Topic: 26 Rides in 2026. Frank's New Years Resolution that we can all enjoy.

[Kelly E]

Stu, round up a bunch of loud bikes for a big fly by past that guy's house. I know if that was me in there I would love it. Maybe stop a block away and everybody takes off one at a time doing a hard acceleration run past his house.

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Stu, and Dennis. As I'm heading into 6 months of cooler weather, you guys are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, weather wise. This morning Spotty and I loaded up his van with bike parts to take to the swap meet tomorrow, and I really hope we sell most of it, as I don't want to have to take it home again. He's picking me up at 5am, so I suppose I better have an early night. Hopefully it won't rain...

[PeWe]

#1 Finally ride no 1 2026!
My blue K6 that has got redline Si-1 fuel additive direkt. Clean carbs, comb. chambers and valves.
I have done too many carb adjustments due to dirty carbs.  Fuel had better cleaning agents back in the 80's ?

294 km total. I refueled after 213 km.
One of my favourite routes.
No lunch since I had eaten just before the ride. I had to wait to 2 pm for higher temp. Around +9 C.

It was  -4C when I woke up in the morning. Frozen windows on the car I had to start in time idling warm for my wife.

Maybe 2 digits during the ride at a whopping 10C !!! It was 9.5C home when I came back 6pm.

Not many photos, one stop with photos.

Engine ran  better and better, really smooth after 100 km.
Then  less loud when cruising at 80-100kmh.

Last time engine was started was early November. Last ride late September.

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Per, I’ll try not to complain about the temperature here when I see you doing almost 200 miles in single digit temperatures!

[PeWe]

It felt warmer than it was. Blue sky and sunshine.
My fingers did not freeze that much.
The clutch was a little bit too stiff. Hard springs which is needed.

The ride was partly a cleaning job. I do not trust the additive to be nice to the rubber carb boots if parked for a longer time with fuel.
I prefer to ride the tank and refill.

Next ride will get more of the  cleaning additive. Chambers and valves can still have carbon and soot after a short period way too rich plus acc pump with too long stroke causing black smoke.

[lash]

Didnt expect to get out today as it was supposed to be cold and rainy. They were right about the cold, it was -3c at 9 am but no rain. By 3 pm it was sunny and +8c so I managed to get in #6 for 135 km on the first ride of the year on the Goldwing. Didnt stop for pics, maybe next ride but the weather doesnt look good for the next couple of days..

[BenelliSEI]

Finally! First ride this afternoon. Needed some bits for the race car (first race weekend in two weeks). Very cool (never saw 10c) but lovely sunshine. The Varadero still has the original tall screen I used late last fall. Tucked my ski gloves up into the engine whoever I stopped, so they stayed nice and warm!

[newday777]

Good to hear that the weather is turning the corner up there for you too John, Lash and Per.
Next week is promising to be a few warmer days here, might come closer to 80°F.

[Terry in Australia]

Well done guys, it’s cold (by Aussie standards) here today, but nothing like your weather. Spotty and I had a good day at the swap meet today and I made a killing on the Kawasaki H1/H2 parts, plus got rid of some CB750 parts I had lying around, so apart from the usual aches and pains, I’m a happy camper.

[willbird]

4-11-2026, #4, 76 miles. Nice day overall.


Bill

[Kevin D]

Ride #1   75 miles    78f    VPower  @ $5.19/gal

I’m about caught up on my chores here, it rained a bit this morning but the afternoon looked good enough so I dresssed proper and bolted for an afternoon ride. I was going ride to the lake and back, but it was so nice I just went on to Dexter for an A&W coney dog lunch. I must have been hungry. I took two bites before I thought to take a photo.
 The first photo is the main drag in Dexter, showing the new Riverside Condos and the new fire station.
 Does your town have a new fire station?
The last photo is the magnificent 1971 CB750K1 with a fully charged five year old “GOOD BATTERY”.

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Kevin! Yeah the gas prices are ridiculous here too, I’m only glad that we’re riding bikes and not driving big V8 gas guzzlers right now!

I’m going to finish stapling the new seat cover on this morning then I’ll drive over to the storage unit and put it on the XT, and take it for a ride, it’s about the most economical bike I have at the moment, not that the others can’t be ridden, the VMax and the K0 are both pretty good on fuel as well.

How did your battery perform, no problems? I think I’ll have to buy a new one for the VMax, as the one in it now is just able to start it from cold.

[Kevin D]

Yes Terry, I haven’t touched the CB since last weeks no-start incident. I shoulda used the kicker.
Today it started immediately (electric start). 3 hours post ride I used the tester and it showed 100% charge, 300+ CCA, GOOD BATTERY.

I’m not comfortable putting a battery on charge and walking away from it. I have a 50mA charger and a 24 hour rotary clock timer set for 1 hour. I plug the charger into the timer so the battery gets 50 ma for one hour  per day. That has been enough for wintering, but I’m not leaving it unattended.
 
I think my ride today cost me an extra buck fifty at the pump. The VPower is #1 in my book.
Costco gas (Top Tier) is showing at $3.49 reg $$4.66 premium. If I used the reg I coulda saved seventy five!

I gotta check my logs and see if 4/13 is my latest start date.
It’s so nice to have #1

[BenelliSEI]

Well done Kevin! The K1 looks as good as ever!