Tim’s Motorcycle Diaries – Mechanical Sympathy

training ignorance & fear out of your bikecraft

October 21, 2019 By Timothy King

I've been trying to find a comparison about the relative dangers of motorcycling that didn't devolve into anecdote and hyperbole, I couldn't find one on the internet (the home of anecdote and hyperbole). After reading all sorts of people who knew someone who died on a motorbike, or were hit by a car…

Todd Blubaugh’s Too Far Gone

October 20, 2019 By Tim

It took me almost a month to slowly work my way through this complex piece of media. I originally came across an excerpt from it in Bike Magazine and it was so moving that I immediately purchased it. I'm generally not a fan of coffee table books. I've always thought…

Thanksgiving Moments

October 20, 2019 By Tim

Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada is early (winter is coming), but this one was pretty rideable. The Honda is calling from a mechanical perspective, but that can wait until the Canadian motorcyclist's hibernation. In the meantime, I'm getting the rides in where I can find them... Some digital art... ... and…

Motorcycle Lift Table Instructions

October 19, 2019 By Tim

A friend and colleague retired but kindly left his DIY motorcycle stand with me when he moved to the West Coast. Here's the construction of it back in 2016: HERE are the plans he worked from in PDF format. Now that I've got the plans I can find a properly…

Mid-November Last Gasps

October 19, 2019 By Tim

The Tiger's still purring to the edge of winter! Mid November and I'm still commuting in to work! It was -2°C while riding past frost covered grass on the way in, but a comfortable 12°C and sunny on the way home. I should be able to two wheel it in…

Demo Daze

October 18, 2019 By Timothy King

Kawasaki Canada's Demo-Day, if there is one inyour neighborhood, I highly recommend headingout for a day of diverse riding experience.There aren't many opportunities to ride motorcycles when you first start out. If you're a new rider buying even a second hand bike generally happens without a test ride. Based on…

Mechanical Satisfaction

October 18, 2019 By Tim

The Concours carburetors weren't snapping back when I released the throttle. Everything worked, but they wouldn't close on their own as they should. I removed the carbs, reset the butterflies so they all closed properly and replaced a bent spring. With everything lubed up and working freely, I reinstalled the…

1997 CBR900RR Parts, Cables and Hose Routing

October 16, 2019 By Tim

Notes for next round of work on the Honda. Doing it for myself so I can follow what I'm doing on the laptop in the garage, but might help out other '90s Honda Fireblade CBR900 restorers too. Missing tank mounting hardware: BOLT, FLANGE (6X40) (missing bolts for front of gas…

It’s an Appliance

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 By Timothy King

It's an appliance, you know, like a fridge...I'm back at school this week and getting to know my new students. In our grade nine introduction to computers class they're putting together tech-resumes so I can see what their background in tech is. One of the nines has a prezi covered…

Turning Tedium Into Adventure

October 15, 2019 By Tim

It was actually warmer this month than it was last as I headed over to Erin for a monthly meeting. I thought I'd had my last ride then, but instead I'm still at it as November begins. The commute in to work starts before sunrise these days, it's often below…

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