Each trip begins with a plan, a prediction, and execution. Fun is always part of the plan. In our age of gasoline dreams and oil overload, we depend on on that combustible fluid that keeps our cylinders pumping. Just like in work, what keeps thing working smoothly ; what keeps thing fun is ,efficient function. An inefficient system can alter or derail that fun in a quickness.
On a trip last year, my first BIG trip, i experienced the transition from functional and efficient to inefficient madness.
Old school is not inefficient
By definition , the 1980 GS 550 is an efficient machine. 45 miles per gallon is no slouch by today’s standards. At a tank capacity of 4.5 gallons, you should be able to comfortably roll for close to 200 miles. At a cost of $2.60 per gallon, that costs you a massive $12 per tank. Not too shabby.
On this particular adventure, there occurred one action that caused the fun bubble to pop. While the engine may be efficient , to know somewhat accurately how many miles you’ve ridden requires a functioning odometer. The odometer is driven by a simply cable running from the front wheel to the analog gauge. A defect or malfunction in this system can cause not just an inefficient progression , but a panic filled one. That’s exactly what happened. A kink in this cable over sustained travel , about 3 hours in, produced a weak spot. Bend a metal coat hanger back and forth 3-4 times and you’ll find out what happened next. SNAP..
To then roll on with no accurate measure of the miles i’d traveled produced a model of inefficiency. I had gone from being care free and happy to inefficient and stress filled. Stopping 3 times as much as planned to ensure i didn’t run dry. The fear of getting stranded on the side of road is a consuming one.
The added stops produced an glut of wasted time. A trip that was long from initial set up evolved into an ALL DAY trip that ended in way that could only be called exhausting. There were other things that eventually happened to derail this trip, however the first was the loss of an efficient system to fuel management.
The genesis to breakdown..
There are things that i would do differently, however reflecting back on the events, the role that this little cable played was only truly appreciated when i was safely back home. All those stops. Almost obsessively . Many many miles later a conclusion with a happy ending. There will be a 2nd attempt. A 2nd try to make a simple trip just that. Simple, fun, and free from inefficient chain reactions.
