3:59 AM , Blogger josh williams said...

clea: Ah! Dirt Friendly....The problem I have discovered riding a dual sport on the streets is that I have happened upon road closed signs on my commutes and, well its like a challenge,I have yet to find a rd. that was truly closed. This I understand is probably illegal but in my own defense I do not by-pass these signs if there are people working, no property damage, just a man alone taking a road less traveled.

 
At 8:05 AM , Blogger Zen Wizard said...

I was tempted to downgrade to two wheels back when I was having SEVERE (primarily car-related) financial problems.

Here's what stopped me:

1) Atlanta drivers are insane, and I don't want to be paralyzed due to someone else's mistake.

2) What do I do when it rains?

Also, it doesn't merit its own ordinal number, but I would have "helmet hair" all day.

 
At 8:24 AM , Blogger josh williams said...

zen: Ah! But at least you knew you would wear a helmet.Traffic is creepy, I must agree I avoid the main streets if I can because of the inherit danger and its just not fun,stopping and starting.

 
At 12:01 AM , Blogger Mone said...

Can't really see the color, seems like red. Nothing wrong with riding a red bike... personally I always prefered black ones. Same with my car, the first one was bronze with white doors, due to a lack of money, the second one was blue, due to a lack of money, but the one I have now is black, yuhu, due to the generosity of the bank ;)

 
At 5:25 PM , Blogger SleekPelt said...

All of this motorcycle business is getting me worked up. I'm off in the AM to watch a championship unfold in Seattle, as a matter of fact.

 
At 3:45 AM , Blogger josh williams said...

mone: Color, its mostly faded orange and black, I can see some of the red you speak of, but for the most part KTM uses orange, non color-fast. Black is a cool color for the car other than it looking like its needs washed only days after a good bathing.

sleek: Supercross I would wager. I was reading your fine magazine just yesterday on my back porch, listening to my neighbors laboring on their yards. I smiled to myself thinking I am sure glad I decided to revive the abandoned Abandoned Estate style of lawn care.The only fertilizer is left by the local wildlife.Have a great time in Seattle, I will be working and then maybe after work sit in front of my house watching the landscape go to seed.

 
At 3:35 PM , Blogger The Fool said...

There's only one color for a motorcycle, Josh (shaking foo-foo can and handing it your way)...black.

Still, way to go, dog...I let my bike go last fall and I'm jonesin'.

:)

 
At 3:43 PM , Blogger josh williams said...

Fool: My straight dirt bike is mostly black except for the gray parts...Bikes are hard to replace other than with other bikes.Although it is just a 640 I suspect it would strike fear into your standard street rider, it is just damn fun and will go off-road if asked with a firm hand(s).

 
At 2:56 PM , Blogger Toby said...

Please tell us the perfect recipe for lemonade.

 
At 4:42 PM , Blogger josh williams said...

toby: I thought you would never ask. A bunch of lemons and water some sugar and vodka.

 
At 5:00 AM , Blogger Mom! Toilets blogged! said...

When life serves you lemons, hang your self.
DC Madam

 
At 4:39 PM , Blogger josh williams said...

Toilet's: I will not stoop to commenting that I am already well hung, but I will also dismiss your advise, sound as it may be...

 
At 5:12 PM , Blogger Helen Mansfield said...

Awww! I see Joshie in the side mirror.

I have a 2005 Honda Metropolitan scooter that I haven't run for, two years now, and it won't turn over. I'm sure the gas has turned to varnish.

Any additives you'd suggestion to clean up the gas? I'd try to turn it over and pour the remaining gas out, but it is heavy ...

 
At 6:13 PM , Blogger josh williams said...

Helen: I took off the warning sign on the mirror that stated " Faces in this mirror may appear bloated."
I am the last, and let me repeat this the absolute last person you should consult for mechanical advice. Trust me, however it sounds like your carburetor needs a good cleaning.There are a number of tiny holes that the gas passes through to reach the piston(The blow up petrol device which provides propulsion somehow)is easy but also difficult to work on yourself, I re jetted mine and eventually my motor rebelled and left me in a corn field, it also took the children!
I promise you I am probably one of the least mechanically inclined people you have ever crossed paths with, but I do think you just have a gummed up carb...Which you already knew.
My advice is to take it to a reputable shop and tell them that you think the carb needs cleaned and they might think you will know what you are talking about and maybe not fleece you as much as they normally would a standard customer. Please do not take my advice. JW

 
At 6:44 PM , Blogger Mom! Toilets blogged! said...

Thats odd, I have a small hole that gas goes through too!?

Helen, you will need a new battery, did you know battery prices just went up due to many reasons, but expect to pay 50% more for this battery than the last one.

Your carb will need cleaned, this should not be too expensive, the tech will remove it, take it apart, spray some stuff on it and you should be good to go. This should be less expensive than the battery.

Now get out and ride that bad motor scooter!

Mom

 

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