Red Bike Swap, Feeling Stuck in Oregon

 Last weekend I loaded up the Ducati and dragged it north for the 9k mile service. Its gonna be a doozy because of the other stuff I need them to do like replace a foot peg bracket and the damned brake pedal sensor, but that's Ducati life for you. While I was up there I picked up my VFR finally. We'd been unable to get a new OEM fuel pump because everywhere that says they have them is lying and its indefinitely backordered due to the pandemic. I'm guessing also that big H never considered the thought that maybe a sport touring bike might ever NEED a fuel pump replaced, but given the condition of my original fuel filter, I'd suspect a clogged filter lead to the downfall of the pump.

For that matter why don't they make the filter easier to replace on a bike that people might ride long distances on and have to occasionally fill up from sketchy-ass gas stations? But I digress. I brought my VFR home and waited for my new winter gear, then took it for a few rides. The power loss problem is gone and I think the other things I'm feeling is just getting used to the bike again after spending 8k miles and 3 months on the Ducati.

Riding until sunset isn't as neat when the sun sets before 5pm.

Unfortunately/fortunately I'm working a contract job so that stops me from taking my latest fantasy trip down to where its still warm. My idea was to trailer the bike down to near Bakersfield and then ride out into Death Valley and on East to Arizona. Or maybe just avoid the snowy mountains by riding down the coast. Either way its all fantasy until I am free again and actually take that first step out the door.

Check out this fuel filter:

Autumn '20

It's hard to want to write an update when I'm not doing much of anything. Since the time change and the change of the season it's been tough to want to do anything period. At the beginning of the month I started a one-month contract doing sysadmin work for a company in Texas. At the beginning of the month I also crash tested my Scorpion Yosemite gear. I've been riding a LOT this year and simply got overconfident. I tried to take a corner on cold tires at a warm-tires pace and low sided. 

My 4-season gear is burned through everywhere I slid, so its done. My body is fine though, so my gear did its job.

New gear is on its way, I waffled about what to get and decided on Alpinestar's sport touring/waterproof gear. I couldn't justify dropping $900 on Klim.

The Ducati is due for the 9000 mile service so it's going North to MotoCorsa.

At least I got a good wash/wax/picture in before I dropped her off.

The VFR is still waiting. I heard from my mechanic that the OEM fuel pump is indefinitely backordered. The choice is find a used one on eBay or use a third party rebuild kit so we're gonna try the rebuild kit.

As I sit in my living room/home office watching the clouds move my mind keeps wandering to the romantic idea of taking that long trip I keep talking about. Now that its cold and wet I can't go east or north, and the Sierra Nevada mountains of California are too high/too cold. That leaves the coastal ranges and the southern desert. One crazy idea I had was to trailer my bike down to warmer weather, store my car/trailer somewhere, and then ride out through Death Valley and further south-east. Of course all that is just fantasy as the Western States Governors are ordering new lockdown measures and its debatable whether they'll be lifted by the time I'm done with the contract I'm working in early December.

This time of year is tough for me anyways. With the new pandemic restrictions and really no end in sight for things getting back to normal I don't have anything to look forward to. Last winter I was looking forward to among other things racing, trackdays, trips to watch MotoAmerica, and even (gasp) non motorcycle related things. This winter I have no idea when I'll have stable employment again, no company is expanding their IT department during the lockdown. I don't have any trust that the government will open things back up again. I can't even go to the pub with friends and complain about it.