Uh oh…

Great day yesterday, with the guys from ADV Moto and ADV Pulse.   They gave the CSC Cyclone a thorough eval on dirt, on the freeway, and up in the twisties along Angeles Crest Highway.   I rode my KLR 650 because we wanted the experts to ride the RX-3.

My old KLR 650

Things were going well.   We ran a cool 28 miles on the 210 and 15 freeways (in super windy conditions) to get to Sheep Canyon Road, a very technical and steeply-downhill dirt road.    I followed the guys down the mountain on my KLR, enjoying the brisk mountain air and sunshine, and watching the CSC Cyclone lead a procession of guys on KLRs, GS 1200s, and the other bikes the magazine pros were riding.

After Sheep Canyon Road, we were back on asphalt on Lone Pine Road, a long uphill climb into Wrightwood on the northern slope of the San Gabriel Mountains.   Wrightwood is a cool little mountain village and my plan was to stop there for lunch.   On this particular portion of our ride, I was the lead dog, mostly because I knew the way to the Grizzly Café.

Funny thing happened on the way into Wrightwood.  I  tapped the KLR’s rear brake as I rolled into town, and it felt very weak (as in not there at all).   Steve and I had lubed the KLR’s chain before the group left the plant, and my first thought was that some of the chain lube had found its way onto the rear disk.   Then I realized…there was no braking at all!

When I applied the rear brake rolling into town, I thought I heard and felt something, but I didn’t realize what had actually happened…

The KLR’s caliper zip tied to the passenger peg.

Whoa!   Or perhaps more to the point, no Whoa!  Both bolts securing the KLR’s rear caliper to the swing arm had vibrated out, and that’s what I had heard!

Wowee!  I had never seen this happen before on any motorcycle, nor had any of the five guys we rode with yesterday.   I sure didn’t have any spare bolts, and I didn’t even have any zip ties or duct tape (the 21st century equivalent of the baling wire riders of an earlier generation routinely carried).   Fortunately for me, one of the magazine photogs had some zip ties, and I secured the caliper to the rear foot peg bracket.

I always told folks I hardly ever use the rear brake, but let me tell you, when you don’t have one, it really makes a difference.   I rode the next 100 miles on my KLR (including all of the Angeles Crest Highway) with the front brake only, and it was not a relaxing experience.   I had to really concentrate on not using the rear brake.   Not a lot of fun there, folks.

I was lucky…that caliper could have just as easily fallen into the wheel and locked it up.    I’ve had my KLR for 8 years now, and I just ride the heck out of it.    I learned a few lessons from yesterday’s adventure, though…

• Always check your bike’s nuts and bolts for presence and for tightness.
• Always carry tools.
• Always carry zipties.
• Always carry duct tape.
• Always carry a mix of spare fasteners, just in case.

It could have been a lot worse.   Like I said above, my inattentiveness could have locked up the KLR’s rear wheel.  I could have lost the rear brake on the sharp Sheep Canyon Road descent in the dirt (that would have almost certainly resulted in dropping the bike).   It could have happened on the front brake.   I’ve been riding (and writing about riding) for too long to make a bush league dumb-butt move like this.   I’m embarrassed.

I was lucky.  My message to you, my friends, is this:  Give your bike (whatever you ride) a good inspection on a regular basis.  I’m sure going to every time I go out.