tntmo 896 Posted December 27, 2021 My buddy finally got his bike back together after about two years of me shaming him, so we planned a quick shake down ride. I hopped on my Husqvarna TE450 and rode from Lemon Grove to his place out on I-8. We took side streets to Alpine and crossed the 8 onto Willows and then Viejas Grade Rd. The rain made for some nice traction on most of the dirt, but some places were extra slippery. No dust, so that was a big positive. I wore thicker gloves but my fingers were still frozen. Heated grips are a good idea. Stopped to warm up a bit at Perkins Store, then headed north up Oak Grove and then onto Boulder Creek. Beautiful day to be out there, seasonal streams were flowing and everything smelled clean after the rain. I noticed my digital speedometer was dead and I had no headlight so we stopped to investigate. Found a blown fuse, but I didn’t have a spare. I did have a piece of electrical wire so I cut an inch off it, removed two strands and twisted them together. I figured that was probably close enough to 25 amps? It worked! Continued north past Three Sisters trail head, then up to Engineer Road. Popped out by the lake and stopped in for coffee and a snack. The little diner was busy but we were the only motorcycles there. We noticed an oil leak on the DR350 so headed south, took Viejas Grade back the opposite direction and back to the garage. It looks like it was just the stator cover gasket, so an easy fix. Pretty nice day to ride, my fingers are finally feeling better. See ya on the trail! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntbromo 9 Posted December 27, 2021 It was great riding again with you. Was it only 2 years of shaming? Definitely felt like longer than that 😂. I’m looking forward to being a better adventure sidekick this year. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntmo 896 Posted December 27, 2021 5 minutes ago, tntbromo said: It was great riding again with you. Was it only 2 years of shaming? Definitely felt like longer than that 😂. I’m looking forward to being a better adventure sidekick this year. There are only five days left this year, good luck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntbromo 9 Posted December 27, 2021 5 minutes ago, tntmo said: There are only five days left this year, good luck. Well played 👏 👏 👏! Yep, you called it. Time for me to let my carb turn to cement again. See you in 2024! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dress4Less 162 Posted December 27, 2021 14 hours ago, tntmo said: I noticed my digital speedometer was dead and I had no headlight so we stopped to investigate. Found a blown fuse, but I didn’t have a spare. I did have a piece of electrical wire so I cut an inch off it, removed two strands and twisted them together. I figured that was probably close enough to 25 amps? It worked! Now, that is some redneck trail wizardry right there! Nicely done Tom! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntmo 896 Posted December 27, 2021 29 minutes ago, Dress4Less said: Now, that is some redneck trail wizardry right there! Nicely done Tom! Thanks, growing up on a farm taught me how to get things working again with whatever you have on hand. The only problem is that temporary fixes sometimes become permanent if you forget about them. I put a replacement fuse in the bike as soon as I got home, and a spare in my tool kit. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted December 27, 2021 Wait so now there are THREE leaking suzuki’s?? poor DR & DRZ… 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntmo 896 Posted December 28, 2021 2 hours ago, Goofy Footer said: Wait so now there are THREE leaking suzuki’s?? poor DR & DRZ… Maybe Suzukis are like VW’s, if they ain’t leaking they’re probably empty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted December 28, 2021 3 hours ago, tntmo said: Maybe Suzukis are like VW’s, if they ain’t leaking they’re probably empty. My head gaskets are more smokey than an old vegas casino Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Champ 116 Posted December 28, 2021 22 bullets work as fuses in old VWs, just for reference. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntmo 896 Posted December 28, 2021 51 minutes ago, Uncle Champ said: 22 bullets work as fuses in old VWs, just for reference. Here’s the conversion chart. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zubb 1068 Posted December 28, 2021 42 minutes ago, tntmo said: Here’s the conversion chart. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bub_Hannah 174 Posted December 29, 2021 Hey...that chart reminds me of this.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zubb 1068 Posted December 30, 2021 17 hours ago, Bub_Hannah said: Hey...that chart reminds me of this.... LMAO! I need to make a poster of both this one and the 'fuses' and hang them in my garage! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.JAJA 380 Posted December 30, 2021 18 minutes ago, Zubb said: LMAO! I need to make a poster of both this one and the 'fuses' and hang them in my garage! Make a double, one for my shop to. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites