She's alive!

[agoodhi]

Hey CCs,

I finally put the Aprilia back together again and was ready for a test ride (leaky fuel tank since Nov '09 then snapped achilles injury, prevented me from riding).  Got my fuel can and put some fresh gas in the empty tank.  Primed up the fuel a few times then hit the start button.  After some chugging she finally fired right up.  Oohhhh I missed that v-twin sound.  As I warmed her up, I went to get my helmet, boots, and gloves.   I proceeded to mount the bike and was ready for the long awaited ride.  Clutch in, put it in first and the engine dies immediately, almost like the revs were too low when put in gear.  I tried revving in up a bit then putting it in first, but it still continued to die.  I must have tried at least 10x to get her started and she always died once I put her into first.  Now, I'm pissed that I have to do more wrenching.  As I prepared to dismount, I realized the kick stand was down. DOH!!!  Fired her up again, PUT THE STAND UP, 1st gear, and she's still running.  Wooo-hoooo!!!.  That just shows how long it has been since I have ridden my street bike!!!

You should have seen the look on my face when I found the stand down  


--Ryan

[880JEDI]

I think we have all done that once. (Just never ten times)  Glad your back on the road again Ryan.

[agoodhi]

I think we have all done that once. (Just never ten times)  Glad your back on the road again Ryan.

Gonna try and do some street riding on Sunday.

[sonnyt650]

Just be thankful it wasn't in public and it was a kickstand down problem.   

Those little kill switches and safety doohickeys trip people up in cars too:  around a month ago a mom and her kid were in a McDonalds parking lot trying to get a key out of their car's ignition after driving all day.  Ich, Tim, and I were headed back to Ich's truck when we were pulled into helping out.  From their description of many hours on the road we assumed the worst including potentially broken bits and fused parts.  Eventually we guessed the automatic transmission might not be set in Park, so Ich fiddled with it and got her key out, and everybody was just happy to get out of the heat.

[agoodhi]

Just be thankful it wasn't in public and it was a kickstand down problem.   

It was in public, in the street in front of my house, but no one was around   Forgot I also have a brand new helmet still in the box that I purchased a while back.  I'm trying to install my helmet speakers, but it's hard when trying to watch World Cup Futbol.

--Ry

[Steelman]

Glad to hear you're back on the road, Ryan!
The Nomad will go into gear with the stand down, but kills the motor when you let the clutch out, which makes it easier to fall over if you're launching from a hillside parking spot. 

[Steelman]

Eventually we guessed the automatic transmission might not be set in Park, so Ich fiddled with it and got her key out, and everybody was just happy to get out of the heat.

Speaking of heat and stuck keys...
The CRV was overheating (replaced thermostat myself...not it!), so I was on my way to the repair shop when I came to a red light. No problem; I'll just put it in neutral and turn off the motor while I wait, like I'd done a couple of other times. Light turns green, battery dies (!), won't go into park, can't remove key, AAA card and cell phone at home. Brilliant.

Luckily, a couple of repo-men happened by and showed me the column mounted access panel where the transmission release button was hiding (not the convenient key slot you see on floor shifters). A jump start got me to the shop, where they kindly relieved me of many hundreds of dollars for a new radiator. Meh...the OEM unit lasted 11 years and nearly 194,000 miles.