Thought I’d do a quick photo of my Fatboy Cholo Sled. I added a LED strip behind the toolboxes facing the wall and pointing upwards. This gives a depth of field to the scene.
I need to add a spot light towards the motorcycle itself.
Messing around
Table Lift Extensions
I finally broke down an purchased side extensions for my Handy 1000 Table Lift. This came about while trying to load up the 2015 Goldwing onto the lift and I could not see the side edges of the table to place my foot down. This is obviously a safety issue especially if I’m trying to load a motorcycle by myself.
Loading the smaller Honda CM 450 is no problem at all. It’s super light and there is no fairing that obstructs the front view and being so narrow I can see both sides of the bike easily. Not to mention it probably weighs half the amount of the Goldwing.
I found a seller in the Fairfield area that had the extension kit listed more less than half of the retail price. The deal was too good to pass up even though it was a good distance for pickup.
The side extensions kit I purchased is made for the Handy 1200 lift model. I have the Handy 1000 model. The difference that would affect the installation was not having the same pole mount positions. The hole position delta is approximately 7”. My lift is the shorter of the two, 87” is the longer model.
Because of the difference it was necessary for me to drill out four 1 3/8 holes to accommodate the 1 1/4 outer diameter of the mounting poles.
The side extensions also come with ramps, this will make nicer for me to ride motorcycle onto the lift table. I allows additional foot placement while rolling forwards.
The stock ramp has a steep angle. This is fine for bikes with a good amount of ground clearance. If you try to roll a Harley Davidson Softail up on the ramp there is a good chance you’re going to bottom out.
This modified red section adds about 30” more to the ramp, decreasing the angle significantly. You can see from the rear the slope is slight and will provide much better clearance.
This ramp modification along with the side extensions will make loading and unloading a breeze.
Riding gear repair
I’ve had my First Gear heated liner since 2003. It has gone through many winters and held up well.
As with anything used repeatedly wear and tear will eventually take its toll.
The weak spot is the DC connection between the liner and gloves. The mono jacks wiring seems to come apart at the point it makes contact with the connector base.
I have enough parts in the Manetarium to replace the worn parts as needed.
The connector replacement wiring I use has a larger diameter wiring and the insulation cover is much more robust than the original.
Already bug season
When the winter season rain and cold weather goes away, the bugs come out in full force. I don’t mind wiping the windshield down every time I pull inside the Manetarium.
That’s all part of being a daily rider. You get used to the different rituals you do before you take off and when you return.
I started using bottled water that I pour into a spray bottle. This seems to break down the bugs mess if done carefully. I do use towels that are not abrasive and soft on the windshield avoiding scratching the snot out of the outer surface.
Another step I take is spraying Honda Detailer cleaner onto the freshly wiped windshield and apply a layer of protection.
Back from Maui
The good thing, I was able to hop back on the sled and ride. The not so good thing, we lost that beautiful Maui weather and scenery. It doesn’t matter that it rains on my motorcycle rides, I’m completely used to that but jumping from paradise temperature down to the upper 30’s isn’t a happy vibe for sure.
On a side note, I really enjoy the have XM satellite radio. It makes the commute much nicer being able to listen a large variety of music and not have to flip around for radio stations that have a strong enough signal that is bearable for listening.
I still need to program a channel list. I’m still only using a small portion of channels that are in the R&B and Rap genre. There are many other stations that I have found but not programmed in yet.