Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

General Discussion => Trips/Ride reports => Topic started by: ballen on September 20, 2007, 07:41:39 pm

Title: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: ballen on September 20, 2007, 07:41:39 pm
I'm interested in riding up to the Mackinaw Bridge ( possibly across it to St. Ignace ) via M-66 and back down the east side of the state. Anyone game, I've done it twice by myself ( I go during the weekdays to avoid traffic since I rarely ride over 50mph ).
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: t120rbullet on September 21, 2007, 05:50:02 pm
I would like to go but I'm leaving to go to the RE reunion this Wed. on my bullet. I think that will be it for me for this year. There are a few of us Enfield pilots around the metro Detroit area.
I know of 4 for sure. The guy I sold my 95 to was supposed to ride out to Mo. with me but is not going to be able to make it.
Good luck going across the bridge on your Bullet. Last year I went across it on my electra-glide and the wind picked the bike up and set it down about a foot over on the grate. I think I would have been swimming if I was on my Bullet.
The doors open next summer if my Bullet makes it back from Mo. next week though.
CJ
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: bob bezin on January 11, 2008, 10:24:52 pm
wow t120
 that happened to me about 1964 on a 350 jawa on a bridge between chicago and india
na..someplace around there
scarey huh ?
bob bezin
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: mbevo1 on January 16, 2008, 01:26:02 am
Ballen -
Hope you're not talkin' about THIS week...  I'm on the other side of the state and have been considering going north on US-31 along the left shore to the bridge (or more) then using M-66 to get back to Ionia before heading west  to Grand Rapids.  Might work out to meet in the middle, go north on M-66 then split and go down both coasts...

I'll keep it in mind... I just started a new job and will have to see how the workload flows come spring...

Mike and Stumpy in Michigan
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: t120rbullet on January 21, 2008, 01:03:04 am
wow t120
 that happened to me about 1964 on a 350 jawa on a bridge between chicago and india
na..someplace around there
scarey huh ?
bob bezin

The Mackinac is quite a bridge, about 20 yrs ago the wind blew a Yugo off of it.
A little bike don't have a chance. The last 4 yrs or so they have been painting it so the outer 2 lanes have been closed almost every time I've been across in a while now.
That means you get to ride the cheese grater(steel grate) for the whole length of it.
I don't care for riding on grate when it's not windy and raining but when it is it can be a real "white knuckle" crossing.
They do have a service that will ride it over for ya if freeze up after you see it for the first time.
CJ







Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: mbevo1 on January 22, 2008, 12:44:53 am
t120 -

Yep.  I don't like the bridge much in a car... it would have to be a fine day with low winds before I'd try on Stumpy... of course, Mackinaw City is fun to hang out in...

Mike and Stumpy in Michigan
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: BanditRE on January 22, 2008, 03:41:10 am
What is it, like a half mile on the actual grating? Seems like about 10 miles when you're riding it  :o

Its been clear, sunny and not too windy everytime I've ridden across, and every time the darn right lane has been closed, so its grate all the way. Asphalt never looked som good when you reach the other side! Its worth it though. The UP is a nice place to spend some time.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: t120rbullet on January 22, 2008, 01:19:17 pm
The total length of the bridge is 5 miles.
The length of the suspension part (the grate) is 1.6 miles.
Couple that with being 200 feet over the water in the center makes for one impressive bridge.
Yes, the UP is worth it. The last 11 miles on US-41 up in the Keweenaw Peninsula has got to be one of the worlds greatest motorcycle roads.
The Lake Superior circle tour is a awesome ride also. I recommend everyone do it at least once in their life.
http://www.lakesuperior.com/ctmap.html (http://www.lakesuperior.com/ctmap.html)
CJ
 
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: BanditRE on January 22, 2008, 01:22:53 pm
Damn, it's that long!?!? I thought it just seemed that long when I rode over it!

US-41 eh? When we going?
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: t120rbullet on January 22, 2008, 02:54:59 pm
Damn, it's that long!?!? I thought it just seemed that long when I rode over it!

US-41 eh? When we going?

August, right after the VMD
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: BanditRE on January 22, 2008, 06:22:28 pm
Can you be seen with a Suzuki? Is that allowed in HOG chapter rules?

Sounds like a plan. I'll pencil you in for August in the UP.....
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: t120rbullet on January 24, 2008, 08:38:49 pm
Can you be seen with a Suzuki? Is that allowed in HOG chapter rules?
Sounds like a plan. I'll pencil you in for August in the UP.....

I don't know man, after reading your entry in the "most embarrassing moments" thread I'm really going to have to think about.
The thought of getting a 12 grand hole shot up the backside doesn't appeal to me much.
The HOG guys wouldn't mind a Sushi tagging along as long as you stayed 100 yds back or so.
CJ
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: BanditRE on January 25, 2008, 12:58:50 pm

Its ok, I have since come to grips with easing out the clutch.

Don't  you mean 100 yds AHEAD of the Harleys! You guys ride slower than Enfields!
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: t120rbullet on January 25, 2008, 04:49:15 pm

Its ok, I have since come to grips with easing out the clutch.

Don't  you mean 100 yds AHEAD of the Harleys! You guys ride slower than Enfields!

Sorry man, we do it in alphabetical order.
It don't matter if I'm on the E-Glide or Silver, if your on the Sushi your still behind.
The only way you'll ever get ahead is if I take the Trump.
CJ
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: JJ1234567 on March 15, 2008, 08:24:42 pm
Being a little late to the thread :), ID love to go up north with some other riders this spring/summer.  Good to see there are some folks in the area that enjoy put-putin along on the enfield.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: GMElectra on March 17, 2008, 11:46:00 pm
It is almost warm wether again and I have been thinking over a trip in the upper lower for some time.  I am on the Mich/Ohio border, so would trailor bike to Muskegon probably and then travel lakeshore to Mackinaw and back.  Late June would be soonest I would attempt it as the wether can be far from predictable and usually a month behind SE Michigan.  Slow with lots of stops to take in the sites, maybe an evening at one of the wine destinations as well.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: JJ1234567 on March 18, 2008, 06:57:48 pm
I would love to go!  Looking at my map, it would be easy to meet you either where m-20 hits m-31 or where 10 hits ludington.  would be fun!
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: Bankerdanny on March 20, 2008, 08:00:29 pm
JJ,

It's not north, but here's an event for early summer that should be worth a ride:

http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/html/events.php

I went to the Gilmore a couple years ago, it is a beautiful place. The cars are mostly pre-war, if you are a classic car fan, its worth visiting. Kalamazoo has a great air museum too (they call it the air zoo) that is mostly WWII planes, but they have an SR71 Blackbird.

All in all, a nice place to spend a weekend.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: JJ1234567 on April 05, 2008, 06:15:00 am
Ive been down to the Air Zoo, that place rocks.  Id sell my left leg to fly one of those tigercats they have in the back hanger.    I might have to check that out, looks like a good time.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: sasquatch on April 05, 2008, 06:32:05 am
Ijust took my kids to the AirZoo... it was great!  have to go back some time when I have more time to play!  It looked like they had some pretty neat flight simulators for adults that went upsidedown and everything.  There is even a few antique motorcycles in the east campus building.  It would make a nice stop on a ride, but you really need time to see everything.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: JJ1234567 on April 05, 2008, 08:52:32 pm
As for the event you mentioned, June 8th should be a fine day for riding.  Id love to go down there.  Still want to get a group of people to ride up the lakeshore sometime in may though.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: michigandon on April 12, 2008, 06:30:00 am
I'm in Jackson County and a soon-to-be Bullet owner. Always try to make it "Up North" at least once a year. Would possibly be interested in joining other for a scenic cruise.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: luoma on April 12, 2008, 06:05:34 pm
I kind of envy you guys up in the northern stares. You have a lot of great riding roads (at least in the summer). You also have a lot more RE owners within reach.

I live in NW Florida and feel kind of like an orphan. I would be willing to bet there are a lot more riders out there, we just need to get them to post on the riders map. I wonder if there might be way way to use the new RE club to send a mass mailing or email to everyone who bought a bike, and ask them to get involved.

On the other hand, it might overwhelm the forum we all enjoy so much.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: JJ1234567 on May 21, 2008, 04:32:08 am
I would like to get a group together to go north in mid july.  I plan on taking 3 days off for my birthday (july 14th) and would like to ride up north to the UP.  I will post a seperate thread when I get details, but if anyone is interested, pipe up with some specifics (IE where would be best for everyone to meet up, central, west shore, etc).  It should be fun.   ;D
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: Bankerdanny on May 21, 2008, 09:22:24 pm
Cool.

Post the info when you decide.

I am still hoping to ride to the Gilmore show in a couple weeks, but I still haven't got the bike completely back together and sorted, so I may have to break down and go by car.
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: michigandon on May 22, 2008, 11:32:24 am
I am off from 7/11-7/14!  ;D
Title: Re: Any Michigan riders out there??
Post by: michigandon on June 21, 2008, 12:37:58 pm
Hey,

The Mrs and I have a little tradition where we always take a trip on the weekend after Labor Day.  8) This year we've decided to take our new [to us] bikes up to the northern lower and ride the "tunnel of trees", per a suggestion from my boss.  ;D If anyone wants to join up with us they're more than welcome to do so. We'll probably be camping somewhere in the Petoskey area.