The odometer just keeps rolling away, and now it's time for the bike's 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance. It also marks about 10,000 that I've riddem this machine as I bought it in Tucson with about 20k on it.

So, I started gathering all of the necessary information and tools to complete this service myself. I had the 24k done at the dealer and it set me back almost a grand! This time, I invested a couple hundred bucks in TwinMax, four quarts of oil, some feeler gauges, & a big three ring binder for all of my instructions!

This isn't actually part of the scheduled service, but setting the Throttle Position Sensor to factory spec. is a good idea. The factory gets it "within range", which isn't always good enough for you and me. As it turned out, mine was pretty close at .346 volts. .360 is correct.


I didn't get photos of the rest of it, it all took me the better part of two days, so, as you can imagine, I was looking forward to being finished! Synchronized the throttle bodies, change oil & filter, check brake pads, discs, fluid, etc etc.. and, of course, the valve clearances! Setting valve clearances is probably the single most scary event in motorcycle maintenance.. it just plain freaks me out & I'm not quite sure why... But I took my sweet time, made them match, got them within tolerance, and all in all, I think the bike is noticeably smoother! Of course, a correct TPS and synchronized throttle bodies help, too!


OK, on to the fun stuff! I switched luggage systems! check this out..



This guy in Colorado started making a system using the Pelican cases! I've been wanting someone to do this for years. It's pretty bad ass. That's the "Rear Compartment" (creative name, eh?) from Jesse Luggage, in the back. That little thing holds a lot of crap!


Fresh maintenance, new luggage, and a dying summer.. sounds like the perfect motivation to get out of town! .. hmm.. where too...