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

[PeWe]

Kevin, feels nice with a first ride and bike runs well, right?
76F is summer temp for me, 24C.
You had too cold not long ago.

I read that March climate here had been the coldest and wettest for really long time. Northern Sweden coldest late half of March in 100 years.

[BenelliSEI]

Well done Kevin! My son rode the K4 last weekend. We are still in NZ so I have some catching up to do!

[Kevin D]

Thank you sirs. I’m behind on my spring work and hope ride #2 comes soon enough.
The CB is good to go.
Eric, I haven’t yet touched the odometer, it works just fine, doesn’t look too good.
John, enjoy your time in NZ while Chris and Gary get their rides in. Maybe chat about G250 when you’re back.
Per, I spent a fair amount of time this winter at 26N, a world away from 42N, 85f and sunny daily.

[PeWe]

42N is south for me living 60km south of 60N.
Parallel to the southern tip of Greenland. 
+20N must be comfortable!

[Kevin D]

60N 82W is the middle of Hudson Bay
42N same as Rome
26N is SWFL good in winter +/- but in the hurricane season you better be ready to run.

[budman]

Ride #14, 228 miles.

Perfect day for a bike ride.  I traversed many new roads and experienced many new sights.  I stopped in Ding Dong, TX and what do you know?  They actually sell Ding Dongs there.  I only ate one, so I think I only shaved five years off my life vs. the 10 years per pack.  Go ahead with the comments.  I’m ready...”Look at the Ding Dong eating a Ding Dong in Ding Dong”.  I tried to counter the effects by stopping in Oatmeal, TX, but there weren’t any places selling oatmeal.

I stopped at a scenic overlook of Lake LBJ and there where hundreds of padlocks latched on the fence.  Not sure what that was all about.  New form a graffiti?

Ended up in Llano for some BBQ.

[jgger]

Very nice Budman! Looks like a great ride!

[budman]

Very nice Budman! Looks like a great ride!

It was, thanks.  The wildflowers are still out in abundance.  Very colorful ride.

[jgger]

How about the bugs, Texas sized swarms? Or maybe just enough protein to counter the Ding-Dongs?

[budman]

How about the bugs, Texas sized swarms? Or maybe just enough protein to counter the Ding-Dongs?

The bugs are certainly more active in the warmer temps.  The only swarm-like conditions I've seen are the love-bugs, which are generally closer to the coastal areas and the butterflies last fall.  I wear a full-face helmet, so it's been a while since I've tasted any.  I did clean my visor twice today.

[RAFster122s]

Bud, saw a meme with twinkies in bed and wife was turning down husband’s amorous advances and he muttered I should have married a Ho-Ho.

Another where the wife was muttering, I think I married a Ding-Dong.

Glad you had a good ride and enjoyed the flowers, soon they will be gone and other things will bloom.
The bees will be working to do their jobs…
Birds are migrating north and the bats that feed on the insects and flower pollen have returned. A big colony roosts under the Santa Cruz river bridge at Ina road and I saw they were back. At sunset they swarm out and eat the bugs around the bridge and street lamps before moving out to other areas. Fun to watch them come out and feed.
Doubt my camera  on the phone would catch them as it slows down the shutter speed to capture more light.

[budman]

There's an abandoned railroad tunnel not far from here that is now a state park, home to bats in the warmer months.  I've been to the tunnel several times and have seen them flying around on the inside.  When the wind is blowing through the tunnel the smell is awful.  I need to get out there one evening and catch the show.

[Kevin D]

Budman, I have been reading a bit about Hill Country and I believe you are one fortunate guy to live in the middle of 25 Texas sized counties made for motorcycling.
Have you lived there your whole life?
Is spring/fall the best weather?
Motorcycling has not been a factor in where I have chosen to live, but an extended vacation in Hill Country might be nice.

[rocket johnny]

the plate of brisket makes my mouth water  !!

[BallAquatics]

Had a surprise day off at work and it was just perfect for a day trip on the ol 550.  Hardly a cloud in the sky and temps of 78 °F.  Went on a search for covered bridges around me.  Covered a bit over 100 miles and visited 3 of the many bridges I found with google maps.  I had no idea there were so many within about a 50 mile radius.















All of these bridges are located out in the boondocks, so I got some time in on twisty back roads with little to no traffic.  The bike is running great... a near perfect day!  Ride #10 in the books.

[budman]

Budman, I have been reading a bit about Hill Country and I believe you are one fortunate guy to live in the middle of 25 Texas sized counties made for motorcycling.
Have you lived there your whole life?
Is spring/fall the best weather?
Motorcycling has not been a factor in where I have chosen to live, but an extended vacation in Hill Country might be nice.

I am fortunate.  It's a popular place for motorcycle riding, among other things.  I moved out here September '21...so not that long ago.  However, I've been coming here for years.  My first exposure was when I was a kid.  I went to summer camp out here for four years and loved every minute of it.  My dad bought a place in Bandera, and I started coming back out here.  I started making motorcycle trips out here about 15 years ago.  I tried to get out here 3-4 times a year from Houston.  Now I get to ride out any time I want to.

Spring and fall are both about equal as far as temperatures go.  Spring is prettier, especially right now with the wildflowers.  There are so many places to ride.  There's not a bad view anywhere you go.  There are not any mountains so to speak, but lots of big hills.  The terrain is very rugged and rocky.  Lots of rivers and creeks.  Lots of trees.  Lots of state parks.  Lots of good food.  I live about 15 miles north of Fredericksburg, which has a lot of history and is a popular tourist destination.  It's a quaint little German town.

Highways 335, 336 & 337 are known as the Three Twisted Sisters.  It's very popular with the motorcycling community.  There's a bar/restaurant/shop in Leaky, TX on the Sister's route called the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop that caters to the Harley crowd, but you will see a lot of sport bike guys and ADV guys there too.  ADV's are getting very popular out here.  In fact, I'm due for a ride around the Sisters.  I haven't been since September.  It's on my list, before it gets too hot.  It's a full day for me to ride down there, ride the sisters and then ride home.

I've read a lot of comments from riders back east and the west coast saying the Hill Country isn't that great, but I love it.  I've ridden in California, Colorado, Wyoming and have ridden to Sturgis numerous times.  I love the riding here.  I always try to find new roads to explore.  I have never once been disappointed after a ride.  I would love to venture out farther past the Hill Country.  I've ridden/driven a lot roads in Texas, but would like to see it all from two wheels.  I'm in a central location so I'm positioned well for it.  It's just a matter of finding the time and money to do it.  I really want to see the Palo Duro Canyon.  Second biggest canyon in the country.  I also want to ride from tip to tip, from Brownsville to the northwest corner of the panhandle.

Probably more info than you wanted to know, but let me know if you decide to make the trip.  I'm getting to where I almost know this place like the back of my hand.

[Kevin D]

Bud, thanks for the lengthy reply, and the photos. I have been a day rider for 20 years. Maybe, someday I will get there. In the meantime I’m enjoying all of the ride reports.
I have a very good friend with a spare bedroom and a very dusty CB900 in SA. Maybe, maybe, if, if.

[Terry in Australia]

Beautiful pics Bud and Dennis, that brisket (?) looks magnificent, I'll be living on that and Mexican food when I come over in 2025! I'm hoping to get out for #15 tomorrow, the forecast keeps changing, it was supposed to be fine and dry a few days ago, now it looks like it might rain, but I'm hoping if it does, it has the good manners to wait until I get home. Enjoy your rides, and keep those pics coming!

[budman]

...that brisket (?) looks magnificent...

Those are pork ribs.  The brisket is buried underneath.  There's a famous BBQ place just down the street from this place, called Cooper's, but the last two times I ate there the brisket was super salty.  They sell their meat by the lb., and it isn't cheap.  You step up to the pit and tell the guy what meat(s) you want and how large of a portion and he serves you.  Then you take it inside and they weigh it and you pay for it.  Last time I ordered a half pound of brisket and the guy gave me almost a pound of mostly salty fat.  I won't go back.

The place I went to the other day serves by the plate.  One, two or three meat plates where you get your choice of meats.

My neighbor recently started a job at a place in Fredericksburg, training as the pitmaster.  I need to check it out.  They use mesquite to smoke, where most places around here use post oak.

The Mexican food here is known as Tex-Mex.  It's different than the Mexican food you get on the other side of the Rio Grande.  New Mexico Mexican food is very good too.  Different than Tex-Mex.

[budman]

Bud, thanks for the lengthy reply, and the photos. I have been a day rider for 20 years. Maybe, someday I will get there. In the meantime I’m enjoying all of the ride reports.
I have a very good friend with a spare bedroom and a very dusty CB900 in SA. Maybe, maybe, if, if.

If you head out northwest from San Antonio, you'll be in the HC in no time.  Bandera, Medina, Tarpley, Utopia...lots of great riding and sites around there.  There's motorcycle museum just north of Vanderpool owned by and old Aussie guy.  Cool place.  I don't know if the guy is still alive though.  Last time I was there he wasn't doing so good.  Lost Maples State Park is up there too...a place that's on my list to check out.

[PeWe]

After work ride today. 105km.
2nd documented.

I had my no 2 ride on Saturday but found out after 50km that I had forgotten my phone so no photos. 265km in rather cold but sunny weather.
Did not like the insulated gloves that were tight as plastic bags. Wet fingers and finally freezing cold.

Today much better, 17-18C feels better than freezing 11-8C and my favourite gloves.

Today a ride to a small village called Färna. Good smaller roads. Last visit there was 2021.

The last part really straight were the fork spring pretension could be verified in higher speed. The smaller bumpier roads verified at last ride. Better damping.

Progressive springs do not need any shims/spacers on K2-K6 fork (341 lowers). That will only stiffen it up and give another stance, higher at front, hard and worse handling.

Photo of bike and food is a must in one photo, right?

[RAFster122s]

Good collection of photos...
Glad you are getting some riding in ...bet it is welcome after being off the bike for winter.
Don't forget to do some emergency braking practice to refresh the skills.
David

[PeWe]

Brakes needed some excercises too.
Front brakes got the good grip again after a few hard brakings.

I have just reduced main jets for next road test. Maybe possible to improve, at least better milage.
AFR has been around 12.8-13 on last 3 dynos from 7000- 9500rpm.
AFR around 13.5 can't hurt.
Need to test some WAT bursts tomorrow.

[Terry in Australia]

Great pics Per, the weather here looks like it might afford a ride or two this coming long weekend, Spotty invited me to meet up in a little town tomorrow where the British Motorcycle Club is having a rally, so even though he’s riding his Yamaha V Max, I’ll probably take the Triumph. I imagine that the streets will be awash with oil from all that vintage British iron, so I’ll need to be extra vigilant in the corners.

[PeWe]

Keep your eyes open for Brittish bikes markings