Service...

 

It's no secret that getting good service, whether on the car, the motorhome, or the bikes, isn't always a given.  We had a service appointment this morning for Joan's bike.  Mother Nature wasn't looking too cooperative, so I rode her bike to the dealer in Sturgis and she followed in the car.  The way there was a breeze.

Once at the dealer, we got checked in and I asked how long it would take... the service writer wasn't sure... they don't get many scooters here, even though they are a Yamaha dealer.  This dealership used to be owned by a long-time friend of ours; he sold it a couple months ago and retired.  Still a lot of the same staff there, though.  It was determined that it might take "half the day"... I expected a couple hours.  We are having the drive belt for the CVT transmission replaced; nothing wrong with it, that is a wear item and it is time.

We drove through Sturgis and decided to have breakfast; One-Eyed Jack's, which is normally a big Rally bar.  Breakfast was good, and Joan found us a couple 2022 Sturgis T-shirts (almost everyone in town sells Rally T-shirts).  One stop shopping.

When we came out after breakfast, the sky was looking seriously ominous...if it plays out as bad as it looks, I do not want to ride back in that crap.  We stopped back into the dealership and asked if it would be an issue to leave the bike 'till tomorrow, in case the weather hits before the bike is done.  "No problem."  He checked with the mechanic and said it was about half way done.  We decided to kill some time and see how the weather plays out.

Joan found me a pair of gloves there that are outstanding.  Not cheap, but definitely the best motorcycle gloves I've ever worn...

All the safety features and a comfort bit of construction that I haven't seen before: all the stitching is on the outside of the glove.  Does that matter?  If the stitching is on the inside of each finger and you are gripping handlebars, it starts wearing on your skin.  This is smooth inside, and fits like... a glove.  ;-)  I couldn't resist, both the pun and the gloves.

We drove up to Deadwood just for something to do.  No plan to get out and walk around or gamble, just killing some time.  A bit of rain, but nothing significant.  Back to Sturgis and a bit more driving around when we got the call: "Your bike is done."

The sky still looked threatening, but only the occasional spit.  So far.  We drove back to the dealer, paid the bill (less than I expected), and hit the road.  Made it back to Hart Ranch without getting rained on.  Shortly after I got the bike back in the cargo trailer, some light rain.  Then, it quit.

We made a run with the car into Rapid City for the jumper/compressor at Sam's (from a few days ago), gas for the car, and lunch.  Joan had mentioned Olive Garden a couple days ago, and my belly remembered that.  Tasty food and an entree to bring home for another day.

As we rolled over the top of the last hill before Hart Ranch, the sky was looking even more threatening.  Light rain when we stopped to pick up packages from the Mail Room, then back to the motorhome.  The wind had kicked up to "blowing like stink" by this point, so we fired up the motorhome and pulled the slides in.  Thunder and lightning, but not much falling from the sky.  Yet.  Still, really glad to not be riding a bike in that ugly wind.

That first gust front passed, but it looks like a couple more are coming, according to the radar forecast.  We'll just leave the coach "skinny," until the last of it passes.  Good timing on our part today... well, except for the fact that I hit every red light on the way to get the bike there; good that we allowed some extra time.

Now, all I wanna do is go riding in my new gloves; yes, I wore them on the ride home.  Like a little kid with new shoes.

:-)