Topic: 25 Rides in 2025, Frank's New Years resolution that we can all enjoy.

[Trevor from Warragul]

I bought two HJC i70's. The build quality is terrible! The visor locking mechanism on both helmets snapped off, one of the inner visors broke, and two air vent tabs fell off. However, I keep using both helmets because they are, without doubt, the best helmets I've worn at highway speeds. They cut through the air quite nicely, don't have buffeting or lift, and my neck isn't sore after 2 hours in the saddle.

[willbird]

#3, 3-29-2025, 59 miles. ran over to Angola, IN, grabbed wife and I supper from Culvers, rode home.

#4, 3-30-2025, 61 miles, rode over near Defiance, OH via st rt 15, slipped across 24 to rt 66, headed North to 107, and then west on home, nothing photogenic to take pictures of :-).

[BallAquatics]

I bought two HJC i70's.....

I have a low-end HJC CL-17 that I picked up in 2018.  It's a nice enough helmet, but I wear my LS2 OF569 Track Helmet most of the time.  The LS2 is open-face and I prefer that.

[BallAquatics]

#14, 04-02-2025, 58.2 miles, rode over near Piqua, Ohio.  Mostly sheltered back roads trying to stay out of the cross wind.



It was still a lovely ride, aren't they all!  Tried to get a photo of some long horn cattle I saw on a previous ride, but they have been staying pretty close to the barn and it's just too far from the road to get a good photo.



Things are starting to green up around here.  I even saw a magnolia tree starting to bloom on the way home.  Looks like I might be mowing grass in a few weeks.  I've been trying to get a bit of clearing done before things get a good start on growing this spring.  I need the temps to drop a bit and give me about 2 weeks more time...

[PeWe]

#1 My first ride this year happened yesterday April 2 after work.
Could not say no to +19*C and sunshine . 
I could the day before, "only" 16*C and sunshine so no go.

I had prepared the fuel with additive, STP Ulta 5-1 for carb, ports, chambers and pistons clean so I had to ride for a while, min 200km.
Result 330km, back home 8:20 pm.

Route: From my town to Skultuna, Ramnäs, Skinnskatteberg where I stopped for a kebab with coke. Next heading Kopparberg, turned to Malingsbo, Smedjebacken, Säter Hedemora, Avesta where I refueled after 220km. Heading Horndal, turned into a smaller road over Färjan and continued passing Saladamm, Sala, Salbohed and back home over Sätra Brunn, Skultuna. My often ridden roads.

The engine ran smoother after about 170km.
Maybe the label on the additive bottle is right?

Then on a better wider road and little traffic so needle setting verified at 140-160kmh. Slowly increase and decrease throttle. Stable and fine. No lean nor rich behavior.
 Main jet area next or Maniac area, sounds similar  
Rather good acceleration from 180-190kmh. Good enough.
I know that it likes richer for best power which will turn things black.

Rear tire could have been replaced during the over 5 months rest. But I saw almost 1000 km left. I'll see if new tire goes on next week when weather is worse.

[PeWe]

#2 Second ride today, April 3.
This time the brown K2 and 200km +400m
Better weather today. +20*C and sunshine!  It was freezing in the morning 06:00 wheen bicycling to work. Colder yesterday morning. The days and afternoons ok though!

It has also got cleaning fuel additive.
I think it ran more evenly after ca 150km.
This will be the way to start each season, fuel additive to keep carbs and more clean.

Same roads as usual. Nice country roads over Skultuna, Svanå, Västerfärnebo, Norberg, Avesta, Folkärna, Möklinta, Salbohed where I stopped at my favourite Kebab place.
They were happy to see my again.

This is on my bike rides only, too far for car to fetch food, 450km away from home

They served me a statement, it is here you should eat during your rides, period!
What a plate! Kebab meat with perfectly fried and seasoned fries, spicy sauces and vegs. Really, really tasty!

I'm still stuffed when writing this 2 hours later!!

I used my bronze helmet today. I bought it to match the brown K2.

My blue K6 has the almost perfectly color matched blue white helmet.

[BallAquatics]

Whoo hoo, Way to go PeWe!!!

That blue bike is beautiful.

#15, 04-03-2025, 51.3 miles, rode out to check out the shed as it's been a bit since I've checked on things.  Mostly back roads but a bit on SR 54 too.



Didn't see much of anything interesting so not photos today.  We had torrential rains last night so lots of stuff washed out on the roads.  Lots of standing water in low lying areas as well.  More rain forecast for the next 3 days.  Glad I live on high ground.....

[newday777]

That's great Per That's you got 2 great days to ride them.
Dennis you are running away on us all! We got your rain last night mixed with some snow before changing to full pouring rain this morning for my taking the cage to meet up with a guy from above Albany NY, we met half way for me to buy a bunch of used 750 parts. Supposed to be 50° and sunny tomorrow so I might get out for a ride in the afternoon as I have to go to the job and get a couple things finished first so they can be ready for the inspection on Monday.

[PeWe]

Thanks guys!
The weather is colder today. +15*C but an arctic feeling in the winds. I can imagine a smell of Yaks.

The blue bike is my favourite.
My fav helmet match it too. It is 10 years old and I'll use it for 10 years more thanks to the findings described here, 2 separate sources saying the same thing. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=204936.0


After a few rides with the blue is the brown almost stock K2 very relaxing to ride and become my favorite with nicer clutch lever, not that hard as the blue. Much slower throttle is sometimes really nice.

I hope I can add my ride routes on an attached map to visualize the ride. Only the names of the villages and small cities do not show the ride.

Dennis reported ride gives a great picture how it looked like.

[lash]

#8 today. 137km. on the goldwing. +9 and cloudy, pretty dreary time of year, everything is brown and dirty. Next two weeks dont look any better but it sure would be nice to see some buds on the trees and some warmer weather!

[BenelliSEI]

I bought two HJC i70's. The build quality is terrible! The visor locking mechanism on both helmets snapped off, one of the inner visors broke, and two air vent tabs fell off. However, I keep using both helmets because they are, without doubt, the best helmets I've worn at highway speeds. They cut through the air quite nicely, don't have buffeting or lift, and my neck isn't sore after 2 hours in the saddle.

Trevor….. I had the same issue with the visor locking/ pivot system on my ancient HJC flip helmet, a few years ago. I sent them and email and they replied immediately. A few days later I had a package filled with spare ones at no charge!

[Alan F.]

Ride #1 for me today.
I called in sick and texted Newday777, met him around 2 and we set out on a great mix of deserted back roads and a few miles of dirt and gravel roads too. I got home around 7:30 with 199.6 miles on the clock. Temps were in the mid 60F range with partly cloudy skies.

[newday777]

#3 today was warmer than I expected. It was 66°F to start when Alan arrived. We headed north then west on some of my favorite river routes and we were blessed with seeing some whitewater from the rain we've been getting added to the snow melting away.
I got in 118 miles. We hit some cooler areas where we saw a little bit of snow left and some ponds and lakes with partial ice cover left, and a cooling breeze that is ushering in a possible mixed bag of weather tomorrow evening. Ya just never know what the weather will be doing this time of year here in southern NH. But the roads were great for the most part, still some areas of frost heaves and soft areas on the dirt roads we covered.
We definitely had a blast. My butt was starting to ache near the end of the ride from not being in the saddle much, even though the Ultimate seat on the wing is pretty good.
Alan was out on his Royal Enfield.
The temps were 66°F to start, 57° in the cooler locations and finished up at 59°. Real nice for early April. It was a win.

[willbird]

4-5-2025 Saturday, #5, it was 46F and gloomy, did not dress in enough layers and froze my * off for 58 miles :-). Rode OH15 North into MI to Camden road, cut across to Camden MI and took RT49 back into Ohio.

4-6-2025, Sunday, #6, it would not budge from 39F, dressed warmer and got 67 miles in. Headed South to US6, east to OH66, north to US20, West to OH15 and back home.

Bill

[newday777]

This is what I awoke to this morning.
Mother Nature is having PMS cold flash.....again....

[Kevin D]

I have been keeping Franks family in the loop and also sharing badges/tags with them.
Yesterday, I got a nice reply from Franks wife Sabine, daughter Julia, and son Vincent expressing thanks for the badges and sharing the joy that the Challenge continues, and that Frank continues to inspire you all to get out there and enjoy some adventure. That was important to him.
 They check in here at SOHC4 from time to time and enjoy reading your adventures.
 Also included in the envelope were several Memorial cards, pictured below. I don’t know that anybody from SOHC4 went to Franks memorial/Memorial ride, maybe 1080, I don’t know. Maybe you met Frank at Dolores.
If you would like one of these Memorial cards please send me a PM, and keep riding your rides.

[BallAquatics]

Ride #16, 04/10/2025, 51.3 miles in total.  Started out as a trip to pick-up parts for the mower deck, but took the long way home and turned into a nice ride.



It was cool, but nice and sunny when I started out.  At about the 2/3 mark of the ride it darkened up and I caught just a bit of a shower.  Not enough to get wet, but enough to send me looking for the short way back to the house!





I'm hoping to hit ride # 25 on my birthday, May 10th.   

[PeWe]

#3 Sunshine and +13-14*C and no arctic winds,  ok for a ride
170km
I had to test my new rear tire. Cornering is  much better with a smooth rounded profile.
Before more like a box when grinded flat. Not nice in corners.
I forgot to adjust the acc pump last year that had too long duration. So a few WOT tests from various speeds and different gears.
I can reduce more which means another ride
The bike runs very smooth. The re-jetting (smaller pilots) and carb cleaning last fall really improved the way it cruise in legal speeds and up.

The ride today as many times before over Skultuna-Haraker- Sätra Brunn-Salbohed-Norberg-Avesta (refueling, Shell V-Power) - back home via Salbohed where I picked up a kebab and fries I brought home in my mini back back.

Today wine, a red wine from Portugal. They produce good bang for the buck wines.

[grcamna2]

#3 Sunshine and +13-14*C and no arctic winds,  ok for a ride
170km
I had to test my new rear tire. Cornering is  much better with a smooth rounded profile.
Before more like a box when grinded flat. Not nice in corners.
I forgot to adjust the acc pump last year that had too long duration. So a few WOT tests from various speeds and different gears.
I can reduce more which means another ride
The bike runs very smooth. The re-jetting (smaller pilots) and carb cleaning last fall really improved the way it cruise in legal speeds and up.

The ride today as many times before over Skultuna-Haraker- Sätra Brunn-Salbohed-Norberg-Avesta (refueling, Shell V-Power) - back home via Salbohed where I picked up a kebab and fries I brought home in my mini back back.

Today wine, a red wine from Portugal. They produce good bang for the buck wines.

Ok Per !! 
Back on the road again with a nice ride 
A good meal and an enjoyable time.
How were the towns which you passed-by along the way;anyone out-and-about during the warm weather ?

[PeWe]

Ok Per !! 
Back on the road again with a nice ride 
A good meal and an enjoyable time.
How were the towns which you passed-by along the way;anyone out-and-about during the warm weather ?

Thanks,
Not much people out there in the  country roads and small villages I ride thru.
A few locals at the Pizzeria & Grill where I ate/ bought kebab.
Today was a little chilly but still a nice spring with sunlight. We have too much darkness during November-February + a few days more.

Soon too much daylight
07:00 am to 09:00 pm all year around would be perfect for me
I'll see if I get another ride tomorrow.

[lash]

130km. today for #9. +10 and sunny. Tomorrow should be a longer ride day, the first one out for my riding buddies and supposed to be warmer!

[BenelliSEI]

130km. today for #9. +10 and sunny. Tomorrow should be a longer ride day, the first one out for my riding buddies and supposed to be warmer!

Lucky you! I have so much ice storm clean up to do that I may be slow getting started! Kids were all up today and we did a lot….

[lash]

I think we’re all about a month behind this year. When it finally gets to be 750 weather I’ll ride over for lunch.

[PeWe]

#4  a 223 km ride
I could not miss the nice spring weather today. Weather is OK for us here in Sweden.
It can be worse. Last years a ride or two in early April. Frost and snow returns and freeze rides for a week or 2.

First part really good and sunny, around +18*C. Not long after refueling grey skies started to cover the skies and colder winds.
Anyway a success
Bike ran well and did not miss with acc pump stroke very close to minimum.

Relatively low fuel consumption too.
5.27L/100km  44.63 Mpg
This despite some wot tests from different speeds to find eventual hesitations.

Next ride(s) can be to get lower consumption.
47 mpg next!  5L/100km
Most roads have max speed 80kmh. If riding  up to 100-120kmh without a buuurping sudden wot,  fuel will stay in tank.   I'm sure I can go faster with smooth right hand.

The fuel price is much lower,  like before Covid.

Here parts of the rides in pictures.


First pics from Ängelsberg where a dense forest was  completely burned down July 2014. Fire fighting planes flew from Italy to help stop it.
More and taller trees each year.

The distant wind turbines not working today.  3rd photo
The sell price was negative so that might be why.

Other bikers enjoyed the weather too.
#
#
# Coming rides for more absent forum friends.

[lash]

#10 was 202km. Beautiful day and lots of bikes out. +16 but its supposed to snow on Tuesday! cant wait for a real spring!