First Motorcycle Ride of the Year

OK, so it was just to put air in the tires, but it was still under its own power.

...

I've been starting and idling the bike for a while now, trying to get it to behave and turn the headlamp on. Today I decided to take it off the framestand and keep it from bouncing around so much as it idles. Of course, the back tire was a little flat. I decided to risk it the few blocks to the gas station and add some air to the tires.

I carefully meandered the alley way, and on the non-busy street side of our block blew a little smoke out the back as I accelerated, trying to shake out the kinks. She wobbled a little on the flat tire, but was pretty zippy all the same.

At one point I put my hand out in front and saw that the headlamp had turned on...one less thing to get pulled over for; I remembered that I'd not yet put the new tab on yet.

I made it directly to the gas station, pulled up to the air, and prepared for a quick fill. Of course, it happened that the air tube was between the back forks. I popped the bike up on the frame stand, spun the wheel, and added some air. The stand didn't have a pressure gauge, so I ambled inside to borrow one from the attendant. A few more pumps and a full 40psi bloated both the front and back tires.

She responded much more solidly on the way home. I blasted around the block, still trying to blow some of the winter out of the pipes, before returning to the garage.

I parked and let it idle for a long time while I finished some outdoor chores. After a little while I went into the house and retrieved the new tab. I turned off the bike and set about doing some more things in the house.

Unfortunately, I think it's supposed to snow again tomorrow.