daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
I finally got the rear shoe fit properly for Kiki! The new Pirelli MT60 tire looks great, and handles nicely. You have to take it easy when riding with a new tire until the surface gets a little roughened up, but I already love the new setup. And I think the cast wheel looks pretty sweet too!
Today, I took a ride out to Webberville, and on the way back, I stumbled upon The Sign Bar. I’d seen Instagram stories about this place but didn’t know its location, so it was a pleasant surprise to spot it by the road. It’s like a nostalgic walk down memory lane, showcasing signs from local businesses that have closed. A fun place to hang out!
Getting ready for a new wheelset.
Today, I gave Kiki a wash. It’s probably only the fifth time I’ve washed her in 14 years! I think dual sports like a GS look better dirty anyway. Of course, I keep the chain and moving parts clean and lubricated, but I don’t pay much attention to the bodywork. 😄
I also took a ride out to Taylor, Texas for a burger. Check out the motovlog if you get a chance!
I wanted to ride my motorcycle for longer distances, but I always worry about getting a flat far from home. This happened to me once before, and I couldn’t change the rear tube by myself. That rear tire is just a pain to get off the rim!
So, I bought a cast rear wheel to make repairing a puncture much easier. With most spoked rims, you need to use an inner tube inside the tire. To fix or replace the inner tube if you get a puncture, you have to remove the wheel from the bike and then the tire from the wheel. But with a cast rim, you can go tubeless and simply plug a small puncture using a plug kit without needing to remove the wheel from the bike.
Luckily, I found a cast rear wheel on eBay for only $120 (they go for about $1,200 new)! I’d love to find a front wheel as well, but honestly, the rear was more important because changing the tube on the front tire is much easier and requires less strength.
