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

[Alan F.]

Thanks Dennis. It's nice to hear you got out for a ride while you could, and all was good.

We were having below average temps here until the middle of this week.

[Alan F.]

Today I received Kevin's letter, the card from Frank's Memorial Ride and the engraved 25-Rides fob.
I'll have to find a place for it on my bike and post a picture when the riding season starts up in 2026.

Thanks to everyone involved for posting your rides and encouraging us all.

[willbird]

#95, 58 miles, 12-21-2025. Nice sunny day at 29F out the door and 30F on the way back in the driveway. With heated gear the ride over to Defiance, OK was AOK, dropped into Harbor Freight to grab something on sale, headed back home the winds were the other way and it was not as warm, still OK though.



Bill

[Alan F.]

Time we'll spent, congratulations on another ride in.

Heated gear seems to be what I need too, for years I felt like it was too expensive or I didn't ride enough to warrant it, but I'm coming around. I have a pair of rechargeable gloves on the way that should help some, I also have a set of chaps that I should break out for commute rides in early 2026.

[willbird]

Time we'll spent, congratulations on another ride in.

Heated gear seems to be what I need too, for years I felt like it was too expensive or I didn't ride enough to warrant it, but I'm coming around. I have a pair of rechargeable gloves on the way that should help some, I also have a set of chaps that I should break out for commute rides in early 2026.

I remember wayyy back to 1985ish one year I had totalled my car in an accident so had to ride my 1971 CL175 clear up to December 1st that year. MY dad was on my *ss and had laid down the law that I was NOT riding it once it started to snow. I found a car I could afford December 1 and it started snowing for the year that day also :-). I could have gotten out yesterday but it was just gloomy with a lead colored sky, full overcast, today is much nicer despite the temps. Roads were clear and dry because we had a slug of warmer weather and some rain to wash some of the road salt away.

Bill

[willbird]

#96, 56 miles, 12-24-2025. 37F in and out of the driveway, nice sunny day.


#97, 64 miles, again 37F in and out of the driveway, again a nice sunny day, MERRY CHRISTMAS :-).

[newday777]

Dang Will 7°F?? At least the ground is clear. Merry Christmas
It's 22°F here. My bikes are parked for their winter wonderland nap.
That's my sister's house where I'm spending a couple nights.

[70CB750]

53 miles yesterday.  Nice, warm day with sun and clouds. 

On the way home, Suburban pulled from a STOP sign, he either did not see me or assumed it's 4 way stop. 

Luckily, there was enough room and I always slow down for that place, because years back there was a fatal accident involving motorcycle.  I still felt like banging his stupid head on the stop sign so he would see it next time.

[willbird]

Dang Will 7°F??

Thirty seven Eff LOL, my bad.

[newday777]

Dang Will 7°F??

Thirty seven Eff LOL, my bad.

Ohhhhhh! OK

[grcamna2]

53 miles yesterday.  Nice, warm day with sun and clouds. 

On the way home, Suburban pulled from a STOP sign, he either did not see me or assumed it's 4 way stop. 

Luckily, there was enough room and I always slow down for that place, because years back there was a fatal accident involving motorcycle.  I still felt like banging his stupid head on the stop sign so he would see it next time.

No snow on the ground ! 

[willbird]

the workday this morning started at 234AM, worked until about 10AM


#98, 12-27-2025, CB750K2, 53 miles, 37F out the driveway, no amps for any heated gear. Kinda tested my frosticles a little but I lived LOL.

Came home, took a nice hot shower, got dressed with the heated gear and headed back out before my resolve faltered :-).

#99, 12-27-2025,  CB500X, 51 miles, still 37F
Much warmer with the heated jacket liner, pants liner, and gloves, both rides just a few small spits of H2O drops on windshields.

[BallAquatics]

Last ride in 2025 today.  Was a wet overcast day with temps in the low 60's.  The CB550 was running great and seemed to enjoy some time out on the road.  Unfortunately, I've fallen short of my target of 10,000 miles for the year again.  All told, I managed just over 6700 miles.  Big plans for next year though.....

After today's unseasonable warm temperatures, the 10 day forecast shows temps at or below freezing every day.  No chance for an early start on 26 in 26! Lol

[Alan F.]

Maybe you were thinking in Kilometers when you set that goal?

[BallAquatics]

Maybe you were thinking in Kilometers when you set that goal?

Hahaha, thanks for the positive spin Alan, that would put me over 10,000 for sure!  I'm going to put a big push on for next year.  Mom & Pop are both gone now, and I'm not getting any younger.  I don't want to look back and wish I spent more time on the bikes after it's too late to make it happen.

[70CB750]

53 miles yesterday.  Nice, warm day with sun and clouds. 

On the way home, Suburban pulled from a STOP sign, he either did not see me or assumed it's 4 way stop. 

Luckily, there was enough room and I always slow down for that place, because years back there was a fatal accident involving motorcycle.  I still felt like banging his stupid head on the stop sign so he would see it next time.

No snow on the ground ! 

¨

Nope, not in VA.

[Kevin D]

Yesterday afternoon rain pouring down, my street was flooded
At 11pm I went outside 61F
This morning the wind was howling, 14000 out of power and climbing, all of the lake boats are huddled in bays.
Just now at 11am it’s snowing.

We are in the eye of this big storm. I’ve been told this one was the one that caused flooding in SoCal.

[BallAquatics]

At 11pm I went outside 61F

Lol Kevin, don't you know, climate change is nothing more than a Hoax...  Honestly, can you remember how many times it was in the 60's this time of the year when we were children?

[willbird]

Another early morning start to work, clocked in at 220AM. When we work voluntary OT myself and another guy got into the habit of starting early and then we are done early too. On my drive home I had a good look and feel at at the roads and saw that US6 was clear and dry due to an outrageous wind, it is about 20F. So I geared up and headed out, went almost back to work, did a U turn, headed back home, went on past my road because I needed a few more miles, did a flip around and headed back and then home. Might be some crappy weather the next two days so I figured today was the day. None of it was perilous in any way, and I'm sure I got to make a few folks thing "whut the eff is wrong with that guy. LOL. Had it turned truly unsafe I would just have just turned around or pulled in somewhere and called it quits :-).









There might be one more ride in 2025 this Wednsday, I am off all day as it is New Years Eve, going in at 2AM New years day for Fire Watch, they had some stuff freeze up a few years back which flooded the offices and so they have at least one person in the building at all times especially during cold weather, that pays 3X time so it is a nice pile of $$ for the 8 hours :-).

[Kevin D]

Nice scoreboard willbird, and nicer that you have made your goal.
Congratulations.
Have you tracked your miles?

I noticed the ScottOiler on your CB500. I have never seen one.

[Alan F.]

I didn't realize that you had a 100 ride goal, congratulations!

I'm interested in hearing about your chain oiler experience as well.

[willbird]

Nice scoreboard willbird, and nicer that you have made your goal.
Congratulations.
Have you tracked your miles?

I noticed the ScottOiler on your CB500. I have never seen one.

I am going top have to look back at my end of year post in the 24 in 24 thread. The OEM chain went 8k miles and it was toasted due to rust inside the chain which caused stiff links. Coming up on 16K now and I had a DID O ring chain put on with new OEM sprockets so we shall see. I WANTED a blingy gold X ring chain and ended up with boring looking O ring chain.

I set the oiler pretty aggressive and it leaves deposits on the inside of the rim on that side, I am using the green all season eco friendly oil. I usually wipe the chain with Kroil on a red shop rag about every 1K miles.

Folks say on a CB500X forum that their factory chain went 10k, and a replacement O ring chain went 10K, but an X ring will go 20K miles, that with what we would all consider normal spray on chain lube. Bike takes a 112 link chain and a quick look was not giving me any blingy gold X ring 112 link chains from a good mfg. The blingy gold X ring chains are mostly for bikes with a lot more HP and torque and the price per link makes the longer ones avail kinda pricey.

Yea I made 96 last year so 100 was my rough goal this year. In 24 I had only the CB750K2 starting the year and my drain back valve would leak down so I rode it almost every day for a month solid and that made 96 easier. Will shoot for montly goals this year and that should help me enjoy more nice days earlier in the year.

ScottOiler for a bike with a vacuum port is WAY cheaper than the version I needed for the CB500X without drilling and tapping a vacuum port in where it needs to go, this one senses vibration associated with speed to start oiling. Honda did not provide any engine vacuum port on the CB500X.

Edit: had a few spare minutes so went out and wiped CB500X chain down, nearly 8k on chain and no stiff links running the oiler. After the hell I put it through yesterday I did cheat and give it a liberal coating of Belray Blue-tac spray lube.

Edit Again: I need to keep better track next year but on mileage best data I see so far is at ride 52 I was at 12k miles total odometer and I'm at real close to 16k total odo now. I had new chain put on and new rear tire at 8K but I cannot find when that was yet. I think over 8k in 2025.



Bill

[jgger]

Well boys it looks like maybe the last hurrah for me this year. Dec 28 i got ride #10 done, I'm pretty sure i not going to get 25 this year! I could if I counted my commuter miles,  but that's not the spirit of this challenge, heck my  count would rival lash and wilbird.

Anyhoo we had a break in the rain storms and I wanted to go see what Whitewater Canyon looked like. I headed out mid day with temps about 68°f and beautiful clear skies. I hit a bit of traffic and did the old lane splitting for around 10 miles and thought about giving up, but stiffed it out. I was rewarded with an awsome day of riding. As always I stopped at Whitewater rest area for a snack/lunch, PB&J samiches, fudge from  Christmas, some rice chips and coffee..........breakfast of champions! From there i headed up the Canyon expecting to see all manner of flood damage, but everything looked normal. The only weird part was the river looked like concrete washout, very gray and chalky color. So since there wasn't much to explore there i headed for Yucca Valley.

On the way there i had a debate with myself about going to Pioneer Town or Joshua Tree national park, Joshua Tree  won. Being this was the last day of a 4 day Christmas weekend it was pretty crowded. The line to enter was about a mile and a half long. But the good part was I got to use my America the Beautiful pass and get in for free. It was pretty late in the day by then and I knew I didn't have alot of time, plus it was starting to cool off, as the desert does. .Most of the trip had been in the high 50's to mid 60's but now was dropping into the low 50's. This was a perfect time for testing my new to me heated jacket liner..........I love it! We'll i wandered around for a bit and talked to some rock climbers, snapped a few pics then skadaddled on toward home. By then the temps had dropped to 47°f, so i turned the jacket up to medium and headed for the exit. We'll all those people that were lined up to get in were now trying to leave and even more joined the gate rush. When I hit the traffic leaving it clogged up 3 1/2 .miles from the exit. So 28 minutes to go 3 1/2 miles really sucked. After that it was smooth sailing and very little wind for the 100+.miles ride home.

It was an awsome day and maybe, just maybe, I can have one more before the end of the year. But it is supposed to start raining again new years eve and new years day, so we will see.

This ride was 235 miles.now a few pics.

[Terry in Australia]

Well I'm back again, just in time for the new year. It's been full on here with driving 400 miles a couple of weekends ago to have an early Christmas with my 97 year old Ma, then running around like a madman buying everything needed for the wife's family's Christmas BBQ on Christmas Day, and in between those events, I replaced a turbo in another twin turbo Subaru, in my carport, which was a pig of a job taking me the best part of a week, although on hot days I'd only do a couple of hours and come inside when it got too hot.

Anyway, all excuses aside, by Monday I was desperate for a ride. Trouble was it was gonna be 37 degrees C 99 Degrees F) so I decided to leave early, and get back before it got too hot. I left just before 10am, when it was around 28 degrees C, and the ride was quite pleasant. I've been adding a few new things to my VMax, I had the other VMax seat recovered, which cost stupid money ($1100 AUD, or around $700 USD) and as I'm going to sell the other one I decided that I'd never get my money back, so installed the "New" seat on my black bike. I also installed the genuine Yamaha fairing from my other VMax, I stripped the horrible matt black paint off my sidecovers, which are stamped aluminium, so I gave them a polish.

VMax Monday 29 December 2025 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

VMax Monday 29 December 2025 6 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I found an interesting fibreglass clip on cover for the "Faux Tank cover" (actually just the airbox cover as the tank is under the seat) which I added some extra "stick" by using lots of automotive double sided foam tape that I usually stick tank and sidecover badges on with. After taking the above pics, I continued on through some twisties, and then when I got it on some fairly straight road with pretty good vision ahead, I hit it, and was happily tooling along at 220 KPH (137 MPH) when something hit me in the chest. I instinctively caught whatever it was with my left hand, and as I slowed down, I realized that it was my fibreglass tank top thingy. I needed to stop so I could put it back on, but my left hand was still holding onto the cover, but I somehow managed to pull the clutch in, so I could roll to a stop. I clipped the top back on again, and happily, it stayed on for the (much slower) ride home. I'll stop at the big box hardware store tomorrow and buy some silicon adhesive to hold the cover on.

Anyway, that's my last ride for 2025, I'll start the 2026 thread tomorrow, and we can all get excited about another year on two wheels. Happy New Year everyone, and hopefully a happy riding/wrenching year for us all.

[PeWe]

Jim, your rides are always very interesting to read and see.
Especially when the bike season is not  here for me

Terry will start the 2026 ride thread so you can get an early no 1 ride

Terry's rides also add funtastic wilderness, nature as well as riding and what is ridden on!

The V-Max seems to be the perfect blend between a bike possible to view the surroundings on and let the surroundings disappear very quickly in the mirrors.

Good that it was not a jumping giant Australian Godzilla rabbit you caught, Terry.