I’m so ill this week over the bike. It seems like every time we get a step closer to getting everything put back together something goes wrong. Our friend from the bike shop has had our new front forks for a couple weeks. He was changing out the springs for us because the stock springs can’t be adjusted enough for Hubby’s weight.

We ordered an after market set of springs per recommendations from the guys on the 600r forums and Wheelers. We dropped the forks off with our friend knowing he wouldn’t get them back to us soon because he’s doing this as a side job. No big deal. He did promise to have them back to us by the end of the week. As soon as he started working on them there was a problem. Parts Unlimited sent the right set for our bike according to the part number, but the springs weren’t the right springs.

The dealership called Parts Unlimited and they sent out a second set saying there was probably a mix up in the factory when the kit was put together. No big deal, but we had to wait a week for the second kit to arrive. When it came in our friend picked it up from the parts department as he was leaving the shop.

We were expecting our friend to put the new springs in today, but he called this morning with more bad news. This time Parts Unlimited sent the completely wrong kit. They sent a kit for an r6, not a 600r. Grrrr…feel my frustration?

Instead of waiting on yet another kit to be sent out I told him to put the old springs in the new forks, and we’ll switch them out once we get the whole kit thing sorted out with Parts Unlimited. He swung by earlier to drop his Sony Vaio off with me to fix, and he picked up the old forks so he can get the old springs.

I’m just so ready to have this thing back together. We’re so close yet so far away at the same time.

Here I am always worrying about the small things when I’m riding. What’s that squirrel going to do? Is it going to run under the bike? At dusk it’s always the deer. We creep slowly down the lake loop knowing deer are everywhere, and luckily we haven’t had one run out in front of us yet. Squirrels, dogs, cats, and all the other small stuff tends to run out all the time. I’m normally sitting on the back of the bike not even thinking about stuff like that. My biggest worry is normally whether or not I’m sweating so much in my helmet it’s going to give me acne on my cheeks again. Hubby’s busy watching out for the animals.

This guy will always be on the lookout for animals now, though, after what happened to him a couple weeks ago.  My friend sent me a link from the 600rr forums that I had to share.  Dude hit a 40-50 lb coyote, and it didn’t take him down.  It did however sever the coyote in half.  Wow.  If you’re squeamish, don’t look at the photos, but if you’re interested you can see the photos and read the guy’s story here.

Hubby got to ride a little bit yesterday, and I realized something. I think I’m going to have to talk him into going to my aunt’s house a couple days a week to use her weight equipment because his leathers are getting awful tight on him. Not being able to ride means he’s not out doing things. Instead he’s sitting on the couch. It might not seem like the bike contributes to his weight loss, but it does. When he’s riding he’s sweating a good deal.  Then when we get off the bike he cramps up if we don’t walk around a bit before he sits down again.  Of course we also do a lot of walking on our mountain rides, too, because we stop at all the waterfalls and walk in to see them.  I guess I didn’t realize that we both are getting a little exercise while we’re out riding.

I’ve got an update tonight on the wrecked GSXR as well. Insurance did total it out, but that actually worked out for the better. He’s already found another new 08 GSXR that actually cost less than the first one, so even have to pay a little off on the wrecked one, it still comes out cheaper than the first one did.

I’m happy for him because he really needs the bike for transportation. Just like us he can’t afford the costs of commuting back and forth to work, and the bike has drastically changed that.

CA I hope you get to feeling better real soon, and I’m glad everything worked out for you.

Now he just has to wait 2 weeks for his arm to heal. He had his surgery yesterday, and everything went well. He’ll be in a cast for 2 weeks, and then he’ll be all good again. Thank goodness he’s smart and wears his gear at all times!