January 22 - March 18th, 2016


RIDE BIG BEND This Winter


*5($7 602.< 02817$,16 71 • BIG BEND TX 865-448-6090


I instantly got on the horn to my go-to BMW mechanic, and he suggested replac- ing the wiring harness. “What does that entail?” I’m often such a


babe in the woods. “Entail? Um, we’d pretty much disassem-


ble your entire bike and you’d write us a check for $2,500.” I went to the hardware store for spade


connections, solder, electrician’s tape and 20 of their best mouse traps. I was lucky the mice had left enough wire for me to rees- tablish connections. My mechanic said BMW used a soy compound in the insula- tion of their wires, which explained the mouse’s appetite for them. I built batteries of traps, five to a board, and began baiting them with peanut butter. It was too hard maintaining them, so I wound up develop- ing a process where sunflower seeds were hot glued to the trap triggers. Vigilance and ingenuity rewarded with casualties, but the onslaught continued. Becoming obsessive about checking


under my seat, I found droppings ON TOP OF THE DRYER SHEETS. Clearly, the enemy was evolving. I needed a bigger gun, and after a thorough reconnaissance, real- ized the only spot without mouse leavings in my garage was where I stored fertilizer. Ah, could this be the enemy’s kryptonite? Back at the workbench, I carefully began fashioning darling little sachet pouches of dryer sheets and Scotts Weed and Feed® to seed throughout my bike. I also bit the bullet and invested in a new rubberized skirt for the garage door. The mice chewed through it in two days. After 30 years, the battle yet rages on.


The mouse attack seems to have abated, but I refuse to become complacent. Yesterday, as I checked my traps, I saw a chipmunk.


All bikes less than 2 years old. Rentals, self guided and guided tours.


www.paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz December 2015 BMW OWNERS NEWS 13


New Zealand


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