|
SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> 2024 Rides /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1699410026 Message started by Dave on 11/07/23 at 18:20:26 |
|
Title: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/07/23 at 18:20:26 Is it too early to start talking about rides for the next year? Deb and I are going to try to head to the Texas Hill Country again in 2024. We are planning a slower trip to and from the area, we are both retired and going to try and take advantage of all that time off! Last year we had planned on being there the 1st week in May for a couple of reasons: 1) We wanted to see the bat colonies near Kerrville and in Austin, and they don't show up until May. 2) The little cottage we rented was not available until the 1st week in May. The daytime temperatures appear to be flirting at 90 in May.....and looking at the 2021-2022 history there are some weeks in May that it goes over 90 towards 100 for several days in a row! Perhaps the bats are not worth us all baking on rides all week.....perhaps April would be better. We are planning on driving the RV this year....it appears all the RV spots at the Schreiner park where you guys got a cabin are booked already. We will have to find somewhere else to stay......we need to start planning soon. Is anyone interested in going to Texas in April 2024? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 11/07/23 at 18:46:20 I'd like to go. The cabins haven't been filling up. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/08/23 at 04:46:59 I changed the search criteria, and there are some RV spots available. Can we agree on the dates in April? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 11/08/23 at 07:26:34 all of the riverside mini cabins are available in April so anytime is good with me. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/08/23 at 10:33:10 I vote yes. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/08/23 at 14:51:35 Count me in! :) Once we iron out the dates I will give Steve (Hammer) a call and see if he can make it. MM where are you??? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/08/23 at 19:49:58 I'd love to take a ride in the spring over to Kerrville . I don't want to be a limiting factor with my 55 to 65 mph cruising speeds . That's where my Savage was comfily too - so it might be just fine. The little Meteor can cruise at 70mph if it needs too , but its slow about getting there and its back to 65 if a steep hill shows up. How-ever ... I'm planning to put the performance cam in with the spring oil change/valve check ... that might be a game changing modification . I've never did a cam increase thing before. Hay Lancer , should I expect much of an improvement , advertised at (20% increase). Already done the DNA air intake and free flowing exaust. If ya'll can put up with me and it works out for me to get away for a 10 day streak , then I'd be ridding solo and staying in the cabin. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/09/23 at 08:01:14 Sounds good to me MM. Even with the smaller bike you'll probably be waiting at the turns for me. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/09/23 at 08:10:14 Hay Springman , It handles/feels just like a Savage does. Same sitting position , same foot position , same weight , same rake , with a stiffer frame ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/09/23 at 08:18:40 23302726393432303B64550 wrote:
My availability is determined by my ability to avail on any given day. Retired from a paying job so no worries with work. Honey Dew Enterprises has a flexible work schedule. I only need to work when I am flexible.. with a minimum of creaking.. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/09/23 at 09:28:03 Can't wait to see it MM. Neal, Wow, I forgot you are retired now. Cool. I sent Steve a text. His reply "Count me in." |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/09/23 at 09:36:49 Looks like the early part of April may be the best for those that do not like riding in the heat. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/09/23 at 09:53:04 Just wanted to ask you guys, I have another brother-in-law that just recently got back into riding (he got a Victory I think). And just recently another brother-in-law (with my sister) just moved down here to Houston. He used to ride an HD. I don't know if he intends to get a bike down here. Is it OK if I ask them if they would like to join us? I will wait to hear from ya'll before I say anything to them. Thanks. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 11/09/23 at 10:51:28 I'm ok with it. if everyone comes, we'll need 2 cabins or we can go for the ranchhouse (sleeps 8) up the road. that's $200/nite vs. $72x2 but includes bathrooms and kitchen. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/09/23 at 11:50:38 3536342F28212B2728460 wrote:
Here is the log of the average temperatures in April. There really is only 4-5 degrees of difference. However - I do believe these historical averages are a bit cooler than the temperatures that the current climate change are providing. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/09/23 at 11:51:12 Here is a record of the temperatures from last year. There really isn't any clear pattern of the temperature being consistent. On the 3rd the temperature was 92, and 4 days later the high was 55. In 2021 the photos on my phone show we arrived in Kerrville on April 11th, and in 2022 we arrived in Kerrville on April 17th. I can remember some cold mornings and hot afternoons on both trips. I had wanted to go a bit later in the month as the bats may have returned to the tunnel and the bridge at Austin - however the wildflowers may have peaked a bit earlier.......it is all weather dependent! Can we get a consensus on what week you want to be there? April 14th - 19th April 22nd - 26th I did not include the weekend on either side of the weekdays in the above choices - however Deb and I are likely to stay a weekend or two as well. The weekends are harder to secure in the campground - it is possible that we can't get a spot for the weekends....even this early! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/09/23 at 13:19:23 14-19 is easier for me, but I can probably swing either. Or at worst on later week I would only be there for half the week. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/09/23 at 14:15:35 Im good for any time in April |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/09/23 at 14:28:13 7172706B6C656F636C020 wrote:
Is Hammer going to be required to bring his wife......now that she knows I bring Deb? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/09/23 at 14:48:46 Good question Dave. I guess I'll find out here soon. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 11/09/23 at 16:02:21 let's see... mike, mike and mike, dave, victory, bil2, hammer and possibly sig other and dave and deb in the rv as far as weather goes, this far out, it rolls in faster than they predict. sunday arrival is fine with me, I might stay tilll saturday though. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/09/23 at 17:04:29 Retirement is wonderful ! In my opinion : Warm weather is good ... as long as its under 100 degrees. :) ............. Springman , all those brothers are good the way I see it. Any number under a dozen is OK. IMHO I'll bring a tent to camp in on the way there and back , so I could bring the 8x10x6 foot that sleeps two nicely and set it up in the yard - if we have an odd number of people. Everybody knows that snoring sound better in a tent ! :-? Ranch house is good too , Kitchen and Indoor bathrooms ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/09/23 at 17:20:48 Snoring ? Does someone snore ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/09/23 at 17:41:59 Hay thinking of " Snoring " , the VA has me an appointment for the mask less cpap in Feb. https://www.inspiresleep.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=conversion_osatreatment&utm_content=na_text_rsa&utm_term=key_osatreatment&msclkid=9d4a2d4c3258157c3c254801bbe44a9d I'll know more about it later ? .............. right now vick's vaper rub is working just fine. :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 11/10/23 at 08:16:55 While snoring may not be healthy , snoring is just as much the rhythm of the earth as flowing water , the blowing winds and swelling tides of the ocean , cows mooing and so on. Mind over matter , next time MM has you trapped in a tent sawing logs just pic the rhythm close to his rhythm and you’ll go to sleep to the sound of the wind , or maybe a freight train or a tornado. You’ll go right to sleep. Trust me ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/10/23 at 21:59:28 ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/11/23 at 03:43:32 We will go right to sleep ? Suuuuure we will. Just pretend that the snoring is a part of the sounds of nature. Umm ha. Ruttly, you are going to have to come to Texas so you can SHOW us how you do this. Yep. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/12/23 at 09:51:31 Touristy Stuff: Deb and I are going to be doing some things on this trip that are perhaps a bit less riding oriented and more site seeing/touristy. We are going to be in the area about 10 days - so we can do this stuff on days when Youzguyz wants a day off from being our guide......or on days when the rest of you have gone home. If any of you are interested in this stuff........we could do it together. Comstock/Langtry: This area is very rugged, scenic and has a lot of history. Judge Roy Bean lived and ruled here, and there are cave drawings at the Seminole Canyon State Park, and the view from the Pecos River Bridge is impressive. This is about a 2.5 hour ride from Kerrville. Deb and I are likely going to head this way and camp fpr a day or two after we leave Kerrville.....if you are packing a tent you can camp in this area with us. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff67z-gNngI[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u_YB5XqQLQ[/media] San Antonio: We would like to go to San Antonio and see the Alamo and the River Walk. It would take a bit more than an hour to get into San Antonio, and we could likely visit both of these places in the same trip. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJInJBtTEqQ[/media] Regency Bridge: This bridge takes about 2 hours to ride up to. It may not be worth the trip if the scenery along the way is not enjoyable. Youzguyz has offered to take us there on previous years - but the bridge was damaged and you could not drive across it. I did a search and cannot determine if it is open to traffic again. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbAOKVXZ830[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/13/23 at 02:30:05 Don't know much about some of these places. Comstock/Langtry: Never been there. San Antonio: I live there.. but haven't been to the Alamo or River Walk in a LONG time. Tourist places. I hear the River Walk is really nice. There are other missions that are easy to get to that might interest. Regency Bridge: From my research, it appears to be open to traffic. The roads to get are gravel. About a mile on the south side and 4.5 miles on the north. There is an RV park right at the bridge that would know for sure if it was open: https://theregencybridgepark.com/ |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/14/23 at 11:18:34 I made reservations for our camp site at the Kerrville Schreiner Park. We will be at the beginning of the Sycamore Loop, site 201. It is located very near to the cabin you fellows rented previously (But outside the range where your snoring can be heard). Our first night will be Sunday April 14....and we will be leaving on Monday April 22. There is a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 - so maybe the tourist crowd will be gone by the time we move in to Texas for a week! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/14/23 at 14:51:28 675C5146575B40465D555847340 wrote:
That's right! There is ANOTHER complete solar eclipse for the Texas Hill Country in April. We just got over one of those last month. 8-) "X" marks the spot! ::) https://www.space.com/where-to-stand-texas-to-see-two-solar-eclipses-under-six-months |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/15/23 at 08:22:27 The 14th sounds good to me and for the moment is forecast to be dryer than the following week. Guys count me in as well as Hammer. My other brother in law is a 90% at the moment. Looking forward to seeing all of you. Ruttly, you should come. We can choose one night just for you when none of us will use our CPAPs. ;D ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 11/15/23 at 09:37:14 Cpap folks , I had a heart attack 5+ years ago. I used to snore up a storm , was compared to an Apollo rocket one year camping. Gods warning the heart attack I was lucky to survive. Quit smoking , had to quit drinking to succeed , cholesterol thru the ceiling. Change my diet and was victorious over smoking and drinking. I don’t snore anymore , once in a while I’ll have a few beers or shots , maybe that might make me snore. My turn to complain who’s snoring now. The wife never says anything at all about snoring. A long ride 1 to 2 hrs really tires me out , if I cop a nap after the ride I might launch a few rockets myself. But nightly I sleep like a baby , but always up just before sun up , greet the day , everyday is a gift ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/15/23 at 11:40:53 Every day is a gift. Glad you were able to overcome those issues. Getting old, or maybe I should say, losing your youth is quite an experience. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/15/23 at 14:36:45 Getting old ? My brain seems to think I’m eternally 27 years old. But, my body begs to differ however. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/15/23 at 20:05:45 I've seen that 27 year old feller your referring to a time or two ... I think your right 27 (going on 47) years old and ridding a light-weight high compression bike that sounded like its got a performance cam in it ! Seen him in Texas a couple of time and in Oklahoma a few times too. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by TheSneeze on 11/15/23 at 21:27:24 Geez, my wife won't sleep in the same room with me any more! Two closed doors, minimum. I don't have a need for cpap, but I sure can imitate a freight train! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/16/23 at 03:00:42 MM: Did you modify that photo using Photoshop or some other wizardry? Springman is the tallest guy in the photo........just a bit taller than Verslagen! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/16/23 at 07:52:04 Good job MM. 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 11/16/23 at 18:58:02 Hey , How about a left to right on that pic ? Thanks |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/16/23 at 19:48:42 We all know Springman is "REALLY a BIG MAN" Left to Right ... well Springman is on the Right , Dave and Deb have full face helmets and look like Newly weds , I have a mask keeping my face warm and hidding the forgot to shave thing Versey is a Big Man Too and smiles all the time unless some one's bike breaks , Lance has enough brains to wear "visible colors" , and Springman brother is the one on the left with the "I got it covered" grin going on. :) I hope I got that right , but that's all I can remember at this time. Except most important of all ... YouzGuyz must be taking the picture after getting us all to where the road sign says we are ! You might have to zoom the picture to read it ? ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/17/23 at 03:29:11 In that photo, it is only a coincidence that were are standing in front of a brown "trash" can. We really aren't all that trashy or smelly! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/17/23 at 04:08:41 I remember this particular moment when youzguyz had us stand in front of the “U R Lost Rd” sign for the photo op. Springman does loom large in this photo. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/17/23 at 04:14:45 746B4E49434A46554C270 wrote:
That sounds like a personal problem and we can’t do much to help you in that regard. Did you have a sleep study done that showed you do not have sleep apnea ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 11/17/23 at 08:35:08 Sneeze , When I used to snore I would wear those Breath Easy nose strips. They would almost completely stop the snoring unless I was really drunk. Get the wider ones. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 11/17/23 at 08:38:04 I never felt sorry for my wife when snoring , payback. For something , I’m not sure what , but payback ! ;D ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/17/23 at 09:35:19 That is a rowdy looking bunch. I bet they stir up trouble wherever they go. ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/17/23 at 09:38:44 7E7D7F64636A606C630D0 wrote:
Who ? What ? ? Naaaaw [ch128527] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/17/23 at 11:17:08 Specially the guy in the colorful jacket! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/17/23 at 16:29:43 Specially the guy in the colorful jacket! I think he rides a Wheelie Machine ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by TheSneeze on 11/17/23 at 21:23:27 That looks like a group of people I would love to meet some day. Let me start by wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! May it spent with family and friends, good times, and even better memories. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/18/23 at 09:33:22 This sculpture garden is located in Kerrville. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEeb75HND3Q[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/18/23 at 20:47:52 A visit to the Garden might be a good way to begin the week ? I need all the help I can get some times ... ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/19/23 at 03:39:30 4F5D4F5D50434C414A020 wrote:
Wow, that’s quite the sculpture. We need to go see this. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/19/23 at 05:47:45 69646B6660773732050 wrote:
Wow, that’s quite the sculpture. We need to go see this.[/quote] It is by a cute little set of back roads that I like to ride. So.. yeah, we can do that... if someone reminds me. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/19/23 at 11:25:16 21372D223F2D2122580 wrote:
Wow, that’s quite the sculpture. We need to go see this.[/quote] It is by a cute little set of back roads that I like to ride. So.. yeah, we can do that... if someone reminds me. [/quote] *** Don’t forget we want to see that. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/19/23 at 16:44:25 And Youzguyz can put on his trunks and show us how to do this! :) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9DngKvFB8[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/21/23 at 02:17:04 72494453424E555348404D52210 wrote:
That is the same algae that makes water crossings so much fun!! (stay in the tire tracks.. no matter how it looks) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/21/23 at 09:04:58 That all looks good Dave. And I'm with Lancer, I'll take all the help I can get. As far as riding through a river goes... :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/21/23 at 09:21:22 That looks like a “feet up” crossing only. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/21/23 at 10:25:38 It looks like Mad Hamish is enjoying the swim ! The idea of a good dusty back road followed by a nice swim in the sun helps the winter month pass by. 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/21/23 at 12:10:43 0D1F0D1F12010E0308400 wrote:
We had a very nice week here in KY, and I got a lot of outside work done and a couple of rides to relax - but it appears the winter weather has arrived. The coming 10 day forecast shows temps in the 30's at night and 40's in the daytime.....next Thursday will be 20 at night with a high of 37! :( I guess it is time to fire up the outdoor wood furnace and start sacrificing my wood supply! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 11/21/23 at 13:56:20 Mid 30’s & mid 50’s in NE OK |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/21/23 at 17:38:53 Don't worry guys , warm weather will return with the shrinking of the moon on Dec. 5th. ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 11/22/23 at 08:01:45 Sounds like the good-old gang is coming to Texas! Y'all should have a great time. Are y'all gunna ride the Twisted Sisters while in the area? There is the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum near Vanderpool if you venture that way. I don't want to invite myself, but I'm in Houston and might make a day trip that way and try to track you guy down and say hello. If I do, I'll be on my Honda Shadow Spirit and Woody will just have stay home. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/22/23 at 08:12:25 You've got to be kidding me. You have a Savage and a Honda Shadow Spirit. Those are the same 2 bikes I have. You have good taste! 8-) I'm sure all the guys would like to meet you. Consider joining us for the week. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 11/22/23 at 12:12:20 Ha! Thanks Springman. It would be nice to actually meet these great people that have tolerated me on the forum and been so helpful and kind! Cool we have the same bikes. Are you in Houston (more specifically and coincidentally the Spring area perhaps - Springman??)? I'm on the NW side in the Cypress area. If I make the trip, it would be a 1-nighter probably during mid week. I said day trip, but I don't think my old butt and back can handle 4 hours there and 4 hours back home in the saddle in one day. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 11/22/23 at 12:36:34 Yep, I'm in spring just north of the airport. And yep again, going to Kerville and back in one day is not something I would recommend. And yes, all these guys are really good people and extremely knowledgeable on the Savage. I think every last one of these guys has helped me in one way or another with my S40. Well, if you decide to join us if even for just a day I'm sure you will have a great time. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/22/23 at 13:37:11 5A667B637E6B7C5E6F7B620E0 wrote:
The solo trip to/from Kerrville on a motorcycle may not be the fun part of the adventure. I am one that doesn't enjoy motoring down a big highway at 70mph surrounded by cars and trucks - so I haul the motorcycle to the place where the magic happens! If you have a truck or trailer - perhaps you would be better off by hauling the bike up to Kerrville and then riding the bike on a day ride with us. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 11/22/23 at 14:56:46 Hay Paul , Come join us for sure , You might be Retired so Spend the Week ! :) If my wife don't join me then I'll ride down the Natchez Trace to the southern campground on day one and then on to Kerrville for day two. If Wife wants to go then it will be load the bike in the truck , and motel in Natchez . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/23/23 at 17:06:35 When Deb and I were in Texas in 2022, we did a few side trips when we were not riding with Youzguyz. We were staying in Centerpoint, and we discovered the cemetery in town had more Texas Rangers buried there than any other place in Texas. Once the number of Rangers buried there started to grow - other Rangers chose it as their final resting place so they could be with their peers. It was a short walk to the cemetery from the little cabin we had rented, and we went for a visit. It was a bit surprising to find that most of them died of old age.....and it was amazing how old some of them were - they seemed to be pretty tough and durable! https://texashillcountry.com/texas-rangers-buried-cemetery/ Just a bit farther down the road is Camp Verde - which was home to the Camel Corp experiment of the Federal Government. The funny thing was that when the Civil War broke out the Federal troops turned the camels loose - and local folks started seeing these unfamiliar animals roaming around in the desert! https://www.click2houston.com/features/2022/02/23/weird-texas-history-the-us-armys-camel-corps-experiment-at-camp-verde/ |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/26/23 at 04:05:19 1428352D3025321021352C400 wrote:
Yes, the Three Twisted Sisters will definitely be a part of the agenda. As will many other fine roads, (including the search for U R Lost.. again). Maybe a trip to Oz.. if it is still there. There is a "new" motorcycle museum in Johnson City that is better than the one in Vanderpool (my opinion). Very nice and knowledgeable owner. Bring whichever bike that you want. On the original Hill Country meetup, it was all Savages. We were much younger then... ::) Times change, and some change motorcycles, or add new ones. I will now formally invite you!! Come for a day or stay all week. If we know which day(s) you can make it, and where you want to go, we could probably adjust the agenda so it lines up. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 11/26/23 at 04:18:51 7F44495E4F43585E454D405F2C0 wrote:
Camp Verde is interesting, but a bit of a tourist place, kind of like Luckenbach, but without a bar. The "General Store" is more of a gift shop. The restaurant is to "posh" for me. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 11/26/23 at 11:34:09 The story of Camp Verde was interesting to us.....who would have thought that the US would have been interested in Camels? Deb and I didn't go into the store at Camp Verde - we did stop at the park across the street and read about some of the history. We attempted to find the remains of the old Fort - only later did we learn that it was on private property and no longer accessible to the public. We also have learned to like the little towns of Centerpoint and Comfort. The limestone buildings in Texas are far different than the ones here in Kentucky. We live in an area called Camp Springs, and the German settlers built lots of houses using the local Limestone. Our limestone is much whiter than the limestone in Texas, and the slabs are thinner here. The limestone blocks in these Texas buildings must have been quarried......while the KY homes were built from rocks gathered from the fields and streams by early settlers. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/02/23 at 16:53:06 Hay has anybody here ever rode in the Burr's Trail Utah area ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbEU-o7OOrY I'm sure I watch too many "U-Tube" videos ! ::) So , I was checking on Camping Cabins in the area and found this : https://bearvalleyrv.com/gallery/ It looks like the Sheep Wagons sleep three for $65 +$4/night $23.oo each for running water bathrooms/showers and a place to nap away the night. Or https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/canyons-of-escalante-rv-park.html?aid=357029&label=msn-61T2bldMPCoUP2Wrd7lYmA-80195733559767%3Atikwd-80195844656417%3Aloc-190%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp64786%3Adec%3AqsTent%2Bcamping%2Bin%2Bescalante%2Butah&sid=d4b7d4750001679435bd515d6 Marcia's not too interested in going anywhere right now , her Mom is 99 going on 100 next April. There are "So Many" interesting places to go and so few summers ! Anybody else been looking at places to spend a week or 10 days on the road ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/02/23 at 19:33:31 that bear valley rv looks like our kinda place, but it's 100 miles to the BT grill from there so it's not central home base for the area. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/03/23 at 03:54:06 MM: You tricked me into watching a YouTube advertisement/documentary for Harley Davidson with the Burr Trail video. For the last 2 years I haven't been able to get you away from home for 2 or 3 days.......is 2024 the year you get to ride again? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/03/23 at 15:59:19 .is 2024 the year you get to ride again? I certainly hope so ! I hope to join you fellers for a week in Texas for a "Spring-Ride" In the middle of the Summer or early fall a ride out to The Burr's trail ( or similar) is not out of the question , but It don't seem like a good idea to go camping solo in places far from law and order. Yea , I do carry , and have a portable "motion detector" with a loud receiver to put under my pillow ... but I sleep sound sometimes. Maybe I should get a "Pocket Dog" to bring along ? ;D How would ya carry a dog on a Motorcycle anyway ? I'm picturing a tank bag type pet box ? Really , A light sleeping bike buddy with a nice tent , and retired would be better ... or both ? I'm going to put "pocket Dog and Motorcycle" on U-Tube and see what pops up ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/03/23 at 18:55:42 every dog I have had wouldn't get near the motorcycle. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/04/23 at 03:03:56 I have seen a few dogs that ride with their owners. I can remember 2 of them specifically - one was a small black/white French Bulldog, the other was a Chihuahua. Both were socialized well and were not "yippy" and they seemed to like hanging out with folks. The bulldog stayed glued to the owner and didn't wander far.....the Chihuahua was high energy and like to visit folks. Here is how the owner hauled the little French Bulldog around. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/04/23 at 03:04:41 Close up of pet carrier. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/04/23 at 03:12:23 Taking a dog along while camping does alter the way you spend your time - at least it does with the 70 pound dog we camp with. Mornings are spent getting them breakfast and taking them for a morning walk....same for the evening meal. When we take a motorcycle with us we spend the morning with Lily going on hikes or visiting places that are dog friendly. After lunch Deb and I will go on a motorcycle ride and Lily gets to stay in the RV - we come home after a 4-5 hour ride and get Lily out of the RV and we cook dinner and spend the rest of the evening hanging out with her. The RV has heat and AC - so if we are traveling and want to stop at a museum or restaurant Lily can stay in the RV. The RV is pretty well insulated and has good ventilation, we don't need to run the generator and AC when stopped unless temps are in the high 70's or above. On a motorcycle a dog would not always be able to hang out in the carrier while you did other things......the sun could be a bit too hot to leave them in the carrier for long. Maybe with a small dog you could carry them and get into places I would never take Lily. We will take Lily to restaurants that have outdoor seating, and she goes into hardware stores, auto parts stores, and even my bank is dog friendly - I never take her into places that sell or serve food. Some museums and historical sites are dog friendly - not all of them will let your dog inside or on the grounds. Our previous dog Sarah and our current dog Lily are good campers - but far too big to take along on a motorcycle. They both have an incredible sense of what is going on around us......and even have a good sense of what to ignore and what needs attention. We were at a campsite with Sarah and sleeping.....and she woke us up when she made a stern growl. As I woke up I could see a flashlight headed toward our tent....and when they heard the growl they quickly headed another direction (the place had no lighting and I suspect someone got lost and thought our space was theirs'.....until they heard the growl). Lily is a bit more laid back about people - but I suspect she would give us an alert for any animals that got into the campsite. Lily loves going camping and would enjoy a motorcycle ride....she gets excited anytime I ride mine out the driveway or someone rides over on their bike. She knows when the bike goes into the trailer that I am headed somewhere for a few days and I won't be home to spend time with her. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/04/23 at 03:41:18 Deb and I are going to spend a couple of days at the Seminole Canyon State Park after we leave the campground at Kerrville. The campground is located about 2.5 hours west, and it is located in the desert area and very remote. We will be staying here on Monday night April 22nd and Tuesday April 23rd....then we will be headed back to KY. I want to spend a couple of days here exploring the desert environment, visiting Comstock and Langtry where Judge Roy Bean ruled the area, and seeing the dramatic cliffs along the Rio Grande and Pecos rivers. Seminole Canyon has a walking tour of cave paintings that leaves from the visitors center near the campground. The night sky is reported to be incredible as there is no light pollution from large cities. Camping with hookups for water/electric is $20 a night, and primitive sites are $10 a night. There are shower/toilet facilities in the campground - for food and drink you need to drive about 15 minutes to Langtry or Comstock. If anyone wants to join us for a day or two on this part of the trip, we can provide the coffee and breakfast in the morning - you will need to bring your tent and make arrangements for a campsite https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/seminole-canyon |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/04/23 at 11:33:39 We have another possibility... John. I'm working on a long dormant savage for him. Cabin 1: $72/night sleeps 4 John Lancer MMranch versey Cabin 2: springman victory, bil2, hammer and possibly sig other RV1: dave and deb Ranch House $200/night sleeps 8, 2 baths and kitchen included |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/04/23 at 18:29:10 I like the ranch house option with 2 bathrooms and kitchen. Just $25/N for 8 or $33.33/N for 6. Either way, it’s a good deal. No midnight walks to the B/R for ___ & showers, and a kitchen for making food/snacks. [ch128526] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/04/23 at 19:51:15 I'm OK with all the above thanks Versey ! The idea of all under the same roof is good till the snoring starts ... I'll bring some Vick's and a few Q-Tips to lube them nose bore's with ! ;D .......... I think I might need to bring the 650cc bike to keep up with you fellers and weather permitting go on the West Texas (Seminole-canyon) for a day or two. That campground sound right friendly.! I don't know what beds the bunkhouse has but : I'll be bringing a tent , sleeping bag and sleeping pad anyway. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/04/23 at 21:32:39 4E5C4E5C51424D404B030 wrote:
3 bedrooms and a living room, so I guess that's 2 per room. pictures show rustic looking bunkbeds with 2x4 ladders rather than pipes and you don't have to crawl a pipe rail to get in either. but that might be for the bunkhouse. I'll have to call. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/05/23 at 09:43:05 Versey, what are the dates we are looking at ? Seems like it started on the 18th but I cannot find where it was mentioned. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/05/23 at 09:56:56 Lily sure is a Sweetheart of a girl ! I like her even if her tonge is way too oversized and wet ! ;) Should I look at my "Moon Calendars" to see what the weather was last year for the moon cycles in April ? :-? I would think that later in the month would be warmer , but that don't always pan-out to be the way it turns-out ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/05/23 at 11:57:19 6C616E6365723237000 wrote:
Deb and I are arriving on the afternoon of April 14....a Sunday. We are leaving on the morning of Monday, April 22nd, and headed to stay at the Seminole Canyon State Park on April 23 & 24th. You cabin folks are not bound by our schedule - except that Youzguyz will be leading us on trips some of those days (maybe not all). Deb and I plan on doing a few touristy things that Youzguys will likely not want to participate in - like going to see the Alamo and the River Walk in San Antonio......which is about an hour away from Kerrville. I believe both of those touristy things can be accomplished in the same day. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/05/23 at 12:01:40 041604161B08070A01490 wrote:
I am pretty sure we had the negotiations about the dates to attend about 4 weeks ago......and I reserved my campsite based on the decision we made - are you suggesting we change it now? Why didn't you look at your moon cycles a month ago when we were trying to figure out the dates? 043F3225343823253E363B24570 wrote:
7477756E69606A6669070 wrote:
707D727F796E2E2B1C0 wrote:
172C2136272B30362D252837440 wrote:
As I posted last month......attached is the temperature records from 2023. A week or two doesn't make much of a change based on the records from last year.....however weather can make a sudden an unexpected change at any time! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/05/23 at 13:07:51 I'm good with the ranch house. Having all of us together is more enjoyable. Looking forward to seeing everybody. As far as the weather goes, just be prepared for both cool and warm. Who knows what weather we'll get. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/06/23 at 08:47:29 Who knows what weather we'll get. Last year for the same moon cycle , Here in TN. (one to two days behind Texas weather) we had : Rain on the days that corresponds with the 15th and 18th for 2024 , but it was only AM lite rain then sunny afternoons . I pack a rain suit all the time Sometimes I remember to spray it with Camp Dry before I leave even ................. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/06/23 at 08:58:33 495B495B56454A474C040 wrote:
So are you confirming that we are going on April 14 - 22nd plus or minus? (Not everyone has to arrive and stay for those dates - but those are the dates Deb and I have reserved our camp site). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/06/23 at 10:22:05 My wife is having surgery in late Jan. or early Feb. to have a joint below her R. ankle fused. There is a 12 week recovery time for that but she will be able to drive during the second half of that time so this should not interfere with either of the date suggested. So I’m still good for whatever shakes out. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/06/23 at 12:15:29 Lancer, I hope Paula recovers quickly. She will be in my prayers. I am counting on the week of the 14 to coincide with Dave's dates. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/06/23 at 17:56:55 I'm with you fellers ! :) Lancer , give Paula a smile for me ! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/07/23 at 02:55:35 180A180A07141B161D550 wrote:
I was smiling at her a whole lot last night. [ch128526] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/07/23 at 07:35:09 Musical note ... If ya want to Smile for the rest of your life Then get a busy woman to be your wife Brother you can believe what I'm telling you I .... know it .... to be True Musical solo .... :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/07/23 at 10:28:13 7D6F7D6F62717E7378300 wrote:
Now you’ve got that song going through my head. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/07/23 at 14:06:45 ;) Happy men do that ! ;D got ya ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/07/23 at 17:24:58 7C6E7C6E63707F7279310 wrote:
Somebody has changed the words to that song........ ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/07/23 at 17:31:51 Somebody has been watching too many Weird AL videos' MAYBE ? ................ That reminds me , It seems like those Harley Guys on U-Tube get to go to all the Cool Places ! So Is it true that Harley Guys have more fun ? :-/ Or Is it that they make better Videos ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/08/23 at 03:12:18 Went downtown to see may gal A kiss is what I was seeking. I went for her mouth - but got her nose The galdurn thing was leaking! Next time I marry It will be for love not riches I am going to marry a woman 4' tall So she can't wear my britches! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/08/23 at 06:29:58 5E4C5E4C41525D505B130 wrote:
No, there's just more of them so they get lucky some times. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/08/23 at 19:22:38 Yep Dave , every guy loves short women ! But I've known some fellers who need tall women ? and I've known very few women who want to be short ! ;D After thinking about it ... It seems to me ... we both married Very Tall Women ? ::) .......................... I miss "Back Yard Bill" ... he would have known how to put a video adventure together for us ? I wouldn't know where to begin with anything like that . Seems to me that if a Harley can go somewhere then any of our bikes can go to the same places easy , with or without a camera . I've got one of those "Dash-Cam" cameras' but I've never tried to recover video from it's SD card. Any of you fellers "Go-Pro" folks ??? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 12/09/23 at 03:55:59 6C7E6C7E73606F6269210 wrote:
I have "crash cameras" on Thumper and The Whale. When I see something interesting on a ride, I will note the time (and try to remember it) so I can extract it from that video on the SD card and cut out the good parts. Like this: https://www.facebook.com/neal.achterhof/videos/3478861622237825 |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/09/23 at 07:33:20 Dang Neal !!! 8-) That was a neat trick seeing those Long Horns coming and going ! 8-) 8-) Add some cowboys music and that video would be as good as any of them I've seen on U Tube ! :) ........... That would be a 3 - 8-) rating 8-) woops maybe 4 or 5 ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/10/23 at 03:38:26 637163717C6F606D662E0 wrote:
I would have rated it "G" = suitable for all audiences! :) I had a GoPro a few year back - somehow it disappeared and cannot be found anywhere. I am not sure if I lost it, left it in a camper we sold (I thought we had everything cleaned out), or somebody got into my motorcycle trailer at a campground an stole it. I have waited a year and it has not shown up anywhere in the house or garage. The GoPro is a bit fiddly with settings and the microphone is not all that great at speed. You can put some foam over the microphone to help reduce wind noise - the newer models may be better than the model I had. The newer ones also have better stabilization, and can even be set to keep the horizon parallel so you can lean over in a turn and the image stays level and shows the lean angle! You can buy a GoPro Subscription for $24.99 for the first year, it is double that every year thereafter. It has some very nice features that may be worthwhile if you use your camera frequently and like having videos. One nice feature is that after you have been on an event and taken a series of videos......they will assemble a video by combining little sections of the footage and putting them together. You can then choose the music and other features of the video....it makes you look like a real professional when you send it to your friends! The subscription also sends your videos directly to the CLOUD for storage. Owning/operating/editing videos from a GoPro is a bit of a technical issue and does require you to learn a lot about how it operates. I can post videos that I have taken - but editing and cutting and combining videos is not a skill I have learned. Learning how to do that is going to take a considerable amount of time away from my other projects.....it is a hobby just like fishing or hunting or riding - it is not something you will acquire without some time and dedication. Learning to operate a GoPro takes quite a few hours of study and practice......learning to use the editing programs is incredibly time consuming if you are not already familiar with that kind of work. Those 20 minute Harley videos that are edited, narrated and fun to watch likely took them 30 hours to put together! When I first got my GoPro we had a slow internet service. Downloading 10 minutes of video to YouTube could take 6 hours or more - I had to do it overnight while we were sleeping. They got rid of the copper telephone lines in our area and hooked us up to the fiberoptic lines....we now have much better internet speed. When you post your videos on YouTube - the quality of the video will be reduced and your nice clear videos will get a bit grainy. There are settings you can change when you post the video to ensure that YouTube does not lower the image quality - I did not know the trick when I posted my videos and they are not good quality. Here I am following Stewmills and MMRanch on the Tail of the Dragon 6 years ago. You can see the poor image quality that YouTube applied to the video....and hear the crappy sound that happens without any kind of a wind sock around the camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu-2kNjUHsE [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu-2kNjUHsE[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/10/23 at 21:55:03 Dang Dave ... I thought you were about to catch me ... ! ;D It could have been that , I was saved by the battery running out ! :-? :-? ............. It appeared that you and Stew was "Apexing" those corners just fine and that muffler seemed tuned just about right too . :) I'm kind of itching to see if the Meteor 350 (after improvements) will have enough power to pull out of the corners like that ? It will never be an RD350 or even a CB350 , but last year is was lacking just so little ... in being just enough . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/11/23 at 14:36:20 Well it wouldn't be much of a video is the camera fellow passed everyone and just had open road ahead of him! Yep - the torque of a good running Savage is definitely a lot of fun on the Dragon! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/11/23 at 18:35:22 Yep - the torque of a good running Savage is definitely a lot of fun on the Dragon! Yep ! I've thought about my old one and why the fuel millage had dropped off so much . The Valves must have been too tight ? May-be ? But Sometimes , I wonder if I could have got the fuel millage up near the 70mpg neighborhood from the LS650 , Without loosing too much of that torque that feels so good ! I've never put a "Performance Cam" in a motor before . I keep thinking of "OldFeller" getting 80 miles to the tank full and talking about his "Performance Cam ! ::) From what information I've gathered on the RE350 Performance Cam , the higher RPM is where the biggest difference is and low in the RPM ban the great fuel millage is still avaible. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/12/23 at 02:06:46 Getting 70mpg with a Savage that has a windshield and saddlebags and a stock low 8.5:1 compression piston is not likely a reality. I did get a bit over 70mpg on my Cafe' bike just once - I was riding with some folks who slowed down for every corner, never went over the speed limit and never passed anyone...and most of the trip was back roads at 40mph or less. You are not a fan of working on carbs and swapping jets or slide needle washers......it very well could be that some jetting changes on your bike could have improved things. Modern motorcycles and cars get good mpg by using higher compression ratios (Royal Enfield Meteor 9.5:1, Honda CB500F 10.7:1, BMW f800 12:1) - and the fuel injection is able to keep the fuel/air mix at an optimum ratio for efficiency......and then change the ratio when power is needed. These higher compression ratios and leaner mixtures are also a reason that motorcycles are using water cooling, as the increased compression ratios and leaner mixtures can make engines run hotter. A Savage in a good state of tune will likely be able to obtain around 60mpg when ridden conservatively - I get up near that number when I ride the back roads around my house. When I have been chasing you and Oldfeller around the mountains I have dropped down around 48mpg a few times! Your friends on Fuelly get horrible mpg on their Savages....I suspect they go on short rides around the city from the looks of their horrible mpg! https://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/suzuki/savage_ls650 If you put in a performance cam and use the available power - most likely your mpg will drop a little bit. The cam allows the engine to move more air through the engine - and more air requires more fuel....and the result is more power. It may not be a big difference - but there will be some change if you are using the extra power.....at steady state cruising on flat ground there may be very little difference - but using the new power to climb a grade and muscle out of the turns will use more fuel. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/12/23 at 17:29:18 Sometimes , good fuel millage has to go by the wayside ... ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/12/23 at 17:36:48 I've been ridding the 650cc a little . The first tank full returned 63mpg , but the engine is new and feels really tight. The 350 felt the same way for about the first 4000 miles. Any body else buy a new one and experienced the same thing ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/14/23 at 14:36:56 2A392E2F303D3B39326D5C0 wrote:
|
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/14/23 at 16:50:14 I can sleep on a cot if need be , they weigh 21 pounds each . https://www.sportsmans.com/camping-gear-supplies/sleeping-gear/cots/teton-spo... I'm ridding with Lancer ... so ... I could put two of them on the bike since I'm not bring a tent . Then Lancer's truck don't care if we have cots or not ? Two cots on rear seat , Duffle bag and Sleeping bag on top of them. Not too aerodynamic but it could work . I've got 6 of them cots in the attic (leftover from Boy-Scout days) , but I can't haul but two on the bike. ???? I guess I don't have enough Asian blood in me ? :) I'm in "Awe" with those folks and how much they can pile on ! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/14/23 at 16:59:03 I can bring a cot, just can't sleep on it. ::) So... Ranch House? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/14/23 at 17:41:52 I'm with you fellers ! and the Ranch house is OK with me. Only 5 beds and eight people ... we need two more cot people. I used to have a folding bed till some oversize little brat tried using it for a trampoline . Maybe someone else has one ? Anyone have an air matrices , come to think of it I have a twin size ... maybe I should just bring that instead of lugging a cot around ? A 12 volt pump and matrices is a lot lighter and smaller than a cot. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/15/23 at 04:07:16 I have a nice cot with an included mattress I can bring and use. Since MM and I are “trucking it” bringing it is no problem. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/15/23 at 08:06:42 Ranch house is good. Looking forward to this. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/15/23 at 08:16:42 MM, I also like it when I get 60 mpg. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/15/23 at 18:56:12 Springman Did you get a Prius ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/18/23 at 09:04:46 No. I got a Maverick. The bed is only 4 and 1/2 feet long. But I think I can get the S40 on it if I keep the tailgate down. That was my main reason for buying it, being able to transport the S40. I don't believe I will ever try putting the Honda in there as it is longer and heavier. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/18/23 at 18:31:09 Congratulations on the Maverick Springman ! Hay , how long does the hill have to be for the 60mpg ? the standard 2.0L EcoBoost® or the available 2.5L hybrid You must have the 2.5 hybrid ? Or Is it the 250HP 2L ? :-? So Ford is getting 250HP out of a 2L ? For comparison , My Chevy Colorado (2017) is only 200HP. @ 27mpg. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/20/23 at 08:31:09 I got the hybrid which I think has a combined (between gas engine, and electric motor) 191 HP. Houston is relatively flat so I get pretty good mpg all the time. The picture I posted was of a drive home from work, it shows you the total miles driven and the time it took. So it was a very heavy traffic day. My normal ride to and from work without ridiculous traffic get me about 50mpg and I would say that overall I am averaging 46-50 mpg. On a long highway trip I expect to get 30-35 mpg. The other good thing about it is that it is actually very quick, it has brisk acceleration and the back seat is actually quite roomy and comfortable. Did not like paying MSRP for a car, but had been without a car or over 2 years. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/20/23 at 18:06:54 I'm with on the idea of "Nobody likes to buy fuel" ! ;) Maybe , I should get a Hybird next time ... if I ever wear the Colorado out ? I've had it for years now (its a 2017) and its only got 40K miles on it. It seems I ride a bike everywhere I go by myself especially in warm weather. Imagine that ? ::) Hay , on putting your bike in the truck. One thing to remember is that the Tail-Gate-cables are only rated for so many pounds ... you might want to set the lighter end of the bike on it and strap the bike in like it was going to brake the tail-gate-cables ? ... ? :-? There is nothing that says you can't replace those cables with solid beefier bars ? They come off with a clip set-up on most of the trucks I've seen . :) Just an idea ? One of my brothers had a short-bed truck that had a rail/cage that flapped over to keep things from sliding out when the tail-gate was left down . I've almost got myself talked into getting a Maverick too ! What color did you get ? ;D ....................... I just had an idea ... Yes , I know ... Marcia tells me to quit doing that !-? Here goes ... Both of my bikes now have "Center-Stands" When on the Center Stand neither tire has weight on it , so ... If you jacked your bike up from the middle (or slightly to one end) the all the weight would be on the jack ... not the wheels . You don't have to be concerned with weight on the Tail-gate ! ;) I have a Harbor-Freight Motorcycle jack with a removable handle ... you could have one of them too ! It has screw down locks to keep it from rolling too. Just an idea ? :-? https://www.ebay.com/itm/256069915512?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D258479%26meid%3Dd126ed11f46e46bab9600f43734f91ec%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D254562970602%26itm%3D256069915512%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV2bAndUBSourceDemotionWithUltimatelyBoughtOfCoviewV1%26brand%3DVEVOR&_trksid=p4429486.c101196.m2219&amdata=cksum%3A256069915512d126ed11f46e46bab9600f43734f91ec%7Cenc%3AAQAIAAABMPzGgyhK8D4QCApcBuWVQe1qsoN395NgJVWTF7eo2rfipPwdfCio0EI4F5H%252Bx0wtS8%252Fu%252Fr%252FRUxEZ1KxNtbAGuwQqNawa9Mz45LW45pYy0nujFAdv1iOVuuJWltI4%252B%252FgzB2KtfufF8fu8R4HTaN7C%252BkhLc0rUQBHZ8XyvofRf0hMqBaXvsh1dakxydFBxX57MCf85toPU8BN8dWrZNi4qKC6Uf2xu9UaVtiRi91uddMUXLdItOIpKogb6hED33vyl%252B7ZeL%252Bgif4saGRhYGWXJWhVEPIwE8NawvcK9gv8zTk5ujbJAMYQIBLFtt%252BGuHg8mPRHL4tTjHsgJQJq0bQnCjGBjL2EyZ7EzVcvxDuZCgeKLk6VsRQvkk31CRkXUAV%252FTjQQBAmvAT2EPw7V0yRxHctw%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A4429486&epid=28060977747 I like this one better than the hydraulic one I have . That baby fastened to a 3 foot piece of 2x6 should be stable as the American Dollar ? :-/ :-/ |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/21/23 at 08:33:57 I have a similar jack to the orange one in the picture. The Mav's tailgate has a 485 lbs. load rating so I cannot stand on it and have the bike's weight on it at the same time. But it will handle the weight of the bike itself. I have not had a need to load the bike yet but before I do I will do some measuring to figure out best way to do it. It might fit diagonally with the tailgate partially raised. Oh, I got Area 51 (color). Sort of a slate blue. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 12/21/23 at 09:05:18 top gun?? ahhhhh... Maverick. ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/21/23 at 09:26:12 4142405B5C555F535C320 wrote:
Can you guys decide what cabin you want in Kerrville and get it reserved? I would hate to see you staying in Fredericksburg again! April 14 through April 22nd......give or take whatever days you want to arrive and depart. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/21/23 at 12:01:21 Neal, you noticed. ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/21/23 at 12:39:00 gonna have to change your name to tomcat ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/21/23 at 13:01:54 655E5344555942445F575A45360 wrote:
Can you guys decide what cabin you want in Kerrville and get it reserved? I would hate to see you staying in Fredericksburg again! April 14 through April 22nd......give or take whatever days you want to arrive and depart.[/quote] Just checked, the ranch house is available for the week. I propose to arrive sunday afternoon the 14th and leave saturday morning. All in favor say I... |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/21/23 at 18:29:28 I Ranch house |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/21/23 at 19:12:25 I Ranch House :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/22/23 at 07:32:01 I |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 12/23/23 at 03:04:40 Here is another video that shows the area that Deb and I are going to after Kerrville. We will be staying at the Seminole Canyon State Park on April 22nd and 23rd. We will then pack up and begin the 2-3 day drive home to KY. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff67z-gNngI&t=284s [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff67z-gNngI&t=284s[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/23/23 at 15:42:50 This is close by I think ? https://www.motorcycleroads.com/motorcycle-roads/texas/del-rio-secluded-desert-loop I understand its only 153 miles from Kerrville to Del Rio , but it might be a very interesting 153 miles ? On Hwy 377 ? or there might be a more local road ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/23/23 at 21:54:09 Camping 101 : Looking at this picture makes me want to get Dunlop 404 tires next time ? ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/26/23 at 12:58:32 I just checked the ranch house for 4/14 thru the 20th and it's only available thru the 19th (friday) I'm going to take it and we'll just have to take a cabin for the last day. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/26/23 at 16:19:10 ;) I'm OK with whatever we need to do . 8-) I could bring the bigger tent (8'x10'x72") if we have more than 4 staying beyond our BIG HOUSE option. Maybe , getting it out and checking to see if its OK could be a good idea . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/27/23 at 09:26:10 Hey MM. Not particularly keen on that motorcycle tent, but I do currently have a Dunlop D404 rear tire on the S40. Have not been riding much lately but it appears to be a decent tire. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 12/27/23 at 21:15:49 It really seems like : If a car tire can last 80,000 miles Then A motorcycle tire should last more than 8,000 . :-? I've had three of the Commander II rear tires and they lasted long times. But On wet roads they were like riding on a tire made out of hard plastic. ;D really not funny ... :-[ More like kinda scarry ! :P The one I wore out on a Savage lasted 22,000 miles and had tread left ... but ... was down to the wear bars. On dry roads it was as good as anything else. The Harley 883 -Commander II lasted 18,000 miles and was wore into the wear bars. The other one was on that Harley 1200 Sportster that striped its crankshaft splines on the primary drive front. I traded it in on a car after fixing it and driving it around for a few month ... I just couldn't forget about the cheap material it was made of so it had to go . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 12/29/23 at 12:20:49 It's all good Versy. Looking forward to it all. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 12/29/23 at 12:38:34 thanks for the reminder... :-[ We have our reservation, checking in on the 14th, and checking out on the 19th. If anyone wants to stay longer, there's usually cabins available. BTW, my plus 1 isn't available for the trip. Ranch House: Queen, full, 2 twins, sleeper couch, 2 cots and a pair tree. ;) Lancer MMranch versey springman victory, bil2, hammer and possibly sig other RV1: dave and deb |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 12/29/23 at 13:22:25 Okie dokie, good deal. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/01/24 at 20:30:18 April is a long way away , that 8th spot might get replace before the Calendar gets through flipping pages ? I had the thought about asking that brother of mine (Kent) if he'd want to go ... but he works all the time. I'll see him next weekend and ask if he'd be interested in such a ride. He's a Harley Bagger Rider now , so maybe he'd like to take a week long ride I might have to make two trips to Kerrville this year ? What's the summer like on the Twisted Sisters ? :) He might rather do a ride latter in the summer months ? In the spring folks are getting started on home improvement projects and that where his living comes from. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/03/24 at 02:49:18 190B190B06151A171C540 wrote:
If you want to make a trip with Kent in the summer when he is not busy - perhaps you shouldn't go south....the summers are hot! Here is what July 2023 was like. Do you like heat? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/03/24 at 08:25:21 Temps above 100 !!! :P :P :P Thanks for the warning ... :) .............. My outside thermometer said 20f this morning. :'( I've got the side luggage on the 650 now and am taking the 350 to the shop next , while the weather is keeping me off the road. :) Retirement life is great , I can wait for the warmest part of the day before I need to do anything ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/03/24 at 09:11:59 Only up to 104 in that month. That's not so bad. :o :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/03/24 at 19:10:34 :-? So where is the perfect summer riding climate ? That we haven't been to yet ? It's always more fun to have at least a few riding companions along. Does anybody think of a place to go try out ? Dave you did a wonderful job leading us to Arkansas. Twice !! :) :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 01/04/24 at 01:52:12 6E6D6F74737A707C731D0 wrote:
This ain't AridZona. Don't forget your good buddy heat index. https://www.weather.gov/images/safety/heatindexchart-650.jpg |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/04/24 at 05:19:08 021002101D0E010C074F0 wrote:
We enjoyed Arkansas - the little town of Jasper is like going back in time 50 years! The mountain roads are very different than the Smokies - they are the oldest mountains in the US and very eroded with large plateaus on top....they tend to only be recognizable as mountains on the steep eastern sides. I love seeing the signs that warn: "CROOKED AND STEEP". The roads are fun to ride on and traffic is light.....the sharp aggregate used on the roads is great for traction but brutal to tire life - even when riding at reasonable speeds. The spring months are very wet and the area is taken over by folks who kayak on the Buffalo River - once the summer months arrive the river folks leave and the motorcycle riders show up in larger numbers. The year that the Beer, BBQ and Bikes festival was in progress while we were there.....I saw way too much leather/chrome/V-twins on the highway and the normally peaceful calm of the area was gone. For summer riding it makes sense to go to the mountains for cooler weather - or go north. Deb and I have ridden in Michigan once - the rural roads are nice around the Traverse City area where there is some small elevation changes and lots of Cherry orchards. The Tunnel of Trees is a nice road along lake Michigan - however the trees are no more of a tunnel than the trees that we ride while on the Tail of the Dragon. The curves on the Tunnel of Trees can often have sand washed out onto the pavement - so you do need to ride it carefully. The rides here are for scenery - they really aren't loaded up with curves and elevation changes like we are used to in the mountains......the Meteor 350 would like this terrain! I am just starting to explore the area of southeast KY near Virginia - I took one ride with my neighbor a few months ago and discovered some nice riding areas. It takes half as long for me to drive there as it does to the area in TN/NC where we ride - so that is a big plus for me! I have been to the mountains in Colorado west of Denver for winter skiing, and I am sure that is a great area for riding in the summer. There are plenty of rural roads through the mountains, and lots of small towns to explore. Getting there for me is a 1,300 mile drive - equal to the drive to visit Youzguyz in Texas. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/04/24 at 07:33:08 Ah yes, the lovely humidity. It does play its part, doesn't it?!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/04/24 at 11:02:30 Well it seems to me that YouzGuyz has hit the nail on the head with the spring rides in Texas so many times I've lost count of them. I believe we are all in your debt YouzGuyz , and I'm more than glad to get even deeper in debt with the spring ridding season this year too ! Theirs's a lot of magic in them Texas Hills . :) I've been watching U-tube videos from Utah's Moab area . There seems to be a lot of "Things to see" and "Places to go" ... maybe more than one years worth ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sIc9UjW25s So 100 degrees with 50% humidity = 13? degrees or passing out ... witch-ever comes first ? ;) Maybe going North in the summer is a good idea ? . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 01/05/24 at 02:04:58 7F6D7F6D60737C717A320 wrote:
It ain't a case of me leading you around. I just take off and ride, and you follow!! Sometimes I adapt the route based on what you want to do and to avoid .. interestingly surfaced .. roads. In any case, I do appreciate the company! And that takes care of any debt!! :D 7F6D7F6D60737C717A320 wrote:
50% RELATIVE Humidity. Big difference from % Humidity July 10 of 2023 had 102 temp and 84% Humidity. What you want is relative humidity, for that you need dew point. On that day, dew point was 74 degrees. Relative humidity is 41.3%. That gives a heat index of about 115 degrees. Still too durn hot to ride at the peak of the day. :o On those days, I make it a point to be home by noon, or shortly after. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/18/24 at 06:52:05 Where is everyone staying? I got a little lost in this thread... Dave - are you and your wife staying at Kerrville-Schreiner Park? Did someone reserve a house nearby? April 14th-22nd date range? If I make it for a night (couple days), I'll probably just bring a tent and air mattress and camp. I'm retired but my wife still likes working, so I'll probably be solo. It's about a 4 hour ride from Houston, so I'll probably wimp out and haul my bike. Springman - are you riding there? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/18/24 at 07:48:47 We have the ranch house at Kerrville-Schreiner Park from Apr14 to 19 It sleeps 8 and there's an additional bunk house if we get crowded. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/18/24 at 08:07:29 Cool. You got the Ranch House in the park. There is still lots of availability for tents and RV sites. If I make it, I'll probably still get a tent site and spare y'all my snoring and bathroom trips (TMI)... Kinda depends too if my wife wants to take a few days off work. We've already got an extended camping trip planned for Memorial Day week so she may want to save her vacation days for that and then later in the year. I definitely have this on my radar though!! Would really enjoy meeting y'all in person while in Texas! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/18/24 at 08:56:34 ThumperPaul. Probably riding as my brother in law is probably riding in from Georgia. I'll keep you posted as the date gets closer. It will certainly be nice to have a new rider join us. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/18/24 at 09:13:39 Paul the tent idea may be saving yourself from somebody else's snoring ! ;D Well , who starts it is hard to say ??? when everybody is making night music it's hard to tell where its coming from ??? :-? :-/ :-? but its not so bad once everybody get in time together ? ::) One of the first years for Kerrville I got there a day early . It takes me two days to ride the over 1000 miles there so I had my tent anyway. So I enjoyed their tent sites area for an evening. The have nice soft grass and level sites close to the bath house. If there is room in the Ranch House would be the best option but , The camping cabins where we usually stay are nice and low cost enough too. We've never got the Ranch House before ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/18/24 at 09:50:38 Springman, that sounds good. It keeps open the possibility of me riding there. I wouldn't want to solo ride that far. Good to know, MM. That's a good long ride!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/19/24 at 03:06:26 360A170F1207103203170E620 wrote:
Deb and I are staying at the Kerville Schreiner Park, near the river in our RV. Deb has some health issues that make it impossible to sleep in a tent anymore.....so we reinvented ourselves and now travel in the RV. If you had told me a few years ago I would be owning/driving something like this I would have thought you were crazy.....but here I am - it is a necessary vehicle for us to be able to go places and enjoy our senior years. We are hauling the bike in a trailer and unload the bike when the fun starts.......riding a motorcycle 1,000 miles down the interstate just isn't my idea of having fun. The highway around Dallas/Ft. Worth is especially scary to those of us who are not familiar with the ON/OFF ramp shenanigans that Texas drivers are accustomed to making at high speeds! Even if you ride with somebody up to Kerrville - you are going to be riding back alone. There is no shame in towing to get to the fun riding area. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/19/24 at 06:47:47 Thanks Dave. I did take a good look at the park map yesterday and I found where your #201 rv site is relative to the ranch house. We’ve camped at Lost Maples State Park, but not Kerrville’s city park. We buy annual state park passes each year - we visit/camp multiple parks a year usually so it saves money and some hassle. I didn’t think about riding home solo…doh! A $14.95/day motorcycle trailer from uhaul is starting to make more sense. And my butt and back will probably appreciate it. Nothing wrong with an RV. In fact. I’d buy one if I didn’t have to store it somewhere. The HOA would frown upon me parking the titanic in the front yard! Sorry Deb’s health condition forced the move for y’all, but RVs are more comfy than tents. If we ever move out of the burbs and buy a home with some acreage, I want to get like a 20’ toy hauler and renovate about 15’ of it into living space (bed, 2 chairs, micro kitchen). Something I can haul the bike with, have sleeping space, and tow behind the truck. Allowing us to use the truck to run around in as needed detached from the trailer. Yeah, the super slabs are insane around the big cities in Texas. I’m not sure if Houston or Dallas is worse, but Austin has probably earned the crown for the worst these days! That city has grown way too fast! I went to UT in Austin in the early 80s when it was still a cool “town”. I wouldn’t live there now. If I decide to ride, I’d want to minimize the super slab riding and use the roads less traveled through some cool old towns. Even Kerrville and Fredericksburg are starting to feel like the suburbs of Austin. It’s a shame. It probably won’t be too long before they are ruined. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/19/24 at 09:00:19 We had a toyhauler camper (Grey Wolf 19RR) prior to buying the RV. We found it used locally at a good price and we bought it to see how hauling a trailer and camping was going to work for us - at the prices we paid for it we knew we could resell it with little or no loss in funds. It did provide us with a couple of years of camping and traveling - and proved that that traveling and camping would work out for us. The toyhauler was not ideal however for a few reasons: 1) My 1/2 ton truck could haul it - but it struggled on the hills and mpg was bad...the 2002 technology and 195hp, 5.3 V8 was really not powerful enough. 2) The limited access to the bed was inconvenient for making the bed, and I had to crawl over Deb to get in/out of the bed. 3) And the biggest issue was the floor height of the toyhauler was around 27" I believe - and this made it impossible to load/unload safely with the ramp door......the ramp was horribly steep and my feet could not touch the ground when the front wheel started up the ramp and the back wheel was still on the ground. While loading could be done with only a bit of trepidation - backing the motorcycle down the ramp and having your feet come off the ground was just not acceptable. 4) We really needed a bathroom that was accessible while we were still driving. Eventually I resolved the steep ramp issue by building a portable ramp extension that had folding legs and could be stored inside the camper. I have attached a YouTube video of a similar ramp that another fellow made. This ramp is necessary if the ramp gets too steep - but it does add to the amount of time it takes to load/unload and requires you to figure out how to store and haul the ramp. If you buy or build a Toyhauler, it is important to keep the deck height down around 15" or so. That will allow you to load the bike safely using the rear ramp/door and make the affair less stressful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acmm-31vuDU&t=348s [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acmm-31vuDU&t=348s[/media] Steep ramps are no fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRvuuCzckJU [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRvuuCzckJU[/media] It is really easy with a wide ramp and low trailer floor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6LD9Gyv9E [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6LD9Gyv9E[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/19/24 at 09:00:54 You become more interesting every day Paul. First you say your other bike is a Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 and now you say you graduated from UT. Cool. I also graduated from UT back in 1980. Yep, no longer a spring chicken. Well, let me rethink that. If I claim to be a scaredy cat and live in spring ... maybe I am a spring chicken. ;D ;D Yeah, old man humor!!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/19/24 at 12:42:44 Dave, I may need to rethink the toy hauler now. All good to know if we ever make the leap. Springman, my other bike is only the 750 Shadow Spirit. It’s big enough at about 525lbs with gas. Before it, I had the VTX 1300 which became way too heavy and cumbersome for my old arse. Just backing it out of the garage got to be more than I wanted to deal with. Yeah, I started at UT but ended up graduating from UofH. I had way too much fun on 6th street in Austin and running around everywhere! My dad pulled the financial rug out from under me after too many Bs and Cs (straight A honor student in HS). Dad knew something was up! So back home I came and finished at UofH eventually on my own dime working full time and going to school at night. I screwed up an easy path and did it the hard way! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/20/24 at 03:17:12 102C312934213614253128440 wrote:
The problem with commercial made toy haulers, is they make the floor really high so that folks with quads and dirt bikes can access the remote locations without dragging and scraping off the underside plumbing. For those of us who ride street bikes and keep our trailers on pavement the high ground clearance is not needed. If you shop around you may be able to find one with a low floor height - I just wanted to make you aware that a floor height more than about 16" starts to become a challenge for loading/unloading easily....when the floor get up to 27" it becomes downright dangerous. When I take trips without the wife, I am fine with using the campground bathroom and sleeping in my trailer. For about 10 years my trailer was a small 4x8 trailer that was only 4 feet tall. My Pontiac Vibe could pull it well and I likely have 30,000 miles of pulling that trailer! I had a foam mattress that I stood up against the wall while the bike was inside, and once I got to the destination I pulled the bike out and parked it under a pop up canopy, then put the mattress on the floor and made my bed. I had a small battery stick up light, and there were 3 windows for ventilation. It was a great little camper - the only issue was the low height and a Savage fit fine with the mirrors removed, the F800 required I remove the windshield....my larger bike would not fit as the bodywork was too high. What you might consider doing is convert a cargo trailer into a simple camper so you can have the low floor height. You can keep it simple if you want - or get fancier. There are plenty of videos on YouTube with camper to cargo conversions - just be careful not to make it too heavy (a lot of builders on YouTube have made incredibly heavy trailers.....commercial builders use lightweight materials for a reason). Traveling in an enclosed trailer works out really well for me. My bike is secure and out of the weather while I travel, sleeping in a trailer is far more comfortable (and drier) than a tent, with a car and small trailer I can get a pretty cheap rate for camping as I don't need an RV site.....at some of the motorcycle campgrounds I just sleep in the car parking area parked between the other cars/trucks/trailers and it is very quiet at night (it is nice to be able to avoid the more costly RV sites). Recently I upgraded and sold the 4x8 trailer and bought a 5x10 so that I can put my bikes in without removing the windshield - however my Vibe is no longer the designated tow vehicle. The attached photo is from 2012 when I drove to Long Island from Kentucky to pick up my Savage - a 2007 with only 262 miles on it! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/20/24 at 03:25:37 If you want to talk more about a trailer/toyhauler we can open up a thread in the Cafe' section....or we can talk about it in Texas as I will have a trailer there. The trip to Texas will likely take us 3 days. If you don't need a bathroom or kitchen and only need to haul the bike and have a place to put a mattress - a 5'x8' trailer is likely all you need. A height of 5' is adequate for most motorcycles - to get my windshield in on the big bike I needed a rear door height of not less than 54". For a few years I was able to park my 4x8 trailer inside my garage by parking is sideways along the back wall......my little Vibe was short enough to fit inside the garage with the trailer in front of it. This is my Vibe with the 4x8 trailer. It was a good fit for the Vibe and the little 4 cylinder engine - and the Savage.....and it worked for the F800 but taking the windshield off added 20 minutes to the loading/unloading routine. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/20/24 at 05:10:49 That’s a nice little trailer right there! I’m the one that wants a 20’ trailer. My wife wants something smaller that’s mostly just to sleep in and store an outdoor kitchen. What I like best about your comment is you traveling from Virginia to NY to get a low milage bike. Makes me feel more normal when I find bikes I want that are several hundred miles away. For whatever reason, Dallas has more bikes for sale that I like than Houston does. As I continue to research bikes to find the “perfect” match for me, the more I realize how I ended up buying my first Savage about two years ago! I wish Suzuki would reintroduce the bike with a handful of changes. Wish list includes - slightly less rake, rear disc brake, drilled rotors, bigger front disc brake, cast wheels, 6 gears, fuel injected with better head porting, and do anything with the whole battery box set-up!! I do like the big wide flat torque curve that hits about 85% of peak torque down around 2k rpms and stays above 85% until around 5k rpms. Don’t screw that up, but a bit more HP and torque would be welcome. Don’t turn it into a short stroker that needs 8k rpms to do anything! Ok, I meandered off course and off topic far enough now! Back to 2024 Rides!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/20/24 at 06:26:23 497568706D786F4D7C68711D0 wrote:
You can modify the Savage to achieve most of the things you would like. A cam/piston swap does a lot to wake up the engine - even my 95mm Wiseco and Webcam Stage 1 cam with the stock carb and a Dyna muffler was a big improvement in the available power in the 3,000-4,000 rpm range. Cast wheels from the GS450/550 can bolt right on with a small amount of machining on the front disc, and you can drill the holes (drum rear brake). Adding a Kawasaki front pulley does a lot to drop the engine rpm at cruising speed....and if you are really obsessed you can change the rear pulley to a VN750 pulley....my engine is turning 3,500 rpm at 60 mph......4,000 at 70mph. Longer rear shocks and dropping the front end a bit changes the steering feel significantly. It all depends on how much you like to tinker to make the Savage suit you better. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/20/24 at 07:13:09 You have an awesome bike, Dave! Aside from wanting to meet folks, I also want to see y'alls cool rides - like yours!! I'm not into doing a bunch of tinkering and mods myself. Lack of skill, tools, and equipment - and I really just don't want to do it (lazy, unmotivated, and I just wanna ride). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 01/20/24 at 09:19:17 6D514C54495C4B69584C55390 wrote:
We are more diversified now. Way back when, it was Savage City. From the 2015 Hill Country ride. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/20/24 at 09:37:48 Why is MM's bike the only one with muddy tires? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/20/24 at 09:38:02 Great pic, youzguyz! All Savages/S40s and only one doesn't have a windshield of some sort. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/20/24 at 09:42:32 073B263E2336210332263F530 wrote:
I would love to bring my Savage down some year - but it doesn't have room for Deb on the back! For me the time in the garage is my winter therapy. We got 4" of snow on Thursday night, and temps have been down in the single digits for a week now. The garage is warm and cozy, and I can while away the winter hiding in my garage and make stuff. I just finished a set of DragBikeMike's oil pump overdrive.....that took me days! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/20/24 at 15:18:59 MM's tires are muddy because he sleeps in most days ... one of the drawbacks of being both retired and lazy ? ::) The high temp today was 18 F. and cloudy , after a 06 F night. I did take the truck and Marcia and went to the next town over today. The drive way has a 4" layer of ice covering it (never before in 28 years here) , it was exciting getting back up the hill ! :) Here's my first LS650 with a VW tire on the back . 145/80-15 If ya look close you can see the trip odometer hanging from the handle bar area. :) :) Not sure they make this size anymore ? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/NXN-11766NXK?seid=srese2&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brands+|+N&utm_term=4581321363208209&utm_content=GSAPI+5e4eb38aa1003 |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/21/24 at 17:26:13 The one without the windshield is my bike. Funny, I don't remember cleaning the tires. That yellow Savage with flames was a cool looking bike. I never finished my grad studies, but I did a few grad hours at UH. Most of the money I gave to UH though will have been for my kids. The fourth one should be graduating from UH this year. That Spirit 750 I understand is a pretty good bike also. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/21/24 at 17:28:24 My Houston brother in law, the one with the Indian called me today to ask if he can bring a friend, another HD. I told him it is probably ok but that I would ask all you guys anyway. Any objections? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/21/24 at 17:51:03 Not from me buddy ! :) I can easily bring a 8'x10' x 72" tent to put in the yard (if need be) and we'll have cot's anyway . Ten to Twelve is OK with me. When our column get longer than a 18 wheeler or some won't keep it tight in town is where I've seen problems come from. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/21/24 at 20:54:53 5053514A4D444E424D230 wrote:
nope, we may have to rent the bunk house ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 01/22/24 at 04:33:36 The more the merrier. Tell ‘em to “Come on down” ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/22/24 at 08:36:15 Thanks guys. I will let my brother in law know. Versy, I would not make any other reservations until we get closer and everybody confirms they will be there. And when I say this I am thinking mainly of my brother in law and his friend. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/22/24 at 10:47:50 7D7E7C676069636F600E0 wrote:
No problem, I don't think they'll rent the bunkhouse separately. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/22/24 at 11:25:26 Thanks Versy. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/24/24 at 13:54:20 A photo on 337 somewhere between Vanderpool and Camp Wood. One leg of Twisted Sisters. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 01/24/24 at 14:49:19 Seems like I’ve seen roads like that before while wondering around on a motorcycle. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/24/24 at 14:51:29 Hmmm... the straight part of the leg. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/24/24 at 14:55:55 Yup! 337 is the straightest leg. 335 and 336 get hairy. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/24/24 at 14:59:35 I've been to harry's too. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/24/24 at 18:13:36 :) The Texas Sisters make me SMILE ... :) :) :) ... ;) ................. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 01/25/24 at 06:45:52 352631302F2224262D72430 wrote:
You mean "Harry's on the Loop"? The place we barely got to in time to avoid that hail storm? Last I looked Harry's is up for sale.. again. Somebody sunk a bunch of money into the property. Lots of improvements. Fancied up. Ruined it.... then couldn't make it go. Reminds me of that sayin... "All dressed up and no place to go". We will likely do the loop and stop by to see what is going on. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 01/25/24 at 06:50:37 706270626F7C737E753D0 wrote:
Trying to remember who all rode the Dirty Sister with me... Springman pretty sure. Would have to dig out pictures to see who else.. if anyone. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/25/24 at 08:05:37 This one? circa 2018 |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/25/24 at 08:14:47 I did indeed ride the dirty sister with you! It was fun. Don't think I would want to try it on the bigger bike though. :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/25/24 at 11:54:14 797A7863646D676B640A0 wrote:
We can take turns riding MM's bike.......he likes a dirty bike! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 01/25/24 at 12:31:47 716275746B6660626936070 wrote:
Yes!. That is the Dirty Sister. And here is our mystery rider!! Verslagen!!!!! 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/25/24 at 17:51:39 Well guys , I'm sorry I didn't stack everybody up for a ride on the Guzzi I had ... But we can swap rides while we follow YouzGuyz around Texas if anybody wants to. :) I'm not sure about taking a 500 pound bike with street tires around any mud ? :-[ It might be dry by then ? :-? Dang ... for 2025 I'll need to bring the 350 Meteor to visit the SISTERS . I'm thinking of letting the next set of tires for it be Shinko 705's 80/20 Dual Sport tires , and going back to the standard (lower) gearing sprockets. Only thing is the 350 don't like running 70 , it likes 65 just fine but somewhere in the middle that smile goes to a strait line and things start to get serious ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/25/24 at 19:05:49 This found this on in the 2018 folder , there may be more ... I'll look Charley was the guy who broke/cracked some ribs after finding some loose sand in a corner ... best I remember ? But his bike sure was fixed up nice . I think he had a Commander II on the rear and some really tall gearing. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/25/24 at 19:07:03 More , Looks like we had Mike , my buddy Mike and my other buddy Mike ? Good think we don't all look alike ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/26/24 at 05:45:24 I’m digging all the photos! Looks like an adventure! MM - I thought you’d be riding your RE Meteor this ride? No? What will you be riding? If you go dual purpose tires on the Meteor, heck just go ahead and get the 411 Scrambler or Himalayan! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/26/24 at 07:15:07 Hi Paul I don't ever want spoke tires again , but I have looked at the Hunter 350 ?? I like the looks of it ... but my 350 Meteor is paid for and has a 19" front tire , DNA intake system , performance cam , and the free flowing exaust already installed on/in it. I can put a skid plate on the 350 Meteor too. So at my age I won't be doing the Baja 500 at break-neck speeds anyway ... ;D ;D ;D Yes , I'll bring the Meteor . Thing is I have two Meteor s One is a 350 and the other is a 650. They are both nice to ride and putt putting around at site seeing speeds the biggest difference is the fuel millage . The little Meteor gets mpg's in the mid 80's. with a 4.1 gallon tank. Think of a 25 Hp Briggs and Stratton single cylinder with a performance cam . Its just perfect up to 65 mph and below , VERY COMFORTABLE ! :) :) It's the clear choice for solo rides and local trips. The 650 version ... Think of a Triumph Speed 900 with a 650 motor and a 270 deg. crank , cruiser styling/sitting . It's equally Comfortable , has a longer seat , is 100 pounds heavier (as to the 350) and returns only 60mpg. The Super Meteor is the clear choice for the interstate ride to Lancer's house (600 miles/10 hour-day). https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Royal_Enfield/royal-enfield-super-meteor-650-23.html Mine is just like the red one but with Givi hard bags and trunk , and light blue like Verseys |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/26/24 at 08:14:10 The blue one is the stocker and the beast is currently red but that's gonna change soon. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/26/24 at 10:11:53 I like the Lt. blue and after thinking on it a bit ... I remember the red one with the flat handlebars . :) That Lt.Blue sure is perty !! ;) ............. Versey , are we going to see the Beast in April ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/27/24 at 06:42:29 So are you going to be on the 350 or 650? Still trying to decide? I went and looked at the Meteor 350, 650, and the Triumph Speed Twin 900 yesterday. As well as everything else they have. I want the Speed Twin for the Meteor 350 price! Actually, I talked myself out of all 3. I'm too comfortable with the 26.6" seat height and more forward pegs on my Shadow Spirit 750. While I'd like to be able to stand on the pegs occasionally, its not worth the discomfort for normal riding on decent roads. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/27/24 at 09:26:19 Don't know for sure yet ? If I ride or drive to Lancers house ? Weather ? :-? But , the plan is to ride the 650 weather permitting. The 350 can be on the interstate with gearing to run near 100 mph , but it don't need to be doing a long interstate run , its just not powered for 600 mile day. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/27/24 at 10:07:33 Gotcha! I'm not powered for 600 miles per day!!! More power to ya! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/27/24 at 10:10:21 3B2D373825373B38420 wrote:
Yes!. That is the Dirty Sister. And here is our mystery rider!! Verslagen!!!!! 8-)[/quote] Verslagen - foreground, blue jacket. Who's the guy in the background? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 01/27/24 at 10:56:51 7675776C6B6268646B050 wrote:
|
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/27/24 at 16:16:51 Paul , I thought you were ridding a 750 Honda ? Gotcha! I'm not powered for 600 miles per day!!! More power to ya! I can see a 350 not being a 600 miles a day bike but ... I remember when the Honda 750K "4 Cylinder" , first came to America . 750cc is a monster bike ! We went through the "Wheels through time" over in east TN. I was surprised at the size of the older Harleys ... they were nothing like the HOGS we have now. They looked like bikes I'd like to ride. I understand the new my powerful Harleys have a problem with over-heating. But back when the "V-twin" designed only produced 50 HP that design was just fine. :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/27/24 at 16:45:13 Old fart problems. Back issues, other health issues, and no desire to ride 600 miles in a single day. The Shadow isn’t the problem. My first bike back in the 80s was an ‘84 Honda Interceptor 700 right after the taxes went up on the 750+ variants. That bike was stupid fast back in those days. Those kind of riding days are long gone. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/27/24 at 18:13:29 ;) I prefer those 400 mile days too and the 350 would have no problem with the more relaxed ride. But From my house to Lancers is 600 miles plus a little. So , necessary rules. :) One time I rode the LS650 from Springman's (Houston) to my house (830+ miles) in one day and it did just fine. The Harley seat helped a lot. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 01/27/24 at 18:50:28 Whoa! That’s a ride! Nice set up with seat, foot boards, and cast wheels! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/28/24 at 08:37:42 I miss seeing MM ride his Savage Barcolounger! He and that bike seemed to be made for each other.....they just effortlessly went around corners quickly and without drama (not even a dab on the brake pedal). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/28/24 at 18:20:29 Dave , I rode the 350 Meteor like that after Kent started going on about "Its only a 350" , so we went up to the top of Blood Mountain near where he lives. When we got to the twisty section ... I just ran off and left him. So , when we stopped at the top he said "This bike won't go that fast ! " ... I replied , "Well , it's only a supped up 1200 Sportster , you can't expect it too keep up with a 350 Enfield". ;) I still feel a little guilty about it , but at the time it seemed like the right thing to do. :-[ :-[ :-[ I think it embarrassed him a lot and I'm still not sure how to fix it ? If we ever ride with him again , then I'll have to let him win. His other bike now is a HD Road King. In all fairness I should admit right now : One year I took a 1200 Sportster to a mountain ride with a bunch of Savages . I ran the snot out of that HD and still barely keep up with those little 650 Savages ... fact is that's how it got tore up. The only way to even keep-up with them was to run the HD like a Sports Bike. The Drive Sprocket on the Primary Drive started slipping on the Crankshaft , two weeks later the splines were completely gone. Once they started slipping ... it was just a matter of time. I had no idea of what the problem was till it was time to fix it ??? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 01/29/24 at 02:58:58 Your brother Kent is a very good rider - tell him that is not his ability that is the problem.......the Sportster is just not a sport bike (no matter how much you hop it up). Blood Mountain has pretty tight corners that favor handling over HP. Except.....there is one Sportster that might do the trick once you get out of the tight corners and onto the big sweepers. I love this bike and would love to have it in my garage! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/29/24 at 06:41:30 Isn't that an evo? Maybe it been a while since I looked at Harleys ? Remember , don't ever buy a pre-2004 Sportster , if you value your family Jules . Really , I'd sort of like to have a 2004-2006 883 Sportster , 4.5 gal tank , the model that came with all the Chrome and Spoke wheels ... but with cast wheels on it. But I'd rather have the Super Meteor for the Ride ability and better mpg. ........................ Every time I see those "Shorty" mufflers I think of the time that the guts in the back factory muffler melted and stopped up the muffler. That "V-Twin" design might have worked back in the 1960's but as HP goes up ... so does HEAT. Maybe HD was using cheaper steel in 2007 ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/29/24 at 08:49:58 Following on what you said Dave. I remember the time I went to the Tail of the Dragon and surrounding area with you guys and MM had his barcalounger Savage. We were not on the Dragon when I saw this, it was another curvy road in the area, but not only did MM not use his brakes while I white knuckled my way through those curves, but he actually rode with no hands, maneuvering only with his body and legs. That's when MM became a motorcycling God in my eyes. :o :o :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 01/29/24 at 17:30:23 A god ? ? Welllll …. He does seem to glow a bit a times, but I’m not sure of the source. Hopefully he is not radio active. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/29/24 at 20:29:50 Hay Springman ... Do you think you might enlighten my wife at just how lucky she is sometime ? She's perty sure there is an adjective that I should be labeled with but I try not to say words like that ... if I can help it ? :-[ Versey , you , Lancer , Big Zuk , OldFeller , Al from NH , and a few others were there for my first Dragon Run ... When I couldn't even stay in my lane trying to keep up with you guys ! At the time I'd been ridding over 25 years and you folks were showing me what its like to know what you're doing ! I'm just glad I've learned how to keep up with you fellers. Do you remember how Big Zuk used to lean back on that duffle roll he always had - then just lean into the corners like there was no limit to how far a person could go over ? I don't remember his brake light coming on very often either. Come to think about it Versey , I'm not sure your brake light comes on very often either ! :-? I didn't get pictures from that first year but wish I had . Here our first Texas trip ... I think ? :-? Hay look , there's Bill and Dudley ! I wonder where my dark hair went ? I've still got that same outfit , but it's getting ragged ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/29/24 at 21:18:37 All that going on about ridding twisty roads make me think back to a few bike that I've had that were NOT nice handling machines. Here is one of them : I was really impressed with the Guzzi V7 bike I had for five years (40K-miles) but I didn't like those tires wearing out so fast ... soo ... I bought a MotoGuzzi V9 Roamer with the 16" rear tire and a 19" front. In those tire sizes a person can get long lasting tires ! ;) But The geometry of the machine just didn't work . There was no conference inspiring feel to the bike . It looked good , pulled good , and got over 60 mpg while doing it , but it was a lot like a 450 lb. Harley Sportster in the Handling department. It still handled better than any of the CMA guys Harleys , Older Wings , and Indians ... but the majic just wasn't in it to get out of it so after two years I sold it. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 01/30/24 at 08:29:03 I never met Big Zuk, but I can certainly vouch for Dave, Versy, Lancer and Old Feller. These guys Ride. Yep, with a capital R. I am just really glad they have chosen not to lose me on a ride. If ever they wanted to leave me behind, there is not way I could keep up. And I learned the hard way not to try. :o MM, I'll put in a good word with your wife next time I see her. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 01/30/24 at 18:59:18 Now Springman ... don't make her afraid to ride with me . I'll tell ya a true story: Two months prier to this , the guy was talking up the point that "There ain't no way anybody on a 750cc bike is going to keep up with something like his 1800cc Modern Gold Wing." When I finally got the local CMA group to go to the Dragon we split the normal ride column when we got to the North end. The most hot rod guy of the bunch ridding solo on a 1800cc New-er "V-bottom" Gold Wing fell in behind Marcia and me ridding on the Guzzi V7. ... so the "Run-was-on" ! It took about 6 turns (to the Top of the hill) before He wasn't in the mirror no more , so about 10 turns latter I pulled over to wait on him. And waited , and waited ... I thought he might follow my "Lines and keep up , if he had another chance" . So , when I passed him the second time I took it sorta easy but his bike was so heavy he really couldn't keep up ... so we just went on to the Dragon Central and waited. When we all got back together at the Dragon , all he could say was ... We all knew you would open that Guzzi up once we got here. Well , he was right ... I opened that Guzzi up (80%) - even with Marcia on the back. So , Don't tell her ... if you've seen me do anything Crazy . CMA group the second Harley is mine (Crome F-fender on the Sportster). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/01/24 at 14:44:44 MM do anything crazy??? Not possible. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/01/24 at 17:17:02 Yes , that's what you tell her ! ;) I did stop and help a guy on a Rebel 250 push his bike off today (True Story) ! After trying it twice by hand , I finally told him "wait till I get my foot against your Strut/fender rail and you hear me open the throttle a little ... then give it a go" . He must have been doing 20mph in third gear when he let the clutch out ... and off he went . :) I was out on the 650 enjoying a ride to get pluming parts. It might have looked like I was taking a day off working on my son's house ... but those pluming parts were necessary ... and the sun was shinning ! ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/02/24 at 09:44:49 Y'all freakin' me out. I should probably pass on this ride so I don't hold y'all Valentino Rossies back! Lead me not into temptation! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/02/24 at 10:02:58 OH NO Paul Dave is bring his wife along so everyone has to be on "Best Behaver Mode" Besides , YouzGuyz ... always behaves himself for the good of the rest of us ! :) Ridders don't get to be our ages without knowing "When and Where" ! ;) ..... Well , mostly ??? But , if Springman brings his 1100cc , all bets are off !?! Especially , if he brings that crazzy Brother-in-Law of his ! :-? :-? :-? We're going Site Seeing . :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/02/24 at 11:05:22 LOL! Your stone has come unhinged!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 02/02/24 at 12:41:21 796B796B66757A777C340 wrote:
Almost always.... |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/02/24 at 13:05:49 Those things are insane! I saw one at the dealership a couple weeks ago. I wanted to sit on it, but didn’t want to buy it if I dropped it! Like 2.5L motor! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/02/24 at 18:33:24 46544654594A4548430B0 wrote:
The rides in Texas are not performance based - they are more for sightseeing and getting away from the populated cities and looking at flowers! If you decide you want to shred some rubber - then come to TN/NC with us. I seem to scrub off a lot of tire on those roads each summer! You will not be expected to ride beyond your comfort level - we tend not to break any posted speed limits! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/02/24 at 19:03:59 That’s great, Dave. But if you don’t ride/drive at least 5-10mph over the limit here, the cops think you are stoned, drunk, and or illegal! Those are the people that get stopped. Driving the speed limit is a big red flag in Texas! True! Or you could also get run over! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 02/02/24 at 19:24:53 I agree, Texas drivers tend to be Speedy, they come through here all the time. Our Texas rides are in the category of “Retired Folks Tours”. [ch128526] [ch127949][ch65039] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/02/24 at 21:13:09 :-? I like ridding 50-65 mph , most of the trouble is sometimes the speed limit is only 30 ! :-[ So I have a little putt putt bike for those days ! ;) .................................. I meet a feller on another forum from New Zeeland , we are REALLY the WILD WEST over here ! "Setting of Speed Limits 2017". Ministry of Transport. 21 August 2017. Other speed limits include: ] On 1 July 1985, the open road speed limit was raised to 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) and this remains the default speed limit today. 110 km/h – found on selected high-quality motorways and expressways.[8] 90 km/h – used sparingly as a compromise between an 80 km/h and a 100 km/h limit. 80 km/h – generally found on rural access roads, winding rural roads, and limited-access urban arterial roads. Between metrication in 1975[citation needed] and 1985, 80 km/h was the open road limit.[11] 70 km/h – used sparingly as a compromise between a 60 km/h and an 80 km/h limit. Historically it has been used in small country towns, urban fringes (often preceding a change from the open limit to urban limit), or where development is on only one side of the road. 60 km/h – generally found on urban arterial roads, including those through rural townships. 40 km/h – generally found in residential areas. The Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2003 allowed councils to set limits below 50 km/h in urban areas.[12] Since then many councils have set lower limits. For example, Safer Speed Areas were first introduced in Hamilton in 2011 and by 2014 there were 36 of them.[13] 30 km/h – generally found in some city centres with high pedestrian traffic, and since 2023 in selected areas around schools. 20 km/h – when approaching and passing a school bus that has stopped on either side of the road to pick up or set down passengers. This speed limit applies to traffic travelling in both directions. Also applies when passing an accident scene. 10 km/h – Often found in designated locations such as car parks and other places where many vehicles and pedestrians share the road (Shared Zones). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_New_Zealand https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/ |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/03/24 at 04:41:57 In KY the speed limit on most rural roads is 55mph - that can be reduced when you come to areas with towns or populated areas. Some of the rural roads in Texas have a posted speed limit of 70mph. On those rides I constantly feel like I am going to get pulled over and ticketed for speeding - it just seems "unlawfully" fast when you are used to legally riding 15mph slower. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 02/03/24 at 05:33:13 02393423323E252338303D22510 wrote:
I know you said "rural", which I would define as 2 lane. And, yes, there are ones that are posted at 70mph Just for fun: https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0666919,-104.2326354,3a,75y,292.46h,99.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbg7rJyze4yvT8-Td1B2VLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0&entry=ttu Or, if you want to pay for a toll road: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9255967,-97.6757835,3a,75y,7.12h,92.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCZbJJtcJ3F05--Z3b6vqbg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0&entry=ttu We have to compensate for how far away things are! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/03/24 at 06:00:28 About 3 years ago I got pulled over by Texas DPS for doing 85 in a 65 (in my truck). DPS officer asked why I was in such a hurry. I explained that I had been stuck for miles behind a blue haired old lady doing 60-65 in the left lane riding next to a tractor trailer truck doing 60-65 in the right lane. When I got the chance, I put my foot down. DPS asked for my license and went back to his car. He said, “your clean, I’m giving you a warning ticket, don’t get stopped again in the next 90 days or you will get a ticket”. Not many DPS are this easy, but it’s not unusual to just get a warning for something less than 25mph over the limit. Don’t try that in small town. Those local popo need ticket revenue to pay their salaries. They’ll sit right on the edge of town where the speed limit drops from 70 to 55 to 45. They’ll get cha for 3mph over if they are having a bad day. On a good day, they might tolerate 5mph over. That’s about it. Outside of residential neighborhoods and small towns, the general rule of thumb is to drive 5-8mph over the limit to avoid road rage and getting the bird shot at cha. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/03/24 at 08:00:21 Ridding for the Ride vs Ridding to get to where I need to be . I much prefer to Ride for the Ride . :) But If the passing lane is comprised then I'll be the first one to move over or speed up (to the legal limit) ... and let those folks who need to be somewhere go on their way. Anything else is just helping Sin enter some one's life so it's against my religion. ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/05/24 at 12:04:49 This is what I'm talking about. Except it's usually local Billy Bob Popo and not Mr. Johnny DPS. Mr. DPS is usually out there where it's 70mph waiting for a big fish doing 100+. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/05/24 at 20:49:22 Not too Friendly looking picture ! :-/ YouzGuyz has been doing a great job keeping us out of those messed up situations. :) ....................... I normally "Just ride the Speed Limit" and Smile a Lot ! :) :) :) :) ;) Even when it drops to 30mph for no apparent reason ??? :-? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/07/24 at 08:31:36 ThumperPaul has definitely been living is Texas for a while. He told it like it is!!! Had not ridden much for a while due to weather but have ridden to work each day so far this week. Hard to believe how quickly you can get out of motorcycle riding shape. Working on it now though. Need to be in shape for April. :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/07/24 at 18:55:12 You are Sooo Righttt Springman ! I try to get a ride in everyday unless its rainy or Realllly Cold . Even if its only round the Country Block (5 to 10 mile loop). The electric gloves make a lot of difference ! I put the two prong 12 volt battery tender plug on the 12 volt gloves and it makes them work too good sometimes ! https://www.ebay.com/itm/403041168508?hash=item5dd7202c7c:g:6NkAAOSwR3JlbKLh&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0HY%2BRXjmK5k9e1CdBvlIBTP4WCEmlAVpDspJzQD9uypxsIWUxO0oqyKOdFSNHIBuqFV8DffnyULn24tJI6GwXCiZRfsk7RbRG79jW1xZqxQzkWlSP9GkZ%2FTrKwVIG9acdNUTUZwyw1MxYIY%2FVmu2xqoc6BDToUUBDmGrZ1ustDf7%2FCCmDX4qzX%2Bg%2BnvZBjg3cV3WINbb49XxKsRDP3IB%2B8IMxxM4vTvJX06i5STKV1DbEIue8zCJguGsU%2B3iEzzUv2MJMTplaOfjJCdGzdKGWIk%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_KBiOqwYw I've got a pair of these I've used for (3) three years now and I have to turn them on and off as I speed up and slow down. https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6NkAAOSwR3JlbKLh/s-l1600.webp |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/19/24 at 19:10:09 I have a heated liner for one of my jackets, but I've never used it. I don't like the cold! Period! Born in Minnesota and dad kept moving us south until we hit Texas. Dad hated the cold. When he died in 1995 we found out through discovery that he had bought 5 acres in the middle of nowhere in Mexico. Mom didn't even know. We still don't know what he was up to... My wife says we need to go to the Bent Rim Grill. That was one of her favorite burger joints when she used to ride with her crazy Twisted Sisters friends. Wife hung up her helmet about 12 years ago. She was just done.... no incident or anything... just done... |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/19/24 at 19:17:28 My wife was way wilder than me in our younger days! She's probably ridden over 20,000 miles in Texas alone. Her first bike was a brand new '79 HD Sportster 1000. Not a great year for an AMC HD...forget oil changes...just add oil as needed. She put a larger gas tank on it. The small tank interrupted her Zen. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/20/24 at 20:25:29 Paul ... You MARRIED one of the original "Twisted Sisters" ! 8-) Maybe you should ask her to pick up Biking again ... I mean ... how can she not miss taking a lap or two around the block once in a while ? ;) Maybe something less than a HD this time , it's still the same grin no matter which brand or size it comes from ! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/21/24 at 06:00:52 LOL MM! You’re right!! I think she is one of the Original Twisted Sisters! Funny thing is she is 1 of 3 sisters and they are each “very unique” (eh hem). I have tried to get her to ride again, and nope! When she says “she’s done”, she’s done. No looking back! She has mentioned a 3-wheeler a couple times, but she knows it’s not the same and a totally different ride and re-learning experience. We’ve basically talked ourselves out of that. She is warming up to my idea of buying a project car (roadster convertible). I’ve been watching the market for a 2007-2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP or Saturn Redline. Same car basically except for different skin. Solstice is more rounded body and European stying and Saturn is sharper edges. Both have a 2.0L turbo cranking out 260hp/260ft-lb torque at the crank. Stock. At the time, it was GM’s highest output per liter. I think it’s been surpassed by the Corvette now. GM sandbagged on the first release “tune” and subsequently released a performance ECU tune with upgraded MAP sensors that boosted output to 290hp/340ft-lb torque. And it didn’t void the warranty! The Kappa tuner gurus have taken it another level since then - tinkering with the ECU tune and cranking up the turbo boost further. The stock Gen2 block and internals can handle up to 400hp without breaking stuff. The clutch in the manual 5-speed needs beefing up, but the 5-speed automatic can handle over 390ft-lb torque (rated to 390). Without going too crazy on the turbo boost (tune), a lot of owners are hanging out around 375/375. Cars are doing 0-60 in about 4.0 seconds and in the 12s in the 1/4 mile. Then there are those that have upgraded to the stronger Gen3 block (up to 500hp) with high performance internals (hi-comp pistons, stronger forged rods/crank, etc), and bigger turbos with more flow/boost. Some are pushing over 500hp. For $10-$15k in performance upgrades, they are in the land of $150k exotic car speeds. I wouldn’t go that far, but 375/375 in a car that only weighs 2,900lbs sounds like fun! 2900/375 gives a weight/power ratio of 7.73. :o. I can dream! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/21/24 at 10:53:40 This is the weather we need in mid-April! My wife says I need to stay 2-3 nights. It’s like she wants to get rid of me! I think she and her Twisted Sisters are planning some kind of shenanigans! She also laughed at me when I said I was going to trailer the bike there. She did say she wouldn’t get on I-10. Take the back roads and take my time. I need to see what Springman is thinking for dates. Maybe at least ride one way with him and his buddy (and/or brother - can’t remember). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/21/24 at 16:27:22 Head South in the Spring and North and to the Mountains for the Summer ! :) I agree with your wife , never mind the Super Slab , But I'm going over to Lancer's on day one (763 miles one way) so I almost have to take the Super Slab ... or make it two days ... but ridding by myself isn't no fun anyway , so I'll just jump I-40 and let it roll ! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/21/24 at 17:20:33 Wow! 12+ hours in the saddle in 1 day. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/21/24 at 19:28:03 I've rode that same ride on the S-40 , and it did just fine too . ;) Also almost the same ride on an 883 Sportster , and on a Guzzi V7II Heck one of the most fun rides I can remember was the one where we all went to Lancers for a week ! :) :) :) The CMA Iron Mountain is not far from Lancer and Paula's place too. Running 70-75 mph , for a few tanks of fuel ! :) I suspect the original rear tire (CEAT brand) will be spent by time I get back from Texas this year. ? :-? S-40 w/oversize fuel tank and 25toothPully |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/22/24 at 07:50:46 Nice custom paint job!! That’s really well done! You’ve got a big pair of stones doing those kind of miles on the S40 at 70-75mph. I get white knuckles just going 15-20 minutes at that speed! And even if I had a wind screen, I don’t think it would make a difference. I see you have a front fork brace. Woody has what appears to be the same kind (TKAT). I can’t get Woody on the road long enough to know how much the brace actually helps or feels. My previous Savage and S40 didn’t have wind screens or fork braces, and they felt sketchy over about 65mph buzzing down the road. The S40 had new Dunlop D404 tires and the Savage had older Michelin Commander II. I honestly can’t say I felt or noticed a difference in the tires - but I’m not Grand Prix riding them either. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/23/24 at 07:14:04 Good Morning Hay Paul Before I got a fork brace things were different ! Just about time I'd get leaned way down into a turn ,the front forks would get kinda "wobbled kneaded" . for lack of a better term ! ;D Paul , the 25 tooth front pulley makes a difference also ! The higher gear results in No More Wheelies , but it sure relaxes things out on the road ! There was a guy from Florida (Carl) that took a S-40 and put a fuel tank off a Yamaha 650 and the taller gearing on his bike and ran up and down the east coast visiting his kids for a few years. We haven't heard from him in a while but he dropped by my house a couple of times for a bunk and visit. I got tired of the low fuel millage my S-40 was giving me and sold it but thinking back on it , I wonder if the valves were just a little tight ? I'll never know but the seat had a worn through spot and I was ready for a different experience anyway ... The bike I replaced it with is just a new " High MPG " version of the same thing with only a few less HP. It took a little doing to add a few Horses to it ... but ... it feels like a Savage out on the road and it's all OK anyway. If it's raining when I get ready to leave for Lancer's in April ... I'll put this one in the truck rather than ridding the 650 twin version of it. The "Rake Angle" is a little less than the Savage's but Feel's the same. :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/26/24 at 10:11:09 Hey ThumperPaul, Have not decided for sure yet but suspect we will ride to Kerrville rather than load on pick up. If that is the case I will be on the Honda as it provides the extra oomph for the highway. We (brother-in-law and I) will leave Sunday the 14th in the morning and the ride will be a good 7 hours or so including fuel and restroom breaks. We can figure a place to meet up if you like and ride in together. I have gone via I-10 and also via HWY 290. We can take a look at maps and figure out what works well for all of us if you like. Look forward to meeting you. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/26/24 at 11:13:38 Hey Springman. I'm now leaning towards trailering my bike there. Several reasons. We still have some time decide. Look forward to meeting everyone myself! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/27/24 at 08:29:51 No worries. Trailering is probably the easiest and fastest way to get there. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/27/24 at 08:58:59 Agree. From my home in Cypress, Kerrville is about 4 hours away hauling ass down I-10 assuming you fill up the truck first, pack a sandwich, and don’t have to go pee. I have not done a long ride in a long time, nor a group ride for that matter. The whole experience is a bit new to me. Plus, I really don’t want to ride home solo after 2-3 days if y’all aren’t heading back that soon. Then there is always the weather. Sounds like I’ve decided to trailer my way there and back. As for the group ride, I really don’t want to be a drag. I know Dave said it would be a “sight seeing” kind of ride, but I really don’t want to be a burden with an experienced group of riders. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 02/27/24 at 10:25:43 I never ridin with this group , but have NO fear. Some of the best human beings on the planet. Just go and relaxe and enjoy. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/27/24 at 12:53:06 Totally agree about the guys!! And if I'm not comfortable after 5-10 miles or I'm being a drag, I'll just go back to camp and go fishing! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 02/27/24 at 13:05:43 In for a penny , In for a pound , be prepared for an adventure. I don’t think turning around is on the itinerary. My big word for the day , Itinerary Thank god for spell check ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 02/27/24 at 13:28:14 The very first group ride, featuring the LS650, which everyone had at the time, we had a total of 4 of us. It was myself, Toymaker (hosted at his place), Ed-L and Oldfeller, I believe, and occurred in 2004 if memory is correct. Anyway, we ride pretty easy and stay as a group unless a planned split is decided upon with all agreeing, but that’s rare. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 02/27/24 at 13:36:47 we are beginner friendly. we encourage you to travel at a safe speed for you. usually someone will ride cleanup and we'll all catchup at the next change of travel. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 02/27/24 at 13:44:51 ThumperPaul, I am youzguyz, AKA Thumper, AKA Neal. Your gracious ride leader. I do have experience in leading rides, over many rides and many years. I know all of the backroads in the Texas Hill Country within a day's travel of San Antonio. I'm pretty good at putting them together into scenic and entertaining rides. I have lead this bunch of yahoos on rides for many Savage Hill Country Adventures. I do have rules that are designed to promote safety. Such as: Ride your own ride. You will NOT be left behind. We will not being going much faster than the posted speed limit. (Almost a sin in Texas). If you think we are going too slow, you are welcome to take off ahead of me, sometimes, it happens. I won't name names, but MM Ranch are his initials. ::) If I don't see you at the next intersection, you are on your own. We won't be in a tight formation of any kind. My rule for staying together is to glance in your rear view mirror for the person behind you. If you don't see him, slow down until you do. If you still don't see him, stop. If you still don't see him turn around. The person ahead of him will notice that he is now missing, and do the same. Eventually, I will notice that nobody is behind me, and I will turn around and see what is going on. If you decide to go fishing, please let someone know so we know you aren't on the ride anymore. If you have questions.. please ask! :D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/27/24 at 13:57:51 Youzguyz are awesome! Thanks! Is there a hand signal for “gone fishin”? Just kidding! Y’all are making me feel much better about this. Y’all’s experience is way ahead of me. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/27/24 at 16:56:07 Hay Paul I first met these guys on a Tail of the Dragon Run. And I couldn't keep up ! So , they would wait on me at the next Turn. But The Texas rides are "Really" Sight Seeing rides at the pace me and the wife putt , putt around on the 350 bike. I've seen some Really cool places by following YouzGuyz around ! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/27/24 at 17:39:44 It's awesome Youzguyz knows the area like the back of his hand!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/28/24 at 04:04:52 3509140C1104133100140D610 wrote:
Is it the one where you raise your clutch hand and make a fist with the middle finger extended upward? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 02/28/24 at 04:26:55 I have started tacking together routes and plans and such. To verify: When: Apr 13 (Sat) to April 21(Sun). 13-14 Travel days 15-19 Guided rides and/or other shenanigans 20-21 Travel days Where: Kerrville-Schreiner Park (Ranch House 14-19, Cabin 20, Dave:RV site) Who: Lancer Versy MM Ranch + 1? Dave + 1 Springman + 2? ThumperPaul Do we need an app for communication and/or location sharing? We used Life360 in the past, but if others now have favorites, we can agree on something else. Doesn't matter which to me, except should be free, and be available for Android. Much of future communication will be via the PM system here, as personal information will need to be conveyed. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/28/24 at 04:45:22 Life360 works well - I believe it does shorten the battery life a bit if your phone is not plugged in. I suspect most of us already have it on our phones from previous trips. It would be interesting to start it on the 12th so we could see where folks are as they are traveling toward Kerrville. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/28/24 at 09:31:31 Dave, weren't you the one that previously did not want to use this app as you did not want any proof of the speeds at which you traveled? ;D ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/28/24 at 09:38:29 ThumperPaul, just make sure whatever bike you take is in good shape and specially that the tires and brakes are good for adding a 1000 miles or so of riding. Other than that just ride your own ride and either you'll be waiting for us at the next turn or we'll be waiting for you. Either way is cool. You may want to be more concerned with the possibility of over eating on this journey. I try to take it easy but there will always be one or two places where you say the heck with it, let's chow down!!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/28/24 at 10:35:13 Ha! My bike will be in tip top shape.... As for my old bones, I'm not so sure! I'm good with whatever communication medium y'all agree on. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/28/24 at 14:19:11 You may want to be more concerned with the possibility of over eating on this journey. I try to take it easy but there will always be one or two places where you say the heck with it, let's chow down!!! I've gone to eating like somebody my age , best I can (every place don't have a Kids Menu ! ) But , most places usually have a Senior Menu. I'm still pushing 200 pounds but like staying on the low side of the 200 best I can ! :) Heck ... sometime I even eat more than once a day !! ;D My Mom used to call it "the Battle-of-the-Bulge" , I've learned how difficult a battle it can be as the years roll up . ;) ............ That "Pick nick table place" with the Outdoor grill sure made me forgot all about "Eating Light" ! What is the name of that place out in the middle of the Desert ? Remember , the way to it envolves a few Cattle Crossings , then through the Creek , some more Cattle Crossing , around a few Sand Dunes , then POOF ! all of a sudden there in the middle of nowhere ... there it is ! 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 02/28/24 at 14:47:47 150715070A19161B10580 wrote:
You will need to do better than that. What kind of food was available? Burgers? BBQ? Both? Neither? Describe menu as you remember it. Was the outdoor grill being used to cook that food.. or was it just a fire pit for heat? Was here any other tables inside? Was there an inside??? ARE THERE PICTURES FROM THAT PLACE? (Sand Dunes???? Desert?????) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 02/28/24 at 14:54:10 LOL! All of Texas is a Desert, Youzguyz! LOL. Maybe he's thinking about dessert? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/28/24 at 15:33:46 525153484F464C404F210 wrote:
I didn't want my wife to see what goes on in TN/NC - but on this ride she will be on the back seat! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/28/24 at 15:33:56 NO Dessert please ... The dinning room was filled with pick nick tables. So the outdoor line leads to a grill where you pick you meat (cooking on the grill) , then ya go in and pick your vegies , run by the cash register and find a place at a table to enjoy ! It was a very relaxed place inside city limits. We stopped there for lunch one day. A full week of eating there would have anybody loosening their belt a hole or two ! ;D YouzGuyz , Maybe its best if you only remember where it is one of the days of April ! ?? :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 02/28/24 at 15:43:10 7C6E7C6E63707F7279310 wrote:
OK. That was probably Cooper's BBQ in Llano. Possibly in 2022... I can't locate pictures and too tired to dig. I'll see if I can work that place (or similiar) into one of the rides. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/28/24 at 16:00:51 I didn't want my wife to see what goes on in TN/NC - but on this ride she will be on the back seat! Carrying this thought one step further leaves me feeling sorry for those folks how never get to run through the Dragon at least once ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/28/24 at 16:37:40 Running through the Dragon is lot of fun - and there are so many other roads that are just as much fun. You need to go down and ride with Stewmills and I again - we have found a lot of really good roads that you likely have not been on yet. For those who have not ridden with us yet, we ride at or below the posted speed limits most of the time. And on those occasions when we don't it is because there might be a 35mph limit on a really fun twisty road that needs to be ridden a bit faster! We are not prone to speeding down straight sections or through town! The only time I would not want a record of my "top" speed is on those instance when we need to pass slow cars or riders. If I am riding in the second or third position - I often have quite a bit of speed built up by the time I make the pass and can pull back over and slow down. That is when having a bit of excess HP is nice. ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/28/24 at 18:22:56 ;D Tell the rest of it Dave ... ;D ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/28/24 at 18:42:59 I'll share a story and we'll see who can guess what Dave's not telling , some of ya'll already know this ... So Me and Dave are out on one of the twisty back-roads in Western NC ... flying along at the "Speed Limit" when we come up behind a regular cab old Ford Ranger. I remember it being dark green and it must have been one of the 3.0-V6 models ? Well ! The young feller driving it - speeds up to about as fast as he can go and still stay on the road ... and the run is on. We went flying along behind him rather than zipping past him and the young feller sort-of became one of us ... in sprit anyway. This went on for about a 10 mile stretch - maybe a little more - twisting and sling the machinery through the mountains just having a blast ! . Finally at the top of one of the ridges - the road forked and the young feller pulled off and waved a "Nice Ridding With You Fellers" ! :) :) :) Made me feel all right with the world ... ya might say ! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/29/24 at 03:07:27 7E6C7E6C61727D707B330 wrote:
The fellow in the truck was working like crazy to drive at that pace.....MM and I were riding at about 80%. It was the section of NC 28 north of Highland and it is one of my favorite roads and every bit as curvy as the Dragon. And the next morning MM spent quite a bit of time cutting fishing line that had wound around his front and rear axles! Evidently the fishing rods in the back of the truck were playing out line as we followed him! MM was nice enough to gather up all the fishing line on his bike so that I didn't get any....Thanks Bud! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/29/24 at 03:22:38 Deals Gap at the Tail of the Dragon opens up tomorrow, March 1st. Last year Stewmills and I went to a Fiddies for Life race at Deals Gap, and it was a lot of fun watching these fellows race around the parking lot. The competition was really intense! We should go to one of these events this summer - after the Texas trip. https://www.dealsgap.com/events |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/29/24 at 07:47:55 I'll share a story and we'll see who can guess what Dave's not telling , some of ya'll already know this ... Nobody's guessing so I'll tell it . THE DEFAULT SPEED LIMIT IN NC. IS 55 MPH. Most of the roads are 30mph roads ... That makes for a "FUN" combination ! :) :) .............. Somewhere in my mind I had depressed the memory of "Digging out fishing line" , as in "hiding the pain" ::) It just kept on coming out from under the axle seal .... forever ! >:( >:( >:( . That's ruff when ya don't have a center stand or a jack ! Un-winding every round by hand (round after round-greasy line) for a reel full of 8 pound mono line ! ............... The DRAGON Calendar showed a Two Cycle Rally on the 5th of May . I wondered back to memories of a RD250 I had years ago ... That bike was quicker than my buddy's Honda 750K ... well up to 75mph anyway. Blue smoke trails everywhere ya look ... They could actually make the Blue-Ridge ... BLUE ... ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/29/24 at 08:23:25 That is a good story about you and Dave, MM. I'm with Dave on the HP issue though which is where the grunt on the Honda makes up for my lack of skill. It allows me to catch up on the straights. ;D ;D ;D That restaurant that MM is describing is definitely Cooper's BBQ in Llano. It surely is one of my favorites also. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/29/24 at 08:30:09 Dave, if ya'll start planning a trip to Deal's Gap let me know. I'd love to make it if at all possible. Now that I have a little pick'em up I can load the S40 in the bed and not worry about doing an 800+ miles ride on two wheels. Definitely the S40, I don't even want to think about trying to load up the Honda (too heavy, and actually probably does not fit on the Maverick as probably too long also). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/29/24 at 08:50:42 2C2F2D363138323E315F0 wrote:
I bet that is one of those towns whose name I cannot pronounce correctly. Ya'll talk funny down there! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 02/29/24 at 08:51:47 springman , remember I know where ya can find a bed and breakfast about a days ride west of the Dragon ! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/29/24 at 13:27:56 I appreciate MM. It would be nice. :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 02/29/24 at 13:29:59 Dave, just replace the double L with a Y and that is how you pronounce it. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 02/29/24 at 15:13:14 232022393E373D313E500 wrote:
I have learned a bit about speaking Spanish from my Puerto Rican room mate in college, and I was a bit confident in the LL to Y sound - but Medina, Boerne and Leakey tripped me up last time I was there. The Medina we have in Ohio is pronounced "Medinah"......not "Medeenah" like you have in Texas. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 03/01/24 at 08:56:07 Hey, I've been here for a very long time now. All the Spanish, no problem. But the German and the Czech, that's different. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/04/24 at 17:00:57 Just don't call Bexar County, "Beks-er". Its Bear. Or Bare. But not Beks-er. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/05/24 at 07:05:32 102C312934213614253128440 wrote:
Are these "tricks" so you can tell who is not a native Texan? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/05/24 at 09:23:22 43787562737F646279717C63100 wrote:
Are these "tricks" so you can tell who is not a native Texan?[/quote] It is definitely a clue! My wife is a proud native Texan and still has to correct me from time to time. Apparently it’s ok to say Llano as La-no and not Ya-no. So it can’t be confused with “ya know”. That would be too confusing, ya know. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/05/24 at 15:42:48 In Kentucky we have Louiseville (Looval). And in Tennessee they have Maryville (Mervil). :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/05/24 at 18:19:41 No wonder I failed English , EVERY YEAR all through school ! ::) Straight "A's" in Math and Physics subjects though ... :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/12/24 at 03:45:02 Happy new rear tire day! My back tire had some life left in it - but I was pretty sure it wasn't ready for 9 days of riding double in Texas. We are about a month away from when we will all be headed to Texas. Time to get the cables lubed, the hand and foot lever pivot points cleaned and lubed, tires replaced, chains lubed (if you have them), oil and filter chqnged, air filters cleaned, etc. :-? (How old is that battery?). It was about 50 degrees when I changed the tire yesterday, and what a fight it gave me! The wide sport touring tires are really stiff, and I believe the cold tire made it much worse. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 03/12/24 at 10:06:31 So then cold tires need a nice hot bubble bath before they can stretch all out for you ? Makes sense. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/12/24 at 11:15:27 Coincidentally I asked about tires the other day. What tire did you go with? Like Lancer said - we bake ours in the sun in Texas until they feel like roasted marshmallows. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/12/24 at 11:29:56 497568706D786F4D7C68711D0 wrote:
The tires I buy for the F800GT are not available in sizes that fit the Savage. That tire is a Dunlop Road Sport 4 in a 180/55-17 size. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/12/24 at 13:32:39 That’s a big tire. An F800GT. What the heck?! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/12/24 at 16:25:16 665A475F4257406253475E320 wrote:
The F800GT is a good comfortable bike for riding with Deb on the back, and this will be it's third trip to Texas. It is light enough for me to hold it up, and it has enough power and comfort to go long distances and it has luggage! And it is belt drive and I don't have to worry about chain maintenance! I really like it.....it is a really good fit for me and is the bike I ride most often. Here is a photo of a group ride in Arkansas 4 years ago. My white F800GT on the right, MM's Moto Guzzi next, then Springman's Honda, then Verslagen's Savage. The bike in the background is a BMW K1200 that was parked at the overlook when we arrived. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/12/24 at 17:11:22 That’s awesome. Nice bike! I had to google it and check out the specs. It is light for an 800cc bike. Impressive power to for its size! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/13/24 at 05:21:28 2024 Hill Country Ride Study this. :-? There will be a test. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/13/24 at 05:53:39 Ha! X marks the spot! I’m gunna have to print this out! Trying to look at it on my phone and it keeps hopping around and pop up ads are being vicious! I see a few X’s. Colors mean anything? Do you have a day by day plan or are we just winging it? I’m still trying to decide which 2-3 days I plan to be out there. Sites aren’t filling up yet and being during the week, I don’t imagine weekdays will completely fill up especially for tent sites. I may just wait until the 10 day weather forecast is available and pick the best days. Thanks for doing this, Youzguyz! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/13/24 at 06:15:16 764A574F5247507243574E220 wrote:
X is gas stop. Circle is lunch stop. All my chicken scratches are estimates. NOTHING is written in stone. Which day goes where is determined by what is open on which day. The way it stands now: Monday- Three Twisted Sisters - black route Tuesday - Llano / Willow City Loop - green route Wednesday - Alamo Springs Cafe - brown route Thursday - Luckenbach / Johnson City Motorcycle Museum - blue route Friday - Canyon Lake / Hillbillyz - red route One again, NOTHING is FOR SURE. This is just a daffy draft. AND, it anyone wants to make sure to go somewhere in particular, please let me know so I can work it in!!!!! :D Like Llano was done so MM Ranch can get that BBQ fix. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/13/24 at 06:22:45 Cool. Twisted Sisters is on my bucket list. I’ve only been down one stretch by car. I can’t think of a better people to experience it with! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 03/13/24 at 09:44:43 Here's my answer to the test Neal. I trust you!!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 03/13/24 at 16:19:09 I’ve committed everything here to memory for the moment, and that’s that. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/14/24 at 06:55:35 Like Llano was done so MM Ranch can get that BBQ fix. :) :) :) Well YouzGuyz , let this one be the day I buy your lunch ! 8-) ............... I'm with Springman to the most part ;) , even if the Bike wash station looks a little like a Water Crossing !! ;D I sure hope the water level goes down before we get there ! ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/14/24 at 07:33:23 That looks like the Red River on the TX/OK border. It’s definitely not the Frio River. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/14/24 at 07:37:31 I guess me and Lancer will cross that one on our way to Kerrville ? I still hope the water level goes down before we get there ! ;D YouzGuyz usually gives us a chance to wash the bikes before the week is out ! ;) ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/14/24 at 07:49:10 Yep. You and Lancer will be covered in red clay when you get to Kerrville! Everybody that lives on a county road in northeast Texas has a red car. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/14/24 at 12:10:13 I am bringing my shiny white motorcycle.....I am staying on the pavement as usual! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 03/14/24 at 15:08:08 I like pavement. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/14/24 at 15:43:16 Pavement is good! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/14/24 at 19:03:16 I started to get the RED MOTORCYCLE instead of the BLUE ONE ! :-/ :-/ :-/ ................. Maybe we can find a BLUE WATER BIKE WASH ? :-? ............... So was that the RED RIVER VALLEY from the famous song ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/15/24 at 01:10:16 ALL scheduled roads consist of (at least mostly) pavement. The only exception is the optional "Dirty Sister" route, which is indicated on the map with a dotted black line over by Leakey. There is one very short stretch on the red route where it is paved.. but only in the tire tracks. The middle of the road is not paved. I need to check that road before you get here. As for the "automatic bike washes", we need a LOT more rain for those to be operational. The biggest road hazards are gravel washout from driveways, and poorly made cattle guards. (You can ask MM what those can do to a rear shock absorber :o ) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/15/24 at 09:39:38 (You can ask MM what those can do to a rear shock absorber Check the point where the shock meets the bottom mounting ring ! The little bit of weld there is the only thing holding the shock in place ! I was surprised when one of them broke ! :-[ The bump leading up to the Cattle Grate is bigger than the bump going over the Cattle Grates. Maybe my Saddle Bags were loaded too heavy ? Or I had too much Breakfast ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/15/24 at 10:00:04 Hay YouzGuyz , Is the TX Swiss Alps Loop worth a hoot ? That would be TX - 39 , 16 , 470 . I understand it's just a little West of the Sisters. We've been on so many back roads in that area ... we could have already been on the LOOP , as far as I know ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/15/24 at 12:23:27 0A180A18150609040F470 wrote:
Those roads are east of the sisters. The 16 and 39 roads are a part of the Monday Three Sisters ride. I can modify that ride to pick up 470 ( I don't know if I ever took you down that road yet or not. There have been quite a few rides over the years!) I looked, and don't see those roads listed as the "TX Swiss Alps Loop". You got a link? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/15/24 at 19:31:01 :) Number "2" is the one I saw on U-tube I think . https://texashillcountry.com/3-scenic-drives-texas-hill-country/ Waiting on warm weather seems to be a Problem ? For me anyway ! A view like this might make a guy slow down into the lower gears ! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/16/24 at 01:51:02 7D6F7D6F62717E7378300 wrote:
Didn't see Hwy 39 mentioned in that article. Don't matter, we will be riding it anyway, as it is one of my favorites. :D For the leg between Vanderpool and Medina, I will contemplate using 337 or 470. :-/ This year, that view of the bluebonnets will probably be long gone by the time you get here. They are blooming now and will probably peak by the end of March. But other wild flowers will bloom after them. It is hard to predict the Texas wild flower season. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/17/24 at 19:37:49 As long as we get to see a few "LONG HORNS" I'll call it a real TEXAS RIDE ! :) .......................... That little twisty road that leads to Stonehenge where Lancer's buddy missed a curve and went ridding through a park full of small trees before popping back out on the road was a really nice road to ride. But Without one of us doing the detour through the park this time . ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 03/18/24 at 04:15:43 Who was my buddy that went through the trees ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/18/24 at 05:15:31 I remember the "ride through the tees" incident, but not who did it. When you lead a ride you miss all the excitement! >:( Longhorn spotting is a chance thing. The best I can do is go places where I have seen them before... and see if they are out! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 03/18/24 at 09:43:08 It was Old Indian that went riding in the forest. He just missed a couple of trees before regaining control and getting back on the road. It was shortly thereafter that he had his spill on the paved road. I'm guessing that bike was just a little too souped up for him for the windy roads. I remember him telling us that it was basically all straight roads in his neck of the woods. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/18/24 at 19:35:12 telling us that it was basically all straight roads in his neck of the woods. ............. After living in the TN Hills for so long , I think I'd miss having a few curves in the path sometimes . ;) I can't say that without admitting : That after about 30 years of ridding I thought I knew all about curves till ... The first ride to the Dragon and trying to follow OldFeller, Lancer, Versey and BigZuke. It was a little embarrassing at first. ;D That is a car tire on the back of my first Savage. Radial TA |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/18/24 at 20:18:04 Hay YouzGuyz I found the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mPwUgD_dQ ................ I don't want you fellers to think I'm getting itchy for a ride or anything like that ! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 03/19/24 at 01:17:53 76647664697A7578733B0 wrote:
The guy on that video is a bit directionaly challenged.. but does speak of most of the MAJOR popular roads. We will be hitting most in the Kerrville day ride range. Here is a picture of all the proposed routes from my Rever account. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 03/19/24 at 14:32:41 That sure is a lot of squiggly lines! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Crutledge on 03/19/24 at 17:45:20 Anyone riding around North Alabama / Huntsville Area? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/19/24 at 18:49:12 Them Squiggly lines sure look like fun ! :) ............ Crutledge I'm in the TN valley just an hour North of Huntsville in Lynchburg . I'm also in the place of life where every day is Saturday ! ... Well most days are Saturday , there's a few work days in the mix of the week , but I try to keep those Chore Days down to just a couple per week !! ;) Are you North of Huntsville ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/20/24 at 07:26:03 That route up around Llano, Lake Buchanan, and Marble Falls is familiar. We like to camp at Black Rock Park at Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake State Park down the road. We were at Black Rock last summer when temps were hitting 110 (real temp), and our tent was destroyed by an overnight storm but we welcomed the rain and brief cool down. Had to go to Walmart in Marble Falls the next morning and buy a new tent. It was an eventful 4-5 days that we won't soon forget, but definitely not our best stay there. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 03/20/24 at 08:14:41 Hey nobody died , it was a good run. It’s all about Adventure |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 03/20/24 at 08:20:16 Just a quick update. My brother-in-law David (Victory motorcycle) called me last night to say he was not able to get the requested time off and will not participate in the 2024 Hill Country Ride. My other brother-in-law, Steve (Hammer) is still in. So it will be just be Steve and me riding in together. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/20/24 at 08:26:23 4D6A6B6B73661F0 wrote:
That’s exactly what we said! Nobody died! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/28/24 at 05:02:18 Deb and I were down in NC last week (in a car), and I found a great road for us to ride on the bikes. The Joyce Kilmer road that goes from 129 over to the Joyce Kilmer Forest is a nice ride - and even cooler is the road that climbs up the mountain once you get there. The road climbs a mountain and is dead end with a nice overlook at the top. When we went up there was nobody else on the mountain - however that is likely to change as the summer comes. We will need to go see this road on our next trip down to Deals Gap/Tail of the Dragon. They hold a race on the mountain - this video shows the road but you can't appreciate the steepness in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veTM6fBcU7k [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veTM6fBcU7k[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/28/24 at 05:55:14 That looks awesome! I wanna ride on the road side on the road thru blind curves without worrying about getting smushed like a bug! For our upcoming Texas Hill Country ride, I wanna confirm who’ll be there: Dave & Deb Youzguyz (Neal) Lancer (aka Lancer) MMRanch (aka ?) Springman (aka) & Hammer (Steve) Paul (me) Is Verslagen coming? Did I miss anyone? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 03/28/24 at 15:30:04 Yes, I'll be there Dave & Deb Youzguyz (Neal) Lancer (Mike) MMRanch (Mike) Springman (Dave) & Hammer (Steve) Paul (me) Verslagen (Mike) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 03/29/24 at 06:59:19 Awesome!! So if I have to yell, “Mike Help!”, I’ve got a 1 in 3 chance! And if I yell, “Hey Dave!”, I’ve got a 50/50 chance!! Woohoo! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/29/24 at 07:30:39 Awesome!! So if I have to yell, “Mike Help!”, I’ve got a 1 in 3 chance! Woohoo! ;D ................ Dave , I'm thinking ... If the road is down hill most of the way ... I could ride the 350 fast enough to r-u-n-n-o-f-t and leave that feller in that little car :) Yes , we need to go visit that road ! ;) ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 03/29/24 at 07:58:06 7F435E465B4E597B4A5E472B0 wrote:
I will help you out, I answer to Michael, vs Mike. [ch128513] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/29/24 at 17:57:53 4E5C4E5C51424D404B030 wrote:
The race is held going uphill - but the road is a dead end at the top of the mountain......so they do have to come back down eventually! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/30/24 at 19:42:55 The race is held going uphill I haven't found how far down the foot pegs on the 650 yet , but the weight reminds me of the 883 Sportster , with a lower center of gravity ! ::) I'm trying to : "Don't ride like a Hooligan'" , Some times I see a curvy road and forget ... sorry ... :-[ We should act our age ... sometimes ... at least ! ;) Being that far leaned over on a 400 pound bike and loosing traction up front doesn't bother me much , but the thought of being on a 500 pound bike , leaned over to the max , then loosing traction on the front wheel ... that's kind of unnerving . Time to be down shifting two gears and pouring in the fuel ! Looks like it going to take a lot of power to pull this off !! ;D But I'd wager this feller has already lost his nerve , and is fixating on that on-coming-vehicle ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/31/24 at 02:55:29 I know that curve on the Dragon - and it has pretty good visibility and you can clearly see the camera folks. That rider was obviously showing off for the camera, and he did give them something exciting to see. If I was that fellow coming the other way - I am not sure which way I would go to get out of the way of that Black Bomber! Even if the fellow has the ability to come to a complete stop - there is no certainty where the black bike and rider are going to end up. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 03/31/24 at 10:13:12 Here is the schedule for this years Fiddies4Life races at Deals Gap. Stewmills and I went to one of these races last fall, and it was a lot of fun. After we are all home and have had some time to recover - we should plan a trip to ride in TN/NC on a weekend when we can see one of these races. We can try the Kickstand Lodge if you want. They have clean bathrooms and good rates - the past few years the facilities have been degrading and they no longer cook meals (or even have a grill or oven that functions). https://kickstandlodge.com/ Stewmills and I stayed in a tent at the Iron Horse last fall. The campground is in the trees and well shaded - not the best situation when it rains as it takes a long time for things to dry out. They have a wonderful kitchen that is open for breakfast and dinner, a nice lodge and firepit, clean showers and bathroom, and covered parking for your motorcycle! More expensive than the Kickstand - but it is much nicer. https://ironhorsenc.com/rv-%26-tent-camping |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 03/31/24 at 21:56:31 I like the idea of a Dragon run w/seeing a race too ! :) I have camped at Dragon Central , but it may be too busy on Race night ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/01/24 at 04:17:49 1C0E1C0E03101F1219510 wrote:
I looked at the web page for Deal Gap, and the tent camping rate is not posted. It is first come/first serve. The last time I stayed at the Deals Gap hotel I got a "big" surprise. For years I have slept in my little 4x8 enclosed trailer in the parking lot, and they always charged me the same as a tent.....last year when I did that they charged me $40 a night for my car being parked in their lot! Evidently they have become so popular that they run out of parking spaces for the folks in the rooms - and their website now states that campers and RV's are prohibited. To prevent unwanted parking they now charge extra to park overnight if you don't have a hotel room (the website seems to indicate that tent campers also need to pay $40 a night to use the parking lot......tent rates only apply if you rode in on a motorcycle). So for me......staying at Deals Gap (Dragon Central) is not likely - unless we got enough people to rent a room or I rode in on a bike and stayed in a tent. The reason I don't like the idea of getting a room is that you cannot cancel your reservation for free if the weather turns crappy. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/01/24 at 07:04:59 So Deals Gap Camping is just out , unless its a two wheels only outing ... ;) .................. I can bring the 8'x10'x72" room or a one person back-pack tent ... still sounds like a fun week either way ! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/01/24 at 14:22:22 MM: I believe you should give the Iron Horse a try. It is on the road near Mo's - you and I and Stew road back there once after we washed the bikes at Mo's. It is a very nice place - affordable in a tent, expensive in an RV at $80 a night for electric/water/sewer! The food is great! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/01/24 at 17:47:04 $80.00 per night ! :-/ How much is a cheep motel in the Robbinsville area ? :-? ............. You know I might have a few dollars , but I don't want to spend all eight of them at the same time unless I'm buying a new bike ! ;D ..................... |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/02/24 at 03:44:23 091B091B16050A070C440 wrote:
It is a bit surprising - but $80 a night for a full hookup to park your camper or RV at a "nice" privately owned place is not all that unusual anymore. Campgrounds that are located at popular tourist sites are in demand and the prices reflect that. State Parks are considerably cheaper however - but during peak seasons you need to plan well in advance. The Kickstand Lodge charges $30 a night for an RV...they are definitely a bargain. Hotel rooms are getting to be expensive as well in our current economy. Two Wheel Inn in Robbinsville is $100 a night for the first 2 people, $10 a night for extra people. Deals Gap is $94 a night for 1-2 people with $10 a person for more than 2. The Quality Inn at Robbinsville is $110 a night. Tent Camping is definitely the way to go if you want to hold on to your motorcycle funds. The Kickstand Lodge is $25 a night for one person and $5 a night for your snuggle buddy. Tent Camping at the Iron Horse is $35.99 a night for 1 person - $8 additional for each extra person. Deals Gap doesn't have a camping rate listed on their webpage currently - it likely is $20-$30 a night. When Deb and I were on 129 a couple weeks ago - we saw a sign at the end of Happy Valley that advertised the Abrams Creek Campground. When I got home I looked it up. It is pretty much tent camping only, and they have flush toilets but no showers. The cost is $30 a night per campsite: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/abrams-creek-campground.htm It is sad to say - but the $15 tent sites and $40 cabin rental are gone! :( |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/02/24 at 04:25:53 417A7760717D66607B737E61120 wrote:
I'm paying about $125 (includes tax/title/license) a night for Quality Inn in Kerrville so I don't have to ride there early in the morning to get you guys on the road!! See you Sunday as you ride in!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/02/24 at 06:21:19 That's Sunday the 14th ... right ? ..................... |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/02/24 at 07:36:42 1A081A08051619141F570 wrote:
What do you mean the 14th? We're all here now! Where are you? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/02/24 at 07:55:47 756671706F6264666D32030 wrote:
What do you mean the 14th? We're all here now! Where are you?[/quote] Verslagen.....I believe yesterday was the proper day for that message. ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/02/24 at 08:19:13 4F74796E7F73686E757D706F1C0 wrote:
sorry I was 'traveling' and I'm a dollar short. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/02/24 at 11:45:19 Hopefully you have enough gas to get somewhere you can hold up until you can get another dollar to get home. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/02/24 at 18:04:02 What do you mean the 14th? We're all here now! Where are you? ;D ;D ;D ;D .............. It sure is hard to soar like an Eagle when you run around with a bunch of Turkeys !!! :-? ::) :-? .............. I'm planning of the 13th - the 23 . so Ya'll , hold-up best ya can till I can get there ... Don't ride all the roads up just yet ! I'm thinking that I need to ride a practice trip to West TN. to see the Eclipse next Monday the 8th /weather permitting that is . :) I picture an outdoor table at Sonic for lunch and an Eclipse ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/02/24 at 18:31:19 Hay Lance ... let me know when dinner is ready ! ;) Oh - yea ... can I borrow a dollar ? or two ?? ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/02/24 at 18:52:08 Yep ……. [ch128526] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/02/24 at 21:12:14 Well, I found a dollar, got the new tank (2me) installed, new battery, and a new seat bracket. Hopefully I'll get the speedo and lights sorted out tomorrow. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/02/24 at 22:42:37 Hay Versey , Did you do something other than a Savage tank ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/03/24 at 00:06:52 yes, a gt550 requires mod to fit, no hole for speedo |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/03/24 at 05:21:36 Hey guys. I reserved Riverside tent site #14 for Sunday and Monday night. It’s like 100 yards from Dave’s RV site. Since I’m trailering my bike with the truck, I’ll have room to bring other stuff. I’m going to bring some fire wood. They have fire pits. We can use that at the Ranch House in the evening where I assume we’ll congregate. Anything you guys want me to bring that you don’t feel like toting along? - Air compressor? - Food? - Bottled water? - gas can? - motorcycle jack? - Rotella T4 if anybody drinks oil? - Beer (I quit drinking, but I’ll grab some if anyone wants) - ???? Let me know. I think I’ll leave the fishing poles and kayak at home. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/03/24 at 05:21:45 445740415E5355575C03320 wrote:
And you will get a 160 mile range before you hit reserve! :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/03/24 at 05:35:51 0B190B19140708050E460 wrote:
Are those the days that you are leaving and returning home? We are leaving home on the 10th and taking 2 days to drive to Waxahachee to spend the 12th/13th with Deb's step sister and husband. We will be leaving their house on the 14th and will arrive at the campground in the afternoon. We will be leaving the campground on Monday the 22nd and driving to the Seminole Canyon State Park in Comstock for the next 2 nights. We will then turn toward home and drive toward home on the 25/26th. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/03/24 at 06:50:09 Versey , should I go see if I can find a handle bar mount for a Garmin ? One of the modes is pure GPS Speedo . Even on Navigation mode it still shows your speed. :-? All you would need is a USB charging port and a little unused handle bar space. You probably already have the charging port ? ............................................ Hay Paul , - Snack Food and Bottled water . There never is too much ! :) ............. I'm headed to Lancers the 12th or 13th , and getting home two or three days after the party is over ! I'm afraid to be gone much longer , I don't want Marcia to start thinking she could live without me ! ;D Yeea Haa ;) https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gt550%2075.htm |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/03/24 at 07:47:39 617361737E6D626F642C0 wrote:
I got speedos and speedo mounts... just which 1 will wind up with I'm not sure. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/03/24 at 11:18:35 The good ole smoky GT550! It’s awesome how much torque a good little 2-stroke can pump out. My first real bike was a 2-stroke 1975 Honda MR175 (Elsinor). It wasn’t great at anything, but did everything pretty well and could take some abuse (except the highway). Back when Houston’s ‘now 7 lane boulevards’ were beaten down 2-lane farm roads. The Elsinor wasn’t street legal so I managed to get stopped and slapped with 13 violations, taken to the station, bike towed. Dad wasn’t too happy about paying to get the bike out of impound and I did have to pay him back with blood, sweat, and tears. But they did drop the citations and told me not to get caught again (game on!). I don’t remember how long I got grounded from riding, but I mostly stayed off the road after that (at least not where the cops could catch me and I had a getaway trail nearby). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/03/24 at 12:37:21 yep ! It surprises me anyone buys non-street-legal bikes ??? :-? :-? :-? But Somebody buys one of them everyday ??? ::) ::) ::) ......... That Honda MR175 (Elsinor) might have felt like a dual sport . I had a DR200 about 2 years ago , that was really a nice little machine - till I took Marcia for an afternoon ride on it . The seat must have been made for two 15 year old butt's ? ::) So Up for sale it went and I got the 350 Meteor to replace it (2022) . The "RE-Hunter" wasn't an option till the next year (2023) , but it would have been a closer replacement for the DR. But the Meteor is paid for and so is the performance cam , the free flow exaust , and the free flow intake ... so I have to keep for it now ! Maybe next year I can ride the Meteor for the Texas ride ? Dual-Sport tires on this might be my next bike ... or the Triumph 400 Scrambler ??? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/03/24 at 12:49:42 0A180A18150609040F470 wrote:
I used to do all my riding off road, and I have owned several non-street legal bikes (1972 Kawasaki 125 Enduro, 1970 Yamaha 175 converted to motocrosser, 1973 & 1974 Suzuki TM125, 1973 & 1974 Suzuki RL250 Exacta trials bikes, 1976 Ossa 250 Phantom motocross, 2004 Sherco 250 and 2009 Sherco 320 trials bike). Dirt bikes are far more agile and lighter than street legal bikes, and when you fall down there aren't any lights, turn signals, mirrors, horns or shiny mufflers to get bent or broken! I would still own a trials bike if I had somebody to ride with - I sold my Sherco trials bike as I was going on rides in the woods alone and it just didn't seem to be safe - I was riding in places where I would not see anyone for hours! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/03/24 at 14:25:22 To your point Dave, riding alone in the woods can be dangerous, or deadly. One of our church members is Champas Parker, 2 time world motocross champion (250 and 500 machines; the first American ever to win those world championships) and a few weeks back when riding with another person had an accident and ripped his stomach open about 8-10”. He thought he was going to die in the woods but his buddy was able to contact 911 and get him to a hospital in time to save his life. He was fortunate he was not alone. With his lifelong riding experience even he went down hard on this ride. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/03/24 at 15:17:18 6C616E6365723237000 wrote:
So true! It’s one of the loneliest feeling in the world being stranded by yourself on a broken bike. It’s unthinkable how awful it would be to be stranded alone and injured. Dave - you must have been that cool kid down the street I was always jealous of. Getting a cool new bike all the time! I had to work my tushy off to buy my beater. Other kids parents bought theirs (not fair!). I understand and appreciate it now! I washed a lot of dishes at a Chinese restaurant at age 14 to save up! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/03/24 at 18:30:33 Well Dave ! Here's an idea : I'll loose the Meteor 350 , get the Hunter version of it , put dual sport tires on it. You get another Hillbilly Bike , Then We can run all over those trails near Suches ! Maybe , we could do the same thing on Street Bikes ? But I want to get one of these hats first ! ;D Hay , I've missed that DR200 ever since the day after I sold it ! I think I know where this place is ... We go to Verseys then head east ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/03/24 at 19:11:52 MM, you’ve grown a beard dude !! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/04/24 at 04:00:59 784459415C495E7C4D59402C0 wrote:
I grew up in a Quaker/Mennonite/Methodist farming area in northeast Ohio and there was not an excess of money anywhere. My parents did not buy me anything with two wheels, and I picked strawberries and stacked hay and straw bales for local farmers to earn $50 to buy my first bicycle. I rode that thing constantly and got pretty good at staying upright on two wheels. I could ride wheelies farther and jump more concrete blocks than any of the other boys! When I was 15 I worked at a place that sold food supplies to restaurants and schools - we started work at 3AM and loaded the trucks until 7AM and then went to school.....that is how I was able to make money to buy my motorcycles. I was a good rider and the Suzuki dealer sold me the TM125 bikes pretty cheaply and gave me discounts on parts as I raced and wore their jerseys as advertising for them. The only bikes I owned when I was a teenager was the Kawasaki 125 Enduro, Yamaha 175, and the 2 Suzuki TM125 race bikes. The first bike I owned was the Kawasaki 125 Enduro - I soon learned that I really wanted a race bike. My Yamaha 175 was a used enduro that had the lights stripped, a 21" front wheel and high fender added, a Yamaha GYT Kit had been added for more power - it was well used when I got it and it needed repairs a lot. When the TM125 came out in 1973 I traded in my Yamaha and got a real race bike! I only owned and rode 1 bike at a time and I rode them constantly - we had old strip mines in the area and they were great places to ride. I gave up racing when the RM125 Suzuki bikes cam out - I was headed to college and I had no time for motorcycles. All of the rest of the motorcycles came along after a 35 year lapse as I attended college and was involved in my working career. I started enjoying motorcycles again somewhere around 2005. Now that I am retired I spend a lot of time with my motorcycles......I have too many at the moment and need to thin the herd a bit - I believe the Honda Trail 110 (CT110) will be the first to go. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/04/24 at 05:08:24 627062707D6E616C672F0 wrote:
The Hunter 350 is a street bike....it is not a dirt bike. It will not do well off road, it does not have the proper suspension, ground clearance or gearing for that kind of riding. If you want to do dirt - it would be a waste of time and money to buy anything less than a true dual sport bike. Choosing a proper dual sport bike is a bit tough. A 250 can be light and nimble - but they lack power and highway speed can be limited. A 650 has plenty of power to make the highway portion better - but they can be pretty tall and heavy. Perhaps a 400 is a good compromise. At the moment I just don't have enough of a need/want to own a dual sport bike. Perhaps the best thing to do if you want to explore the dirt - is rent a dual sport bike for a day or two. That would be far cheaper than selling a bike and getting another one. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/04/24 at 05:20:18 What a great life, Dave! Farm work is good hard honest work! My mother’s side of the family is all farmers. I was born in Winona MN on the Mississippi River, my grandparents settled there after leaving the farm just across the river in Wisconsin. Two of my uncles (grandfather’s brothers) kept the main farm - mostly hogs, chickens, a few dairy cows, corn and hay. When I was young and we visited, I got a tiny taste of the life. When they passed away about 15 years ago, never married, just 2 old dusty farmers running the farm, they were still using an outhouse. It was no big deal to them, but I can’t imagine having to use an outhouse when it’s winter in Wisconsin when it’s 0 degrees with 2 feet of snow on the ground. Much less gathering eggs and milking cows at o-dark-thirty in the winter! That RM125 was wicked! One kid had one where we mostly rode and he could smoke all of us pulling wheelies right up into 4th gear practically! I can still hear it! My hiatus was longer than yours. When I was 21, I adopted a new 1985 Honda Interceptor VF700F (tariff buster) from a buddy. He moved to California with his new wife and couldn’t bring the bike with him. For helping him move, he gave me the bike and I took over payments. Being a financially irresponsible dude, I only paid 6 months and ended up having the bike repossessed (really dumb move on my part). That bike was stupid fast and I was fearless and in my prime! Had to replace the rear tire after about 2 months from doing too many burnouts in the bar parking lot (dang I was an idiot)!! I think I’m a little smarter and grown up now, but that person is still in me somewhere sometimes! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/04/24 at 05:36:26 Hey, the forum now autocorrects cuss words! A$$ is Tushy Dam! is darn (I had to modify autocorrect to say dang) Ducking is just ducking |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/04/24 at 07:37:45 Our RV has an outdoor TV - we could have a movie night! My neighbor says he might have a copy of Wild Hogs we can borrow. The current weather forecast looks good. Cool nights and bit chilly for the morning commute - pleasant afternoon temperatures with nothing into the 80's! There is a chance of rain on Monday - but there will likely will be changes in the forecast - as we are still 10 days away from our arrival. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/04/24 at 08:28:41 It’s total sacrilege to watch TV while camping! At least that’s what my wife tells me! I have to sneak off to check Facebook on my phone too! Texas weather! Who knows!! Feel bad for the folks are/were heading out to the Hill Country to get a better glimpse of the eclipse on Monday. Supposed to be cloudy. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/04/24 at 09:51:58 Hey Paul. I saw you reserved campsite for Sunday and Monday night. Just FYI, generally Sunday is not much of a riding day as we are all just rolling in pretty much at different times. You may want to extend your stay to get a few miles in. Just thought I would mention it. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/04/24 at 10:29:18 Now that Youzguyz has been riding his Triumph Rocket III for a few years, he should really feel at home on it! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rla9KU0m808[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/04/24 at 10:44:03 I was born in N California into a family of farmers, spent my growing up years in mostly peach, but with some almond & walnut orchards, and working during my HS summers in the orchards irrigating and harvesting the crops. I made enough during the summer between my junior/senior year of HS to buy my first bike, a new Suzuki 150 twin 2-stroke. Saved up $500 for the summer at $1/hr. They were long hot days. Paid cash for the bike and the dealer threw in a Bell helmet with face shield, and a pair of leather gloves. That was in 1966 when my motorcycle life began. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/04/24 at 11:03:24 6568676A6C7B3B3E090 wrote:
This is awesome! I bet that was a cool bike! I was 2 in 1966. I feel like a baby now. In 1978, I made $1.35/hour washing dishes! WooHoo! If I helped out bussing tables, the waitresses might have added an extra $0.50/hr to my regular wage. 'Song' was so pretty and nice to me. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/04/24 at 11:05:34 6A696B70777E747877190 wrote:
Thinking about it. I wanted to arrive Sunday with everyone else and be ready to ride Monday. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/04/24 at 11:35:21 370B160E1306113302160F630 wrote:
I believe you need to extend your stay a day or two longer. Check out from the campground is 12AM.....we likely will have left for the days ride 4-5 hours prior to that. Youzguyz generally gets us out pretty early and takes us to a place we can get breakfast. Since the Ranch House has a full kitchen........perhaps MMRanch is going to be cooking for everyone! It is very likely you can extend your stay at the campsite you have reserved - I doubt that the place is sold out in the middle of the week while kids are still in school....unless there are spring breaks going on that week. Deb and I are likely to have a Taco dinner to welcome everyone at our campsite on Sunday evening. It won't likely be up to the high standards of Taco's that are native to Texas - but it will have nice lean ground beef from a cow who used to live in the pasture next door to us. Deb's step sister also recommended Billy Gene's Restaurant in Kerrville. I believe I will have to go and have their Chicken Fried Steak! https://billygenes.com/ https://billygenes.com/menu/ |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/04/24 at 13:15:26 I expect I can add a day if needed without a problem. I may go ahead and add a day beforehand. Still thinking about it and watching the weather. Our last 2 camping trips we’ve had our tent destroyed by storms in the middle of the night. I really don’t want a 3-peat! I saw checkout is at noon (12pm). I could evacuate my tent site early in the morning, and then hoping I could just park the truck and trailer at the ranch house or next to your RV (lol). Then I could ride all day Tuesday and just head back to Houston in the evening. I’m just making this up as I go along. Note: you can’t make good Texas tacos with lean cow. You need the fattiest greasiest nastiest ground beef you can find! Maybe you drain the fat, maybe not. lol. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/04/24 at 15:45:52 1B202D3A2B273C3A2129243B480 wrote:
Ummmmm.... cough, cough... Rocket 3, not Rocket III. I did not like the look of the III (looked like a locomotive). When the 3 came out, and I saw one in person, well.... ::) And I am not at home on it as much as I could be if I rode it all the time. I still prefer my Savage motorcycles for most riding. Switching back and forth between the two makes for interesting times. The Rocket will probably be used for one of the day's rides. But NOT the Sisters!!!! BTW.. I could not see Dave's media video link for some reason. Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rla9KU0m808 |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/04/24 at 16:52:33 You learn something new everyday! I didn't know there was both a Rocket III and a Rocket 3! :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/07/24 at 12:18:50 Youzguyz, Is this kinda the route you are thinking for Tuesday? I was a bit color challenged trying to follow the green mark-up on your map. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/07/24 at 12:25:49 Now I've got this song stuck in my head... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evtmVZFeooA Sing along now... The only two things in life that make it worth livin' Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women I don't need my name in the marquee lights I got my song and I got you with me tonight Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas With Waylon and Willie and the boys This successful life we're livin' Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys Between Hank Williams' pain songs and Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain So baby, let's sell your diamond ring Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away This coat and tie is choking me In your high society you cry all day We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones Four car garage and we're still building on Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas With Waylon and Willie and the boys This successful life we're livin' got us feudin' Like the Hatfield and McCoys Between Hank Williams' pain songs and Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas With Willie and Waylon and the boys This successful life we're livin's got us feudin' Like the Hatfield and McCoys Between Hank Williams' pain songs And Jerry Jeff's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain Out in Luckenbach, Texas there ain't nobody feelin' no pain |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/07/24 at 14:42:06 734F524A5742557746524B270 wrote:
Luckenbach, the land of the five dollar beer. Don't worry, I will take you there.... :D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/07/24 at 14:48:37 7C405D45584D5A78495D44280 wrote:
Kinda, sorta, but not really. I emailed you google links for all the routes on 03/26. Did you not receive it? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/07/24 at 15:15:38 40564C435E4C4043390 wrote:
Kinda, sorta, but not really. I emailed you google links for all the routes on 03/26. Did you not receive it?[/quote] Probably my bad or aggressive spam folder. I’ll take a look. I was just trying to follow the green line in your original map we were supposed to memorize. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/07/24 at 16:52:30 Hey Youzguyz, can you please resend me those maps? I only have your first email from 3/7 with Life360 info. Thanks. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/07/24 at 17:00:44 714D504855405775445049250 wrote:
Done |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/07/24 at 18:05:58 4A5C464954464A49330 wrote:
Luckenbach is a fun place to stop and relax for a bit....and buy touristy stickers for your guitar case. And a $5 beer is not all that objectionable to us tourists. We even bought a metal "Luckenbach" sign and have it posted on our outdoor shower! It is even better if there is somebody playing music while we stop by. The chickens wandering around are a bit cool as well! Two years ago when we were there the lady was trying to get the chickens to follow her to the coop so they could be locked in for the night - one rooster was being a bit ornery. The lady went over and grabbed the rooster and tucked it under her arm - the hens followed along behind her! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/08/24 at 04:44:33 Luckenbach, Texas, a sprawling metropolis of music, food & fun. One of the highlights of the hill country. Yes-sir-eee. See y’all next week. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/08/24 at 05:09:51 The rooster story made me laugh! That’s about right! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/08/24 at 05:16:44 Hey Youzguyz. I sent you a private message to confirm my email. I didn’t receive what you sent yesterday either. Thanks. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/08/24 at 05:54:43 7F435E465B4E597B4A5E472B0 wrote:
I sent you the email as a PM. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/09/24 at 04:29:41 I can't help but look at the weather forecast frequently - and it changes almost as often as I look! The wet weather that was forecast for Monday/Tuesday in last weeks attempt has now slid to the end of the week. The current forecast is likely something coming in Thursday night, staying through Friday and leaving Saturday morning. Hopefully the weather will clear up completely - or we can figure out a way to ride in the other direction...or it happens at night! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/09/24 at 09:10:43 I feel ya Dave. I've been looking almost everyday also. 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/09/24 at 09:21:33 I could not get a DVD of Wild Hogs.....anybody else got a copy they can bring? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/09/24 at 11:28:18 I do not have that DVD. Sorry. I just called the Kerville Schreiner park to ask if we need to bring bed linens. The answer is no, bed linens are provided. They did recommend you bring your own towels. Yep, looking forward to this!!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/09/24 at 18:00:33 Don't we have a kitchen too ? I'm going to have to go look to see ... the idea of cooking on a grill in the back yard after a day of putt putting around is getting me excited . :P |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/09/24 at 18:13:15 This Ranch-Style House is located on the Hill Side of the park in an enclosed private setting. The Ranch House includes: Full-size kitchen Refrigerator, microwave, oven, sink Four-piece dining set Washer / dryer Living room with, couch and chairs Three bedrooms which sleeps a total of eight Two full-size restrooms with shower Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. with a 12:00 p.m. check-out. ......................... |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/09/24 at 18:49:07 I’m looking forward to this trip too, it almost seems like years since we were together last. Y’all kind of grow on folks, ya know ? [ch128526] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/09/24 at 21:16:05 There's a song in my head... 'Cause I'm leavin' for a truck ride Don't know when I'll be back again To Texas I'll luv to go... Status update: speedo installed, it has a trip meter but the knob broke, maybe the new 1 will get here in time. secret device installed. new seat bracket installed. stock battery box installed with mounting for starter relay and ig box. tank is clean and mounted but I screwed up on the petcock, hopefully a new 1 will get here in time. Backup plan is the old tank. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/10/24 at 02:48:31 302334352A2721232877460 wrote:
You are bringing a science project to a motorcycle ride? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/10/24 at 03:29:44 Deb and I are all packed and ready to start our trip in a few hours. It is dry here - but it appears we are going to hit significant rain between Louisville and Nashville......then maybe again near Memphis. At least the motorcycle will be clean and dry in the enclosed trailer! We would like to stop at the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis for a chance to see this amazing place, stretch our legs and buy some unnecessary plastic items. The amount of crime reported in downtown Memphis worries me a little bit, and there are a lot of reports of vehicle break ins - one previous employee stated they average 4 a day and the security at Bass Pro Shops doesn't care. More recent reports are more positive. Perhaps we will give them a call when we get in the area and ask them about the current security status. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1f1IjaKGU8[/media] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/10/24 at 04:51:26 447F7265747863657E767B64170 wrote:
You are bringing a science project to a motorcycle ride? :-?[/quote] Versy and the .... FrankenBike!! :o Ya never know what it will look like! :D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/10/24 at 04:53:15 78757A7771662623140 wrote:
Sort of like ... moss? ;D It will be good to see y'all again.. and to meet Paul! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/10/24 at 05:01:19 The Bass Pro Shops video. LOL! I met Johnny Morris (founder/ceo) at the headquarters store in Springfield, MO. He’s a hoot and down to earth guy! I was trying to win the Bass Pro Shop insurance business when I was with Aetna. He gave me a hard time, but he was cool. Safe travels. I think you’ll be fine in Memphis. See ya in a few days. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/11/24 at 04:43:16 We made it to Jackson, TN last night. We tried to find a campsite but none were available at the several places we called or stopped at. Evidently the folks who traveled to see the eclipse are headed home. We were able to get a nice overnight parking spot at the Cracker Barrel in Jackson - there are half a dozen other folks parked here with us. The lady at one campground warned us not to stay at any campground in Jackson, TN - but the Cracker Barrel was fine. We asked our waiter about it and he said the campgrounds are all in neighborhoods with a lot of crime - but the Cracker Barrel was in a good area. We felt much better about staying here, especially with so many overnight neighbors. We are 120 miles from Memphis and will stop by the Bass Pro Shops on our way through - if we had stopped las night it would have been in the middle of the evening rush hour, and I just didn't know what to expect for Memphis traffic that time of day. Most likley we will br driving in rain from here all the wayk to Little Rock. The weather after today should be clear for the rest of the drive to Kerrville. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/11/24 at 05:08:43 Good deal. Glad you were able to park at the Cracker Barrel. Not many places probably let you squat for a night. Slow and steady wins the race. Safe travels to Waxahachie! We were there for our grandson’s track meet 3 weeks ago. I hadn’t been there in a while - it’s a dang southern suburb of Dallas now! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/11/24 at 07:06:59 Dave , you and Deb rolling down the road grinning ear to ear is a nice sight to picture ! Ya'll have fun ! :) ............ I rode a " FrankenBike!! " with a strait handlebar one time . It was quite the experience !!! ;D Who would have thought a little curve in a pipe would make such a difference ! I'm leaving in the morning to roll over to Lancer and Paula's house. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/11/24 at 09:49:23 This is grand. Just a couple of days from leaving and today the S40 would not start. I pressed the starter button and nothing. I verified all was correct, clutch in, pressed a few more times and it turned over. Did not have choke engaged so did not start. Engaged choke, pressed started button and nothing. The battery has been on the tender and indicates fully charged and only a few months old. I suspect either a loose connection or the decomp solenoid. Anyway, rolled it back up the driveway and started up the Honda. Head off to work but stop at gas station about 8 miles away. Cannot turn off turn signal. The turn signal switch stub broke as I was trying to turn off the turn signal. I fuel up and play with it for about 10 minutes but cannot fix. Considered removing light bulbs from turn signals but that flashing indicator ligth is really distracting. So I rode back home, parked the Honda and got in my pick up. Got to work very late. Guess I will be doing some mechanicing on Saturday. I'll be riding the Honda so worst case scenario I will not have working turn signals. Oh the fun, the fun! >:( |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/11/24 at 10:11:12 I had a broken wire in the starter switch once, luckily we were at MMR's and I was able to get it fixed. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/11/24 at 10:40:47 3B283F3E212C2A28237C4D0 wrote:
or corrosion / crud in the starter switch. Seen that before. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/11/24 at 11:53:31 Thanks. I was going to look at the wires and connections. Had not considered crud in the switch. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/11/24 at 18:38:07 Put a voltmeter on the Savage battery and read the voltage when you press the start button - if the voltage drops significantly the battery is bad. Try bypassing the clutch and kickstand safety switches. Disconnect the plug and put a piece of wire in the terminal ends to complete the circuit where the switch was. (It is not uncommon for these switches to stop working). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/11/24 at 18:44:27 Was the green light on ? My Guzzi V-9 would need to be in neutral for the starter to work. The Guzzi V-7 would need the kill switch on the right to be flicked sometimes. The clutch pull switch might be defective ? The kick stand might not be "all the way up" |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/11/24 at 18:47:44 We are staying at a Cackle Burial again tonight - this one is about 50 miles east of Dallas. Cracker Barrel does allow overnight stays in their parking lot, and hopefully folks won't start abusing this and we will always be welcome here. They are not as quiet as a campground, as they are always located very near to the interstate highway - but they don't have room for semi trucks so they are much better than trying to sleep at a public "REST AREA" along the highway. I am absolutely amazed by the number of semi trucks on I-65, I-40 and I-30. It appears they outnumber the automobiles. At night the rest areas, fuel stops and truck parking areas are jammed full and overflowing with trucks! That is why we have chosen to stay at Cracker Barrel - you cannot find aspace at the public rest stops, as they are full of trucks! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/11/24 at 18:58:03 Hay Springman , you probably already thought of this but ... Does the Honda have the "Push to cancel" system ? Would a butter knife or small screw diver slip into the slot and Cancel it ? Just thinking ... :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/12/24 at 08:45:08 Thanks for the suggestions Dave. I will probably try to take a look at the bike tonight. Thanks also MM. The bike was in neutral and the kill switch was not in the kill position. On the Honda while I was at the gas station I tried to turn off the turn signal both with the piece that broke (it fell in front of the gas pump where I could see it) and my pocket knife, but neither worked. I'll just open up the turn signal assembly and reset it manually and see if there is anyway I can fix the little broken part. One way or another I will be there on Sunday, even if I have to enlist all of you guys as mechanics. 8-) ::) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/13/24 at 02:34:41 Deb and I have been rolling down the road = Deb may have been grinnin' a bit - but I was a bit miserable. After mowing the yard on Tuesday I had a stuffy nose and just figured the mold/pollen had affected me - but it turned out I had caught a cold somewhere. By the time we left Wednesday morning it had become a full onslaught with runny nose, head congestion, coughing and sneezing. It was a difficult task to stay alert and drive on Wednesday/Thursday.....I felt a bit fetter by Friday, and even better this morning. Today we are going with our inlaws to a shooting event that he is competing in. IT is some kind of an event for accuracy at 50 yards - he also competes in longer distance events. After the competition we will be shooting just for fun. We brought along a .22 so we can shoot a lot and still be able to afford to buy dinner! We will be leaving Waxahatchee tomorrow morning and it will take us around 5 hours to get to KErrville. I have signed onto the Life360 - Youzguyz is on there as well. So far we are the only 2 that have logged on. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/13/24 at 02:44:03 310A0710010D16100B030E11620 wrote:
ThumperPaul and Springman are signed up for the 2024 Hill Country circle as well, just not visible at this time. Haven't seen MM, Lancer, Versy, Hammer. I can send out another join code when needed. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/13/24 at 11:30:33 finally I'm ready, late start, flat tire, etc., etc. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/14/24 at 04:58:05 Yesterday I went with my Waxahatchie family members to a 50 yard shooting event to watch him compete. It was certainly a sport that could become addicting. They had .22 caliber bolt action target rifles and they shot at targets that had 25 circles about the size of a quarter. Each shot scored 100/50/0 depending on how close you got to the center. After the competition I had the chance to shoot one of the rifles and it was incredible how sensitive they were to how you pulled/squeezed the trigger. The slightest twitch, breath or heartbeat at the wrong time could pull the bullet off the target - and you really could not sense what you did wrong. When you got it right the bullet would consistenly hit the center - but it took great control. I started out a little erratic - but as I continued I got more accurate and started hitting the 100 point mark often. I saw on Life360 that Hammer left Atlanta about 9AM and went west at a very fast pace. The data that the Life360 app displays could likely get him a good scolding from his wife When he stopped moving around 11PM I could see that he was located inside a building - I zoomed in to the location and was glad to to discover it was a hotel and not a detention cell! I looked at the Accuweather forecast and it appears good until Saturday. On that day they are forecasting strong morning storms with more in the afternoon. Obviously the forecast is a guess - but it has improved from what was forecast a few days ago. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/14/24 at 08:31:07 On the road again ! Close to the Red River . Both of our bikes have had no issues during this trip so far, they are riding so well in the back of the pickup. Well, I did have a little issue on the BSA yesterday. MM and I were out for a ride and about an hour into the ride my bike ran out of gas, so I got some from a rancher ( bless him), filled the tank, and the bike would not start. Had to go get the truck to carry it home. So, now Rex is with us after all. Oh well, maybe next time for the BSA. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 04/14/24 at 13:05:03 Ok, I made it. We have a loading dock. And maybe a garage. YG, pm me the code please If you get here before 5, check in at office |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/14/24 at 19:28:42 Everybody has arrived and we had a taco welcome party at our campsite. First ride is leaving at 9AM from the Ranch House. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/16/24 at 05:00:45 We had a good ride yesterday and got everybody their annual "Twisted Sisters" fix. Unlike the lyrics from Home, Home on the Range - the sky was cloudy all day and there was very little sun We did remain dry all day with temps starting out in the comfortable 60's and the afternoon got a bit warm and up to 86. A few of the Savage bikes were cranky from getting woke up from their winter slumber, and they provided some small mechanical protests. Lancer's bike "Rex" decided it needed a new souvenir battery from the town of Leakey - so a stop at an auto parts store to get a new battery was required. Youzguyz was very patient with our group of misfits and got us home safely. Today we will start our ride with a trip to Cracker Barrel for the needed protein and caffiene. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/16/24 at 17:02:08 At Dave's Taco Stand. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/16/24 at 17:04:17 At Stonehenge II in Ingram. Left to Right - Verslagen, Youzguyz (Ride Leader), Dave, Hammer, Springman (front¢er), Lancer, MMRanch! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/16/24 at 17:07:21 I think this was on 337E between Vanderpool and Medina?? Or maybe it was between Leakey and Vanderpool. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/16/24 at 17:08:49 Unplanned pit stop for The Beast! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/17/24 at 04:18:31 For those that "did the duration" on Tuesday's ride, an ice cream reward in the booming megapolis of Kendalia. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/18/24 at 19:09:07 We finished up our Texas riding today with our resident tour guide Youzguyz showing us another great day of riding. We got to see a small herd of Longhorns on the move, the Motorcycle Museum in Johnstown, Toon Town and also our yearly visit to Luckenbach to buy stickers and a T shirt! Lancer, Verslagen, MMRanch, Springman and Hammer are all heading toward home tomorrow. Deb and I are staying a bit longer and doing some touristy things. We are riding down to San Antonio tomorrow to see as much as we can (Alamo, River Walk, Missions...maybe a boat ride!). Saturday may be a washout here in Kerrville - we will just have to wait and see. Sunday we will have another dry day and get packed up to drive to the desert area of Comstock/Langtry to see the area where Judge Roy Bean was the law west of the Pecos River, and see what camping in the desert is like. We are hoping for a clear night sky so we can see what the stars look like without all the light pollution from big cities. The riding and company was great! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/18/24 at 19:23:07 It’s been a Wonderful Week in This Neighborhood. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/19/24 at 06:24:00 I didn't take a lot of pictures, but attached is a link that will hopefully work to show the ones that are worth keeping. facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.8218963954786943&type=3 It was a good time. Would have been better if I hadn't been hurting so much. Sorry if my mood wasn't too good at times. ::) So nice to see my old friends from the forum, and to meet ThumperPaul. There were a few incidents with motorcycle issues, but all resolved rapidly "on site" :D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/19/24 at 10:43:39 Thanks again, Neal! Great meeting you too! What a ride!! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/20/24 at 05:19:06 Deb and I went to the San Antonio yesterday and did touristy things. The ride down was on 10 and took a bit more than an hour. The amount of traffic and required lane changes was a bit intimidating while riding a motorcycle - you folks who live in cities likely do it everyday......I live in the country and rarely ride in cities. I got online and looked at where to park - there were lots of horror stories about the lots scamming and towing cars, high fees and even some thefts - rates are $25-$30 a day to park. One other thing that bothered me was that the lots are not attended, and payment is often made by phone or credit card into a machine - with a motorcycle I can't place a payment stub on the dashboard! I saw that Casa Rio had a small parking lot at their restaurant on the riverwalk withing walking distance of the Alamo, and they charged $15 for a 2 hour stay and they had a small building with an attendant inside. We went there and I talked to the attendant and ask him if he could park our motorcycle for more than 2 hours? He said for $20 we could park longer - I gave him $25 and he had us park where he could see the motorcycle and promised to watch it until we got back and even offered to put our helmets and jackets in his building. I was at ease knowing our motorcycle would still be there when we got back to it! We visited the Alamo and it was a nice audio tour - it was pretty incredible the sacrifice that so many unpaid volunteers were willing to give their lives for Texas to become a free state.....even more so when you consider that so many of them were from Kentucky Tennessee, Virginia and many other states - and even other countries! We took a 30 minute boat ride on the canals and ate lunch at Caso Rio, then headed out to tour several of the old Spanish Missions. We also saw an aqueduct that was made in 1740 for irrigation that is still functioning - it is the only remaining Spanish aqueduct in the United States. Our ride home started around 6PM on a Friday night rush hour. Rather than go through town we took the circle freeway around the west side of the city and it was a bit less hectic than the inner city route - we spent the last half an hour in the dark and got an adequate amount of bugs splattered on the front of the bike. Today is another touristy day that will be spend in Kerrville - we are staying close to the campground as strong thunderstorms are forecast for today and this evening. Sunday the weather will be good and we may stray up to Fredericksburg for more touristy stuff. There is a museum for the Texas Rangers that we have been riding past in previous years - maybe this is the year we get to stop! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/20/24 at 05:39:02 Glad you made the best of it! Yeah, the super slabs in major cities in Texas are not motorcyclist friendly! And San Antonio has some of the worst highway exchanges possible - one minute you need to be in the far left lane and then you need to be in the far right lane! I-10 is brutal through town. Paying to park always sucks and San Antonio has super high tourist pricing! Stay safe and dry today! You’ll like the desert night views if it’s not cloudy. Fingers crossed the gods oblige! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/21/24 at 06:41:49 We got a bit of rain last night in Kerrville - the first real rain for the 8 days we have been here. The temps have dropped to 44 degrees! The weather this year was not at all like the other years. Every day began with a light mist floating through the air, the sky was constantly filled with gray clouds and a glimpse of the sun was rare. A few nights the stars were visible when we went to bed - but the clouds and mist would return by morning. Sometime during the day we would often encounter a light drizzle that would wet the helmet visor but not enough to make the pavement wet or require a stop to put on rain gear. In some ways the cloud cover was good - we never got up into the upper 90's and the sun did not bake us while we had our armored jackets and helmets on - I never got home with my helmet and clothes soaked in sweat as often happens on hot/sunny days. Deb and I will be leaving Kerrville tomorrow (Monday) morning and drive out to Comstock to spend a couple of days camping in the desert. We have never camped in the desert and being so close gave us a chance to try it. The temperatures in Comstock have not yet soared and the skies are forecast to be a bit clearer than they have been. The towns of Comstock and Langtry are small and less domesticated than Fredericksburg/Kerrville - I anticipate that traffic will be light and there will only be a handful of us tourists in the area. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/21/24 at 10:03:29 Hopefully the stars at night are big and bright, (clap, clap, clap), deep in the heart of Texas. Reminds me of the one I love, (clap, clap, clap), deep in the heart of Texas! No traffic, but hopefully you don’t get road blocked by a 1000 traveling ‘migrants’! You should be good. Just don’t go any closer to Pierre’s Negras and Eagle Pass. Eagle Pass used to be a fun place to go 40 years ago for a quick border crossing to do tourist shopping for trash and trinkets. Got my first pair of hand made leather cowboy boots there for like $20 back in the day. The Caverns of Sonora are pretty cool if you have a few extra hours. Not too far from where you’ll be. Enjoy! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/21/24 at 19:36:03 Deb and I had a good ride today. The morning started out at 44 degrees! It warmed up quickly and we fixed bacon and pancakes while it was chilly, and rode off when it was in the middle 50's. We first went to the Empty Cross sculpture garden in Kerrville - we should have done that while the others were here. It was very nice. We then took a long ride to Amalo Springs Cafe and arrived at 3:03, along with another couple in a van. As we were taking off our helmets a young woman walked out to tell us they closed at 3 and would not be taking any orders - we could come back on Wednesday. The couple in the van was from Hawaii and said they would be back in Hawaii on Wednesday....and we will be back on our way to KY. When they say they close at 3PM - they really mean it! I wanted to get some guitar picks from Luckenbach for my Assistant Pastor - so we swung by for a quick shopping trip. They had a good band playing and the food truck looked like they did a decent job - so we got hamburgers and they were almost as good as Alamo Springs (and they were OPEN). We then headed back past Alamo Springs and stopped at the Old Railroad Tunnel to see if the bats where back yet The volunteer their said there were a few bats - but the big colony has not yet arrived and they are not yet scheduling the viewings. We had a nice ride to Comfort, then Centerpoint, then Camp Verde and on back to Kerrville. We have loaded up the bike and riding gear and will head out to Comstock in the morning. It is a 179 mile drive - likely 4 hours for us tourists in an RV! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/21/24 at 20:35:37 I got home tonight ! The Interstate turned into a parking lot just west of Memphis this afternoon ... so ... I got off and went the "OLD" way . It was a pleasant way to drive the rest of the way home . The craziness of the Interstate went away !! :) There were people running 80's mph in the 55mph zones zipping around traffic like they had no sense at all. It was more than likely one of them that was behind the Parking lot problem :-?. I was just fine with the scenic route . ;) I see there is two pages of post to catch up on here . :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/22/24 at 05:05:52 Glad to hear you made it home safely, MM. It was great meeting you and watching you ride the Super Meteor! You can really sling that thing around!! Be safe Dave and Deb! Keep an eye open for the coyotes. For whatever reason, they like the desert plains area out there. Actually they’re pretty harmless unless you’re a small dog or cat. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/22/24 at 05:37:52 6E7C6E7C71626D606B230 wrote:
When Deb and I drove down here - we saw 3 areas where the northbound traffic was a big problem and the traffic backup went for miles. One of those places was Memphis, and another one was Little Rock - I believe the Little Rock backup was construction related, and it was on a Thursday morning. We are not going home the same way in an effort to avoid the interstate parking lots we saw on the way down - they will likely add hours to our travel time (and a lot of frustration). The southern route home goes through Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Texarkana and Dallas. Mapquest says it takes 19 hours and 17 minutes of driving (without the traffic jams). We can take a northern route from Comstock that goes through Abiline, Wichita Falls, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Joplin, St. Louis and Louisville that has 19 hours and 43 minutes of driving - about a half hour longer. That will take us through places we have never seen and avoid the traffic issues we saw on the way down (hopefully the roads don't have their own issues). The travel times for an RV are considerably longer than Mapquest quotes. We cannot drive 75 mph and our average driving speed was 52.3 mph and includes the time spent in traffic, at intersections and driving through towns and driving to/from the fuel stops - the time the engine was on and the RV was moving was 24 hours and 42 minutes (Mapquest says that it should have taken 17 hours and 34 minutes without our stops for fuel/tips to Crackerbarrel parking lots to sleep, rest areas to stretch our legs or driving to the stop in Waxahatchie to visit family). I was driving at 65 mph on flat land between Nashville and Little Rock but did slow down to 60 mph up the hills so the transmission wouldn't downshift to try and maintain 65 on the hills. After we passed Little Rock I had to slow down to 60mph continuously as we were fighting a strong headwind. We may be able to go a little faster on the way home if we have a tailwind to help us! We are learning that owning/driving an RV just requires a bit of a layed back approach to travel - you can't be in a hurry! Our house sitter called us yesterday and told us the fridge/freezer stopped working. She had to clean out all the food and put it in a dorm size fridge she brought over. When we get home it looks like a fridge repair/replacement will be needed. The fridge is 17 years old - and so was the oven we had to replace last fall. It is a shame how short of a life span modern appliances have - we had to put our third water heater in the house last year! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/22/24 at 08:31:41 We are learning that owning/driving an RV just requires a bit of a layed back approach to travel - you can't be in a hurry! Hay , That Layed back approach , works on motorcycles just fine too ... I've gone to calling Meteor 350 my "ZIN-Bike " . Compare's to a Honda 305 . (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/zen-motorcycle-still-inspires-philosophical-road-trippers-50-years-later-180984143/ There is even a reference to a BMW in there somewhere . Life in the "Slow Lane" can be SO - SWEET 8-) I don't know why it took me so long to realize just how sweet is can be. :) " When asked to sum up the bottom line of his philosophy in a 1974 interview, Pirsig said, “Pay attention to where you’re at right now and not where you’re going to be in the future.” Enjoy the journey, he told readers, and don’t fixate on the destination." .......................... Maybe I should get an RV and mount a bike carrier on the back of it ? It sounds like ya'll are enjoying it just fine ! :) ...................... Once again YouzGuyz did a wonderful job of "showing us the sights" , I was glad to see some of the old stuff and see some new stuff too ! YouzGuyz , if you ever get a hankering to see TN. I've got a spare room and can put off my regular chores for a few days . After my son and new daughter get moved into their house I'll have a bunk-house available too. It's full of furniture now . heck , after they get moved in ... I'll have two spare bed rooms! ::) ................. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/23/24 at 05:19:30 021002101D0E010C074F0 wrote:
Sounds like everyone had a good time here. :D The shingles is starting to clear up a little, but the pain is still... interesting? At least I can type for a little while. MM ... sorry you missed the longhorns. I finally found some for you.. and you weren't there!!! There is a video of them from the bike cameras on the FB link I posted before, and I know others took pictures. My situation does not allow long distance travels, but I do appreciate the invite to your home in TN! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/23/24 at 06:16:16 Youzguyz: Glad you are feeling better. Hopefully this is a one time event and it will all just be a bad memory in a little while. MM: The RV is nice in a lot of ways - it was a necessary change for us as Deb's health problems will not allow us to travel any other way. Since you already own a truck - you may be just as well off to find a small toy hauler or get an enclosed trailer that you can sleep in once the motorcycle is taken out. Owning an RV or dedicated camper is not any cheaper than driving and staying in hotels - but it does provide more flexibility in where you can go. COMSTOCK: Yesterday we drove to the Seminole Canyon area about 180 miles west of Kerrville. The large Amistad Reservoir we passed had very little water in it, and the lady at the check in counter told us the area have been in drought conditions for the last 5 years. The ranch land here is far different than what we saw in the Kerrville area - the grasses are sparce and the land is very rocky. I have no idea how the animals survive in this desert. We went for a hike yesterday and all the vegetation here wants to scratch or poke holes in you....everything has spikes or thorns! There is an old rail bed from the Southern Pacific railroad going through the campground that was the second transcontinental railroad and it was built in 1883. The wind here was intense yesterday and it made riding the motorcycle difficult - however we rode out and watched the sunset from an overlook at the high bridge over the Pecos River......it was nice experience. Today we will visit Comstock and the Judge Roy Bean museum in Langtry. , and the museum here at the campground in Seminole Canyon, |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/23/24 at 10:17:33 Glad to see all got home safe and sound and everyone had fun. Neal, thanks again for all you do for us grumpy old men. We really do appreciate you very much. Paul, it was great meeting you and riding together. Sure hope you will join us again in the future. Dave, glad you and Deb are having a grand time. I think I am envious. 8-) Guys, as always, I love seeing and riding with ya'll. I'm so glad that we could all make it. Thanks to all for the good times. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/24/24 at 06:26:39 6764667D7A7379757A140 wrote:
It certainly has been a wonderful trip, and is one of the first times we have been able to travel like an "old retired couple". Thankfully we are both healthy enough to be able to travel, and we saved up enough money while we were both working that that allows us to do this. There was a time when we were working that travel wasn't possible - Deb was a school teacher and she had summers off and I was busy in construction projects and we could not travel. There was a 10 year period where the only time we got to go anywhere was for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays to visit with family. We are going to try and do more of this travel while we are still healthy and able to get around.......our healthy senior years won't last forever! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/24/24 at 07:30:55 Hay Dave and Deb Remember the Natchez Trace goes South to North. :) I've taken it twice on my way to Texas ... No Three time . Free Running water campgrounds at both ends and one in the middle. Relaxed speed limits No commercial traffic Lots of Scenic Views along the way ! What's not to like about that ? Ya'll take care and be careful ! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/24/24 at 10:45:09 Enjoy while you still have your health. Very happy for you guys. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/25/24 at 05:14:50 425042505D4E414C470F0 wrote:
Last year we were using the Bluegrass Parkway in Kentucky to get us over to the Natchez Trace - my new Ford Explorer only had 1,100 miles on it and we had just passed the 1,000 miles that Ford wanted for a break in before puling a trailer. I wanted the slower pace of the Natchez Trace Parkway so we could give the engine some more slow/easy going and not subject it to 75mph freeway speeds. Unfortunately we were still on the Bluegrass Parkway doing 60mph when the engine decided to blow up.....with 1,252 miles on the odometer! Ford put in a new engine and at this point it has 5,000 miles on it and has made a couple of trips to Deals Gap without blowing up! 7D7E7C676069636F600E0 wrote:
This is exactly what we intend to do. We watched a Dr. who is doing a lot of traveling while he and his wife are young - he said that we all plan for retirement, and yet 1 in 5 people never makes it to retirement! I have 2 younger male cousins who have already passed away, my uncle died at 74 from a brain tumor, my grandfather at 64 from a heart attack, my dad at 72 from alzheimer's. I am in better shape than those folks and Deb makes me eat better - but there is no guarantee on the future. We need to enjoy our health while we have it and enjoy life while we still have it. COMSTOCK: Our 2 days in the Comstock are were great. The land is incredibly rugged and harsh. The land is so rocky that is is amazing that anything can grow or live on it. The Southern Pacific laid rail tracks in 1893 that passed right through the area we were camped, and then later rerouted the track to a safer/easier route in 1892. The old railroad bed is still visible and a testament to how hard the men worked to build the second Transcontinental Railroad. The Judge Roy Bean museum in Langtry was fun. The J&P Cafe in Comstock is the only place you can get food in the area It looks a bit run down and rough on the outside - the inside is all OSB plywood on the walls and ceiling - but it is clean and it is the best hamburger I have ever had in my life! It was so good that after we had it on Tuesday we had to stop on the way out Wednesday and have another one,,,,,,,,,and the French Fries are all hand cut! The J&P Cafe' is a very special place~ On Wednesday morning we packed up and got ready to leave, then took a 10AM tour of the Seminole Canyon and the petroglyphs painted on the rock overhangs by prehistoric inhabitants. It was the first time we ever got to see something like this - so even though it meant we could not leave until noon on Wednesday we took the tour. On the way past Comstock we stopped for another burger at the J&P Cafe' and got on the road around 1PM. The first 2 hours of driving north out of Comstock was on very rural 2 lane roads through incredibly harsh canyons and rocky hillsides. The speed limit was 55 but the roads were curvy and bumpy and 40 mph was often the top speed. In 40 miles we only saw a couple of other cars - it was a bit intimidating to be in such a remote place. We stopped driving last night just north of Wichita Falls and traveled 474 miles - we have 958 more to go! The god of wind has not been kind to us - we fought a headwind most of the way down to Texas - and now we are fighting headwinds going the other way! We were the only RV in the parking ot of the Cracker Barrel in Lawton, OK last night - the tanker trucks takes 15 minutes to suck the grease out of the waste tank at 3 AM, and the garbage truck empties 3 large dumpsters at 4:30 AM on Thursday mornings - just thought you might like to know. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/25/24 at 07:17:04 the tanker trucks takes 15 minutes to suck the grease out of the waste tank :-? ::) :-? ;) ;D Put a bidet ( https://www.amazon.com/BUTT-BUDDY-Spa-Temperature-Non-Electric/dp/B07YP1SYCD ) in so the "Grease ain't so thick" , :) and to make your world a nicer place too ! :) :) I'm glad ya'll can do some of our traveling for us ... I enjoy reading about your exploits ! 8-) If I ever get to the Big-Bend area , I know where to eat now ! :) ......... Hay Marcia and I were at a Bike shop in Columbia yesterday and bought a pair of ridding jackets . Waterproof , stage 1 - soft - armored , removable liner , and zipper-vents . Marcia got the Gray and Black one . They feel like Gore-Tex. I hope this don't mean I have to get a BMW ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/25/24 at 09:48:28 You know that getting those jackets means that you are only a half step away from being a BMW owner/rider. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 04/25/24 at 14:04:04 ;D ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/25/24 at 19:58:12 You know that getting those jackets means that you are only a half step away from being a BMW owner/rider. Yes , I didn't get the matching pants , so I might be spared ? ;D Actually , keeping warm and dry is my main idea. :-? So , I already have Black rain/foul gear pants ... 4 or 5 pair ? ................... The rest of that story : Marcia and I were in Helen Ga. 10 years ago on a Rainy day . There was a guy and gal touring through and stopped for lunch at the same place we were catching a bite , ... so I asked about their rain gear. Well , they were wearing klim ... https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/klim-forecast-pants ... And they left an impression on me . It was a day that my rain gear might have been lacking a little , but we were in the car that day. Since then I've learned : that - to stay dry it takes two layers ... one to keep the wet out and a second layer to keep the dry in ! ;) Even then there might be a few wet spots mixing things up a little , usually in just the wrong places too :-[ ;D Marcia's is just a shade darker gray than Deb's. I've been trying to get her in some nice ridding gear for years now , and I finally did ! :) Marcia remembered how sharp those Klim outfits looked too ! But It's a guaranteed for sure thing , that Marcia might get caught in the rain but she won't be leaving the dry motel in the rain. BMW , WMB , Moto-Guzzi-MB , Royal-Enfield , or Honda ain't going to matter ! ;D ;D ;D ...................................... Wait a minute Lancer , You know your not too far away from being a "Distinguished Gentleman" in your own right ! ;) Not everybody rides a BSA from days gone past ! :) :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/25/24 at 20:18:04 Some BMW owners aren't so bad! 8-) We are at a Cracker Barrel parking lot again tonight - this one is in Mount Vernon, IL - a few miles east of St. Louis. It was an interesting travel day. On the way down to Texas we encountered strong headwinds - I was expecting them to help me going the other direction....I was not so lucky. At first we had a wind that was coming from the south helping us along - but as we gradually started working our way east the wind started blowing west! It was weird as there as a line of thunderstorms going east - but the wind was coming away from the thunderstorm! After about 2 hours of driving east against the headwind we had caught up to the west edge of the storm. Low areas were flooded and creeks and ditches were full - it must have been a hard storm. As we drove east the sprinkles turned into a steady rain, There were several bad accidents on the highway - one was in the westbound lanes and involved 2 badly damaged semi trucks and had the entire westbound traffic shut down and back up for 10-15 miles! After a couple hours of driving in the rain we broke out to dry roads on the east side of the storm - I don't believe I have ever driven from one side of a storm to the other side before! There is a good chance the storm will catch up to us by morning. As we passed an exit on the highway for Branson, Missouri - I realized that we were only 2 hours away from Jasper, Arkansas, and we had a camper and a motorcycle.....we had everything we needed and could have an Arkansas motorcycle vacation! It was a long travel day, and we covered 668 miles in the 11 hours of being on the road. I only made quick stops for gas and hopped back in and started driving. The rain had slowed the traffic speed down considerably - and my normal 60mph driving speed blended in well with what the other folks were doing. Texas highway speed limits of 75 & 80 are gone, and the speeds are now down to 55 or 60mph in the cities and 70 once you are outside the city limits. I don't believe we have 75mph speed limits in this part of the country? We have 290 miles to go on Friday - we should be home in the afternoon. (Hopefully this Cracker Barrell already had their used cooking oil container cleaned out and the trash picked up - and we won't need to experience that early in the morning). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/26/24 at 21:05:04 Yes , some of those BMW folks are Really Good People ! :) Right up there with those "Distinguished Gentleman" types ! ;D .......... Say Hi to Lilly for me ! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/27/24 at 05:00:02 We made it home yesterday about 3PM, and the feeble remnants of the storm that we had been dealing with since Oklahoma passed through a few hours later - no rain just some wind and clouds. The trip home was 1,439 miles and took 25-1/2 hours of driving time. We were gone from home for 16 days, drove 2,918 miles in the RV and consumed 294 gallons of gasoline. It was a great trip as usual - thanks to Youzguyz for riding us around and putting up with our quirks! Here is a photo that shows the road north out of Comstock - it was like this for 40 miles - then the next road was a bit better. We did not get on a highway for at least 100 miles that first day of driving. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/27/24 at 05:36:30 Glad you made it home sweet home safely. Don’t be dissing our chip asphalt roads in the desert leading to nowhere! I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Hlll Country, the great company, and a special thanks to Youzguyz for his hospitality and leading our motley crew around! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/27/24 at 07:04:49 6A564B534E5B4C6E5F4B523E0 wrote:
The roads were great in Texas, and it is surprising that so many are chip asphalt - Kentucky stopped using that technology 30 years ago. With our harsh winters and snow/ice asphalt holds up better. A significant portion of my professional career was spent on road repair - I really wanted to see the chip process that is used in Texas. I saw big piles of aggregate (chips) along the roads and semi trucks dumping into the piles for pending projects - some aggregate was gray, some brown and some was black. The best roads we encountered were in Indiana - the worst were in Kentucky. The rural roads out of Comstock drove fine - they were just not a road that you could drive an RV on quickly, and the first 40 miles were often driven around 40 mph. I was also amazed by the remoteness, the lack of any kind of store or gas station, and the harshness of the land. The amount of exposed rock was overwhelming to a guy that needs to mow his lawn every 5 days this time of year (our grass is a foot tall after being gone for 16 days). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 04/27/24 at 08:09:26 0D363B2C3D312A2C373F322D5E0 wrote:
The roads were great in Texas, and it is surprising that so many are chip asphalt - Kentucky stopped using that technology 30 years ago. With our harsh winters and snow/ice asphalt holds up better. A significant portion of my professional career was spent on road repair - I really wanted to see the chip process that is used in Texas. I saw big piles of aggregate (chips) along the roads and semi trucks dumping into the piles for pending projects - some aggregate was gray, some brown and some was black. The best roads we encountered were in Indiana - the worst were in Kentucky. [/quote] You should have said something on Tuesday when I was trying to use back roads out of Johnson City (Miller Creek Loop). We were stopped by a construction guy that said they just finished putting down fresh oil and chip seal on that road. You could see the broom truck sweeping excess chips (and a clould of dust) off the road. He said they just finished "repaving". I told him chip seal was NOT paving!!! He laughed! So, we could have gone down that road and you would have had first hand experience of seeing fresh chip seal... :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 04/27/24 at 08:32:40 Haha. The people in podunk East Texas would argue with you that chip seal is indeed paved road! They’re used to red dirt roads being top of the line! You’re living in high cotton if you’ve got chip asphalt to roll on! You’ll usually notice that the aggregate is locally sourced and matches the terrain. Near the coast, it will be virtually white with all the seashells used. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 04/27/24 at 10:10:37 I was on the island of Guam some years back, and most of the civilian roads were paved with sea shells. It made a fairly durable and smooth surface, but when wet it was almost like being on ice, it was very slick. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/28/24 at 04:07:57 Youzguyz: I was not so curios about chip seal that I wanted to ride a clean motorcycle through it! You did the right thing by "NOT" going down that road! Here is a photo from our hike into Seminole Canyon. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 04/30/24 at 07:55:42 In honor of our forum member "Stewmills" who has an ongoing love affair with Little Debbie - we had an Oatmeal Creme Pie event at the Centerpoint Cemetery. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 04/30/24 at 19:04:15 Now don't be jealous Stew , but I might have a Sweet spot for her too ! :) When she met my lips I tasted a touch of Heaven ... Ya might say ? ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by stewmills on 05/01/24 at 09:38:09 Well, I'll have you know that these candles are in my office! And yes, they really smell like the real thing. Ask Dave, he has the Oatmeal one! When she met my lips I tasted a touch of Heaven MM, you are on point with them being heavenly, but if I didn't know the context I would think you were writing about an 'adult' scene in a romance novel ;D ;D ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 05/02/24 at 04:23:59 Yep.....makes me want a snack every time I light it! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 05/02/24 at 05:06:54 Big Ms Diabetes, now. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by stewmills on 05/02/24 at 19:35:39 I sent my wife this picture of Dave and me camping last Fall. Immediately she spotted the box of heavenly pies and scolded me :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 05/03/24 at 02:36:11 That photo shows the disparity between our sleeping equipment! Stew has the cot, pad and sleeping bag on the left.....I have a crappy air mattress and blanket on the right. I was really cold the first night - I had no idea how much cold can come from the ground underneath when using a 4" thick air mattress (normally I sleep in my trailer and the floor is not nearly as cold). I had a sheet on top of the air mattress and a wool blanket for covering me. The next night I used my sleeping bag and stayed warm. Since that night I bought a thicker air mattress with more support.......I tried to buy cheap the first time ($13)and the results were not good. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 05/03/24 at 04:52:27 Nice bed turndown service, Dave! Were you a maid at 4-Seasons once upon a time?! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 05/03/24 at 08:08:41 Dave, Paul, what are you guys doing up and about at such wee hours of the night/morning?!? :o ::) 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 05/03/24 at 10:16:48 My biological alarm clock goes off at 5am every morning! That is, I gotta go pee and then I can’t go back to sleep. So I make coffee and share snarky remarks on social media! Retirement is good! :P |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 05/03/24 at 11:21:00 and there you have it spring... exactly why it's called the 'wee' hours of the mourning. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 05/03/24 at 11:40:45 Yep - me too. I have been waking up at 5AM for as long as I can remember. The weird part is that I never set an alarm clock, and I wake up within a few minutes of the same time everyday. The weirder part is that when I have to go somewhere early in the morning and I set an alarm clock just to be sure - I don't sleep well as I am worried I will miss the departure time! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 05/03/24 at 17:39:58 312235342B2620222976470 wrote:
LMAO! [ch129315] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 05/06/24 at 11:36:18 LMAO is correct!! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 05/06/24 at 12:05:12 don't you mean LTIP? XD |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 05/07/24 at 06:47:56 I'm scared to ask, but I'll do so anyway. Say what??? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 05/07/24 at 09:07:45 LaughTillIPee :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 05/07/24 at 10:25:57 5C4F5859464B4D4F441B2A0 wrote:
That too! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 05/07/24 at 15:24:15 I spoke with Neil yesterday - he is still in pain and hasn't been on a motorcycle since we last rode with him. He is likely turning the corner and is hoping to be over it in a couple more weeks! Keep him in your prayers! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 05/08/24 at 03:46:21 7D464B5C4D415A5C474F425D2E0 wrote:
Actually, I was on a motorcycle the other day. Managed to put the shiny new clutch cable in on Mad Hamish (thanks Springman! :D ), and had to test the adjustments. Rode it all of 3 feet or so... :o PSA.. If you have not had a shingles vaccination.. get one. This is hurting.. a LOT. >:( |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 05/08/24 at 06:25:35 That LTIP is definitely new to me. Yikes ;D Neal, glad you are starting to feel a little better and that you got the cable installed. I've been too busy to do any riding or anything else that would be considered fun. Glad I washed the bike the day I got home or it would still have the Hill Country grime and dead bugs on it. Take care of your self Neal. I think I will schedule the vaccine for myself. Thanks for everything. You're a good man. Don't care what anybody else says. :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/08/24 at 19:48:01 Glad your getting better Neal. I don't know what PSA is and not sure I want too know ... but from what I found it should be below 2.5 ? ......... I was glad to get home to my lighter bike. I try to take a ride everyday even if it's only around the "Country Block" . To day I took the 530 pound bike to the Planet Fitness and then back home the long way. Just to keep the battery charged up good. We are getting the storms today that came through Texas a few days ago. It isn't often we get tornado " Warning " , but we got them tonight ! Also really heavy rain for about 3 hours now. We live on a hill and my bikes are in the dry ... so ... let it rain ! :) Normally , I have to "Cut Hay" before we get rain like this ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by youzguyz on 05/09/24 at 04:01:46 796B796B66757A777C340 wrote:
In this context: PSA = Public Service Announcement. Another PSA would to have blood drawn for a PSA test, especially those of us that are of a senior status. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/09/24 at 18:54:37 Another PSA would to have blood drawn for a PSA test, especially those of us that are of a senior status. yes I date back to 1953 , and go have blood drawn every 6 month . So I'm glad my Dr. hasn't felt the need to explain the PSA stuff to me yet. She did tell me about being "Pre-Diabetic" , so the Mountain Dew got replaced with water or Juice . And , something about what kind of material Cancer likes to hide in . That where the trips to the gym root from ;) also I've had a few visits with a dietitian :( I didn't like nothing that lady said ! :-[ Life was so much simpler with a 30 year old body ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 05/10/24 at 04:53:23 Surely you’re not saying that we are AGING are you ? [ch128533] |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/10/24 at 07:14:45 Surely you’re not saying that we are AGING are you Oh , NO ... ::) Not sure about anybody else ... but I'm getting more connected to the Cosmos every year. Better and Better all the time ! I'm a Blessed man and Thank God for it every day ! But I do find that : I search for a more comfortable and lighter bike all the time , as the years roll past ! ? ;D ................ What's worst than " Aging " ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 05/10/24 at 13:04:55 Harder aging. I can attest to some of that. Some vehicles just require more maintenance and repair and replacement of parts than others, and lets don’t forget the constant tuning to TRY to stay in tune. The tolerances on parts overall can be marginal at best, which leads to lack luster performance and maintenance problems; we call it a Lemon. Then there are those that run perfectly, as if built and Dyno tuned from the factory, and just lasts forever. We call it Highly Collectable. Bodies are the same way, mine tends a little toward the lemon, while my stepdad Don, who is 102 years old, tends toward the Highly Collectable. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/10/24 at 20:40:35 ;D ;D ;D Good comparison ! :) Most of the time I feel like a FORD ! .... Or Maybe a Yamaha ... either Super Great or In the Shop ! ::) ..................................... I'm already "Thinking ... Next time the weather has a string of Warm-Dry-Days ... it may be time for a Dragon Run ? Last time I was there my 350 Meteor was STOCK , now it's got all the right breathing equipment ! DNA air intake , Performance Cam (20%-increase) , and the Free-Flow Exaust . The only thing left is the (72mm to 78mm) piston swap , Stroke is 86mm ? But , that's the high dollar option (New Cylinder). That long pull going up the Skyway from the NC.-side took full throttle last time to hold 55-60 mph. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/26/24 at 19:33:28 Hay , the SBBA folks have this all worked out ... Maybe ... I'm going to read it to see if the plan is something I might want to do in late summer ? https://sbba2024-61.webselfsite.net/home The more the better ! Ridding out of Rapid City SD. ? Then Ridding out of Hill City SD. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 05/27/24 at 03:39:26 MM: Put on your winter gear - they are trying to get Beartooth Pass open to traffic. They had planned to get it open on May 24th - but a winter storm was expected that would dump another 1-2 feet of snow on the road. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/27/24 at 09:15:49 So that must be where the Darner Party got to the top of the ridge and saw how wide the ridge is ? I might just want to turn around on that one ?? ??? I could put on my Rain Gear over all the insulation I've got with me ??? :-? Now where are those heated gloves ... ??? ... :-/ :-/ :-/ So who carries enough gear to cross something like that in August ? ............................ The guy on FortNine , recomends a rain suit under a RainSuit . ;D ........... Dual Sport Tires ... ;) ... Put on your winter gear - they are trying to get Beartooth Pass open to traffic. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 05/27/24 at 11:19:00 1D0F1D0F02111E1318500 wrote:
No - The Donner Party got stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California......the Beartooth Pass is in Wyoming (with Nevada and Utah filling up the space in between). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 05/27/24 at 11:25:49 6E55584F5E52494F545C514E3D0 wrote:
No - The Donner Party got stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California......the Beartooth Pass is in Wyoming (with Nevada and Utah filling up the space in between). [/quote] (note to self: check mmr's directions) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 05/27/24 at 19:48:35 Am I the only one who looked at the ride plan here : https://sbba2024-61.webselfsite.net/home yes check my directions and see if this looks interesting . We might get a new "Ride Area" ? Sturgis SD , is on my "Bucket-List" and it's also on the Ride Plan for day one ! (thanks to Ruttly) :). I don't care about being close to Sturgis on or near the first week of August. !! There are lots of Motels in the area and Campgrounds with cabins too. That cabin near Kerrville sure worked out good for a few years and I'd like to find something similar in an area we haven't visited yet. I think SD might be too cold for me ... anytime except August. .................... The area around Moab (camping cabin) is where I was thinking till the SBBA plan fell into our mist https://www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/motorcycle-rides-in-moab/ |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 06/03/24 at 08:31:15 Hey Dave, I thought about you yesterday. I was coming home from Austin, I was in the passing lane doing about 75 and I see in my rearview mirror a pick up with a trailer at least as big as yours bearing down on me. He had to be doing at least 80. I moved over to the right lane to give plenty of space and thought this guy has got be getting even worse MPG than Dave. ;D ;D Scary actually!! :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 13:10:54 Well I don't drive that fast in mine - 60mph is the preferred speed. If the wind is at my back I will bump it up to 65mph. However - my RV has been a huge "rehab" project for the last 4 weeks! On this trip Deb got a bit of a water drip on her when we were driving in the rain. I thought it was the joint between the metal cab roof and the bottom of the bunk, as a previous owner had put a lot of silicone sealer on that area. When I started working to see where the leak was, I discovered the entire bunk area floor was wet. As I started to investigate - I discovered the entire bunk floor area was rotted. I could see that previous owners had been fighting roof leaks - as there was a lot of sealant had been added to the roof pieces. This what I found: |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 13:11:40 So the front end had to come apart! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 13:15:17 I removed all the rotten wood. I had to sand the plywood off the fiberglass panel that is located under the bunk (above the cab), so I could glue new plywood to it and put it back in place. These fiberglass panels are hard to buy and expensive - so it was worth the effort. I then built a wooden framework to supplement the aluminum frame - it just seemed really flexible. I likely added 10 pounds of wood - but that is fine with me! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 13:16:59 I then glued the fiberglass panel underneath, and then glued in foam insulation. The foam is glued top and bottom to the plywood - which makes a strong and rigid sandwich. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 13:17:31 Gluing the top plywood to the frame and foam. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 13:23:05 Now the bunk floor is finished. I am currently working on the joint between the cab and bunk bottom to get that sealed up. Evidently this is a really bad design as the factory used self tapping screws though the steel cab roof and drilled them into an aluminum frame in the bunk floor. As the RV flexes and moves the sheet metal screws work loose and the joint leaks. I am going to use bolts with lock nuts so they won't work loose. This required countersinking the heads into the bunk floor so the head won't stick up into the bunk floor. This has been a 'HUGE" project. I have to work outdoors and the wind and rainy spring have made it impossible to work on some days. I believe I have 3-4 more days of work to do. On July 22nd it is going to Chattanooga to have a FlexArmor roof sprayed on - it is like a thick bedliner and it has a lifetime guarantee - I never want to go through this again! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 06/03/24 at 14:35:02 Holy cow! That was a heck of an issue. Sure glad you have the skills and patience to take care of it yourself. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/03/24 at 15:16:20 7C7F7D666168626E610F0 wrote:
Seems like I am developing the skills.....and wearing out my patience! YouTube videos have really helped to understand how these things are put together....and how to take them apart. Thankfully this one has an aluminum frame - some have wooden frames and the wood frame has to be rebuilt when they get rotten. It is also a huge help that this RV has Azdel side walls - the fiberglass exterior panels are bonded to a composite panel that is waterproof and will not de-laminate when they get wet. If the sidewalls had come apart this job would be a lot harder! It is incredible how poorly the roofs are put together on these things. Evidently all RV and campers will leak at some point - this one must have leaked a lot with a previous owner. The roofs are a very thin membrane that is easily damaged. The roofs need constant attention. I am in the home stretch of getting this thing done. ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 06/03/24 at 18:08:49 perhaps you should consider drainage and vents to prevent moisture buildup and I love the prebonded panels |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/04/24 at 02:42:14 Yep, the bunk bed area is pretty much a bowl without any outlet. One of the things that led me to believe the area was wet - I was getting funky colored drips of water from the molding under the bunk onto the windshield. I "knew" there was a problem when I parked the RV uphill in my driveway, and it dripped water for several hours! There really isn't any form of drain for the area - the entire bunk floor is supposed to be bonded together. Installing a drain hole in the bunk area to the outside is a bit of a gamble. When you are driving the entire nose is in a high pressure area, and rain/mist could be forced into the hole. I don't see any way to run a drain tube to another area without it looking goofy. The only real "vent" for the area is that the fiberglass nose has a loose fitting trim panel on the inside - just above the bunk bed area. This could provide some relief - however it does have fiberglass batting to provide insulation for the bunk. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 06/04/24 at 08:19:22 You don't have to necessarily vent or drain to the outside... directly. But you will need a way to see it to take care of it or you'll need to park uphill more often. :o |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 06/04/24 at 08:29:53 I get a chuckle out of this. The minds of 2 engineers at work!!! 8-) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 06/04/24 at 09:16:55 Have caliper, will travel. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 06/04/24 at 11:58:51 Yes, I do indeed know! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 06/06/24 at 11:48:30 How about a boat bilge pump?!! I guess you can't slope it so it drains (if you can't stop the water from getting inside, give it place to exit). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by verslagen1 on 06/06/24 at 13:02:41 6E524F574A5F486A5B4F563A0 wrote:
If it ever leaks as much as a boat can... fix it or move to higher ground. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 06/07/24 at 10:32:11 Dave probably didn’t think I was funny either! I like Dave’s plan to use some kind of thick epoxy, like truck bed liner. With as many issues as RVs have with leaks, I’m surprised someone hasn’t come up with a leak proof system, process, or product (like the manufacturers themselves come up with something!). It seems like built-in obsolescence to me. Do AirStreams leak? Dang they’re pricey! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/07/24 at 16:18:03 665A475F4257406253475E320 wrote:
I was distracted.......... Someone has come up with a solution - FlexArmor. They are a national chain and they have created a product similar to bedliner - however it is more flexible which allows it to move with the flexing of the camper/RV. I have an appointment for July 22nd in Chattanooga - they are booking out about 2 months, so evidently they are busy! They have a lifetime guarantee. I worked on the RV all this week, and I am likely still a week from being done. Tomorrow I will be installing the new and improved rubber seal I built for the cab roof to bunk connection. The original installation had self drilling screws that went through the steel cab roof and into the aluminum tubing of the bunk. Needless to say the screws back out as you travel down the road and the RV flexes. The new system has aluminum plates under the thin steel roof, a rubber seal made from a 1" wide x 1/4" thick rubber strip with a 1/2" x 1/4" foam weatherseal, and it will be attached with #10/24 screws that have nylon lock nuts so they don't loosen. The seal will get a bead of caulking after it is installed. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 06/07/24 at 17:12:09 Impressive work Dave! Probably not what you had planned for the end of spring and beginning of summer. Git 'er dun! As if the tornados that went through our area weren't bad enough, we went camping at Lake Somerville for Memorial Day week. First full day there and 70-80 mph winds and rain ripped through destroying all our tents, canopies, and equipment. The one canopy is probably still stuck up in the tree. Packed up and went home and had a stay-cation. Our youngest grandson was in the kayak with me on the lake when the storm started. We barely got back to shore in 3-4' swells and wind/rain squalling. Thankfully, we were only about 300 yards out. Kayak took a good beating on the rocks when we crashed ashore but survived. The anchor is somewhere out there at the bottom of the lake. Fun times! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 06/08/24 at 09:23:15 Paul , your Grandson will probably retell that story a thousand times over the next 50 years ! 8-) Good Job ! ;) ........... I'm still waiting on my son to finish his degree and settle into the lifetime job before starting a family. My wife plans everything out way ahead of time too , so he does get it honestly ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 06/22/24 at 20:01:37 Hay , No Really "HAY" , I've got my first cutting of HAY rolled and in the Barn ! :) So , Now its time I spend a few days cooling off in the Mountains for a Dragon Run. Anybody else Itching for an outing ? Dragon Calendar looks like its been taken over by Sports Car ? https://tailofthedragon.com/events/ But , Still maybe a "Three Day Ride" , Camping two nights . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/23/24 at 13:21:17 Us retired guys don't have to do weekends.........we can ride during the week and avoid the crowds. I might be able to do something the 2nd week in July....after the holiday folks have gone home. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 06/23/24 at 19:34:03 I went ahead and penciled it in on my Calendar . Now , Let's watch the weather ! ;) ..................... I've been ridding the 650 more in the past week and will continue to so. Going back and forth between two bikes is not good ! IMHO I ordered some "Tank Knee Pads" to put on the 650 , and named it "Blue Bell" so I guess that means I have to keep it for a while ! :) At least till I get my money's worth out of it. But ... There isn't anything else I'd rather have in the market place right now and the trend is going away from things I like in a machine so I'm glad I got the bikes I have. O'yea , I can get a Belt Drive (20mmW Gates Poly Chain 14mmP) for the 650 when the original chain wears out , so it's time to wear the chain out ! Its at 3600 miles now. I figure the rear tire will be gone about the same time as the chain. I have to pull the swingarm to put the belt on , so , all of it at the same time seems right . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 06/30/24 at 09:06:24 I won't be able to make a ride the 2nd week of July - Deb is going to visit her mom and I need to stay home and take care of the animals. I could leave anytime this week - I am not sure the 4th of July week is a great time to be riding in the mountains....there is likely going to be a lot of tourists in the area. But - riding is always better than not riding. Tent camping at the Iron Horse or Kickstand Lodge doesn't require any advance reservations - so we could just pick up and go with no advance notice. The weather this week looks promising until next weekend - rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday. I could possibly go sometime after July 25th. My RV is scheduled to get work done on the roof July 22-25th and I will be in Chattanooga with the RV.....I could leave right after that and go to Robbinsville. It would be great if we could go when we could see one of the Fiddies 4 Life races at Deals Gap - Stew and I went last year and it was really fun to watch. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 07/01/24 at 10:39:33 August 3rd , My chores seem to never end. in Chattanooga with the RV. That's a long way to go to have the roof fixed ! but glad your getting it fixed ! :) Maybe by August 3rd the nights in the mountains won't be chilly . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 07/04/24 at 04:20:57 The weather for August in that area is 80 degree days and 60 degree nights.....very pleasant. Staying at the Iron Horse has some great advantages - they have really good breakfast and dinners, a nice lodge and campfire area, clean bath house and covered motorcycle parking on pavement. The price has gone up significantly this year - a campsite is $35.99 for a tent wit 1 person and $8 additional for every person. Still - it is a very nice place and likely worth the cost. https://ironhorsenc.com/ The Kickstand Lodge is $25 a night for each person in a tent, and each snuggle buddy is an additional $5. The last time I stayed at the Kickstand the bathrooms were still clean - but the pavilion area was very dirty, the kitchen no longer had a working oven/stove, there was no food available, the picnic tables in the campground were so moldy that you could not sit on them without getting a green slime on your clothing. I don;t know if any of that has improved. https://kickstandlodge.com/ Stewmills and I are tentatively planning on going for the August 3rd races at Deals Gap. I hope to arrive late Wednesday July 31st for riding on August 1, 2, 3 and will leave on the 4th to go home. If the weather turns out crappy we can postpone a week or more. The next round of races is 3 weeks later - I might go back to see them if I miss the races on the 3rd. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 07/04/24 at 05:01:43 Happy 4th of July, guys! I wish it wasn’t 1,000 miles away from here. I’ll keep following this thread to see if you guys firm up plans to go. I’m kinda doubtful I can make the trip, but…. I hear you about going back and forth between bikes, MM. Muscle memory gets confused. I’m dealing with some of that going between the Shadow and S40. It’s not a huge difference, but definitely there. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 07/04/24 at 07:14:33 Your always welcome to bunk at my house Paul (any of you fellers) . I’m dealing with some of that going between the Shadow and S40. I'd think it would be close to the same with the Meteor's I've got : They both sit very similar 350-J Meteor turns on a dime , weighs 410# , short wheel base , feels just like a LS-650 with a 72mmX86mm two valve power supply. 650 S-Meteor needs 3/4 of a dual lane road to turn around , weighs 530#., long wheel base. They both have strong points . :) Dave where ya'll staying Aug 3rd. ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 07/04/24 at 08:20:55 544654464B58575A51190 wrote:
We will be staying at the Iron Horse. We can set up a tent that can sleep 3 pretty easily...I likely will just sleep in the back of my trailer that will be parked in the rear parking lot. We could swing by the Kickstand and see if things are looking any better - but for a few dollars savings you lose a lot of benefits that are available at the Iron Horse. It looks like the only good deals on camping are at the Two Wheels of Suches ($20 a night double occupancy and $8 each for additional), and and Cherohala Mountain Trails in Tellico Plains at $12 a night per person. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 07/04/24 at 09:46:09 The Cherohala Mountain Trails is a simple and nice campground. It does have breakfast and dinners available on Fri/Sat/Sunday, and it is a 10 minute ride to Tellico for the food nearby. There is a wonderful bakery/deli in town - and good food and ice cream at the little burger stand along the creek going up to the Skyway. https://cmtrails.com/ Tellico Plains is a couple hours closer to me (and MM) than it is to go over to Robbinsville/Deals Gap - however it seems most of the good riding requires that we ride the Cherohala Skyway to get to the areas we like to ride over by Deals Gap. This adds a couple of hours of commuting on the Skyway each morning and then back at night. My neighbor Bruce and I stayed there last summer for a couple of days - riding the Skyway home at night can get pretty cold and windy. There are a few good rides around Tellico Plains - the loop over the Skyway to Deals Gap, then the Dragon and then 72 over to 411 and then south on 360 is a nice ride for a day. Tellico Plains is on the west side of the mountains - so you need to ride east for an hour or more to get into the fun roads. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 07/04/24 at 20:38:24 Well the Iron Horse is only $18.00 each ... that seems reasonable enough to me. The Deals Gap might be too noisy on Race-Nite ? And they want $40, per parking space for a car. That might be OK if ya ride the bike with a tent strapped on it. I think I want to cross the Cherohala Skyway in the day-light durning the afternoon when that cool mountain air feels good . |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 07/05/24 at 04:13:36 I believe the most reasonable and comfortable thing to do is camp at the Iron Horse and just ride up to Deals Gap for the races. Staying at Deals Gap is no longer attractive to me. It was good 12 years ago when I first went - it has gradually gotten too popular and hectic....and expensive. I used to be able to park my car/trailer in their lot and sleep in the trailer and pay the camping price - now it is $40 a night to park. The rooms are still somewhat reasonable - but you are always at the risk of foul weather and you have to cancel 48 hours in advance. They don't list the tent camping rate on their website - it is pretty reasonable if you ride in on a motorcycle. Car/trailer parking is free if you stay in a room. Last year Stewmills and I camped at the Iron Horse and just rode up to Deals Gap and back to the Iron Horse after the races were over around 10PM. The ride back is on Route 28 and takes about 20 minutes....it wasn't too scary in the dark. The restaurant was closed and we bought a drink and some snacks before the store closed at 8PM - for better snacking we might want to pack food/drink before we get to the races. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 07/05/24 at 09:22:28 - for better snacking we might want to pack food/drink before we get to the races. There is always the : Loaf of bread , a pack of Black-Forrest Ham , a bag of corn chips , and some of the little mustard packs from the fast food place we stopped for lunch ! I have luggage mounted on both bikes hauling groceries is OK . ;) OR Cheese and crackers with an apple on the side ? :). ........................... I've got an older style 8'X10'X72" tent , the one I had last time Old Feller went. I could get it set-up and sprayed with a fresh coat of "Camp-Dry" ?? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 07/05/24 at 18:13:15 My neighbor Bruce can come - so at this point it looks like it will be Stewmills, MMRanch, Bruce and Dave. We can use one campsite and tent - but it is likely Bruce and I will sleep in the enclosed trailer out in the parking lot if it is not too hot. They do have a few tent sites with electric that you could plug in a fan - but unfortunately those spots are out in the sun and not shaded by trees (once the sun goes down I guess the fan would work to keep the tent cooler). |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 07/05/24 at 21:53:43 Stew , if your reading this ... What kind of tent do you have ? I have the old 8'x10'x72" , but haven't had it up in years , I've been using the quick little 52" tall , 3 person pop-up. Do they charge by the "TENT" or the "TENT SITE" ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 07/06/24 at 05:23:41 100210020F1C131E155D0 wrote:
Iron Horse charges $35.99 for a tent with 1 person and $8 additional for every additional person in the tent. I have a 10'x10' tent that attaches to the bottom of my pop up canopy. I can bring that if Stew doesn't have anything bigger. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/04/24 at 19:51:10 I had a wonderful ride home today. I went by the "Fields of the Woods" to see what stage of operation they are in. Well , they are open daylight to dark year around. The gift shop is open 9 to 5. and on most Saturday's mid-day they have life music in the yard. The Restaurant disappeared durning Covid and has been replaced with more gift shop. It is still a "Top of the Line Pick-nick" place. So , I was taking Hwy. 64/74 I stopped for Snack/Break-time when "River-Road" turned into ridding by the lake. That is also where US-64 and TN-30 meet. Well TN-30 is the nice wiggly line road I usually take to get to TN-39 leading to Tellico Plains, but I'd never noticed the South end of it before. https://www.thewanderingsoldier.com/2020/07/motorcycles-roads-tennessee-state-road.html It goes on South past Dayton all the was down to the Lake and US-64 , the Southern end is some of the best parts ... its like Dragon Stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uQMcCUgD1A So I took it instead ridding by the lake that only leads to the Interstate I-24 for a two hour traffic jam through Chattooga. (good choice ... right ) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/05/24 at 10:03:16 We had a good - but overly wet visit to the Tail of the Dragon area. Bruce and I arrived on Wednesday evening, and we had enough time to get the tent set up, the bikes unloaded and go for a 70 mile ride. Thursday morning Bruce and I rode from Stecoah up to the Dragon, and as we passed Fontana Village we saw a lot of Mazda Miatas on the roads and at the village. We found out that there was a Miata gathering there and were told there would likely be 1,500 of them! We rode down toward the Natahala and got into some rain......we waited it out under an awning at a closed gas station and then headed back toward Robbinsville so we could ride the Cherohala Skyway and meet MM in Tellico. We rode north on 360 and then onto 72 so we could go to the Dragon riding south. The Dragon is freshly paved and it now has reflective markers along the centerline - those could cause you some problems if you drift over the centerline and your tires run over them as they stick up out of the pavement a bit. The Dragon was too crowded and the Miata folks were driving very aggressively (we knew it would get worse as the weekend came). On Friday Bruce, MM and I rode to do the Rattler and the Shriners Loop. Just after we got to the area we stopped for gas and noticed the sky was dark in front of us and clear behind us - as we were deciding on either going forward or back - the rain hit us hard! We hid under the canopy for a long time, and finally the rain stopped. There were wet roads ahead and behind - so we chose to go ahead. We had planned to stop at Dave's 209 for lunch, as it was closed last year when Stewmills and I rode past. As bad luck would have it there was some special event and Blood Drive going on in the parking lot and Dave's 209 was again closed! We got to dry roads eventually and went up to Hot Springs for lunch - while we were there the rain started again - but it was gone by the time we were done eating. We rode for a while on the Shriners Loop, and then got caught in another rain storm that kept us wet for the next hour or more. We finally decided that it was 8PM and we were 73 miles from home - it was time to go home on the fastest route possible. Eventually we got to dry roads and made it home after dark. Not long after that Stewmills and his friend Caleb arrived at the Iron Horse. On Saturday we had a nice ride up to the Dragon on 28 - but it was already too crazy to go riding on the Dragon. We went south on 129 to Andrews so we could all try the big Chopper on for size - then we went to the Haywood Smokehouse for lunch. We then rode the section of 28 north of Franklin that is so much fun, and then went up 129 to the Joyce Kilmer area and rode up to the overlook. On Saturday night we rode up to Deals Gap to watch the "Fiddy" races in the parking lot. The practice looked great and they were going really fast - then one rider slide out as the rain started falling on the parking lot.....it rained for about 40 minutes and the races were cancelled - we unfortunately had to ride home in the dark on wet roads. We packed up and headed home Sunday morning. The Iron Horse was amazingly low on occupancy - there was just a handful of riders staying there. Some blame it on Sturgis being the event that made the campground low on occupancy - I am not sure that tells the whole story. We found out there were about 1,800 Miatas at the event. We saw quite a number of cars that had run off the road and were damaged, a few damaged ones getting hauled on flatbeds or wreckers, and several still being driven with obviously fresh damage. This group appeared to be the most aggressive and dangerous of any car group we have seen in the area. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by stewmills on 08/05/24 at 14:06:31 I took the chopper for a spin too! Had a little trouble reaching the shifter so I just kept her in 1st gear. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/05/24 at 20:19:54 Well ,when it was my turn to take it for a spin my legs were to short to reach the kick-starter ... so ... I never really even got it started ... :-[ ... maybe it was for the best , but I had a GOOD TIME anyway ?? ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 08/09/24 at 12:36:11 That chopper looks like fun! ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/10/24 at 18:02:54 3033312A2D242E222D430 wrote:
It has been a regular sight in the area - it is at the shop in Andrews and I remember seeing it first 12 years ago. It has a real Harley V-Twin down inside the bowels of that big mocked up engine. It will move under it's own power - but I have never seen it run or move. However - the shop owner is going out of business and who knows where the huge chopper will go. He has been trying to sell the business without success. This October - he says he is locking the door and going into retirement. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/15/24 at 05:06:06 My wife Deb had arranged a family vacation to the Breaks Interstate Park at the KY/VA border for this week. We took our RV and included the dog and a cat........and a motorcycle! We spend the morning with the animals and go hiking with the dog - the cat stays at home in the camper (she does the same thing at home so it is normal for her). We come back and eat lunch - then put the dog in the RV and go for a motorcycle ride....she is part coonhound so she sleeps a lot! Yesterday we went on a long ride and were gone almost 7 hours. I saw a route on the map that stated "Experts Only" on a section called the Widowmaker - that was enough to get me interested to go! The road is not all that difficult - there is one really tight turn that is uphill if you go in from the north and head south and it is a first gear steep uphill turn that requires the handlebars to be turned nearly full lock! For the next couple of miles the road is only about 1.5 lanes wide and there is no shoulder and a steep embankment on the right side. We were lucky enough not to have any cars or trucks coming the other way while we were on that section - getting past a logging truck in this section would be impossible and it would be really difficult to turn around. The rest of the road was easier - the north end of the road is a climb up the mountain and the south end is a longer descent down the other side. There are plenty of curves and steep grades. We did see a logging truck coming up the other side and were thankful to go by on a section of the road that was really 2 lanes wide. We then could not resist the option of riding 17 miles of 4 lane highway to get to the south end of the "Back of the Dragon". This road is 438 curves in 32 miles and it was a real treat! The curves are nice and the tight curves are separated into 3 different mountain climbs. Traffic was light and the majority of the traffic was Harley's with open pipes and apehangers! There is one curve that is called "Kudzu Corner" and it is a long downhill sweeper that has a forest of Kudzu growing everywhere! The Back of the Dragon was a great road - I suspect it could be just as busy on weekends as the Tail of the Dragon. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/16/24 at 14:26:23 Dave , it seems like you find the Neatest Places ! :) 8-) :) Is there enough day rides in the area for 3 or 4 days ? If there is a camp-ground nearby then it's perfect ! The Hwy 80 in NC was a nice twisty road too ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/17/24 at 05:02:03 There are definitely good roads to ride here. The miles tend to add up a bit as these roads are going somewhere - you end up doing big loops and speed limits are 55 except when going through populated areas. The really curvy roads are impossible to keep up to the speed limit of 55mph. The Breaks Interstate Park is a very nice place to stay - Camper or Cabin or Tent. The name comes from the "break" in the mountain that allows water to pass through, and this occurs in only 3 places in Pine Mountain..........and the "interstate" comes from the location of the park being in both KY and VA. the park is privately owned and not funded by State or Federal money. It looks pretty central to a lot of good riding areas - however there are a lot of good riding areas that are a bit too far away. Pine Mountain is 125 miles long and offers great riding along the entire length. Traffic on the roads was very light - but it was weekdays and this was the first week of school. There were a considerable number of gravel and lumber trucks - coal goes by railroad from the few coal mines that are still working. The trucks are not hard to get around when needed as they slow down a lot on the uphill climbs and curves. My front tire is nearing the end of it's service life - riding down these steep and curvy roads did put a lot of wear on each side of the tire from nearly constant braking while going downhill while riding double! I bought a very affordable front tire just to get me through the summer - it is an older model Dunlop Roadsporrt 2 and doesn't have all the fancy water sipes or compounds of the new expensive tires. It has turned out to be a really good tire for the way I ride - when I get home I will check the mileage and decide if I want to get this tire again. I have a new Dunlop Roadsmart IV that I bought during the last tire shortage scare to install - I likely don't really need expensive tires as the cheaper ones are working realy well......I try to avoid riding in the rain and I may not need all their fancy (expensive) tread designs and compounds. When you go riding on curvy mountain roads in the summer when temperatures approach 90 - the rubber just shreds away regardless of how expensive the tire was. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/17/24 at 08:20:02 Nice report Dave ! 8-) Thinking on cheep front tires , let me tell ya about the "CEAT" tire that came on the Super Meteor . I'm waiting for the back tire to wear out so I can change the tire and put the Belt drive on at the same time , but it's the front tire wearing out first. I've never known of the front tire wearing out first before ! ... The grip of the front is/was good , but at 6,500 miles the front is about gone , and the rear is headed for 10,000 to 12,000 miles or so , the chain should be toast by then too ? If a ride to the "Back of the Dragon" materializes then I'm in "if at all possible" , and will be glad to operate as a staging area for long distance folks. :) :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/18/24 at 18:39:53 The Back of the Dragon is Route 16 from Marion, Virginia north 41 miles to Tazewell, VA. What is even more amazing is it keeps going north on Route 16 for hundreds of miles! The map shows a great section between Tazewell, VA and Beckley, WV. Then another great looking section up near Charleston, WV. The road continues to be called "The Trail of Dragons" all the way up to Saint Mary's, Ohio. For sure we need to ride the Back of the Dragon and then continue on up to Beckly, WV. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/19/24 at 22:05:55 :) 8-) :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 08/20/24 at 06:16:05 All of this is making me want to trailer my bike up north somewhere. It been around 100° here the past several days and the heat index is up to 115° in the area. Some cool 90° weather sounds wonderful! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/20/24 at 12:20:44 In the mountains it is high 70's/low 80's in the daytime, and dipping into the high 50's at night. https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/robbinsville/28771/daily-weather-forecast/334849 |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/20/24 at 12:27:22 031103111C0F000D064E0 wrote:
There really isn't a lot of time to assemble a big group ride before the roads get covered in wet leaves, and the roads crowded with "leaf lookers" crowding the roads with their Mini'Vans and SUV's. The Breaks is a 6 hour and 5 minute distance for MM (359 miles) if you take the MapQuest route on highways and don't make any stops along the way! My trip there is more like 200 miles and 4 hours without stops........my neighbor and I have been looking at places to ride in KY so we don't need to make the 7 hour trip to Robbinsville or the 9 hour trip to Suches. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 08/20/24 at 14:51:04 43787562737F646279717C63100 wrote:
Sounds fantastic! Jealous! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 08/20/24 at 16:28:35 1E223F273A2F381A2B3F264A0 wrote:
Sounds fantastic! Jealous! [/quote] REALLY |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/20/24 at 18:49:19 Today was really comfortable in KY and doing yard work was pretty much sweat free! We seem to be a bit low for some reason - currently at 9:41 PM it is 62 degrees, and the forecast low for tonight is 48! That is the coolest night so far and the next two nights will be similar. We will be back up to nightly lows in the 60s' after Wednesday. We still have comfortable riding weather for a couple of months. Riding into November is possible....however the good days are not as frequent as the end of the year approaches and and you need to dress warmer......riding in December is far less common. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/21/24 at 19:41:24 I still have my Son and Daughter-in law in the spare bedroom , but the other twin bed , bed room is available if anybody wants to partake in a late September or early October day ride 'Fall Color Cruise' around the middle TN country side. One day to get here's , day two 'day ride' , day three back home is the sort of thing I like to do too. Let me know if anybody is interested in such ... I have a working bathroom and hot water in the house we're building that could be used for camping if Son and Daughter-in law are still using the spare bed room in a month , it's questionable right now. The Jack Daniel's BBQ is always the second weekend in Oct and the population of our county doubles for the week , but its an interesting time to go walk around the square . :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 08/22/24 at 04:17:48 MM: Your driveway needs to be swept! ;) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 08/22/24 at 18:39:05 I'll admit "Driving fast on a road like that makes me a little faint even to think about it" ! ::) But Its a "Leaf Looking Lane" ! :D and there not all the same color either !! ;) ;) Putt , Putt , Look , Look , Putt , Putt , Putt , Look , Look , Look , repeat ! :) Its about the time of year for me to get these roads ever day for a couple of months ! 8-) Za-rooom summer days are being replaced with Putt Putt Putt ... and that's OK ! This is my ride to town road , on roads like this a 350cc or a 110-125cc even , is better than a Goldwing ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/05/24 at 14:17:25 Here is the ride from SBBA for last year. https://sbba2024-61.webselfsite.net/home Am I the only one who thinks this seems like a good idea ... or is it too much $$$$$ for consideration ? Room rates don't have to be fancy and Me personally I'm OK with a camping cabin. For example : https://www.expedia.com/Deadwood-Hotels-No-Name-City-Luxury-Cabins-RV.h10521554.Hotel-Information?chkin=2025-08-24&chkout=2025-08-30&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1728183951630&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwZWRpYS5jb20vSG90ZWwtU2VhcmNo&useRewards=false&rm1=a2®ionId=6976&destination=Sturgis%2C+South+Dakota%2C+United+States+of+America&destType=MARKET&selected=10637456&latLong=33.9527%2C-84.5502&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=75&top_cur=USD&mctc=9&userIntent=&selectedRoomType=201042390&selectedRatePlan=205084396&searchId=f20d8b1c-f9fd-40a7-b622-a1260f93676e&propertyName=No+Name+City+Luxury+Cabins+%26+RV I realize its kind of tame for modern reliable machines but it can be "Spiced -up" somewhat !! Like not moving 27 miles in the middle of the trip , from Rapid city to Hill City . It's more fun when we all go so ... check it out and let me know if anybody wants to go besides me . I believe my brother Kent may want to ride his Road-Glide to and from so I'll ride Blue-Bell the 650 if he goes but some may want to truck ? :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 10/07/24 at 03:14:18 My neighbor and I have been riding the area at the Kentucky/Virginia border for a couple of days. The riding here is great, and we believe it is better riding than our normal area down around Deals Gap in North Carolina. This area has wonderfully curvy and hilly roads, and there are not any big towns or touristy areas that dray in large numbers of tourists.....even the "main" roads are "back" roads! The mountains are smaller than the Blue Ridge/Smokies and there are no huge climbs like on the Cherohala Skyway - however the roads down the valleys are wonderfully relaxing to ride and full of curves. The climbs up and down the mountains are just as fun as the Tail of the Dragon (without having to deal with all the car clubs that have been making the Dragon unsafe to ride). It also has become apparent to us that you can ride longer distances between STOP signs and there are not any slow traffic areas where tourists clog the highway. The pace in this area is also more laid back (similar to riding in Arkansas), and folks are very nice. The coal mining in this area is not very active right now - and there are a lot of abandoned houses and shops.......all reminders of a thriving industry that is gone from this area. The people in this area are living simpler lives than they are in Gatlinburg and Ashville! I do believe this area is where I am going to spend more time riding in 2025! :) NOTE: The power line repair crews were in abundance in this area - we had crews from Texas, Indiana and Mississippi at our hotel on Saturday night - about a dozen trucks. The crew from Texas had been on the road for 3.5 weeks - the repaired tornado damage in Texas before driving up here to work on the hurricane damage. We were told that 6,000 lineman have been dispatched to make repairs in TN/NC/VA. They are all repairing lines that were damages by Hurricane Helene, and we say a lot of trees on our ride yesterday that had been tipped out of the ground roots and all! The work to clear the roads was completed - but the work to get broken poles and downed trees along the cross country lines is continuing. The crews told us that they had been in the Asheville area the week before and parts of western North Carolina are so torn up that they cannot get in to repair the power lines - and that some places don't have any need for power as the building and residents are gone! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/07/24 at 18:41:58 Well , I hope that is an "Invite to come INJOY SOME KENTUCKY ROADS in 2025 ? :) Paul you and Springman can Park at my house anytime ; and we can ride up to meet Dave and Batman : if ya'll like ! I'm 830 miles from Springmans , just about a day's ride on the Super-Slab or two days on the Natchez Trace Parkway but they have free running water campgrounds at each ends and one in the middle ! ;) Lancer you know your always welcome too , if we were keeping score then you would owe me a visit ! ;) ;) ....................... Hay Dave , Kent may be wanting to join us for a ride in 2025 ? Especially if it not too far from home for him ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 10/08/24 at 04:32:08 We will certainly be taking trips down here in 2025. With the mountains being somewhat smaller and in a different part of the US - maybe the summer months won't have the daily pop up rain storms that occur in the Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains. One downside of riding in this area is the lack of food. Each morning we had to ride for an hour or more before we could find a place to get breakfast - and every morning we ate food from a gas station. The towns are not big enough to support a place to get breakfast - Elkhorn City that is closest to the motel has a Mexican restaurant and a Pizza/Sub shop. We had our Saturday night dinner at a BBQ truck in a town called Haysi where they were having a local festival and cornhole tournament - our Sunday night dinner was in Elkhorn City at the Mexican restaurant. Afternoons feasts were just snacks....however we did get a piece of pizza at the Back of the Dragon store in Tazewell on Saturday afternoon. In the future we will likely stock up on breakfast meals that can be cooked in the motel microwave - or cereal and donuts! In Virginia on the way to ride the "Widowmaker" we cam across some of the most rugged pasture and I have ever seen! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 10/08/24 at 04:37:16 On the road leading to the Widow maker, we encountered a bit of a delay. A small group of cattle were headed up the road in our direction, and we stopped our motorcycles and sat on the road. The cows stopped and did not continue when the got to us - a fellow on a horse road past us in the field next to us and got behind us and drove the cattle back down the road. We waited until they got them off the road before we continued. I learned something about cows.....evidently when they get nervous they can't control their bladder and bowels - and they just start cleaning out everything they were holding onto! The road was a real minefield and it took some fancy maneuvering to avoid the really large piles - it was however impossible to avoid everything and we did get a bit of poo on our bikes! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 10/08/24 at 05:34:07 Dave, you literally scared the crap out of the cattle! You’ve found some nice scenic riding areas! MM - The Sturgis area would be great if it wasn’t 1300+ miles away! That’s a cool little cabin you shared. Thanks for the invite. Even 800 miles to your place is pretty long. I’d have to get a trailer because I’m not loading up like a pack mule and riding 800 miles down the expressway. That just ain’t my thing. Weather is turning ideal here right now. Kinda like April was in the Hill Country. Lows in the mid 60s and highs in the mid 80s. I’m getting as much saddle time as I can! I’m going to keep following this post. Y’all come up with some great ideas and cool photos and stories of past adventures! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by springman on 10/08/24 at 12:16:37 I do not believe I have ever been to Kentucky. I think it could be fun. You guys keep planning and if it turns out I can make it, I will be there. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 10/08/24 at 12:53:44 I once bought a Honda 90 from Bay Meadows Track (horses racing). I tore it down steam cleaned frame & engine replaced exhaust system. No matter once it got warmed up it smell like burning horse apples. It was a hard bike to sell but given some time I found a victim , I mean buyer. ;D |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/08/24 at 19:44:14 MM - The Sturgis area would be great if it wasn’t 1300+ miles away! That’s a cool little cabin you shared. Thanks for the invite. Even 800 miles to your place is pretty long. That's OK Paul , I'm not sure it will materialize or not ? I've been ridding the Thousand miles each way to South Texas most years and it gets to be a longer ride every year. I like the Natchez Trace and ending day one at the Southern Campground better than hoping the Super Slab and letting it rip ! ;D I understand we're not spring chickens anymore ... But I've got a theory on the subject ... actually two of them , so far they seem to be working just fine ! ;) : |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Dave on 10/09/24 at 05:13:40 370B160E1306113302160F630 wrote:
My 3 day ride last weekend may be the last of the 2024 trips. In this northern part of the US....the weather is becoming too cold to plan any multi-day riding trips. Daytime temps are in the high 60's to low 70's - but over night temps are in the 40's! There is heavy dew each night, and we don't warm up to 60 until close to noon. There will be some afternoons were we can still get a good ride in October - and even in November we can get some good cool weather riding........my desire to ride long distances in the cold is not overwhelming! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/09/24 at 18:43:41 .my desire to ride long distances in the cold is not overwhelming! ;) ....................... electric gear makes it work for me , but we don't get salt like you folks ... only brine maybe two or three times. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 10/10/24 at 06:03:40 Spring chickens…as my old HS buddy likes to say, “just keep moving!”. If we sit around in the arm chair all day, we’ll rust up and get a gummed up carburetor! Dave - Sorry your main riding season is about to come to an end. I feel naked in the summer here when I skip wearing the jacket. Feels good to actually be able to gear-up with a long sleeve shirt and jacket. Anything below about 60° starts to feel cold for me. That limits riding in Jan/Feb to maybe once a week on a sunny afternoon. At least I don’t have to go through some winter storage process. Maybe a little Sta-Bil mixed in the gas if I don’t think I will burn a full tank in a month. I wish my old bones could match up with my brain about longer rides. It’s mostly the arthritis in my hips. You guys that can ride all day are impressive! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 10/10/24 at 06:09:41 6D514C54495C4B69584C55390 wrote:
|
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 10/10/24 at 08:56:01 T /P , I too have a bad hip and they found out the other leg has a birth defect at the hip that has always limited motion. Odd I never really noticed it. Raced for a few years , never slowed me down. The worn hip , the doctor I had said I can’t believe you walk as well as you do , do you need pain medication ? I replied no thanks , pain is temporary , Glory is Forever. He about choked on his tongue when I told him to sign me off I’m going back to work ! Here’s what helps me , only med I use is aspirin & Tylenol & caffeine. It all in one pill , a store brand available at any drugstore. Ask pharmacist. Some days I want to ride , hip says no. So I do 1-3 mile ride on my 1989 mountain bicycle. Body will respond with endorphins if it senses a certain level of pain. Now it’s time to ride ! Besides my bicycle for exercise I do the flamingo ! You need only a space to catch yourself like between 2 tables , I use work bench. Simply balance on one leg as long as possible , then other leg. Work both legs , you’ll feel your muscles in your but working. Everyday in a few days you will feel the difference. I find walking long distance aggravates it but bicycle 3 to 4 times the distance, cause seat takes weight off hips/legs. Hips don’t get better , you have to deal with it or get a new hip. Still some days are bad , push thru the pain , body will respond ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by Ruttly on 10/10/24 at 09:18:43 Only use pain meds when it’s bad , exercise , it’s tough I know. Gettin old ain’t for Pus$ies ! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 10/10/24 at 16:01:08 Ruttly, Exactly! Just keep moving and push through the pain until something else hurts worse! Usually my ego! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/15/24 at 20:31:06 Turmeric works wonders (keeps ya young) , also Glucosamine (keeps ya moving) and some "B-12" too ;) . https://lumanutrition.com/pages/best-turmeric?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=21604375095&utm_content=165993302363&utm_term=turmeric%20benefits&gadid=710309258073&gad_source=5&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIufuOhvqRiQMVRDMIBR1p3ABsEAAYAiAAEgJJ7vD_BwE Get it in the spice department (dry powder) and cook it into your Rice while frying the dry rice in Olive oil before adding the water for Fluffy yellow rice that is actually good for ya . https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-glucosamine . I use them every day along with a multi vitamin :) How's this for snack time ? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 10/16/24 at 08:00:47 A good inexpensive source of turmeric is the grocery stores in communities with folks from India. You can buy bulk for cheap in comparison to other retail sources. They use a lot of it. |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/16/24 at 21:12:49 Hay Lancer Looks like you've discovered Turmeric too ! :) I cook with it and take caps also . It sure makes getting older easier !! ;) :) |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by ThumperPaul on 10/17/24 at 07:10:34 What do I want to do today??? sometimes dictates the supplement recipe (RX cocktail) for the day. Tumeric, glucosamine, vitamin B, vitamin E, let’s throw in some fish oil, here’s 4 ibuprofen, how about some baclofen, throw in a little gabapentin… and the recipe (RX cocktail) continues. Gabapentin = bad. The stuff is for seizures, but docs pass it out like candy. I should have never listened and tried it…bad news…crazy thoughts and dreams…I had fewer negative side effects from acid in the late 70s, early 80s. If you watch TV late at night, you might even buy OmegaXL (buy 1 bottle get 1 free ya know!!). Its main ingredient is “green-lipped mussels”. I want to know who checks the lips of the mussels to make sure they are green. I didn’t even know mussels have lips! |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by MMRanch on 10/17/24 at 08:38:48 Good morning Paul :) I want to know who checks the lips of the mussels to make sure they are green. I didn’t even know mussels have lips! ;D maybe , somethings are better if ya don't know ?? :-? |
|
Title: Re: 2024 Rides Post by LANCER on 10/17/24 at 11:51:33 TP: “I didn’t even know mussels have lips!“ Lips are just another muscle for the mussels. [ch128526] |
|
SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2! YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. |