Sunday 09/21 Marion - Lake James - Hwy 181 - 226A

[Marc K]

209 miles with Dangerous Dan, Rick and Wayne Maury, and Dan Shealey. Met up in Marion the Dan lead us around the south of Lake James and then up Hwy 181. Lunch at Famous Louise Rock House. Ann and I headed back home and the rest went back down Hwy 226A and to Rock Hill. Rick's Aprilia blew some fuel out of the tank vent. Plugged it up and kept on riding. TWe could not figure out why. There are two vents and neither had lines but they were pouring gas. He thought there used to be a carbon collection can there but it been removed by the previous owner. The Sheriff Deputy across the street never moved. I guess he was waiting for an Italian fire and he could get it on video. Thanks to Dangerous Dan for leading the way. He can ride and knows the area like the back of his hand. Great job. Hope to ride again soon.

Well that's not good

Local law enforcement is no help

Ann is rather amused

Awesome lunch at Famous Louise's Rock House.

[Broz]

Glad you all had a good ride. I left Charlotte before 7:00, left the Gate in Morganton about 8:30 went around south side of Lake James went up NC 80 to Burnsville looped around Toe River to Double Island to Little Swizerland. Went down, up and down 226A back around north side of Lake James and came home old NC. 18. Total 341 miles and home by 2:15.
Broz

[Marc K]

Wow such an early riser ! A great route. We'll have to meet up and do that one. Our Mountain Virgin did great for his first time. His most common quote "I don't know how y'all go that fast !" Two Yamaha's , a Triumph, an Aprilia and a Kawasaki. What a mix.

[Bob]

Holy Crap Marc--I can see the trail of gasoline on the pavement in that pic. It must have been spraying like crazy. Did it just stop on its own? Where was it coming from? Had you just left the gas station?

[Marc K]

I don't know anything about Aprilias. Rick said he noticed his bike was a little loose. When we stopped he had gas pouring out in front of the rear tire. We searched and found the cause. Under the gas tank, next to the fuel sensor / fuel pump mount, there were two little vents. Rick said he thought there used to be a carbon collection EPA tank there. The previous owner removed it. We cut a 6" piece of vent tube off and connected it to both ends. Bike ran fine and no more leaks. My guess some vent in the tank is clogged and when the fuel pump kicks in it over flows. Best guess. He dumped almost his entire tank in 20 miles ! Why it didn't burst into flames I'll never know. It was dumping straight on the Cat Converter.

[Ed]

Glad y'all got out and burned some gas!

Broz, how was 226A? ...when we were last up there, the new surface was killer but there was a lot of pea gravel scattered in the corners.

[dangerousdan]

I enjoyed meeting you all. It was a beautiful day to ride. I am glad that Rick,s Aprilia only lost some gas and didn,t catch on fire. Look forward to riding again.
To answer Ed,s question on 226A the pavement is awesome and there is still some pea gravel. But it is not as bad as it was.
Dangerous Dan

[Broz]

I thought it was great! I liked it so much I went down twice and up once.