...the end of an age?

 February 16, 2023.

Today, I sold my 2008 TW200. I will no longer be doing any "single track" and I yearn for the day-long trips that I read about...so with this sale, there will be no more TW's finding a home in my garage.

Just as it happened last time, I'm sure there will come days when I miss the old girl...she was as reliable as the sunrise and very dependable. Unfortunately, over the last year, it's limitations have become glaringly obvious, even though they were already known.
Highway-use was unsafe and impractical...I know there are some that do it, but I'm not one of them. 
On our trip to the Okanagan last summer, our trip was to take us over the mountain and into Beaverdell, for some more KVR exploration but the return trip would have necessitated MORE logging road, in order to avoid the highway...IMPRACTICAL...and this is only one instance where this has been an issue.

So, I will be going to a larger model, something I won't be so willing to ride onto a quad trail, but will carry me hundreds of miles in a day.

Looking forward to this season.

Update on the CT90

Haven't really mentioned Cheryl Tiegs lately....but that's a good thing!
Since I finally got her running properly back in May...I've been doing some minor tweaking here and there. I decided to splice a new hi-voltage lead into the ignition circuit, so I ordered an NGK version and I have to admit it looks pretty sharp with the bright red boot and all. Threw in a new spark plug for good measure.
A few weeks later, I ordered a bullet-connector kit to replace some of the OEM connectors that have seen better days. Only did a few so far, but they were fairly easy to do...wanted to solder them, but didn't really need to after all.
One thing I am definitely going to need is a new battery in the future...I don't know how old this one is.

I also ordered a new set of points and condensor, since everybody in forums told me I should replace those. The points that I was sent were the wrong type, so I had to file down the old ones to make them work properly...but at least I got a new condensor in there now!

Wife and I took the old girl for some off-roading in late September....the only problem I could notice was that irritating little off-idle bog, when shifting gears....I'll get to the bottom of that one of these days.

Otherwise, she ran like a trooper...it was only a 25 mile ride, but it's something that we've NEVER done as a couple before.
Sure....she was a little apprehensive and nervous, but I let her set the pace- even if it was only 15 mph - and we had a great day of riding together.

Renaming and such

 Over the past few years, I've started and stopped this blog numerous times, based on the ride I sat upon. I've been TW Rider...DR Rider...and I'm sure there was at least one other variation.

No more.

From this day forward, this blog shall be DS (Dual Sport) Rider...which it probably should have been since the beginning.

Sorry for any confusion.

It's been a crazy Summer/Fall for me this year...some "family issues" came into play as well as some personal things and some work-related things as well. As life works its way back to normal...I will endeavour to keep this blog a bit more current.

In the meantime, you can also check out the YouTube channel I have...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zSEyN6JLnD-L-1__EBNTg

Princeton and Okanagan

Spent 6 days in this wonderful area of our Province...the Okanagan always provides plenty of opportunities for exploration and recreation.

Although we missed our goal of going overland into the Carmi/Beaverdell area...it was still a great trip.

Read about it HERE.

Return to the Paleface Pass

...I guess this name must have been "overlooked" in the midst of all the PC and "Woke"ness going on. Might just be a matter of time.

Regardless, I took another drive up there today, since I got held back by the snow earlier on...read about it HERE.

Tamihi trip

 More crazy weather lately....but it's looking good today, so I'm going for a ride.

Read about it HERE.

...and AGAIN with the CT90.

 I swear this thing is cursed....

Something has happened...but I don't know what. All of a sudden, I can't start this thing anymore. I kick and I kick and I kick, and she will sputter briefly, but fails to start. Once she is running, she runs like a top but if she stalls or is shut off...it's a real pain trying to get it started again.

I swapped the WinCycle carb for one of the eBay or Amazon offerings. The first one wouldn't run properly either, but after installing the third, it started on the second kick so I thought I was onto something...right up until I tried to give it some throttle. I barely twisted it and she sputters and stalls.
Then it's back to kicking and kicking and kicking..................

When she finally does start again, it's by sheer luck..throttle just in the right position and she just manages to catch the spark....away she goes and runs like a top again....you'd never know there was something wrong. But then as soon as there's a slight twist on the throttle...she's dead. If I can get her running and twist the throttle ever so slowly....she will rev until it scares me. But if I give her some heavy throttle and hold it full open...she will rev to about 50000 rpm and then cough and sputter...never reaching higher revs.

Someone suggested that my rectifier was toast, so I pulled that out and sure enough...the connections were a bit corroded, but I cleaned them up to shiny metal as well as tested the rectifier as per instructions...nothing wrong with it.
Started her up again and the same problems persist.

Cleaned and re-gapped the points...no change.
Moved needle clip down one position...no change
Adjusted air screw....no change.

Basically, it's at the point where NOTHING I do has any effect...and this is starting to wear on my nerves. I took it for another 12 mile run the other night and she ran fine the whole time, but when I got home....turned her off and tried to re-start...same issues.

I've tested the ignition circuit and everything is working....I should probably replace the spark plug...and that will be the next item on my list.
I will also readjust the valves as everyone says that tight valves will cause starting problems.

I'm getting tired of this.

Follow-up

After letting it rest a day or two...I followed the procedure as laid out in THIS BLOG. 
Within an hour or so, I had gone through all the steps. In the process, I discovered a breaking/broken wire in the ignition circuit. 

Once I had fixed that...she started on the FIRST kick (with a bit of choke) while wearing the $30 Amazon carb...not the WinCycles version.

I let her run for a few minutes....testing the throttle response every now and then...it was great, no more bogging AT ALL.
Shut her down...then tried re-starting...FIRST kick again!
After she came up to temperature, I shut her down for the evening and when I went to start her the next morning...FIRST KICK again.

Looks like I got it.

I still need to replace the spark plug and I should probably do something about the spark-plug lead and the boot too.
Great to know that she will run like that ol' Swiss watch again....while using the cheap Amazon carb!