Modern Vespa

I think they needed that special "Made in Italy" blinker fluid...

Doug will start calling me dandruff as this is the 3rd or 4th gathering he's invited me to that I've had to flake out on. Just started a new job and I'll have to be in Boston that weekend for training.

I'm hoping my new exhaust comes in before the gathering. I sound like a Harley at this point. It's so loud I was invited to join a motorcycle gang. Jeez!

there is some fresh new asphalt on 276 and 215 now. Should be a great weekend.

Yesterday, I destroyed ANOTHER belt on my MP3 From brand new to barely holding together in under 2000 miles...

I'm hopeful I'll be able to figure out what's going on in the next couple days and get it straightened out. If not, I guess I'll be riding my Ninja, since I'm guessing my Vino 125 won't have enough power to keep up...

Mark

A lot accomplished today. Oil change, air filter clean and new rear skin. Took exactly 3/4 oz to balance. Love that balancer. Got another 2000 on the belt so I am going to let it ride baby ride.

Sweet... Looking forward to this trip!

why did you put the weight on the outside?

with the rim having an offset spoke the inside is a better spot, just a common practice, not set in stone anywhere. Also don't forget to install a piece of duct tape so dirt doesn't get under it and break the sticky tape down and you loose it.

I spent some time riding on the Blue Ridge yesterday to clear out the cobwebs. I haven't been riding much lately so I figured I'd better put in a few miles on the twisties. Planning on riding most of the way down there on the BRP so I hope to have lost all the chicken strips on my new tire by the time I arrive.

Hmmm I should have referenced the video we did in Little Switzerland. Do you think it will cause any problem there? I hate to move it and waste the lead.

Mark, All I can say is to check your variator. Mine wore irregularly at the bushing, causing vibration that destroyed two belts, the second one after 30 miles. It might be time to replace it. I also recommend rollers over sliders, just in case you are using those.
Bill

Don't you have about a ton of that stuff?

I really think it's impossible to fully wear off chicken strips on a Vespa. I have drug my center stand several times and am still a bit from the tires edge. Maybe on a GSXR it is possible to lean that hard. Lol

Yeah but waste not want not.

Wish I had some roads to ride like that. In the meantime I have been watching this video to get pumped up for the mountains.

Wolf Pen Gap was repaved this summer and is an even better ride now. This video taken last Monday / Tuesday. Bobcat crosses path at 1:40.

Wow! That is beautiful. I remember you said something about that.

Whoa! I didn't think bobcats came out in the daytime!

you'll be fine, but next time put them to the inside. Still put a piece of duct tape on them now.

let me give er a try for ya.

Yeah, it's definitely something on the variator end. On disassembly today, I found all sorts of carnage that occurred in the ~300 miles between when I changed belts and when I got home. The bushing on the engine/roller side is definitely in bad shape. At least a couple of the ramp horseshoes are broken. Sliders are worn sideways. There's metal filings all over. It's pretty ugly...

Fortunately, I have a parts bike, so I think I have everything I'll need to get back on the road. The only thing I'm worried about is if there's drive shaft damage...

Also, I can see where the belt has been rubbing due to the wear (and the shiny spots). It's rubbing on the outer case cover about an inch back from the shaft.

Off to my parent's house to collect some more parts. Pictures later, assuming I'm not too caught up in Monday Night Football...

Mark

Hehe.

I had a late request this morning,
Tn Sooner was going to pass thru on the way to the Dragon and since I just installed fresh rubber he invited me to tag along.
We had a good ride over and then he played pretty good on his BMW on the Dragon.
After a brief sticker shop to get the BMW its first stickers we took off to the Cherohola Skyway. Got a few brief warm showers on 129 over to the turn off for the skyway. When we got close to the top of the skyway had to stop for Tn to put his jacket back on, the temp dropped down to 71 at the top. When we got down to Tellico Plains the temp got back up to high 80's low 90's again.

Thanks Tn Sooner for dropping by and breaking up my Monday for me.

Great day - glad you could drop your Honeydos! It was just a wild hair to break the BMW in on the dragon - didn't go all summer. With the loop over the Cherahola, it made it a 460 mile day for me. Thankfully, the Corbin alternative for my bmw is awesome!!

Yeah, you retired guys...

This is me, shaking my fist at you...

OK, I promised an update on my belt. I decided to post it to my previous belt failure thread instead, to keep this one on topic.

Belt Failure - Any Ideas as to the Cause? (Page 2)

After I got my variator changed, I also got a new camera mounting system created. I'm super excited about that

A week from today, we'll be out riding. Woohoo!

Boy, I really need to buckle down and make sure all my bike prep is done, don't I? Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend...

what day are you heading this way?

Since my parents are coming, we're going to trailer it and leave after I get done with work on Wednesday. We'll probably stop for the night in Indy and go the rest of the way on Thursday, getting there probably mid-afternoon.

Why, did you have something in mind?

Weather forecast looking good. It will be cool though so bring some warm gear. Low temps in the 50s down the hill so could get below 50 at the campground at night. Cabins have heaters, but not high powered and no insulation, so warmer inside, but maybe not toasty warm.

It is going to be an awesome weekend.

Looking forward to it!

Thanks for the weather report Rick. Where and when are you riding in from?

I picked up 16 Jalepeno & Hot Pepper Cheese Brats from the grocery store today, so there's going to be some good grillage for those who like it spicy

I don't have confirmation yet, but I'm hearing that Capt Gary might make an appearance at our gathering...

Oh yeah. That probably means an appearance of applepie moonshine too.

I am doomed then.

Just got finished doing some last work on my bike before the weekend. Oil change, gear oil change, swapped my belt (I want to have the experts look at the one I did ~300 miles on before I replaced the variator. I think it's OK, but I won't trust it until I get some confirmation...)

Now I get to start finding and packing everything...

Mark

Washing clothes and packing next few days. Yay!

I just got home from Chicago. Now is the time to get excited about the Gathering. My plan remains to ride up Friday morning, meeting the Friday ride in Hot Springs at the lunch stop. I am looking forward to seeing everyone.

Just spoke to Mike LM15 and we are going to leave Satsuma, FL around 8am on Thursday and take the shortest route here: https://goo.gl/maps/a8nuO Anyone else want to join us on the way let me know.

Also, I set up this thread The Official 2014 Fall Gathering Thread in ride reports. Maps are always enabled there and will show as soon as someone posts a geotagged pic there.

Doug or Rick let me know if I need to add or change anything in the OP.