Mickey’s Tour

Author Mike Moses, a.k.a. Mickey

Mickey’s Tour BLOG is 5 years old this month!
See ma, I can act my age.
Thanks to you the reader.

Mickey

Happy New Year to all the followers of Mickeys Tour.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be updating the site and getting ready for 2012. There arer a few trips planned, and lots of riding to come. One of the trips this year is to hopefully make it to the West Coast. Delta and I might need a few weeks to accomplish this, but it’s gonna be a blast.
Daughter Children (actually young women now…I’m starting to feel older) want to go on another trip so that will have to be done.
So much to do, so little time…But hey, there’s always next year.
Be safe and be happy.

Mickey

You may have heard me mention safety gear a few times before, but this time my wife and I are living and walking proof that it does work and is necessary anytime you get on a motorcycle.  The analogy is to fastening your seat belt in a car, you wouldn’t move with out it right?
On the weekend we attended the Thunder in the Highlands Bike Rally in Cape Breton. We arrived on Thursday and had a great ride to get there and enjoyed the weather. Even Though the sun was shining, some sprinkles did appear and our gear is waterproof so this is what we wear always.
So…as the story continues…on Saturday, at about noon we headed off to Gillis Lake to visit family. Riding in traffic down Kings road we planned on taking Celtic Drive to CoxHeath. As we turned on to Celtic Drive, the rear end of Mickey’s Tour lost traction and fishtailed violently. I had just started to move from a stop, when I recovered from this “slip” and was straight, momentum caused the front and rear tires to loose all traction on the oil that was all over the road.  Not a bare spot to be seen for about a kilometre. The bike wend down and slid into the curb in a fraction of a second.  This happened so fast we didn’e even have time to brace for the impact as our helmets bounced off of the pavement. Luckily for us we were only doing about 5 kph and the curb stopped the bike from sliding any further.  As soon as it happened, it seems, there were other bikers helping to get the bike upright and checking to see if we were ok.  Except for bumps and bruises, and the little yellow birds flying around our helmets, we were fine.
After what seemed like hours, but in actuality a few minutes, Fire and Police showed up.  I was ready to give them my statement, etc, but they were not at the intersection because of us, they were there because of the oil.  Our accident surprised them, and they went to work to contain the oil and re route traffic.
Bottom line is that this was unavoidable, and Always, Always wear all of your safety gear. We are walking proof that it does save your life, and at the very least bones and grey matter.

Cheers

Mickey

It had to happen, sooner rather than later. Mickeys Tour III was brought home last night to a warm garage, and TLC.

A 2001 Black GL 1800A with ABS, this is a rocket. Here are a couple of Pictures, more details to come.

Where has the time gone?  I’ve been so busy at work, I didn’t have time to update blog, or get out on any lengthy rides for Jan and Feb.  Oh well, I’m riding now.  The tour is at 110% and working like a top.  May is fast approaching and in Nova Scotia it is Motorcycle Awarness Month.  NS MLA Bill Estabrooks will read the decleration Monday May 9th at 9:30 am at the Fall River Sobeys Parking Lot.  Saftey Services Nova Scotia will be there and as always will have demo’s and information.
If your a rider, you might want to consider some refresher, or advanced training. This will save your LIFE! I know, I couldn’t tell you how many times an inatentive driver, pot hole, animal, or another motorcyclist has made me shake my head in disbelief.  I work for EHS and I’m told daily of Motorcycle Accidents.  Sure we have to put some blame on the drivers of cars, but we also have to put the onius of responsibility on our selves.  You have to ride your motorcycle like your invisible to everyone and everything.  LOUD PIPES do not drown out the radio, cellphone, text messages, books, and general inattention that some motorists have.  Hell putting on your turn signal after you have made the lane change does not make it OK. When that happens, I’d love to go grab that person and let them smell my seat ’cause I just made a mess in it as I came on my brakes hard.
There is a train of thought amoung us Motorcycle Trainers that we pass along to all our students.  If you have to avoid, swerve, push harder, or have a close call more than once a season. STOP and re-evaluate the way you ride. Take an refresher course, it is well worth the money, and even move on to the advanced training.  Motorcycle Policemen ride 8+ hours a day, and train all the time.
2011 is going to be a great year for riding, I hope you have the chance to get out on the roa

2010 will go down as one of the best riding seasons in decades. Even though Delta and I ride all year round, using the bike to go to and from work is a pleasure reserved for warmer temperatures and clear roads.  This year it started in late March and lasted until December 16th.  If I was concerned about the next riding day, it is with great comfort that it is only about 3 months away when we can start to take part in 2011 rides and getting the prescribed 2 hour MT every day.

I’m looking forward to the annual winter rides, Christmas Day, New Years, the “Dead of Winter” ride in Feburary. Over the course of the winter I this Blog will also get updated and revamped. 

From My family to yours Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Mickey

With a tropical wave of moisture running up the Easter Seaboard, temperatures and humidity have been very unseasonable. Great news for the bikers. Delta and I took a run out to Peggys Cove the last day of September, 20 degrees C (70 F) and the fog was pea soup thick. It was a great feeling to ride in the fog with the only sound being the wind. The fog acts like sound proof insulation and puts the rider in a whole new world.
All good things must come to pass with temperatures and humidity breaking this afternoon, finally. It is time to get the Tour ready for winter driving. Checked the heating vests, grips and other elements that extend our season all year round. A lot of folks ask how we ride in the snow, and to be frank we don’t. What we wait for is a cold clear day when the roads are free of ice and snow and then head out for coffee. Winter riding involves a different mind set, you can’t lean into the corners as hard, braking is slower and you never crack the throttle. You also have to dress in layers and make frequent stops to adjust as you get warmer of colder. Gloves are paramount since the first thing to get cold is your hands. Heated Grips are a blessing in this relation.
I figure that there is another month and a bit of good riding, then comes the winter mind set. The good news is that April is not that far away.
Ride safe.

Mickey

After 4 weekends, some trial and errors, and a few choice words Mickey’s Tour is now completed. I must say for my 1st major painting project, she came out better than expected.  I also learned how to wet sand and polish to bring out the shine and correct some spraying errors.  Here is the picture of the finished project. (Except for the guards around the exhaust..another weekend, but I want to ride.)

Mickey
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Well they say to perfect a craft you have to practice, and practice.  With my clutch repair, I’ve had lots of practice and last night, the tour was back to factory condition.  As I wrote on June 6th, I had to replace the clutch. There are 10 friction plates, 9 steel plates, one of them thicker than the rest, and from my understanding it takes the pressure applied by the clutch lever and adjusts for torque.  It was also the only part that was not replaced, until last night.  I know I should have done that from the get go, but being thrifty, $20.00 saved is another 200 miles on the bike.  Well that being said, I replaced this part and finished putting the clutch together last night.  Went out for a ride and I’m still smiling. The clutch was responsive, and gear shifting quiet and tight.  #1 lesson learned when dealing with friction plates and clutch plates, REPLACE all of them with OEM.  The tour is now riding like a dream and 70% painted.

Be Safe and enjoy your rides, more to come.

Mickey

In the past year a few friends of mine have been embarking on motorcycle journeys.  These once in a lifetime adventures are turning out to become hobbies for some.  While going on an adventure is great, sharing and chronicling your adventure is even better.  I have set a few people up with BLOG’s and you can check out their adventures at these sited.  Delta and K  and Nancy Chasion, with Snowman ready for next year.

Motorcycle blogging is easy, fun and gives you an online journal of your adventure. Get out there and enjoy.

Mickey.