Yamaha FZ-8

I realized that I was getting too old for my Yamaha R-6S, so I sold it, but I still had a thing for that Yamaha inline 4 engine. So, I decided to get a more civilized version. I’d sat on an FZ-8 at the Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, so I decided to look into one. I meant to buy a 2014, but got a 2013 model since I wasn’t paying attention and they look pretty similar. So I missed out on the adjustable fork, new muffler, and modified fuel injection curve, among other things. Oh well.

I’d read the Cycle World article on modify the FZ-8 and did some of the same things. As usual, I got an Ohlins shock for it. I installed on on my GSX Suzuki and liked it, so I decided to try again. I took the forks to RPE (formerly Vance & Hines) in Whittier and they sent them to a guy in Nevada who modifies them. I decided to leave the pipe alone since I heard that California is starting enforce modification laws more seriously and I don’t like loud pipes anyway. After my first sort of long ride I decided to get a Corbin saddle since Sergeant doesn’t have one off the shelf. I tried living with the saddle height, but finally had to admit that I’m short and got lowering links from Lust Engineering in the UK. These are expensive but they are steel and appear to be well made. I’d also installed the factory center stand so installing the lowering links was easy, especially since I cheated with a cordless impact wrench. Oh yes, the center stand installation wasn’t too bad, not like on the Suzuki where I feared for my life.

I’d also installed factory sliders instead of the steel wrap-around protectors and a radiator protector since the bike came without one. I put on a little MRA fairing to give me some protection. In stalled a cheap HID headlight that I found on Amazon, but I’m not very happy with it since it has a weird battery, I also had to butcher my headlight bulb gasket to install it. I might look into something better. The MRA fairing came from Twisted Throttle and I also got from them since Barkbusters for weather protection. It does get cold in California sometimes, at least it did when I was young.

Another trip to Texas

June 11-14, 2014 I drove to San Antonio in my new Subaru Crosstrek. Pretty much drove straight out there. Some pictures from another section of the Riverwalk are at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/SanAntonio2014/index.html

This time it’s the less commercial section, but it looks like they are working on it. Went through one neighborhood where there were a lot of artsy things in folks’s yards. The journey home was when I did some sightseeing, starting with the Langtry of Judge Roy Bean fame. Texas Highways maintains and staffs a nice visitor center in the middle of nowhere, complete with a desert garden. See:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/Langtry2014/index.html

Air conditioning, bathrooms and some interesting exhibits inside and outside of the visitor center. For that matter, the drive to Langtry was fairly pleasant and more interesting than the drive into San Antonio on the Interstate.

The next goal was Big Bend National Park. I entered the park near sunset and there were big dust storms and a thunderstorm coming so I turned around and found a campground outside of the park entrance on a side road It had showers and was half the price of the park campgrounds. Got some sprinkles and was treated to a pretty good light show in the distance. Had a nice car camping experience and I went back to the park the next day. The storms had cleared out and it was a nice hot day for visiting the park. I stopped at the first visitor center and got a map and asked for recommendations from the ranger. Other rangers at another visitor center told me I had picked the hottest time of the year to visit the park. With air conditioning and lots of Gatoraid, it wasn’t too bad. There are also a lot of microclimates in the park that offer relief from the heat. There are elevated sky islands, isolated elevated areas, that are quite pleasant and even on the desert floor there are some oasis areas that are nice and cool. It pays to follow some of the signs to see attractions that are not too far off the road. You probably don’t want to have your car break down while driving around in the hot areas, so make sure it’s in good shape if you’re going to visit in the summer. I did drive to Rio Grande, but the water was kind of high where you have to make a stream crossing to get to the start of a trail, so I decided to watch someone else make the crossing and just took pictures. My photos are at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/BigBend2014/index.html

I exited the park a little farther to the West and found a very cheap but suitable motel in Alpine. A big dust storm and more rain came through that night. Good night to be in a motel, even if you don’t have wifi.

I got up the next day to visit the Big Bend Museum at the local junior college. This was more of a heritage museum about life in the local area, but I like that sort of thing. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/BigBendMuseum2014/index.html

On the way out of town I was pleasantly surprised by Fort Davis National Historic Site. This was an army outpost in the old days and a number of buildings have been restored so you can get an idea of what life was like back then. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/FortDavis2014/index.html

Finally I was on my way to MacDonald Observatory. I managed to get into one of their tours and had a pretty good time there. One of the telescopes was used during the Apollo program and another has a very innovative design. Had some sprinkles, but not too bad. From where the observatories are you also have a really good view of the surrounding area. See:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/McDonald2014/index.html

I’d also just driven through El Paso, just staying at the Motel 6 and getting out again. This time I decided to see a little of it. To get an idea of what life was like there in the old days, I visited the Magoffin House. It reminded me of some of the old adobe ranches back near Los Angeles. I found it interesting and pictures are at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/Magoffin2014/index.html

Next I visited the art and history museums. I thought it was interesting that the Art Museum had a special exhibition on Global Warming. I guess the governor doesn’t get out that far. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/ElPaso2014/index.html

On the way out of El Paso I made a detour and visited the War Eagles Aviation Museum which is actually in New Mexico near the border. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/graphics2014/WarEagles2014/index.html

After that I really didn’t do much sightseeing. I had had some plans to visit some by reservation only observatories between Tucson and Phoenix, but I had to get home for some personal reasons, so I canceled that. Maybe next time.