I suppose it’s a good thing to have these issues now rather than later maybe the bike is wise in her old age and not just cranky.

I get and install the headlight with no issues.

I decide to go on a ride around some of the back roads with my camera. The leaves don’t seem to be doing much this year, too wet.

After about an hour the grinding noise is back with a vengeance I fiddle with the chain and get it the mile home cringing the whole way. Not so gone after all.

I sit down in the driveway ready to take the thing apart until I found something wrong. Luckily, it didn’t take too long, when I removed the sprocket cover I noticed that the front sprocket was moving on the shaft. I pulled off the thing that holds it in place to find the teeth are no longer teeth. Thankfully I have an old broken KLR Tengai that I have been using for spare parts and it looks like this sprocket holder is in better condition.

I put the ‘new’ one on and made sure the chain was in spec and there is no more noise. It is amazing how much more fun motorcycling is when you’re not worried about strange sounds.

I spent another day trying to get as much done at home as I could before going back to DC to work my last event for the catering company where I have spent the last two years.

On my way out, I stopped at the DMV to see if I could transfer the bike to NY, right now it registered in Vermont and I am worried that if I try to go to Mexico I will be difficult because there is no title and the registration looks like I printed it at home.