American Gothic, A Big Banana Split and Tiger Troubles

On Saturday I meant to just duck out for a few hours before the rest of the family got up. I figured I could buzz out to New Jersey, see the giant tooth and be back home by lunch time.

But, plans changed back at home and so I stayed out longer than I originally anticipated. It was cool but sunny, so I was only too happy to be exploring.

I lingered around near the Grounds for Sculpture to see ‘America the Beautiful,’ an homage to Grant Wood’s American Gothic.

grounds for sculpture America the Beautiful

And the dancers across the way…

I was flittering about exploring old cemeteries, looking for parked trains and other roadside odds and ends.

big banana split

In the process of doubling back to take a picture of a boat-sized banana split, a lady who decided that she didn’t need to use her mirrors or her eyeballs while behind the wheel decided to back up in the parking lot without looking. She came within inches of knocking me over. I went to honk my horn and… nothing? What the hell?

In that immediate irrational thinking moment, I figured I just didn’t hear the horn because I had music on and the wind was blowing. It seemed impossible that the horn wouldn’t work. But, hey, guess what? When I pressed the button again? Nada.

Ever the optimist, I thought it had to be a fuse or something. I resigned myself to taking a look at it when I got home and went on about my day.

My Tiger Isn’t Feeling Well

Never once did I consider that along with my horn, none of my lights would be working either. I rode around for the whole day? Part of the day? Who knows – with no headlight and no tail/brake light. Scary!

The dashboard was fully lit up, the sun was up and so I didn’t pick up any visual cues that I had a greater problem. Now in hindsight I realize I could have looked for my own headlight reflection in the back on another car. But I didn’t. My life is a cautionary tale.

When I got home, Kenny immediately started poking around on my bike while I shed my gear. If you allow the bars to sit at straight ahead, unturned position – the lights and horn failed. If the bars were turned the bars to the right – everything worked. Turn to the left, nothing.

the thingyI don’t want you guys to think I’ve gone all smart and stuff so I will be using my usual technical language here.

There is a “thingy” below the ignition key tumbler that seems to be the culprit. If you press it up towards the key, everything works with the bars in any position. If you don’t press that “thingy” everything only works when the bars are turned to the right.

I’ve got to call the dealer tomorrow to see if I can get my bike in ASAP.

In the meantime, Kenny has cleared his Tiger for me to use – you know – if I should find myself in some type of rally emergency situation where I need to visit a giant elephant in south Jersey or something.

I have to say, it’s kind of handy having a husband that rides, too. 🙂

 

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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12 Responses

  1. BJ_CT says:

    Giving up your bike for your mate to use. Above and beyond the call of duty. THAT is true love.

  2. Arc says:

    Boo hoo, we’ll I guess I’ll just jump on my backup tiger… My rally starts this week. Life has gotten in the way. I got a caboose/shoe store to show you.

  3. OG says:

    Well that sucks! Triumph had trouble with that very thing on second gen Sprints and some others. The route the wires take leaving the switch caused them to flex and rub eventually breaking the stranded copper inside. At least it still ran, on the older bikes, it was the fuel and ignition wires that failed first 🙂

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      I was thinking that very thing – At least it wasn’t a crippling problem. And I wasn’t out after dark. That could have been ugly.

    • Crudmop says:

      The wiring socket that attaches to the bottom of the ignition tumbler is shot – it appears when they originally installed it, they left “just too little” wiggle room for the wiring to stretch to the bar stops in both directions and it’s damaged where the harness attaches up in the tumbler – I can get it to work if I pull the wire closer to straighten things out inside, but the moment you go a bit off-center it loses connectivity again.

  4. Shybiker says:

    Sorry to hear your bike has a boo boo. Your understanding of mechanics is superior to mine.

  5. I hate it when my thingy fails.

  6. PuppyChow says:

    Don’t we all Doug…don’t we all! 😉

  7. Sumoflam says:

    I have got to get the Grounds for Sculpture!! Hmmm…wonder when I can plan a trip to New Jersey…

  8. Lucky says:

    America The Beautiful toured, didn’t it?

    If not, I saw a very, very similar sculpture just down the street from my house back when I lived in sunny Mesa, AZ. I liked it, and I was bummed when it had to move on.

    I can’t remember who he was quoting, but a friend of mine once told me the American Design Principle is as follows: If you can’t make it good, make it big. If you can’t make it big, make it red. 😉

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