| Author | Message | ||
     Sir_wadsalot |
My buddy with the Triumph Tiger, invited me on his annual New Year's Day ride to commemorate those who can't ride for themselves. Is that a thing? I wanted to invite my SBN peeps, but Kev's a bikeless moto-nerd, and Gage & Endo both crashed out last seaon, and I don't think they're repaired yet. So technically, it was a ride in their honor, as they can't ride right now....I also wanted to invite Action Jackson from work, on the Squidmotron (Gixxer), but it was 40 degrees and he doesn't have the gear, and wouldn't have been able to keep up anyway. I don't actually know any BADWEBBERS in real life...man, I need friends. Anyhoo.... It was me, him, and a guy he rents a room to with an '85 BMW flat four. Lemme just say, that Tiger's got the Speed Triple motor, and even weighing 100lbs more than the 1125R, plus the stuff he keeps in the trunk, it's K-Wick in a straight line. We pulled onto 17 and he opened it up- I didn't wring it out, but I had to give the Buell enough of the beans to completely unload the front end to reel him in, and the Beemer was nowhere in sight! Much like the ole' SV1K, the gearing is just perfect for 0-120ish sport touring work. Larry (Beemer) says "I'm not getting old, the bike is, I just don't have the torque anymore." I said, "Sorry, but you never had that kinda' torque." The Beemer, being twenty years old with the skinny tires, surprised me too. I'm 35, Larry's 45, and Burrel's 60, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of speed, but Larry took the lead and led us a merry chase through the hills of Northern VA between Warrenton and Luray Caverns. Beyuuuuuutiful route, no traffic, no cops. Mostly. Being that they knew the route intimately, and I didn't know it at all, Larry set a really good pace on the Beemer, I wasn't bored at all. Really impressive, given his hardware. He wants to buy Burrel's Tiger, and Burrel wants the new Tiger, which is a drool worthey beast. Maybe a cheap, slightly slutty Beemer's in my future for touring duty? When we got back to a highway stint, Burrel took over again, and does the quick stop/roll through a stop sign. Larry completely blows the stopsign, and right in front of an oncoming Honda. Mind you, right across the divider is a State Trooper with a car already pulled over, lights and all. Ole' Wadsey came to a complete stop, waited for the Honda to go by, and calmly and slowly pulled onto the highway, watching the Statey, who was watching me. I wait until I'm over the hill from the trooper, just in case, then open it up to catch up. I slow back to the speed limit and sure enough, 30 seconds later, blue lights in the mirror. "Shirt! How did he clock me? No way!" He blows by me and cuts in behind the Beemer, so I back off and stop about 100ft behind the cruiser, praying he doesn't wave me up to ticket me for somethng as well. He signals me to stay back so I relax. He writes Larry for blowing the stop sign- Larry never even saw him, but more troubling, I don't think he saw the Honda. Also troubling, Burrel didn't wait for a three bike opening before he pulled out, he just went for it. But whatever, ride your own ride, right? It's just not a good day of riding without law enforcment intervention. Shortly thereafter, Larry peels off to attend other obligations.. So Burrel tells me the next section is dangerous and offers me the lead. "I'm not a good rider, and I'm not a bad rider, I'm more of a halfass rider." I said if I don't know the road, better you lead, I'll follow your lines. He says, "I don't have lines, I'm always on the edge of crashing and kinda' wobbley." Which is true. We pull onto 211, and sure enough, big yellow sign that says- MOTORCYCLES- HIGH CRASH AREA https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=...57351,0.439 453 He was pushing really hard, diving down between the two lanes to take the inside line, bolt upright, muscling it down the whole time- I have no idea how he didn't crash. I was taking razor sharp lines, hung off in the snowmobile suit, almost knee down, trail braking at full lean every time he pinched my line, in 40 degree weather on mismatched tires! What fun!!!! We stopped near Luray and had the traditinal New Years meal of pork, kraut, and black eyed peas, and headed back. We stopped in at Mcmahans, the Irish bar 2 miles from my house and our regular haunt. The accents are thick, the live Gaelic music is authentic, and the food is authentically terrible. To top the day off, we met a dude who just bought some limited edition Audi R-8, which he gave me permission to drool on when he gets it this spring, and found out the bar tender has an S1000-RR, which I fully plan to molest this spring. R-8 guy took five minutes out of his day to go and inspect the Tiger and the 1125R, which he was very interested in, and I knew I had a rider. He was a Ducati nut- 916 through 1098. Age (70) and a left turn in front crash had recently retired him to supercars. Guinness was imbibed, the torque vs horspower debate was revived, and a good time was had by all. One problem- no smoked visor on my Shoei RF1100, so i had to wear my •••••• summer commuting helmet, a joe rocket/HJC....and it was horrible. By the time we got to the bar I had a massive migraine from the frigid air on my eye sockets. Consequently, I spent the past week in bed with the flu. Totally worth it though. Here's hoping for a good year! | ||
| Dannybuell |
I took a ride from one end of the metro to the other late last night between rain storms! Balmy weather and light traffic! Not quite as good as your ride, I hadn't been on the bike in a few weeks so it was enjoyed. The road my Ninja1400 buddy and I go nuts on isn't even on Google Maps. The locals are very courteous to motorcycles, they will pull over or slow and wave you on! | ||
| Bubba_ |
Enjoyed the read  Thanks for posting | ||
| Ron47 |
That was a good read sir_wadsalot. Those old Beemers, when operated by a competent pilot, will carve nicely. |
