New Sparkly Bike - Sad Story

Yup….I finally did it…..I go that new bike…. it’s SPARKELY……. Isn’t she a looker??!!!And this was before I put lots and lots of bling, bling on her.

I picked her up on 2.29.08. That weekend a few of us went out for a little ride. It was cool being on my bright and sparkly new wheels. But I was being challenged to use the new clutch and figure out the friction zone. I just couldn’t get that to work right. All my fellow, very experienced riders, agreed it would just take me a little more time to get use to the new clutch but I would do fine in time – and I convinced myself of that too.

Well, it was a new weekend. Sheri was working and I decided I needed a lot more practice with that clutch. So, I put my sun glasses on to prevent hurting my eyes from the glare of my shinny new bike. Revved her up and was off to Yuba City for quick ride by myself.

As I rode out of town I tried ever so hard to get the clutch to work and use my friction zone, so carefully…….But I just couldn’t get it to work right. I was convinced I just needed more practice. So off I went on the county road to Yuba City…….As I tried to get up to hi-way speed….the bike just wouldn’t go above 50mph…Then,…..

Quickly, SB (sparkly bike) lost all speed and I was broken down on the side of the road. Fortunately, I had six people stop and offer to help. And one was an older gentleman on a huge electric glide. He seemed like a trust worthy fellow. So prior to making any calls, I asked him to get on my sparkly new bike and make sure the problem wasn’t just user error. He confirmed for me that ……my SB was….BROKE…….

He left and I was about to start making some calls…when it occurred to me that I had no idea what road I was on…..saying “it’s the one I take to the Yuba City Thrift stores”….I didn’t think would be particularly descriptive to a rescuer. Ah ha….Prior to leaving home, I grabbed my handy dandy GPS and threw it in my bag. So, I pulled that out….dang…….battery is dead…dang…now what…..Oh yea, this fancy new bike has a cigarette lighter..Whoopee…..I knew the bike had a cigarette lighter but where the heck would the factory put such a thing….Eventually, I found it, plugged that GPS in and up come my location. And I began making some calls.

This is just not a sign one wants to see at 10am on a beautiful Saturday morning…..It made for a very, very sad Biffy……





I unfortunately got to know this vehicle all too well…….. So, now SB was on its way back to the dealer.




Fortunately, I had a someone come get me to take me back home……Remember Biffy was very sad at this point…… And I got sadder as I slumped into my sister-in-laws….mommy mini-van. Big Bad Biffy was now being chauffeured around by a cute mom in pink t-shirt and in a mommy mini-van……There was just something so wrong with that…….I will never be let into a real biker bar now that I had to be chauffeured home in a mommy min-van…….

So, I got home and didn’t know what to do……I know I need a little TST (thrift store therapy). Off I went to find some fabulous treasures. In the midst of cruising my local thrift stores the dealer called and said SB was all better. The problem was that the clutch plates were not engaging – the factory had not adjusted them properly…So…..lesson learned when experienced riders tell me…..”It’s just you, you need more practice” hmmmm….sometimes they are WRONG…..It wasn’t me….it was the bike!!! LOL…

Ah I can’t wait until my next adventure on SB!!!!!!