Topic: 21 Rides in 2021... SOHC 4 bikes .

[Shtonecb500]

Rode to caseville today, ate at the Thumb Brewery then came home, 218 miles round trip
#5 

[Terry in Australia]

Well after freezing my arse off on Wednesday, I went and bought some decent thermal long johns, and wore my heated gloves (but didn't need to turn them on) and I had a much nicer ride #26 today. I noticed a "pinging" under load so stopped on the side of the road and moved the timing plate back a few degrees, and it ran much better at higher RPM. I need to jack up the front wheel and check for a buggared wheel bearing, as I'm sure I could hear a noise emanating from the front at low speed. Other than that, I had a great ride.

K2 Bitsa Ride Sunday 11 July 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[Kevin D]

Rode to caseville today, ate at the Thumb Brewery then came home, 218 miles round trip
#5 

Shtone, way back I had a place to stay near Sleeper SP, but no longer. It’s about 140 one way and 330 around the thumb and home for me. That’s likely an overnite, or an unlikely new GoldWing to make it a day trip. You’re on the right side of town for a NB run. I rarely take my CB on Telegraph, 696, 94, or any other crosstown roads. Even getting to Crescent Lake rd. was a rare event. How’s the traffic on your ride? Did you go up VanDyke? Around Harbor Beach, Port Sanilac? M24 used to be a decent run to Huron county but Lake Orion Oxford are booming these days and orange barrels on 75.

[Kevin D]

Well after freezing my arse off on Wednesday, I went and bought some decent thermal long johns, and wore my heated gloves (but didn't need to turn them on) and I had a much nicer ride #26 today. I noticed a "pinging" under load so stopped on the side of the road and moved the timing plate back a few degrees, and it ran much better at higher RPM. I need to jack up the front wheel and check for a buggared wheel bearing, as I'm sure I could hear a noise emanating from the front at low speed. Other than that, I had a great ride.

K2 Bitsa Ride Sunday 11 July 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Terry, I envy your wide open spaces to ride and also your riding season. Even in the dead of winter you can get out with the next level of extra cold protection. I have considered bark busters to keep the wind off of my hands. I got caught out one evening and my ride 90 minute ride home was at 40f: I couldn’t clutch or throttle my CB properly after a half hour, even with decent gloves.

[Terry in Australia]

Well after freezing my arse off on Wednesday, I went and bought some decent thermal long johns, and wore my heated gloves (but didn't need to turn them on) and I had a much nicer ride #26 today. I noticed a "pinging" under load so stopped on the side of the road and moved the timing plate back a few degrees, and it ran much better at higher RPM. I need to jack up the front wheel and check for a buggared wheel bearing, as I'm sure I could hear a noise emanating from the front at low speed. Other than that, I had a great ride.

K2 Bitsa Ride Sunday 11 July 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Terry, I envy your wide open spaces to ride and also your riding season. Even in the dead of winter you can get out with the next level of extra cold protection. I have considered bark busters to keep the wind off of my hands. I got caught out one evening and my ride 90 minute ride home was at 40f: I couldn’t clutch or throttle my CB properly after a half hour, even with decent gloves.

Thanks Kevin, yeah we’re almost halfway thru winter and I hope it’s not going to get much colder than this. I was surprised at the amount if traffic on my “roads less traveled” today, my favourite eatery was packed, but I found a booth and enjoyed my pepper steak pie while listening to the guy in the booth next to mine being nagged by his wife, and looking out the window at my bike parked outside, with the old farts slowing to take a look at it and remember when they “had one just like it”.

[Shtonecb500]

Rode to caseville today, ate at the Thumb Brewery then came home, 218 miles round trip
#5 

Shtone, way back I had a place to stay near Sleeper SP, but no longer. It’s about 140 one way and 330 around the thumb and home for me. That’s likely an overnite, or an unlikely new GoldWing to make it a day trip. You’re on the right side of town for a NB run. I rarely take my CB on Telegraph, 696, 94, or any other crosstown roads. Even getting to Crescent Lake rd. was a rare event. How’s the traffic on your ride? Did you go up VanDyke? Around Harbor Beach, Port Sanilac? M24 used to be a decent run to Huron county but Lake Orion Oxford are booming these days and orange barrels on 75.

I ride all of the major freeways as of right now, I took i94 to the 25 and took the 25 all the way around. The was no traffic and basically no one at the beach side road pull offs. Im sure everyone needed a down weekend following the 4th. I took pinnebog back down to vandyke and that all the way home. I would have done more but I dint get out of the house and on the road until around noon.

[Kevin D]

Ride #8 140 miles

Between the weather and chores it’s been two weeks since I have been out on my CB, and thats too long to be away from riding in mid July. The CB performed as usual. It has collected some dust while parked and deserves a thorough cleanup.
 I went by the Dewey school yesterday, a museum now. It was operating until 1963. The countryside is dotted with these buildings: they were built to last! I was in 6th grade in ‘63 and being a suburban kid, my school was nothing like this. Did any of you go to a one-room school?

[Terry in Australia]

Geez I hope our current lockdown ends soon Kev, or you'll soon beat me! I was a "Town Kid" so went to a 2 storey catholic school, run by nuns. The "Old" school was across the road, and old weatherboard single classroom school that my Dad went to in the 1930's, but it was pulled down in the 70's and the land was sold in the 90's to build a McDonalds.

My school was pulled down about 10 years ago to make way for a KMart store, but I don't miss it, I have few happy memories of school, to me it pretty much sucked.

[Kevin D]

Terry, I won’t be catching you anytime soon, if at all. I have been checking myself against last years pace and I’m just a bit behind and there are more grandkids in the neighborhood this year and none of them are old enough for a ride just yet so there is lots of stroller time and pool time and playground time for me and once in a while a motorthickle ride for grandpa. And anyway Terry, you’re already in the barn with 21+ plus rides.

 My elementary school was pulled down a while back, and the school board traded the property for a toxic waste dump, (educated geniuses all). Then they built a new and improved school atop the toxic waste dump, (I’m not making this up!). But the groundhogs dug through the clay cap and unearthed the toxic industrial waste, oops! It only took all of the screaming moms a couple years to convince the school board that they had erred. The new school was demolished and the toxic dump is fenced off forever, And when I drive past the site of my elementary school I’m reminded that even smart people can make huge mistakes. I did have some terrific schoolmates and wonderful teachers.
 

[Terry in Australia]

Very true Kevin, if you think about it, “smart” and “educated” don’t always go hand in hand. Most of the greatest disasters in history were caused by educated people who weren’t all that smart. If not for my great uncle contracting measles, my forebears would have traveled to the US on the first leg of their migration to Oz on the Titanic, the “Unsinkable” ship. My great grandfather always felt guilty that he’d sold his tickets to another family who’d perished.

My secondary school was built in the 1800’s, and was originally the Bairnsdale School of Mines. Below the school is a pile of radioactive “Yellow cake” that was pulled out of the ground by students eager to learn much needed mining skills. The school is still operating because I don’t think they know what to do with the site, but the area immediately above the uranium has been closed down, and a new school has been operating at the other end of the town. I work with lots of university graduates and am constantly surprised at how smart they aren’t…..

[ekpent]

 I've done a few 100+ milers recently including this Sunday which was perfect riding weather. They don't count though because I have one too many cams. I have been falling deeper in love with my GS1000E. Hopefully the Honda Gods don't hear this and send a deer or a turkey across my trail on my country excursions !    The bike just fits me really well with good power,brakes and suspension. These bikes really do handle well as has been claimed. I recommend a person consider one if they run across a nice one at a good price.
  I think I may have done one 100 miler on a CB750 so far this year and promise to pull one out and give her the old college try a little harder soon.  Ride safe you guys and gals !

[Alan F.]

A rose by any other name....

[Terry in Australia]

Those big Suzuki's are magnificent bikes Eric, as you know I've had a few of them. They bought a Z1 and pretty much copied the engine, they even changed the shape of the DOHC caps just to make the engine less like a Z1, but they weren't quite as tough because they changed the straight gear drive to the transmission to a helical gear, to quieten the engine down.

Their big plus was that they handled beautifully, in Petersen's "Great Bikes of the 70's" they nominated the GS1000 as the best handling bike of the 1970's, even better than the Italian bikes of the era. I had a 1979 Ducati 900SS and I reckon they were both fantastic handlers, but the Suzuki had a much better engine. It's just a pity they didn't have Kawasaki's designers, the old Suzy's were more utilitarian then pretty.

My mate Pete bought one like yours back in the 90's when I had a few, he's still got it but doesn't ride it any more, I've tried to buy it, but no beuno, he said he's gonna leave it to me in his will, but with my luck, he'll outlive me......  

[ekpent]

 It does not garner the attention of people at stops etc. like a nice stock CB750. Like you say Terry more utilitarian and not very flashy but a few people have made a nice comment. My dad was a Suzuki guy when I was a kid,he had a t500 then a GT750 and I had Suzie's when I was a kid so still a little loyal to the brand.

[Kevin D]

I Craigslist searched for 3000 miles and didn’t  find a single GS1000. Maybe they’re on Bring a Trailer. I don’t do much motorcycle shopping. The CB might get jealous.

[ekpent]

 Here's one just listed in FB Marketplace on the west side in Coopersville,Mi for $1200.00 but looks kind of rough and has pods etc.. Some potential there though. Gas tanks on these like the 750F's also seem to rust out so beware of that. Kind of a short model run on the GS1000E. Early ones with spoke wheels are worth more especially the "Skunk" and of course the factory S model which was the Wes Cooley tribute. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/241902201089836/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226989267839979684398%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%22777161502954576873%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A777161502954576873%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A16527115759386624%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A21%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D

[Kelly E]

I'm going to start on our 80' GS1100E as soon as the 70 ' CB450dohc is done. We put it off a couple of times to do other bikes. I really like riding the earlier big Suzuki's, they handle great.

[Terry in Australia]

It does not garner the attention of people at stops etc. like a nice stock CB750. Like you say Terry more utilitarian and not very flashy but a few people have made a nice comment. My dad was a Suzuki guy when I was a kid,had a t500 then a GT750 and I had Suzie's when I was a kid so still a little loyal to the brand.

Noting wrong with that Eric, I always had a thing for CB750's but as my cousin had a Suzuki dealership I could have got some sweet deals on Suzy's back in the late 70's/early 80's, if I had any money, which of course, I didn't then. I loved the Suzuki dirt bikes and motocross bikes when I was a kid and then when I migrated to road bikes, was a huge fan of big Suzy 2 stroke road bikes. I've owned 2 x GT750's and wish I still had them, and of course would love a T500 too.

I was given a GS1000 based drag bike that was a beast with 141 BHP @ the rear wheel and was doing 9 second quarters at the Townsville drags in the early 90's. I pulled the engine out and shoved it in a stock GS1000E that I bought for cheap, with a blown 2nd gear. The engine was scary, and I spent a lot of time on the back wheel tapping the rear brake pedal, or if I'd gone too far, desperately pulling in the clutch. I ended up selling it to a guy in Britain, but he stripped it to the bare frame, and took everything to be powdercoated, only to have it stolen from the powdercoaters, so never got to ride it.

After that I had a '79 and '80 "S", a few "E"s, and a "G". All great bikes, but I don't see many around any more, and the one's I see are stupidly expensive. Anyway, I've probably got enough bikes.........

[Terry in Australia]

Friday here and miserable weather, but it's only gonna get worse over the next few days, so after annoying my boss this morning, he suggested that I take the rest of the day off, so what better way to spend the day than go for another 130 mile ride? (#27) It didn't rain much, but was icy cold, and the headwind was miserable, 70 miles of being pushed backwards really pissed me off, but the flipside is, I absolutely flew home. I think I've done around 2500 miles on the old K2 bitsa and I noticed that the tappets are a bit rattley when I got home after another 130 miler, so I better adjust them before my next ride.

All in all not a bad ride though, but I am so looking forward to T shirt and shorts weather again, winter sucks balls........

K2 Bitsa Friday 30 Jul 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[ken65]

Great piccy that one Terry.

[Terry in Australia]

Great piccy that one Terry.

Thanks Ken, I really like that one too.

[PeWe]

Winter without mostly greyish daylight darkness, ice and snow is more like autum or early spring!

[Kevin D]

Friday here and miserable weather, but it's only gonna get worse over the next few days, so after annoying my boss this morning, he suggested that I take the rest of the day off, so what better way to spend the day than go for another 130 mile ride? (#27) It didn't rain much, but was icy cold, and the headwind was miserable, 70 miles of being pushed backwards really pissed me off, but the flipside is, I absolutely flew home. I think I've done around 2500 miles on the old K2 bitsa and I noticed that the tappets are a bit rattley when I got home after another 130 miler, so I better adjust them before my next ride.

All in all not a bad ride though, but I am so looking forward to T shirt and shorts weather again, winter sucks balls........

K2 Bitsa Friday 30 Jul 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Macedonia Antique center of Victoria. Formerly a hotel near the RR, but I see a Masonic compass and square at the top of the building facade.
I read a little bit about a double sized kangaroo that used to live in the area, way back when.
Keep your eyes open Terry
https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/lancefield-vic

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Kevin, it’s unusual to see a three storey building in a tiny country town, but I spotted the Masonic symbol too and presumed it was the areas Masonic Lodge originally. The Masons must have had a lot of money back then, when most buildings were single storey timber affairs. We have 2 types of ‘Roo in Oz, the Eastern Grey, which get big enough, but are overshsdowed by Red Kangaroos, they’re more like aggressive bounding Bears.

Usually found further north, but my neighbours had a ret Red ‘Roo when I was a kid, and it used to look over the 6 foot fence that separated our yards and grunt at me, and as a little tacker, it looked like Bigfoot.

Per, it was 10 deg C, and as I got closer to Heathcote it got darker and colder, so no early spring yet.

[Kevin D]

Ride #9  114 miles
 
 I got out Friday, the weather has cooled a bit from steamy and it makes for pleasant riding. I prefer to wear my armored Joe Rocket Atomic jacket ATT and Friday was perfect for ATGATT.
 The highway department has discovered traffic circles and is adding them at many locations including one on my route  near Whitmore Lake. Several years back the 8 Mile Road bridge was struck and destroyed by a too tall truck on the highway below. The reconstruction includes a series of three traffic circles which are fun, challenging and reasonably safe. I’m not a peg grinder, but this being Michigan, it’s good for a good lean. But I never quite have the three circles all to myself and have to pull up for someone, oh well.
 Leaving town at 25mph accelerate lean right left right accelerate across the bridge brake lean right left right accelerate brake lean right left right accelerate hard and upshift through the sweeper and away.  A very busy 30? seconds. 
  I’m trying to add a screenshot photo but it’s 8mb… I need to work on the photo a bit, and it’s late….
Map view for now….. edit: email reduced the photo to 300kb