Topic: Your most memorable drive/ride moment

[Don R]

 I'll start with driving our old front engine dragster at Memphis in 1989. It hadn't been on a really sticky track, I started the burnout, and got a shift light in high gear, the car crept out of the water box and caught traction. In an instant I was 60-80 feet out but my stomach was still back in the water box.
 I told my buddy when I'm old, in a hospital bed and can't even remember my own name I'll still remember that burnout. I've been faster and quicker since then with two to three times the horsepower but that one was the best because I didn't expect it.
 Everybody I raced that day beat themselves except our opponent in the final. If I could re-run that race knowing what I know today, I could win the event. He matched our dial in and wheel raced me to the stripe, All I needed to do is leave first which I did, and break him out.

[grcamna2]

I don't have just one most memorable ride,I have many.They occur while I'm riding on a deserted country road during daylight,taking it all in.The more I slow down,the more I'm 'part of the scene' and feel like I can remember the rides and peripheral vision helps when I slow down a bit:kind of the 'touring' feel..    When automobiles are in the road in front of me(or behind me) it kind of spoils that feel.I have to keep an eye on(the 'rolling road show'..) them,rather than the Ride. Those memorable 'Black line' country roads: it's more of a Feeling that I Need rather than one solid memorable time.I'm addicted to that like nothing else.  Long Road Trips:Every One Of Them !!

[Gordon]

My most memorable drive:

Summer of 1997.  I was on a two week road trip across the Western U.S. in my '74 VW bus with my best friend.  We were on our way to a Phish show at the gorge in Washington via a two night stop at a small farm on the Western slope of the Rocky Mountains that my uncle was caretaker for.  We drove straight through in shifts from Austin.  I ended up being the lucky one to be driving just before sunrise as we were deep into the mountains.  My friend was asleep on the back bench, and I had to pull over and just stand there and watch the moon set over the mountains and take in the smells and sounds. 

My most memorable ride:

My first Old Bike Ride in Denver in '05.  Up until then I had been almost exclusively a solo rider.  It was my first experience with a large group ride, and it couldn't have been with a better group of people.  It's hard to find a better way to spend a Sunday than riding through the foothills of the Rockies with a few dozen other vintage bike owners.

[Bankerdanny]

My trip down Arizona 191, the Coronado Parkway, in 2017 on the back half of my trip to Colorado. 100 miles, 400 curves, 3 cars and 2 motorcycles seen total. The southern end is at the spectacular Morenci copper mine.

A close second was last summer on my way down to South Carolina. I was just freeform riding (no set route, just an end destination and approximate date I wanted to be there). I consulted Google Maps at a McDonald's (free wifi in the middle of KY) looking for snaky roads and find one, 192 out of Somerset KY through the Daniel Boone National Forest. Miles of lightly traveled, smooth blacktop 2-lane, then a turn onto Cumberland Falls road with a stop at the falls. It was epic enough that I ended up missing a connection with an old friend in Knoxville.

Picture 1 is from a scenic turnout about the middle of the parkway. The second is my back tire at the end of my riding through the Daniel Boone, where I was having so much fun I didn't bother to stop to take photos other than at the Falls.

[Don R]

 On the gl1000, coming home from Sturgis on I90 going 80mph, I got repeatedly passed by three Harleys with low bags and tunneled pipes and a pickup truck. After three passes, I pulled into a gas stop before angling down through Iowa. The Harleys were there filling up and the lady from the pickup truck said "Jesus Christ" here he comes again!
 They were running 90/95 mph and needed more fuel and rest stops than I did. 
 After a nice visit, the lady advised me to get plenty of fluids, I pulled a Gatoraid out of the trunk and took her advise.

[BomberMann650]

The first night ride I took after getting to phoenix.
It was something else.

[andy750]

Most memorable ride...so many...here are a few that come to mind

1. Riding a CB750F2 from Oxford, UK to Paris to see my then French girlfriend. Riding on the Eurotunnel and exiting it in Calais, France in the middle of the night to then ride the x miles to Paris where after riding the Peripherique at breakneck speed I eventually ride up the Champs Elysees and find my way to my gfs apartment (near the Arc de Triumph) arriving at 4am....

2. Riding in Southern Japan a CB400 in the middle of a Cyclone at night following a super-hot Japanese girl on her VMax. I was soaked to the skin during the ride and nothing else really mattered during those moments on the mountain passes in the dark with rain bouncing off the road....

I have been very lucky to have many memorable rides that I can only hope to retain my memory in old age!
cheers
Andy

[carnivorous chicken]

Handy on the way back home from skating a vert ramp, I-90 from Newport Hills to Seattle, on my '75 550K.

[Kelly E]

Last July on the way to Deadwood. I rode Stanwood Wa to Deadwood in two days with my best friend on his 04' FJR 1300 and I had my 94' Concours 1000. The last 90 miles into Deadwood we rode in the dark through a major storm with 60mph winds, pouring rain, lightening hitting all around us and crazy deer everywhere. There's nowhere to hide so we put our heads down and kept going. The rain stopped just before we arrived at the the exit off of I-90. It was an awesome lightening show the whole time we were in the storm and my bike has such a good fairing that I wasn't wet after all that. A great beginning to an epic trip.

[BomberMann650]

Those are the best rides Kelly E.

Reminds me of Washingtons' legendary "May the 4th" storm.  I was on the southbound return when the storm hit.  Downed trees took out power lines, standing water in town, and the lightning streaks.

The last 30 miles of my saddlesore1k to Tombstone was like yours too, Kelly.  The black of night, ran into a wall of rain on the south side of Bisbee.  Torrentsof rain so thick could hardly see.  The lightning flashes were the saving grace allowing me to see the road ahead.

[Don R]

 I gotta get out more. Good stories.

[bill440cars]

   

      The most memorable ride, for me, was with my Dad. You see, back in the early 1960's, they used to have what they called a "Lime Run". Anyone here, who has paricipated in one, can verify that someone lays out the run, by leaving out, ahead of the others and after a certain time or distance, a small paper bag of lime, is thrown down & it bursts open. And so, a trail is laid out, in this manner. I don't remember some of the specifics, mainly the basics. So, thie time, my Dad was going over the layout, while I was marking the way, by busting ahe small paper bags of lime, ever so often. Now, at that time, my Dad didn't have a Street Legal motorcycle, so a frind loaned him his BSA Shooting Star, to get it done. That was a VERY Memorable time, for me, I can tell you. Not sure if this is actually what you all were wanting to hear about, BUT, I guarantee you, I still remember that ride. & that Black BSA SHootig Star.   

[Alan F.]

I've got to finish a bike and get out there myself, all of my memorable riding moments that stand out so far have been scary, time to make some good memories I think.

My favorite was in 2017 on Pinkham Notch Road (Rt16) somewhere between Jackson and Gorham New Hampshire northbound as two lanes merge into one on a right hand curve. I slipped between two cars that I shouldn't have, time slowed down and with the bike leaned over 60 degrees at around 60mph, about ten feet from the car in front of me, I looked back. The other car was right there and swerving just a little for emphasis. He couldn't have been ten feet behind me. It was a cool, sunny October day and I was in a good mood and was wearing all of my best gear. I turned to my left a little at the waist and held up my left index finger...

The car in front booted away when the turn was behind us and the other car backed off, but wow what a moment of calm and slowed down time in the middle of what was probably a dangerous situation.

I had not 30 minutes earlier ridden Intervale New Hampshire's own Hurricane Mountain Road, twice. So even after stopping for lunch I was pretty pumped.

I held up my finger and nodded just like Mike Wussowski at the end of Monsters Inc. (Fast Fwd to 5:30)

Hurricane Mountain Road:

[333]

The day I played out a movie styled chase scene in real life, and got away with it.

First, it wasn't my car, and I was young, foolish and irresponsible.It was the late 70s, and it was the first dry day after 3 or 4 days of rain. I'm doing probably 15 over on the highway in the hammer lane and I pass a cop on the median w/radar.  He has trouble getting off the grass, but I've already gone for it.  I had enough of a lead on him, and was out of his sight. My exit was coming up, so I got over two lanes, in front of an 18 wheeler in the middle lane. I slow down and hide behind the 18 wheeler and slipped off at my exit as the cop zipped past in the left lane. I don't know if he saw me, or he was just giving up, but his lights went off as I'm exiting.

[grcamna2]

The day I played out a movie styled chase scene in real life, and got away with it.

First, it wasn't my car, and I was young, foolish and irresponsible.It was the late 70s, and it was the first dry day after 3 or 4 days of rain. I'm doing probably 15 over on the highway in the hammer lane and I pass a cop on the median w/radar.  He has trouble getting off the grass, but I've already gone for it.  I had enough of a lead on him, and was out of his sight. My exit was coming up, so I got over two lanes, in front of an 18 wheeler in the middle lane. I slow down and hide behind the 18 wheeler and slipped off at my exit as the cop zipped past in the left lane. I don't know if he saw me, or he was just giving up, but his lights went off as I'm exiting.

I like it ! 

[spotty]

My most memorable was the first time I hit 150mph (250kmh plus ), not on a sohc , on my slightly warmed over GSX11 with a Dunstall fairing to hide behind
To say it was scary, exciting, exilerating and lots of other things was an understatement
I've done it a fair few times since but the first time is always the sweetest

[bill440cars]

The day I played out a movie styled chase scene in real life, and got away with it.

First, it wasn't my car, and I was young, foolish and irresponsible.It was the late 70s, and it was the first dry day after 3 or 4 days of rain. I'm doing probably 15 over on the highway in the hammer lane and I pass a cop on the median w/radar.  He has trouble getting off the grass, but I've already gone for it.  I had enough of a lead on him, and was out of his sight. My exit was coming up, so I got over two lanes, in front of an 18 wheeler in the middle lane. I slow down and hide behind the 18 wheeler and slipped off at my exit as the cop zipped past in the left lane. I don't know if he saw me, or he was just giving up, but his lights went off as I'm exiting.

The way you tell it, I can imagine, how it played out. NICE!!!   

[bill440cars]

     333's post, brings to mind an experience I hadn't thought of, in a lot of years.


     I had a 1984 Plymouth Turismo 2.2 (now some may not realize it, but this car model was "2.2" & not just the engine size.
Anyway, it was a spunky little car & I was headed down to where my Parents & my Brother lived, as it was Friday night & my Brother & I had our Army Reserve drill that weekend (for those who know the relationship of my Brother & myself, we were on good terms back then). Anyway, as I was coming though town, just before getting to their place, there is a long sweeping curve & I decided to wind that car up some & was doing 80-85, through that curve, before I knew it. But, I just keep it moving. Next thing I knew, there were 2 vehicles going past me, in the other direction. I happened to look in the rearview mirror, just in time to see a set of brake lights & it was a cop who was slowing & turning around. Next thing I knew, I kept speeding, as my turn was in sight. I made the turn, took off down that road & shortly after that, I reached my Parent's place, puled in beside the house, so the car was in the shadows created by where an outside pole light was & nearly knocked my Brother down, as I went inside (he was standing there, eating ice cream & had come to the door, to see what was going on). Just after I got inside the house, the Sheriff's car came by, pretty slowly (the road we were on, had a dead end) & in a few minutes, he came back by & left. My heart was racing & my Brother looked at me, with a grin & said "What did you do"? He couldn't believe it, when I told him. He just grinned & shook his head, saying" I never would have thought you'd do something like that".  LOL, I wouldn't have thought it either. But, I did & it is history. I guess the Deputy didn't make any extra effort to find me, maybe his shift was almost over? It happened around 10:30 or 11:00PM, on a Friday night.   

                             

[Don R]

 I was driving my 64 Buick 2 dr. Wildcat. 425, turbo 400. Heavy but fast, it would go side by side with a 4 speed 389 tri power GTO from a roll. Anyway, it was winter and I slid far enough through a changing light that I just thought screw it and rolled on through as it went red. I was in front of a restaurant and two police cars were in the lot starting to back out and one turned the red lights on while still in the lot. I looked in the mirror, they were still in the lot heading away towards the exit so I turned right, went a half block and parked at the curb between two cars with the lights off. They cruised by the turn and shut the red lights off without bothering to look for me. 

[Kevin D]

I posted this a long time ago but maybe you haven't seen it:

 I'm riding at Yellowstone NP about dusk and my buddy is next to me on his ride. His vision isn't very good so I guess I saw the bears on the shoulder first and stopped well short. I couldn't get his attention as he got closer and closer. Finally he sees them, slams on brakes, but he can't stop in time, bike is wobbling but doesn't go down, and he passes safely as bears sit there peacefully. Now he's on the east side and I'm on the west side, our campsite is 5 miles east (for him) or 120 miles back (for me) around the loop road. We discussed strategy (we yelled at each other from 50 yards) for a while as we waited for the bears to make the first move. After about 45 minutes I decided to take my chance as the bears still hadn't moved. I took a rolling start and as I approached went full throttle to redline as bears continued to sit transfixed at the sight of a candy garnet brown K1 roaring by them in full flight. Thank God for 67hp and 8000rpm.

[bill440cars]

I was driving my 64 Buick 2 dr. Wildcat. 425, turbo 400. Heavy but fast, it would go side by side with a 4 speed 389 tri power GTO from a roll. Anyway, it was winter and I slid far enough through a changing light that I just thought screw it and rolled on through as it went red. I was in front of a restaurant and two police cars were in the lot starting to back out and one turned the red lights on while still in the lot. I looked in the mirror, they were still in the lot heading away towards the exit so I turned right, went a half block and parked at the curb between two cars with the lights off. They cruised by the turn and shut the red lights off without bothering to look for me.

           Whoa, Nice One There, Don! 

    In fact, I want to apologize to Don & the other folks posting on here, as these are some pretty cool stories, at that. 

[754]

 Bears as I know it don't tend to go after people, unless they have cubs..

[Bankerdanny]

     333's post, brings to mind an experience I hadn't thought of, in a lot of years.


     I had a 1984 Plymouth Turismo 2.2 (now some may not realize it, but this car model was "2.2" & not just the engine size.
Anyway, it was a spunky little car & I was headed down to where my Parents & my Brother lived, as it was Friday night & my Brother & I had our Army Reserve drill that weekend (for those who know the relationship of my Brother & myself, we were on good terms back then). Anyway, as I was coming though town, just before getting to their place, there is a long sweeping curve & I decided to wind that car up some & was doing 80-85, through that curve, before I knew it. But, I just keep it moving. Next thing I knew, there were 2 vehicles going past me, in the other direction. I happened to look in the rearview mirror, just in time to see a set of brake lights & it was a cop who was slowing & turning around. Next thing I knew, I kept speeding, as my turn was in sight. I made the turn, took off down that road & shortly after that, I reached my Parent's place, puled in beside the house, so the car was in the shadows created by where an outside pole light was & nearly knocked my Brother down, as I went inside (he was standing there, eating ice cream & had come to the door, to see what was going on). Just after I got inside the house, the Sheriff's car came by, pretty slowly (the road we were on, had a dead end) & in a few minutes, he came back by & left. My heart was racing & my Brother looked at me, with a grin & said "What did you do"? He couldn't believe it, when I told him. He just grinned & shook his head, saying" I never would have thought you'd do something like that".  LOL, I wouldn't have thought it either. But, I did & it is history. I guess the Deputy didn't make any extra effort to find me, maybe his shift was almost over? It happened around 10:30 or 11:00PM, on a Friday night.   

                           

I had a black Charger 2.2 in 1990-1992, it was a fun car.

[bill440cars]

     333's post, brings to mind an experience I hadn't thought of, in a lot of years.


     I had a 1984 Plymouth Turismo 2.2 (now some may not realize it, but this car model was "2.2" & not just the engine size.
Anyway, it was a spunky little car & I was headed down to where my Parents & my Brother lived, as it was Friday night & my Brother & I had our Army Reserve drill that weekend (for those who know the relationship of my Brother & myself, we were on good terms back then). Anyway, as I was coming though town, just before getting to their place, there is a long sweeping curve & I decided to wind that car up some & was doing 80-85, through that curve, before I knew it. But, I just keep it moving. Next thing I knew, there were 2 vehicles going past me, in the other direction. I happened to look in the rearview mirror, just in time to see a set of brake lights & it was a cop who was slowing & turning around. Next thing I knew, I kept speeding, as my turn was in sight. I made the turn, took off down that road & shortly after that, I reached my Parent's place, puled in beside the house, so the car was in the shadows created by where an outside pole light was & nearly knocked my Brother down, as I went inside (he was standing there, eating ice cream & had come to the door, to see what was going on). Just after I got inside the house, the Sheriff's car came by, pretty slowly (the road we were on, had a dead end) & in a few minutes, he came back by & left. My heart was racing & my Brother looked at me, with a grin & said "What did you do"? He couldn't believe it, when I told him. He just grinned & shook his head, saying" I never would have thought you'd do something like that".  LOL, I wouldn't have thought it either. But, I did & it is history. I guess the Deputy didn't make any extra effort to find me, maybe his shift was almost over? It happened around 10:30 or 11:00PM, on a Friday night.   

                           

I had a black Charger 2.2 in 1990-1992, it was a fun car.

I can sure identify with your experience with the Charger 2.2, as my Turismo version, was a blast. 

[scottly]

If this thread is about scary close-call stuff, I've got a few..
I was on the return leg of a ride in 1979, from San Luis Obispo CA to Colorado Springs CO and back, somewhere in North-east California, near Susanville, IIRC. We were on a dark two lane secondary road near midnight, with me riding point at 60 MPH, when all of a sudden I saw a blur out of the corner of my right eye coming from the shoulder of the road! I instinctively lifted my foot off the peg, felt an impact as the bike shimmied a few times, then straightened itself out, and when I put my foot back down and couldn't find the peg, used the front brake to come to a stop. (I may have screamed like a girl inside my full-face helmet, but I think I only sucked a bit of wind?) My buddies were stopped back a ways, and when I walked back on shaky legs they pointed to the dead kamikaze coyote laying on the road. He had hit head-first into the cast finned point cover, then his body was whipped into the rear wheel, bending the brake rotor and caliper bracket. I get nervous riding after dark after that experience.   

[Kevin D]

Bears as I know it don't tend to go after people, unless they have cubs..

.......said the mountain man to the city boy
I sure didn't know any better, but this was a very long time ago when the park bears were fed by passing motorists with marshmallows and jelly donuts. The roadside bears were probably in a coma coming down from their daily sugar buzz.

I hope you are feeling better asap, Frank.

[bear]

Us bears have all ways had a bit of a sweet tooth.

[Kevin D]

That was the first moment in my life to see bears in their own habitat and was certain that I was about to be devoured, even though a skinny kid.

[jakec]

Handy on the way back home from skating a vert ramp, I-90 from Newport Hills to Seattle, on my '75 550K.

a handjob? jesus

[carnivorous chicken]

Handy on the way back home from skating a vert ramp, I-90 from Newport Hills to Seattle, on my '75 550K.

a handjob? jesus

What can I say? Definitely most memorable.

[seanbarney41]

Handy on the way back home from skating a vert ramp, I-90 from Newport Hills to Seattle, on my '75 550K.

a handjob? jesus

What can I say? Definitely most memorable.

lol ftw!

[jakec]

so what, did you just nut into the wind and get it all over your jacket and tank? lol

[333]

How do you follow that one?

[carnivorous chicken]

so what, did you just nut into the wind and get it all over your jacket and tank? lol

I seriously can't be the only one with this experience. More likely the only one willing to talk about it? And that was just the first time.

It was, uh, just the start of something that ended at her house.

[Don R]

 Once, in my Boss's Mark V after taking his relatives home. Not on the bike however. Still the chance though.

[grcamna2]

 

[BomberMann650]

How do you follow that one?

Plot twist, she sits backwards on the tank

[Don R]

 Put yourself in this place. CB750 K4, sitting at a stoplight turning left and hear tires squealing. In your mirrors, a 59 Oldsmobile apparently with brakes on only one wheel trying not to run you over. Cars on your right at the light, turning cars on your left. You go as far into the red light and to the left as you can with factory traffic in your path. The Olds finally stops, the light changes and you may breathe again.   I'll never forget, I guess that makes it memorable.

[Alan F.]

Ouch! Well not ouch, but wow.

This makes me think about the rainy Saturday in late September 2009 I went into Cambridge, MA on my 91 750 Nighthawk to but a used center stand for $40....
I'm stopped at a red light and suddenly I hear tires skidding to a stop on the wet pavement behind me, and then bump!

Some moron on a bicycle somehow contacted tire to tire with my bike after a panic stop. I totally blame the 'skid demon' for this one. We both kept the bikes up and rode away.