| Author | Message | ||
     Ezblast |
A little Halloween note - saw the ghost of Evil Knevel - was going down 26th - an area west of Castro cruising and enjoying my new lights - going down a steep down hill - I hear a motor sharply rev behind to the left and going by me - front wheel in the air is a guy on a red white and blue dual sport wearing a red white and blue outfit, helmet and cape - it was something to see and brought a smile to my face - I pulled up to haunted Hoffman Rd in the proper mood to scare children and help out at a haunted house - lol Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  (Message edited by ezblast on November 03, 2004) | ||
| Ezblast  |
It has been raining now for several days and I wanted to use some of my paid vacation time off for riding - and I don't mean just lapping the city a few times - like more of my everyday thing - lol. So I'm out the door by nine trying to get some good miles in before the next piece of serious wetness arrives. I always start with a cruise through Golden Gate park to the coast - from there I can go anywhere, but I'm looking for drier roads - so I go south on the coastal part of 35 - my goal - coffee at Alices - 35 was nice - the clouds had broken leaving clean wet roads - nothing to go to the edges on but I had to remind myself several times to slow down as I averaged 15 over the limit - lol - its nice when you have the road to yourself, makes it easier to really concentrate on technique - the sunlight playing with the wet road and the wet leaves overhead was totally cool, and the wisps of leftover fog play hide and seak amongst the trees edges. I get to Alices in good time - only a few bikes out now - the coffee is still Folger's finest - lol - so I'm off to get a good cup in Pacifica. Clouds are starting to build in the distance as I get to 92 - left and I'm off - nice set of curves taking me to the coast - posted 30 for most but I never saw that slow - damn its amazing how rain scare off your average Cali driver - I hit the Coastal turn and aim for Pacifica - the road is mostly dry here and my smile stretches almost as long as the coast - lol - the waves are high and the clouds are closer - falling back into wooded road side then looping back to the coast - hwy 1 is always fun - barring fog. I pull into FogCity cafe and enjoy their tallest coffee - nice! I turn around and bumb into an old timer on a ZXR - we talk bikes for a bit and I watch the clouds build and get closer. Time to go - him to enjoy the last few minutes of rainless weather and me to beat the approaching storm. The sun disappears and the first gentle drops fall - so I choose to stick to the coast and enjoy the view - turning off this time to 35 North. By the time I get to Lincoln the rain is steady, but I'm still smiling because I got the ride in! I pass my favorite coffee shop for the few blocks to home. My next cup will be fresh from home. I pull up into my driveway, idle for a sec, then shut down. Really hard drops are hiting fast now and still I smile and mutter as I open the garage door - "...Too much fun - should be illeagal!.." - shaking my head I carefully back the bike into the garage, and wipe her down. What better way to enjoy the holiday - time to cap it off with some Chandon tonite, but for now I think I'll enjoy a warm cup of joe - lol - Happy New Years All! Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
I do this ride to San Louis Obispo in the beginning of April - so I'm looking for a quick back road off Skyline/35 to Gilroy - the last time being 9 to 84 to 101 - all of 35 minutes after hwy 9 of freeway (a total of 50 minutes of freeway for the whole trip - not bad for a whole days worth of riding)) - not the biggest treat - still doable, but I resolved to try to find better, if it only added 1/2 hr to a hour to the total trip. Skyline/35 is a classic with a good number of Cali's finest back roads intersecting it. Scott and I took off on our Blasts to find those roads. The maps are vague but I new a name change of Bear Creak to Summit ,etc. type of thing - so we take off taking the short cut 280 to 92 to 35 - the fog and cold are wild - so at the 9/35 intersection we pull off to warm up - we laugh we know sun is just over the crest but its always good to greet it with hands not totally numb - back on the road - the twists taken with a bit of foggy caution - waiting for the break - as I see sun I twist the wrist on a road I know well (but never trust the fog ) and the pace gets brisker - we pull in to the Gas station across from Alice's and gas up - not far we will be passing 9 and into the unknown. Skyline becomes a shared lane road with no divider lines - surrounded by trees and dappling sun - sweet fun! Skyline ends at bear Creak where - according to the map - a left is to be made - we go left - back to two lanes and some faster curves - still excellent scenery with a few Wineries thrown in. So far the times not too bad but I'm douptfull because we are not even half way to Gilroy, but the quest must go on! We bump right in to 17 and that stops us dead scratching our heads. I know Summit is at the foot of the lake/reservoir but since said body of water is right in front of us its time to go around and find the road we are supposed to be on - a right is taken that takes us under 17 and across to a road that parrellels 17W and then turns in following the lake - but soon we start wondering about our choice. Out of a driveway pulls out a truck - I wave and the truck stops - directions exchanged - the road we are on intersects Summit! - taking the road is another example of great Cali twisties, but I'm looking at time and our gas reserves - I guess well try again another day. We head to Santa Cruz on another beautifull road to end our day on the Coast and hwy 1 back to SF. 5:30pm is coffee time to end the day and the Beanery is it! Over coffee Scott and I discuss our next adventure in Feb after I do some cam swapping and chaise down an electrical glitch - its always something - no biggie. First to get some better maps with actual names on those roads - lol - I just luv searching out routes! 8) Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
I find myself mentally on the Dark Side more and more, lately. Planning my new bike, new roads, new rides. I can't wait to get back up again. I feel like an addict in withdrawal. Oh, wait, I am. Only, this withdrawal has lasted eight months. Ouch. I console myself with the fact that I'll be riding soon, and on the most bad-••• bike around. I guess it's true: once you succumb to the Dark Side, there's no going back. To all fellow minions of the Dark Side: ride hard, ride safe, and if any of you happen to ride through my 'hood, look me up. Just Roaring on the Dark Side! Lou | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Thanks for the update Lou. Glad to hear you havent lost the will to ride. We heard you were pretty broken up, but didnt hear exactly what happened.If you care to tell us, please do. If not, okay! I was fully 'down' only about 6 months, but I'm only back part time now. I'm sure you know the look I get when people ask if my bike is back together and I tell them its still apart because I'm making it faster ! It was up, stock, for a day, so I could get it legal again as I wasnt sure how much the DMV & CHP was going to hassle me about receipts and such. Again, we're glad to hear from you Lou. | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Hey, Erik. Me, I'm too Irish, and/or too dumb to let a two month stay in the hospital scare me away from riding. As to what happened to me, well, I was hit from behind on the freeway. I was thrown from the bike, slid about a fifth of a mile, then slammed into a guardrail. I broke my left fibula and tibia, severely dislocated my right knee, pulled the growth plate off the top of my right fibula, severed my right hamstring, broke my right pelvis, broke both the radius and ulna in my right arm, fractured both clavicles, dislocated my left middle finger, broke part of my L2 vertebra, bruised both lungs, and received a nasty contusion to my left fore-arm. My x-rays look pretty cool, though, kind of like a poor man's Wolverine. I have a 1/2 inch titanium "nail" running the length of my lower left leg, five 4-5" titanium bolts in my right pelvis, a titanium plate and six bolts in my right wrist, and a stainless steel filter in my chest. Whew, I'm tired, now. | ||
| Ezblast |
Damn! It hurts to just read that - you know screw the cards, I should have been sending you cases of Irish Wiskey for the pain - I hope you had smarter friends than I to do just that! Damn glad your on the return road Lou and with that good Irish attitude I'm sure two wheeled seat time isn't far behind! Just as well - with all that metal they'd never let you on a plane - your gonna hafta ride! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Hey, guys. I've got another example of Dark Side behavior. Here I am reading the Badweb at 5'clock in the morning when I have report for surgery at 9:00! Bikes on the brain, can't sleep, must close eyes... | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
HOLY CRAP Lou! After that, I'm speachless."Broken up" were the right words. I said a prayer then, and one again for your surgery. I'm guessing you have a lawyer. Mine took care of a lot of things I wouldnt have thought of. ( I do however have this vision of you, turning midair, with that left middle finger pointing at the person that hit you, and thats how it got broke!) | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL  | ||
| Mmelvis  |
I can see it now at the next SLO get together, who has the biggest scar contest....Have a great day | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Hey, guys. Sorry it took me so long to update y'all. Knee's doing well, although the surgery was more extensive than we had first expected. Had to replace four ligaments instead of just one. The doc also spent 45 min. removing scar tissue from my planar nerve. Spent three more days in the hospital. When I asked about frequent flyer miles, they said "No!" Oh, well, it was worth a try. Eric, don"t have a lawyer, it was a hit and run. HR Director at St. Paul HD/Buell has been doing a wonderful job helping with insurance stuff. Still waiting 'till I can get my new bike, and that's one of the hardest parts. Thanks yet again for all the well-wishes and positive thoughts. If any of you are in the St. Paul, Mn area, let me know, I'll buy you a pint at the pub, or something. Lou | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Thanks again for the update Lou. Take Care. | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Will do, Erik. I'm gonna gimp off to the pub, now. | ||
| Ezblast |
Cheers!  | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Ok, where'd you get that picture of me? I thought I got all the negatives. By the way, one of my nicknames is Lucifer. Or maybe that's more of a description. (Message edited by ravensmith22 on February 26, 2005) | ||
| Ezblast |
Well me boyoh! - Its as my Da used to say - "Boy - our family tends to live so long because Heaven don't want us and Hell's afraid we'll take over!" - followed by a wink. We be an 'onrey group - lol - how ya mending bro? GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
I'm doing well. The knee's heeling very well, feels strong and stable. Humpty-Dumpty's finally back together again. I've been assured that I'll still have job at St. Paul HD/Buell when I'm ready to return somewhere around April-June. Can't wait. I'll be taking care of the rental fleet, which now includes a '12R, as well as 13 Blasts for the Rider's Edge program. Sounds awful, doesn't it? Oh, yeah, I'll also have to take new customers out for their orientation rides, and sometimes I'll do Buell demo rides for busy salespeople. Have to make a living somehow, I guess. Well. off to the pub, again. | ||
| Buellboy492 |
I begin to realize I have crossed over to the Dark Side. I have owned 4 bikes previous to the Blast. They were all good bikes, but I never got attached to them. Someone once vandalized my Pacific Coast, scratched the bags up good. No biggie. My wife took an axe to the seat (Corbin gunfighter solo...) on my '75 Gold Wing. No biggie. Smashed the taillight and wind screen. It's like the old Doritos ads, "Eat all you want, we'll make more" The bikes were Doritos. SO when the intake boot and rockerbox gasket both blow at the same time,(while I was investigating the difference in a 170 vs. 175 main jet), I thought, no biggie. It's a Dorito, right? No. I couldn't sleep. I fretted about it. I get on the BadWeb and read up on procedures. First thing in the morning, I'm at the local H-D dealer asking for parts. The parts guy had everything I needed. He looks at me and says I'm really, really lucky. They don't stock Buell parts. I walk out happy. The repairs went well, but I was scared. The bike is back on the road and the bond between man and machine is stronger. I have never even wanted to work on the bike engines I had before. My journey toward the Dark Side is almost complete. However, my eye is still drawn to the Big Twin in the aluminum frame... in time this too may pass. | ||
| Buellboy492 |
My local H-D dealer, the one who sold me the Blast, is Wild Boar HD. They have a beautiful big showroom full of H-D Stuff and one Buell in the corner. They are not "participating" Buell dealers. Whenever Buell sends me an E-mail or I see an offer in the magazines, I go to Wild "Bore" and ask for the free hat, or free T-shirt, or free sling bag or whatever, and they always say, "We are not a Buell dealer" and I always ask for the big huge blue oval sign out front, if they are done using it. Nobody thinks this is funny except me. Oh well. KBOTDS | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Keep asking for that sign! At least 'Wild Boar' is nice about it. The local now non Buell dealer couldnt get the words out fast enough 'we dont work on em, we dont carry parts and we're not pulling a mechanic off a Harley to work on a Blast'. All I asked was "Who owns the black Blast outside?"!!! Nothing wrong with wanting a twin either. Have both! And your friends will ask you when you still show up on the Blast (instead of the twin), why? And you can tell them "If I have to explain,you wouldnt understand..."!!! Yes, I own more than one bike, but the Blast is closest to the garage door! | ||
| Ezblast |
It is the little things - the joining together to dash through some curves, the elemental - the fog twisting through your wheel as you cut through the night. The smooth growl of the engine as you approach a set of curves and the growing howl as you dance through them - leaning into winds other bikes would never notice and smiling - this bike has a unique way of bonding with its rider - a Buell trait - still - it is a strange thing of shadows - one shadow is cast on the canyon walls - the world changing around both man and machine in sync - every thing in flux except the one charging entity. At rides end - you still have a part of yourself living that ride and as you look at your bike you find yourself amazed that that you can seperate yourself from that - which moments ago - you where one with - so that which makes such possible becomes different in our eyes - and care becomes a must - thus the Dark side whispers and grows! Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ (Message edited by ezblast on May 21, 2005) | ||
| Ezblast |
Sometimes you can't make someone happy - I got a divorce, something I'd thought I'd never do: Thats why I haven't been properly getting things organized, and why my postings have been sparse. She got the land but I kept my bikes - hard though was the starting over part - all the new choices - lol - dropped a bit more into dept, but am at peace - I ride daily still and have been meeting various biker communities - American Sport Bike Night ,SFMC, and BARF on and off - but mostly the riding, Always exciting yet peaceful - seizing the moment and living it to the full! Both bikes are still great fun and the friends I have made are good folks. Recently I got to actually sit across from Erik Buell during the Rocky Point Dinner - that was a great honor, and tired though he was from the Colorado layover, still the energetic sheer happiness that came from him as he talked about his products, the knowledge sure and easy, and the fun he had meeting fans still showed on his face. A cup of Cali's finest coffee and he handled the eve with flair! I bugged him with questions about the Blast but he was always nice about answering - patience of a Saint I say! - LOL - Scott and I rode all the way there - backroads mostly, but still some freeway time thrown in for times sake, checked in then off to the coast and dinner. Got to talk again with Reg Kitrell - great guy! The ride there was a sweet little jaunt that just capped the days end, then to meet Blake and some of Cali's more colorful Buell riders making it a Forrest Gump nite! The ride to the hotel being foggy Frisco like - no biggie to me but still not fun. The ride home via hwy one on sunday was terrific! A few weeks later Stinson Beach via the Panoramic Highway is joyfully assaulted - with 1 both North and South as part of the ride. To Alice, to Pacifica to Stinson Beach and so many other routes in between - can the Bay area be beat in sheer numbers of great roads it contains - I seriously doubt it. I've been living and I've been having a lot of fun with both bikes for a while now and all I can say is - Wow! The friends I have made and people I have met have been awesome, and all because I discovered riding! So life has taken an interesting turn, and peace, perhaps even happiness are taking root - and I'm riding! Yeah - its a Blast, but its my Blast(s) and it fits me to a T so far, and definately lives up to its name!  Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Jprovo |
EZ, Sorry to hear about the Devorce. Glad that you are "Moving on" with life... Best of luck. James | ||
| Tnthumper |
Am still discovering all the great mountain trails around east TN and into KY,VA, and both Carolinas. I live less than 90 miles from all of them. If anyone has heard of Deal's gap more commonly referred to as The Tail of the dragon(318 curves in 11 miles!!!).It is best in the colder months cause we do get warm weather and no rice rockets to get in the way LOL!!! anyone coming this way let me know and we'll get together.also if you are in the area smoky mountain h-d/buell even has a service manager who is a Buell rider so we do get some good help | ||
| Ezblast |
Cool! | ||
| Jprovo |
Sounds like you have some fun roads, Maybe we can organize a ride out there in a few years (maybe around Buell's 25th) James | ||
| Tnthumper |
Need to do it before then.What a friend of mine bought last time we went to the dragon was a map of local area ride routes. When I get Mods done in a couple weeks I'm gonna run over there and get one.I was over there in Feb. and ran into two riders from GA.One was on an XB9 firebolt maxed out running on 110 race fuel and his friend on a maxed out honda 1000 and the honda just could'nt stay in front for very long. And if a group of you want to come this way get together and check on the cabins for rent around here.Approx $100 or so for a 2-3 bedroom with full kitchen.all you need is clothes,shower supplies,and food.they usually have hottubs also which is nice after a long day of hard riding. | ||
| Fasterblaster |
EZ...wow...your tales on August 17 sadden me a little. You are a very intelligent, knowledgeable, and passionate person with the Thumper Forum and Badweb, so I am sure you are the same in real Life. I am new to Badweb, but I am sure that I can speak for everyone here, and said that this place would not be what it is without you. I cannot believe you rode from Sf to Colorado. That is just so awesome. I am hopping to have more free time by next month with work and renovation, so I'll see you soon for that ride we been talking about. Peace out, SF style..! Frank | ||
| Tnthumper |
If I make it to the Drgaon this weekend and they still have them I am going to pick up a map they have of area rides for about the east 1/3 of TN. I'll let you know and if I can get it scanned and anyone wants I'll try to e-mail it to them. John |
