Subject: I did it!!! First street ride
Author: AJ Huff
Date: May 2, 2005, 9:19 AM
Post ID: 1718798721
I did it!! Finally I rode the bike for the first time on the street. Passed
my MSF basic skills class yesterday. Went to the DMV this morning and got
legit. Now I just needed to get the bike to start.
After seeing John Ulrich's question to me about the pet cocks, I shut both
of them last night. No start this morning though. So I swapped Pat Hayes'
recommended Bosch plugs BACK into the bike and it started right up. Coughed
and sputtered and I had to keep it at a high idle but I figured that was
from the sitting and flooding. I'm hopeful that the more I ride the easier
and better it will start/idle. Shut it off and grabbed my stuff. Cranked it
back up. It started again!!! Took off down the driveway. Like Joel said I
had to leave the enrichner on for a good ten minutes but finally got under
way without it. Patience is a virtue.
Road around the "block" about 2 miles at 35 mph. Got up to 3rd gear once.
Woohoo!! Didn't like the freezing rain though.
I don't know if you guys remember my confusion and difficulty in getting
the bike to go off in first gear. I thougth that toe down was first and
heel down was second, but I figured it out. Heel down is first. Toe down is
2nd, 3rd, 4th. I feel less stupid now.
John or somebody, please tell me more about the pet cocks. I checked that
both were off when I shut the bike off.
Thanks everyone for putting up with me. Unlike most of you I didn't start
riding when I was in my teens but at 34 and only for 2 days now. And I know
absolutely no one with a bike. I wanted one and a Guzzi Ambo is what I
wanted and that is what I got! So if I seem inane at times, bear with me.
I'll be glad to help the next guys like me.
-AJ
AJ Huff
'71 Ambassador
Three Rivers, MI
MGNOC# 19917