Shakedown run, lights config, & license plate

[PBKrarup]

Briefly (suuure...), I got the trailer completely installed on the bike, adjusted sag, and departed from home yesterday @ 10 AM. Drove to Clearwater Lights in Rancho Cordova (105 miles), arrived @ 11:45. Yes, this is California, lane-splitting is legal and speeds were above the posted 65 MPH. Law enforcement were observed but no involvement. My hauling ya-yas sub-90 MPH was evidently not a concern for them.

I worked with Glenn (owner) & Billy (lead tech) to wire up their CANopener to the ADV1's wiring harness & got it all to work perfectly. Drove the 8 miles to the Carmichael DMV, anticipated an inspection & paperwork hell, got the paperwork hell, didn't get the inspection. I did pay an 8% titling fee ($869.00) for the privilege of a permanent tag which has to be renewed after 5 years. How is 5 years permanent??

Departed Carmichael and returned home (102 miles) also at above-posted speeds plus lane-splitting. Total ~217 miles, temps were all 95F - 105F there & back. Yes, I wore a 3-liter Camelbak hydration bladder and drank about 3/4s of it. Lights worked perfectly, bike is legal, adventures await!!

Edit: yes, that's an empty license plate frame held on with cable ties, and yes, that's an "old" Army hydration bladder. I'm cheap-ish, get used to it.

 

[s10ere'rider]

Congrats on getting set up to tow. Five years or not...$869 to plate a damn MC trailer?!? The LEAST they could do is have the convicts make a MC-sized one.
I was born in that state...but I've never regretted leaving it ('cept the weather).

 

[PBKrarup]

When I moved from the Wet State of WA, I drove my cheap POS Corolla wagon and the CA DMV charged me an additional $300 for coming into the state with ... wait for it ... an out-of-state vehicle. Absolute fee-grabbing just because they could. There was an outcry by many and I eventually got my $300 back (effectively less than that due to inflation & COL), but it was one of the issues that led to Gray Davis being recalled. I'd hoped for Tom McClintock to be elected, but Arnold Schwarzenegger got the popular vote ("oooh, he'll be the Governator!!" stupidity) and the state went deeper into the fiscal black hole.

 

[PBKrarup]

The LEAST they could do is have the convicts make a MC-sized one.

I'm sure the bureaucrats have run the numbers on creating a new numbering scheme for MC trailer plates and it's not worth the expense.

 

[PBKrarup]

Well, I got the shelf hardware & the RotopaX (sp?) installed today, it's almost easier with the trailer upside down so access to the fiddly nut channels is better, but it's still a tight squeeze. Shelf on front left, RotopaX on front right, and I've got an excess of spacers, bolts, washers, & nuts for future use... for flicking backwards at tailgaters?? Nah, that's ... not illegal, is it?

Question for Rod, Luke, or both - the back panel has what looks like just enough room between the "bumpers" and the panel to thread some long bolts for the license plate, but may interfere with the side panel attachment screws. Thoughts??

 

[roddesu]

Briefly (suuure...), I got the trailer completely installed on the bike, adjusted sag, and departed from home yesterday @ 10 AM. Drove to Clearwater Lights in Rancho Cordova (105 miles), arrived @ 11:45. Yes, this is California, lane-splitting is legal and speeds were above the posted 65 MPH. Law enforcement were observed but no involvement. My hauling ya-yas sub-90 MPH was evidently not a concern for them.

Watch the speed!! Your penance is to re-read chapter two of the user manual I sent you!! You know, it's the one that says "Thou shalt not..." and "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! WILL ROGERS! DANGER!" a hundred times!

How is 5 years permanent??

I don't think CA understands what that word means.

Edit: yes, that's an empty license plate frame held on with cable ties, and yes, that's an "old" Army hydration bladder. I'm cheap-ish, get used to it.

<sigh> We don't have a solution to the "big-ass plate" syndrom that seems to be a growing problem.

A related video:

 

[pomranky]

Well, I got the shelf hardware & the RotopaX (sp?) installed today, it's almost easier with the trailer upside down so access to the fiddly nut channels is better, but it's still a tight squeeze. Shelf on front left, RotopaX on front right, and I've got an excess of spacers, bolts, washers, & nuts for future use... for flicking backwards at tailgaters?? Nah, that's ... not illegal, is it?

Question for Rod, Luke, or both - the back panel has what looks like just enough room between the "bumpers" and the panel to thread some long bolts for the license plate, but may interfere with the side panel attachment screws. Thoughts??

Interesting thought! We haven't tried that but let us know if it works and if there are any conflicts!