A few fixes for the Kawasaki Versys

I bought my Kawasaki Versys new in 2009. It's been a great motorcycle, but it didn't take long to discover a few things that needed improving or a few problems to be solved. Here are three of the fixes I've done.

• The mirrors were terrible. First, they're too short (or not set far enough out). When you look in the mirrors, all you see is your shoulders. And they vibrate like crazy, making it impossible to see details of what's going on behind you! Early on I bought a couple of mirror extenders from http://www.motowerk.com/. That fixed it so I could see traffic behind me and not just my shoulders, but the vibration problem still was there. The solution for the vibration was to replace the mirrors. I picked up a pair of Aprilia mirrors locally for about $24 each (a real deal - way less than Kawasaki wanted for mirrors for any model motorcycle). 
• After the first season of riding my Versys it developed a terrible buzz/vibration coming from somewhere up front. Reading the forums, it was apparent this was "normal" for this bike. I found that pressing on the cowling around the headlight reduced it (which was one of the commonly mentioned buzz points). Again, at the recommendation of several riders on the forums, I took all the cowling off and put a thin self-sticking foam insulation (picked up from the local hardware store) everywhere the cowling touched or almost touched the frame or another piece of cowling. Buzz fixed!
• The reset button in the instrument cluster is another failure point. Very frustrating to not be able to reset my trip odometer or set the clock! Again, the forums identified the problem (or multiple problems) - and had a solution. Take the instrument cluster off the bike, dismantle it enough to get to the bottom of the circuit board, and then use contact cleaner on the switches. It looks like they're enclosed and the contact cleaner won't get into the switch, but apparently it does get into the right area and doing this solved my problem. A year later, and the switches still work reliably. 

There are more things on my list I'd like to do, but these were the frustrating little design flaws that were easy to resolve. (I hope Kawasaki is listening.)

Gary

Five days, 1364 miles

Over the Memorial Day weekend I went on a little trip...

Map of my 5-day Memorial Weekend trip

If the map looks like I wandered a bit, you might be right. I had a few goals in mind, but I mostly looked at the map each night and decided on a direction for the next day.

I had planned to take a few extra days after Memorial Day and ride down the Oregon Coast. However, as the time to go got closer it became clear the weather was going to be cool and rainy. So I looked at the weather maps, and saw that eastern Washington looked more promising. Slight chance of showers, and temperatures up to mid-80s, depending on where... I was also concerned about the heavy traffic on the roads and availability of camping sites. But that didn't stop me.

I had Friday off, so got everything packed up and loaded onto the motorcycle (a 650cc Kawasaki Versys). Yes, this was a ride, not a drive. At a friend's suggestion, I left town early (before 6am) to beat the traffic across the pass. There are no alternate ways across the pass - just major highways, like I-90 or Stevens Pass. Before Cle Elum I exited I-90 and took side roads, aiming for Ellensburg. However, Highway 10 was closed for construction, and the detour took me on 970 and 97. About 10 miles north of Ellensburg on Highway 97, I saw this:

Scene from Highway 97 about 10 miles north of Ellensburg

Highway 97 is the Blewett Pass highway, and I decided to ride over Blewett Pass. But I needed gas, so dropped down into Ellensburg to fill up. Then headed north over Blewett Pass. Went on up to Highway 2, then U-turned and came south, going over Old Blewett Pass. Nice twisty road! I'll post some video when I get time. Once again into Ellensburg, I took the Canyon Road south to Naches. That was another nice road, and I don't believe I've ever been on it before. From Naches I headed west up 410, hoping for camping. I figured if I didn't find a campground, since this was National Forest Service land, I could head up a road and camp anywhere I could find a flat spot. I got lucky at Little Naches campground. This small campground has about 20 sites, and 4 were empty. Grabbed one before someone else could... (and two sites never filled up that night). When I got up the next morning about 7:30, the thermometer on my bike said 39°. No wonder I was a bit chilly. I didn't leave camp until it warmed up to 50°, which was around 10:00. 

My campsite at Little Naches campground

The next morning (Sunday) I headed further west on 410 just to see the road, then turned around and headed SE. Went through tri-cities, Walla Walla, and into Oregon. When I rode to Crater Lake a couple years ago I found some nice camping east of Weston on the Weston-Elgin road. Air temperature dropped quickly as I went over the 5100'+ pass, and there was lots of snow along the road. I didn't want to camp near there. I continued riding until I dropped down into the lower elevation at Elgin, OR, and the temperatures were back up around 70. I camped at the Elgin Hunaha RV Park, and had the large lawn tent-area and adjacent bathrooms all to myself. For only $1 more than the NFS campground I had running hot water and a hot shower. Temperature the next morning was again in the 30s. I've ordered a warmer sleeping bag...

Monday morning, at the suggestion of the camp host, I headed to Enterprise, OR, then north to Clarkston, WA. That road is one great twisty road with great views along the way. Thoroughly enjoyed the ride (rode parts of it three times to go back and get some photos). My tires' chicken strips got narrower on this road! And it ends up in this great twisty grade down into Asotin, WA. Unfortunately, I was having so much fun riding it that I didn't take any photos. I think that is a reason for another trip there. 

Oregon highway 3 north of Enterprise

Monday night I ended up at the Lyons Ferry Marina KOA near Palouse Falls. Another place where I had the tent area to myself, and a hot shower once again, for a few more bucks ($19.15).


Tuesday I went up the road a short distance to Palouse Falls. I visited here two years ago on a trip to Crater Lake. This photo is taken from the visitor area with a super-wide-angle lens. Everything is so big and close it's hard to get it all in with a regular lens.

Palouse Falls

The Palouse river below Palouse Falls is  also very spectacular-looking. This time of year the green really adds to it. I took a little dirt road just outside the park entrance a half mile or so to get the next couple photos. 

Palouse River below Palouse Falls

Any trip is really just an excuse to take photos of your motorcycle...

After Palouse Falls, I headed toward Grand Coulee Dam to see the Laser Show. I was close to Grand Coulee Dam earlier in the trip, but wanted to avoid the Memorial Day crowds so didn't stop at that time. I went on the Dam tour and watched the laser show. I was unable to get a good photo of the laser show. They weren't spilling water over the dam yet - maybe in another couple weeks. I may go back to see that.

Grand Coulee Dam

After spending the night in the National Parks' Canyon Springs campground, I headed home, stopping only for a few dozen more photos along the way. 



And one other stop on the way. Went to the motorcycle shop to order new tires. The ones on the bike now had over 9,000 miles, and were completely worn out. Need new tires so I can plan a new trip.


Gary

R-Ides of March Charity Motorcycle Ride

Several weeks ago I went on a motorcycle ride with Team Ride West. This wasn't the typical motorcycle ride, though. I would describe it more as a "Scavenger Hunt." It was a mixed-weather day. A little sun, a little rain, a lot of gray. Temperatures were in the low- to mid-40s. If you are dressed for it, pretty good riding weather (love my Goretex-lined waterproof motorcycle boots!). 

The ride was organized by my friend David Preston (http://www.davidpreston.biz/). This was his tenth "R-Ides of March", a charity ride for Riders for Health. David also organizes the Chilly Turkey charity ride each November - definitely on my list of something to do when the time comes. 

Rather than riding as one group, each rider's goal is to accurately follow the directions that you are given when you register and then answer a question at intervals throughout the ride. The directions are simple, sort of. Like, go 2.3 miles and then turn left at 132nd Avenue, then turn right at 84th Street. Proceed through the stop sign and answer question 3. Question 3 might be something like "What comes before boom?" (an actual question from this ride). IF you have properly followed the directions, you will find yourself in Log Boom Park. And IF you are in Log Boom Park, answering the question is a piece of cake.

Many riders hook up with another rider or two and do the ride together. I thought I was late getting started so took off on my own, thinking if I was lucky I might catch up with someone to follow. Apparently I was the first one out the door, so there was no one to catch up with. And, no one caught up with me. No points are awarded for completing first, however. I had an absolute blast following the directions, discovering roads I'd never been on before, and listening to my own drummer. 

The ride ended at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park where we all had lunch together, told stories, and got to know each other a little better. Door prizes had been donated, and every rider (over a dozen participated) "won". And Riders for Health won, also with about $1200 in donations. 

I didn't take many photos this day (somewhat unusual  for me), but above is one I took of most of the motorcycles and riders in the Third Place Books parking lot. A few people had already departed, but for those that were left the conversations continued as we geared up and prepared to leave. My photo and more information about Riders for Health can also be found at http://www.riders.org/us/n_details.aspx?nwId=286 .