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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 03:47 pm: | 
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cool ride report, Jim, thanks! and thanks for letting me be a small part of a big adventure. and what can you say about Larry other than...
...what a GIVER!  |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 04:18 pm: |
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The awards, eh?
Let's see what I can remember......
Most Squidly Rider - Timbo the Wheelie machine...
Pokey Award - (for holding up the group the most during CAMS) Dale Amsden (for his efforts at documenting the off road capabilities of a Dyna)
Best Other Harley (non-Sportster, non-Buell) - Brian (from the Bay Area) who literally bought parts and built his own custom Big Twin (bright yellow everywhere)
Best Sportster - Dick from Napa for his customized white Sportster wearing Harley's own matching hard bags. Several bikes were in the running - including Prudnts, Ed White's lovely Cafe Sportster, Caroline's (?) Red flamed Sportster, and Clovis Rich's bright blue Sportster...
Best Buell - Fred X1 for his, as you might guess, X1...
The What The ????? Award - Holly (Hollister) Barry and his triple black S3T - apparently for ignoring a wide open straight-away and waiting until a no passing zone came along to actually pass a car that was slowing things up. Or something like that....
Most Valuable Rider Award - given by The Committee - to Larry (aka Kidcoocoo) for immediately and selflessly coming to the aid of a fellow rider with failed stator by providing a 15k ++ touring bike for the trip... Honorable mentions for this award went to Ed White, who also offered to Bill to simply "pick a bike" and to Timbo Horton, who offered a gorgeous Dyna to Dale. I, of course, offered my only other bike to Cafe Bill, it's a DRZ400S with the stock 4x4 seat. I was booed for the effort!
Perfect Attendance Award (have attended all 5 CAMS events) - Larry (Kidcoocoo), Timbo, Ed White and Holly Barry (also to Caf'e Bill).
The "Gimme Some TLC" Award - To Caf'e Bill in a landslide despite his protestations that as a "Committee Member" he was not eligible. Awarded to Bill because he now owns 2 Sportsters, a Buell S3, a Yammie Seca II and a Honda CB-750. NONE OF WHICH RUN.....
Best "Other" Motorcycle (Harley's and Buells ineligible) - Awarded to Stealth Mark for his yellow BMW GS1100 (1150?).
The "Committee's Choice" Award - No criteria. Just an award given by The Committe to whichever bike tickle's their fancy most at the moment. This year it was awarded to Larry for PRUDNTS, the 435 lb., 95rwhp Cafe Sportster.
Well, that's all I can remember right now...
Jim |
Timbo
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 04:34 pm: |
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Hey you Hooligans!
Cams was great and I'm glad you guys have become a part of it.
Even if most of us have bikes other than Sportsters, the common thread is still the Sportster. Of the thirty-four people we had this year, ten came on Sporty's, but all have owned an XL, (or an XL engine based bike) at one time, and that's how we've all met.
Over the years some have gotten other bikes, in fact Buell was well represented with seven. But what weve come to learn is that the friendships we've made are far more important than what brand or model you're riding. The fun is in being together and riding, sharing a meal and laughing.
Here are a few more pics...
Laura and Ed stopping to enjoy the view
Although Larry has the most primo cafe Sportster I've ever seen, Ed's aint bad either. Here is a better veiw of Ed's cafe Sportster.
One last look back at the valley before heading out.
And since this thread IS about Sportsters, I would like to include a shot of my recently put back together '72 XLCH. Basically I put on different wheels, had a bunch of parts powdercoated and had the exhaust ceramic coated.
Thanks again guys!
Timbo |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 04:43 pm: |
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More info........,
The road we took up to Badger (different route than last year) has more blind 90 degree corners hidden behind a rise than perhaps any road in America. And a bunch of those were off camber for added spice. I blew over one of those nobs in 5th gear and then was forced to find out just how hard I could hammer the front brakes on my S2, including braking hard and late while turning (I had to turn or go airborne). The front wheel tried to tuck under at one point, but the S2 has such wonderful feel I was able to release just the right amount of front brake to regain steering while still negotiating the curve. I think, if I were to ride that stretch again, I would stop and warn the participants to be unusually cautious on that little stretch of beauty. It was great fun though... 
The ride from Pine Flat Reservoir up the back way to Oakhurst was awesome. Glad we got to do it this time...
The RON the night before in Bakersfield was a good idea, and inexpensive. Ferris, that Denny's we went to was at the worst intersection I've ever seen! LOL! Breakfast was fun, though.
Timber(Timbre?), one of YoBug's employees, was the best ever. She would literally bring us out additional pitchers of beer and say "I thought you'd need more by now...". ROTFLMAO! Then when the restaurant and beer service shut down, she made them sell us a few more pitchers, after which she (and 2 co-workers) joined the whole party up at our cabin. A great time was had by all...
Saturday afternoon Cafe Bill, Larry (Kidcoocoo) and I parked our bikes (amazing!) and chose instead to do a hike to the top of the Vernal Falls. The falls were spectacular, the scenery incredible. We enjoyed it immensely.
Ferris set a perfect (and polite) pace coming up Granite Road. "Lean 'em if you got 'em".
Dino took us (seemingly) right through several pig farms. When the sign says HOGS ON ROAD they don't mean Harley's!
On the way home Sunday, Cafe Bill and I switched bikes. Because I wanted to try the big Beemer, and he wanted to ride the S2. We both enjoyed it. The big Beemers are amazingly comfortable and have plenty of juice to boot.
Jim |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 04:46 pm: |
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Timbo, nice CH!
rt |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 05:01 pm: |
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ride to leannnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, say i.
GREAT stuff, sure makes it hard to concentrate on working, tho...
btw: i'm gonna have to check my records, but i don't think i've EVER been accused of being polite before. must be the gray Aerostich (and, before Dino beats me to it, the gray hair...)
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Jim_sb
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 06:12 pm: |
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Regarding Larry and Prudnts, as you may recall, Larry did not have a rear brake on Prudnts last year. He was trying to fabricate a custom one and did not have things sorted out.
Last year when Ferris kicked it up a notch on the Bostrom Larry had a handful of a time with Prudnts - in part because he had no rear brake - therefore nothing to help him to help keep the rear suspension loaded going into a corner under heavy braking, and because, as it turns out, his shocks were performing sub-par.
He recently put new (or overhauled, I've forgotten which) rear shocks on Prudnts, and now has a rear brake as well, and the results were predictable.
He was hauling arse through the twisties on Sunday morning, so much so that I had to get out of the way, I was just holding him up too much.
He still is getting a little headshake out of the bike in high speed sweepers, but I'm sure he'll get that sorted out.
<g>
Jim in Santa Barbara |
Dino
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 06:23 pm: |
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FB - Age has gotta count for something.
Jim - Great report! Guess I'll have to do Saturday with you one of these times. What's the program? Do you just let Larry ride ahead and collect the LEO's? |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 06:41 pm: |
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Hi Dino,
Of course you are welcome and encouraged to join us for the whole weekend!
Saturday - the program is totally relaxed. Some folks sleep late, some are up early. Generally most folks gather at the YoBug restaurant for breakfast and form up shortly thereafter to head into Yosemite. We stop in El Portal to get gas. Larry made it there on fumes!
Then, once into the park, folks stop everywhere as they desire to take photos, look in awe at the rapids, view the waterfalls, etc.
We typically meet at 1pm at Curry Village for lunch as they have an assortment of food offerings - plus a grocery store for those who prefer just some fresh fruit or a beverage.
In the afternoon many folks ride South through the park back to Oakhurst, then ride fun roads in the surrounding hills before heading back to YoBug around 5pm ~ ish.
Others head out to the North and return to Mariposa via the 49 (great stretch of road there!).
If Glacier Point is open (it was closed this year) a group will ride up there.
Everything is very casual, with people joining up impromptu.
Sat. morning Larry, Bill and I did the short hike to Bridal Veil Falls (where we were soaked from the mist!) and the short hike to Lower Yosemite Falls (soaked yet again!). It was awesome. The power and the thunder! In the afternoon we were the only ones that hiked; everyone else chose to ride around the park and sightsee.
Saturday night pretty much everyone had dinner at YoBug then we had our traditional awards ceremony / BS session. Great fun, really... Your FZ1000 would have been in the running for Best Other Bike...
Friday night seems to have developed into the party night. Everyone is jazzed at the beginning of the weekend, laughing and telling stories and the beer flows freely. Everyone just keeps filling up pitchers.... We had a huge crowd on the patio of the restaurant at 11:30 when they asked us to move the festivities to our cabin. Everyone said OK! And the party went on for 2 more hours! (We took some pitchers along!).
The group has some really good people. As Timbo said, we all met because of Sportsters, may ride Buells or whatever now, but the friendships remain.
Jim |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 07:48 pm: |
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And a couple more tidbits, SOMEONE hasn't hooked wired up the speedo sensor for their fancy new tach & digital speedo unit. So THEY don't know how fast THEY are going.
On the way home Sunday, I gave up trying to keep up with him when I was doing a buck-ten and he was disappearing....
He was waiting for us a few miles ahead. |
Dino
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 08:07 pm: |
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When I grow up I want a bike just like Timbo's '72.
"Others head out to the North and return to Mariposa via the 49 (great stretch of road there!). "
The ride down the Merced River canyon, over the bridge at the Bagby Rec Area, and back to the top is a blast. I could just do that section, back and forth, all day. The north gate out of Yosemite on 120 goes thru Groveland. West of Groveland, at Priest, there is a little piece of old highway that is a bitchin' piece of work...extremely steep. You could easily spend the day going down 120 from Priest, catching the old highway back up...rinse and repeat, etc. Of course, if you did that, you'd miss a ton of other good roads! (are you listening, Court? |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 12:57 pm: |
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One more award - Dale Amsden received the "Way Far Away" award for traveling the greatest distance to attend CAMS V. He came in from Ohio.
Jim |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 01:21 pm: |
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will he be required to bring his own motorcycle next time? |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 01:38 pm: |
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Ferris,
Nope. I'm going to loan him my dirt bike (DRZ400S). It's street legal and I dump it every now and then anyway.
Jim |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 01:41 pm: |
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