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Since I have a floating holiday today in addition to Monday off (this is the one day per year that I celebrate labor unions), I finally got the chance to get all my MVD stuff straight.  I needed to do three things - tranfer the title to my SV650, tranfer the title + plates for my new trailer (GothicbeaST’s old trailer), and get new tabs for my Futura which included an emissions test.  The original plan was to go on my Futura to the Emissions Test Center first, then return home.  Next step was to load my SV on the trailer and take it down to MVD for an inspection (required for all out of state vehicle purchases), then get all the paperwork done at the same facility.

Two words:  YEAH RIGHT.

While in line at the emissions place, two away from being tested, my bike stalled.  It was idling rough for about a minute before that happened and just died.  Bump starting was unsuccessful.  After a quick inspection, I noticed that a regulator wire had been pushed out of the connector retainer.  At this moment,I suspected that the bike was running off the battery alone and it was not charging at all.  Root cause - drained the battery.

I called the wife and asked her to come pick me up…and grab the extra battery that was sitting on the Battery Tender.  I had no idea if this battery was sufficient because it was a battery tht was originally in my SV650 when I bought it.  Anyway, by the time my wife showed up, I snapped in the wire spade to the connector and had the current battery removed.

I got lucky because the replacement battery had taken a charge and fired the bike up.  All was well, and the bike was running smoothly.  I then jumped back in line and had my wife wait just in case.  She was on her way to the gym and was a little time limited because she was meeting friends there. 

Of course, the guy in front of me took forever.  By the tie I got into the test bay, my wife’s time allotment was gone and she was a little pissed - rightfully so because our2 & 4 year old daughters were also waiting in the car and getting bored.  Anyway, it was my turn now and the guy had me cut the engine when I got in place.  Crap.

The battery was OK when it started, but not great.  After he got everything hooked up and the documentation done, including adding “Aprilia” to the manufacturer’s database, I needed to start the bike.  Crap.  It didn’t want to turn over very easily.  It lit a few times, but would not idle.  Finally, I got it started and idling with partial throttle applied - like a two stroke dirt bike.  I passed the test with flying colors and went to pay my dues and get the receipt.

Crap - the guy botched my VIN# and the manager said I’d probably have to run through again.  I requested that he try to fix the problem versus a retest due to my battery condition.  He called someone, and whoever it was got it straightened out over the phone. 

Sweet.

I was a nerve-racking ride home ~ about 15 miles ~ since I knew my wife was at the gym and not reachable.  Jut in case, I unplugges my headlight and kept 2500rpm at each traffic signal.  Shhhhh - I even smoked a red left turn arrow.  Well, I got home from what whould have been an hour or so in about three hours. 

Step two didn’t go as planned either.  My trailer hitch receiver did not fit the borrowed vehicle I had.  Alleffeciency went out the door as Inow had to wait for my wife to get back home with the truck.

See, I loaned out my street bike ramp, canyon dancers, and some tie-downs to a friend who was retrieving a new bike from California.  Ugh.  Since drastic times called for drastic measures, I was forced to use my stamped dirtbike ramp goodfor 250lbs.  It worked, but not without sticking the rear tire - it was wider than the ramp section and just had to be muscled up into the truck.

The paperwork end went surprisingly well and rather quick for MVD standards.  I got home at 1:30pm yet should have been done around 11am or so.  Its not a big deal, but MVD is one of the worst ways to waste time - Unlike being out on a ride that went long or having “car troubles” at the nudie bar.

I am now officially the new owner of an SV650, Harbor Freight trailer, and have tages for my Futura.  My high school friends back in Michigan would be sickened to know how legal I am at the moment.