| Author | Message | ||
     Al_Lighton |
Hey FB, A lot of what I would write is here: http://www.sacborg.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000590 Take a peek there, and I'll happily add to it if you have any questions. I personally like them. One thing that may not be written there: We've had some problems withour Sony G-Force CD players resetting upon transmission. Not always, but sometimes. I also found that putting a small volume control in the cable that goes from the CD player to the audio in on the chatterbox to be a good thing. Not needed if you can get to the volume control on your CD player, but if you can't the inline one (available for a few bucks from radio shack) is a good thing, especially if you're rising with some folks that DON'T have a radio. | ||
| Al_Lighton |
John, Yea, I hear you. The first time I went around a blind one when I got the radio nod from ahead, it was wierd. You certainly must trust your lead completely, and you also must have iron clad signal for clear that doesn't sound like not- clear no matter how garbled a transmission is. But I tell ya, getting a pack stuck on a mountain behind cars when the turns just don't stop sux, and having the comunications really speeds things up and makes the rides funner. | ||
| Al_Lighton |
Hey, I just found out that Grozzie, the Aprilia guy from the Colorado trip, is coming with us too. I made all my hotel reservations today, numbers and prices on the Buell site all worked. I'm looking forward to it. Now the question is: S3 or S1W? Decisions decisions..... Hey Juan, Didn't mean to cast your hooligan reputation into doubt! I didn't know your bike died at the beginning of the ride. I questioned what happened to you, someone said that someone was way back because they wouldn't pass on a double yellow, and described you. Clearly they were in error! No one should go on a jerry johnson ride if they aren't gonna pass. It's hard enough to keep up with Jerry without obstacles! Al | ||
| FB |
thanks Al, sure sounds like a love it or hate it (but no in-between) deal based on the posts. Burt from my Burt-'n-Barb ride a couple of weeks ago runs one, i think primarily as an intercom between he and she, both said they wouldn't leave home without it. i've ridden for a buncha years relying solely on hand signals, but can remember situations where it woulda been handy to actually vocalize thoughts and intentions instead of waving and pointing. thanks again  FB | ||
| FB |
so sorry, ladies and germs, there'll be no flowery prose forthcoming from me tonite regarding yet another day of slicing and dicing on the scoot thru my particular portion of paved paradise. (um, the snow on the ground yesterday morning and the cold, pounding rain all day today might have a little something to do with this unpleasant situation...) hold off on the sympathy cards and e-mails, tho, as it's s'posed to be pushin' 80 by Wednesday  ride to leeeeeeeeeeeeean, Ferris | ||
| V2win |
deleted by V2win. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ferris,ditto on the cold.Hills around the house got some snow,cold ass rain,hail,lightning and a TORNADO WARNING when I got home this afternoon,just as I was telling my wife I thought I saw a funnel cloud.Sunny California. | ||
| FB |
tornado warning, you say? why, that'd be Erik's fault, yes it would, what with all the Cyclones, Lightnings and Thunderbolts (and soon-to-be Firebolts) wreakin' havoc on us poor defenseless mortals! no twisters around these parts today, but enough damn rain to make even cuzzin' Bob feel right at home hey V2win, what happened to your post??? FB | ||
| V2win |
damn computers | ||
| V2win |
 | ||
| Blake |
FB, V2Win: I can see it now, the next Buell moniker... The XB12R "Nasty Cloud".  | ||
| FB |
lessee, if the XB12R comes with a built-in CD player and Bob Marley CD, and has on-board drink holders complete with umbrella drinks, well..... .....it would be called (drumroll, please) the 2003 Buell Tropical Depression! (c'mon now, Cyclone? Lightning? Thunderbolt? doncha get it???) heavy sigh. this is EXACTLY what you get when i don't ride for too long!  enough snow over Walker Pass on my way to work this morning to require snicking into 4-wheel drive (ok, ok, i probably coulda made it in 2-wheel--but why? :-) sent my 17-year old son, who's in training to become a California Highway Patrolman, off on his first "ride along" this afternoon, wherein he partners in a black-and-white along with the real thing. brought a tear to my eye, after he left, knowing he was wearing a bullet-proof vest under his uniform. i mean, it was only yesterday i was teaching him how to ride a bicycle down in the cul-de-sac. i'm saying an extra prayer tonite for all the men and women, including our soldiers in Afghanistan, who risk their lives each day so that we may enjoy our lives each day--i thank you all. oh so grateful, Ferris | ||
| Steveb |
Shoot guys, now you tell me it snowed yesterday, I woulda took a camera. I thought it strange I was the only bike for 60, 70 miles. I rode up Angeles Crest to Nucombs(sp) today through snow, ice, and cinders. The sun was out and snow melting off the trees was falling on me as I enjoyed the snow covered mountainsides and panaramas of Los Angeles. Do you think that will be on the tour? I hope so. 'Twas a most pleasant day. Steve B | ||
| Blake |
FB: Please ride soon! | ||
| Sparky |
FB, do me/us a favor? Keep an eye out for when the snow melts on local mountain roads there, esp. M99, & become officially open. I'm keeping a watch on the Crest thru the gov's eyeball with this Mountain Road Conditions site. The Crest is one of the featured roads on BRAG's tour & I'd be to take the back way around the mountain to get to the Rock Store! BTW, a couple of years ago Jen & I ventured up M99 after finishing a certain HOG springtime run to Lake Isabella/Kernville area. We encountered snow across the road just like you did, probably in the same spot. Had to turn back, but noticed with amazement the blueish tint of the surrounding snow capped mountains off in the distance. It was a beautiful site to behold, one you never see in the big city. Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| Steveh |
Al im back to questioning myself weather i can go or not, if grozzy doesn’t go or i cant split rooms with someone then it may be too expensive for me (buying toys rights now).i want to go! i feel comfortable with the money situation if i can split costs of lodging. any word on grozzy? has Tom committed going? have you set a date for heading back? are you going on the HOHH ride this sunday?? | ||
| FB |
Steveb, ya make it pretty hard for me to be all studly and macho, me whinin' about the weather and all, while you're talking about actually being on two wheels in the stuff -- cool on ya (literally!) Blake, see below... Sparky, roger that! interesting story in the local news, seems Kern and Tulare counties are dicussing the logic of keeping M99 plowed all winter, as a possible aid to tourism during the snow months. makes some sense.....which is probably why they won't do it  Steveh, yes you can! yes you can! yes you can! gotta love CA, yesterday there's snow on the ground, today it's mid-70's, tomorrow in the 80's! good news, bad news: bad news is some blastard has rented all 8 rooms at the Rabbit Trail for Fri 5/17--sum bitch!!!!!!!!! good news: this means i'll have to ride recon all day this coming Sunday, formulating Plan C! (and extra good news: Blake's wish (see above) will come true Ferris | ||
| Al_Lighton |
SteveH, Tom and Grozzie work at a startup that has them working manadatory saturdays and mega-OT. So they're feeling guilty about committing. That's OK, I'm turning the screws from the other side telling them how much they'll regret being 80 on their front porch, wishing they had gone on more motorcycle tours. Not sure about Grozzie, but I'm pretty certain Tom will crumble  No matter what, I'm going. Plan is to skip only the Eureka leg. How long it takes to get back to SD is up in the air. There's a lot of good roads in CA between Vallejo and here. Tom indicated that he didn't want to stay in vallejo that last night, said it was an armpit. I'd bet that if you tried all the buellitin boards, that you could find someone that would be a roomie. If Tom doesn't go, youcan room with me, but I'm pretty certain that Tom is going. I already reserved no smiling rooms with twin doubles. Yes, I'm planning on going on the HHoH ride this sunday. Al | ||
| Sparky |
Thanks FB. FWIW, there are KOAs at 5 of the 8 stops: San Diego, Victorville, Bakersfield, Tahoe & Eureka. 60 bucks a night for hoteling it is enough for this working fool to consider packing sleeping bags & the tent for at least some of the stops. Besides I like camping out under the stars. (See forthcoming Songdog Spring Rally pitch under Storm Fronts, SoCal) WooHoo! Just checked the Mountain Road Conditions site and SR-2 aka, Angeles Crest Hwy, is open!!! Perfect for the FIRST DAY OF SPRING! Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| Al_Lighton |
hmm, in my last post "no smiling rooms?" I meant "no smoking rooms". Not sure how I got an il instead of an ok. Smiling is ALWAYS permitted. Frowns aren't. Al | ||
| FB |
Al, i figgered the "No Smiling" rooms musta been some sort of inside joke! geez, tough duty this afternoon. one of my bosses calls, long after i'd finished work for the day, and says they need me to get a package down to Bakersfield asap. the package was actually a letter.....hmmmmmmm, which would fit inside my riding jacket.....hmmmmmmm..... long story less-long, it was a marvelous 90-mile round-trip down and back up the lower Kern River Canyon, enjoying the first day of spring and the 80-degree temps, all the while getting paid fairly well for the honor and privelege of being on two wheels. like i said, tough duty Racerboy and V2win, looks like i've come up with a pretty slick solution to our lodging at the Rabbit Trail disappearing, will hopefully confirm tomorrow. Sparky, ever ridden the Great Divide Hwy (which M99 ultimately runs into) up to Springville and Porterville? if not, wanna? ride to dream, Ferris | ||
| Sparky |
FB, Not yet, but yeah. Mother Nature wants me to return and try it again on a better day. Perhaps that day will be Day 3's ride from Bakersfield to Fresno via Sequoia & King's Canyon. I'm not certain how the BRAG route is getting there, but I think it would be great to have a backup plan to the official route like maybe 155, Kernville, M99, Great Divide, J37 into 198. Who knows, maybe that is the route? What are those wiggly lines on the map between Oildale & Glenville - canyon roads in the foothills? Look similar to Caliente-Bodfish, in other words  . dreamin' in the big city, Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| FB |
not much time to scribble tonite... RBoy and V2win and FMJ, we're locked in for lodging for Fri 5/17, in Kernville--you'll love the place! more to come... FMJ, got the copy of FUELL today--THANKS!!! and nice job on your "Rock on the Salt" piece! more to come... Sparky, those wiggly lines are/is Granite Road, which i rode from end-to-end just last Sunday. GR is as close as i've come to a perfect motorcycle road in quite some time! more to come... ps to Sparky: hmmmmmm, some of you guys/gals might wanna head north from Bakersfield during the BRAG deal up thru my little corner of dice-dice on your way to Kings Canyon and Sequoia? dude, you have got my "Shucks, maybe I'll take another day off" wheels spinnin' overtime!!! more to come... Ferris | ||
| Firemanjim |
Oh Geeze,not "FERRIS BUELLERS DAY OFF!!" I've seen that already. | ||
| Sparky |
FB, I couldn't think of a better way to honor one of the original Buelligans (you) than to have 125 of the Buell faithful thundering past your pad, waving to Fearless & the kids as we ascend the canyons of sportbike bliss. Ferris Buellers Day Off!! - Good one, FMJ. I think the upcoming sequel will be more fun. Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| FB |
Sparky, if i ever have a fan club (not likely...), i'm appointing you President! your idea is great, altho i'd be plenty stoked to escort even just a couple Hooligans thru 'my' territory on your way north. hey Fireman, F.B.D.O. is a CLASSIC, and certainly worthy of another 'viewing', doncha think??? ride to lean, Ferris | ||
| FB |
geez, crappy weather two weekends in a row, am starting to wonder if i need to move even FURTHER south! RBoy and V2win, it's not too soon to start getting you ready for this land we call California. i present, then... THE TOP 10 WAYS YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN CALIFORNIA #10: It's sprinkling outside so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents. #9: A really great parking space can move you to tears. #8: Gas costs a dollar a gallon more than anywhere else in the United States. #7: Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named "Breeze". #6: You can't remember--is pot illegal? #5: You take a bus and are shocked to find two people carrying on a conversation in English. #4: A high-speed pursuit will interrupt ANY TV broadcast. #3: Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment. #2: Unlike back home, the guy at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like Denzel Washington IS Denzel Washington. and the number one way you know you are in California (besides the fact that you're following, at a very high rate of speed, a red VFR with an amped little madman at the helm :-): There's a little rain in the air and every television news station is running coverage called "STORM WATCH 2002!" R U RED E??? Ferris | ||
| FB |
it's past my bedtime, but i gotta take a sec and admit i did something on a motorcycle this afternoon that i'd never done before: 150 mph (indicated). hadn't ridden in long enough i was getting antsy, so set out about 4 pm for a lap o' the lake (after a slow-ride up and down Mountain 99--make a note in your diaries: i actually cruised along the north fork of the Kern River so slowly i had to pull over and let a couple of cars go by!) you know how the bike mags get those perfectly-lit outdoor shots of the latest moto-weapon they're flogging? they shoot the bike JUST after the sun sets (literally SECONDS after). well, that's the lighting i had on the ride back down the river tonight, and it was very awesome. and, for the first 60 or so miles of my ride i was perfectly content to soak in the ambiance at 20 or 30-under the given posted. not sure, then, what got into me as i dropped down into a long, wide valley on the Sierra Highway bordering Lake Isabella, but next thing i know i'm in a full tuck with the throttle pinned hard. the ton came quick, as did 130 and then 140. 145 took a bit longer, but was on me soon enough. then i could really start feeling the air wall i was hammering on, and 146, 147, 148, and 149 came a little harder. wasn't at all sure that 150 was even in the Viffer, yet after a few more seconds the needle centered itself dead-center over the one-five-oh mark, and would go no more. the whole deal was calm, serene and fuss-free, and, oddly, seemed almost normal. speed is a devious drug, i'll tell ya. i was quickly running out of real estate, and unwound my right wrist. when i'd slowed enough (i thought) i started to sit up to help bleed even more mph, when i stole a glance at the clock and realized i was STILL doing 110! if Fearless ever finds out about my little performance you might as well stick a fork in me 'cause i'm surely done. still, i think i'd do it again ENGAGE! Ferris | ||
| Blake |
I may call Fearless and tell her to remove your viffer's fairing or at least the wind screen. That'd slow you down a smidge. Blake (mustconfesshedidnear140atnightonsnailsbusaSTOOPID!!!) | ||
| V2win |
Im getting a little nervous. My bike is still completely apart. Engine is still not together. Body work is in primer only. Its supposed to warm up soon so we can get the paint on but we are still waiting for jugs and pistons to arrive. After being in the parts business for decades I am about to turn into a "customer" and go postal. Cases are bored so I am locked into waiting until the new jugs get here. Plan on doing a little proding today and try to expedite shipping. I have a special stretch of road too, that I always use to go WFO on the Buell. Speedo says 130ish. New engine should go much faster. Extra cubes are a good thing. |
