Author Topic: What did you do on your non Royal Enfield motorcycle today?  (Read 273675 times)

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mattsz

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Reply #465 on: October 19, 2013, 11:34:20 am
...I can carry girl people with me now!

What are those?


barenekd

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Reply #466 on: October 24, 2013, 12:01:17 am
I got up at the wee hours of o-dark-thirty to take a ride down to Rainbow for the weekly MEBC breakfast. The temps were mid '60s and it was overcast as I started down the road. As I drove away from the house, I felt a couple of drops of water an my face as I hadn't lowered the visor yet. I thought, not a problem, it might get a bit misty or something, but shouldn't be a biggy. All went well until I turned south in Corona and the mist was getting mistier.  It never had gotten very heavy and the only problems was the visor getting dribbled on and cutting visibility a bit. And the headlight was vibrating downward cutting the light's viewing distance ever shorter! As I got out of Corona I noticed the always terrible I-15 traffic was barely crawling along. It was a solid line of traffic as far as I could see. No sweat for me, I'm going south!
Or so I thought! As I continued South, the mist continued to get a little heavier and by the time I was 40 miles from the house with about 25 miles still to the destination, it was time to give up this trek! I got off at Lake Street just North of Lake Elsinore an turned back North on Temescal Canyon, a little road that parallels the freeway back to Corona. Remembering what the traffic looked like on the freeway, the canyon looked like a better deal. It's really not much of a challenge, but it is a little twistier than the freeway and not lighted, and with the headlight not stating quite where it belonged and the mist being a more like a light rain, the visibility was suffering a bit.  A car came up kinda behind me, but really wasn't going any faster than I was, but seeing as how I as slowing down a bit more than usual to get around some of the turns, I let him by, which made things a lot easier for me as I could easily follow him and see where he was going!
The rain mostly quit when I got back to Corona and the traffic was running fairly well as I got within a couple of miles from the ramp to the 91, so I jumped back on the ramp and split lanes down to the 91. Then the traffic was parked again, as usual for that time of day, so I got off at the next exit and came around the back way to Carbon Canyon to the house. It was misting off and on on that route bet never got too bad. Carbon Canyon was a bitch to begin with as that's where all the stray traffic from the overloaded 91 goes. but I made fairly decent time as I made a few passes that might've been frowned on by the local Gendarmerie. But it probably saved me 15 minutes over a 10 mile route!
Well, missed my breakfast, but didn't get particularly wet, the flyscreen did a good job of keeping it off me! I'll have to give it a shot next week.
Bare
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
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D the D

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Reply #467 on: October 24, 2013, 12:45:06 am
What are those?

They're kind of like a boss except that they smell better and instead of giving you money for doing what they say, doing what they say costs you money.   :)
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AussieDave

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Reply #468 on: October 24, 2013, 11:54:52 pm
 Hey Bare , letting the car go first to light the way is a good trick! I often do this when riding at night in the country. I find it really helps in low vis conditions, especially when being blinded by oncoming. Sometimes it gets very difficult to see the centre mark and the shoulder.
"Glorious,stirring sight! The poetry of motion! The real way to travel! The only way to travel! ... O bliss ! O poop poop ! Oh my! Oh my!" - Toad of Toad Hall.


barenekd

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Reply #469 on: October 25, 2013, 06:56:09 pm
Yup, works well. I do it a lot in the mountains at night. I may not be able to go as fast as I would during the day, but I'll get there. And I'll generally go a bit faster then if I were riding it alone! Don't really care much for riding in the dark, especially in the twistie stuff. If there is some moonshine, that's a different story.
That line should raise some interesting comments!
Bare



2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
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D the D

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Reply #470 on: October 25, 2013, 07:50:03 pm
Ha ha. I hope nobody rides with moonshine though it's nice to see by moonlight.  ;D
A car ahead helps avoid the Uh Ohs! on curves or when deer and wildlife are hanging about the edges of the roads. 
'07 Iron Barrel Military (Deceased 14 September, 2013)
2014 Yamaha Bolt R Spec V-Twin
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barenekd

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Reply #471 on: October 31, 2013, 06:59:37 pm
Got up at 0-dark-30 again yesterday morning for the weekly trek to the MEBC breakfast. The weather forecast was cool for the day. I grabbed some long johns and a slightly heavier jacket and sweatshirt, and tootle on down to Rainbow. Twas a bit chilly heading down there and my teeth were chattering when I got off the bike. But once inside the restaurant the chill disappeared quickly.
After breakfast with some discussion, we decided to go down the 79 to Santa Ysabel and go back on the 76 to Palomar, up on the East Grade and down on the South Grade. We made an unplanned turn when we got to Sage Road, one that I haven't been on in  several years. It had been repaved recently and was a great improvement in smoothness, if not adventure, as we rode to and turned on Wilson Valley. the last time I was there, that was a dirt road, but its nicely paved and a great fun twisty with lots of roller coastering!
At the end of that we were on the 341 which I have been on recently, so no surprises there, and back to the 79. We went down the 79 to the Glider port in Warner Springs and stopped for a break, then decided to go to Borrego Springs instead of Palomar. the ride down there was punctuated by a scenic stop on S22 that offers a great view of the desert. Forgot my camera!
Then on down to Borrego Springs for a rest stop there. It was then down S3 to the 78 and back up to Julian. Just another great band of twisties going back the mountain working over the new tire I had installed last week. The wanker stripes were pretty well abused.
We stopped for Lunch in Julian, the started back down toward Santa Ysabel where some of the guys were splitting off to go down the 78. The group I was in  was going to cut across Mesa Grande to the 76, so I followed them up the 79, they missed the turnoff and just continued up to the 76 and turned. I remained on the 79 and headed home.
Farther up the road, a buck came bounding out of the woods to cross the road. He wasn't close enough to be a threat to me, but that's the first deer I've ever seen on that road. Nice rack!
The rest of the ride home was pretty uneventful, but it was my first over 300 mile ride on the Guzzi and it was great. The weather all day as beautiful, a bit cool in the higher elevations where most of the ride was except for the drop down into the desert where it was just very nice, mid 70s.
It was so nice not to have to run home before it got into the 90s and 100s. I wasn't even particularly tired as I am when it's hot.
It was a really fantastic day!
Sunday, the Norton Club Hanson Dam ride, the biggie of the year and the forecast is very similar! Hopefully, will be a great day!
Bare
« Last Edit: November 01, 2013, 06:07:26 pm by barenekd »
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
http://www.controllineplans.com


bikesnob

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Reply #472 on: October 31, 2013, 07:43:17 pm
Hey Bare hope to see you on Sunday, looking forward to the Norton Club Ride.
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barenekd

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Reply #473 on: November 04, 2013, 11:54:04 pm
Went to the Hansen Dam ride yesterday. There must've been 1000 bikes there! It was a fanastic turnout. the ride was fun, too. It's just a short trip through Little Tujunga, over to Aliso Cyn, Angeles Forest,and down Lower Big Tujunga and back to Hansen Dam, about 75 miles. It's farther for me to get to the Dam and home than the ride. My total mileage was 200 miles. There were some UCEs there and several old twins. For several hundred pictures, go to scnoc, Southern California Norton Owners Club and look for the picture links. There are several on there. This is one show that is definitely more about the bikes than the ride!  Except the bikes that are getting judged for show have to participate in the ride. Not very many true antiques any more. It's a Brit bike show that and there is a lot of nice stuff there.
Bare
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
http://www.controllineplans.com


barenekd

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Reply #474 on: November 07, 2013, 07:38:13 pm
Yesterday, took a ride down to Rainbow for the weekly MEBC meeting. After breakfast we rode around the Avocado fields for about 50 miles worth. No repeats of the roads down there. It was a great ride!with my trip down and back including Ortega Highway, no traffic to hold me up, Live Oak and Santiago Canyons, the whole ride was 200 miles, and I got home before all the heat set in! It was great day!
Bare
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
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D the D

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Reply #475 on: November 07, 2013, 07:48:00 pm
Heat set in?  Wish I was having that problem.
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High On Octane

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Reply #476 on: November 09, 2013, 01:35:41 pm
Heat set in?  Wish I was having that problem.

Word.  I took The Blackhawk to the bar last night for an old co-workers birthday party.  I was thrilled it was still about 45*F after the sun went down!  Cali does sound like fun, but I don't think I could ever afford the living expenses.  Maybe I'll just make a trip out one of these days for the sole purpose of riding up and down the west coast line.  :)

Scottie
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barenekd

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Reply #477 on: November 09, 2013, 06:18:21 pm
Quote
Cali does sound like fun, but I don't think I could ever afford the living expenses.
We don't call it Cantafordia for nothing!
As for the weather here, It's about 48 in the morning when I got down to the breakfast club, but for the ride after, it's been getting up into the mid 80s. Unfortunately that's a bit hot for the early morning costume! And I don't have any luggage space on the bike to get rid of long johns and sweatshirts or jacket liners! So I want to get home kinda early to beat the heat! Forecast for next week's breakfast club is the same! The weather pattern has been cool weekends and hot midweeks. I'm ready for cool all the time!
Bare   
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
http://www.controllineplans.com


Buckeroo

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Reply #478 on: November 13, 2013, 02:55:38 am
I got to take a 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere 1200 on a weekend ride for 750 miles.  The two things I really liked was the unified braking system/ABS and the traction control.  I got that big puppy in some wet grass on the side of the highway and I was able to ride away instead of having to pick it up.  The unified braking brought that beast from 95 mph down to a stop very quickly.  Riding that bike at 90 feels like the Enfield at 50.  I liked the ability to do dirt roads with confidence. Riding conservatively got me in the low 60's mpg.   I was pretty impressed with the giant trail bike.
This bike was stored for 3.5 years.  It had fallen on its side for awhile. I claimed it about a year and a half ago. Thus the low miles and inexperienced owner.
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barenekd

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Reply #479 on: November 13, 2013, 10:04:35 pm
Ah, the Wednesday morning Breakfast Club. I got up a the usual crack of dawn, put on te heavy sweatshirt and long johns and made my way to Rainbow staring into the sun all  they way, and forgot my shades to boot! It was a little warmer than usual so I wasn't freezing when I got down there. About a dozen guys today. The guy who bought my GB500 said he sold it because his back couldn't handle the riding position. When we got done with breakfast about 9:30, it was rather apparent that it was going to be warm today, so I begged off the ride without really finding out where they were going other than I knew I wasn't heading for my place. So I took off to headed home through the avocado fields, you didn't expect me not to take an interesting route, did you? It was a nide ride but thetemp was creeping up and I decided to go across Ortega hwy and all was going well after I got by 3 or four guys who were strolling along in their cages. then I ran into a road block and had to wait for about 15 minutes or so for the"follow me" truck to escort us about 5 miles down the mountain as they were mowing the edge of the road. I talked to the flagman while we were waiting and discussed the Guzzi he'd never heard of, and the fact that it was getting awfully hot standing there in the sun. At least, I got in front of the pack behind the truck so when we reach the end of the escort zone, I got dibs on taking off and leaving the rest of them. It was a fast ride to the bottom with no interference. but the rest of the ride home was just hot. It as 90 when I got home about 12:30, but I got 250 miles in.
Not a bad day of riding. But it sure felt good getting all the riding gear off! Wouldn't ya know it, it's supposed to cool down into the 60s for the weekend. It's 93 out there now!
Bare
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
http://www.controllineplans.com