Spare parts to INZANE

[MarcusS]

This will be my first long ride out of state. I have done several 1000 mile weekends but am considering what spares I should take to INZANE. Then I thought about all my friends going and determined that we probably are duplicating efforts. We probably will have dozens of the same parts. To save weight, we should pool our efforts. My bike is down now waiting on an alternator and I have several spare parts that I was planning to take. I just replaced the whole petcock so the top had kit should probably come out of my side bag unless someone else along the road needs it. I also have a new u-joint that I planned to throw in. I am interested in what other parts will be making the trip? I ordered a second Goldwing alternator today just to be sure at least one shows up so by the first of June I should have a spare alternator. I have met several riders that carry a spare alternator and would like to know if I should plan on packing mine. I have heard several reports of the new HITACHI units taking a dump with low hours. Let me know what spares you plan on packing and would be willing to unload in a bind.

Received the first alternator that I ordered today and let it fall in. Took longer to replace the front cover and engine hangers than to install the alt. Started working right away up to 13.7 V at 2500 RPM. New unit looks very Chinese an and the finish on the dampener flange was rough. I took a sander to it just to smooth out the edges so it would slide into the dampeners without cutting them. Took me about two or three stabs to get in in.

How does the kick stand spring and bolt fail? Is it from bottoming out. I ripped one off putting bike on trailer once.

[Red Diamond]

I carry a spare alternator (if I don't forget it) and a few tools, that's it.

[Skinhead]

I carry:

spare alternator, spare u-joint, spare bearings, rear wheel o-rings, thrust washer, throttle cables, clutch and brake levers, kickstand spring and bolt.

[RainMaker]

Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff.

[R J]

243K miles on MGM and I have NEVER hauled spare parts around.

Since I Triked him out, I still do not plan on hauling spare parts.

Spare parts take up too much room and doesn't leave room for any suds.

[mrider]

I catty a plug kit for my tires, wrenches to change tire if i have to and spare fuses,oh and the most important......road service

[f-Stop]

First and foremost, make sure all your general maintenance is current.  Figure out how many miles you plan to ride and if something on your maintenance schedule will be needing attention within that mileage window, then perform that particular maintenance before you leave. 
Here's an example of me not doing what I just said…

Story:  I figured I had about 1500-2000 miles left on this tire before leaving for InZane in 2012.  Eureka Springs is reasonably close and I estimated I would ride less than 2000 miles round trip…duh…!!!  I was lucky to make it home…

Last year I rode right at 4400 miles round trip to LaCrosse and beyond.  New bearings, new seals, new tires, new vacuum lines and all maintenance up to snuff before leaving.  I carried a new Cover Set, U-joint, kick stand Spring and kick stand Bolt. 

I always carry a spare headlight bulb, turn signal bulbs and fuses along with a tire repair kit, air pump and valve stem core.  Plus, I carry some extra tools (beyond the factory tool kit) and cleaning supplies.

This year my InZane trip should be just under 3000 miles.  I plan to bring all the aforementioned items for the trip.

I've been fortunate enough to not have a major breakdown on any of my long trips - I believe that says a lot about keeping the general maintenance current.   

Well, that just about sums up my 2¢

Oh yeah, ride safe!

 

[LandElephant]

Marcus,

How much space do you have?  Or better yet, what has failed lately that makes you think you need to carry a parts store with you?

I would think now that you replaced the alternator, if you need the necessary maintenance on your rear spines, got good rubber on front and back, and no battery issue, then I'd take a plug kit or ropes for a flat and a small electric pump (can get at Walmart) and ride the freaking snot out of your M/C.

Are you riding with anyone to Inzane?

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[R J]

Marcus,

How much space do you have?  Or better yet, what has failed lately that makes you think you need to carry a parts store with you?

I would think now that you replaced the alternator, if you need the necessary maintenance on your rear spines, got good rubber on front and back, and no battery issue, then I'd take a plug kit or ropes for a flat and a small electric pump (can get at Walmart) and ride the freaking snot out of your M/C.

Are you riding with anyone to Inzane?

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Anyone hauling a Parts Store with them, is just losing space to haul real accessories.

In all the miles on MGM all he has had carried is a little air pump and a string plugging tool and GLUE.

In 243K+, I can only remember 1 part I broke on any of my numerous trips.    That was a speedo cable, now who in the hell is going to haul one of them with them?       I rode on into this little town, and there set a Kawasaki/Suzuki dealership.

Took my old cable in with me, the parts guy looked at me and asked what it was out of.    Told him a Valkyrie, he said we don't carry parts for that bike.   Told him I was aware of that, but 90% of the speedo cables are alike, just different lengths.

Finally talked him into going back and looking.    About 5 minutes later here he came with a cable.   It was like an 1/8" shorter, but it worked and to this day it is still in MGM.

So, I was delayed like 45 minutes total.   Another time on my way back from Alaska, I cut the rear tire in the face. Immediate loss of air.     Rode it about 12 miles on a flat tire.    Tire was worthless anyway, so I figured if it will make it to town, I'll get another tire and borrow some tools to remove the wheel.    Dealership was real nice, they stuck me on their lift right away and had the wheel off in like 20 minutes or maybe less.

They mounted me another car tire, the place they bought their tires from warranted my tire.    Back on the road in less than an hour.   Watched as he mounted the rear wheel and he installed it in the correct sequence of tightening.   Found out he had gone to Honda school but that job fell through.

So as I said earlier, why  carry a parts store with ya.   Parts are still available in most Honda stores for this bike.    Hell bells, I never hauled spare parts even when I pulled my trailer.   Whoops, told a fib there, I did carry a spare tire for the trailer.    Wheel and all.

One time in the deep South headed for Daytona, I had a Trooper pull me over.   I stopped and knew what he wanted before he got to the bike.   The trailer would stand up straight at speed, but when I stopped it drooped on the flat tire.   He walked up and said are you aware you have a flat tire on the trailer.    I said I am now.

He told me he saw me slow down for traffic and the trailer was tilted to the left, I pulled out to stop you and I got caught in traffic and didn't see the need to use the lights or siren.   Then I noticed if you got up to speed the trailer stood back up.    Asked him where a good place was to change the tire.    He said right here, I'll position my Cruiser over into part of the traffic lane.   Told him thanks but no thanks, I'd rather be off the traveled road.   We went on down about 2 miles to a rest area.    Nice guy, he helped get the trailer on a jack and helped take the lug nuts off.

So like I have said before, why do you need a traveling parts store??????????

Peace.

Let me ask a question please.

When you take a family trip, do you haul a sheet load of spare parts with ya??

[RainMaker]

RJ

Most of the time, I agree with you but in this case, not so much.

I started hauling "parts" after reading of people being stuck for a day or more in locations and posting on the board, asking if anyone could help.  Just last year, I sent a u-joint via overnight bus cargo to Early Bird as he was stuck in a town without a Honda shop and having his trip possibly interrupted by 2 days to get a part in from the mothership.  On a Britman Memorial Day Ride, we had a guy who's alternator went out while we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Sunday morning.  Sure, we could have left him there but I had an alternator in the bag so an hour or so later, we're back on the road.

Yes, it takes up space in the bag.  But I'm pretty self-sufficient by having the tools and parts to take care of a flat tire, bad alternator, kickstand spring, broken throttle cable, fuel petcock, bad u-joint or a burned out headlight with me.  And each part I carry has been the subject of a road breakdown I've read about on this forum that kept someone from completing a trip. 

My alternator may last forever and I may never have to use any of the parts while on the road.  But I'm ready.

As for travelling in the cage, I do carry a full tool kit and road flares.  The car tends to be smarter than the Valkyrie and lets me know when something is about to go wrong with all the sensors and computers it has.  It tells me when to change the oil...... heck, it's time to change the oil on the Vallk!

Later

RainMaker

[R J]

Yup Rainmaker, I suppose ya could geet stuck in the Boonies in Texas.

Up here in God's Country, we have help very close to any breakdown.   LOL.

Peace Bro.

You haul what ya want, I'll just call you if I need a part.......    LOL....   

[MarcusS]

Land Elephant,
I am ridding up to Inzane with Early bird Saturday morning. When were your planning on heading out?
I see the point with not carrying things you can pick up on the way. Tires and batteries can be got. The hard to get things like petcock covers and u-joints are not stocked at many dealers.
I do carry a mushroom plug kit and compressor on my valk. The jumper cables under my seat came in real handy when my alt went out two weeks ago. After jump charging for two minutes I road home with my thump on the starter button to keep the lights off. You can ride a lot further without lights. Just don't put it in neutral. It took me several days to get the new alternator. With the bike in my garage I really did not care but on the road things are different. I now have a spare alt in my garage.

My truck also has plug kit , larger high volume compressor along with about 200 pounds of other stuff like star wrench cables, tow strap, extinguisher, air mattress blower, bolt cutters, grease gun, Ice chest with case of water, every trailer hitch electrical adapter made and most important a large bottle of Rolaid's .



My bike came with spare fuses so why carry more?

No one answered my question about the kick stand spring. What breaks?

[HayHauler]

The bolt on the spring becomes weak after years of up and downs.   When the bolt breaks the spring shoots to parts unknown.  I used a bungee to keep it up until I got a replacement.  Now I carry one of each.  I also carry small things like bearings, seals, cover set, fuses, plug kit, and lots of tools.  They have come in handy to help others out on the road. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[RainMaker]

Yup Rainmaker, I suppose ya could geet stuck in the Boonies in Texas.

Up here in God's Country, we have help very close to any breakdown.   LOL.

Peace Bro.

You haul what ya want, I'll just call you if I need a part.......    LOL....   

If you need a part and I got it, it's yours, bro.

RM

[R J]

Yup Rainmaker, I suppose ya could geet stuck in the Boonies in Texas.

Up here in God's Country, we have help very close to any breakdown.   LOL.

Peace Bro.

You haul what ya want, I'll just call you if I need a part.......    LOL....   

If you need a part and I got it, it's yours, bro.

RM

RM, thanks for the offer, I doubt I'll need one, but if I do I'll look ya up.

[john]

            " Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff   "                   

[Disco]

Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff.

Yes they are.      All four of them.   

But if you need a dead-blow hammer, you'll want to be riding with HayHauler...   

[RainMaker]

Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff.

Yes they are.      All four of them.   

But if you need a dead-blow hammer, you'll want to be riding with HayHauler...   

I got one of those - I'll go put it in the bag now!

[R J]

Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff.

Yes they are.      All four of them.   

But if you need a dead-blow hammer, you'll want to be riding with HayHauler...   

I got one of those - I'll go put it in the bag now!

Where ya'll pack your clothes, or do you just take one pair of pants, 1 shirt and 5 pair of under garments?

A buddy of mine used to travel that way.

We always had to stop at a Motel that had Courtesy laundry, pick up at your door after 7:00 PM and return to your room door around 5:00 AM.

[RainMaker]

Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff.

Yes they are.      All four of them.   

But if you need a dead-blow hammer, you'll want to be riding with HayHauler...   

I got one of those - I'll go put it in the bag now!

Where ya'll pack your clothes, or do you just take one pair of pants, 1 shirt and 5 pair of under garments?

A buddy of mine used to travel that way.

We always had to stop at a Motel that had Courtesy laundry, pick up at your door after 7:00 PM and return to your room door around 5:00 AM.

Clothing, shaving kit and computer all fit in the other saddlebag.  Men don't need a lot of extra stuff!

2 week trips will require a stop at a laundromat, so just find one with wifi and catch up on email.  No biggie.

Hey, RJ,  watch for a PM.

RainMaker

[R J]

Just ride with ValkPilot.  His saddlebags are full of stuff.

Yes they are.      All four of them.   

But if you need a dead-blow hammer, you'll want to be riding with HayHauler...   

I got one of those - I'll go put it in the bag now!

Where ya'll pack your clothes, or do you just take one pair of pants, 1 shirt and 5 pair of under garments?

A buddy of mine used to travel that way.

We always had to stop at a Motel that had Courtesy laundry, pick up at your door after 7:00 PM and return to your room door around 5:00 AM.

Clothing, shaving kit and computer all fit in the other saddlebag.  Men don't need a lot of extra stuff!

2 week trips will require a stop at a laundromat, so just find one with wifi and catch up on email.  No biggie.

Hey, RJ,  watch for a PM.

RainMaker

Got PM, you look for one in response.