Anti-Freeze for the Suzuki

 

Unable to locate the requisite ethylene glycol based antifreeze for the Suzuki Intruder, I was told by a grizzled old toothless tattooed bike shop owner that I should ignore the factory specs and just use the green automotive antifreeze.

 

I distinctly remember being warned against such heresy.   

 

What should I do?  Drink the Koolaid and use automotive antifreeze?

New Rear Tire on the Suzuki

 

My daughter asked me to ride her bike from time to time while she’s away at college, to keep it in good running order. 

 

She’s planning on coming home for fall break and doing some riding. 

 

I took a look at her rear tire … especially after our recent trip with the bike to college and back … and felt it was time for a change. 

 

I have a dealer that I like, who has taken care of me in the past and who are always friendly. I called them and good news! They had the tire in stock. And even better, they were willing to work me in, even though they were extremely busy. “If you get here when we open, and you’re willing to wait, we’ll work you in.”

 

Did I mention they were two hours away? We moved since I visited them last.

Friday I got up before the sun. The 26-year old carbureted bike didn’t really want to start. But it ran after the third try. It was only after i was a mile down the road I remembered I never used the choke! How quickly we fuel injection types get spoiled. 

 

I watched the sun rise as I rode. I made my way across Indiana back roads for a couple of hours, to arrive before they opened. 

 

I was early, but I tried the door. Should’ve been locked but it was open. Everyone was inside, working. I half expected the clerk at the desk to scowl and say “we’re closed” but instead he said, “Good morning!”

 

I know it’s too late to say “long story short” but, they had me all set an out the door in an hour. 

 

And I enjoyed wandering Indiana back roads on my way home.

 

Yes, I should buy the equipment to change tires myself. Yes I may have been able to visit a bigger dealer that’s closer. 

 

Yes, the interstate would’ve been faster …. but where’s the fun in that.

So, this happened

 

As I mentioned a couple months back was “the plan”, my daughter saved up her summer earnings, took the abate course and passed, and plopped down cash to buy this Suzuki Intruder. 

 

Despite the naysayers, it’s a pretty solid first bike. Standard seating position (despite its cruiser vibe), torquey engine, 420 lbs dry, forgiving clutch. (I don’t like the brakes, but the handling is actually pretty good.)

 

She *wants* a new Ducati; but *this* is where she’s starting. As a college student, this is all she can afford. Dads’s not helping ($$$) other than to consult on the purchase and drive it home. 

 

She’s taking her time, practicing in parking lots before venturing out into the street. And she always wears her gear.

 

 

My Daughter Wants A Bike

 

My daughter's been asking "Can I get a bike" since age 5, when she started riding pillion with me. 

 

She's almost 20, and she keeps asking. My glib answer, "You can get one when you turn 38. That's when I got my first one." doesn't really work. 

 

Somewhere along the line I realized she was serious about her desire to own and ride her own. 

 

I said, "After you pass an MSF course, and get your endorsement, I'll help you pick out a good bike." I'm not paying for anything, but I'll help her make her first purchase. She already has good riding gear from riding pillion with me. 

 

She's saving her money. 

 

 

We'll be looking for something tame and old and inexpensive to start with. Sometime around August assuming she keeps saving her summer paychecks.

And ... this is terrifying. I realize it's a parent thing. I've encouraged her to be responsible as a pillion, and as a rider. But ... still ... hard to put the baby on her first motorcycle.