Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

I decided at the last year's New Year's Rally to attend also the 2010 edition. Even with some bike problems I cannot say it otherwise: It was GREAT!

My good old, but this time a bit quarrelsome, Guzzi T5

Let me first say this: I had a great Christmas celebration with most of my family visiting, a lot of great food and drinks, and a really relaxed time. But I was really, really looking forward to the New Year's Rally. Even more to that than the New Year's Eve itself, which went on quietly in our house as I was going to the rally early on 1 January and my wife to work.

The weeks prior to the rally saw some really low temperatures, even for being in Norway. We were looking at below -20 C, even venturing into the -30s where I live. I was a bit worried because I hadn't prepared the bike - my trusted 850 T5 - as thoroughly as I usually do, assuming that the winter went on to be as mild as last year.

Roy's winter cruiser

I was wrong. The bitter coldness blew in from Siberia, waking me up on New Year's Day looking at -18. I decided it wasn't that bad after all, having been riding and sleeping in temperatures even below that, so I packed up the bike.

Just after the Wood Gatherer Rally in October 2009 the main ignition switch on the T5 packed up. I had replaced it with a new one and everything looked nice and shiny. I loaded the bike, bid my family farewell and pushed the starter button. Nothing. Dead. I cursed and rolled the bike into the garage again, and went over all the cables again. I did the WD40 drill and again it fired up. I decided to play it safe so I brought even another ignition switch just in case. I lost some two hours though.

The ride to the rally venue is nice: A swift trip to Moss to catch the ferry to Horten, then on to Trollsvann. The bike ran smoothly to Moss, and fired right up when disembarking from the ferry in Horten. Just after arrival in Horten it started to snow pretty heavy. I knew my rear tire had the habit of packing up snow and losing traction. I gambled that the roads would be ok, so I pressed on for Trollsvann.

Johannes posing in safe distance from the Guzzi

Even if it snowed, the temperatures stayed in the low -12 to -15C. It got a bit harder to see as it darkened, and I had to constantly wipe off snow from my helmet visor. Still I found the ride enjoyable and not cold at all. 30 kilometres from Trollsvann the clutch cable broke. Learning from previous winter trips I had brought throttle cables, spray, tape, wires, heat packs, nuts'n bolts - but of course I had forgot to bring a new clutch cable. I managed to gear the bike anyhow and decided to press on, riding in 2nd gear the rest of the way. It worked ok, even if I needed a push in a couple of the steeper hills as my rear tire - as said - couldn't get a proper grip.

I arrived at the rally a bit sweaty after all the pushing and a bit anxious that I had to have bike towed back home, but decided to leave the worries for Sunday. Now it was time to have fun with the lads from Sandefjord MCC.

Usually this rally attracts about 20 riders. This year, however, we were only 8. It was perhaps too early for most, or too cold, or too whatever. We who came had a great time, which included proper fireworks with fire guidance from "Roger Ruud", cocktails, fish soup and evening visits from summer motorcycle riders who came by car. The lads in Sandefjord MCC is a great bunch to party with, and I meet them on several winter rallies. They're always good fun!

Roy savouring a proper lunch

A fellow Guzzisti, Trond - who is also a Sandefjord MCC member - came to my rescue by providing me with a clutch cable he had laying around. As Sunday arose I was pretty confident that the T5 would see me safe and sound back home again, even if I suspected that I'd need some starter help as my battery was far from ship shape. With an average temperature below -20 the whole weekend, the battery had no chance on starting the rather cranking power demanding Bosch starter on Sunday morning. So Ulf's BMW came to rescue with starter cables and a promise never to say that my Guzzi had been helped by his Beemer.

The trip home went without any problems. Until I arrived back home, that is. I suddenly realised that my left leg was drenched in oil. Due to the low temps, some oil had got really thick in one of the oil lines, building up pressure when I started up the bike from cold. The line burst and trickeled oil all the way back home. It's nothing serious, but was a solid reminder that especially on air cooled motorcycles one must ALWAYS pre-heat the engine carefully with a kerosene burner under the oil pan before attempting to start it in really low temperatures.

All in all - yet another great experience with the lads from Sandefjord MCC. Now I'm preparing for the Dragon Rally in Wales, UK, which I'll visit together with my Brit buddy Jon. Check out these pages for report from there later on!

Arne checking the light on the kerosene burner

Battery energy, anyone?

Frank "Rotor" is a seasoned winter rider. He rode Lindesnes-Nordkapp return one winter. On two wheels. With his then girlfriend riding pillion. In February. MC-ADDICT.COM will host his story later on.

A Chinese Chang Jiang 1959 model.

Johannes. He's from the same parts of Norway as I am, the Far North, so a winter rally is for us child's play...