Photo Shooting And Riding

< Is Riding Compatible with Photographing? >

As a rider who is inspired to be riding an overland adventure in the not so distant future, I myself think the question is sort of nonsense. I believe the idea of taking photographs on a trip like that is a given, is un-negotiable and non-questionable. Yet I am asking this question, but in the sense of can or can not, but more in the sense of how to do it the better way.

 We all know cameras are expensive be it action camera or traditional camera. There are always issues with handling and storing of the gadget and most of the time there is this theft issue as well. When we look up everything nice then it would be real hard to take it out for a shot. But let's say we put the camera in the tank bag to allow quick access, then in case of an unwanted mishap the camera could just go south. Perhaps, we are just talking about chances. Or maybe chances are the only thing that we can actively consider.

 And I wonder how to store that large amount of data when on an overland ride. Is it even possible? I was thinking maybe cloud storage. But then not all destinations have connection stable enough for cloud storage. If not then what? Multiple external hard drives? And while at it might as well keep the hard drives at different locations on the bike to prevent all from going kaput in case something happens?

 The list just goes on and on for me. Perhaps, I should stop thinking about it and go out there and do it and find the answers myself. :-)

Cheers,
CK

Changing Tire

Being able to change tires on my own is very vital to my long term survival on the road, I think. So I set out to try and change the tires on Jill. ( could not bring myself to do it on Lara, could hurt her. )

I started with acquiring the necessary tools. Tire levers, rim cream and air pump. Yes it is a manual pump. Read it on the internet that the electric air pump won't do good in raising the bead so I got myself this one.

 Tires are 50USD a piece made in Taiwan. Looks like racing spec tires but I really don't care. Any tires is better than the stock block tires.

It looks easy on the blog but in actual it was very hard. Very very hard indeed for a newbie like me. I wrestled the tire for a good 90 minutes before I knew just how exactly to work the tire levers to get the tire out. So yes I finally got the tire out.

And I ended up laying Jill on her front end without tire. sigh.... why?
because I couldn't put on a fresh tire back in. I just couldn't figure out why the tire wouldn't get back in. This is a very valuable lesson learned.

On top of that, I have photos to show that I was not thoughtful enough in preparation. Notice that I do not have any front end stand or car jack to stand the bike up. I just used a block on the right peg. I though it was OK as shown in the second photo but no, the bike eventually just toppled. I hope I didnt fxxxed up the front forks....

So all in all, Jill is still in critical condition. I am looking for help now.

Pray for me that Jill will get well soon. :-)

Cheers,
CK

Replacing the stock windshield with GIVI AIRFLOW

< STOCK WINDSHIELD VS GIVI AIRFLOW >

I have been looking for an alternative to the stock windshield on Lara for a long time. Too many choices out there and I haven't encountered any after market windshield that hasn't got verdicts from both sides. Windshield is not cheap and I couldn't make up my mind until now - spotted this GIVI AIRFLOW on eBay at a price of 120USD (including shipping from Italy to Japan) and I just had to do this. I figured the price was right and I gotta try now or later anyway. (by the way this screen is retailed at 400USD in Japan, can you believe it??)

So, this is the stock windshield. Cute huh.

The GIVI AIRFLOW comes in a two-piece configuration. This is lower shield which is the exact replacement of the stock thing.

 This is the second piece in the setup. It goes on top of the lower piece. The piece is fitted onto the lower piece through the two grooves in the center. Yes it is height adjustable.

This is the steel support that goes right into the bike side cowl fitment position.

This is how the GIVI AIRFLOW looks in action.

OK, a step by step installation that I did. Hope this could help someone, somewhere, sometime.
This is the stock windshield. I needed to take this off. It's easy, just four torx screws to remove.

Then this is what you see. Keep the original torx screws, you will need it later. And don't remove the rubber washers. Let them stay there.

Next, prepare for steel support installation. This is the left side cowl of the bike. See the shiny little torx screw at the bottom of the photo? Let's remove that. You can put this away as you don't need it anymore.

This is the installation paper from GIVI. Just do as told and we are good.

For good measures I took a photo on the right side cowl as well. This is after the removal of torx screw. Do you see the small embedded square? this is where #2 in the above photo needs to go into.

ok, so we install the stem of the steel support into the side cowl, and the top end is connected to the lower piece of the GIVI AIRFLOW like this. In case you have a question, no, the upper piece of the GIVI AIRFLOW does not get any support other than the two locking devices which you can see in the photo below.

A look at the set up from the rider position.

 I thought everything could be done with torx but I was wrong. Apparently GIVI isn't BMW, so GIVI wants us to use hex screws.

 And GIVI also wants us to take out our ratchet to tighten up the top end of the steel support. OK, will do. no complain there.

Finally, install the upper piece into the lower piece. Match the groove to the guideline and it should go down pretty easy. It could be a little tight because it is the first time getting used. But don't lubricate it for easy assess.

 Taadaaa, this is how my cockpit looks now.

 A comparison between the stock and GIVI.

I went for a spin with this new setup. The result was.... fantastic. Yes it isn't without its drawback but I got what i wanted. There was no headwind resistance anymore when the screen was at its highest position. I could open my helmet visor at 100km/h, no problem at all. And the width does a good job at channeling the wind away from my upper body. The wind blew over my helmet, my shoulders and elbows and obviously left the torso untouched. It was a very easy ride with GIVI AIRFLOW.

I did not encounter any turbulence hitting my helmet or any noise issue as well. I suspect this is due to my height and build - I am only 160cm tall and I am very small. I guess the GIVI AIRFLOW protection coverage was big enough to cover all of me.

However, there were issues as well. Above 110km/h, the headwind coming from under the windshield grew stronger and it became a stream of air that blew upward, hitting my helmet from down under. As a result I was experiencing constant small vibration in the helmet and it felt like the wind was going to lift up my helmet (although it did to actually do that). When the speed is below 100km/h everything was in order. Another issue was that I could feel wind pushing me from the back. I guess this is because of the relatively vacuum pocket that the GIVI AIRFLOW created. Still, not a deal breaker.

All in all, it is a keeper. Big smile. :-)

Cheers,
CK

Day 4 (Last Day) - 2017 Golden Week Riding Trip

May 2, 2017. Tuesday. Sunny and Clear Sky.

After lying in the tent for some 8 hours straight without any sleep, I decided to wake up and get ready for the road.


I will go empty stomach this morning because all my food was flooded with shattered eggs in my top box.
The egg case wasn’t an enough protection against the violent shakings the Super Rindo gave to my bike. Well, just had to eat something along the way I guess. (and I just searched online trying to find some sturdy plastic cases for eggs. darn... why do I just love eggs so much? How do you guys store eggs?)

By the end of this trip I have come to getting used to setting/packing up tent, preparing food outdoor, having no shower for consecutive days and having to worry about shelter at night. Getting used to it, but I have to admit it did take a toll on my overall well being. To sum it in one word, it was hard. I enjoyed it no doubt, but I also have to admit that it was hard.

No drama from the time I woke up until I boarded the ferry and rode safely home. Got home, unpacked and settled down with a big sigh. So the trip is now officially over. It ended two days earlier than what I planned for. I am glad that I did all that I set out to do: I managed to pick the lower cost option most of the time, I camped and stayed away from hotel, I covered my destinations without pre-determined routes and I was cool all the time. To top it off, I managed to ride on Super Rindo and it boosted my confidence to a whole new level (per my case that is).

This is a very good experience for me and I want to do something similar more in the future. Definitely.

In coming August, I am going to FUKUSHIMA.

Cheers,

CK

Day 3 - 2017 Golden Week Riding Trip

1 May, 2017. Sunny. Clear Sky.

In hindsight, today is my last night in Shikoku. I will leave for Hiroshima tomorrow by way of ferry. Today's highlight has to be the super-rindo. 

Rindo is a Japanese word which could be directly translated as forest road, but perhaps more appropriately as "unpaved road" - meaning it could be dirt, gravel, mud, etc.

Super rindo is the longest of its kind in Japan - a total of some 88km in length, it runs through several towns along its course. This rindo is high up and deep in the mountains, when the rider successfully climbs to the top, he will be rewarded with a view unique in its kind. 

Riding the Super Rindo with Lara

This rindo has mostly gravel section with a short stretch of cement in the very beginning. People say there are dirt roads as well but I didnt see it, perhaps those are located beyond the closed section. Only a part of the entire rindo is opened to public this year - a washout has caused some big rocks to collapse in the way and local authorities are not repairing it. It makes little economic sense to repair the road, i get that I just hope that next time when I do come (yes, when I do come, that is) it will be opened. 

I always wanted to ride off road. It's not because I like it. Rather, it is because I think it is a skill that I will need when I go on my long way round trip. I have zero experience riding off road. Two weeks ago, I participated in an event organized by my dealer, in which I got a chance to ride a F700GS fitted with knobblies on a rindo. That was a great experience. It didnt prepare me for the super rindo of course, but it did give me some idea of what rindo riding is about. Lifted some of the fear, maybe. So two weeks after, here I am in the super rindo.

To be frank, when i was on the rindo i wished I could just simply make an u-turn and go home, or at least go somewhere else, anywhere but the rindo. It was terrifying! I couldn't control where I wanted Lara to go, I was constantly swept off of my feet (the wheels just kept sliding under me all the time), the tires felt like they were pierced, the all-time fish tailing...and worst of them all, was that I could see the deep valley just five feet to my either side - all the time. If anything happened to me... no one could find me, ever. I was scared shitless. 

I tried standing up - it seems to be THE way of riding off road - but sometimes it worked and sometimes it didnt. I am sure it is just me, nothing to do with the standing method. Will need to put in more time in training.

After the rindo i spent three hours getting to the camp ground and here I am, writing this blog. It is so windy tonight I feel like if I go out of my tent now the tent will get blown away, no doubt. Yes you are right I forgot the pegs. Brilliant eh?

Tonight is my last night of the trip. I wanted to celebrate it with a dinner made of up rice and eggs. Alas, the eggs didnt stand a chance battling the violent shakes of the rindo, they all smashed in my top box and all my belonging in the box is now bathed in eggs....

As a bonus, let me show you some creepy photos...

Cheers.

CK

Day 2 - 2017 Golden Week Riding Trip

April 30, 2017. Sunday. Clear sky. Strong crosswind.

Waking up to the bitterness of the spring morning, I realized that my sleeping bag was not what it advertised to be. The temperature rating was 7 Celsius degree but i was cold in there. 

I have a medical condition with my nose and it prevented me from having a good sleep. Without enough sleep, the otherwise acceptable sleeping condition was no longer tolerable to my body and as a result of that i was feeling sluggish the whole time second day into my riding trip. 

I chose my camp ground because I want to see this. It is supposed to have been built in over a night to welcome some important person from the federal government, back in the 17th century. It's basically a decorated sand dune.

this is how it is supposed to look like

Leaving the camp ground, i continued my journey to the Kamouda Misaki. It is the most eastern point of Shikoku island, looking out to the Pacific Ocean. This place isnt like any other lighthouse tourist attractions at all. Very few people were seen and assess to the place was really confusing. I admit it, i lost my way trying to return to the city. I took a photo to show you as well. :-)

After that I went straight to a 24hour sauna to call it a day. It was only 4pm but I have had enough. I dont know what would the equivalent facility in your country but suffice to say this is like a poor man's hotel. In here I pay 30USD for unlimited shower, sauna, hot tub, water, tv, reading material and a place to lie on. Oh, parking is another 5 USD. So all in all I pay 35USD for a night in a not-so-attractive place. However, I made this choice not thinking of cost performance too much, but rather as a ritual - after all this is Japan, and I just have to put this on my itinerary. :-)

I am going to call it a day. Hopefully I could get more sleep tonight.

Cheers,