04-28-2026, 10:37 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-28-2026, 10:41 AM by Gone in 60.)
Ugh... I was reminded of the wages of forgetfullness this morning... and I'm NOT going to tell the boss.
The boss is a pilot, and is very checklist-oriented. Part of the job is remembering a few more things than just getting on a bike and riding, which I've done for years. If we're on a job, we need to clear the trip odometer at each start, and record the mileage at pick-up and drop-off for customer billing. We're wearing airbag vests, so there's the tether cord that needs to be clipped on and off the vest when we mount and dismount the bike. And a few other things, of course.
As I've been taking each bike home for work and modifications, I do a lot of test riding in my own gear, and don't necessarily wear the vest. So, I'll typically fold the tether cord over a few times and tuck it between the seat and gas tank so it's out of the way and won't dangle, potentially getting wrapped around the back wheel.
Except this morning I forgot that last part, and wanted to test some work I just did on the bike I've got. Getting up to speed on the freeway, felt a faint tugging feeling. I instantly realized what I had done. Looked down and saw the frayed end of the vest tether cord flapping around. Got home, put the bike on the center stand, and just spent 20 minutes disembowling the rest of the cord from the rear axle, and ordering a new one.
A $30 lesson to remember next time...
... and as I was walking to the community dumpsters to toss the shards of broken tether cord, I was musing about how nice my neighbors have been, putting up with me basically running a motorcycle maintenance shop in my garage. Could be considered business use, but I'm quiet, don't run the engines, and don't work late at night.
Any faint feelings of guilt about the subject were quickly dashed, however, when I see that someone thought it was appropriate to put a car bumper and an old mattress next to the dumpsters.
The boss is a pilot, and is very checklist-oriented. Part of the job is remembering a few more things than just getting on a bike and riding, which I've done for years. If we're on a job, we need to clear the trip odometer at each start, and record the mileage at pick-up and drop-off for customer billing. We're wearing airbag vests, so there's the tether cord that needs to be clipped on and off the vest when we mount and dismount the bike. And a few other things, of course.
As I've been taking each bike home for work and modifications, I do a lot of test riding in my own gear, and don't necessarily wear the vest. So, I'll typically fold the tether cord over a few times and tuck it between the seat and gas tank so it's out of the way and won't dangle, potentially getting wrapped around the back wheel.
Except this morning I forgot that last part, and wanted to test some work I just did on the bike I've got. Getting up to speed on the freeway, felt a faint tugging feeling. I instantly realized what I had done. Looked down and saw the frayed end of the vest tether cord flapping around. Got home, put the bike on the center stand, and just spent 20 minutes disembowling the rest of the cord from the rear axle, and ordering a new one.
A $30 lesson to remember next time...
... and as I was walking to the community dumpsters to toss the shards of broken tether cord, I was musing about how nice my neighbors have been, putting up with me basically running a motorcycle maintenance shop in my garage. Could be considered business use, but I'm quiet, don't run the engines, and don't work late at night.
Any faint feelings of guilt about the subject were quickly dashed, however, when I see that someone thought it was appropriate to put a car bumper and an old mattress next to the dumpsters.
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.