| Author | Message | ||
     Sportyeric |
My world: Jim and I figure it would be a good idea to do an 800km. test and tune, half at 170kph on the freeway, half on the Hope Princeton hairpins and curves. Deadline for return is 6pm for the Vancouver Buell season opener ride to Squamish. Reality: At my level of fitness, I'm lucky to get to work without hurting myself so, even though we only racked up 600km before the Buell ride, it should be no surprise that I've beeen laid up for three days with pulled back muscles. My world:I'm usually too shy about getting into the front of the pack at the beginning and consequently find myself riding slower than I want to. This time around, I get aggressive early, like in the parking lot!, and get into sixth position in a group of twenty. Looking good. Got a rice-rocket behind with a passenger(Tracy) on, which should equalize things somewhat. Reality: WTF is a Sportster doing in the front half of a Buell ride on a twisty road? The rice-rocketeer? He's of the group that gets out at 5am Sunday mornings for a full on strafing of the same road. He probably just put it in third for the ride! My world: Getting through the corners neatly and on the gas early, a quick peak back from time to time shows the rest lagging out of the corners. Enough traffic to accordian us up after each set of curves. Still getting in some good ones on and off, though. Reality:same My world: Getting past cages, each in our turn. No slackers ahead. Suddenly a GSXRer runs up the center line, passing all. As a passing opportunity opens to take the cage holding up the front runners (Jim and Stu), I see trouble brewing, as they will not expect to be passed by the GSRXer. Christ! There he goes. Lucky the dumb-ass squid didn't take out Stu as he shifted over for the pass. Stu's gonna be all over his ass 'til he surrenders! And Jim will not let him have the lead. I want to get up there and watch this! Let's go, boys. Reality:Same as above except a)Stu's on an official ride and can't give chase. b)Jim and the Suzuki are long gone at a pace I can only dream about. My world: a passing lane opens up. I get on the gas, then off it again right away as Stu gives a hand motion that reads either "Turn around" or "Police." Reality: Stu waves to pass if you want. My world; as the lead group holds position, a few Buells move into it from behind. Then, AT LEAST TWO OF THE GSXR SQUIDS FRIENDS TRY TO MOVE THROUGH. I end up with an R1 ahead of me and a Triumph ahead of him. Well is they think they can barge through our little group without waiting their turn passing the cages, they can GFThemselves! I start warming my front tire on the R1s exhaust 'til he chickens out and waves me by! HehHehHeh. Reality: The Trumpet and the R1 are part of our group and he probably wanted the rude asshole on the Sportster to be ahead where he could keep an eye on him. My world: Now that I've let the R1 know the score, I'll have to back it up by keeping up. Going through the twisty stuff it all goes well. Keeping right in position with the Triumph, and he with the Buells ahead. Maybe its just their friend that's the jerk. Can't keep the R1 back there on the uphill sweepers with the passing lane, but I'll make him work for it. Reality:He tells me later the back tire (mine)was squirming so much he didn't want to go on the outside of me. Ah well. I kept up to Bill, ahead, and he isn't one of the slackers. Jim's world: Where the hell did Davet come from? And look at those insane passes. Chase him for a good long while. Like to spank that TL1000, but he's even crazier than I am. When we get to Squamish, I'll give him a talk about owning the road! What a maniac. Reality: Dave and his TL are back there. That was a GSXR. Piloted by a young immortal, I would expect, if even Jim thought he was nuts. A nice dinner at the pub. Didn't get out and mingle before everyone started to get up and go home. As usual, being amongst the last to leave, the ride home required restraint, wasting a nice empty highway. Still and all, a nice ride. The front tire looks almost like its been to a track day on the right side of it! Good to see everyone again. Hope to see more of you all through the summer. | ||
| Court |
That's Hilarious ! If that is THE Stu that I think it is (in Canada) tell him that Court said "hello". Thanks for a GREAT report....EH! Court | ||
| Sportyeric |
That would be the Stu who manages (so very well) Vancouver's Deeley's House of Buell. He of the clip-onned and rearsetted S2 that is now for sale since he rode the XB last weekend. The realization that the R1 was with our group, not trying to ride through it, was one of the most embarrassing things I can remember doing. Well, doing sober. Glad you like the prose, Court. Hope you caught my first Tale (Splash). It remains my best work to date. (Riding and writing). Living on past glories. | ||
| Bcmike |
Great "Tale", Eric! And I believe every word of it....Wish I could have made it over but will sometime this season. Still great memories of last years first ever Deeley BRAG run to Sport Bike West! mike 01m2 | ||
| Blake |
Great tale SE!! Thanks for sharing. | ||
| Newfie_Buell |
Excellent Adventure, Bill | ||
| Davet |
Well the Triumph and the R1 were guys that I work with, I invited them to come along for the ride. Eric, all Greg (R1) said was " Man, that guy on the Sportster can fly!" I said "Yep, there's not too many times you'll be seeing anything but the rear tire of that bike!" I've ridden a fair bit with these guys, and they're fairly quick. The general comment was, "Them Buell guys are fast!!" Way to show 'em boys!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Sportyeric |
Thanks for the contribution, Dave. Tell your friend Greg again that I apologize for my behavior. An interesting side note: The only DNF of the evening was the other Sportster, which sputtered home (cause umknown) at the beginning of the ride. Another thing: Where the heck was the cop that Shawn was talking about? Apparently everyone was getting backed up behind a ghost car SUV. Considering I only remember warp speed, how fast was the cop going? Why were there so many confusing things goin on? I'm sure I wasn't high on the way up there. | ||
| Anonymous |
Ye Ha That was some season opener wasn't it! I'm with Eric on this one. Where the F#@& was that mystery cop anyway? If there was one out there, then I would be in jail right about now. Having tried to reel in that nut on the GSXR and all. Sure thought that was you Dave, just turning one of our favorite roads into your own personal race track. Anyhow, those who missed it, don't next time. Those who didn't, I hope to see again, real soon. Cheers FunJimmy | ||
| Davet |
I was right behind the cop! I was picking up some speed, behind Gary on the Daytona, we came up upon a Burgundy S3, who gave us the warning. It was a white suburban with tinted back windows, you could just barely see the red and blue lights. I have know idea where he came from, must have pulled out of somewhere, otherwise Jim would still be trying to get out of jail!! | ||
| Anonymous |
Dave Where approx. did you see the Suburban? Was it past Brittania Beach or some other access to the highway? You got to be right. He must have pulled back on to the highway after me and the GSXR racer went by. FunJimmy | ||
| Davet |
It was after Brittania Beach, seem to recall about 5 minutes out of Squamish. Good thing someone else saw him, cause I was just about to do a fly-by! | ||
| Funjimmy |
Probably Murin Lake. That is just at the top of the hill out of Brittania. Lets get out for another ride soon. |
