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

[Kevin D]

Very nice lash.

[PeWe]

A very beautiful and tasty view, lash! 

[jgger]

Well another week of commuting, but I had to take my truck 1 day. 387 miles just to and from work in 4 days. It isn't quite as much fun riding to work and it is waaaaay different than fun rides.

On Monday there was a major traffic back up and I was glad I was on the bike.  A semi truck had jacked knifed and had 6 of the seven lanes blocked, it was ugly. It took me 45 minutes to travel 8 1/2 miles lane splitting all the way. It was so bad I don't think that i got out of 1st gear except twice. I'm so glad I wasn't in my truck.

But overall it was a good week, i only had to use my middle finger twice and my 114db Piaa horns just once.

The mornings start off around the low 60's and the trip home is high 70's to low 80's and being able to use the carpool lanes on the bike makes it nicer too.

So at least I am able to ride, but nothing I can really count as "official" rides, oh well things could be worse. I am hoping that i can get to the speedway races or take a long weekend ride soon, so I can claim #3. I really miss participating in this thread and everyone's stories and pictures keep me going,so k÷p them comming.

Jim/ jgger

[newday777]

Good to hear you are still kicking Jim. I know the frustration of driving and riding in that quagmire of traffic there in SoCal and don't miss it a bit. God Bless you.

[Kevin D]

Ride #17   124 miles   68f depart  78f return

What a nice day for a ride, no smoke, no humidity, no excess heat.
I started off with an early detour as SB Northville rd is closed blocking my access to Hines drive, but no problem, I’ll continue on Six mile to Sheldon to Seven mile. At Seven and Sheldon there are some barricades but construction of the traffic circle is not yet interfering with traffic, very good. So I’m off down Seven mile and there is less traffic today, also very good. Many riding their horses today. At Whitmore lake more are out sunning and fishing, but I have not yet seen any skiers practicing.
 On Hamburg road, I round the third sweeper and am greeted by a multitude of red and blue flashers, a blocked road, an ambo departing. It looks like an Impala has submarined under the bed of a roll back tow truck. The front of the Impala is mangled and the windshield is smashed. I didn’t notice if the airbags were out. I can’t imagine how it happened.
 On to Strawberry Lake, I tag the white hydrangea. It’s Stev-o’s turn next, if he comes to town. Driving through the woods on Mast road is so nice and it helps me to relax from full alert on Hamburg road. Darwin road into Hell is nice, and empty…. where is everybody? Only two Harleys in Hell.
 Lunch at McD’s in Stockbridge and a ride rest for the return. The corn is tallest on Mt Hope road, 9 feet?
where is the photo?? I was in the groove, engaged with the CB and the asphalt. Seymour, Clear Lake, Cavanaugh, Dexter-Chelsea, Huron River, Old 23, Warren, Pontiac Trail, Territorial, Northville, 5 mile, Newburgh-SixMile and I’m back in home country.
 The CB ran like a top as always, but the starter clutch had several misfires today. I hope I don’t have to take a break to repair the starter clutch before the season ends. It’s fortunate that there is also a kickstarter, And I am hoping that the Impala passengers are OK.

[newday777]

Ride #14 today, started at 7am 51°F, rode some of the back roads and numbered roads to get to Haverhill MA to look for some 750 parts, which ended up being mostly DOHC parts, I only found a 78 right hand switch that is in decent condition so it wasn't a bust, but a great morning ride of 81 miles. It warmed to 77°F by 10am when I got back to work in the shop.

[BallAquatics]

Ride #17   124 miles   68f depart  78f return

Way to go Kevin!  Only 8 more to go as we enter the best part of riding season, fall in the mid west.  With a bit of luck, we have seen the last of the oppressive heat & humidity...

[Terry in Australia]

On Saturday, Spotty and I finally got the GPZ1100 running, woohoo!

The big Kawasaki will (hopefully) be ready to go for some rides in a few more weeks, but not just yet. That's OK, the weather gods smiled on us yesterday, and it was the warmest day in the last couple of months. (68 Degrees) Well, being such a magnificent day, I decided to drive over to my storage unit and fire up the K0, and see if I could find the 2025 log book. After a search, I discovered that I hadn't actually started a 2025 logbook, so started one, with yesterday's ride being the first, even though I've done 3 or 4 rides previously, using (illegally) my 2024 logbook. Isn't the early onset of dementia wonderful?

Anyhoo, the K0. I gave it a few kicks (highest compression CB750 engine ever) to circulate the oil before I switched the ignition on, and happily, it fired right up. Every time I ride this bike, after riding one of my other bikes, I'm blown away by how smooth it is, and how linear the power is. Also, after getting used to the VMax, how high the seat is! No worries, it only took a mile or two to get back into the swing of things. I filled the tank with fresh 98 RON, and headed north. It was such a beautiful day there were lots of cars on the freeway, so I was happy to get off and head up one of my "less travelled" routes. I stopped halfway to take some pics.

K0 Sunday 3 August 2025 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Riding home, the sun was shining and I could feel the warmth on my back, and once again, I prayed for an early Spring. Ride #27 was around 95 miles, I'm still currently "semi retired", so I hope to get ride #28 done soon.

K0 Sunday 3 August 2025 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

   

[newday777]

Ride # 15 today was a memorial ride to the track(Laconia) and a lap around the track.
I left the house at 9am, 62°F to gather at the local Kawasaki dealer that was owned by Scott Mullins and others, Scott died doing what he loved, racing, 4 years ago. The ride is a benefit ride for the Scott Mullins Scholarship fund, funding young mechanics at the local community college.
Over 200 bikes attended today, lead by 2 state police on their Harley police bikes, the line of 2 staggard was over a mile long, all numbered roads and back streets through Concord. We got to eat at the track infield grille(not the greatest brisket sandwich so no pictures. Then we got to hang out and watch the races. It was a great ride back too taking a bit different route from on the way up.
Returned home at 4pm, 86°F, 112 miles. It was a bit hazy from the western wildfires....

[Kevin D]

Ride #17   124 miles   68f depart  78f return

Way to go Kevin!  Only 8 more to go as we enter the best part of riding season, fall in the mid west.  With a bit of luck, we have seen the last of the oppressive heat & humidity...

Thanks Dennis, 2/3 done 1/3 to go. There is a new item on my stop list for riding: Air quality. I woke up and found this map at the weather forecast: the wildfire smoke. Smoke has dropped down and covered Michigan and many other places. Tonight I found the data that backs up the map showing unhealthy air. It’s supposed to hang around till Tuesday and probably rain will displace the smoke. It’s been more challenging this year for me, but I think I will finish 25 in 25.
 I Almost forgot my midseason oil change last week. I hope that new clean oil hasn’t provoked my starter clutch into slipping. The old oil is right over there in the drain container, I don’t think I’ll put it back in the Motorcycle.

[lash]

#69 was 124 km. yesterday to the Tea room in La Scie. Great riding weather 22c. Tuesday we are off to Gros Morne and the boat tour on Wednesday. Hope for good pictures then!

[willbird]

#48, Saturday 8-2-2025, CB500X, 131 miles


#49, Sunday 8-3-2025, 57 miles
Got the CB750K2 out for a spin, ran over to Defiance, OH

#50, Sunday 8-3-2025,99 miles rode the CB500X up to Coldwater then headed east, and finally south back towards home

[Kevin D]

Ride #18   83 miles   75f   AQIndex 156

I set off today in spite of the smoke that’s here, I wanted to give the starter a workout and the starter clutch behaved itself 10/10 good starts today! I went to Dexter but made for lunch in Ypsilanti. But first I went by the famed Ypsilanti water tower. It was erected in 1890 to a height of 147 feet. I had to get out of town fast , there were a half dozen speeding cop cars going every which way in a hurry to I don’t know where looking for I don’t know what, it seemed like a good idea to get out of there.
 On to lunch at Gabriel’s on the east side of Ypsilanti. Gabriel’s has basically one item on the menu and it’s terrific. Sorry, i was hasty and I took a bite before the photo. It’s been a while since I have eaten there, the ride isn’t nearly as nice but the sandwich is worth the diversion.
 One more stop on the diversion ride at Budd’s for some dandy sweet corn. Theres other fruits and veggies at Budds but the sweet corn is the star here, and once again I have eaten the corn and not photographed it. I expanded my tailbag to fit six ears inside. I didn’t think that a cantaloupe would fit.
 The Honda got a fill of VPower for its 83 miles today, yielding 47mpg.
 And…. I made a repair to a broken front brake light switch wire. It’s not the first time, those wires work hard, it probably won’t be the last repair.

[Terry in Australia]

Great pics Kevin, and that Hoagie looks magnificent! Your K1 looks bloody nice too.

[Kevin D]

Terry, the bun is soft as it can be, the steak is laced with melted cheese and topped with mushrooms and cherry peppers, mmmmm good. Gabriel’s is in the middle of nowhere these days but in 1959 when they opened, General Motors Hydramatic was very close with thousands of hungry workers.

[PeWe]

Looks like a tasty ride, Kevin
Your bike still looks really good!

[Kevin D]

Looks like a tasty ride, Kevin
Your bike still looks really good!

Thanks Per, yes it was tasty, both at lunch and the produce stand. Sweet corn will be good into October. We will be canning tomatoes soon. I’ll have to take the car to get corn, cantaloupe, tomatoes, unless I make three rides, uhhh,
 I don’t think tomatoes will survive a tailbag ride.
 I’m not quite on the homestretch yet, 25 is not a done deal. I need the smoke to get better not worse.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, the bun is soft as it can be, the steak is laced with melted cheese and topped with mushrooms and cherry peppers, mmmmm good. Gabriel’s is in the middle of nowhere these days but in 1959 when they opened, General Motors Hydramatic was very close with thousands of hungry workers.

Thanks Kevin, when I eventually get around to visiting the US, I’ll definitely look for one, I can’t eat a lot, but that looks delicious!

[PeWe]

Terry, the bun is soft as it can be, the steak is laced with melted cheese and topped with mushrooms and cherry peppers, mmmmm good. Gabriel’s is in the middle of nowhere these days but in 1959 when they opened, General Motors Hydramatic was very close with thousands of hungry workers.

Thanks Kevin, when I eventually get around to visiting the US, I’ll definitely look for one, I can’t eat a lot, but that looks delicious!

Terry, have you seen  the American TV show"Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives", hosted by Guy Fieri ?

I have seen some episodes and most dishes look really tasty....
It creates an urge to go there

[Kevin D]

Terry, the bun is soft as it can be, the steak is laced with melted cheese and topped with mushrooms and cherry peppers, mmmmm good. Gabriel’s is in the middle of nowhere these days but in 1959 when they opened, General Motors Hydramatic was very close with thousands of hungry workers.

Thanks Kevin, when I eventually get around to visiting the US, I’ll definitely look for one, I can’t eat a lot, but that looks delicious!

Terry, have you seen  the American TV show"Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives", hosted by Guy Fieri ?

I have seen some episodes and most dishes look really tasty....
It creates an urge to go there

There are many food photos within these very pages that make me want to cross borders and oceans to sample.

[Gurp]

Gurp, do you work for AEP?
I worked 40 yrs for Detroit Edison, in the test lab, in the stations and substations, in the plants.
Lots of good people watching out for each other.

No, I work for a steel mill.Steel of WV. Owned by SDI. SDI seats their electricians, through the aep training for safety in our substations and switchyards.

[lash]

280 km today to Rocky Harbour for #70. Beautiful day and perfect temp 21c. Pic from our room.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, the bun is soft as it can be, the steak is laced with melted cheese and topped with mushrooms and cherry peppers, mmmmm good. Gabriel’s is in the middle of nowhere these days but in 1959 when they opened, General Motors Hydramatic was very close with thousands of hungry workers.

Thanks Kevin, when I eventually get around to visiting the US, I’ll definitely look for one, I can’t eat a lot, but that looks delicious!

Terry, have you seen  the American TV show"Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives", hosted by Guy Fieri ?

I have seen some episodes and most dishes look really tasty....
It creates an urge to go there

Thanks Per, yep I've watched a few episodes, and the food looked magnificent. Hmmnn, I might see if Uber eats do Hoagies here, it's almost lunch time.....

[BenelliSEI]

Putting together a remote fuel surge tank for the race car. Spent 1/2 the day running around finding the correct sealing washers, isolation mounts with locking hardware, and AN-8 fittings….. The Varadero got another 100 miles for #14. By the time I got home it was 32C and straight into the pond!

[lash]

Yesterday was#71 at 300 km. Took the boat tour of Western Brook pond in Gros Morne National Park. Amazing glacial carved lake that in 1.5 billion year old rock. Vertical cliffs up to 2000 ft high and continue below the water line to 600 ft.