Moving my mojo down the road

Last week, Sept. 6, I decided to ride out to the Valley as Chapter 1836 was doing their weekly ride out to about Mile 100 or so to a place called Grandview. I wasn't going to go there, but figured I'd say hi, and maybe ride a ways.

Miss Scarlett was not behaving properly. She seemed to be falling off and riding out of the curves, and when I used the front brake, was wobbling. I thought the tire needed changing and the brake was having an issue.

When I arrived at Denali Harley-Davidson, where the group meets to ride, I was yapping about it. Three of the guys came to look at it and discovered that the front wheel bearing seal was totally gone, as were nearly all of the little bearings. The bike was dangerous, not rideable and I was lucky to have not been in an accident.

As usual, I depend upon the kindness of strangers. Ron, who I just met there, packed me on his bike to where he lives, we took a trailer, loaded up my bike and took it to his place, and he then drove me home, all the way back to Anchorage. It was a nice thing to do, and I certainly appreciated it.

Going to get the vehicle and trailer.  Yes, I was on a mostly blue bike with flames, but I was grateful to Ron for the ride not only to get the trailer but to get me home to Anchorage (photo by Dee).

Ron took Miss Scarlett to the shop the next morning and they replaced the bearing, seal and the tire … guess wheel bearings don't wear out that often, or so I'm told. Birdie was going to the Valley so she drove me to the shop to pick up the bike.

DHD also told me to get the inner primary bearing replaced as that was also going bad. And if it it does, it goes through the engine and I'm off the road til it's fixed. Anchorage House of Harley-Davidson took care of that one on Saturday during the ice cream social and launch of the new 2013 bikes. Wahoo. Miss Scarlett sounds and acts more like her old self now.

A beautiful day for a ride.  Miss Scarlett is herself again.

On Monday (Sept. 10), I decided to do a mojo test to see if the wheel and tire were my problem. Off I went up the Richardson, through the curves near the Kings River, Caribou Creek and north. It was a fantabulous day with the colors out in full force, the temperatures moderate and the traffic only a little annoying. Seems I got it back … riding mojo is 100 percent intact.