Trailer update
Today was the day I went down and picked up the new trailer for my BMW K1200LT. Not really knowing what to expect as I didn't get a chance to actually go down and visit, and the sale was done over the internet and by email. But before you say anything I did do my research into the company, etc . The first problem is that I had to work till 9:30 pm the following night. So after work I gotta go over to the locker and dig out the beemer and the 3/4 lid (nice as it's really the first time it will be warm enough to ride with the 3/4), install the battery after charging and a new fuse block for all my accessories. Then into bed for 1 am, then back up for 6:30 am for the ride to my 10 am trailer install. This week seems to be a not much sleep week, as I'm getting ready for my long weekender Penn Route 6 trip. Of course there's construction on the 401 between the two Hyw 6's (north and south) Aruggggg, from last night. The worse part was after waiting in the backup for 30 mins, and as I passed the work zone, they were clearing up the pylons and just finishing. Can't win at all sometimes.
After that and a quick coffee at one of the new 401 rest stops, hey, gotta say I like them, a choice of either Starbucks and Timmies and some of those comfortable couchie seats make for a nice relaxing rest stop. Since I've been down to St Thomas before, from all the times of going down to the Port Burwell run and race, I kind of know the area so no problems finding the place.
That and using Google street view ;-) just to make sure.
Juan (the owner) had just stepped out for coffee, damn, just a couple of mins earlier and I could have placed my order. But it gave me a chance to talk to another customer about his trailer. He just got his installed last weekend and was back to get some longer bolts so his saddle bags would hang better, they were not there(the saddle bags) during the install and with adding longer hitch bolts as the ones installed were just a touch too short. Nice to see the shop stepping up to fix a problem that was not there during the install but showed up afterwards.
While Juan dealt with this I headed over to the dreaded local "Service Ontario" location to get my trailer plate. Nothing says busy as a store that's only open till 1 pm, for everyone who works normal weekday hours to cram in on a Saturday morning. So after a 1/2 hour in line for that plate it's back to third wheel for the install. Up on the bench and on with the hitch install.
I went with a DMC hitch, a nice bit of kit, and the U part of the hitch is removable so you'll hardly even know it's there.
Not my bike but you get the idea!
DMC also does sidecars and sidecar mounts and trailers. Here's the link, so go and give them a visit.
http://www.dmcsidecars.com/
The hitch is actually a really easy install as it uses the brackets and bolts/nuts already there. Now to the electrics, I'm not a big fan of splicing, so I was happy to see that the wiring kit came with jumper plugs. Unplug the connection for the bulb, plug in the jumper and connect both back and the wiring is done. Connect a power lead to the battery for the relay and your done. Sounds easy but it takes a little longer than it sounds.
Before
Juan tested everything before we put it all back together. Juan went though everything with me, paid the bill (which is really the hardest part) and now off for some riding.
Just outside of Port Burwell
Handling wise, the third wheel trailer is just so much better than the "Inder" on the MP3, except to that Pav copy style, it does look good. But otherwise there really is no comparison. The Inder would not have worked on the beemer on so many different levels, from handling to actually hitching it up, electrics, etc. It was easier just to start new and go from there, and that's how I ended up with this lovely trailer. It's also great to be able to support a local business.
Since I've got to be at work at 7:30am the next day for work I can only take the long way home from St Thomas. I wanted to head over to the Canadian "Twisted Throttle" store, but they close at 2 pm and that's when the install was all done. So I guess it's down to Lake Eire and a trip to Port Burwell and Port Dover. This time I tried to keep more to Lakeshore rd- The waterfront trail instead of the usual race home from the Burwell rally. What a nice surprise the waterfront trail is, you go through all these great little port towns along Lake Eire and some of the views are breath taking. I'll take more pics next time. I can't wait as this will be the start/first part of my big west coast trip in the fall.
Port Dover was it's usual busy biker self. Since Rich was away in Niagara Falls with the kids, I decided to head up to Hewitt's Ice cream outside of Haggersville for one last stop. I've always driven by as it looked busy, but this time I decided to give it a try.
So I joined the rather long line up for some ice cream, then from here it's back up Hyw 6 and back on the slab to home. Sorry I couldn't stop by for a visit (Both Dave and the slowly healing Fish). But considering the construction on the Gardiner I got home rather quick. Overall a great day of riding and I squeezed in as much as I could.
Things just seem to be coming together for my weekender on Hyw 6 in Penn, from getting the trailer this week to Scoots O swap meet being on the Saturday and the weather forecast being perfect. Even my selection of off days this upcoming week make out for a 4 day weekend, well after I used a single day vacation that is.
Wonder why I want to do this ride? I've done/seen bits of it going down to PVSC and the Gettysburg runs, plus it's listed on most motorcycle ride sites, so here's a link that let's you know why it's such a great road:
Pennsylvania/Grand-Army-of-the-Republic-Highway---Route-6-(PA)
4 days off with an early 6 am start, so this should be one fun ride. Looks like the first night I will be staying at the lovely Smethport Motel in, you guessed it "Smethport, PA" I've stayed here before, when we ride down to the Gettysburg scooter run. It's cheap and clean and not much else, but sometimes that's all you want.
It's central enough to some of the things that I want to do that day, Zippo museum, but this time buy some of the things they had on sale and also do Route 666 and pick up a /t shirt. Good breakfast in town as well. The day after we'll take it as it comes.
Well that's about all for now, 2 updates in less than a week. That must mean it's riding season!!!!!
Cheers,
Tross
After that and a quick coffee at one of the new 401 rest stops, hey, gotta say I like them, a choice of either Starbucks and Timmies and some of those comfortable couchie seats make for a nice relaxing rest stop. Since I've been down to St Thomas before, from all the times of going down to the Port Burwell run and race, I kind of know the area so no problems finding the place.
Juan (the owner) had just stepped out for coffee, damn, just a couple of mins earlier and I could have placed my order. But it gave me a chance to talk to another customer about his trailer. He just got his installed last weekend and was back to get some longer bolts so his saddle bags would hang better, they were not there(the saddle bags) during the install and with adding longer hitch bolts as the ones installed were just a touch too short. Nice to see the shop stepping up to fix a problem that was not there during the install but showed up afterwards.
While Juan dealt with this I headed over to the dreaded local "Service Ontario" location to get my trailer plate. Nothing says busy as a store that's only open till 1 pm, for everyone who works normal weekday hours to cram in on a Saturday morning. So after a 1/2 hour in line for that plate it's back to third wheel for the install. Up on the bench and on with the hitch install.
I went with a DMC hitch, a nice bit of kit, and the U part of the hitch is removable so you'll hardly even know it's there.
DMC also does sidecars and sidecar mounts and trailers. Here's the link, so go and give them a visit.
http://www.dmcsidecars.com/
The hitch is actually a really easy install as it uses the brackets and bolts/nuts already there. Now to the electrics, I'm not a big fan of splicing, so I was happy to see that the wiring kit came with jumper plugs. Unplug the connection for the bulb, plug in the jumper and connect both back and the wiring is done. Connect a power lead to the battery for the relay and your done. Sounds easy but it takes a little longer than it sounds.
Before
 |
| After |
 |
| After |
Juan tested everything before we put it all back together. Juan went though everything with me, paid the bill (which is really the hardest part) and now off for some riding.
Handling wise, the third wheel trailer is just so much better than the "Inder" on the MP3, except to that Pav copy style, it does look good. But otherwise there really is no comparison. The Inder would not have worked on the beemer on so many different levels, from handling to actually hitching it up, electrics, etc. It was easier just to start new and go from there, and that's how I ended up with this lovely trailer. It's also great to be able to support a local business.
Since I've got to be at work at 7:30am the next day for work I can only take the long way home from St Thomas. I wanted to head over to the Canadian "Twisted Throttle" store, but they close at 2 pm and that's when the install was all done. So I guess it's down to Lake Eire and a trip to Port Burwell and Port Dover. This time I tried to keep more to Lakeshore rd- The waterfront trail instead of the usual race home from the Burwell rally. What a nice surprise the waterfront trail is, you go through all these great little port towns along Lake Eire and some of the views are breath taking. I'll take more pics next time. I can't wait as this will be the start/first part of my big west coast trip in the fall.
Port Dover was it's usual busy biker self. Since Rich was away in Niagara Falls with the kids, I decided to head up to Hewitt's Ice cream outside of Haggersville for one last stop. I've always driven by as it looked busy, but this time I decided to give it a try.
So I joined the rather long line up for some ice cream, then from here it's back up Hyw 6 and back on the slab to home. Sorry I couldn't stop by for a visit (Both Dave and the slowly healing Fish). But considering the construction on the Gardiner I got home rather quick. Overall a great day of riding and I squeezed in as much as I could.
Grand Army of the Republic Highway ride
Things just seem to be coming together for my weekender on Hyw 6 in Penn, from getting the trailer this week to Scoots O swap meet being on the Saturday and the weather forecast being perfect. Even my selection of off days this upcoming week make out for a 4 day weekend, well after I used a single day vacation that is.
Wonder why I want to do this ride? I've done/seen bits of it going down to PVSC and the Gettysburg runs, plus it's listed on most motorcycle ride sites, so here's a link that let's you know why it's such a great road:
Pennsylvania/Grand-Army-of-the-Republic-Highway---Route-6-(PA)
4 days off with an early 6 am start, so this should be one fun ride. Looks like the first night I will be staying at the lovely Smethport Motel in, you guessed it "Smethport, PA" I've stayed here before, when we ride down to the Gettysburg scooter run. It's cheap and clean and not much else, but sometimes that's all you want.
It's central enough to some of the things that I want to do that day, Zippo museum, but this time buy some of the things they had on sale and also do Route 666 and pick up a /t shirt. Good breakfast in town as well. The day after we'll take it as it comes.
Well that's about all for now, 2 updates in less than a week. That must mean it's riding season!!!!!
Cheers,
Tross
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