Its the little things in life or pandemic purchases and the drug of overnight shipping.

At the time of crafting this post, I still hadn't released the previous post about giving the Super Cub a bit of attention. Such is life in these very uncertain days. Life in Japan has been chilly. Morning temps are in the mid 30's °F or if you are of the metric slant, the low single digits °C. I have been working on ways of dressing using my three season gear. It gets a bit ridiculous to get geared up before a ride, but if it is what I have to do to be riding, then so be it. This is just a quick post on the dangers of being locked inside while the winter cold and the pandemic continue to grip the area. Read on the see what has been happening.

These next few pictures really illustrate how boredom can encourage you buy strange things. Especially when those purchases arrive overnight and come with free shipping. In the picture above you can see a very innocuous little bracket that holds my front brake lines in place on the lower triple tree of the XJR400. This bracket was missing when I bought the bike and the brake lines were just floating around. I inquired at the local Yamaha shop to see if I could purchase one, but alas it was not being produced anymore. I figured that would be the answer, but I had to try. This is just another simple part that helps return the bike back to its OEM state, which is a goal I've taken up this last year. I'd have to try elsewhere for this part.

This is how I acquired the previously mentioned bracket. I submitted the single winning bid of approximately $3 American dollars on a box of random nuts and bolts that are take-off items from a dismantled XJR400 that unfortunately met its end at the hands of a breaker. The auction pictures were not doctored to make them look brand new or special in any way. They were just a box of nuts, bolts and brackets. The important thing is that in the random mess of rust and grime was the one bracket I was looking for shown in the righthand picture. Shipping happened very quickly and in the end I had paid the grand sum of $12 US for this one bracket. Such are the lengths that one will go to for authenticity when one is bored.

These pics are of something that was such a simple idea that I am surprised I didn't look for it before. A few months ago, my U-Clear helmet communication system finally gave up the ghost. Having to ride without the distracting sounds of music was probably one of the reasons why I replaced the noisy aftermarket exhaust system that was on the Yamaha. This is a Bluetooth headset, just like any other Bluetooth headset used for working out or listening to music without wires. The difference is that this one is sized specifically to fit into a helmet with low profile speakers and Velcro attachments. Again, Amazon prime to the rescue. $20 and 18 hours later I had them in my hands. Installation was a breeze and after an initial charge, I had music again. They have a simple three button control like many other cheap headsets. Pairing to my phone was a snap and thanks to the recessed pockets in my Shoei Qwest helmet, they are tucked away from my delicate ears. Sound quality is basic, you can't expect theater quality sound from tiny speakers for $20. The controls are a bit hard to operate due to their size and location, especially with gloved hands. So far I'm pleased and happy that I can enjoy my tunes again!

I have a couple of other tempting items tagged in my "watch" list on the Yahoo auction site that may end up in my greedy little hands. I'll save those for a possible future post. For now I'm going to bundle up and ride when I can. Things may get a little hairy for me in the near future and riding may not be an option. If you can get out and ride, ride safe friends!

Mat