Fun with the Valk Today

[RainMaker]

I have not been on my Valk for about 3 months due to back problems but today, I decided to get her out and go get the state mandated inspection done and get ready for a ride with the DFW group tomorrow.

I have been keeping the carbs ungummed with Stabil and running it every 2 weeks.  But when I put the key in today, it was zip flat dead.  Quick check found the voltage at 11 volts.  So put the charger on it and the charger went crazy.  Checked the battery again and it was 7 volts.  Well, that's a dead boy.

I had my original 16 year old battery on the bench as it had never really died - I use it for testing stuff on the bench.  So I checked voltage - it had 12.5 volts.  Stuck it back in the bike and it started up.  16 year old Yuasa.  So after letting it idle and warm up, figured it needed some time to fully charge (and it's 16 years old) so kept it running, not daring to shut it off.  Backed out and off to the inspection place we rode.  Felt so good being in the wind.

I get to the place and line up.  Out comes a guy who I can't remember ever seeing saying "hey, you're back again".  So I told him "I come once a year to get inspected".  He comments I didn't have the Cobra floorboards on the last time and I said they had been on for 12 years.  Again, this guy is sure he knows me and my Interstate.  He says "OK, I'll take it from here to test the brakes".  This is a first.  I've never had anyone ride the bike into the bay or check the brakes.  I ask why this has changed and he tells me of his 30 years of motorcycle riding, that he always does this, etc.  I've been to this place before and it's never happened this way, but I finally agreed after he said that if he doesn't check the brakes, he can't pass it.  So off I come, he climbs aboard.  Now, he heads around the inspection station towards the back of the place but never gets there - he can't turn the bike and heads towards a parking lot rail, pops over a large curb and misses this rail by inches, falling off the left side of the bike but putting his leg up to keep it from falling on him.  I run over to keep the bike from falling but now it's on opposite sides of a 5" curb that the left brake rotor is all but sitting on.  He's telling me how he couldn't get the clutch to disengage, he'd never dropped a bike, etc. and I'm just trying not to let the bike fall, although letting it squash the idiot was an appealing thought.   He tries to lift the front end over the curb but we knew that wasn't going to work.  With my back just barely operating, I'm not going to lift it so he gets two other guys from his shop and they pick up the front end and place it on the side where the rear tire lives.  I remount and tell him I will be riding into the service bay, he is welcome to watch me stop the bike when I do but he will not be riding it any further.  Then I notice the key is on, the lights are burning and the 16 year old battery has drained to the point of not starting anything.  I let it sit for about 5 minutes, mostly for me to cool down, then pushed it so I could have a running start and did the bump start to get the motor running.  

The guy who almost dropped the bike immediately put me in the inspection lane, gave it the shortest inspection ever and was smart enough not to charge me for the inspection.  I returned home and after about 45 minutes, returned to a rational level and began my calls to the owners of the business with my story.

I am not sure what will happen to the pro bike rider at the inspection place, but I do know I'll never know as I shall not darken their door again.

There were no Valkyries injured during this story, but it was too damn close.  Getting a new battery tomorrow and putting the 16 year old one back on the bench.

[cookiedough]

gee, so glad I live in WI where no inspections are needed.

I would think having another person being a safety inspector caused an accident,  their company would be held liable for damages to your bike if NOTHING was found wrong with the bike while he/she was driving it??  Maybe not???

am impressed a 16 year old battery still had over 12 volts.  It may once fully charged right away after battery charging it, but usually will drop below 12 volts once rested say 5-6 hours later or so.  I have NEVER gotten over 7 years on any battery, even a YUASA, with the norm being 5 years usually.

[Jess from VA]

Our inspection stations (gas stations) don't let you drive your car in, and I can understand with women plowing into the back wall, tool boxes, heaters, etc.  But they always let you back out.  However, never have I had an inspection guy want to ride my bike in.  Mostly they just stare at it and say... holy mackerel, that thing is a monster.   I've been going to the same Korean station for many years.  They are great on cars, and don't know a damn thing about bikes, which is just how I like it.

Years ago, an independent bike shop wrecked my Hog on an after repair checkout ride.  I had been told to come get it, and was at the counter asking where my bike was, and the guy behind the counter's eyes got wide, he backed up and asked me if I was an excitable type.  I knew right there something was rotten in Denmark.

Next time you're over at that inspection station, if that guy is still there, tell him you want to take his car for a spin and test the brakes for him.    

[RainMaker]

gee, so glad I live in WI where no inspections are needed.

I would think having another person being a safety inspector caused an accident,  their company would be held liable for damages to your bike if NOTHING was found wrong with the bike while he/she was driving it??  Maybe not???

am impressed a 16 year old battery still had over 12 volts.  It may once fully charged right away after battery charging it, but usually will drop below 12 volts once rested say 5-6 hours later or so.  I have NEVER gotten over 7 years on any battery, even a YUASA, with the norm being 5 years usually.

The teenager battery was sitting on the bench and had not been on a tender or a charger for 6 or more months.  I was surprised as well.  Glad it gave me one more ride today.

[Hook#3287]

It's crazy the inspector HAS to ride the bike to check the brakes.  Visual inspection should do it and liability for damage in a situation, such as you had, would make me give up inspections, if I owned a shop and the state decided this was procedure. ???

Has any one else run across this "I have to ride the bike" inspection or did this single inspector decide it was not optional?

I find it hard to believe the state inspectors dept would mandate that. 

[BnB Tom]

 I get my inspections done at a motorcycle dealership..  same price.. more experienced inspectors. 

[cutter]

Never had anyone ask to ride the bike for an inspection.

[Jopson]

Sounds like the guy just had a hard on for your Valk, and just wanted to ride it! Well done for keeping your cool though Rainmaker! Lesser men wouldn't have been so civil!!

[da prez]

  I had a yuasa in my wing for at least 16 years. I will make a suggestion here and hope no one that tries it gets hurt.
  In one of my certification classes , batteries, I posed this question to the instructor. Motorcycle batteries crap out in a couple of years , why. The plates flake off and short out. (short version of story) First we checked fluid level.  We put m/c battery on a charger with a jump start mode for about a minute. We then put on a slow charge for the day (got there before class) and tested it at the end of the day. It took and held the charge. This was my 16 plus year old battery.
  Second method I have not tried. A friend had an old golf cart with 8V batteries at a cost of $150.00 each. He read where they are drained and flushed , filled with epsom salt solution (if I remember right) and a special charging sequence to save the batteries. At last contact with him , they were working two years later.
                                           da prez 

[RainMaker]

  I had a yuasa in my wing for at least 16 years. I will make a suggestion here and hope no one that tries it gets hurt.
  In one of my certification classes , batteries, I posed this question to the instructor. Motorcycle batteries crap out in a couple of years , why. The plates flake off and short out. (short version of story) First we checked fluid level.  We put m/c battery on a charger with a jump start mode for about a minute. We then put on a slow charge for the day (got there before class) and tested it at the end of the day. It took and held the charge. This was my 16 plus year old battery.
  Second method I have not tried. A friend had an old golf cart with 8V batteries at a cost of $150.00 each. He read where they are drained and flushed , filled with epsom salt solution (if I remember right) and a special charging sequence to save the batteries. At last contact with him , they were working two years later.
                                           da prez 

I bought the new battery but, just for fun, I tried the old battery this morning when it was 39 degrees and the bike had been setting for about 15 hours.  It started right up.  So I'm putting the new battery in the trunk, just in case and going for the ride today with the teenager battery.

Mark

[Jess Tolbirt]

when i got my inspections in Tx the inspector would walk out to the bike with me and he would do a walk around and say left turn, right turn, stop, hi beam, low beam,, then slap a sticker on it..

[old2soon]

I go to a M/C repair shop or my inspections. The owner is a Rider. He has NEVER asked to ride my M/C to check anything. All lights horn checks tire tread depth. Done!  RIDE SAFE.

[Tailgate Tommy]

All I can say RainMaker is that you are better man than I am. Good job not killing that guy!

[Valker]

Guy tried to do that to me for inspection. He said it was required. I work with and am on first name basis with the entire staff at DPS motorcycle staff in Austin. I said, "Let's see". Speed dialed DPS headquarters, told them the situation and asked them to clarify the procedure to this man. No further issues.