Gas: 3.432 gal/90 octane E0 @ $3.359/gal; total $11.53 @ Royal Farms. Couldn’t gauge MPG because I lost the previous receipt.
End @ 64,829 (104 miles) – NEW WORLD RECORD!
Longest day on the bike so far. Went to Morton’s BMW in Fredericksburg , about 50 miles each way. Took US 1 to get there, came home via VA 2 and US 301. Mostly 4th & 5th gears once away from stoplights, speed limits at 55 so ran the bike pretty hard most of the time. Lots of vibration, but not miserable.
Tried securing the tool roll in the right pannier with an adhesive strip of velcro; the adhesive held, but the tool roll’s velcro strap didn’t stay stuck to it on the way north, but did on the way south. The straps I got to try to secure a quart of oil were WAY WAY too long. Returning them, getting a cut-to-length kit to do the trick.
Temps were in the mid to upper 40s on the way up, in the low 50s for the ride home. I chose my gloves poorly; hands cold both ways. Also didn’t layer particularly well; cold torso both ways but not as bad on the way home. There’s no heated grips on the R 90/6 and no small fairing or windshield! I’m not sure why I have to keep learning this lesson. Stubborn, I guess.
Went to Morton’s to discuss three things with Charles Buchanan, he’s an MOA member and now the GM there. First idea was a 50th birthday party for the R 90/6, which was built 10/75 (confirmed that with BMW Classic). Chuck was a big fan of that idea, wants to turn it into a “vintage day” event at the shop for everybody to attend. It’ll be fun!
Second idea was using their shop space to do videos. He connected me with his counterpart in the shop, James, who was immediately amenable, but I can’t take my lift, as they just bought three new ones. I’ll have to trade video work for the space to seal the deal. No idea how it will go, but it could work. I can take my tools there, but I’ll likely have to find a place in the shed at home for my parts (need to get those into bins, too, and organize them better. Glad I got rid of all my early 2000s R 1200 GS parts!)
Since George sold the shop to the first swinging dick that walked through the door—which is awesome, don’t get me wrong—he has to be out by the end of June if everything goes right with the sale. Way less time than I thought I’d have. Dale is going to try to pick up some of George’s Airhead business. Discussed buying one of George’s hydraulic lifts or trading mine plus cash. He’s thinking about it, I guess.
Got stopped by a rando in the parking lot while trying to leave Morton’s. He liked my bike—I’m getting used to that—but wanted to tell me his life story of motorcycles. It took about 10 minutes and all I wanted to do was leave. I had ear plugs in and my helmet on (but flipped up, I’m not a monster) so I was clearly in GO MODE. Trying to learn to be patient, but it’s not my strong suit. I hope the dude didn’t notice how antsy I was. To my credit, I didn’t try to rush him.
Hit construction on 301 well south of Bowling Green, when the highway goes back to two lanes total. Long stretch of road repairs, had to wait for a lead/follow vehicle. The slow/stop dude wanted to chat about the bike too. We sat there about 10 or 15 minutes with the bike off, waiting for the lead/follow truck. It didn’t suck.
I’m almost to 500 miles on the bike since starting to ride it. I got an oil filter kit and the bevy of crush rings necessary to do a full oil change service—engine, transmission, final drive & swing arm. Trying to get close to 65,000 so it’s a round number, then doing it again every 2,500 miles after that. Not sure I want to stretch the interval to 5,000 miles like I do with my 21st-century bikes. Some Airhead riders say they use the oil filters for two oil changes, but I’m not going to do that. Oil filters are not expensive. I’ll use the Valvoline VR1 “racing” oil George recommended in 20W50. Maybe 10W40 since it’s still cold, but I’m not riding when it’s 20 degrees so I guess that oil is OK.
One Year Later Update: Dale did indeed pick up some of George’s Airhead work—you can find his business online at motorcycleservicesllc.com. Give him a buzz if you’re in central Virginia.