| Author | Message | ||
     Shazam |
Bill, sorry to hear that, glad you are OK! Ice and sand have bit even the most seasoned of riders on more than one occasion! don't ask me how I know. The sand is embarrassing, Ice is scary! You usually see the sand as it becomes too late. Ice not so much. No small thing to be said here...but I'll try: As dissappointed or frustrated as you might be with yourself right now (maybe not), these are the things that make you a better rider (granted no one wants to fall down a bunch to get there...). Guaranteed, at some point in your riding days (may they be long and sunny) you will be somewhere (Colorado, New Mexico, the Appalachia's) and Mother Nature will do it's damdest to kill or maim you. It will make the things you have the luxury of easily avoiding from your couch, an all too present reality. An all too present and all too consuming fear. The more you are exposed to these situations the better prepared you will be to react when confronted with them again. I'll share with you a couple of stories. Most are battles with the elements that my survival brought me a great sense of accomplishment, and a distinct motorcycling memory. Just sitting here thinking about a few makes me realize that if I had opted to park my bike for the winter, I would have missed out on some of the most amazing experiences and character building (educational) events I've ever had the pleasure to viscerally experience. A lot of these took place during a time in which I didn't own a car (two years I lasted,telling everyone "what do I need a car for?".....in Kansas mind you!). I can't count the times I've been rained, sleeted, snowed and hailed on, but I can count the time it all happened in one day! That was a trip home, Manhattan KS to Leavenworth. Snow blew in early am. Sunday, had to be back in KC for work on Monday. Two inches on the ground when I left(woke up) by Topeka it was a sleet snow mix with the wind picking up, at Lawrence I had already melted two pairs of gloves trying to warm my hands on/near the headers. As I got close to KC and the front of the storm the Sleet ebbed and the rain picked up but not before dropping some pea sized hail and ferocious winds. It rained the rest of the way home..... It took me nine hours to travel the 110 miles, by far my "worst" ride ever. Coldest ever?: A trip to Minneapolis in April, weathermen calling for 40's in Minnesota. definitely not unbearable...If you are dressed for 40's. It was 60 in KC that day. So I threw an extra layer on and regretted not packing more a mere three hours later when Des moines let the snow fly. I never saw a temp above 30 after that. The roads were clear when we crossed into Minnesota but it was night by then and 16 degrees. Took every bit of three days to thaw out. My thighs were opaque and I could see all the veins in them when I got in the tub that night. by far the coldest I've ever been in my life. The return trip was as bad if not worse for the damn battery operated socks making my feet sweat for all of fifteen minutes before turning to ice.....stop often? yep! Iciest? Slickeryest?(word?): 2 miles work to home after rain/Ice storm with add'l snow layer for added fun factor. Yeah, I got buried in Blueprints at a civil engineering/surveying job I had out of high school. Crappy weather days were drawing board days....no windows. You get the Idea, rains all morning at 30 degrees making nice ice layer, changes to snow late afternoon to hide the ice. realize it after I pull the bike out of the stall it's in. "screw it, it's only two miles..." feet on ground for the whole hour it took to get home. Only dropped it once, and I was damned proud of it too! dumbest ride I ever did to boot. A co-worker had offered me a ride home as I was leaving......I learned I will take up that offer if the situation presents itself again. Wettest: Big Storm rolled up behind us Eastbound out of Cheyenne Wyoming on I-80, the guy riding beside me was also on the minneapolis ride, you think he'd learn..... I got wet. Biggest Hail: Took me approximately seven minutes to find cover(overpass) hail reached golfball size at one point. I had already pulled over but without cover I couldn't stay for long. Hail sounds great in a helmet, but not good for visors, you FEEL that through your leathers. Welts like paintball scars on shoulders and thighs. bike didn't fair so well either. dented tank broken windscreen and tears in the seat. Let's see what else Sand.... has almost always gotten me when I am entering or leaving a parking lot. Slow speed and yes, it's happened quite a bit, about 6 times in seventeen years. Leaves... yes! I could continue......there's a bunch of stories that left me with a "yard sale" too! You live and learn...... if yer lucky  sounds like you might be...haha | ||
| Gowindward |
Bill, Glad you are okay! "We fall down so, we learn how to get back up" Your pride will shine back up in no time. I haven't been about to drag the "Bolt" out of the garage since last Monday. Every time I even think about it the bike throws a huge fit and kicks and screams! I gave it a little thought this morning, until I went to the gym at 5:30 and the roads had a heavy frost on them. From now until the first heavy rain in the spring sand is a huge issue. I ride like a BIG SISSY taking it real easy at intersections. Looks like we have more crap weather coming the next couple of days so the bike will still be parked. Looks like the fat lady is about to sing. I have 14358 miles for the year (I was hoping to break 15K), and it looks like the weather has shut be done for the rest of this week. | ||
| Dustyjacket |
Sam, thanks for the insight. Loren, I thought my dump of the Blast in April would be "it". I didn't know I had another one coming. Mostly I am REALLY mad at myself. I knew I should have taken the car, but Sunday night the roads were dry and the morning temps were 36 so I "knew" it wouldn't be icy. I knew Monday would be the only riding day this week. •••••••....... This wasn't a time to be careless as we (B.A.C.A) are escorting some kids to and from school each day, and I was late because I had to get the bike back home, get out of my gear, and get the car warmed up....... | ||
| Gowindward |
Bill, They way I see it we always have another one coming. It's just a question of when and how bad. | ||
| Gowindward |
Does anyone have any interest in going to the IMS show in Chicago on Feb. 10th or 11th? Right now round trip airfare is $165 and the ticket into the show is $13 I'm thinking of making it a day trip. Fly in in the AM and back out that PM. The show location is about 3 miles from O'Hare so cab, train, or shuttle shouldn't cost much. | ||
| Sweetp411 |
Evening gentlemen. Been awhile. Actually it's been two bike wrecks, one my fault, the other I was not the operator, since my last blog on here. The asthetics of the bike are back to normal. But she still is running as rough as she was before since I've put that TFI on. Havn't gotten it dynoed, guess it'll take a pro to get it running right. Anyone know of any cheaper places than Gails or BSHD to go? | ||
| Dtx |
Sweet Lassie Molassie...its another yellow lightning! | ||
| Farrisbueller |
Don't forget tomorrow night, 7 p.m. at Gail's. I'm bringing chili, and some bread. Gail's will provide drinks. Cycle Connection should be there, to learn about our club. Bring something, if you can. Don't forget your mileage. See everyone there. | ||
| Dustyjacket |
Sweetp411 - try hawg wild in Lee's Summit. I don't think they have a dyno, but their rates are 1/2 of Gails. You might chat with them. | ||
| Rustyx1w |
I rode the X1W to work in St joe today 46deg when I left the house not much warmer when I rode home this afternoon | ||
| Le_salle |
EVERYONE, NEW BUELL GEAR AT GAILS HARLEY AND BUELL. AND MORE TO COME. 3 NEW SHIRTS, 2 NEW STICKS, NEW PATCHS, AND TWO NEW GLOVE. CODY | ||
| S2scott |
Merry Christmas Everyone | ||
| Le_salle |
MERRY CHRISTMAS} | ||
| Rustyx1w |
Julie paid off the last $405 of my Buell note with HD Credit as her Christmas present to me. Plus she paid for the FXR this year when I picked it up. Being married to this woman for 25 yrs has its rewards. I am now being held firmly by the gonads and have a longer term of indentured slavery to perform.  | ||
| Biker_bob |
Ok guys I am official now. I bought the black Uly at Gail's. If the weather cooperates i will get the 500 break in miles this week. Black is beautiful! | ||
| Gowindward |
Bob....What happened? I thought orange was your color. I can only imagine the temptation of that black bike sitting on the showroom floor was just to great! I hope you enjoy it!! | ||
| Lowflyer |
Congratulations! Outstanding choice of color. 500 miles goes by in a blink. The weather is beautiful this morning. The only thing that sucks about riding my Uly to work is that it makes the day seem to go slower. | ||
| Dtx |
Bob, Congrats on the new ULY. I saw the twinkle in your eye on Thursday at the meeting. It doesn't surprise me that you jumped on it and bought it! | ||
| Lowflyer |
Sorry I missed the meeting last week. I was looking forward to meeting Bob. My wife would have been totally pissed if I didn't let her put cake and lit candles in front of my face to remind me of how old I am. | ||
| Dustyjacket |
Bob - congrats on a great purchase. I saw the Uly sitting there Wednesday. It called out to me. I'm glad you removed the temptation........ | ||
| S2scott |
Sam did I evre tell you about a fall I had in a friends driveway? I pull in the driveway and stop and put my feet down one on the drive and the other in the grass. Well is turns out that my friend thought it would be cool to mow the grass flat across the ditch so the yard looks flat and when I put my foot down in the grass it kept going down untill I fell. | ||
| Dtx |
 Now that is some funny sh*t! | ||
| Dtx |
Biker Bob, So have you done a wheelie on the Uly yet?  If not, try this. When going about 15-20 mph in 1st gear get the RPMs up to about 3500 to 4000. Then, slam the throttle shut and instantaneously open it up with a nice handful of throttle. You will experience a nice 1st gear power wheelie!  | ||
| Keef |
I can do that on my old tuber in second gear....  | ||
| Biker_bob |
No wheelie yet did a unintended small stoppie though, full account on big bad a and beautiful, short version here nearly broadsided by a LeSabre, (his fault his insurance paying) missed me by a foot or so, but when I came down my right foot was on sand, bike fell over but luckily i broke it's fall with my body  scratched puck and handguard new turn signal. full version under decisions and temptations on big bad and beautiful. I'm glad they stop good! | ||
| Trueblue |
Bob-These Uly's sure are showing their durability, puck, handgaurd, turn signal all are cheap fixes, glad to hear you are ok. Couple more weeks and my Black one will be here, finally! Take care. | ||
| Dtx |
I can do that on my old tuber in second gear.... Yeah, well I can do that on my BICYCLE in 3rd gear! Just joking with ya Keef. I was just letting Bob know what I have to do on my 984cc XB9SX to get it to come up. I am sure the 1200cc motor will require even less effort to get it to come up in 1st gear. Be careful Bob! (Message edited by dtx on December 30, 2005) | ||
| Rustyx1w |
FYI Cabelas has the Battery Tender Plus marked down from almost $60 to $39.99 right now. They are back in the boat accessory area with the marine batteries | ||
| Farrisbueller |
Anyone interested in putting our Buells together at "Wide Opens" show at the end of this month let me know. I'm working on a deal to have us together as a club at the bike show. Thanks Chris | ||
| Gowindward |
Chris, Do you have a date and any other information |
