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

[lash]

754 lives on.

Pogo's garage featured Frank on a recent FB post.

+2👍

[Terry in Australia]

Great rides and pics guys, and a nice reminder of Frank, who started this thread back in 2020. Raining today, so hopefully I'll find some dry roads tomorrow for a ride. The Rocket III battery is still holding 13 volts after being off the charger for 5 days, so I'll put it back in tomorrow and see if it has the cranking amps to fire that big 2300cc, 3 cylinder engine up. If not, I'll pony up the dough for another black Motobatt, this one lasted 8 years before I had to put it on a battery charger, so who knows? It might be good for a while longer.

[PeWe]

2300cc on 3 is 766 each.
Like riding 3 CB750 at the same time. A real rodeo!!

[Terry in Australia]

2300cc on 3 is 766 each.
Like riding 3 CB750 at the same time. A real rodeo!!

Ha ha, yeah mate, it's a huge monster of a thing, I would never have bought one because it wasn't my "thing" but my brother needed the money and couldn't ride anymore, so I bought it, and I must admit, it's grown on me over the 15 years I've owned it. Incredible torque and acceleration, but physically huge. Riding my K0 for the first time last weekend was like riding a mini bike compared to the Rocket. (but I like the K0 more....)

[grcamna2]

Great rides and pics guys, and a nice reminder of Frank, who started this thread back in 2020. Raining today, so hopefully I'll find some dry roads tomorrow for a ride. The Rocket III battery is still holding 13 volts after being off the charger for 5 days, so I'll put it back in tomorrow and see if it has the cranking amps to fire that big 2300cc, 3 cylinder engine up. If not, I'll pony up the dough for another black Motobatt, this one lasted 8 years before I had to put it on a battery charger, so who knows? It might be good for a while longer.

8 years is amazing Terry,considering the bike sits idle in storage.

[lash]

97 mi. on the 750 for ride #105. No pics today but the leaves are starting to turn so next week should be great riding. The weather channel is calling for thunderstorms tomorrow which doesn’t happen very often in October here in Ontario.

[Terry in Australia]

Great rides and pics guys, and a nice reminder of Frank, who started this thread back in 2020. Raining today, so hopefully I'll find some dry roads tomorrow for a ride. The Rocket III battery is still holding 13 volts after being off the charger for 5 days, so I'll put it back in tomorrow and see if it has the cranking amps to fire that big 2300cc, 3 cylinder engine up. If not, I'll pony up the dough for another black Motobatt, this one lasted 8 years before I had to put it on a battery charger, so who knows? It might be good for a while longer.

8 years is amazing Terry,considering the bike sits idle in storage.

Yeah Bill, and as there’s no power in my storage unit, it’s never even had a battery maintainer hooked up to it. The original battery lasted 9 years, then I bought one of those horrible orange Ebay batteries that barely lasted a year, then installed the black Motobatt, and it’s been fantastic. I checked it again last night and it’s still reading 12.9 volts, so it’ll be interesting to see if it’ll fire up the Rocket when I go over to the storage unit today and install it.

[BenelliSEI]

#28 today…. Ride the Sandcast project around for the afternoon. Stuck very close to home, going in circles and sticking to paved roads. Didn’t really track the mileage, but I’ve put +100 miles on it so adding it in! “Borrowed” an oil pressure gauge from my K1 and it delivered nice, steady numbers (just like the K1). 65-70 psi cold, then +50 running at 4,000 rpm hot. Clutch and gearbox behaved perfectly. Really good news, because I only did the top end. Bottom has never been opened. All good!

[newday777]

#28 today…. Ride the Sandcast project around for the afternoon. Stuck very close to home, going in circles and sticking to paved roads. Didn’t really track the mileage, but I’ve put +100 miles on it so adding it in! “Borrowed” an oil pressure gauge from my K1 and it delivered nice, steady numbers (just like the K1). 65-70 psi cold, then +50 running at 4,000 rpm hot. Clutch and gearbox behaved perfectly. Really good news, because I only did the top end. Bottom has never been opened. All good!

That's great results John.
I almost ordered an oil pressure guage a few months ago, glad I didn't as I bought 2 NOS sets from a guy at a local Swapmeet for 1/3 the price of a new one. I haven't put one on my K5 yet. The other will go on one of my projects.

[grcamna2]

#28 today…. Ride the Sandcast project around for the afternoon. Stuck very close to home, going in circles and sticking to paved roads. Didn’t really track the mileage, but I’ve put +100 miles on it so adding it in! “Borrowed” an oil pressure gauge from my K1 and it delivered nice, steady numbers (just like the K1). 65-70 psi cold, then +50 running at 4,000 rpm hot. Clutch and gearbox behaved perfectly. Really good news, because I only did the top end. Bottom has never been opened. All good!

That's great results John.
I almost ordered an oil pressure guage a few months ago, glad I didn't as I bought 2 NOS sets from a guy at a local Swapmeet for 1/3 the price of a new one. I haven't put one on my K5 yet. The other will go on one of my projects.

"Local Swap Meets" 

[budman]

Ride #48, 524 miles.

This was yesterday.  I was too wiped out when I got home to post.

Left about 7:45 in the morning and headed due north.  My goal was to ride to Possum Kingdom Lake, and beyond.  I wanted to see an old stone bridge there and the dam, plus I had never been to this particular part of Texas.

First stop was Goldthwaite for some gas and some coffee.  It was a little chilly for the first few hours.  Jumped back on the Scout and kept heading north on Highway 16, which is the longest state highway in Texas.  Goes from the border almost to Oklahoma, 500+ miles.  As I was getting closer to the Lake, I realized I hadn't gauged my gas stops very well.  I had to make a bit of a detour and hit a small town called Palo Pinto for some gas.  I got back on track and made it to the Old Stone Bridge.  It's just south the dam on the Brazos River, which flows south all the way to the Gulf Coast.  Having spent many years in Houston I have crossed the Brazos countless times, but never this far north.  I took a few photos of the bridge and the dam and then attempted to ride around to get a view of the dam from the other side.  The River Authority has an observation point on the lake side, but the gate was locked.  Bugger!

There's some really pretty land up there.  Looks a lot like the Hill Country around the lake, but less rocks and less oak trees.  The terrain varied a lot up there.  Some spots where dead flat and some areas look like the desert stuff closer to the border.  Lots of wind farms.

So, I left the locked gate and I took off heading north again.  I only got a few small glimpses of the lake.  I would have had to peel off the highway and ride through some neighborhoods to really see the lake, and I wasn't down for that.  I had miles to burn.  I made it to Olney, TX, which was the farthest northern point of the ride.  Just another small Texas town.  I carried on to Throckmorton for some gas and snacks.  I found a picnic spot on my way towards Breckenridge.  I ate quickly and got back on two wheels.  More gas in Cross Plains.

On my way through Santa Ana, TX, then riding south to Brady I was starting to feel the fatigue.  40 miles of straight road for the most part during that stretch.  Got to Brady and then onto Mason for the last gas stop and a breather.  I needed to stand up for a while.  Got back on the bile and made it home about 6:10pm.

What a day.  Temps were great and low to no wind.  Glad I did it.  Sign me for an Iron Cheek award.

[jgger]

Awsome ride Bud, but i didn't see where you washed the bike when you got home ! Great picks too.

Between Super lash for ride count, you for high miles, and Terry logging the first ride of the year there aren't many categories to claim bragging rights in, keep it up.

[budman]

Awsome ride Bud, but i didn't see where you washed the bike when you got home ! Great picks too.

Between Super lash for ride count, you for high miles, and Terry logging the first ride of the year there aren't many categories to claim bragging rights in, keep it up.

Full of gnat splats.  I was going to wash it this morning when I got back from town, but an exposed waterline that crosses my driveway had separated at a coupling and was gushing.  Couldn’t find my landlord.  Had to find the valve to shut off the water and then hunt in three barns and a chicken coop for some PVC primer and cement.

When are you getting back on the road?  Everything OK?

[Kevin D]

Wonderful Bud, congratulations on completing 48 rides and in such fine fashion with a 500 miler.

Hiya jgger

[budman]

Wonderful Bud, congratulations on completing 48 rides and in such fine fashion with a 500 miler.

Hiya jgger

Thanks, Kevin!

Last year at this time I was only up to 45 rides.  Maybe I'm on track for 72?  We'll see.

[PeWe]

That's a long ride with nice photos.

[grcamna2]

Awsome ride Bud, but i didn't see where you washed the bike when you got home ! Great picks too.

Between Super lash for ride count, you for high miles, and Terry logging the first ride of the year there aren't many categories to claim bragging rights in, keep it up.

+1  Nice Ride budman 

[Terry in Australia]

Great rides and pics guys, and a nice reminder of Frank, who started this thread back in 2020. Raining today, so hopefully I'll find some dry roads tomorrow for a ride. The Rocket III battery is still holding 13 volts after being off the charger for 5 days, so I'll put it back in tomorrow and see if it has the cranking amps to fire that big 2300cc, 3 cylinder engine up. If not, I'll pony up the dough for another black Motobatt, this one lasted 8 years before I had to put it on a battery charger, so who knows? It might be good for a while longer.

8 years is amazing Terry,considering the bike sits idle in storage.

Well I'm happy to report that the 8 year old battery worked fine. The weather on the weekend wasn't great, patchy rain both days, but I wanted to go for a ride yesterday. I figured that I'd ride the Triumph if the battery was up to cranking it over, or if not, the Sportster, as I didn't want to risk scratching my shiny new Yamiya pipes on the K0, and lord knows, the front brake on the K0 is bad enough on a dry day, and in the rain it's completely useless.

Anyhoo, I installed the battery in the Rocket, and it fired it right up. Woohoo! I backed it out of my storage unit and set off into the gloomy day. My intent was maybe ride to Heathcote for a pie, but the further north I went, the wetter it got, so I turned right and rode along the edge of the rain when I got to Kilmore, rode across to Wandong, and filled the tank with fresh 98, as the fuel in the tank was several months old, as it's been a while since I rode it last due to the battery situation. I pinched a nerve in my back when I was changing the timing belt in the wife's car last weekend, and even though I'd taken a couple of inti-inflammatory tablets before I left, I still jarred my back on several potholes and it hurt.

I only took a couple of pics when I gassed it up in Wandong, but looking at the pic past the bike and the pump, I think it look s kind of nice.

Rocket III Sunday 6 October 2024 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyway, ride #28 is done, and hopefully I'll have the K0 out again this weekend for #29.

Rocket III Sunday 6 October 2024 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[RAFster122s]

Nice Terry, sorry to hear the back has not calmed down more ... Takes forever sometimes for these injuries to heal and doesn't help when doing things you give them a tweak and irritate them...

I know a guy who has an inversion table and swears by it. I know my back has benefitted sometimes from from some traction when I have been in Physical Therapy.

[PeWe]

You are working too hard, Terry!
You need gear that can help you.
Like this
 

[lash]

76mi. For #106 yesterday on the 750. Weather was better than forecast so we rode up to Hanover, On for coffee and fresh air.
Today was my first year checkup/ecg/stress test after last years heart attack and that all went well. Celebrated by taking the Goldwing out to get fresh bread at the bakery in Glen Huron. Cooler temps today at +11c but nice. Leaves are starting to change. Got there too late and didn’t get any so I bought pecan butter tarts . Really good! Stopped at a burger place on the way home and got a burger that was way bigger than I expected! Anyway, 199 km. for #107.

[Terry in Australia]

Nice Terry, sorry to hear the back has not calmed down more ... Takes forever sometimes for these injuries to heal and doesn't help when doing things you give them a tweak and irritate them...

I know a guy who has an inversion table and swears by it. I know my back has benefitted sometimes from from some traction when I have been in Physical Therapy.

Thanks David and Per, it’s annoying, but I have lots of painkillers that I can’t take before I go for a ride as I’d probably fall asleep. I just ordered a new exhaust system for the wife’s oldest Hyundai, and not really looking forward to crawling around under the car to install it, but it’ll save me hundreds of dollars to do it myself so I’ll just have to suck it up. A car hoist would be great to have but I can’t justify the expense of buying one just yet. When I retire I might though as it’ll save money in the long term.

[newday777]

#26 yesterday for 325 miles. 10am start, 57°f,  headed north by northwest, a few pictures of leaves changing and dropping. Followed 5 other bikes for @ 25 miles after the 1st stop for pictures. I headed up to Hanover where Dartmouth College is and was going to go up the west side of NH but realized it was going to be further going north than finding a gas station on the north side of town so a U turn back to gas up and didn't want to go through the traffic to get back to the other side of town so I headed east for a bit and then north to pick up Rt 118 to get up to the mountains.
A stop at Moosilauki Ravine Lodge (1949) part of the Appalachian Mountain Club trail lodges. Very spectacular place to go or stay at. Makes me think about hiking again......well, that'll take some pre conditioning.....
I continued on up to Woodstock before heading back south.
I found another Covered bridge on the way back from the mountains. The river took a turn next to the bridge and then there was a train bridge right away at an angle to each other. It made for getting some good pictures.
I got back home a few minutes after sundown (6:17 sunset) @6:30 it was back down to 52°. 8.5 hr day.

[BenelliSEI]

Nice Terry, sorry to hear the back has not calmed down more ... Takes forever sometimes for these injuries to heal and doesn't help when doing things you give them a tweak and irritate them...

I know a guy who has an inversion table and swears by it. I know my back has benefitted sometimes from from some traction when I have been in Physical Therapy.

Thanks David and Per, it’s annoying, but I have lots of painkillers that I can’t take before I go for a ride as I’d probably fall asleep. I just ordered a new exhaust system for the wife’s oldest Hyundai, and not really looking forward to crawling around under the car to install it, but it’ll save me hundreds of dollars to do it myself so I’ll just have to suck it up. A car hoist would be great to have but I can’t justify the expense of buying one just yet. When I retire I might though as it’ll save money in the long term.

Terry…..A neighbour farmer just bought a pair of those lifting racks (?) you mentioned earlier. He has an old FORD pickup truck on them right now and I am impressed how well they work. They have the old truck about 30” above the concrete floor in his garage and are very sturdy. Looking at them it would be very easy to built a slip on plywood top to convert them into a matching pair of bike lift tables too!

[Terry in Australia]

Nice Terry, sorry to hear the back has not calmed down more ... Takes forever sometimes for these injuries to heal and doesn't help when doing things you give them a tweak and irritate them...

I know a guy who has an inversion table and swears by it. I know my back has benefitted sometimes from from some traction when I have been in Physical Therapy.

Thanks David and Per, it’s annoying, but I have lots of painkillers that I can’t take before I go for a ride as I’d probably fall asleep. I just ordered a new exhaust system for the wife’s oldest Hyundai, and not really looking forward to crawling around under the car to install it, but it’ll save me hundreds of dollars to do it myself so I’ll just have to suck it up. A car hoist would be great to have but I can’t justify the expense of buying one just yet. When I retire I might though as it’ll save money in the long term.

Terry…..A neighbour farmer just bought a pair of those lifting racks (?) you mentioned earlier. He has an old FORD pickup truck on them right now and I am impressed how well they work. They have the old truck about 30” above the concrete floor in his garage and are very sturdy. Looking at them it would be very easy to built a slip on plywood top to convert them into a matching pair of bike lift tables too!

Thanks John, yep, I reckon they’d be very useful. My garage roof probably isn’t high enough to install a 2 post hoist and lift a car much higher than that anyway, and the slide under style lifts can be stored out of the way between jobs, so I wouldn’t lose my limited floor space either. Maybe I’ll sell a bike and buy one soon….