Hacked up Motorcycle

I got this nice little vintage motorcycle (circa 1980) for a song off of craigslist. Though it has it's issues, I've become attatched to it. It handles nicely and it's not too much bike for me to handle comfortably. Now if it would just run consistantly...

I put in quite a bit of work on the carburetors, ordering some new parts (a needle valve and a new float) and replacing them myself with the help of a friend. The bike didn't really start working until I put a fuel filter on it. My theory is that rust in the fuel tank has been gumming up the needle valve inside the carb., which then keeps the needle valve open though the bowl is full and ends up flooding. Since I added the fuel filter she starts right up (within two or three kicks) every time.

Now I just have electrical problems. A new battery was the most obvious thing to make my turn signals, instrument panel, and headlight work. For a while that seemed to have been the only problem, aside from the horn not working. However, the more I rode the bike, the weaker the instrument panel became, and eventually the battery was dead. I really haven't been riding it that much, so I believe that the drain is happening during the relatively lengthy periods of disuse that the bike experiences. More than that I noticed that the low headlight doesn't work. This took me a while to discover, since I don't ride this bike at night.

So time to open her up and see what's going on.

I found this wiring diagram on the net by a suzuki enthusiast. This is quite a find, as wiring diagrams are pretty rare on the net in general. The
GN400 wiring is probably more compicated than it needs to be, but relatively simple as far as wiring schemes go. Considering that the electronic feature list on the bike can be counted on one's fingers, it's quite remarkable that there are so many wires.

Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, I discovered that my GN400 has a slightly different wiring scheme than the diagram shows. It appears that the original wires that went to the low and high beam circuits in the headlamp are both damaged and carry no power. So instead some prior owner has run a (very thin) wire from the switched rear brake light circuit to the high beam terminal on the headlamp socket. This tiny green and black wire weaves its way arouond the wiring harnes sheilding, periodically knotting around something for support, and just punches in through an after market hole in the lamp socket. I have to admit it's fairly creative, but I have to wonder whether the lack of power in the intended headlamp circuits has anything to do with my power drain...

Cycling - a beautiful day on the peninsula

So what has kept me from riding? Aside from the obvious work problems, and the fact that I can't seem to get myself up early enough to do anything before work, I suppose there are a few unfounded anxieties I have dwelt on. For starters, I'm not very familiar with the area. Despite having lived here for over a year, I haven't really ventured more than a couple of miles in any direction from the familiar region surrounding my home and my work place. I've been on one ride up the peninsula with some friends, but I couldn't trust myself to remember the route. I haven't the courage to join one of the many biking clubs, since I can't be in very good relative shape at the moment.

Partially due to my first anxiety about riding unfamilliar territory is the problem of riding alone. The fact is that I know very few people who own a bike, like to ride their bike, and who are physically able to go thirty miles.

Regardless of my fears and anxieties and social ineptitude I finally went for a nice ride in a generally westward direction. West seemed to make sense because north and south are nothing but urban areas and freeways, while East very quickly would get me to the Bay. Yes, West was the right decision. And as it so happens I had only gone a few miles when I started to recognize roads from my previous peninsula excursion. Whiskey Creek Road caught my eye, I then ambled into Woodside and figured the other bikers knew where they were going, so I followed them up Canada Road and ended up at Crystal Springs resevoir. At this point I was feeling downright familiar with the whole area, though I have to admit that a mile to the east or west and I would have been completely lost. In any case, it is a nice enough ride that I think it will become a standard for me. That is, if I manage to start riding regularly...

MPAA NOTICE

This MPAA NOTICE makes me feel like we're beginning to live in a fascist society. But on the other hand, is it really fascist when it is trade groups doing the enforcement, and not nationalism that they are enforcing?

Clicking on the internet is the equivalent of looking. A stream of electrons flows from one point to another and is displayed on a medium which can be perceived with the eyes. To argue that downloading is illegal is the same as arguing that cam-corders and dictation recorders should be illegal.

What ever happened to the free exchange of information? What ever happened to the betterment of society? Our culture is controlled by the entertainment industries, and they are dictating the cost of entering into our society. New Laws are crafted by the companies in charge in order to ensure their profit. Doesn't anyone else see this as ethically wrong? Effectively our legal system is being used as a way to generate revenue. I know there's a lot of history behind patent law and copywrite and the desire to ensure independent inventors have an incentive to innovate, but the independent inventor has no power in the current system; the only ones who benefit are the ones who do not need a hand up from the Government. So much culture, art, and even science has been lost in the clutter of legal hubris.

[noun] is Dangerous! [noun] kills people and knocks down trees!

This collection of essays is truly inspired with a unique writing style that could only be described as... disturbed...

I'd really like to invite more works given this common theme.

For instance:

Tsunamis are dangerous things. Tsunamis occur most often in the Pacific and Indian oceans. There are many dangerous things in the Pacific and Indian oceans, like sharks and pirates. Tsunamis are even more dangerous than sharks and pirates! Tsunamis kill people and knock down trees!

The ancient Cretians believed that Tsunamis were caused by a big bull under the earth. They would send sacrifices to the bull to make sure he did not shake the earth and cause earthquakes and big waves. Modern scientists have ignored the customs of the ancient Cretians. At their own peril! Tsunamis kill people and knock down trees! They will die horrible deaths under the big waves which drag them out to sea and drown them in the waters!

The Greeks believed that there was a god of the sea who invented horses and controlled the weather. His name was Poseidon. Perhaps these modern scientists should try to appease Poseidon to help prevent future Tsunamis. Tsunamis are giant waves that occur after earthquakes in the oceans. The giant waves kill people and knock down trees! These modern scientists should try everything in their power to prevent the death of people and the knocking down of trees. Even if it means worshiping a god they don't believe in who has the power to control these natural disasters!

One has to admit there is a certain attraction to this style. The repetition of extreme statements seems to appeal to many people, sometimes even if those statements are questionable or false. This may prove an important insight into our current political system...