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How much truth there is in the saying, "Know your motorcycle."
Rode my 400 to work for the first time yesterday. Since I work in a so-so neighborhood in a small city, I decided to lock it up tight -- handlebars, ignition key cover, the works. I never take that much trouble at home.
You experienced folks can see this one coming, right? :wink:
I accidentally locked the handlebars in the position that engages the parking lights, then went to work for 8 hours. I totally forgot that the handlebar lock has two positions -- one that leaves the lights on, and one that does not.
From this embarrassing event, I learned the following:
1. Be careful which handlebar lock position you choose. Be doubly-careful in broad daylight, where it's harder to notice that your lights are on.
2. If you need to jumpstart a 400, it's best to use cables that have small alligator clips. Large clips barely fit in the glove compartment (or "front trunk" as Suzuki calls it). We worked around the problem by using two of the Philips-head screw drivers from the Burgman's tool kit as an extension of the 'gator clips -- grabbed a driver in each clip, then held the philips heads against the battery contacts. McGuyver would have been proud, but it wasn't terribly safe. Ideally, one might consider re-fiitting the battery contacts with tabs of some sort that any clip can grab with ease.
3. If jumping your 'cycle from a car battery, DO NOT start the car. The car's alternator will push too much juice to your ride. Merely connecting the two batteries with a cable is sufficient to jump your Burgman.
Actually, I learned a fourth thing, too -- even experienced riders are only human. I was assisted by several solicitous co-workers, one of whom has ridden motorcycles for 40 years. He cheered me with a tale of recently going on a group ride and getting about 20 miles down the road before his bike simply quit -- because he'd forgotten to turn on the gas valve. Says he still hasn't lived it down among his buddies.
--Chris :lol:
Rode my 400 to work for the first time yesterday. Since I work in a so-so neighborhood in a small city, I decided to lock it up tight -- handlebars, ignition key cover, the works. I never take that much trouble at home.
You experienced folks can see this one coming, right? :wink:
I accidentally locked the handlebars in the position that engages the parking lights, then went to work for 8 hours. I totally forgot that the handlebar lock has two positions -- one that leaves the lights on, and one that does not.
From this embarrassing event, I learned the following:
1. Be careful which handlebar lock position you choose. Be doubly-careful in broad daylight, where it's harder to notice that your lights are on.
2. If you need to jumpstart a 400, it's best to use cables that have small alligator clips. Large clips barely fit in the glove compartment (or "front trunk" as Suzuki calls it). We worked around the problem by using two of the Philips-head screw drivers from the Burgman's tool kit as an extension of the 'gator clips -- grabbed a driver in each clip, then held the philips heads against the battery contacts. McGuyver would have been proud, but it wasn't terribly safe. Ideally, one might consider re-fiitting the battery contacts with tabs of some sort that any clip can grab with ease.
3. If jumping your 'cycle from a car battery, DO NOT start the car. The car's alternator will push too much juice to your ride. Merely connecting the two batteries with a cable is sufficient to jump your Burgman.
Actually, I learned a fourth thing, too -- even experienced riders are only human. I was assisted by several solicitous co-workers, one of whom has ridden motorcycles for 40 years. He cheered me with a tale of recently going on a group ride and getting about 20 miles down the road before his bike simply quit -- because he'd forgotten to turn on the gas valve. Says he still hasn't lived it down among his buddies.
--Chris :lol:
