Service Has Been Completed

Both bikes have had their major ‘check-up’ and service. As I said the trike requires two shops; Goodyear replaced the back tires, the brakes and greased all car parts. The local Honda shop has done a full service, oil change and replaced the front tire even though it still had a lot of tread it would not make 7000 miles so better to waste a partly used tire than to waste a day or more trying to find a shop on the road.

Abigail had her full check-up yesterday and my ‘pit crew’ Derek and Bill at L&D Suzuki, went over her with a fine tooth comb. They checked the brakes, all fluids, put in new sparkplugs because it would be time to change them while we were gone. Like the trike, my back tire had about another 3,000 miles before needing to be replaced but they replaced it now to make sure we avoid problems on the road. I kept the tire and we can put it back on at a later date. I will keep the phone number for L&D Suzuki close at hand on this trip, because if I have any problems they are only a phone call away; if I’m thousands of miles out they will find a shop, call them and then let me know where to take it. Got to love those guys!

Next will be the task of cleaning the bikes. Every spring they get a good washing with SportCleaner which is a wonderful product; just melts the bugs, tar and road grime off; even cleans whitewall tires without scrubbing. Just spray it on, wait a couple of minutes and hose it off. I look for easy. Reorganizing the emergency gear that must stay in the saddlebags or trunk at all times will come next. Over the year things get tossed in and we want to conserve as much space as possible for packing.