06-11-2017, 10:59 AM
It was a hot afternoon on my last day ride, so I unzipped the top of my leather jacket. But later as I was rolling along the Buckshot Lake Road a bee found its way in and stung me on the back of the neck. I quickly pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. But as I was getting my jacket off, the bee nailed me in my armpit. Now that really hurt. So I pulled off my T-shirt to rid myself of the assailant.
But bad turns to worst as my right boot starts to slide in the sandy shoulder. I am 6'2" and weigh 220 pounds, but nothing is going to stop this top heavy 560 pound porker from taking an afternoon nap on the side of the road.
So there I am on a hot afternoon, half naked and wounded, 3 hours from home on a deserted road with my brand new 2017 CB1100 EX lying upside-down on a sandy incline. I wait about 10 minutes, and realize there is little chance anyone will show up to help.
I though to myself, I have picked up My Goldwing which was a bigger bike than this, so let's have at her. Made sure the bike was in gear, folded the side stand out, pushed my butt against the seat on the down side of the bike, grabbed the handle grip and the seat rail and pushed with all might with my legs. My boots slide in the sand and the oinker hasn't budged. Big difference between a motorcycle lying on a firm flat surface and not a sandy incline.
After catching my breath, I move to plan B. I go the high side of the bike reach across and grab the handle grip and seat rail. Squatting down I push with me legs and pull with my arms. The air turns blue. But slowly the lazy oinker starts to rise from her nap. Finally she is back on her wheels and side stand. I sit down, my back is killing me and question why I traded in my light and nimble CB500X for this.
After resting and cooling down, I began looking to see what damage might have been done. No scratches on the tank or side covers. Handlebars look straight, no broken lights, but one mirror is flopping around. After a good look around it appears the only damage is some fine scratches on the muffler and the floppy mirror.
No problem, I'll just tighten the mirror with the wrenches in the tool kit. Oh no! A fuse puller, plastic handled screw driver and an Allen key. The air turns blue. A 5mm Allen key won't tighten my mirror extender, and there is no 14mm wrench to tighten the mirrors. An hour later I am in the Sharbot Lake General store buying a small adjustable wrench and another kit of Metric Allen Keys.
The 6mm key tightens the mirror extender. The adjustable wrench tightens the bottom mirror nut. But when I tighten the top left handed thread nut, it loosens the bottom one. The air turns blue. Back in the store for a second small adjustable wrench. Finally get the mirror tightened, but find none of these new tools will fit is the little plastic pocket under the seat. But the Owner's Manual, which has fallen to the ground every time I lifted the seat to put it back on, will fit. Wrapped the tools in paper towels from the gas pumps so they won't damage the gas tank and slip them in my tank bag.
Note to self, the side stand has to be down before dealing with any other sudden road side emergencies.
But bad turns to worst as my right boot starts to slide in the sandy shoulder. I am 6'2" and weigh 220 pounds, but nothing is going to stop this top heavy 560 pound porker from taking an afternoon nap on the side of the road.
So there I am on a hot afternoon, half naked and wounded, 3 hours from home on a deserted road with my brand new 2017 CB1100 EX lying upside-down on a sandy incline. I wait about 10 minutes, and realize there is little chance anyone will show up to help.
I though to myself, I have picked up My Goldwing which was a bigger bike than this, so let's have at her. Made sure the bike was in gear, folded the side stand out, pushed my butt against the seat on the down side of the bike, grabbed the handle grip and the seat rail and pushed with all might with my legs. My boots slide in the sand and the oinker hasn't budged. Big difference between a motorcycle lying on a firm flat surface and not a sandy incline.
After catching my breath, I move to plan B. I go the high side of the bike reach across and grab the handle grip and seat rail. Squatting down I push with me legs and pull with my arms. The air turns blue. But slowly the lazy oinker starts to rise from her nap. Finally she is back on her wheels and side stand. I sit down, my back is killing me and question why I traded in my light and nimble CB500X for this.
After resting and cooling down, I began looking to see what damage might have been done. No scratches on the tank or side covers. Handlebars look straight, no broken lights, but one mirror is flopping around. After a good look around it appears the only damage is some fine scratches on the muffler and the floppy mirror.
No problem, I'll just tighten the mirror with the wrenches in the tool kit. Oh no! A fuse puller, plastic handled screw driver and an Allen key. The air turns blue. A 5mm Allen key won't tighten my mirror extender, and there is no 14mm wrench to tighten the mirrors. An hour later I am in the Sharbot Lake General store buying a small adjustable wrench and another kit of Metric Allen Keys.
The 6mm key tightens the mirror extender. The adjustable wrench tightens the bottom mirror nut. But when I tighten the top left handed thread nut, it loosens the bottom one. The air turns blue. Back in the store for a second small adjustable wrench. Finally get the mirror tightened, but find none of these new tools will fit is the little plastic pocket under the seat. But the Owner's Manual, which has fallen to the ground every time I lifted the seat to put it back on, will fit. Wrapped the tools in paper towels from the gas pumps so they won't damage the gas tank and slip them in my tank bag.
Note to self, the side stand has to be down before dealing with any other sudden road side emergencies.
