May 28: I figured that dropping off a misplaced umbrella to my friend Chris would be a good excuse for a ride on the VFR. He lives in Pickering, so it’s an opportunity to visit the east end of the city. That accomplished, I figured I might as well go for a ride further east, since it had been some time since I’ve been out that way. Go for a ride and get some calluses on my ass in preparation for the month in Europe. Newcastle, Port Hope, Cobourg and back. No issues.
Until, turning south on the Parkway just south of the 401, the motor started to stagger and felt loaded up. I held the revs up a bit but the second I backed out of them, the motor died. I tried a quick re-start to no avail. All of the electrics went to zero – which I have seen on this bike before with expensive results.
As luck would have it, I coasted into the turn-around between the north and south bound sections of the Parkway. At least I was safe. But the bike would not start, and I had no access to tools or anything else that might be useful. So I called CAA, happy in the knowledge that I had coughed up for extra coverage that gives me motorcycle transport. “We will be an hour; you will get a call before we arrive.” Not like I was going anywhere.
About 45 minutes later, here comes a CAA flat truck. Early. Not so fast. He goes right by with a laconic wave, apparently going to another call. When I did hear from CAA, they said they would be another 45 minutes, and then later, another 30 to 55 minutes longer. In total I hung out there for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
And it’s a nice place to be. Like the surface of the sun. No shade, no water – nothing.
The interesting thing is that I wasn’t really all that angry or frustrated. Clearly the truck was going to arrive when it got there and there was very little I could do the change that fact. So I spent most of the time quietly watching the parade of cars headed home on a hot Thursday night.
Now I have the bike in the garage and the battery on a charger. It is still not charged up, which seems strange after running it all day at highway speed. So I suspect it is shot. Or the charging system itself it a problem. We shall see. Whatever the cause, I blame Chris for a long afternoon spent on the median of the Don Valley Parkway.
Postscript: June 11 Today I got the call from Pro 6 where the bike has been for more than a week. After repeatedly starting and testing the charging system, they have been unable to find anything that might have caused it to shut down. I can pick it up tomorrow.