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

[budman]

Ride #37, 83 miles.

Been hot.  I didn't get to ride yesterday.  This morning looked promising, but it's going to be another cooker.  I didn't stray too far from home.  Felt kind of strange do a double-digit ride.  My last one was #23, two months ago.  Just hit some familiar roads and ended up at the LBJ park.  Tried to get some buffalo pics, but they were out of camera range.  Snapped some pics of the "living farm" they have there.  Looks like no power tools/equipment allowed.  The Pedernales River looked low.  Stopped at a picnic area.  There were a bunch of siblings there of all those butterflies I took out last week down south.  They are making their way north.  Oddly they weren't on the roadways for the most part, but whatever those flowers were at the picnic area they sure seemed to like them.

Got home just before noon.  Gonna enjoy a brisket sammich tonight for dinner.  Been eating on it all week.  Had it smoking it on Monday while I washed all of last week's butterfly kills off the Scout and my helmet.  What a mesh.

Ouch, Jim.  I punch a hole in my truck 3 years ago with my trailer.  I have to blame my friend for blocking my way, causing me to back up.  I took my eye off the rear-view mirror for a split second.  I repaired the hole, but it's been in primer all this time.  Maybe one day I'll paint it.

Really nice photos, Greg.  I think I can smell those cows from here.

[jgger]

Looks good Bud, even though it was a shorter ride, it is still good to get out. Glad to hear you are repenting from your serial butterfly killer tendency! I remember getting a kick watching the birds at the rest stops every time a "fresh" car pulled in along I-5. It was a free for all feeding experience for them snacking on the carnage. They can be messy.

[budman]

Looks good Bud, even though it was a shorter ride, it is still good to get out. Glad to hear you are repenting from your serial butterfly killer tendency! I remember getting a kick watching the birds at the rest stops every time a "fresh" car pulled in along I-5. It was a free for all feeding experience for them snacking on the carnage. They can be messy.

The roosters and the peacocks at that country store that I sometimes stop at head straight for the front bumpers of any car that pulls up, looking for Klingons.

[RAFster122s]

I've been seeing articles about the plants and nectar bearing things or hummingbird feeder ideas for you to help the migration birds and insects. Making the hummingbird feeders z little more potent during migration can help reenergize the travelers. Having the flowering plants they can get the natural stuff too.  Here the bats will suck your feeders dry overnight when they are traveling or normally.

Bats are very beneficial eating lots of mosquitoes that can transmit disease or just be a nuisance

[willbird]

8-17-24, #56, 103.5 miles, headed North to Territorial road in MI then east for awhile, then South before heading home. Got rained on a few miles near Metamora, OH.

8-18-24, #57, 93 miles. Headed South towards Ottawa but it got real ugly looking the more South I went so I abandoned that idea and headed back to US6 and then on home.

[BenelliSEI]

Rode to my local hardware store twice today, but not enough miles to count. Still a nice ride, down back roads. No pictures. The last time I rode the Varadero, I headed down County Rd.10 towards, Port Hope. Normally a lovely, winding route. Road crews were busy tearing and grinding asphalt for miles and everything was covered in fresh gravel and dirt. Just as I pulled on a huge water truck came spraying everything down, in the opposite direction. I had about 5 miles of wet, soupy brown road….. Bike desperately needs a wash! I had to scrape the crust off my boots.

[Kelly E]

Rode to my local hardware store twice today, but not enough miles to count. Still a nice ride, down back roads. No pictures. The last time I rode the Varadero, I headed down County Rd.10 towards, Port Hope. Normally a lovely, winding route. Road crews were busy tearing and grinding asphalt for miles and everything was covered in fresh gravel and dirt. Just as I pulled on a huge water truck came spraying everything down, in the opposite direction. I had about 5 miles of wet, soupy brown road….. Bike desperately needs a wash! I had to scrape the crust off my boots.

Could be worse, I've been on the 700lb Concours stuck waiting for the flagger stopped in the tar before they had spread the chip. Your feet are constantly sliding out from under you. Riding in the tar with no chip is also quite exciting.

[BenelliSEI]

Ride #24. Bought this K3 for the first Ganaraska 250 about 14-15 years ago. This is the one the owner told me “siezed up after 20 minutes of riding. Cool it down, it starts and runs long enough to get back home”. Took a few days, but finally realized the fuel tank vent was plugged! It came with the nicest back rack I’ve ever seen on a cb750. Paid almost nothing for it……

33,000 miles, it’s never been apart. I did the front and back end, new brakes, sprockets and chain, added the Lester Wheels and dual sport tires. The black paint came along when a friend was painting his Willy’s hot rod. He hand painted the gold strip and clear coated. My son took it on a three day ride we did in June. The starter button disappeared and it did some weird things (pulling in the clutch would start the bike!), so we had to disconnect the solenoid after every start up.

Finally dug in and replaced the right hand bar switch yesterday, but still nothing worked. This morning I traced and checked all my wiring and it was all correct. After a bit of head scratching, disconnected and by passed the starter motor safety switch (jumper wire across solid green and green/red). All good again…… another one bites the dust. Starts instantly and pushes 75psi oil.

Celebrated by taking it for a +75 mile loop and it ran like it always does. Dumped the oil when I got home. Fresh oil and filter tomorrow and I’ll adjust the cam chain. It desperately needs a wash! Good bike.

[Kevin D]

Well and Good John, Congratulations on completing 24 Rides in 2024. That’s quite an accomplishment
for a 50 +/- year old motorcycle and a rider that’s just a bit older. You have been working hard on the sandcast and I expect on your ride today you are enjoying the cooler weather and abundant sunshine that we have on tap.
 Please correct me if I’m wrong, you have used the K1, the Varadero, and this K3 in your pursuit of the Award.
I’m going to have to find some room on the highway sign for you. I have your address from earlier and I will have your award posted in the mail tomorrow.
Congratulations

[BenelliSEI]

Well and Good John, Congratulations on completing 24 Rides in 2024. That’s quite an accomplishment
for a 50 +/- year old motorcycle and a rider that’s just a bit older. You have been working hard on the sandcast and I expect on your ride today you are enjoying the cooler weather and abundant sunshine that we have on tap.
 Please correct me if I’m wrong, you have used the K1, the Varadero, and this K3 in your pursuit of the Award.
I’m going to have to find some room on the highway sign for you. I have your address from earlier and I will have your award posted in the mail tomorrow.
Congratulations

Thanks Kevin! Cool is right, last night got down to 8C. I did get a few on the K6 (before it SOLD) as well. John D.

[RAFster122s]

Congrats John on achieving 24

[andy750]

#16 today was 124 miles.
Met up with Andy S, he rode his K2(dressed as a K4) up from Boston,

Sorry late to the party just logged on after a long absence. Thank you Stu for a great day of meet and greet with the Norton Club, with the Dave the legend and for the very cool ride around Southern NH! Very much appreciated your time! Lets repeat for the Fall ride

cheers
Andy

[newday777]

#16 today was 124 miles.
Met up with Andy S, he rode his K2(dressed as a K4) up from Boston,

Sorry late to the party just logged on after a long absence. Thank you Stu for a great day of meet and greet with the Norton Club, with the Dave the legend and for the very cool ride around Southern NH! Very much appreciated your time! Lets repeat for the Fall ride

cheers
Andy

Sounds good to me Andy.

[jgger]

Way to go John! It seems like not long ago you were knee deep in snow and chomping  at the bit to get started and here you are with 24 in the bag. We'll done.

Thanks for playing along.

[BenelliSEI]

Way to go John! It seems like not long ago you were knee deep in snow and chomping  at the bit to get started and here you are with 24 in the bag. We'll done.

Thanks for playing along.

Thanks! The weather has been excellent, just too much time in the shop. Need to get out more.

[lash]

#86 for 90 km today again up to Fleur de Lys. I have had a cold and no voice for the last week, along with rainy weather so haven’t been on the bike in a while. Today just up there for a coffee.
Last year we left for home almost on this exact day. A week later a fishing boat from Fleur de Lys went down with the loss of all three fisherman. This is a devastating event for such a small community, as everyone knows everyone. This memorial is next to the small cafe we ride to and two of the lost were related to the owner. Makes me appreciate every day…

[BenelliSEI]

#86 for 90 km today again up to Fleur de Lys. I have had a cold and no voice for the last week, along with rainy weather so haven’t been on the bike in a while. Today just up there for a coffee.
Last year we left for home almost on this exact day. A week later a fishing boat from Fleur de Lys went down with the loss of all three fisherman. This is a devastating event for such a small community, as everyone knows everyone. This memorial is next to the small cafe we ride to and two of the lost were related to the owner. Makes me appreciate every day…

Lovely. Make the most of it! J.

[Kevin D]

Ride #23   98 miles    Home - Chelsea - Home

 I had to postpone my start just a bit as the temp was 52f this morning and the day needed some sunshine in it to push the temp into the 60s. The sun did its job as expected and I was off, not down the road, but to the Post Office with an award for BenelliSei. The address is right, the postage is right, and your award is on the way John.
 Leaving the P.O., I went by a vacant building that was formerly advertised as the home of the future
BMW-Ducati dealer. Now days the sign doesn’t say anything about Ducati or BMW, only “Building for Lease”.
Oh well, I would never give up my K1, or ask it to be second fiddle to a beemer or a dookie..
 A little further on, I was on Seven Mile,  crossing over I-275 and I saw a Michigan State Policeman sitting on a bucket on the sidewalk surveying the traffic below for wrongdoers. There are plenty, but for the most part its just thousands of people trying to get to work at 70mph +/- a lot.
 Proceeding onward, I’m overtaken by a euphoria that I should aim much higher with my ultimate destination today, just keep going way beyond Chelsea, it’s a beautiful day, the road is clear, the 750Four is purring.
But I never do that.
The return ride is always nice, to a point, and then the ride conditions deteriorate as I get close to the city.
 After lunch at the Chelsea Coney Island (ChiliDog with mustard and onions, fries, Diet Pepsi), I stop at the restored Chelsea Depot for a photo. There’s a 750 Nighthawk parked nearby, just out of the photo. The rider is seated at the station and when I showed him my own orange T-shirt he came over for a chat. His is a 92 Nighthawk, he paid $3000, the bike had 9000 miles when he got it. He looked at my odometer 03300.0 and the halfway decent condition and concluded that it was a lo-miler. He was in disbelief when I told him it was 103000 miles. I have nearly forgotten that I considered a new Nighthawk 750 while I was rejuvenating
my own CB in 2002.
 At the end-of-ride fill up, the guy at the next pump was admiring my CB. He told me with a smile that he had an orange K2 and he was told to sell it by his new bride for the downer on their home, thus ending his motorcycling days.
 One more ride to complete the Challenge!

[PeWe]

Only 1 ride left for 24 challenge completed Kevin!

Typical at the pump talk.
Often people start to talk about the bike, themselves or  friends or relatives that have had one for many years ago.

[Kevin D]

Only 1 ride left for 24 challenge completed Kevin!

Typical at the pump talk.
Often people start to talk about the bike, themselves or  friends or relatives that have had one for many years ago.

Yes, many say “I had a……”.
Yesterday, a 77 yr old told me he's no longer riding, he’s ferrying cars for an auto dealer, but he’s been through 3 GoldWings. His legs are no longer steady, but he never dropped a Wing.
While I was in the restaurant, a guy circled my bike a couple times then went and got his flip phone and took some photos.
After I got married, there were frequent suggestions from wife and mother to sell the motorcycle, but I was fortunate that I always had a place to park it, and never got so desperate that I needed the $500 I would have got for it.

[PeWe]

Only 1 ride left for 24 challenge completed Kevin!

Typical at the pump talk.
Often people start to talk about the bike, themselves or  friends or relatives that have had one for many years ago.

Yes, many say “I had a……”.
Yesterday, a 77 yr old told me he's no longer riding, he’s ferrying cars for an auto dealer, but he’s been through 3 GoldWings. His legs are no longer steady, but he never dropped a Wing.
While I was in the restaurant, a guy circled my bike a couple times then went and got his flip phone and took some photos.
After I got married, there were frequent suggestions from wife and mother to sell the motorcycle, but I was fortunate that I always had a place to park it, and never got so desperate that I needed the $500 I would have got for it.

A good investment not selling it for a few steaks with drinks back then

I had same thoughts about my K6 15-20 years ago when I should get  $1000-1200US. That money should disappear very quickly for everything and nothing.

[Kevin D]

Only 1 ride left for 24 challenge completed Kevin!

Typical at the pump talk.
Often people start to talk about the bike, themselves or  friends or relatives that have had one for many years ago.

Yes, many say “I had a……”.
Yesterday, a 77 yr old told me he's no longer riding, he’s ferrying cars for an auto dealer, but he’s been through 3 GoldWings. His legs are no longer steady, but he never dropped a Wing.
While I was in the restaurant, a guy circled my bike a couple times then went and got his flip phone and took some photos.
After I got married, there were frequent suggestions from wife and mother to sell the motorcycle, but I was fortunate that I always had a place to park it, and never got so desperate that I needed the $500 I would have got for it.

A good investment not selling it for a few steaks with drinks back then

I had same thoughts about my K6 15-20 years ago when I should get  $1000-1200US. That money should disappear very quickly for everything and nothing.

I might have sold it, on my own. But the orders from above to sell delayed the sale every time.

The Nighthawk rider mentioned he would prefer an FJR for milegobbling.

[Kevin D]

Note the new addition to the highway sign, and room for many more.


The photo collections are on hold for a bit. I thought I had the PhotoShop Free Edition, but I really had
a 2 week Trial Edition.

[BenelliSEI]

Sign looks great! #26 for me today, about 80 miles to visit my buddy Terry. Spent close to three hours chatting while we built the seat for my S/C Project. The read foam and seat cover from Yamiya are superb, but as they actually state on their website: “best installation by a profession”! Their cover does not stretch. It is of a very high quality. Compressing the foam and getting it down all around was a challenge, but worth it! Perfect fit. We reused all the chrome trim and fasteners and  the Yamiya strap and hardware. Terry had all the right pullers, clamps, punches and adhesive. I like it!

[lash]

#87 was 138 km to La Scie for seafood. Picked up local cod, Atlantic salmon, shrimp and some huge scallops! They come off the boats here and are as fresh as you can get. Going to have a great dinner tomorrow!