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Message started by Phelonius on 09/02/10 at 22:51:31

Title: Adventures in Paradise
Post by Phelonius on 09/02/10 at 22:51:31

Tom gave me the keys to the old Guzzi with the sidecar today. Mixed blessing.
The bike however is a project. I took off down the road and the steering did not inspire confidence, it had a threatening way to it.
I went to a Taco Del Mar to fuel me up, the bike was full of gas. Then I headed up the mountain to go to Waimea to see a couple of home rentals I had found in the paper. Waimea is at about 3,000 feet altitude and a little cooler than down at the beach.
The road was beautiful leaving Kailua and began to run through some lava strewn hillside that looked an awful lot like some eastern Oregon and Washington Lava scab rock desert places, no sagebrush or junipers though. A lot of open shallow hillside that gradually gained from 2,000 to 3,000 feet up. I went past the Parker Ranch and about 4 miles before Waimea I began to slow down and the steering went into a full fledged tank slapper like I have not experienced since the sixties. Gentle accelleration eased the slapper enough to gain some control but not stop it . It nearly tossed me off the bike, really scary. I got stopped on the side of the road and got my breath back. I checked over the bike but found nothing broken. I eased on into Waimea at 30 mph and gassed up. This cancelled out my house hunting as I now had about an hour and a half or more to get back and it looked to be dark in about two hours.
I nursed it home pissing off all other drivers along the way with my slow velocity but I really did want to get back without more broken bones.
Tomorrow we will tighten up the steering bearings and I will order a damper unit from JC whitney and see if local bikers can help me with what I need to make the fittings.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by LANCER on 09/03/10 at 02:22:20

some rides are just mre fun than others

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by runwyrlph on 09/03/10 at 09:27:50

i'd think you would be used to broken bones by now!

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by Phelonius on 09/03/10 at 18:30:03

Wll this morning we tightened up the steering head bearings using the old pin punch and hammer method.
Test ride showed promise so I ride on into town to doa bit of shopping.
Half a day of riding and my confidence grew, up hill, down hill, very little sign of instability.
Those big del Ortos open up and from somewhere deep inside her 40 odd year old chest comes a heavy rumble that says, "I ain't dead yet, just shoot me some good gasoline. Hear me whirr, sputter, backfire through the carburator and roar into life once again!
I am three wheeled road locomotive, from the days of good gasoline.
We can ride off into the sunset together, an aging old Italian dream.
The old Eldo can still ride the roads of Moana Kea, and when I get done with her she will do it even better.

Phelonius ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by drharveys on 09/03/10 at 19:55:56

It doesn't get much better than this, does it?? ;D

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by Phelonius on 09/04/10 at 01:21:19

61776D647773607C76050 wrote:

It doesn't get much better than this, does it?? ;D

Yes it does! the 16th of the month, my three bikes get here and when the Iron man Marathon comes along, the chance to earn about 270 to 300 dollars a day for piloting some drive by shootings.
The professional cameramen that cover the event like to hire sidecar pilots as their chauffeurs to cover the event.

Phelonius
BTW autumn has not arrived yet in this place

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by mick on 09/04/10 at 10:18:21

Oh Oh I think I am sinning ,I actually envy you , is that a biblical no no ?
How the helmet laws over there ?
Any other wierd laws that only apply on the islands ?
Sounds like you are having a great time,will that wonderfull weather be good for your dodgey pins ? I know Washington is very wet,even wetter than Oregon. Ok mate ride safe and keep that bike between your legs. Mick

PS,any chance of pestering the powers that be to start a M/C road race round the island , just like the IOM .

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by Phelonius on 09/04/10 at 10:52:27

What are helmet laws?
They are pretty tight on gun laws but motorcycle laws are more common sense than I have seen in a lot of places.
When I get settled in, you can come visit and spoil yourself.
Eye candy abounds, and doesn't wear much clothing. It can be very distracting.
It is a bit more civilized than when I was here 29 years ago but still very good.
Rent can be reasonable, about the same as where I was in washington.
Food costs more and gas is about the 3.70 level.
Roads are for the most part very good asphalt, they do not know what frost heaves are.
No deer on the roads but I saw a herd of goats crossing. and a wild turkey and a lot of wild pheasants on the shoulders.
If you need to cool off, you go up hill. As soon as you get 2000 feet altitude there is a noticeable difference, and at three it gets very comfortable. Moana Kea goes up 13,796 feet so it is a big hill.
Humidity has been about 60 to 70 percent.

Phelonius 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by Skid Mark on 09/04/10 at 21:31:35

Make that 2 who are envious!!!
Good to see your are settling in well.

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by Southpaw on 09/06/10 at 08:10:16

You may have found the PERFECT riders paradise! Great weather, changes in elevation, lots of twisties, laid back attitude from the locals AND ever changing scenery as the vacationing females dress to inmpress on the beaches! Extremely jealous, I am!! Well done sir! [smiley=beer.gif]

Title: Re: Adventures in Paradise
Post by mick on 09/06/10 at 11:32:20

4F777A737071766A6C1F0 wrote:

Be carefull Phelonius I just might take you up on that offer,I have never been there,sounds incredable, Mick