steveb leatherworks: the blather

I have always liked to work on my machines, no matter what the nature of their function might be. I am no fabricator, nor a builder – I am clearly a “maintainer” – and as our America’s last great hero, Harry said in a most memorable moment.. “a man has to know his limitations” and I, for one…am ok with that –  as I have learned the folly of contradicting that insight over the years.

Painful AND expensive, it can be…ah, yes.

My motorcycles are favorite victims of mechanical chicanery, for a variety of reasons – primary one for me being, I get the feeling i have earned the thrill of being under “my own” power as I am rolling down the road. I know I am not under steam generated by my own efforts, but I get that feelin’, if you know what i mean.

Definetly appeals to the testosterone side of things when you can state in all truthfulness, “so I tore the top end off, re-ringed, quick hone and here I am 1000mi. later in the middle of squirrel country, far from home, confident the job is done right”.  That, in my book is cool, the hallmark of a rider, and of someone i could find common ground with, no matter what the circumstance, and talk to for a while…  shared points of pride, when you can hold your own.

6800mi into owning the Shiny Penny, I need a clutch adjustment, in a pretty major way. The original adjustment was too “out” to begin with and now that all the wingnoodlers are bedded in, it needs some attention. I have known this for some time, but just cant seem to find the time or desire to deal with it.. except of course when i am trying to work my way through the urban blah and i feel i “got no clutch mon”…THEN I wished I had been more motivated. I used to love this stuff, dig right in and get it all sussed quickly..these days, i want to ride, not to finagle -I have so little time. In response stuff sits and I put it off, one glaring case in point is my FXR, which has sat under a sheet all season, on the lift…waiting for some attention… ugh

Because of some weak link in my DNA string, I just cant seem to bring myself to drop the bike at the dealer for a simple clutch adjustment – it is such as easy task, although the warranty spies will send me to hell for cracking a bolt free – so I thought – now is a good time to rip the seal off the brand new manual and parts book I had delivered when i got the bike. Hmm, lots of electronical stuff here..scary …eeek…ahh, get to the specific part for clutch adjustment and refreshingly, the drill is same as familar models. Thankfully not has changed much in this regard, still a pretty simple and clear process.

OK – now I just need to find a few minutes…soon..