Topic: 23 Rides in 2023, Frank's New Years resolution that we can all enjoy.

[PeWe]

Good progress on your beautiful T500, Terry!

A good bike for  rides to special bikes meetings.

Terrys Bikes and Bakery shop   T B&B

I have heard from pizza guys that the dough rest in the fridge. The pizza guys that we had initially, Italians.

Today mostly people from Middleeast. They have developed the menues with kebabs, even on pizza. Not bad.

But very few can make pizza like the Italians.
I have tried pizza in Rimini 1987 that were not good, better home. Tourist place where they cheated all the way to the bill.

Later visits in Italy another thing getting the real thing at restaurants Italians visits.

Different kind of pasta that taste really good for mouth, stomach and wallet.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Per, I made another pizza last night that was almost a disater when I couldn’t slide my big shovel (called a “Peel”, apparently) under the dough to transport it to the oven, so while it looked pretty bad, it still tasted great.

I sent the pics of the T500 to my club registrar and he’s sent me a form to sign, so the wheels are in motion to get it on the road. With luck it’ll feature here for a ride or two this year, woohoo!

[budman]

Ride #16, 143 miles.

I had to head out of town last week for a few days for a family matter.  I got back late yesterday afternoon to some beautiful weather and was pleased to see the forecast for today was going to be a repeat.  Even though it got down to 48F this morning it warmed up quickly.  By 10:00 it was 73F and I was on the road.  I took some backroads down to Kerrville and hit a road that I hadn't been on yet.  It was about 12:30 when I rolled in.  I wasn't super hungry due to the big breakfast I had this morning, but I figured it was a good opportunity to stop at my favorite taco place and have a taco and something to drink.  I ended up getting the crispy taco plate and ate it all.  I have no idea why I went for the American style tacos.  They have better things on the menu.  I haven't eaten those kind of tacos in years.  It sounded good at the time I guess...and it was.

After I ate lunch.  I jumped back on the bike and headed back north.  I had to zip back through Fredericksburg for some gas and then hit a road I had never ridden, where I encountered some longhorns.  There were several water crossings, which were not problems.  Then I hit one where I did a little slip and slide.  I had taken my feet off the pegs before I crossed, but never put them down.  As the bike started to slide I must have counter steered at just the right millisecond and the bike caught traction and righted itself.  I pulled away safely.  I sure don't want to lay the bike down on a slimy concrete water crossing.  I think I'll avoid that road in the future unless we've had drought conditions for a couple of months.

[RAFster122s]

Glad you didn't go down in the water crossing, that would have been awful and extremely difficult to right.
Saw an adventure bike do one on a gently sloped concrete pad water crossing and bike went down and then slid off to the down side into a pool of water completely submerged...what a mess!
The kind of adventure you don't want!

Nice shots and glad lunch wasn't a disappointment.

[Terry in Australia]

Tacos! Nice pics Bud, and glad you didn’t lay it down, it doesn’t take much of a drop to write off a bike, even though the rider usually recovers.

[ofreen]

I sure don't want to lay the bike down on a slimy concrete water crossing.

This reminds me of an incident years ago that I still feel a little bad about.  I was on the CBR and my buddy Steve on his Pacific Coast.  We were checking out the near-ghost town of Shafter, TX.  The road in has a creek crossing that is lined with concrete.  It was about a foot deep and the water moving along pretty good but didn't look too bad.  I got through it fine but it felt a little greasy.  It looked like there was moss on the concrete.  Steve made it through as well, but we both commented on it being a little slick.  On the return, I made sure to keep the bike straight and smooth down into it and up the other side and kept going out to the main road and waited for Steve.  He didn't show, but he had said he needed to stop to take a leak, so I didn't think much about it.  He had stopped alright, but when he got back on and went into the creek, he lost the front end and down he went right in the middle.  Being not real quick on the uptake, I waited a few minutes before I turned around to see where he was.  I met him coming the little hill and I could see he was sopped.  He was not happy after having to wrestle that pig of a Pacific Coast upright in the middle of the creek while slipping around.  I felt guilty about waiting so long and not going back to help.  But he is a good friend and wasn't mad at me. And on the plus side, it was 95F and he dried out fast, staying cool in the meantime.

Nice pix again Bud.  You too Terry.

[PeWe]

Beautiful and tasty ride, Budman!

I miss tachos here. It must be perfect ride lunch. Order as many as needed depending on the hunger.

The closest here is kebab in bread.
But tachos have different fillings and possible tasty chillies. Grinded cheese make it tasty too.

I would like some habaneros, sliced and quickly fried, honey included when frying. That adds matching sweetness and rounds off the sharpest burning feeling.

I ordered that at a Mexican restaurant in Kentucky when visiting there for my job. Not far from Bowling Green.

Still cold weather here. Over one week since last ride. Look like I have to wait another week or more. Only 10-11C (50F) is not enough to enjoy.

At least +15C (60F) and sunshine needed.

[Terry in Australia]

I haven’t dropped a bike in water since my dirt biking days, but I was a convoy commander for a packet of military vehicles returning early from an exercise in Queensland in 1989 where one of my corporals drowned a brand new Land Rover.

We were leaving the exercise area early due to flooding. We got to a bridge over a creek that was now a river and the bridge was under water. One of my solders (was gonna say “privates”, but that just sounds weird) volunteered to walk across to measure the depth of water over the bridge. It was just up to his crotch (his privates….) so we decided that we’d send a truck with a winch over first, then I’d drive my landrover over next, followed by my Corporal.

I’d briefed everyone to keep the vehicles in low range, and keep the revs up to keep the water out of their exhausts. The new landrovers were all diesel, so not too many issues with wet electrics etc. I asked everyone if they understood, and if they had any questions. I drove my rover across the bridge, then got out to watch the corporal. He obviously didn’t understand because he put it in low gear, then drove flat out in first, second, and third gear, into the water, probably doing 30 MPH, creating a huge bow wave that went over the hood of the car, and of course, stalled it. If that wasn’t bad enough, we could hear him trying to restart it, probably with an airbox full of water.

Needless to say it didn’t go well. One totally destroyed landrover engine back then was over $10K, and driving into floodwaters probably voided the warranty. That was 34 years ago, I imagine that he’s probably finished paying for it by now…..

[budman]

I sure don't want to lay the bike down on a slimy concrete water crossing.

This reminds me of an incident years ago that I still feel a little bad about.

I’ve never explored that part of Texas.  I’ve only been back and fourth on I-10 a few times.  Been thinking about maybe taking a few days off and heading to Alpine.  I’m only about 6-7 hours away.

Note to self:  Stay away from Shafter.

[ekpent]

My only major experience with water and motorcycles was as a younger lad riding some trails close to home. There was a creek with black muck and I got stuck in that crap really bad. Pretty much take a rest and just leave the bike there standing up by itself buried to  the frame. Took two of us and great effort to get it out of that bog.

[ofreen]

I’ve never explored that part of Texas...  Been thinking about maybe taking a few days off and heading to Alpine. 

There is great riding around Alpine, Sanderson, and Fort Davis, not to mention the Big Bend area. I need to go back down there one of these days.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,63295.msg697273.html#msg697273

[BallAquatics]

Ride #11 in the books.  After our recent nice weather I thought I'd get the CBR ready for the riding season.  Each year when I get this bike ready for another year, I think, "I'm getting too old to ride this thing!".  Then I take it out and have a ball and decide to keep it another year.....

At any rate, I purchased some new summer riding gear and thought I'd take the CBR out and give the new gear a try.  It was a cool overcast day with temps in the 50's, but a great ride was had.

In total about 75 miles on a state route I've been wanting to try.  Prepped the bike with new oil and filter, flush and replace brake fluids, chain clean and adjust.  Had to give the battery a bit of help, so it may be time to replace.  Bike ran great.

[Kevin D]

Ride #2 126 miles
 
It’s been almost a month. Too long. But just now the lawn is mowed, thank goodness nobody is sick, the cars are good, the weather is nice and the CB is ready to roll, time to get down the road.

   I took my usual route, Hines to Seven mile, all the horses were out. At Whitmore Lake the marina was full but most of the homeowner docks and boats were not yet in the water. Strawberry lake road was quiet but the D32 through Hell and Gregory was lonesome, I had it all to myself. Lunch at the halfway point in Stockbridge at McD’s.
 
  Afterwards, I went on to Seymour road and checked the Portage Lake Parlor for a future lunch feast and yes it is open and it still has the big smoker outside. There was some discussion last year that it would close but that is not the case. That’s a good thing, the brisket is terrific, and I expect anything cooked in the smoker is good. On to Clear Lake road, I passed the Jackson County Sheriff at the speed limit of 35. I was holding the CB back for the most part until I figure out there are no new hazards present, like the 6” landscape stone in the traffic circle ramp. On through Chelsea, and then Dexter, where I stopped for the photos. The magnolias here are finished, the crab apples are flowering, the lilac and honeysuckle yet to come.

  The rest of the ride home was nice, sunshine all the way, and I passed through the AAPD speed trap at the speed limit, where it would have been very easy to go much faster. 2.8g of VPower taken onboard near home so I can make a quick getaway next time.

[PeWe]

Nice ride, Kevin!
The flowering trees look like fluffy beautiful clouds. Most likely smells good too.

This is the best part of the year when temperature is good for riding, the season has just started and several months ahead.

[Kevin D]

Yes PeWe, it was very nice. Warmer turtleneck shirt on, all jacket vents closed, lightweight gloves. Yes the crabapple trees are fragrant, but I think the lilacs more so, and a bit later. 62 f at departure, 70? f at return.

I ride basically the same ride each time out, searching for the safest, most scenic, challenging roads. This is SE Michigan, not West Virginia, not Colorado, so there are not that many choices for a non urban day ride. I’m trying to broaden my horizons a bit and last year I spent a terrific day riding in Ontario with Benelli. I’m going to do that again this year, I can’t wait for that day, and a big weekend.
 
Dennis, I have my sights on southern Ohio. I have the tour books, and Dennis I look at all of your routes, I think the tour book centers on Athens. Hell, I look at everybody’s routes with an eye to ride with you. Terry, Budman, Ofreen, PeWe, Prokop, everybody. In the meantime, this thread will have to do.

[rluser]

Dennis, I have my sights on southern Ohio. I have the tour books, and Dennis I look at all of your routes, I think the tour book centers on Athens. Hell, I look at everybody’s routes with an eye to ride with you. Terry, Budman, Ofreen, PeWe, Prokop, everybody. In the meantime, this thread will have to do.

You need not get very far south for some interesting riding.  The terminal moraine roughly coincides with US 30, at least east of I-71.   Were I headed towards Athens from your locale, I would aim for Mansfield and stay south of 30 unless I had specific destinations.

[Kevin D]

Terminal moraine, I had to look that one up rluser, and it reminded me that this was a pretty cold place just a few thousand years ago. Then I found a geologic map of Ohio and I’m getting the idea that the glaciers have come and gone several times.
 I use the satellite map when seeking good motorcycling roads and head for the darker green, wooded areas, and I see a correlation between the two maps. I’m led to believe that the Mansfield strategy might be a winner.

[Kevin D]

Ride #3      80 Miles

A busy weekend, but a less busy Monday with a better forecast and turns out it’s sunny and 72f. So after I changed the oil this morning, I busted out for Dexter this afternoon. It’s about 2 hrs out and back, it used to be my after work ride. I stopped in Dexter at the A & W for a late lunch. There I met Cody, riding a 2017 FZ09. Even though he is much younger and lives in Chelsea, we find that we ride the same roads, for the same reasons. He says he likes his FZ. The 3 cyl 900 engine is detuned a bit for low end torque and it might be capable of 133mph if he tried, but he hasn’t, and it would be a good deal faster with some computer work. His only gripe was the seat. On a cross state trip to the family cottage, 200 miles, his rear was so sore he said no more 200 milers to the cottage. The Corbin upgrade seat is $600, also a pain but in the wallet not the glutes. Later year models are known as MT09. We might have rode together a bit, but he was finishing his meal and mine was just ordered.

  A mile or so of this 80 was spent at the local school parking lot circling, no, knocking down orange cones. I’m going to an event very soon and am going to be faced with courses of increasing difficulty, timed and graded on my performance. I have to say a CB750 with a full tank of gas and me on the seat is not an advantageous combination. But I’m trying to know my limits and improve them.
http://conepatterns.com/

[spotty]

two more 50+ milers on the weekend, down to the girlies place in mornington, spent saturday night cooking and drinking, two of my favourite things

most of it done on freeways but they're my favourite kinda roads so all good

[Terry in Australia]

Well done everyone, this past weekend was absolutely magnificent, weather wise, but of course it was also Mothers Day here in Oz and as my cousin was tempting me to drag home a 1924 BSA I drove my little truck rather than ride my bike the 450 miles to my home town and out to the cousins farm. I'm hoping for a fine day this coming weekend, my youngest boy has left his Royal Enfield 650 "Continental GT" in my (dubious) care, and has told me to take it for a ride if I feel like it. I definitely feel like it, I've only ridden it home from the shop when he bought it in 2019, so I'm looking forwards to doing 50+ miles on it. It's definitely not the fastest bike in the current fleet but will be an enjoyable thing just the same.

[ekpent]

Ride #3      80 Miles

A busy weekend, but a less busy Monday with a better forecast and turns out it’s sunny and 72f. So after I changed the oil this morning, I busted out for Dexter this afternoon. It’s about 2 hrs out and back, it used to be my after work ride. I stopped in Dexter at the A & W for a late lunch. There I met Cody, riding a 2017 FZ09. Even though he is much younger and lives in Chelsea, we find that we ride the same roads, for the same reasons. He says he likes his FZ. The 3 cyl 900 engine is detuned a bit for low end torque and it might be capable of 133mph if he tried, but he hasn’t, and it would be a good deal faster with some computer work. His only gripe was the seat. On a cross state trip to the family cottage, 200 miles, his rear was so sore he said no more 200 milers to the cottage. The Corbin upgrade seat is $600, also a pain but in the wallet not the glutes. Later year models are known as MT09. We might have rode together a bit, but he was finishing his meal and mine was just ordered.

  A mile or so of this 80 was spent at the local school parking lot circling, no, knocking down orange cones. I’m going to an event very soon and am going to be faced with courses of increasing difficulty, timed and graded on my performance. I have to say a CB750 with a full tank of gas and me on the seat is not an advantageous combination. But I’m trying to know my limits and improve them.
http://conepatterns.com/

I have wanted to throw a leg over one of those FZ-09's to see what they are like. Classified as a "hooligan" bike. Lightweight and powerful wheelie machines. That platform was a hit for Yamaha.

[Kevin D]

Ride #3      80 Miles

A busy weekend, but a less busy Monday with a better forecast and turns out it’s sunny and 72f. So after I changed the oil this morning, I busted out for Dexter this afternoon. It’s about 2 hrs out and back, it used to be my after work ride. I stopped in Dexter at the A & W for a late lunch. There I met Cody, riding a 2017 FZ09. Even though he is much younger and lives in Chelsea, we find that we ride the same roads, for the same reasons. He says he likes his FZ. The 3 cyl 900 engine is detuned a bit for low end torque and it might be capable of 133mph if he tried, but he hasn’t, and it would be a good deal faster with some computer work. His only gripe was the seat. On a cross state trip to the family cottage, 200 miles, his rear was so sore he said no more 200 milers to the cottage. The Corbin upgrade seat is $600, also a pain but in the wallet not the glutes. Later year models are known as MT09. We might have rode together a bit, but he was finishing his meal and mine was just ordered.

  A mile or so of this 80 was spent at the local school parking lot circling, no, knocking down orange cones. I’m going to an event very soon and am going to be faced with courses of increasing difficulty, timed and graded on my performance. I have to say a CB750 with a full tank of gas and me on the seat is not an advantageous combination. But I’m trying to know my limits and improve them.
http://conepatterns.com/

I have wanted to throw a leg over one of those FZ-09's to see what they are like. Classified as a "hooligan" bike. Lightweight and powerful wheelie machines. That platform was a hit for Yamaha.

Kinda like the Hornet?
Cody talked about the riding modes and the dashboard. He couldn’t show me what the FZ could do as we were in Downtown Dexter and there were multiple WCSD cruisers just across the way. It would be easier if they just said Hooligan/Wheelie mode, and Grandpa mode, but aren’t there wheelie and tire spin controls?

[RAFster122s]

If I recall correctly they had some significant issues on the MT09 when it first came out as it was a handful to keep from wheelies. They tamed it with electronics on later models to get the power to the ground without it raising the front and losing the ability to control where you are going... Not that it didn't sell well even with the handling issues, it was well received.

The modern bikes I think have taken a step forward recently with the new models like the Hornet, TransAlp, parallel twins of Vstrom and DE800, etc. The Euro5 STD brought a new crop of powerplants to market and they all weren't castrated by the new standard.

Affording the new models, well that maybe another issue.

I will have to be content with the vintage and current toys and the projects I have with my limited income stream. I don't plan on being around for when a Hornet or similar are to my level of affordability.

[ekpent]

Ride #3      80 Miles

A busy weekend, but a less busy Monday with a better forecast and turns out it’s sunny and 72f. So after I changed the oil this morning, I busted out for Dexter this afternoon. It’s about 2 hrs out and back, it used to be my after work ride. I stopped in Dexter at the A & W for a late lunch. There I met Cody, riding a 2017 FZ09. Even though he is much younger and lives in Chelsea, we find that we ride the same roads, for the same reasons. He says he likes his FZ. The 3 cyl 900 engine is detuned a bit for low end torque and it might be capable of 133mph if he tried, but he hasn’t, and it would be a good deal faster with some computer work. His only gripe was the seat. On a cross state trip to the family cottage, 200 miles, his rear was so sore he said no more 200 milers to the cottage. The Corbin upgrade seat is $600, also a pain but in the wallet not the glutes. Later year models are known as MT09. We might have rode together a bit, but he was finishing his meal and mine was just ordered.

  A mile or so of this 80 was spent at the local school parking lot circling, no, knocking down orange cones. I’m going to an event very soon and am going to be faced with courses of increasing difficulty, timed and graded on my performance. I have to say a CB750 with a full tank of gas and me on the seat is not an advantageous combination. But I’m trying to know my limits and improve them.
http://conepatterns.com/

I have wanted to throw a leg over one of those FZ-09's to see what they are like. Classified as a "hooligan" bike. Lightweight and powerful wheelie machines. That platform was a hit for Yamaha.

Kinda like the Hornet?
Cody talked about the riding modes and the dashboard. He couldn’t show me what the FZ could do as we were in Downtown Dexter and there were multiple WCSD cruisers just across the way. It would be easier if they just said Hooligan/Wheelie mode, and Grandpa mode, but aren’t there wheelie and tire spin controls?

Kevin your son has a Honda 919 Hornet doesn't he ?  My son also has a red 919 and he really likes it. I've rode it a few times when we trade off. He is bringing it to my shop on Wednesday after work.  We are going to be changing all the brake fluid/flush, fresh oil and filter, new fork seals,fork oil and dust caps and two nice new tires. When I run his wheels over to a friend with a machine I'm taking my Bandit 1200 rear and sticking a nice fresh new tire on that also. HOPEFULLY he and I can ride together more then last summer !

[Terry in Australia]

I’m happy to say that I have absolutely no interest in modern bikes. All of the electronics will become a nightmare in years to come, so we’ll all have to invest in diagnostic equipment to maintain them. My cuz retired a couple of years ago but now works for a guy who specialises in Euro trash cars, my cuz fixes the old ines and his boss does all the new ones. Cuz told me that the new diagnostic computer cost 10 grand.

I told him about my son’s girlfriend’s 2013 VW Polo’s engine self destructing after only 50k miles, and he told me it’s common. A lady brought in a late model Mercedes with an engine knock, big end bearings were shot after 70K miles. His boss quoted her $10K to rebuild it,so she sent it to a Mercedes dealer in Melbourne who quoted $12750. Like the son’s girlfriend’s car, it was a one owner, dealership serviced car. I’ll stick with old sh1tboxes….