87750km

As I rode home from work the other day I realized something: 

I frigging love riding a motorbike!

I love the driving experience, the ability to ride in the buss lane, the lane splitting and the fact that traffic isn't really a problem. I love the fact that I don't have to take the subway or the bus.

I love driving in the baking sun, wearing all black. I love driving in the pouring rain, my visor clogging up with rain, my gear all wet. I love being cold, wet but happy.

I love driving in the rain, the sun, the sleet and the wind. I love taking my bike out in spring, I love tinkering with it all through winter, I love laying plans for the bike in the autumn, I love the mending, the cleaning and the maintenance..

I love riding alone, with my friends or with random strangers I meet along the road. I love the camaraderie, the feeling of riding as one of many, or by my self.

I love the curvy roads, the long stretches of open road and highway. I love the small, picturesque country roads and the four lane motorway.

I love stopping for petrol, I love cleaning the bike. I love removing flies from my visor and dirt from my face.

I love accelerating, breaking and pulling out from stop lights. I love how the road maintenance crews in Norway leave dirt and gravel in the road. I love potholes, car drivers who fail to see me and roadworks that block my path.

I love revving the engine as I go through tunnels. I love firing her up in the parking lot. I love the sound her engine makes and rattling of the bike.

I love the contact with the surroundings, the smells of nature and traffic and the feeling you get when you hit the perfect curve.

I love the sensation of riding.

I love the smell of gasoline in the morning.. It smells of freedom.

85950km

The changing of the clutchwire and the airfilter.

As I need the bike for a trip in the beginning of July, I need to change the clutchwire ASAP. My old Shadow had a hydraulic clutch, so this was a new challenge for me!

Time to purchase "The answer to life, the universe and everything" (295,- NOK ($49)):

And, of course; A new clutch wire. - I found one in mcartikler.no that fits, for 198,- NOK ($33). Also bought a new airfilter airfilter for 206,- NOK ($34).

Changing the airfilter was easy. Remove the side cover, un-strap the tool box (NEEDS CLEANING!), remove another cover, throw out old filter.
It was a notable difference with new and old filter. She pulls much more air now! (sorry, no pictures, didn't think about it)

Here is the old clutch wire:

It hardly moves at all:

BIG difference with the new wire, bike is possible to drive! =)

TO-DO list:

• Change bulbs in instrument panel

• Change clutch wire
• Change fork seals and oil
• Install heated grips
• Change airfilter
• Order keys for givi boxes
• Fix indicators
• Buy and mount new top box with break light
• Fix everything else
• Clean tool box