Hurricane stories or how a C50 can save your life. - Suzuki Volusia Forums : Intruder Volusia and Boulevard Forum

**Bob Penn** · 11-05-2012, 05:03 PM

Wah, Wah, Wah, Here in the hills of north east Pa. we're just getting over the hurricane and power loss for 6 days. I woke up to find a tree had fallen on my truck and the generator blew a capacitor so the only transportation I had was my faithful ole C50. It's only a 28 mile ride down the mountain to the Granger store to try and find the ailing gen. part.
When I left the house it was 36 degrees. A bit chilly but ride able so off I go. I get to Grangers only to find they don't have the part

but they can get one by the next day. So I place my order and back out of the store I go. Dam if it ain't raining. It's only 28 miles back home. What I forgot was the temp will be dropping especially as I run up the mountain. By the time I got home it was hailing and the temp was 32 degrees. I can tell you hail hurts even at 30 miles an hour. Thankfully the plastic fenders didn't crack.
OK then, the next morning I wake up and by 11 am the temp is a balmy 37. So off I go for the part. Just as I get to the store parking lot it starts to rain. But true happiness is finding they got the part.

I pays my money and out the door I go. The rain has changed to snow and me without tire chains for the bike. Oh well I got no choice so off I go.
By the time I get home it's 28 degrees but I was alive even after a few wobbles on the slick roads. I had the generator going within 30 minutes. I now have running water and more importantly a life saving flush toilet all is well with the world.
Will I put my bike away? I don't think so! I have some more riding to do and besides that Stabil stuff is expensive.

Ok let's hear your hurricane story

Two Red Ryders · 11-05-2012, 05:20 PM

Interesting storm story.

In past power outages, I have found any bucket of rain water will flush a toilet.

During a past snowstorm I parked my car in a friends yard for saftey. As luck would have it the snow weighted down a big branch which broke off and landed on my car and did some minor damage to my car parked in his yard for saftey.

Hi-Vis · 11-05-2012, 05:25 PM

That just proves "if there's a will there's a way". Did you buy 2 capacitors? Glad you made it home safe!

I've got a question. Been posting on forums since 1999. Every time I post about being cold @ 32F someone from above the Mason Dixon Line always replies, Y'all bunch of wimps, I ride around with my windows rolled down at 25F. No kidding.

Enjoy that flush toilet. Is yours an indoor type?

canoe68 · 11-05-2012, 06:47 PM

Good to here your problem has been solved.
I would add one of my basic survival tips is "all you need is a roll of duct tape and a roll of toilet paper"

**Polovision** · 11-05-2012, 06:59 PM

Happened a few years ago. I was going to my sister's house in Quincy, CA. To get there you go up this canyon for about 70 miles. It was cold, but the sun was out. My sister's house is at 6400 ft and I made it all the way to Quincy. But going up the road to her house I ran into a little snow on the road. I got within 250 ft of her house before I could go no more. The road (dirt covered with snow) was too steep, my back tire just slipped and it was all I could do to keep the bike up. Parked the bike and walked the rest of the way.

dfinitlydisturbd · 11-05-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Penn

Wah, Wah, Wah, Here in the hills of north east Pa. we're just getting over the hurricane and power loss for 6 days. I woke up to find a tree had fallen on my truck and the generator blew a capacitor so the only transportation I had was my faithful ole C50. It's only a 28 mile ride down the mountain to the Granger store to try and find the ailing gen. part.
When I left the house it was 36 degrees. A bit chilly but ride able so off I go. I get to Grangers only to find they don't have the part

but they can get one by the next day. So I place my order and back out of the store I go. Dam if it ain't raining. It's only 28 miles back home. What I forgot was the temp will be dropping especially as I run up the mountain. By the time I got home it was hailing and the temp was 32 degrees. I can tell you hail hurts even at 30 miles an hour. Thankfully the plastic fenders didn't crack.
OK then, the next morning I wake up and by 11 am the temp is a balmy 37. So off I go for the part. Just as I get to the store parking lot it starts to rain. But true happiness is finding they got the part.

I pays my money and out the door I go. The rain has changed to snow and me without tire chains for the bike. Oh well I got no choice so off I go.
By the time I get home it's 28 degrees but I was alive even after a few wobbles on the slick roads. I had the generator going within 30 minutes. I now have running water and more importantly a life saving flush toilet all is well with the world.
Will I put my bike away? I don't think so! I have some more riding to do and besides that Stabil stuff is expensive.

Ok let's hear your hurricane story

Except that the part was there, your luck sounds bout like mine. If it had been me they would have said the storm delayed your parts try again tomorrow.

**Bob Penn** · 11-05-2012, 07:16 PM

Nope I only bought the one capacitor. The only reason it blew was because of the way GeneRec Installed it. It was actually held in the housing by one electrical tie above the outlets. From vibration it loosened and fell on one of the receptacles where it vibrated until the casing wore a whole in it then shorted out.
If I have a choice I won't ride when the low temp falls below 40 or the daily high is at least 50. I admit to being a wimp but I also am very proud of being a creature of comfort. As soon as I can figure it out I'm going to install roll up windows on the C50 and ride with them open when it's 25.
Yep, like most of us northerners I moved the toilet inside next to an electric heater and across from the TV.

Hey Canoe, I ain't taping up that crack it could be fatal and there wouldn't be enough paper in the world to clean up the mess when it finally blew.

**BearBait** · 11-05-2012, 07:27 PM

Glad to hear you came through okay, Bob.

isobig · 11-06-2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Penn

OK then, the next morning I wake up and by 11 am the temp is a balmy 37. So off I go for the part. Just as I get to the store parking lot it starts to rain. But true happiness is finding they got the part.

I pays my money and out the door I go. The rain has changed to snow and me without tire chains for the bike. Oh well I got no choice so off I go.

Bob,

Are you exagerrating a bit? Snow? Really? I don't recall seeing any snow in these parts from the storm. I even go over the top of a mountain to work and back and there wasn't any snow. Unless you went to a different Graingers than I am aware of.

But glad you made it through all that ok and got your generator going.

11-05-2012, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bob Penn Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pa Posts: 3,453 Thanks: 39 Thanked 247 Times in 187 Posts	Hurricane stories or how a C50 can save your life. Wah, Wah, Wah, Here in the hills of north east Pa. we're just getting over the hurricane and power loss for 6 days. I woke up to find a tree had fallen on my truck and the generator blew a capacitor so the only transportation I had was my faithful ole C50. It's only a 28 mile ride down the mountain to the Granger store to try and find the ailing gen. part. When I left the house it was 36 degrees. A bit chilly but ride able so off I go. I get to Grangers only to find they don't have the part but they can get one by the next day. So I place my order and back out of the store I go. Dam if it ain't raining. It's only 28 miles back home. What I forgot was the temp will be dropping especially as I run up the mountain. By the time I got home it was hailing and the temp was 32 degrees. I can tell you hail hurts even at 30 miles an hour. Thankfully the plastic fenders didn't crack. OK then, the next morning I wake up and by 11 am the temp is a balmy 37. So off I go for the part. Just as I get to the store parking lot it starts to rain. But true happiness is finding they got the part. I pays my money and out the door I go. The rain has changed to snow and me without tire chains for the bike. Oh well I got no choice so off I go. By the time I get home it's 28 degrees but I was alive even after a few wobbles on the slick roads. I had the generator going within 30 minutes. I now have running water and more importantly a life saving flush toilet all is well with the world. Will I put my bike away? I don't think so! I have some more riding to do and besides that Stabil stuff is expensive. Ok let's hear your hurricane story __________________ I didn't do anything yesterday and doubt I'll have time to finish the job today

11-05-2012, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Two Red Ryders Senior VR Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Silverdale, WA Posts: 464 Thanks: 11 Thanked 55 Times in 47 Posts	Interesting storm story. In past power outages, I have found any bucket of rain water will flush a toilet. During a past snowstorm I parked my car in a friends yard for saftey. As luck would have it the snow weighted down a big branch which broke off and landed on my car and did some minor damage to my car parked in his yard for saftey. __________________ The United States of America, founded on the principle that "all men are created equal; with unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Red & Black C50

11-05-2012, 05:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hi-Vis Senior VR Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Auburn Alabama Posts: 2,163 Thanks: 161 Thanked 296 Times in 267 Posts	That just proves "if there's a will there's a way". Did you buy 2 capacitors? Glad you made it home safe! I've got a question. Been posting on forums since 1999. Every time I post about being cold @ 32F someone from above the Mason Dixon Line always replies, Y'all bunch of wimps, I ride around with my windows rolled down at 25F. No kidding. Enjoy that flush toilet. Is yours an indoor type? __________________ Special Edition 2009 C50 Green/White . 13600 miles. Loaded up and then some! 2006 Honda Big-Ruckus 250 scooter. ~Rare~ If an old man is Laughing at you for no reason, you might want to take a mental inventory because you might have lost something. ATGATT Sweat, not blood.

11-05-2012, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
canoe68 VR Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: south shore, mass Posts: 244 Thanks: 2 Thanked 27 Times in 21 Posts	Good to here your problem has been solved. I would add one of my basic survival tips is "all you need is a roll of duct tape and a roll of toilet paper" __________________ I'm not a biker, I'm a trucker that rides a bike. GOD DON'T LIKE STUPID NRA life member 2011 c50t 7000 miles since 04/03/12

11-05-2012, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Polovision Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA, Cameron Park. (Near Sacramento) Posts: 10,798 Thanks: 412 Thanked 304 Times in 239 Posts	Happened a few years ago. I was going to my sister's house in Quincy, CA. To get there you go up this canyon for about 70 miles. It was cold, but the sun was out. My sister's house is at 6400 ft and I made it all the way to Quincy. But going up the road to her house I ran into a little snow on the road. I got within 250 ft of her house before I could go no more. The road (dirt covered with snow) was too steep, my back tire just slipped and it was all I could do to keep the bike up. Parked the bike and walked the rest of the way. __________________ My Rides in the west

11-05-2012, 07:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bob Penn Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pa Posts: 3,453 Thanks: 39 Thanked 247 Times in 187 Posts	Nope I only bought the one capacitor. The only reason it blew was because of the way GeneRec Installed it. It was actually held in the housing by one electrical tie above the outlets. From vibration it loosened and fell on one of the receptacles where it vibrated until the casing wore a whole in it then shorted out. If I have a choice I won't ride when the low temp falls below 40 or the daily high is at least 50. I admit to being a wimp but I also am very proud of being a creature of comfort. As soon as I can figure it out I'm going to install roll up windows on the C50 and ride with them open when it's 25. Yep, like most of us northerners I moved the toilet inside next to an electric heater and across from the TV. Hey Canoe, I ain't taping up that crack it could be fatal and there wouldn't be enough paper in the world to clean up the mess when it finally blew. __________________ I didn't do anything yesterday and doubt I'll have time to finish the job today

11-05-2012, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
BearBait Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tannersville, NY (Northern Catskills) Posts: 4,191 Thanks: 592 Thanked 539 Times in 373 Posts	Glad to hear you came through okay, Bob. __________________ BearBait '11 Vulcan 1700 Vaquero (Ebony)

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