My 1980 Yamaha is in a little bit of trouble yet, as I've not yet taken her in to get the electronics fixed. I don't want a repeat of the end of last year's riding, where I kept getting stuck, so I'm hoping to find someone to give her a quick overhaul before riding weather returns.

I was trying to peek back to last year's entries in the blog relating to the start of riding weather, but I couldn't find anything. Last year was short on entries, so I had to go back to 2006 to see what spring had in store.

It's stuck in my head that late March or early April is the start of riding weather 'round these parts. I was reminded of a Big Snowstorm in mid-March 2006, but I also found that I had my First Motorcycle Ride of the Year just a couple weeks later.

Sets my mind right for the timing, anyway.

A few years ago I had the bike overhauled to the tune of $1400. A lot to put into a $600 bike that was 25 years old. I got a couple more years out of it with similar low maintenance (I did put new tires on last spring), so it's not wasted by any means. I would like to try to find a quick "diagnose and repair" solution that didn't involve rebuilding carbs, ignition systems, or worse.

I'm on the cusp of getting a new, right-sized motorcycle, and would hate to throw would-be cash for that after this. Of course, I'd hate it more if I couldn't ride just for not spending a little repair money.

My 1980 Yamaha 650 is a fine bike. After the carbs got rebuilt and the bike was tuned, it was a veritable rocket compared to its former self. The fork was also rebuilt, so she was a lot more stable. Last year she was just a little more sluggish (I blame probably fouled plugs), but the new tires brought some fun back into the ride.

Sadly, the lack of ignition grinds a fun ride to a halt, quite literally.

My neighbor across the street also has a grown boy, and he (the boy) fixes old bikes out of love for them as well as to pay his rent. I keep meaning to slug myself across the street and pass on a "have him call me" reminder. Of course I'll pay for repairs, and due to proximity and general curb-side friendliness when we chat over freshly mown lawns or shoveled sidewalks, I trust that he'd be fair and do a good job.

I see now that I need to get the bike in so if it takes a couple weeks I don't miss any riding opportunities.