I'm Back! Good or Bad, I'm Back!

[Gixxerdale]

OK, so that may not be a good thing!

Life got busy and I got caught up in it all. Then Trapper hunted me down. Yes it's Kevin's fault I'm back! Sure has grown around here since last summer or fall, when I was last here. Still a lot of familiar names around though.

But hey, I'm still riding the Gixxer everyday. Speaking of riding, I winterized again! Yep, gotta wear a sweatshirt to ride to work in the morning! Honestly, I've been seeing 30 degrees the past few weeks here riding to work. But it hits 70 during the day!

So I've done a lot riding lately. IntruderCruiser knows what I've been up to. Lots of nice rides. Gotta do it while I can, as long as I can.

It's good to be back. Looking forward to catching up around here!

Dale

[SilverInliner]

Welcome Back!

[Atlas68]

back Gixxerdale...looks like you've been around here once or twice...probably been missed by a lot of the veterans ...

[inspiron]

Hey Dale, I was wondering what happened to you. Welcome Back!

And for the record ... 30° is our afternoon high. I've been seeing bikes on the road at 17°F (mostly BMW's, since the boxer engine keeps the feet warm). Now THAT is winterized!

[Louis]

Welcome Back Dale. Actually, I'm the one who brought up the question and Kevin tracked you down.

Glad to have you back here!

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by Louis

Welcome Back Dale. Actually, I'm the one who brought up the question and Kevin tracked you down.

Glad to have you back here!

Hey Louis!
Guess I'm pretty easy to find these days! Still no lower fairings Louis?
The Gixxer is still going strong but does look a little different. I've done a huge amount of riding the past few months. Working on "The Ride" for next year already. Pruhdoe Bay on a Gixxer!

Hi Jim,
When are you going to move where it's warm again? Of course rolling through your old home in Westlake, its been pretty cold! Well for SoCal its been cold. How's the big 1400 doing? Any more mods?

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Hi Jim,
When are you going to move where it's warm again? Of course rolling through your old home in Westlake, its been pretty cold! Well for SoCal its been cold. How's the big 1400 doing? Any more mods?

The 1400 is sitting in my garage looking like a patient on an OP table. The tank is on the ground about 5 feet behind the bike, the seat is off, the side covers are off, and the whole thing looks like it will never run again.

The mount for my Garmin Quest has been put on the handlebars, and I'm looking for an appropriate set of wires to power it. I will probably tap into the running light (a small lamp just below the headlight), which is on when the bike is running or when I put the key in the PARK position.

The bigger challenge will be the alarm system. I want to add an immobilizer to the bike, so that even if someone tries to tap the key and hotwire the bike, it still won't start, and will make a hell of a noise. I need to cut into the line between the kill switch and the main fuse, but the Suzuki engineers wrapped up the wiring so nicely that it's hard to find the one I need. I also need to tap into the emergency flasher and horn wiring ...

The good news is that I found a repair manual for the GSX 1400. I have a copy of the official Suzuki repair guide (someone scanned in the whole thing - a 25 MB download!), but now I have a real book from another publisher with more "user friendly" information.

How about you ... are you still planning to come to this part of the world this year? The Alpine passes should be open from mid-June through October... You know, you aren't really a biker until you've done the Furka, Grimsel, Gotthard and Large San Bernard passes.


Furka pass (in summer!)

[Louis]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Hey Louis!
Guess I'm pretty easy to find these days! Still no lower fairings Louis?

Hey, I am bound by the will of our members...

[stp1971]

MAN!!!!! That is one serious cool looking route!!!!! How warm does it get there and how much would it cost to rent a bike over there????? MIght be something to look into for a vacation!!!!!

Welcome back dude!!!!!!!! Glad to see ya back on here!!!!

[Clint]

Hey, Dale. I voted against calling you back in the moderator forum, but they did it anyway. Welcome back.

I guess.

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[viper94bite]

Welcome back. Now when did you leave? jk bro.

[Scourge]

Well this answers my question in the other thread you turned up in.

[Gixxerdale]

Hey Jim,

As far as your GPS. I'd find a constant hot to use. The draw is very small shouldn't kill the battery when sitting. Just remember to turn it off when done.

The reason I suggest this is it will allow the unit to continue logging info for average times, travel time, maintain your settings, etc, while you stop to eat or get fuel. Even continue on while you take a nights rest on the longer rides.

Dale

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Hey Jim,

As far as your GPS. I'd find a constant hot to use. The draw is very small shouldn't kill the battery when sitting. Just remember to turn it off when done.

The reason I suggest this is it will allow the unit to continue logging info for average times, travel time, maintain your settings, etc, while you stop to eat or get fuel. Even continue on while you take a nights rest on the longer rides.

Dale

No need, really. The Quest has a built-in battery, and can run for about 8 to 10 hours without external power. I don't want the mount having power when the bike is off ... if I park it outside and it rains, there is a risk that it could short out or kill the battery. I would prefer to have it with power only when I'm on the bike.

[stp1971]

I would be more worried about someone deciding they like it better than you and not asking to borrow it. I guy I know had his GPS ripped off of his bike while he was inside paying for the gas. Some people.

Would like to see a front camera shot of you riding those moutains. Now that would be some serious canyon carving!!!!

[stevie c]

Hiya mate!

...and don't forget, yellow fast, red slooowwwww!

[wookie]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

OK, so that may not be a good thing!

Life got busy and I got caught up in it all. Then Trapper hunted me down. Yes it's Kevin's fault I'm back! Sure has grown around here since last summer or fall, when I was last here. Still a lot of familiar names around though.

But hey, I'm still riding the Gixxer everyday. Speaking of riding, I winterized again! Yep, gotta wear a sweatshirt to ride to work in the morning! Honestly, I've been seeing 30 degrees the past few weeks here riding to work. But it hits 70 during the day!

So I've done a lot riding lately. IntruderCruiser knows what I've been up to. Lots of nice rides. Gotta do it while I can, as long as I can.

It's good to be back. Looking forward to catching up around here!

Dale

Good to have you back. I was just wondering where you've been, since we haven't heard from you for a while.

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by wookie

Good to have you back. I was just wondering where you've been, since we haven't heard from you for a while.

Yep I'm back and I see you upgraded to an SV since I was away. How do you like it? How about going for a ride oneday?

[St0nkingByte]

Welcome back Gixxerdale!

[wookie]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Yep I'm back and I see you upgraded to an SV since I was away. How do you like it? How about going for a ride oneday?

Yes, just recent got the SV about three weeks ago Love it so far. Plenty of power, speed, and maneuverability (at least now I have the option to accelerate away from a merging traffic rather than having to brake and get stuck behind). Definitely a different posture of riding though.

I finally decided to change the bike after putting on 10,000+ miles in 8 months, because I got sick of constantly dodging the slow traffic coming up behind me (yes, ironic isn't it ?). I had considered several options, including bigger cruisers, various sport bikes (including gixxer, Katana, etc.). In the end, fuel economy, weight, and rookie-rideability won out.

Definitely interested in going for a ride together. Just let me know when and where. I have been doing some riding in the San Gabriel Canyon and Angeles Crest Hwy with a friend who rides an SV1000S.

Again, welcome back