Big hill, small scooter
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:57 pm
I made an appointment last week with my dealer for my 500 mile service (actually at 800) while I was off for the week. He is 18ish miles away across state line (I’m in NY he is in PA using Rt 16) and over a mountain. The main road going over the mountain was under repaving construction which also added some healthy shoulders and much needed guardrails. We have only driven in town so far and this was our first trip not only of this length but uphill for any length of time of this grade. I made a deal with my wife that I would drive there and she would tail me in the cage reversing on the way back.
I have to say it is like night and day driving in the country vs. town. The little dips and twists and huge temperature changes (morning) were really something to be appreciated. My uphill climb was entirely on new completed pavement and smooth as silk. The rumble strips haven’t been cut yet and traffic was really low. I think only 3 cars passed us on the way there and 2 on the way back. It was the best ride yet until we started going downhill and the construction ended. The PA side had zero shoulders, weeds growing into the road and potholes big enough to trap wild boar. I was going fast for a Buddy 50 and had to ride the brakes almost the whole way down. As you all know the front stock shocks suck and suck even further when going fast.
Got to the dealer and he couldn’t believe we drove over the hill. They are mainly a Husky dirt bike racing team shop but also service any bike and since they are in PA, they don’t care about de-restricting. They also have no concept of what should be done at 500 miles other than what you tell them to do. Don’t they get dealer shop training of some sort from Genuine? I did request a checklist in another thread to bring them but other than the standard stuff from the manual, they see it as, “It runs, it’s not broken, why are you here?” I changed my gear oil at 200 already so they were scratching their heads as what to do. $26 to remove the variator restrictor and install the spacer washer in the exhaust (I removed that restrictor day 1 myself).
They also informed me that they sold their business to a bigger shop across town and were going to work for them and they would pick up the Genuine dealership. I’m ok with that since their hours will be way better and it’s about a mile closer to me.
My wife rode home fully de-restricted and when she hit the downhill fresh pavement in NY I clocked her at 50+ actual mph and she was breaking a bit.
I need to hit some more country roads. Soon.
I have to say it is like night and day driving in the country vs. town. The little dips and twists and huge temperature changes (morning) were really something to be appreciated. My uphill climb was entirely on new completed pavement and smooth as silk. The rumble strips haven’t been cut yet and traffic was really low. I think only 3 cars passed us on the way there and 2 on the way back. It was the best ride yet until we started going downhill and the construction ended. The PA side had zero shoulders, weeds growing into the road and potholes big enough to trap wild boar. I was going fast for a Buddy 50 and had to ride the brakes almost the whole way down. As you all know the front stock shocks suck and suck even further when going fast.
Got to the dealer and he couldn’t believe we drove over the hill. They are mainly a Husky dirt bike racing team shop but also service any bike and since they are in PA, they don’t care about de-restricting. They also have no concept of what should be done at 500 miles other than what you tell them to do. Don’t they get dealer shop training of some sort from Genuine? I did request a checklist in another thread to bring them but other than the standard stuff from the manual, they see it as, “It runs, it’s not broken, why are you here?” I changed my gear oil at 200 already so they were scratching their heads as what to do. $26 to remove the variator restrictor and install the spacer washer in the exhaust (I removed that restrictor day 1 myself).
They also informed me that they sold their business to a bigger shop across town and were going to work for them and they would pick up the Genuine dealership. I’m ok with that since their hours will be way better and it’s about a mile closer to me.
My wife rode home fully de-restricted and when she hit the downhill fresh pavement in NY I clocked her at 50+ actual mph and she was breaking a bit.
I need to hit some more country roads. Soon.
