NorCal Voyagers Newsletter

NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
This Month…
RIDE: (MANTICA) Featherbed Railroad
Ride (4/8-10)
NCVC MEETING: MANTICA (4/16)
11:00 am Perko’s
TRIATHLON SUPPORT (LAKE
ANTONIO) Wildflower Tri (4/29-5/1)
SAN
Next Month…
EVENT: (CARMEL) Quail Motorcycle
Gathering at Quail Lodge (5/13-15)
NCVC Newsletter
EVENT:
(LIVERMORE, Carnegie Park,
300 South K Street) Motorcycle Safety
Awareness (5/21) 10 am-4 pm
You have something you want to see in the
NorCal Voyagers Newsletter??? Send it
along to [email protected] and
we’ll get it in the next issue. You can also
send articles to any board member in the
club and they will get it to the editor.
NCVC MEETING: MANTICA (5/28)
11:00 am Perko’s
We’re especially interested in doing
personal stories about our members. You
don’t have to go into a lot of detail, but
knowing a bit about our members goes a
long way towards a more enjoyable
friendship. Get those pictures, campfire
stories, and humorous biking experiences
out and send them off to the editor for the
next newsletter!
NorCal Voyagers Newsletter is developed for the
Northern California Voyagers Club and is freely
distributed as a benefit of membership.
The NorCal Voyagers Newsletter is not a policy or
formal arm of the Northern California Voyagers Club, but
rather an informational source for it’s’ members.
Some or all of the opinions expressed in the NorCal
Voyagers Newsletter may not be those of the Northern
California Voyagers Club, its’ officers, sponsors,
advertisers, or the newsletter staff.
The NorCal Voyagers Newsletter reserves the right to
edit or correct any mistakes within information submitted
for publication.
The NorCal Voyagers Newsletter is not responsible for
the accuracy of content printed within these pages.
Any questions concerning content or information
contained in the NorCal Voyagers Newsletter can be
submitted to [email protected] for review.
The words “Voyager” and “Kawasaki” are registered
trademarks of the Kawasaki Corporation and are used for
reference purposes only.
Useful Internet Links
Northern California Voyagers Club
http://www.norcalvoyagers.org
American Voyager Association (AVA)
http://www.amervoyassoc.org/
American Motorcycle Association (AMA)
http://www.ama-cycle.org/
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Club Info and Activities
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
By Don Medina, NCVC President
What a false start to the riding season! I was all
set for the Hearst Castle ride, tour and motel
reservations had been made. Then Mother
Nature steps in and puts a stop to everything.
Heavy rains, tornados, Hwy 1 washed away and
then even more rain.
April 16 is the next Club meeting. The weather
is going to be motorcycle friendly. I hope to see
you there in your NorCal gear. Our Sergeant-atArms, Marvin, and his wife Shirley will be
sporting their new club gear.
Last month Michele Smith had the Ray Walls
Classic/Dice to Ice, Banff Canada Tour
highlights included in the newsletter. Remember
the dates July 08 – 20, 2011. Take the time to
reread Michele‟s Tour overview; you‟ll see that
it‟s going to be one fun and exciting Tour.
The AVA International Rally, location DeGray
Lake, Arkansas. For the first time Kawasaki will
bring the Vulcan Nation Demo Tour to the rally.
The only down side is that they‟ll only have the
demo rides on Monday of the Rally which is the
first day of the rally. The good thing is this day
is set aside for seminars, vendor shopping and the
opening ceremonies.
The Western Regional Rally will be in Wallowa
Lake, Oregon. Date is August 02 – 04, 2011.
Were you there for the 2010 Western Regional
Rally? This year we get the Vulcan Nation
Demo Tour plus some spectacular rides. The
location this year will leave you awestruck. Let‟s
not forget the skills games and motorcycle show
all for just $45.00. This year, who will come
home with plaques? I sure would like one.
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To make a decision on what to attend, look at
everything close. How lucky can a club get with
three big events to choose from?
There is a new “See the USA with the AVA.”
The cost is $15.00 per person, let‟s join the fun.
Last year NorCal Voyagers had a whole bunch of
winners. As a club we had eight winners out of
fifteen members that entered.
For the local news: We have new members
Brian and Paula Williams from Sunnyvale who
ride a 1200 Voyager.
Kirk and Holli have had Marvin working on their
Voyager, getting it ready for the riding season.
Marvin has also been working on his Voyager.
At the April 16 Club meeting, we will see how all
of this work has turned out.
Jerry Zimmerman is on the mend, as Jerry was telling
me the months can‟t come and go fast enough. Jerry
is at home now but moving very slow.
Bill Burns is now about 100% recovered from his
accident. Bill bought a 2003 Voyager. It is
being shipped and is due to arrive mid-April.
Roger Allen is coming along, 70% recovered. One
good side effect was that Roger lost a lot of weight.
Now the new Roger will be back to riding soon.
Betty Walls has a Roll A Home for sale, $4,000
negotiable. For info on the trailer call Wayne
Bright. Betty also has a cargo trailer, $1,600.
You can reach Betty @ 559-227-3045. Betty is
doing well; she had some family visiting when I
called.
NorCal Voyagers Club membership dues: It‟s
now April and there are still some that have not
renewed their membership. Get your check to
Wayne Bright if you haven‟t already done so.
NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
This year Trisha elevated her skiing to a new
high. At the end of last year we both bought
demo skies. This year Trisha was skiing mostly
groomed BLACK DIAMAND ski runs. On
some of these runs you‟re standing at the top of
the ski run, looking down at the ski lodge
between the tips of your skies. Am I a lucky
guy, my wife and my son both skiing with me. A
big surprise this year was that my grandson
Dillon came up for a day. Dillon is my youngest
son Dominic‟s son. He was learning to snow
board. Even my nephew came up with his wife
and their two sons.
Rain, Rain Go Away
By Don Medina, NCVC President
I left at the end of February on a skiing trip, it
was raining. Came back and it was still raining.
I left at the end of March with rain as our
companion. Here I am in North Carolina and it
has rained and even snowed. Haven‟t done
much riding but I did ski a whole bunch. Have
you ever skied? This a sport just like
motorcycling, the engine being gravity. The way
this works is the steeper the incline, the faster
you go. When you do turns, you lean into the
turn just like on your motorcycle. As your speed
increases you can feel centrifugal force pushing
you down into the skies. Stopping is all up to
how balanced you are, you do hockey stops. A
hockey stop is when you‟re going downhill with
both you skies pointed downhill, then turn both
of the skies to the left or right, with a snap. Of
course you‟re sliding, now you start leaning
uphill while applying pressure to the uphill edge
of the skies. The more you lean into the
mountain the more you dig the edge of the ski
into the snow, which slows you to a stop. There
are times that you‟re leaned over so far you‟re
almost touching the snow with your elbow. The
balance part is as you slow, you start to stand
back up on the skies. This is all done in one
smooth motion. Before you get it right you‟ll
either fall or knock a bunch of people below you
down. Yes, just like dominos
Why all of this information? Because, everyone
in the family rides motorcycles. Even my
grandson Dillon has a street bike. Now one of
my goals is to get everyone on a two week
motorcycle tour.
At the beginning of each ski day, the runs are all
groomed, “road riding.” With the groomed runs,
you glide along carving your turns just like riding
a wonderful mountain road on your motorcycle.
As the day goes on, more skiers use these trails.
Soon the smooth trails are filled with bumps,
“potholes.” Your knees then become your
suspension. This year my suspension seemed to
work much better, as the hours spent in the gym
sure made my legs strong. Moguls that‟s
“motocross” you need youth, young back and
young knees.
Ray Walls Classic Tour
“Dice to Ice”
By Michele Smith
The 2011 Ray Walls Tour itinerary has been
finalized. The Tour begins in Fallon, NV
departing early morning Friday July 8th and
arriving in Bandon, OR on July 18th 2011.
Touring the United States and Canada, we will
cover over 2500 miles. Explore with us Glacier
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
National Park, crossing the Canadian border into
Waterton Lakes National Park where we plan to
enjoy a picnic lunch while viewing the famous
Prince of Wales Hotel. The town of Banff in
Alberta, the Columbia Icefield Glacier, the town
of Jasper, and Kamloops, British Columbia will
be the stops before we head back to the U.S.
Plan to make your way from Bellingham, WA to
Astoria, OR via the Washington State Ferry from
Coupeville to Port Townsend and then meander
down Hwy 101 to the Bandon Beach Motel
located on the beautiful Oregon coast before you
return home.
-
Daily/Annual International Park pass Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff,
exploring the Columbia Icefield and Jasper are
all located in an international park and that
means you will pass kiosks that are inescapable
at entry points and will be accessed a daily fee
or you can elect to pay for a yearly pass. You
can buy a pass over the phone by calling
(403) 760-1343. The costs are:
 Adult - $9.80 per day
 Senior $8.30 per day
 2 up on the motorcycle counts as 2
separate fees
 Adult - $67.70 annual pass
 Senior - 57.90 annual pass
Life doesn‟t get any better than this. 2009 RWC Tour
You may note that this tour might be more costly
than past Ray Walls Classic Tours. Finding cost
efficient properties was challenging, especially in
the tourist towns of Banff and Jasper. In some
cases you will find less expensive properties if you
are willing to travel outside the downtown areas.
The attached document provides the itinerary,
miles covered per day, hotel information, and route
we will follow. Are you interested in joining us?
You are not obligated to stay at the hotels we have
selected.
Additional costs that you should be aware of in
your decision making process include:
-
Passport
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Small town rest stop during the 2009 RWC Tour
Possible Additional Activities:
-
Banff Gondola Ride – travels to the summit
of Sulphur Mountain and enjoy the easy 1 km
self guided boardwalk along the summit
ridge. Dining and shopping of course.
 Cost: $29.95 Roundtrip
 Reservations (800) 760-6934
-
Visit the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake
Louise hotel and enjoy a cup of tea
-
Lake Minnewanka Lake Cruise - $44
-
Upper Hot Springs
NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
-
Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience and
Tour – 1 hour 20 minute tour - $49
-
Enjoy lunch overlooking the Athabasca
Glacier
-
Jasper Gondola Ride – experience being
gently transported into Jasper National
Park‟s alpine tundra. Jasper Tramway is the
longest and highest guided aerial tramway in
Canada and the only guided aerial ropeway in
the Canadian Rockies. Providing visitors with
unprecedented views of six mountain ranges,
glacial fed lakes, the Athabasca River
(Alberta‟s longest) and the scenic mountain
town-site of Jasper.
Insurance Blues
By Don Medina, NCVC President
This is what I got awhile back when I got the
insurance renewal notice on our retirement home.
Trisha and I bought our retirement home in
Wilmington, North Carolina. Yep, right along
the Hurricane Alley, just like here in California
with earthquakes. At the bottom of the renewal
notice in bold letters was “this policy includes a
45% increase.” That was for wind and hail
damage. I found out that if we had bought 40
miles inland we would only have to pay 25% of
what we pay for living near the water. So I got
on the phone and began talking with our agent.
 $30 per person – reservations (866) 8508726
Yes our NC agent is also a State Farm Agent.
While on the phone with him I told him we would
be in town checking on the house, could we stop.
By the time I got off of the phone I had a date and
time set up. Talking to the Agent in person we
got more information from each other. While
sitting with the agent I began to relax, telling the
agent little things. These little things sometimes
get you discounts, because for us we had too
much coverage in some areas. I found out you
can pay for all of the coverage you want. But
when you need your Insurance, you can only
receive benefits up to the value of the property.
For example if you insure your home for a million
dollars, but the home is only worth $250k, you‟re
not getting a check for a million dollars.
- Miette Hot Springs
- Enjoy Maligne Canyon
- Pyramid Lake
Please make arrangements for additional
activities in advance. We have not contacted
these vendors about group availability.
This is a grand undertaking in some beautiful
rustic areas and we made every effort to employ
cost containment strategies. If seeing and
exploring mountain ranges, glaciers, hot springs
and beautiful lakes are on your bucket list, join us
for the 2011 Ray Walls Classic Tour „Dice to
Ice‟.
If you want to fine tune your Home, Auto or
Motorcycle insurance, call Pirie Jenson your
friendly State Farm Insurance Agent. Set up an
appointment, meet Pirie and see what she and
State Farm Insurance can do for you. Who
knows, you might be surprised. I sure was, as I
was able to keep my Home Owners Policy
pricing at 2010 levels.
Please take a moment to let us know if you plan
to join us on the 2011 Ray Walls Tour. You can
let us know via email: [email protected]
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
2007 San Louis Reservoir Campout
NorCal Voyager Clubmembers
2007Gualala Campout
Donald Jr, Dillon & Trisha when not riding, ski
2008 Monterey Campout
2010 Western Regional Rally Redmond, OR
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Howdy NorCal Riders - Got Air?
Whenever a tire got punctured and developed a slow leak in my sport bike I have always been able to ride
home and make the repair. Now as a touring rider, I felt rather awkward knowing my wife & I could be
severely inconvenienced if we had tire problems on a long trip.
Not being ready for roadside tire repairs means waiting for a tow. This long delay plus the tremendous
cost can be avoided if one is prepared. Repairing a puncture in a tubeless motorcycle tire out on the road is
not a big problem yet no air sure is!
There are many choices when it comes to portable air compressors; I did not like the drawbacks most had.
The cheap ones were weak, the powerful ones were too bulky or drained the battery, and a foot/hand pump
would be tiresome. Nor did I want to store a pump in with my luggage or the associated hassle of hooking
it up. My goal was to find an onboard air compressor that could be permanently installed and be in use
with just a simple flick of a switch.
The ideal pump would also be able to pressurize my Progressive air shocks which need up to 90psi when
the bike is fully loaded. Most units that fit the bill ran $400 plus, yet after a bit of searching I found a frame
mounted low current pump that could fill a tire from 0 to 30psi in three minutes and is factory tested to
reach 200psi for only $180, it‟s called the Savior 250psi.
This unit was designed to be mounted under the front fairing and is available with model specific mounting
brackets primarily for various Harleys. After a few e-mails with the inventor up in Canada (who wanted to
design a special Voyager version for a chunk of change) I was finally advised the metric kit includes a
generic bracket which might work out for the XII.
J&P Cycles had the air compressor kit to me in less than a week, so here we go………..
Installing the Savior 250psi Onboard Air Compressor on the Voyager XII
The kit comes with air compressor, generic mounting bracket, short wire harness with on-off switch, 60psi
pressure regulator, 0-60psi pressure gauge, 7 feet of hose terminated with Schrader adapter, tire repair
plugs and installation tools, adapter to fill a mattress plus a small carry bag.
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Savior 250psi Kit
Basic Overview
The pump is to be mounted in a well protected area, a short feed hose terminated with a threaded fitting
plumbs the air to the outside world and a rubber cap covers the port when not in use.
Air Pump, Bracket, Wire Harness & Feed Hose
The 60psi pressure regulator, gauge and fill hose threads onto this port when air is needed.
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
So off comes the mounting bracket to see just where it might fit under the Voyager XII fairing….
Air Pump with Bracket Removed
Step One: Where to Mount?
Figure out where you want to mount the pump, I decided to remove the cruise control cable actuator from
the right side as I do not use the auto-pilot feature. In this location I could use the existing mounting tabs
on the frame rather than design something of my own. If you are looking for unoccupied space, the area
around the headlight is open yet this spot will require a bit more customizing to mount the pump.
Removing Cruise Control Actuator for Air Pump
I also removed the actuator cable which runs down to the throttle cable junction plus the electronic control
module from the left side of the bike. My plans for this winter are to replace the two piece throttle cable
and junction box with the longer early version which goes directly from the hand grip to the carburetors
like all my other motorcycles …….
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Step Two: Mounting Bracket Modification
The provided bracket would mount nicely where the actuator came out yet will need a few modifications
before it will bolt up. The first change is the mounting hole in the bracket which is at an odd angle; it needs
to be flattened out. Use a hack saw to cut a slot in the bracket as shown below, be careful and don‟t go
too far…..
Cut a Slot in the Angled End
Step Three:
Bend the angled part in line with the rest of the bracket as shown below by over lapping the area divided
with the hack saw cut.
Angled End Made Straight
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Step Four:
The end which was just straightened is used to measure 165mm to drill a new bolt hole, center line to
center line as shown below. Cut off the fish tail and discard…..
Drilling a New Bolt Hole
Step Five:
The last bracket mod is to ditch the cheesy clamp hardware with a real nut & bolt……
Replace the Cheap Clamping Hardware!
Step Six: Installing the Mounting Bracket
The bracket now fits in the actuator location with the holes aligning to the frame mounted tabs with welded
nuts. Use the front top hole to allow room for the pump motor in the rear.
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Bracket Mounted in Actuator Location
Step Seven: Electrical
Before mounting the pump, I covered the wire junctions with epoxy as they looked flimsy and I did not
want them to break off from vibration. In addition, be sure to stress relive the wires once the pump is
installed by tie-wrapping them to something solid just after they leave the motor.
Strengthening the Wire Junctions
My plans did not include the supplied on-off switch so I spliced the brown wires together which bypassed
the provided switch junction in the harness. I also removed the redundant black wire which was provided
as an extra ground. These changes run a single black and single brown wire directly into the supplied
Molex style white connector. I used the other side of the supplied connector to tap into power and wire
my toggle switch into the circuit. This way I can simply disconnect the electrical connector and remove the
pump should the need arise.
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
For power, I simply tapped into the female sockets of the white/yellow and black/yellow factory auxiliary
leads which are in the front fairing. These wires are protected by the ten amp auxiliary fuse and become
hot when the ignition switch is in the auxiliary position which is perfect…..
Step Eight: Installing the Pump
Mount the pump in the bracket with a slight tilt inward, if rotated outward too far the turn signal in the
fairing will hit the pump head. Tap into a power source and route the wires to where you want your on-off
switch; I used a weather proof toggle.
Pump Mounted with Electrical Wires Connected
Step Nine: Output Location?
Where do you want the pump outlet to be located? I decided to route the air into the lidded fairing
compartment right next to the pump as this is where I planned on storing the fill line rather than using the
black carry bag which was provided. By keeping the hose connected to the pump output inside the
compartment, all I do is open the lid, grab the hose and turn it on!
Pump Output Hose Inside Lidded Compartment
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
If you want to run the outlet farther than it will currently reach you have two options. The quick and easy
way is to splice into the existing pump line, just buy two male to male hose connectors, four clamps and a
bit of hose to extend it where you desire. The full-Monty would require removing the factory crimp
connections on both the pump and output fitting and making up a whole new hose assembly…
Step Ten: Final Tweaks
Not wanting the pump to get wet, I used the rain cover from the cruise control module which I had
removed from the left side of the bike. I cut a hole at the center along with a slit as shown below; the two
small holes were from the old mounting location over the module
Modified Cruise Control Module Cover
The slit end laps over the electrical and is secured in place with a tie wrap around the motor leaving the
very end open so air can cool the armature. The other side is folded down and stapled to cover the open
end body of the pump as shown.
Splash Cover in Place
As the pump head oscillated quite a bit in use, I removed the vibration by securing the head to the frame
with a few tie wraps in order to prevent a stress fracture from developing in the bracket after long term use.
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Need More Air Pressure?
The regulator limits the pump output to 60psi yet is easily modified to allow full output which I tested to
200psi! Because this is a liability issue, I won‟t print the modification here yet am more than willing to
share should you need the extra pressure like I did for my air shocks…….
A Few Words on Tire Repair
Long ago, tire plugs were considered a temporary fix as they would often leak or completely let go if not
done exactly right. For this reason tire plugs were strictly limited to automotive use and were very rarely
used on a motorcycle tire.
Welcome to the 21st Century where technology has once again saved the day! Say goodbye and good
riddance to those old style plugs which required glue and embrace the new self-vulcanizing plugs which
create a permanent repair and are very easy to install.
Vul-can-ize: To increase the strength, resilience and elasticity of rubber using heat and pressure.
These new plugs do not require any glue like the old style, simply plug & ride! As the tire heats up under
normal use, the plug actually bonds with the tire forming a leak tight permanent repair.
I personally have tested these new plugs deep into the „get arrested – go to jail‟ speed zone (please don‟t
tell my wife) and they do not let go, period! No longer do you need to replace a tire just because you
picked up a nail……
The tire plugs and tools provided in the Savior250 kit are WAY too big for a bike, they got tossed to the
automotive side of the garage. The kit I found a few years back is motorcycle specific with small diameter
rubber plugs and the cost is dirt cheap, only $13 delivered!
Motorcycle Tire Repair Kit from Nealey
Nealey Contact Information
The Nealey Company
14409 Buena Vista Drive, Urbandale, Iowa 50323
800-289-9781
www.tirerepairkit.com
MINI TIRE REPAIR KIT (Part No. 11007) $11.95


Ten repairs plus inserting tool
Repairs 2 and 4 ply tires on motorcycles, ATV's, golf cars, riding mowers, etc.
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
Pirie Jensen
State Farm Agent
1871 The Alameda, Suite 120
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 985-2755
[email protected]
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
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NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
2011 Club Events Calendar
JAN 08 – Roger Allen's pizza party
JAN 29 – Meeting: Manteca (11AM),
after-meeting chocolate run
APR 8-10 - Featherbed Railroad ride
& breakfast
APR 16 - Meeting: Manteca (11AM)
APR 29-30 - Wildflower Tri
No events planned
MAR 18-20 - Hearst Castle ride,
18th meet in Hollister
MAY 01 - Wildflower Tri
MAY 13-15 Quail Motorcycle Gathering
at Quail Lodge, Carmel CA
th
JUN 17-19 – Wayne Bright’s 70
Campout/BBQ @ Ft Washington
Campground, Fresno
MAY 28 - Meeting: Manteca (11 AM),
after-meeting ride to Castle Air Museum
JUL 02-03 - Don & Trisha leave for
AVA Rally
Ray Walls Classic/Banff Canada
JUL 11-14 - AVA Rally, DeGray, Arkansas
AUG 02-04 - Western Regional Rally,
Wallowa Lake, OR
Aug 20-21 - Coast ride
SEP 23-25 – Half Moon Bay Ride-In
SEP 24 - Meeting: Half Moon Bay
followed by Club picnic and
anniversary celebration
JUL 30 - Meeting: Manteca (11 AM)
NCVC 11th birthday
OCT 08-09 - Ripley TN BBQ?
OCT 15-16 - Leaf Peeper ride,
meet 10/14 Lake Topaz
NOV 19-20- International
Motorcycle Show
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DEC 09-10 - Club meeting
& Christmas Party
NorCal Voyagers Newsletter
April 2011
The Last Page
And finally…
Thanks for reading the NorCal Voyagers Newsletter. We
appreciate the input from the club membership and hope
you enjoy this newsletter. If you have any comments,
additions, corrections, articles, submissions, please send
them along to: [email protected]
NORCAL VOYAGERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant at Arms
Activities Director
Web Admin.
Newsletter Editor
Don Medina
Tony Curtis
Trisha Blue
Wayne Bright
Marvin Deatherage
Vacant
Ron Aikins
Trisha Blue
If you have any questions about the club or
comments to the Board of Directors, please
use the following e-mail addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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