Let's see those bikes

Yoshimura pipes..........They do sound great!

 

What I have found is that when in a group, riders tend to want to "keep up", myself included. I like to think that I know my limitations but it's easy to get caught up in the moment and do something stupid. It's also hard to ride your own pace when there are several levels of performance and skill in the same group. Someone always has to ride a bit slower or faster to maintain the group. When by yourself, you can choose to poke along or take it up near your limits. There is a club out of Columbus that organizes rides with 20-30 at a time and they divy up into groups based on speed. There is a novice group, a 5-10mph over posted, a 10-20mph over posted, and advanced group. They put experienced riders at the front and back of the groups...seems to be a good way to do it. These are mostly sport bike riders.

I enjoy riding briskly, but sometimes i'll just doddle down the road. There aren't too many riders around me here (at least that i know of) that I will ride with. The Harley riders pace is not enjoyable for me and most sport bike riders think a cutoff t-shirt, backwards baseball cap and flip flops are riding gear. I'm not going anywhere with those folks. I don't want to be the one holding their face together while we wait for an ambulance to arrive. Not that you can't be injured while geared up, but I guarantee you will be *more injured without it.

My moto is: Have fun, know your limits, be safe....and curteous....almost forgot about my one man campaign to change the views of us "Ninjabike" riders. No duck passes, no tailgating or tomfoolery in residential areas or in traffic. It's kept me upright so far.

 

AKA "squids" cause that's what their skin will look after sliding along the pavement

 

Or the sound of them hitting the pavement with no protective gear sounds like a squid slapping a plate. Squish!

 

This guy pretty much...must be a helmet law state.


The dream ride guys on YouTube also do a great job of sullying "crotchrocket" riders' reputation. A sales rep came into work one day and sees my helmet and the little model on my desk of my motorcycle. Notices I have a camera mount on the helmet. First question "So do you go out and do stunts on the interstate to make videos for YouTube on that thing?" I explained to him that it was for my own documentation of my rides. It also captures the occasional hater cager whom has an issue with me just because I'm on a motorcycle. What's up with that anyways?

 

That's him, Joe Squidly! Helmets are actually a status symbol for some of these guys, you can sped BIG $ on helmets. Makes perfect sense, protect your head while you turn the rest of you body into hamburger.

 

So, my new metzeler m7rr tires are paying every test I throw at them. Rain, freshly tarred then pea gravelled roads, tar snakes, hot roads, cold-ish roads, all that. Needless to say they grip like white on rice whether leaned over or straight up.

I've got about 600 miles on them so far, and I'm impressed.

 

I continue to hear good things about the Metz's.

 

When the original m1 spotted came out, they were revolutionary. I ran those until the next revolutionary tires came out, the Michelin pilot powers.

These are great tires. I don't know if there is a better street tire than these.

 

My 1st ride yesterday, weather was perfect, I could have used some sun screen, logged rite at 200 miles...that kind of distance was telling on me toward the end of the ride.
My old pal is a great guy to ride with and the bike did it's job.
I realized my confidence is somewhat lacking in the twisty hills and was a bit paranoid in the heavy 4&6 lane traffic moving at speed..some crazy MF'rs out there,,
Really enjoyed the ride and look forward to logging some miles and regaining my confidence.

 

I'd try to eliminate the super slab for having a fun ride. JM 2¢

That's great you for out for a good ride though. If yesterday where you are was like our yesterday, yeah, that was a great day weather wise.

 

I constantly gawk @ it all day @ work, eagerly anticipating the ride home.

 

And BTW, I know this is a show your bike thread, and I just did^^ but I also wanted to share a recent experience that may benefit someone here. Bought the Duc knowing the left leg had a very slight weep. Figured a seal is easy enough so I didn't even blink. Since it was such a small leak I decided to try a sealmate. Pulled the dust wiper and used the tool for about 30-40 minutes, cycled the forks and repeated for another couple times. Rode it to and fro work, pulled the wiper and used it again for a good 20 minutes. Now my leak is 100% gone. Fork is as clean as they come . YMMV

 

Road into work this morning and managed to miss the rain - I kept dry except road spray in the last couple of miles (gotta love the lowers ). Unusual for me to miss rain, I usually cause it by planning a ride - heck I've hit rain twice this year when there was 0% chance - and one of those times was yesterday on my way home from work. Will probably get wet, maybe even soaked on the way home, but don't care.

 

First one to work too apparently, maybe you shoulda took the long way

 

Oh no, about 5th to work (at 5:30 am). I just park farthest from the building I work at so I have to walk. That building is a satellite and employee entrance is at the back of the building, so that is where they park.

I took the 30 mile - 45 minute way to work. To take the long way means I have to leave before 4:45 AM - NO THANK YOU

 

Took my 1st nite ride last nite,,my headlite needs adjusted. esp. low beam, with one coon and a possum within a couple miles playing on the road, I decided on the hiway to get me home.

 

I rode into work today...only 7 miles but it was nice. A nice 68* this morning at 6:30. Looks like I may be commuting a few more times this week after looking at the weather. Hope to get down to the good curves near The Ohio this weekend for a romp. Want to hit up 800, 536, 260, and 26. Easily the most fun and challenging stuff I have ridden. Just getting there is the boring part though...about 1:15 of riding just to get to the area. I have trailered to the Marietta Walmart before to avoid the slabbing. Unload, go ride the twisties, load up and ride home in the AC. Kindof a track day...without an actual track.

In the little night riding I have done, the bugs are a main discouragement with critters adding an additional element of danger that I don't care for.

 

These Ducs have always struck me as a bike that looks very fun to ride! She's a beauty!

Who's Vespa?? Or is it a Piaggio?

 

It's a Vespa, made by Piaggio!
It's a customers. Actually he dropped off 2 of them and a 50cc 2smoke Aprilia. After today you can officially consider me and expert on the Vespa's carbs . Had them both off twice. Not difficult but I will not volunteer to change the plugs EVER! They both got a thorough cleaning of the fuel system because they sit alot. We also sold him a 5 gallon container of VP eth free

And fun to ride is an understatement. The multi is soooooo comfortable. My passion for motorcycling has had a huge injection of adrenaline 150 horse stock, plus it has full Termi exhaust, Ducati performance chip and filter. It's an absolute torque monster! Cruising in top gear @ about 4k, when you whack open the throttle she wants to pull your shoulders right outta their sockets.