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**xbacksideslider** · #**136** 15 Oct 2012

So, how far is it across to Cuba? Can you get on a boat to do that from Cancun?

**Noel900r** · #**137** 15 Oct 2012

enjoying your tale very much ,carry on,Noel

**alexfleury** · #**138** 16 Oct 2012

I can't wait till you make the next FBR gathering and the tails around the campfire start !!

**ratbikemike** · #**139** 18 Oct 2012

It is a tossup as to weather Cancun to Havana or Miami to Havana is closer. I don't think the Cruise Ships are set up for a stop in Cuba. I did not check. Before Castro, Americans had a lot of influence in Cuba. My uncle lost some property when he took over, a car , a business and I'm not sure. But I gotta get away from Cruise Ship people. This is the step that a go up every night to store the bike safely. The bags are about as wide as the handle bars and the seat is way off the ground. I always get stopped halfway up the ramp when it is even farther to the ground. Something over 46 inches I guess.... Using the ceiling fan to spin dry some stuff that I rinsed out in the sink. That way I don't wait till 5 pm to pick up my laundry, to late to travel. I pulled all this stuff out of the forks. Pvc pipe, a special bmw fork spring spacer, a factory piece and two hardware store lock washers that I made flat. All this to set the preload/sag and I got it a little firm or too much. I left out one lock washer and now it almost glides over the topes (big speed bumps) I may take another washer out or move some weight forward. This is part of how forks were adjusted before adjustable forks. Also moved the windshield forward so as to not bang my helmet into it on said topes. Real jungle with a billboard... Did not expect a 57 chev in Chetumal. It looks pretty good from 50+feet away. Hope to do Belize in the next day or two and then deep in the mountains of Guatemala. Wifi may be iffy for a week. Thanks Noel and you know I am always lurking on the FBR list

**ratbikemike** · #**140** 18 Oct 2012

Just a helpful hint. The travel story does not begin in earnest till page two. ohh and this is a Greek Goddess that can be found on Paso de La Reforma, near Av Insurgentes nte right downtown Mexico City.

**xbacksideslider** · #**141** 18 Oct 2012

Darn tenants, washing in the sink, burning up the ceiling fan motors . . . . they ain't dryers . . .

**ratbikemike** · #**142** 19 Oct 2012

A big part of my being in Chetumal is, it has a Kawasaki dealer. Well sorta. Not one kawa anywhere to be seen. I paid $190 ($14.25us) for a Fram oil filter and glad to get it. I left a washable lifetime K&N oil filter a home. Then I went to the border and the 'official woman in the little white building on the right' tried to get an extra $300 ($22.50us). I declined her offer. Went back to town to get an oil change. I asked several people with no useful result and then this guy, hanging out, drinking from a coke can with no top, got on his bike ,a 150 (?)cruiser and had to ask for directions himself several times, but did lead me to a shop. Did I mention that the pmex gas has been just fine for the klr650. So they sold me some pmex oil! It comes in little plastic bags. Also....

**ratbikemike** · #**143** 19 Oct 2012

I thought I might get a better setting on the clutch. The very charming young woman the worked the counter had to call her Uncle Alberto (the owner) about this idea the gringo has. This is a tune and repair place for scooters and small singles. They don't disassemble exotica like a KLR. Before the trip I bought aftermarket clutch springs and threw away the originals before a realized the new pieces would coil bind. The springs would compress all the way down and not be able to go any more because all the coils were touching. The clutch would not work. I put these little shinny washers in and it worked fine ,but while riding, I thought ,'why not just shorten the springs'. A shorter wire is a stiffer wire so I would get the stronger spring that I thought I would get when I bought them. Also my brand new Kawasaki gasket did not fit right, so Alberto made me one that did. All this took several hours and all Alberto charged me for was the oil. And he told me about a lagoon, maybe 10 miles west of town, that I will go look at tomorrow. Has a really deep blue color to the water. The clutch has been fine for the last 5 miles. A little firm at the lever. Thank you, Alberto.

**xbacksideslider** · #**144** 21 Oct 2012

Oil in a bag. Hmmmm, why not?

Maybe they dump/burn the used old oil so they don't need to use the container to recycle it?

**ratbikemike** · #**145** 21 Oct 2012

It turns out that I can not find any oil like this in the auto parts stores. I find other products from that company but not oil. I think it is the cheapest oil that a shop can buy but it is not marketed otherwise. Most customers don't know or care. I've seen this practice a lot is the states. I was right to not use the new oil filter, as I will change the oil again soon. This guy would stand perfectly still for several minutes and then make robot noises ( think R2D2) and move like a robot, playing onlookers with a tip jar at his feet. A handful of coins, maybe $.50us, got me personal attention from in the form of a robot tip of the hat. There were two more half a block away that had the good sense to work in the shade. But he did have the corner! Lots of this kind of thing is done. The guy with the bike (that has a two wheeled cart instead of front forks) is carrying a bed frame and a small desk down main street.

**xbacksideslider** · #**146** 25 Oct 2012

It's been three days . . . .

Did you vote absentee? but then I shouldn't encourage you.

This morning I got talked into a ride with some super motards; we met at the 7/11 and went up Little Tujunga, out over Boquet Canyon to Leona Valley for breakfast.

**ratbikemike** · #**147** 26 Oct 2012

That had to be a good ride John, Chasing motards on a cbr1000rr I'm guessing. I've been in Belize for a few days and I gotta say, it is good to not struggle every time I speak to someone. Also I have been watching TV.... the Daily Show, the debates, some nascar and will watch motogp, Martinsville, F1 in India etc. Was offered a pint of Blue Bell ice cream for $6.40us. I put it back. Food is high but I found a couple of places for 'Belize rice n beans w chicken' for $3.50us It was all I could eat. Found some friends I get together with in the evening. Got a deal on a hotel and I am chillin for a couple days. This is not a touristy place but rather a dump with good tv, internet and a mix of people. Before I left Mexico I went to Bacalar Lagoon and found the Spanish fort used to defend it. White thing is a model and it must have been tough to attack that thing. Got fotos of lily pads above and below. I think it is the depth and clarity that makes the water different colors. Mayan sculpture that, if I remember right, is called ' Bird with large penis'

**ratbikemike** · #**148** 26 Oct 2012

I walked in the pharmacy and bought meds. No hassle or doctor needed. $13.60us The bottle on the left $30 ($2.25us) looks like the stuff used during surgery to stop infection. Was magic on my bashed thumb. Saw this bright paint in the garage and learned that it is not legal to paint a mural on the outside of a building. Classic Mexican social/political murals squashed. This one is of a Mayan fighting the forces of evil (the spanish). Inside the store were art supplies for sale and a this painting that I related to. I was struggling trying to find a money changer and this guy.... when I first saw him, I gestured that he should strap his helmet, This guy lead me on a wild ride at triple the speed limit, rolling through stop signs at 20 mph etc etc I thanked him and changed the money. That is a DL650 Suzuki police bike.

**ratbikemike** · #**149** 26 Oct 2012

Did I mention that the locals don't drink the water? This is the art work that greeted me as I arrived. Found a small banana farm for sale. Decor where I have breakfast and Belize rice n beans w chicken 'street food' ($3.50us total).

**ratbikemike** · #**150** 26 Oct 2012

For those not familiar with the process... A foot peg bolt would not tighten properly and the problem was found to be the threads in the frame. I borrowed a drill from Mrs. Lee who owns the Akito Hotel, where I am staying. Then drilled the hole, used chain lube on the tap to makes new threads in the frame and screwed in the new, correct size, threads. Some skill is required. The coil is very tough steel and does fit regardless of the misleading picture. The Heli-coil kit and drill bit cost $$43.00us and I walked the 5 blocks the buy it. Got about a dozen coils and gotta say I've got 6 more at home, in storage. But now I can be confident that this foot peg will not fall off in the jungle. It is important to me. Older style country and western music ( Hank Williams sr) blasted from this orange cart in the city park.