Off again in two (8/19/23 Sat)

I had two days to regroup for a two week Colorado trip. Seems like a short time but the bike part was easy. Oil change and rear tire change to an Anakee Adventure. The rear tire had life left in it, I just didn't want to have reason to change it during this trip. Since I had the new tire, new tire iron bead breakers, and the H tire is known as the hardest to mount. I wasn't easy to break the bead, I reverted to my old C-clamp to ensure it was enough. Bike and gear ready to go in half a day.

The other thing I did was to install the modifided website map component that I had tested before leaving for Newfoundland. After getting it installed on the cloud instance I entered my test data and some new information from the recent Newfoundland/Labrador trip with Anne. It's not everything I want it to be yet, but it's already a great way to view the photos and trip on a large screen (not currently nice on a phone). The map component took some time to safely deploy on the cloud server, then more data processing to sort out the web paths for all the photos. This kept me up all night Thursday. Sleep deprived is not the ideal way to start a long cross-country trip.

Saturday morning came early. I wasn't quick to get going and left home about 20 minutes later than the 0700 target to meet Nate at a Dunkin Donuts about 45 minutes from my house. Nate was there before me waiting with his snack. So I bought a coffee and donut. We talked for a while, not leaving until after 0800.

We took Rt9 into New York where it turns into Rt7. Along the way the weather turned from gray to mist to light rain, and stayed about 61F. Certainly not great weather, especially for summer hot weather gear. We stopped for gas and put on our rain gear after getting fully wet.

It wasn't long before my heated jacket liner and grips tripped the circuit and stopped heating me. I have an issue in damp weather that I thought was sorted out, but clearly isn't. Later in the day at the start of our third ride segment it tripped again. This time it was exactly when I plugged in my jacket liner (which was not turned on at the time). So I'm now suspicious the problem is in the controller box, not in the wiring that I have now redone and taped up better. A problem for future me to ferret out.

So the elephant in the room. We have had a new and unique bike problem today. I say we but it is Nate's problem, I'm just along for the ride.

Earlier this year Nate sold his 2020 DL650 to buy a 2021 Honda Africa Twin with the DCT automatic transmission. When I came back from Alaska my friend Jim hosted a part at my house for friends. Nate let us all try the Africa Twin. Non of us wanted to like the automatic DCT but I have to say it did what I would do without exception. The bike is really light feeling (with an empty fuel tank), has a tight turning radius, great suspension and feels wonderful. I see why people buy it over the DL1050xt. It's a nice bike, with a crapload of electronics.

So after 1600 trouble‐free miles riding around NH in the few days it hasn't rained during my travels this year, we find a problem on day 1 of our 2000 mile each way trip to CO. And the first rainy fuel stop went without a hitch.

Once on real highways traveling at Nate speeds (>80mph) after burning through a full tank of gas we pulled into aserviceplaza. After stopping in a line for the pumps Nate was unable to move forward. The Honda's check engine light was lit and a horizontal line now flashed where an N, D, or gear number should be displayed. Phone Google searches didn't provide a solution, so we parked the bikes and went in to eat lunch and search further.

Nate located a forum post of the exact problem on the same year and model bike. The poster's bike worked fine after cooling down, and their dealer later replaced a faulty sensor inside the transmission. When we went back to Nate's cooled down bike, it too worked correcly.

So now half a day from home we could: (a) turn around and get back tonight, (b) have someone drive my car and trailer to us and trailer home, (c) continue toward CO and see how consistant this problem is. We chose C. I don't think I need to belabor Nate's mood, he was not a happy camper.

Fuel stop #3, post highway high speed run, same problem occurs and clears after a 50 minute rest stop. We hadn't expected it to re-occur at every refueling. But Nate called a Honda shop in Colorado and got them looking into the issue and suggested part. They seem willing to help. We would just need to make it there.

Half of my strom fuel tank later we arrive at a campground. Nate let his bike idle in N while securing our campsite. As soon as we start to follow the host his bike fails when he slows at the first speed bump. Same issue. I locate our campsite and return to a very frustrated Nate. We check oil and keep trying to see how quickly it recovers. It took just under 1 hour, but then worked perfectly to the campsite.

After setting up our tents we talked out all the scenarios. We felt real damage to the bike was unlikely. The two most probable symptoms are: (a) the exact symptoms we've experienced or (b) a more permanent failure that never recovers once it cools. After weighing the paths for continuing forward versus turning back, we went to our tents to sleep. I think the benefits of continuing still outweigh returning home. Mainly because Nate needs this vacation. Seeing family, even without the riding around CO could be worthwhile and healing. In the morning Nate will decide.

We also have given some thought to what experiments we can make do to better understand what triggers this and how to minimize it's impact on common conditions we're likely to experience. If it stays the same can we ride nice roads around CO at more normal speeds? Will this occur at a toll or slowing for road construction?