Topic: 24 Rides in 2024, Frank's New Years resolution that we can all enjoy.

[budman]

I’m with everyone else…the pastrami sandwich looks great.  Do they DoorDash to the middle of Nowhere, Texas?

Jgger, your rides are definitely inspiring.

Temps dropped way down again after my ride on Thursday, but they’re rising again.  Supposed to get rain this week, but Thursday looks like it might work out again.  Looks like a trend. Thursday = Ride Day.

The Scout has been on the trickle charger since Thursday evening.  I started it a few hours after I rode it.  No problem.  Hopefully I don’t need a new battery.

[jgger]

Once upon a time there was an old man who lived in Southern California.  He got himself involved with a bunch of internet rapscallions who caused him to become addicted to motorcycles ( or maybe it was a dick, Ted) I don't know for sure. At any rate he didn't really care what Ted thought and he felt bad for his hooligan friends who were trapped in their ice caves in lands far far away. This guilt made him feel that he needed to keep their hopes and dreams alive by doing something they could not do.......ride their bikes. So after a whole day and a half of being shut in due to rain storms, the burden was just too much for him to bear, he NEEDED to restore the hope of his frozen friends. After consulting with the weather guessers, he saw a brief chance to go for a ride on Sunday afternoon. Seizing this opportunity, he summoned his obedient and faithful steed Eeyore the Magnificent,  geared up and went forth into the gloom...........for his friends. Filling Eeyore's saddle bags with a thermos of coffee, rain gear, and extra layers of clothing it was off to the top of Ortega Hwy for ride # 4.

Quite the intro, huh?
 C
So ride # 4 got done under threatening skies, but I stayed dry the whole way there and back. I was just a bit freaked by the wet roads especially where the water was running across the turns, it was a patch of water like that that helped me total my beautiful K1 over 40 years ago. So with an abundance of caution I headed up the mountian and it was worth every minute!  No cool Pastrami sandwiches this time, just up the hill, coffee, and back home. I'm happy to report that there were no mishaps or close calls. Every ride seems to be an experiment of some sort. Today I tried out my slip on boots instead of my lace up ones and for the cold I think I like them. Also tried out my glove liners with my summer gloves and they felt pretty good  at mid 50° f/13°.

Anyhoo, enough babeling and on to the stats.

Start time was 2:30 because I took the wife to the movies
     Start temp 64° f/18° c
     Mid temp 55° f/13° c
     Back home 59° f/15° c
Total distance 56 mi/ 90 kms

[Kevin D]

From one rapscallion to another.

This is an old video from Mt Lemmon near Tucson. A rider and his shiny new Victory. Watch out for those shiny spots on the road (@1:50)

[jgger]

WHOOPSIE! Exactally what was going through my mind as I rode. That sucks!

House bound again today, woke up to this this morning.

[budman]

Here's a short video I made back in November, for everyone dreaming about taking a motorcycle ride.

My son was here, visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We went to one of the state parks and hiked up a big hill.  We were looking for another way down and ended up on a service road.  The audio is an actual Indian Scout I took from another video by another rider.  The part where it sounds like a crash is just the rider looking around, and the sound is just wind noise.  The wind noise fell perfectly at the spot in my video where we stopped on the road and looked around for a few seconds.  Same with the deceleration as we got back to the truck.

It was such a nice day, I was dreaming.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zyipgcxg49Y

Won't let me imbed...

[BenelliSEI]

Bud….. It’s snowing a lot here today. Thanks for cheering us up!

[Kevin D]

Bud, nice video, I like the sound of a vtwin in full flight.

To imbed remove     https://    from the link, I think.

Then I wandered a bit and saw and heard some fine bass guitars, WOW, very nice.
I wandered further, to a tshirt shop offering custom designs, I need to order a couple.

[budman]

Bud, nice video, I like the sound of a vtwin in full flight.

To imbed remove     https://    from the link, I think.

Then I wandered a bit and saw and heard some fine bass guitars, WOW, very nice.
I wandered further, to a tshirt shop offering custom designs, I need to order a couple.

Thanks Kevin.

I think because it's a short.  I looked at your post.  I tried removing the https://, but it didn't work.  The only other thing I see that's different is my link contains /shorts/.

[budman]

Ride #3, 69 miles.

Been cold and damp the last few days.  Not a lot of rain, but some.  It's been super foggy though.  The sun came out today.  Some minor clouds, with a high of 68F.  Nice to not be chilled to the bone.  It's going to be a little bit cooler the next few days, but at least it will be warm enough to do some work in the shop.

The first pic is one of, if not the oldest house in Fredericksburg.  It was built in 1846, by a dude who was a wagoner.  The plaque said he drove his wagon up to Fort McKavett, which is about 100 miles from Fredericksburg.  It didn't say what he hauled, but I'm guessing people and supplies.  I guess by modern standards that would make him a bus driver/trucker.  The house is a now chapel.

The next stop today was at Lady Bird Park, which is Fredericksburg's city park.  It's pretty nice and a decent size.  There are some trails along a creek that runs through the park.  My son and I checked it out when he came for New Year's.  Seemed like a good day to go back.  It was good to get outside and walk around a little bit.  I hiked around and snapped a few photos.  The third and fourth pics are of a spring that is dripping out of a rock above the creek.  Pretty neat.  Saw a couple of turtles and some ducks having lunch.

After I left the park I meandered through the hills, beeping at the sheep and goats, before heading back into Fredericksburg for some gas, then home and made a big pot of chili.

I had no issues with the battery today.  It's been on the trickle charger since last Thursday.  This morning, I disconnected the charger, started the bike and let it run for a few minutes.  I took off about an hour later, with no problem starting it again.  It started fine at the park and gas station too.  I'm going to leave the charger off tonight and see if it starts tomorrow.

Tuesday is looking like it might be a contender for Ride #4 and a good way to round out the month.

[jgger]

Nice ride Bud.  As always great pics too. The weather has been getting better here and I will have to say screw you to some chores and go ride soon myself.

[BallAquatics]

Hey, hey, hey it was a 54 day here in Ohio.  A chilly and damp 54 degrees F and 54 miles on ride #1 of 2024.  Humidity was around 100% with fog and misty rain most of the day.  The bike is a filthy mess, but I had a great time.  Was a perfect day to try out my new Oxford winter gloves!     Between the snow melting and all the rain, the rivers and streams are flowing lots of water.

I was even lucky enough to get the CBX out for a few trips up and down the cul-de-sac.  I'm out in the boonies so it's about 1/2 mile long each way.  In the 36 years the bike has been sitting I had forgotten what a sweet ride it is.  It rides, shifts, and sounds as smooth as butter.  I still have a few months to bring everything back up to snuff before good weather.....  can't wait!

[jgger]

Welcome aboard! I think we are up to 4 riders reporting rides now! Glad you could get out and ride. The bunch is growing.

I can't wait to see that CBX star in your ride reports.

[Kelly E]

I've got 4 bikes waiting for test rides. The KZ 1000 needs the front end tested with the type F ATF in the forks, the 84' V4 Sabre 700S needs the new front brakes bedded in, the 82' CB 900F needs a hopefully final test of the new jets for the Delkevik exhaust and the 81' GS 1100E needs a test thrash to make sure all is well and no more oil leaks.
If I get the right day 4 laps on 4 different bikes around my 12.6 mile around the block test loop should be a great 1st ride of 2024. 

Spring can't come to soon. We are almost done with the 78' KL 250 and the 83' CB 1100F is the last resurrection. After that it's maintenance and riding until I can't.

[jgger]

Hopefully it will be soon for you to sneak in a ride. I honestly don't know how you guys can live through the down time.

[Kelly E]

Hopefully it will be soon for you to sneak in a ride. I honestly don't know how you guys can live through the down time.

We make it through by burying ourselves in resurrections.
Also this year for a distraction we built a bunch of clocks using old motorcycle brake rotors. We hope to sell them at some motorcycle functions this spring and summer.

[jgger]

Those are pretty cool, Kelly. You might have to write up an instruction book for those though. Just like cursive writing the ability to tell time on a clock with hands is becoming very rare amongst the youngsters.

[Kelly E]

Those are pretty cool, Kelly. You might have to write up an instruction book for those though. Just like cursive writing the ability to tell time on a clock with hands is becoming very rare amongst the youngsters.

Thanks
Yeah, just like the ability to drive a manual transmission, cook, use cash, fix the house, fix the car and a bunch of other skills.
Just like my wife says "if a man can't change a doorknob he ain't worth a #$%*".

[Kevin D]

The clocks are vintage, analog, very cool!

[BallAquatics]

Ride #2
Started with a short trip to the Post Office.  Even though it's only 40F it didn't feel too bad and at one point I thought I was going to acclimate...  If I'd had a few rays of sunshine I probably would have, but as it was cold and overcast with lots of humidity it just didn't happen.

Roads were wet and covered with grit from the road crews.  Grit plays a tune when bouncing off the front fender and header pipes.  An hour and a half later the roads were starting to dry on the way home.  Total miles 56.4, was cold when I got back, but still glad to get in a ride.

Cedar Bog was living up to it's name.....

This little bog blocked the construction of a major highway job for years.  In the end, they re-routed the highway around the bog.  Back in the day there were also tales of big foot at the bog.  Is a pretty cool and creepy at the same time kind of place.   

Have parts arriving Tuesday so I can retire to the shop and stop freezing my back-side off!!!

[jgger]

Way to go Dennis.  I'm maybe a contender for the pissed off thread today. 72°f , sunny and clear here today. Plus the warden is gone today and none of that pisses me off! I was trimming the lemon tree and picking the lemons to give away yeterday and after the 3rd 5 gallon bucket ( that hasn't even put a dent in it)  I tweeked something in my back and can hardly get up or down. Not a good condition to be in for supporting a 600 pound + bike, so I'm grounded!

Then my plater called today and said  my trim for the shower I have been working on foreeeeever was done. Got that home and couldn't install it because it looks like they f'd up the threads on 2 pieces. So the only thing I can do today is sit in a chair and make ugly faces at kids riding their bikes past the house.

So if the weather is good tomorrow, I will maybe attempt a ride. Get 'em while you can!

[BallAquatics]

Thanks Jim, sorry to hear about your back.  Those injuries that sneak up when least expected are the absolute worst.  Hope you are back in the saddle very soon.

Your lemon tree puts mine to shame by the way.  I've been nursing along a lemon & lime tree for too many years to count now.  They typically produce a handful of fruit yearly.  Lol

[jgger]

Thanks, the back is a bit better as long as I keep moving.

About the lemons, that pic is nothing compared to what is deeper in that tree. If you think that is alot, then you should see my tangerine trees, they are like grapes all bunched up. Both the lemon and tangerine produce 2 crops a year. Corona's history is citrus farming, you can see why.

Jgger/ Jim

[Terry in Australia]

Well done guys, but be careful out there, my mate Jimbo in Sweethome OR has been thinking about riding to work in the snow and I've been explaining to him that at 70, he won't bounce like he did when he was 20, and I hope that he's taking notice.

The long weekend was great for me, on Friday I got to do some "pruning" with my chainsaw and mulching the branches with my big (to me) chipper when I replaced the tarp on my temporary carport, then Saturday Spotty and I replaced the deck on my trailer, and on Sunday, I finally got ride #5 in.

Nothing really exciting, around 110 miles on the Sporty. As usual, it started first press of the button (last ride was November) and happily idled away while I put my jacket, helmet and gloves on. It's ironic that the only thing that's gone wrong with it in 30 years is the Japanese speedo has died. Oh well, I roughly know what speed I'm doing at what RPM's, so I took off. First thing I noticed was all of the long weekend traffic was returning so made a mental note to stay off the freeway on my return ride. I stopped for fuel and was embarrassed to have only needed 2 litres, but I even remembered to pump the tyres up. I can't remember last time I checked them, maybe when I did an oil and filter change last year, anyway they only had 18 in the front and 16 in the rear, so I must keep an eye on them.   

I took off out thru Wallan, Romsey, Lancefield, Pyalong, Wandong, Heathcote Junction and back home without going near the freeway. Of course there were a few rubber neckers towing boats and Caravans that still got in my way as they looked for a better route than the procession that was the freeway, but I just blasted past them. I'd left a bit later in the day as the wife had to run some errands and I told her I'd stay home until she returned, so I didn't stop for food. No biggie, my favourite eatery should be open again by this weekend. Having said that, the forecast is for 90 degrees on Saturday when Spotty and I take some stuff to a swap meet to sell, and 100 on Sunday, so I might not get a ride in. No biggie, I had a great ride, the Sporty just loves to be hammered (like me...) and we had a good day.

Sportster Sunday 28 January 2024 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Sportster Sunday 28 January 2024 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[PeWe]

Nice photos of the freedom, Terry.
Riding a bike in an open warm and sunny landscape...

[jgger]

Sounds like a very productive weekend and a perfect way to top it off! Nothing like a nice ride in nice weather to blow the cobwebs out. I was starting to worry that you were letting the summer slip away on you.