A job well done, so far.

I finished mounting the new timing belts on my 99 Valkyrie Interstate on Friday night, this is after sending a question to a Honda mechanic from an ad on my blog sight just to make sure. I choked the bike rolled the throttle several times and fired it up, it started so the job had to be right, the Honda shop manual was was worth every penny I spent on it. The diagrams are very well done, down to which cover bolt goes in which hole on the timing belt cover. Plugs went in fine, radiator went back on way easier than it came off, fog lamps bolted right back up and fairings slipped on very easily.

The tank was the most trouble as usual since the fuel and vent lines are cut almost right to size. But once everything was on and double checked it was time to ride. So what if it's eleven PM and freezing out, put on leathers, good gloves and a full face helmet. First up and down the street to make sure everything was OK, then out to the big highway for the road test. There is a difference with a new clean air filter, new correctly gapped plugs and new intake O-rings. The timing belts were suggested routine maintenance at five years or fifty thousand miles. I won't do any long trips this fall though, at least until I get new tires. I have been riding Dunlop Elite's for the last two years and twenty one thousand miles so they are getting a little tired. I'm going with Dunlop Elite 3's this time since these wore well. They price out at about $595.00 mounted which isn't bad and I don't feel like tearing it apart, I'll get it back in a day if I drop it at Honda, besides what I have saved this fall by doing my own work makes the decision easy. I used to run Avon Venom's which I really liked but I don't think the cost difference is worth it as I am satisfied with wet riding on the Dunlops and high speed highway.

I contacted Dunlop last week to see if they have a tire suitable for running on the salt, by the way they are very pleasant people to contact. I am still planning on taking my V65 to Bonneville and will blog progress from here on out as I work on the bike. Winter will slow things a little as far as hands on rebuild, I'll work on warm days with a heater.

Thanks for reading

I'll be working on other themes, more than likely safety and trips during the winter.

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Elections are tomorrow so go out and cast your vote for John McCain since he is our best hope to keep America a Democracy.