by Aaron Hansel
Garage Season
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 | 4:00 PM
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PrintA few weeks ago I went into my garage and felt something that I hadn’t felt in months--chilly air. It was a signal that soon the leaves would fall from the trees, the days would become much shorter, and shorts and t-shirts would be replaced by jeans and hoodies. It was also a sign that garage season was just around the corner. I don’t spend much time in the garage during the summer, as its lack of air conditioning, combined with the triple-digit summer heat here in Chico, Calif., tend to make it an uninhabitable place. But now that the heat is gone, the endless lawn mowing has ended, and there are no races to attend or watch on television, I will once find myself loosening oil drain bolts, polishing fenders and tightening chains.
Two homemade workbenches provide workspace, while a few motorcycles provide the work. Hunter, the dog, offers good company, and a foosball table supplies entertainment when friends drop in. A 10-0 loss on that table will earn you a naked run around the block. In the coming months, you’ll find me in here on any given night, happily tinkering away. Valve clearances will be set, tires will be swapped, and many cold beverages will be consumed. This fall, it’s open season on questionable wheel bearings and leaky fork seals.
But my love of the garage goes deeper than mere motorcycle maintenance. As I sit and gaze at the various posters, mementos and failed motorcycle parts that adorn the walls, I’m reminded that it is here in my garage, that my deepest, purest appreciation for motocross is invoked.
To be sure, there are few things that can match the excitement of watching live motocross and supercross races, but there is simply nothing that can compare with the personal motocross memories that have accumulated over the years. As my eyes travel around the room, they bounce from item to item, each one causing me to briefly recall different experiences. I smile at the mini, seventh-place trophy I got at Sacramento Raceway, and laugh at the scraped piston that resulted when I tried to port the cylinder on my Yamaha scooter. I grin slightly and shake my head when my eyes cross the picture of the mangled remains of my ‘05 KX250. My buddy Mike looped out on a simple double at Cycleland Speedway in Northern California. Sub frames really should be stronger. The endless, happy memories are a reminder me how much I love this sport, and how much of a positive impact it’s had on my life over the years.
Now, as we enter another season, my workbenches are cleared and my tools are organized, ready for work. Before I know it, my buddy Chris will be beating me on my own foosball table, while another friend, Elliot, will be consuming (but never replenishing) the contents of my mini-fridge. I’ll be cleaning up nasty oil spills, getting my hands hopelessly sticky with air filter oil, and searching on my hands and knees for dropped bolts. Yep, garage season is back, and if you ask me, not a moment too soon.
What's the moto life like in your garage? Tell us below in the comments section.
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This is a great Article and Coming from Chico I would expect Nothing less. Time to fire up the propane heater and get to work. Thanks for some extra Motivation.
Mine will be spent getting my bike ready to go to finally make that 100% true push for Lorettas now that I can ride the +30. The rest will be spent getting a PW 50 ready to go in hopes that I'll have the best riding buddy you can have ready to jump on by the spring.
Man...wish I was back in Chico/YC right now!
Well mine much like yours is based on the season..... and i was thinking the exact same thing a few days ago... its time to start spinning wrenches and fixing all the summer long wear and tear.
Love this article, starting tearing my kids pw50 down, then comes the crf450 when thats done. Scrub both sets of boots, clean all the gear, tear the bike down to the frame, clean and grease everything, bold new graphics, and put her all back together. If you can't ride, might as well work on em. Love garage season.
Wheel bearings, Swingarm bearings, Linkage bearings, Fork seals.. Ahh... Garage season.. *Cracks a cold one*
Best part about this is when you re-new an old bike..my CR250 was looking factory after every winter.
Great article, Aaron. Tough to beat a few beers with some buddies while tearing down the bikes.
Slowly gathering parts for my own garage season, but not ready to quit riding yet, it is still in the 50's for high temps, so not done riding yet..
Assuming I don't have to take the little propane torch to de-thaw the lock, not much happening in my garage. The street bikes are on the battery tender, and the CR250 will probably be sneaked out for the occasional frozen swamp ride. Ah, Chicago-land...ya gotta love it.
This summer I had the itch to remodel my mancave as my dad and I built it in 1984. He is no longer with us but I can almost feel his presents as I worked. All done now and in my MX corner I have autographed posters of Mike Larocco and others. Also I have a little cabinet that holds all of my tickets/wrist bands from all the pro races held at spring creek. The MX corner is my favorite area, and it is good to be finished. Being from Mn. I am getting ready for snowmobiling, my other form of MX. Wish I could take everyone on here out for riding sleds for a day. The trails get a little beat up and it is very similar to a bike. Imagine endless whoops and mogels as you ride anywhere you want. The trail systems around here are amazing.
O yes ! I told my wife... I'm not the only one like this . the old trophy, race pic from the loc track. posters of the Pro's on the wall. the helmet's on shovels . there's nothing like it to a Motocross' er to Be in (his) GARAGE!
"My buddy Mike looped out on a simple double.." that's why I dont let anybody ride my bike anymore. "Oh here's your bike back, see ya!" (all mangled). Sorry no!
Come on Hansel, It's not like you live in MN. This is prime riding season, mother nature is your water truck and if you need to get your moto on, Cycleland is open Sundays. Call your buddy up and see if he can help you stimulate the economy, one sub frame at a time!
An unseasonably warm November in New England this year is keeping the two stroke oil flowing! Gotta get the rides in while we can!
I really like the tequila bottle on the work bench for those hard to figure out problems.
Just stocked up my "in shop" woodbox to keep the stove fired up this garage season. Always thought that "garage season" would make a great article for the mag with pictures of readers garage memorabilia. My day-glo "Fox post-modern racewear" poster above the woodbox or my trusty frigidaire painted with 70's on-up moto stickers would make a great photo for said article. Oh yeah or the 5 foot long oakley poster of Grant Plakes vicious mohawk is also one of my favorites.As is the 1978 "star wars" JT poster David bailey signed for me at Torque Center in 83'.
My wife calls the shop "His shrine".
That it is indeed
The winter fix: used to have to go peek in the garage, just to look at my clean ready 2go dirtbikes. Ever do motos on the stand, in the garage?
Great article and sweet work benches! I know the feeling about time to fix up the bikes. I think we are all jonesin' to go riding but the weather is just a bit nippy. Sooo, we wrench!