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

[Kelly E]

I'm waiting for a ride report on the KZ 750 twin. Bikes with a bunch of torque are really fun to ride.
The 05' Fatboy with the 1550cc motor and the 90' Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans are best torque bikes I've ridden.

I haven't been able to ride a Triumph Rocket III yet but with little ol' me on it a Rocket III might accelerate into another time zone.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm waiting for a ride report on the KZ 750 twin. Bikes with a bunch of torque are really fun to ride.
The 05' Fatboy with the 1550cc motor and the 90' Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans are best torque bikes I've ridden.

I haven't been able to ride a Triumph Rocket III yet but with little ol' me on it a Rocket III might accelerate into another time zone.

Ha ha, thanks Kelly, I’m really looking forward to riding it too, it actually reminds me a bit of my XLH1200 Sporty, really good acceleration off the line, and almost no vibration below around 4000 RPM. The Rocket is awesome with most of its 147 foot pounds of torque at just over 2000 RPM, so once you’re in top gear you can leave it there, whether you’re out on the highway or just poodling around the suburbs. Even though I know it’d be dumb to ride the KZ750 in the mid 90’s tomorrow after I get the roadworthy certificate, I’m sorely tempted to go for a 50 mile ride just to blow out the cobwebs.

[budman]

Got a voicemail from the insurance co.  Looks like the Scout will end up being totaled.  I'll know for sure next week.

[RAFster122s]

Sorry to hear, if you intend to buy another scout what would your old one cost, could be donor for engine parts where used would be acceptable fix...

[budman]

Sorry to hear, if you intend to buy another scout what would your old one cost, could be donor for engine parts where used would be acceptable fix...

If they’re going to total it I’ll just take the money.  At this time I have no idea what the medical bills are going to look like.  If there’s money leftover I’ll have to figure out what’s important.  Getting back on two wheels will be a big part of my decision making.

When the time comes and I decide I need to ride again there are a few scenarios I can think of at the moment to make that happen.  I’ll just have to wait and see how the dust settles.

The new year looks like it’s going to be an interesting one.

[Kelly E]

When I changed the MG's and bikes over to Haggerty insurance (which was way cheaper) I mentioned that my uncle got two of them new. The girl told me that since the 77' KZ 1000 LTD and the 84' Honda Sabre 700s have been in the family since new they qualify as legacy bikes. If one of them gets totaled I get the agreed value and I get to keep the bike with the original clean title, not a salvage title.
I hope it never happens but it's nice to know. I'm not sure if it would apply to the original owner but for those that own family bikes it's a great feature. We all know how easily a bike can be totaled by the insurance adjuster. I for sure would want to resurrect the KZ if something happens.

[jgger]

Bud, I'm bummed for you on a level I can't seem to express. First order of business is getting better, then deal with the rest.

Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of riding. I personally had a 40 year recess from riding and after/during every ride I'm blown away by how much better I feel just from the experience.

Is a buy back, then parted out an option to get a few more bucks?

[budman]

Bud, I'm bummed for you on a level I can't seem to express. First order of business is getting better, then deal with the rest.

Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of riding. I personally had a 40 year recess from riding and after/during every ride I'm blown away by how much better I feel just from the experience.

Is a buy back, then parted out an option to get a few more bucks?

Thanks, Jim.  It will all pan out.  I totally get the therapeutic aspect.  It's something I look forward to each and every ride.  Thinking about next year I really need to super-charge my business.  I think that needs to be my main focus.  I'm wrapping up a few things next month that have I've been dedicated to this past year, and I want to be ready for 2025.

I have a '73 CB750 chopper project, which at the moment is calling my name.  I love building far and above fixin'.  Not having immediate access to two wheels might be the jump start I need to get that project going again.  With some persistence (plus funds) I think I could be riding that thing by the end of 2025.  I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of months.

If I feel the call of the road, I could always get something cheaper to putt around on.

[Terry in Australia]

Well I don't know how I missed Bud's post, but sorry to see that you got taken out by a Deer mate, rest up and start on the Chopper build, I'd love to have a CB750 chopper! My spare RC 51 came from a guy who totaled it when he hit a Kangaroo @ 60+ MPH, I was digging pieces of fur and skin out of the remains of the bike when I got it, the aluminum frame was cracked at each weld around the headstock, the forks were totaled along with the front rim and left side brake disc. He was in hospital for 3 months with a broken pelvis, left leg, kneecap, left arm and collar bone. You probably have concussion too, hence the loss of memory.

We've had a few days in the 90's already, and yesterday was no different. I'd planned to take the Kawasaki KZ750 over for it's Roadworthy Inspection, but Trevor in Warragul told me that I might still need to jump through some additional hoops first. Fcuk it, I rang Jeff and cancelled, and drove over to my storage unit around 9am, to got for a ride on the K0 before it got too hot. It was already 80 degrees, so chose my "Joe Rocket" perforated leather jacket and it was much more pleasant knowing that my top half was protected and air was flowing thru it as long as I maintained a decent speed. I headed up the freeway towards Wallan, but the traffic stopped and crawled for miles, so I rode up the emergency lane and took the Donnybrook road turnoff, then rode up to Eden Park and enjoyed throwing it around the twisties.

Rode on to Whittlesea, Kinglake, and stopped at the Flowerdale pub. Sadly it was closed until 11.30 and it was only around ten. I haven't been there for a drink since just after the devastating bush fires in February 9, 2009 when around 120 people were killed. SteveK0 and I rode our 750's on a charity ride and finished up at the pub, that was luckily unscathed, and had lunch. It's a nice spot, in the middle of nowhere, but is always packed with cars and bikes when it's open.

K0 Saturday 23 November 2024 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

K0 Saturday 23 November 2024 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I had a smoke, rang Spotty as I had a missed call from him, then headed off towards Broadford. I stopped again at a lookout outside Broadford and took a couple more pics.

K0 Saturday 23 November 2024 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

K0 Saturday 23 November 2024 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I continued on towards the actual town of Broadford, but saw the freeway turnoff back towards Melbourne, so decided that it was too damn hot to continue riding the 50 MPH backroads, and merged onto the freeway and cruised at 70-80 MPH, and the old red bike was in it's element. I got back to the storage unit after an enthusiastic 120mile ride #33 and had a few sips of Powerade Drove my Ute home with the aircon blasting me with icy air, and loved it. Got home and the house wasn't too warm but I put the ducted cooling on, and opened a bottle of Ginger Joe, which was probably not my best move as I'd eaten nothing all day, was dehydrated, and was so thirsty I drained the pint of 8% alcohol in around 20 minutes, which must have gone straight into my bloodstream, because I felt drunk within minutes. No biggie, opened another one and just kept drinking until I went to bed at 9.30 pm, and didn't eat very much of anything all day, just didn't feel hungry. I was stuffed.

Raining today, so will probably keep working on getting my poor old Honda Firestorm "Special" that I've ignored over the last 8 years since I put it together, but never put back on the road. It'll be interesting to compare it to my Ducati 916 S2 Monster, and see which one I like best. Hopefully I'll do ride #34 next weekend. Only 3 weeks until I take a month off for Christmas, so hopefully I'll get lots more rides in before the end oof the year.

[RAFster122s]

I don't know if I wanna count the ride Thursday for 62 miles...
Rode to afterhours walk in clinic at Tucson Orthopedics. Wednesday did 2nd day basic rider course (I had never taken and ya gotta start somewhere) and they put me on small Suzuki cruiser with forward controls and a severely out of adjustment clutch. Clutch engaged at more than 1/2 travel when first started. Was around 2:30-2:45 and I started stalling bike in u turn maneuvers and I went down not once but 3 times. Earlier I was having zero trouble with the 24 and 20 ft turns. Breezing through them. 3rd time knee really hurt and injured right thumb. I was done at that point. Waited for everyone to finish and got paperwork and testing voucher for later to pass class. I've not dropped my own bike in low speed, or any speed,  in a long time. After I dropped it the 2nd time I saw the clutch was engaging in last 3/8 inch of travel and that hot bike change was likely the reason I was having the trouble. Temps was low 80s and we had been putting bikes through paces at low speeds with moderate throttle and riding clutch in slow speed, recipe for hot engine and I was smelling it sitting between turns...

Dr put me in right wrist hand brace to immobilize thumb because I injured one of two tendons. As well as a hinged knee brace as I was having some weakness in outside of left knee. .Nothing broken, but didn't think anything would be. My thumb injury was my main concern and low risk of a bone chip could result in very bad outcome..
My arthritic knees and many other joints did not enjoy the low speed spills as asphalt isn't very forgiving and was too hot for armored jacket even a mesh one with all the standing around and low speed stuff we were doing...so I was in jeans and long sleeved Tshirt, gloves, boots, and helmet.

Stopped for dinner around 9 (arrived at clinic at 5:35 walked out at 8:30) at Chick-fil-A. Had regular Chick-fil-A sandwich with extra pickles, Mac & cheese with bacon crumbles, and large sweet tea with small splash of lemonade. Their Mac and cheese is delicious. Photo attached...

Rode home in mid to low 50s despite having been 82-84F that afternoon...

Bruised up and sore and gonna take a while for thumb to be normal again.

David

[willbird]

Saturday 11-23-2024, 79.2 miles, #87. 44F lead colored sky, just a few spits of rain in one stretch. Rode over to Defiance, OH, went SR15 over and SR66 back, went through Stryker, OH and from there west home.

Sunday 11-24-2024, 78 miles, #88, 40F. Headed to Napoleon, OH, went from there to Defiance and back home on SR15, no rain. later in the day I got the CB750K2 out for a 40 mile rectangle, there were a few spots of sunshine :-). Working on thermal equilibrium in colder temps. Have heated grips, Milwaukee heated vest, 5Ah heated socks from Amazon. Getting the layers setup to keep my arms warm is still a work in progress. One good thing about colder winter is getting in the habit of wearing my Joe Rocket pants with the liners, will transition to no liners in spring...much better/safer to ride in than blue jeans.

Bill

[BenelliSEI]

I think I’m done….. snow on the ground this am. Really wanted #35 and missed a chance last week. Darn.

Bud…. Good to hear you have  a solid plan. I agree 100% that shop time is just as good as riding. Get into it and get well fast.

[Kevin D]

I keep looking at the 10 day forecast and it’s only cold and colder and wet. I missed the best day in the last 3 weeks with a midday eye exam and dilation, couldn’t see too much afterwards. So yesterday I ran the carbs dry, pushed the CB to the corner, and put the cover on. I’ve made 35 rides, that’s my best. Didn’t do any overniters this year, day rides only, missus won’t go. SE Ohio trip still on my bucket list. I haven’t had a December ride since I don’t know when, I’m likely done till April.
 
 Bud, I’m wondering about your helmet, i’m thinking you wear a full premium helmet, how did it fare? I hope and expect your recovery is continuing/over.

Willbird, you’re rolling along, is there a goal in mind?

I put together some photos of all that have finished, there might/should be another including all who logged in rides but didn’t finish 24, and certainly if there is a dark horse finisher out there. A couple photos of Frank, some of your tasty ride meals, several of Buds handsome awards.
No, it’s not over yet. Terry and Willbird are going strong.💪

[newday777]

It looks like I'm out until spring too. Freezing rain here in southern NH this morning, cold the next week with a mixed bag thrown in for Thanksgiving.......
If the roads get 3 days of good rain to wash off any salt that gets put down in the next month I might get out on the wing again......

[Kelly E]

My run for 24 rides got torpedoed by the Dr that missed on the feducial marker placement. That pushed my radiation treatments end date past the middle of August. Radiation recovery takes a couple of months.

I'll try for 25 rides next year but they may have missed a spot. I might have to go back for radiation treatments again. If that happens I plan on being a major pain in the ass to get it done quickly. The Drs are not taking another summer away from me, I don't have any to spare.

I'm still not working everyday in the shop but I am slowly getting back there. The 01' Honda TRX 350 Rancher ATV I'm resurrecting is coming along. My buddy's son barrel rolled it into the Nooksack River and bent the front rack and somehow bent the steering shaft between the mounting points. The boy has a knack for destroying vehicles.

[BenelliSEI]

Kelly…… you just keep doing what you’re doing. Your determination is a great incentive for the rest of us!

Kevin….. very cold rain all day here too. Check the 10 day forcast and not much joy there either. We might be done. I bet LASH will dig out his skidoo suit and the KLR!

[budman]

Yesterday I drove down to the tow yard in Kerrville to collect my belongings that where in the Scout's saddlebags.  The folks at the tow yard were kind enough to gather my stuff up before the insurance company hauled the bike away, and they held it for me until I could get down there.  I chatted with the wrecker driver who picked up the bike and he was telling me how bad it was, which was very a different story than the "cosmetic" damage the state trooper was telling me about in the hospital.

I got online this morning and saw that the adjuster had uploaded photos and an estimate.  It was even worse than what the wrecker driver was telling me.  The engine looked OK.  Everything else, not so much.  I was very fortunate, especially considering the condition of the bike.  I saw a few things on the estimate that were incorrect, one of the main things being that I had a $1000 OEM fairing installed, not a $350 Memphis Shades fairing.  The estimate was still over five figures.  I haven't heard anything regarding a settlement or payout yet.

I didn't download any of the photos.  I don't want them haunting me.

As I was going through my stuff from my saddlebags, I noticed my thermos was damaged.  I wonder if I can claim that? 

[ofreen]

#19.  I bought a pair of heated gloves last year at Costco but hadn't really tried them out.  It was 41 degrees when I left the house at 2pm and 38 when I got back 2 1/2 hours later.  I didn't turn them on until about 35 miles out, so they are fairly warm without the electrons flowing.  But my thumbs were beginning to feel the cold, so I set them at the second from lowest setting.  That wasn't bad, but as the ride progressed I bumped them up, ending at the highest setting about 30 minutes away from home.  They work.  I could have used heaters on my kneecaps as well.  Just a couple of photos.  I forgot to check the charge on my phone before leaving.  I noticed it was on 25% when I took the first photo, and it didn't last much longer in my jacket pocket, going dead soon after.  Cold got the battery.

[Terry in Australia]

Those heated gloves look good Greg, I bought some cheapies and a heated vest on Amazon and they were fantastic. I'm not sure how they'd fare if I went sliding down the road, but I try to avoid sliding down the road as I don't heal as fast as I used to, for some reason?

Anyway, it was a hot one again today, but after the rain we've had for the last few days, quite welcome. I took the day off work and decided that a ride was in order. I'd taken the KZ750 over to the bike shop yesterday and it flew through the roadworthy inspection, so as I had an "Unregistered Vehicle Permit" for another couple of days, decided that I'd take it for a lap, and then drop it off at my storage unit after taking the necessary pics for my historic club permit application.

Needless to say, with only 13,000 miles on the odo, the old Kawasaki ran like a new bike, and I had a great ride. The bike is a real torque monster (for it's era) and so I rode it on the torque, and changed up at around 3500 RPM, as that was where it seemed happiest. Redline is 7800 RPM but being a 360 degree twin, the higher you rev it, the more vibey it became. Up to around 5,000 RPM (75 MPH) it was quite smooth, but after that it was less enjoyable. No biggie, it's a lovely bike to ride.

KZ750 Friday 29 November 2024 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I rode back to the storage unit and rearranged the bikes so that I could fit the Kawasaki in, and so I could pull my recently acquired second Ducati 916 S2 out so that Spotty and I can collect it tomorrow and clean it up somewhat.

KZ750 Friday 29 November 2024 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyway, 34 down, and hopefully another ride on the K0 this weekend. There's rain forecast for both days, but hopefully I'll get another ride in.

KZ750 Friday 29 November 2024 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[PeWe]

Beautiful photo of your Kawasaki, Terry. It has the good look despite 2 missing cylinders.
Maybe more fun than a 4 cylinder 750  version torque wise?

[Kevin D]

Good for you Greg.
 Are those gloves Motorcycle powered or internal battery powered?
I had a coworker with heated boots, there was a battery pack laced on the front.
As a wader fisherman I have the slow burn charcoal packs that go in a pocket. It’s been a long time since i have used them.
There are all kinds of chemical heat packs.
 The voltmeter with USB port keeps my old phone at 100% at all times. The nav programs gobble the battery. I generally know where I’m going, but without the USB charging I was coming home with a dead phone all the time.

Terry, the Kawasaki is looking very nice, the paint and chrome look terrific. I looked for the missing middle cylinders #2 #3 a couple times, haha. I didn’t know there was a 750 twin,  I was thinking of the w650.

[willbird]

11-28-24. Thanksgiving day. #89. 38F. tips of fingers and thumbs got cold. I kinda like ATT LongLines towers, this is West Unity Ohio tower.

[Terry in Australia]

Beautiful photo of your Kawasaki, Terry. It has the good look despite 2 missing cylinders.
Maybe more fun than a 4 cylinder 750  version torque wise?

Thanks Per and Kevin, it’s a lovely old thing, and it was interesting that Jeff, my old school (74 years old) mechanic hd never seen one;

[BenelliSEI]

Beautiful photo of your Kawasaki, Terry. It has the good look despite 2 missing cylinders.
Maybe more fun than a 4 cylinder 750  version torque wise?

Thanks Per and Kevin, it’s a lovely old thing, and it was interesting that Jeff, my old school (74 years old) mechanic hd never seen one. Another old mechanic (Vietnam veteran) Jack, who I knew m

Terry….. That green KZ looks lovely. Nice to hear it runs just as well! Reminds me of the 1000 I did for a friend, a few years ago. Great colour.

I noticed the other day I am getting close to 10K on the post count. Got me thinking, “what a blow hard”. Then I checked your count and felt much better…… Cheers! J.

[Terry in Australia]

Beautiful photo of your Kawasaki, Terry. It has the good look despite 2 missing cylinders.
Maybe more fun than a 4 cylinder 750  version torque wise?

Thanks Per and Kevin, it’s a lovely old thing, and it was interesting that Jeff, my old school (74 years old) mechanic hd never seen one. Another old mechanic (Vietnam veteran) Jack, who I knew m

Terry….. That green KZ looks lovely. Nice to hear it runs just as well! Reminds me of the 1000 I did for a friend, a few years ago. Great colour.

I noticed the other day I am getting close to 10K on the post count. Got me thinking, “what a blow hard”. Then I checked your count and felt much better…… Cheers! J.

Ha ha, thanks John, I’ve been here since the old Greenspun days when this was a CB750 only forum. Motorcycles to me are huge part of my life, and when I’m not riding or fixing them, I love to talk about them. It’s raining outside again so I won’t be doing much riding or fixing, so I guess I’ll be doing more talking.