| Author | Message | ||
     Dann |
WOW! Sorry to hear that. Eric hope you get well soon. Were you on your Blast! at the time of the accident? Let us know how you are doing when you can. Thanks for the deal on the WB! Sincerely, Dan | ||
| Ezblast |
OK - Everyone heading for SLO this weekend - we will meet at the hotel - in case your not staying there you can still meet there - time - between 730 and 8 pm - that should give everyone time to get checked in and settled before hand - and we can pic a place for food and getting to know each other. 9 AM we will again meet at the hotel and see about a lite repast and coffee and getting a ride in with friends! Looking forward to seeing everybody who can show and there will be toasts for those we'll miss. Enjoy the ride! - thats my goal and hopefully everyone elses. Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  | ||
| Carcass |
Woooh! Have I been gone awhile or what?!? Just bought a house!  ...And replaced the V&H muffler on my Blast along with finding that the reason it's been running crappy lately is the big tear in the intake manifold... and I got the stock airbox! RJ and I will likely be up in SLO this weekend. We both have Sunday & Monday off. Got the email from gearheaderiko. Bummer about the wreck... | ||
| Sarodude |
Proposed Route there's some problem getting BadWeb to link to that route properly - working on figuring it out We can start Sunday by heading Eastbound on the 58 from the 101. There's a variety of stuff on the 58. Glorious sweepers, high speed nut numbing kinks, tight 1st & 2nd gear stuff, some fairly long straights, and even a rollercoaster section. We'll take the 58 all the way to the 33 & cruise south. Gas up in Taft or Maricopa, then head west on 166 for a totally different experience. On a Blast, the 166 is a sleeper. Long, lazy sweeps or some blind kinks. It can be taken at terrifying speeds - speeds I doubt any of our Blasts will do, so we'll just cruise it. Gas up in New Cuyama. The map as shown includes a hop south from the 166 on Tepesquet & Foxen down to Solvang - that is if we're all down for visiting The Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. It's about 175 one way total miles and we get 2 fuel stops. The 40-ish mile Solvang deal can be bypassed if we choose to just keep west on the 166. We can just mooch in Santa Maria at Applebees or something and slab it back to SLO - or whatever! I'd suggest that anyone intent on running premium bring along some octane booster as the fuel stop in New Cuyama (along the 166) sometimes runs out of premium. Let's plan on a safe, sane, FUN ride! -Saro (Message edited by ezblast on May 18, 2006) | ||
| Newblaster |
EZ-- 9th & Judah tomorrow at 8 am, right? (For those of us on the NorCal side...) | ||
| Ezblast |
yuppers! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Carcass |
What is the timeline for the ride on Sunday? More to the point, what time will you be on the 166 by New Cuyama? We're going to come up the 33 from Ojai and we'd like to meet up. Actually we'll probably be at the intersection of 33 & 166. (In the MIDDLE of nowhere...)  If you can tell me when you're leaving SLO, that'd be super. -Mark & RJ  | ||
| Sarodude |
My cell is 818 645 3982. I'll have mobile internet access as well so I can at least check mail - though checking BadWeb is tedious. I'm not positive when we're departing on Sunday morning - but I figure it'll be 2 or so hours before we're at the 33 / 166. There's a very nice Shell station RIGHT AT THE CORNER where the 166 proceeds EAST of the 33. It's a little ways north of where the 166 goes west but not much. It'll be a good place to fuel, stretch legs, and meet up. -Saro | ||
| Mmelvis |
Did anyone get pictures of the ride ? | ||
| Loli |
Hi everyone. Just wanted to tell the guys who had to put up with me over the weekend Thanks Much. I had a good time and it was nice to meet all of you. Oh yeah, its me Loli (Saro's other half). I'll try to keep my bike from speeding out of control on the next ride....I promise  Thanks again guys.... Smash, I hope everything is ok with you and Bessie. (that is what Saro and I named your bike) The Lolinator p.s. pix are in my camera...will put them up later | ||
| Tahoeblaster |
Hey Loli, Glad to see you guys made it back alright. 450miles and 9 hours later I got back here to Tahoe. Glad I left when I did. I too had a great time, It was wonderful to meet everyone and ride together. Hey Ed!! When ya read this, let us know ya'll got everyone back to SF, and thanks for setting this whole thing up. I'm still looking at maps to figure out just where the hell all we rode LOL. Eric | ||
| Ezblast |
 Eric of Tahoe pulling in  Scott of SF  Ryann of SF GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
 We agree - Black is faster by 3 hp - Hey thats 10%  Why can't you ever find a Sequoia When you wan't one?!  Saro supervising repairs! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
 Loli's a hell bent for leather kind of girl - but she could use a map - lol  some scrapes, a small shinner, one customized helmit and bike later - Scott triumphs over the barbed wire fence!  Customized helmit  Pulling into dirt/gravel parking lot to take this pic - almost stoped then with a little help from some wind the bike and I go down - some cosmetics to fix - no real permanent harm to Vader though - TG GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Carcass |
Saro- Did you guys ever go down the 166? We waited at the Shell station from 12:00 to 1:00, and then left for the Buckhorn in New Cuyama. We never saw anyone go by.  Was looking forward to meeting everyone, but it sounds like there was a mishap? Next time, maybe? Well, these bikes would have been in your pics:  -Mark | ||
| Ezblast |
I can't sleep - staring at a clock an hour early - the anticipation of the ride and the worries about fickle weather have me waiting for the alarm to go off. getting ready - I go over my checklist - tools, water, clothes, spare parts, toiletries, and a few protein bars. At 730 am I kiss my wife good-bye and go to grab some coffee and parking. The Beanery on 9th. & Irving in SF has the best coffee - period. A few storefronts down the Arizmendi Bakery also holds top honors in SF. A good start to a great ride! Five out of the six Blastards who are supposed to go I know -only Eric have I never met, so when I see a heavily packed Blast approaching that I don't know - I think - All right! Erik made it from Tahoe! - (I know I said Arizona earlier - I mis-spoke) - then Scott arrives, then Ryann. Coffee is drunk and a bakery patronized. The no show was Rex of American Sport BikeN - so far - I expected Paul C. with his Blue/Purple camed Blast to meet us at Alice's for brunch. I ask - everyone is fueled up and ready to go! We are off! We head through GG park - it ends at the legendary hwy 35. A scenic road with twists and turns a plenty! The day is beautiful and the miles roll by - 92 and 35 combine for just a few miles and that part is slow - weekenders for the coast - lol - I turn onto 35 proper and see a patrol car off to the side - I check my speed and proceed! The groups in my mirror so everything’s fine - lol - a few minutes later I check my mirror and nothing - I think to myself - I wasn't going that fast.. - turning around I go back ASAP worried - there they are - pulled over - Eric’s out of state tag looks like a Cali tag 3yrs expired - we roll on! We pull into Alice's a half hour early - bikes are everywhere and we figure a leisurely early lunch and Paul C would show - no show - almost 1230pm and we are off - hwy 9 intersects 35 and we take it easterly into the old town part of Saratoga - a nice little practice in technical riding. Here we fuel up and shake it off before the freeway charge down hwy 85 to hwy 101 to the next legendary road hwy 25! The scenery on this road reflects the true heartland of California - woodlands, farms, and wineries - with an occasional small town in the distance - the road itself has some long straight stretches then it gets curvy in the rest - very nice! We are tooling right along having a good time and enjoying the ride when yours truly gets a knee cramp and takes the turn a bit wide going into the dirt - keeping control I'm back out, but I figure break time is now due - lol - the day is beautiful, the air clear, and the road before us beacons seductively. Water is shared and comments about the road we travel shared - all in all - everyone is enjoying the ride. We pull onto Peach Tree and everything becomes even more rural and unspoiled - the road becomes interplay between fast and slow curves on a slowly narrowing ribbon. The middle line disappears and we are down to a lane to a lane and a half type road - all to ourselves! We blend on to Indian Valley and more of the same beautiful scenery and road. We pull into the rear of San Miguel and are instantly lost - at least I am - everything looks so different on a nice day, but Ryann went to College in SLO and knows vaguely the area - we gas up for the final 30 miles to San Luis Obispo via 101. By now we are all a bit tired and its approaching 530pm - Ryann leads the way taking us into SLO to the hotel. We arrive tired but satisfied with the ride. 376 miles total from beginning to end. We park and get our rooms and are told Saro and Loti are already here - cool - but we are curious because we saw no bikes parked. A little looking and we find two more Blasts parked between some vans. Saro and Loti come out and we are well met. The list of characters - Saro - creative, sharp, and a great twist in humor, Loti - his perfect foil with wit and charm, Scott - a straight foward kind of guy taking charge of his life, Ryann - a charming heartbreaker who loves to ride, Eric - a friendly resourceful traveler, and Ed - a lover of the ride itself. At dinner we talk of folk missed - James and Eric (heal fast bro!) - about Blasts, and basically anything else under the sun. Absent is Scott who had neighbors partying till 3am and had elected to crash for a while then grab a bite later - he was zonked out by the time I left for dinner - hell of a ride for only 3 hrs sleep in preparation (I woke him a little after I got back) - lol - and Ryann who is going to look up some old friends while in town - yup ladies a heart breaker - lol. We again meet up in the morning get it together, and we are off! I can not tell you the names of the roads - they escape me - we were to meet two other Blasterds a a pre designated spot - we are off and flying - Loli takes the lead - not really sure where she is going but willing to wait for us at a crossroad - lol - as the pack separates into two Saro drops back to take lead on the second half - foolish me I'm chasing Ryan who is following Loty who is flying hell bent for leather - we loose the others but I'm hoping Loti knows where she is going - I have them in my sight till the last two turns and when I get to that point the road divides so I stop. Cig break time - I go back and read the road sign - I pick the way I figure would be closest to gasoline and go - three hundred yards up the road I see Loti and Ryann waiting at an intersection side - some historical tar pit behind them - lol. Together we wait - after a bit we convince Loti to go gas up and go back and we would wait to see if they roll out. It’s just after 1pm and there is no shade anywhere, but the days cool breezes save us from total roasting - Loti roars back by. Where’s a Sequoia when you want one? An hour and change rolls by and we decide to go get gas and go back ourselves - most of our water now gone - lol. To keep things interesting we exchange bikes and check out differences in our steeds. We gas up and head back down the road - and find Everyone working on Scotts ride - finalizing the repairs to get it on the road - he went into a corner just a bit hot hit gravel and then a barbed wire fence - fencing in a very lush pasture - Damage - a tweaked throttle cable, shifter and front fairing light assembly - a some deep scratches, and Scott caught some scratches and a small shiner - Scott 1 - Fence Zero - winner of the Barbed wire wrestling match and still Champion! While we where gone - some very good repairs had been performed - another light fetched, also fuel, duct tape - lol - for the helmet, and a few tools that would be needed - if I had been there, they could have saved a few bucks in tools but otherwise it was a job well done and Scott not that much worse for wear. Saro calls the party waiting - we will not be there - on the way back we all enjoy the ride at a much more sedate pace, and finally I got to enjoy the scenery we missed in enjoying the chase - lol. By the time we get back our spirits are actually high - we still put in over 200 miles - and pulled together in the rough parts to make something that could have been a negative into a positive - we all learned a little something from that ride - there is a fellowship and for that day we all participated in it. We get back into SLO and decide Mo's for some ribs is the ticket! It was a great night of tales, sharing, and fun! In the morning everyone is taking off at differing times. We are still not adjusted to DLST. Eric heads back - a long ride back to Tahoe - God's speed new friend, Ryann takes 1 early to get back in time for a class he is just starting in his field - later we will ride some more - he is a very fluid rider, Loti (for President - lol) and Saro ;0) the thinker - hope to see you next year - perhaps san Miguel - I here they make a beer there Loti - lol. Scott and I decide on Coffee and hwy 1 for ourselves as well! It’s a beautiful, windy, cold coastal day - and I loved every minute of it. The funny part was when I dropped my bike in the parking lot - you had to see laugh in to understand the similarity of what happens to the guy on the tricycle and I - I'm almost at a stop, almost ready to throw my leg over and off and kick down the stand when a big ole gust of wind sends me down in slow motion - a few turns of the Allen wrench later - I collect a few scratches, a broken brake toe peg, and a deflated ego - lol - all just minor stuff to be taken care of at my leisure - Vader had done her job well and a few battle wounds would not mar her in my eyes for all the fun she has provided. Still hwy 1 is a great ride with every type of curve imaginable you just have to catch it on a nice day - waterfalls, lighthouses, the ocean, and woodlands - with little coastal stops to keep you interested in things other than natures beauty. Those 3 days were a heck of a lot of fun - even with the hard parts - its all a part of the ride - and as I've always said - the ride is the thing! I want to thank everyone who played a part - it was a great time - even the hot part wasn't bad shared with a friend - and the rest just showed a true sterling character of Buell riders and Blastards particularly - Stepchilds of a Stepchild you might say - lol Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark Side! EZ A meeting of Blastards - yup - Black is Faster! Hell yea there will be a next time! | ||
| Mmelvis |
Glad to see a good time was had by all. Makes me wish I was back on the west coast. Ez hell of a good write up. Great pictures of the ride to. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
I'm so depressed!!! The last thing I did before the accident was get the SLO maps from AAA.And the first thing I did (when conscious) was to ask Carol(S.O.) to let EZ and Carl(from SoCal) know I obviously wouldnt make it. I took the responsibility of holding the SoCal contingent together & going, but couldnt hold up my end. Glad you all had a good time and I'm hoping we can still get a picture in an issue of FUELL,to promote the Blast as more than a 'starter bike'.Is Peggysus listening? Down ,but not out. Erik | ||
| Ezblast |
Erik - get well bro - you and James can perhaps plan for next year! Perhaps now that the word is out - more may even show next year - something to look forward to eh? Yuppers - we missed both of you - but be consoled with knowing we all wish you well and fast healing as well - GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Carcass ! I know this topic is out of thread... but I saw he posted here. So I just wanted to catch his notice ? Anyway...Hey Carcass, i wanted to know how your Rear "wide" Kenda is holding up. If you followed my research thread, you may have found out that those Kenda's you're wearing are not intended to be motorcycle tires...but are IN Fact- *Scooter* tires with ONLY a "P" Speed rating. Anyway, I already had a Kenda "Motorcycle" tire(same Cruiser line) on the front of my Blast in size 100/90-16. And have recently added the Wide Kenda *Scooter* tire in 140/70-16. I'm quite pleased with it's handling characteristics so far. But what I want to know about is, what about longevity and wear ?? Can you shed any light ???? ~Ralph | ||
| Newblaster |
Made it home safe, broke off from EZ at 92. Of course, I had other stops to make, so didn't get home until 1 am... Then up and off to work this morning, where I've told the story of my little incident too many times. I'm pretty spaced out right now, people keep trying to convince me it's a mild concussion, but I'm gonna blame sleep deprivation as long as I can. Apparently, I hit hard enough to give myself a "tripod fracture", two hairline fractures in my cheekbone and one above my eye (one of the people I saw last night at dinner was a doctor, and checked out my face...) Now I can't have any more head trauma for the next couple weeks, or else my eye may sink in. So, I have to heal up before I try anything else crazy. lol... Now, I'm just trying to get my bike fixed, not easy in summer at a dealership... We'll see what happens. I'd like to say thank you to everyone on the trip, for helping me out of the field, getting my baby back together, and just being a really cool group of folks. There will definitely be a trip next year. I'm gonna go ahead and RSVP, I'm there. Just say when and where. Oh, and to Carcass--Sorry about that. My fault. Would have been great to meet up with more SoCal Blasters. Next time, I'll try to stay away from the fences, at least when we're meeting someone... One more thing... To Erik--From your post on the main thumper board, sounds like your bike got off easier than mine. I'm the one that lucked out in my get-off. Glad you're okay and back online. Like EZ said, heal fast. Okay, I think that's all I've got to say for now. Glad everyone made it home safe, hope to see you all again in the future. Scott | ||
| Ezblast |
You to bro - heal fast! - by the way send me your number so we can arrange some rides together with Ryan - GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Carcass |
EZ- Great write up! Count us in next time! (From the beginning) It's hard enough to plan a ride, as well as meet someone halfway!  See ya next time! -Mark & RJ  | ||
| Sarodude |
Scott- Good to hear from ya! I'm not a doctor - and I don't play one on TV - but I was concerened for your head. I'm glad you bumped into a doctor - and hopefully it hurt a little less than the fence! BTW, I nicknamed your bike Bessie - in case she didn't already have a name.  Heal up quick! All I have to say is that I had a FANTASTIC time. Sometimes I need a reminder that one of the biggest reasons for riding has little or nothing to do with motorcycles - but with some of the incredible people I have the good fortune of meeting. Sunday's adventure was a reminder. Just a bunch of riders - with little prior personal contact - overcame adversity and had as good a time doing it as possible. Tahoe Eric - you should hang here more! EZ - what a perfect set of initials! my carb boot lasts longer than yours! neener neener neener! Ryan - all the times I've been to SLO and not ONCE eaten at Moe's. I think I'm gonna have to take a lunch ride... -Saro | ||
| Sarodude |
Mark- 3 of us on 2 bikes (yes, TWO goons on ONE Blast) did make it to the 166 shell station - about 2 hours later than scheduled. I'm REALLY sorry about holding you guys up over there and flaking on ya. Hopefully the ride up the 33 and the lunch at the Buckhorn made up for it! Still gott meet up one of these days. BTW, where do you work? Ventura, Simi, SB? -Saro | ||
| Carcass |
Saro- Don't sweat it! Just goes to show I should have went straight to SLO first!  I work at Santa Barbara H-D (in Carpenteria). I just made Master Tech. (I work in the Service building across the street.) We'll hook up next time. -Mark | ||
| Sarodude |
Mark- We SAW your Blast on our ride up to SLO on Saturday. We actually stopped in at the dealership as the open house was winding down. I only wish I'd known to look for you. I'll make sure to look you up next time we're over that way! We saw the sign for test rides. Loli wanted to ride a Low - but it turns out there were no test rides on Buells. Besides, they were all done, anyway. Maybe we'll meet up at Eggs N Things in Ojai for breakfast one of these Sundays. Who knows... -Saro | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
I would like to say, and I alluded to it earlier.EZ deservedly gets most of the credit for the ride.However, Saro spent much time putting some routes together. And I had been putting in the effort to get the SoCal people together.Had I not been knocked out, I believe our ranks would have swelled to at least 10 bikes at SLO! It takes a team effort and I'm glad this little ride has generated some enthusiasm for another SLO-ride! Scott-Glad your 'okay'. I have the same facial fractures,but I wont be riding anytime soon. Still bummed about missing the ride, Down,but not out, DizzyheadErikO | ||
| Sarodude |
Erik- No doubt the guys will tell you offline just how much planning went into the ride. (desperately seeking sarcasm emoticon) Our first fuel stop was CLOSED. WTF! Our detour took us a few miles north. I though I'd make a fun mini-loop out of it and realized I had no idea where I was going. Man, it was a fustercluck! Of course, everyone can also attest to the Loli Logic Method of Navigation. "Just turn left!" Hopefully we'll have someone better organized than myself planning our next Blast route... -Saro | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - I vaugely remember saying I'd snack during the stops - skiping breakfast - then we took off - a few miles on 101 - and then into the country - gas snafu's always happen - no biggie, then the chase was on - Loti had me convinced by her riding that she new right where she was going - lol - even with the fence wrestling contest we put in just over 200 miles for the day and the majority of the scenery was excellent - just not the area where Ryan and I waited - kept looking for the Deliverence cast to come rolling in - lol - but it was a National Landmark tar pit and it was the backdrop for a relaxing talk with a friend, the rest of the ride was made enjoyable because of the spirit in which we handled adversity and overcame it to go on! And because the scenery and company was excellent! Well planned - maybe - maybe not - but it was still a good ride and only wetted my apetite for a future Cali Blasting event - Remember - Black automatically gives you 3 hp - thats why! Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ |
