Dave & Teddy's Most Excellent Adventures 2012

[NancysToy]

I hope you find an answer. Regret is a disease that can eat you alive! There is no logical reason for it...what is done is done, and you can't go back (unless BR offers a time machine option). Gotta learn to look ahead and forget about what is past.

End of lecture. Cheer up, buddy, you ride daily, are employed (unlike many), are no longer so wounded you can't get off the couch, and you have Teddy to keep you company. I hope you can turn your mind around and begin to count your blessings again soon.

ray:

 

[arntufun]

SITA is 3 weeks from today and that would cure you !!!!!!! nojoke:cheers::yes::clap::bbq::doorag::spyder2:

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Holly needs to log some more "RT seat-time"! :2thumbs:

 

[SpydermanCT]

SITA is 3 weeks from today and that would cure you !!!!!!! nojoke:cheers::yes::clap::bbq::doorag::spyder2:





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:agree: +1

 

[bruisersbaby]

Love Teddy's canopy! Bruiser never offered to make me one when I was a passenger!! nojoke

 

[CyncySpyder]

Let'n off a lil steam to ease some frustration, you know- like a pressure cooker

Ok folks, yes we're back, but I'm still way off kilter here, as even this post is somewhat forced for me to write. I'm thinking tho, if I share my frustration, maybe getting it out will help and maybe someone more knowledgeable and wiser than I can help shed some light on my present delima which is causing much of my frustration.

1st, let me say a word of thanks to ALL of YOU that have left us such kind words of wisdom, caring, support and acknowledgement thru posts here on Teds Thread and also, the great many of you that have done so in PMs.

OK, here's whats going on. As most of you know, we have the Moto-Mate camper and whenever we do road-trips, its our home away from home. Last years road-trips (SF-MV-SITA) brought a serious safety concern to my attention. The camper sits right about the same height as the Spyder and is as wide as the Spyder as well. This causes issues with being able to see directly behind us while ryding, even in the mirrors, with the camper blocking almost entirely the sight of anything or anyone directly behind us.

As you can imagine, this makes multi-lane Interstate travel dangerous to say the least, causing me to constantly keep turning around while Interstate ryding to keep tabs on whats going on with the traffic around us going down the Interstate. If a cop was directly behind us, we wouldn't even know it, even with his lights on unless he either went left or right of center so I could see him in the mirrors or he flipped his siren on, NOT GOOD & a major concern!

I know, the easy solution is to not travel on the Interstate, right? Correct, but when you work for a living and have very limited time off, you sometimes have to get to your destination in a timely manner, making that solution impractical especially when ryding a thousand miles or so on one trip. So for the past month or so, along with everything else going on, I've been working with my buddy in trying to figure out a solution that is not only functional, but looks good as well.

My brother suggested mounting mirror extentions like they have for trucks towing trailers, but that just looked totally out of place. Not to mention, the way the RT mirrors are mounted to the Spyder, I don't think they could handle the additional weight load especially with all the vibrations and bumps at Interstate speeds.

So our next possible solution was to add to our existing after-market technology. We already have a Rear-View Camera System (Teddy-Cam) set up and mounted on Teds Red Sled so that I can keep an eye on the lil guy without adding to the multitudes of distracted drivers out there by me having to turn around and physically see him to assure his safety. The LCD is mounted right to the dash in place of the analogue gas gauge and I can constantly see him by just glancing at the dash-mounted screen. When I originally ordered our Teddy-Cam, I had it designed from the get go to be able to handle two different cameras with this very thought in mind.

So last month, I went ahead and ordered another camera from the same company that I had build the Teddy-Cam for us. This time tho, since its being mounted on the camper instead of the Spyder, I had to order a wireless license plate camera to mount on the plate of the camper, providing the much needed view that we are currently missing. Here's where are problem & frustration currently lies.

My buddy & I had to basically rewire the entire campers wiring system, not to mention add a second set of lights due to the Spyders 9pin connector and the way the power and signals are routed. Ok, got that much of it done, only to find out that the Wireless camera takes too much juice and blows the Spyders fuses every time its powered on. I'll admit right here, I'm no electrical tech by any means, that's why I inlisted my buddies help with this.

But something I didn't understand, is that even tho the camera I ordered is suppose to be a "wireless" camera, it is anything but. You need one wire for Power, another for Ground, and yet another for the "Wireless" transmitter that sends the signal to the LCD on the Spyder. The only thing that is really what I would consider "Wireless" is that you don't have to actually run a Video Cable all the way from the rear of the camper to the LCD screen on the Spyder.

OK, all that being said, we have a power problem due to the camera and all the campers lights overloading the Spyders (if I remember correctly) F5 & F7 Fuses, one being a 5amp & the other being a 10amp. At first check after hook-up, all was fine and the unit powered on fine & the video signal came thru on the display just fine as well. The problem occured when I started checking to make sure all the lights and everything else was checking out ok on the camper.

Normal startup, with just running lights on and the camera, all is A-OK. But when I turned on either the Emergency Flashers or put the Spyder in reverse, my guess is with the additional power draw of the additional lights, everything would go out and the fuses would blow. We replaced the fuses and tried a few different things, but to no avail, same result every time, UGH!!!

OK damnit, think outside the box! There's got to be a way to make this work that is convenient, functional and looks good as well, but how? I could run a seperate wire for power directly from the Spyders battery, but that means I'd have to come up with a seperate water-proof connection that would have to be hooked up seperately every time we connect and disconnect from the camper, UGH!

What about giving the camera its own power source unrelated to the Spyder. Someone on here gave me the idea of using a Solor-Panel for power, especially since we'll be using it on camping trips, it would be handy to have our own mobile power supply for anything needed when at the camp-site. Sounded good and worth a shot, so I stopped by Harbor-Freight and picked up a 5Watt Solar-Panel System with its own battery and all the connections for a little over $50. I had to cut and splice a few wires and ends, but we did manage to get it all hooked up and once charged, the system does work as hoped. Supplies the licence-plate camera with power just fine, YAY!!! And no more blown fuses, Double YAY!!!

OK, so now whats the problem you ask? Well, once we got everything hooked up and working nicely together, I set off on a quick trip around the hood to see how it all works in motion. Not sure why, but the reception of the video signal is garbage when the Spyder is moving. I know someone out there knows all about this, but this is all new to me. At times, the picture is clear and stable and at others its totally garbage just flickering in and out. If this happened only under hard acceleration I could maybe understand it, but theres no pattern that I could tell. We know its not a loose connection, as we've double checked them all.

TBC---gotta work some

 

[arntufun]

Dave why wouldn't something like this work for you ???? Easy to put on and take off when you are not using your camper and costs ways less than the road you are trying to take.

These will give you the visablity you need. :thumbup:http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-3-SIDE-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c7a29946&vxp=mtr

 

[CyncySpyder]

If only I knew then what I know now

Dave why wouldn't something like this work for you ???? Easy to put on and take off when you are not using your camper and costs ways less than the road you are trying to take. These will give you the visablity you need. :thumbup:http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-3-SIDE-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c7a29946&vxp=mtr

Thats a great find Randy. Just wish I knew about those handlebar mirrors before I had made my purchase and its too late to send the camera back. With the Spyder being our first byke, we're learning alot, that's for sure. Thanks again buddy.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Teddy & I did about 800 miles of riding in the past 2 days

I tell ya, there's just something about a road-trip thats good for the soul. We went up to the Mid-Ohio Vintage MotorCycle Rally, not for the rally really, more so for the road-trip itself and the hopes that we would run into Scotty (NancysToy) as he and his wife were there all weekend.

We made it there and had to have Teddy sneak us in under the radar (so to speak) in the hopes of running into Scotty, but the place was just so packed and so huge, there was little hope, but we tried anyways. Never got to see Scotty but we met a bunch of great ppl and had a really good time seeing so many different and timeless machines, being ridden by tiny little kids to granmas & granpas, really a great time. Will actually put this on the calendar for next year.

That was on Saturday, then on Sunday, we met up with Kagey-98 (Kevin) and we rode down to UKBlue1 (Gene) house in Mid-Way KY and met up with a bunch of other locals (down that way) and Gene took us all on a tour around central KY going thru some beautiful country, with all the wonderful horse farms, and I had no clue that there is a KY Castle, was a very impressive site.


Then all 9 of us (plus Teddy) went to Montgomery-Gentrys SteakHouse down that way somewhere. I didn't even know they had a steakhouse, but it was a nice place, with great food. And Teddy was a BIG hit (of course) with our group of 9, not to mention their were 2 other (traditional) motorcycle groups there as well, and Teddy got request after request for pics and high fives.

Even in the parking lot, as we were trying to leave, Teds Red Sled had people on all sides clamoring to check out his set-up with him having a nice sun-canopy now, and him sitting on Ice-pads under his carrier to help him keep cool, ppl were just amazed. But it can easily get overwhelming, as everyone else was ready to leave, waiting on us, and I was just like "ummmmm, ok ppl, we gotta go, really, sorry." I hate being rude, but sometimes, if you just don't cut ppl off, they will never stop.

All in all, we had a really good weekend of ryding and fellowship and it was good for re-energizing the soul, which I know I needed. We've topped 29,000 miles now on Teds Red Sled, so combined with our 2010 RT-S we're just over 45,000 miles of smiles in the past 26 months :yes::2thumbs::yes:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Sometimes, I'm such an idiot - I just had to laugh at myself

OK, things are getting better :bowdown: and better:clap: Here's a little story for ya.

Over the winter, I got the bright idea of taking off the SpyderPops Heat-Shield to allow more heat at least on my right foot and leg. Not a bad idea, right?

Well, along the same time that I was removing the heat-shield, we started having the problem with the Parking Brake popping out of its pully. On the engine side of the tupper-ware panel where the Parking Brake kept popping out, I noticed that the heat-shielding had a gouge in it, where the Parking Brake Cable must have been putting pressure against it, and partially being held in place by this material, and it finally gave way, allowing for the Parking Brake to start "Popping" out.

Our local dealer had the needed parts for repair on order, but it would take a couple of days before they were in, so I needed to come up with a temporary fix, seeing as Teds Red Sled is our daily mode of transportation. So me, in my infinite wisdom, I take and tape the SpyderPops Heat Shield over top where the gouge is in the Tupper-ware heat shielding, thinking this would provide the needed support to help keep the Parking Brake cable from "Popping" out of its pulley. Well low and behold, you know what, it actually worked:clap:

Dealer calls a few days later, parts are in, so we take Teds Red Sled in for the needed repairs, and all is good again in the land of Spyders and we ryde all winter long with no more Parking Brake issues.

Fast forward a few months, and its starting to get hot out, so I think its about time to find where I put the SpyderPops Heat Shield, cause my right foot is getting so hot again, that I can't use the highway pegs without getting toasted and scorched. So much so, that I didn't realize that the glue holding the soles of my boots together were getting melted and the entire sole of my right boot was just peeling right off. Damn, I gotta find that heat shield. I took some loc-tite to the sole of my boot, and it was holding, but I couldn't use my highway pegs for fear of destroying my boot further.

So, for the past 2 months, I've been tearing apart our condo and our garage looking everywhere for that little black piece of plastic heat-shield, but with no luck. I honestly think that had alot to do with my mood being so foul, as I knew I had it somewhere, but just couldn't locate it, so I kept looking and getting more and more frustrated with myself as time went by.

Well, on Friday, while working on wiring for the cameras and such for the camper, I had the Tupper-ware off of the right side again, when I noticed something a little odd when I went to put the middle Tupper-ware piece back in place. "What is that tape doing there on the inside?" I thought to myself."

:yikes:Son of a B*tch!!! :yikes:

Yup, you guessed it. After the dealer replaced the needed parts for the Parking-Brake, he put back the SpyderPops Heat-Shield just like I had had it, in the same place, taped to the back of the TupperWare. No wonder I couldn't find where I put it :shocked: I was laughing at myself so hard:roflblack: I had tears in my eyes:roflblack: Just so thankful, after 3 months of searching, I finally found it:bowdown:

It was kind of scuffed up, so I took some black spray paint and painted it and as soon as it dried, re-installed it back in its "PROPER" location, and I'm :clap:very HAPPY:clap:to report that we got to do the aformentioned 800 mile weekend, with me using the highway pegs again :yes:YAY:yes:

Thought I'd share a little bit of my senility in the hopes that it makes someone out there smile cause you know what, I know I'm NOT alone:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[NancysToy]

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Dave, you made my morning! Been there, done that, in so many variations. Wait until you are my age if you think this was the last time you'll ever do that...LOL.

 

[currin20fan]

Heat Shield

DAVE OH DAVE!!!!:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: HE'S BACCCCCCKKKKK!!!! You crack me up!!! I'll bring treats for Teddy to the BBQ...hyea:

 

[CyncySpyder]

In response to another thread, I did a little (totally unscientific) test last night

Temp. gauge on Teds Red Sled was reading 102F on my way home from work yesterday, so we waited til about 8pm and it was a little cooler before Teddy and I ventured out for his daily Spyder fix. I was thinking about a thread I had commented on here on SL about other ppl not respecting others' property & sitting on our unattended Spyders. One such happening left a big tear in the seat of Teds Sled, making me none to happy about it, but thats in the past.

So, I thought to myself, lets do a little experiment & see what happens, you know, just for sh*ts & giggles:roflblack::shocked: So we went to the top of the hill where we live, as its called Devou Park and has some of the BEST views of the City Skyline and RiverFront and usually has many visitors on a daily basis, as there's also a golf course and ampitheatre.

I figured I'd park the Spyder in a mostly desolate area and Teddy and I would make ourselves comfortable at a picnic bench that couldn't be easily seen from the Spyders vantage point and we'd watch for ourselves what happened. Can you guess??? :dontknow:

There were 3 parking lots and we chose the most barren one, having only one other car parked in the lot. Within 5 minutes, there were 4 cars that drove by extremely slow, with 2 actually stopping to look. Then all of a sudden, a car parks in this almost totally empty parking lot, right next to the Spyder and out pops a middle-aged couple and you could immediatly tell they were smitten with Teds Red Sled. As soon as I saw them park & get out, I wanted to make my way back to the Spyder, but I resisted so I could see how it would play out. Boom, out pops the camera phone and they both start walking around the Spyder and snapping pics, all awhile, looking over their shoulders for the owner, which they couldn't see. I was worried when I saw the mans hand wrap around the throttle & just about gave up my experiment for fear of what was to come next, but again, I resisted, thinking at least these are adults and hopefully won't do any damage. Believe me, that was hard for me, but to my surprise, the intrusion went no further, besides him having his lady friend stand next to the Spyder with her hand on one grip and him taking more pics of her and the byke. After a short conversation, they went on their ways to the trails, that were all the way on the other side of the parking lot.

As soon as that couple started walking away, another car was slowly driving by the Spyder & I heard them yeal out the window to the other couple, "Wow, thats a nice bike, how much did it cost?" To my Amazement, the couple that just took the pics replied "If you have to ask, you can't afford one" as if it were their bike:yikes: and they kept on walking to the trails. I was a little shocked:yikes: but also had to chuckle:roflblack: to myself.

After this litlle episode, my nerves a little jittery, I gave up and came out of suclusion and promptly laid claim to Teds Red Sled once again, afraid to see what might happen next:shocked:

Things that just make you go ......... hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - WTF!!!

 

[currin20fan]

Spyder

If Teddy had snuck up on them and barked while checking out his ride, they would have jumped out of their skin. :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[CyncySpyder]

OH, if only that were true- I can't even get him to defend himself against kats

If Teddy had snuck up on them and barked while checking out his ride, they would have jumped out of their skin. :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Sad but true, my lil buddy is a lover and not a fighter. So much so, in years past, 3 different cats at three different times have had their way with the lil guy, til I would jump in and save him. Just walking down the side streets where we live, we've had cats hiding behind car tires, laying in wait for us to walk by. Once by, they'd pounce out and start swiping at Teddy. My original thought was that "Hey, he's a dog and has teeth, he'll defend himself." Well, to my surprise, he would go to his belly, all 4 legs sprawed out, and he'd YIPE for me to save him while the cat was just toying and play swiping at him. It wouldn't stop til I would intervene and pick him up and shue the cat away. That's when I learned he'd make a great Therapy dog, as you can't be aggressive in the least bit, and that's rare to come by in the canine world, but that description fit Teddy to a T.

He rarely barks, except when he hears a door-bell on TV (no clue why, we don't have a door bell-:roflblack or I'm talking too much and making him wait for a treat, then he'll interrupt me as to say, "Shut the H*LL up & give me my treat!!! NOW!!!" :lecturef_smilie:Kinda cute really, or when I ask him to tell me, otherwise, he's pretty quiet especially for being a small breed dog, as many have that "Great Dane" syndrome where they think their larger than life and have to make sure everyone knows it, ya know

So I'm ok with the fact that Teddy definately isn't a guard dog, he leaves that to me :doorag:

 

[Rachel]

Thought of Teddy

Hey Dave, I was working at a huge bike event over the weekend handing out freebies for the casino I work for when a HD guy strolls up with this little fellow. I thought the beads and hat combo rocked but I still love Teddy's mohawk better

 

[CyncySpyder]

Thats a great pic, thanks for sharing

Hey Dave, I was working at a huge bike event over the weekend handing out freebies for the casino I work for when a HD guy strolls up with this little fellow. I thought the beads and hat combo rocked but I still love Teddy's mohawk better

Yeah, we got a buddy that rides a HD and he has the tiniest little Yorki that I've EVER seen, smaller than my size 9 1/2 boot and he wanted to ride with her but didn't know how to go about it. So, after showing him Teddy's set-up and realizing it wouldn't work for such a small dog on a 2 wheeler, I told him about this forum, and how some others have gone about it. After a bit more research, I saw them both at the next Bike Nite. She was litterally half of Teddy's size and he used the papoose (sp?) method and it worked great for them. I wish I woulda took some pics of Teddy & Chloe together, you talking about an attention getter -lol Doggles and all, gotta luv it! Again, thanks for sharing.

 

[arntufun]

Dave, will you be able to make it to SITA this year ???? opcorn:

 

[CyncySpyder]

I don't want to "Jinx" us, but YES DAMNIT!!! Thats our plan & we're stick'n to it!

Dave, will you be able to make it to SITA this year ???? opcorn:

I'm still working on issues with our camper, but think I may have it finally figured outray: Are you & Holly going to be camping again this year?:dontknow: If so, want some company? You know we had a great time with you guys last year:yes::cheers::yes: and this time, I plan on leaving as early as possible so we don't miss:lecturef_smilie: the opening festivities :bbq::cheers::joke:

 

[arntufun]

I'm still working on issues with our camper, but think I may have it finally figured outray: Are you & Holly going to be camping again this year?:dontknow: If so, want some company? You know we had a great time with you guys last year:yes::cheers::yes: and this time, I plan on leaving as early as possible so we don't miss:lecturef_smilie: the opening festivities :bbq::cheers::joke:

Yes............we are camping. You are more than welcome to stay with us again, just let me know when you are sure of what days because I have to add you to my site reservation and so I can bring enough :bbq:. We will be arriving a couple of days early on Tuesday the 7th so if you want to come a day before SITA starts than feel free to. We'd love to have ya. You have my phone number in case you need anything. :thumbup:

I wanted to ask you what your plans were awhile ago, but I saw your post saying bacause of your back issues you were looking for someone to share a motel room with so I'm happy to see you will be able to camp.

This campground from what I hear and see is way better than the dump we stayed at last year.

Rnet, and his wife will be camping next to us as well as another Spyder rider from VT staying in the motel section of the resort. There might be more, I'm not sure. We are staying in the 100 acre woods section in the 98 's. It's a little further from Lake Placid than last years spot , (20 minutes) but you won't hear me complaining...... Link below.



http://www.northpoleresorts.com/