With Duncan's prodding and help, we dropped off both bikes at Bob's. Given how I've been doing lately, I just wasn't up for doing all the work myself.

As it turned out the battery buddies didn't seem to be doing anything. The K100RS battery was almost dead. The R1100S battery was weak. Not sure yet what's up with that.

Both bikes are going to have a major service and biannual service done. I'm also having fresh rubber put on both and having some minor problems checked out. There's an oil leak on the 'S that needs to be tracked down.

How old were the batteries? I've been to expect about four years out of a standard lead acid motorcycle battery.

I use a Battery Tender on mine most of the time. I don't know if it really helps or not, but I suspect it's better than just letting it go dead. I also try to remember to check the water now and then.

A bike is always happier after a full service...

What tires are you getting?

When it is being run. Letting any machine like that sit is the worst thing for it.

All the more incentive to get out and ride, ride, ride.

(Not that any of us can do that in this area now. Heck, I can't even get my bikes out of my back yard until the snow melts )

Yea, I had a tender on both bikes. I'm not sure what happened. The K100RS really does not like low battery conditions, so I expect it'll get summarily replaced.

Both bikes (and my boat) have just been sitting way too long. I'll need to rectify that.

I'm putting Z6's on both bikes, just like before. I should have the tires good and scuffed in before Bruce arrives to ride the 'S. Ha sent me a message on facebook today saying she had just booked his flight. He'll be coming in on that Saturday so we'll have some extra time for prep and be able to leave earlier on Sunday.

It looks like this Deal's Gap trip might just happen.

And then there's the trip cross country shortly after that ....

When are you headed to Deal's Gap?

Leaving Sun May 16th. Back Saturday May 22nd. So far it looks like it's Duncan, Bruce and I. We'll be heading down the Blue Ridge and coming back up 81, most likely.

I've got a room at the Deal's Gap resort booked for the 18th and 19th and am on standby for a room on the 20th. We'll start heading back on the 21st probably mid day and are planning on being back in this area mid day on Saturday.

Those guys don't waste time. When I went to pick up the K13 just now, they had both your K and S up on work racks and taken apart.

Did you take it in for its 22 mile service?

Does this mean you've actually been able to get it out and break it in some? I hope the roads aren't too messy after all that snow.

wow a 22 mile service interval

is that you sneezed on it & it has to be wiped off?

you better slow down you'll wear it out.

Actually, it was to install some stuff they didn't have when I bought the bike, and to fix a flat--60 miles(!) was all I got out of the rear tire--picked up a nail in it. Fortunately, I have 5 years of wheel and tire insurance, so the new tire was free...

add ons?

you know what they say "chrome won't get you home"

great more JC whitney chrome...that will rust faster that you can say "1300RS"

you killed it in only 60 miles - wow

that tire won't last no 5 years when
you go to "the Dragon".

it will be worn out by may.

Deal's Gap == 1 set of tires.

I'm having new rubber put on both bikes. New Metzeler Z6's. I'm going to try to scuff in tires on both bikes well before the trip. That means about 300 miles on each bike.

And Duncan needs to click off 600 miles on his and get the 600 mile service done before we head down there.

FYI: you can properly scrub in a set of tires in four or five turns.

The trick is to make sure that you turn in and lean the bike over more slowly instead of just flicking it in on it's side.

There is no minimum amount of miles needed to do so.

(A bit of an amendment):

Of course, you don't want to try to lean the bike over to the edge of the tire on the first turn before they are warm, so you'll want to ride a bit to warm them up. But there isn't any minimum amount of miles needed to get them scrubbed in.

@ Ryan, that's good to know; tire scrub in is about as heavily debated as engine break in. The dealer says "get at least 50-100 miles on them" before they're broken in.

I think that may be true for properly heated race tires, but in street conditions it's hard to get the combination of enough heat and enough lean to break them in that quickly.

It just takes miles.

Even after 600 miles down the Blue Ridge on fresh tires, I find the sides aren't sufficiently scrubbed until I run through the Gap once or twice. Slippy.