Deal's Gap Tomorrow!

[poppygene]

Yahooo!!! I'm going to beat up on the Dragon tomorrow! Can't wait!

I'll be attending an annual meeting there of "Kawasaki Triples Worldwide," which is already underway. I've been to the Dragon lots of times, but this will be my first time to this particular meet. I've always had a soft spot for the old "smokers" (which I started out on) so it sounds like a hoot to me! From what I've heard there will be lots of vintage bikes of all kinds - but mostly two-strokes from the Sixties and Seventies - and hooligans aplenty.

I'll try to get some pics to share with you here on TMW, but 'til then everyone behave and play nice!

[BuzZz]

That would be a blast, Gene. Sounds like a good time, alright. Might be hard to see at times through all that smoke.... but you'll hear 'em comin'.

[keysman]

BMW is running a print ad on the new R1200ST that talks about riding the Dragon, Deals Gap.

[Snake]

don't get up their and die, okay? My uncle filmed him self up there once, and that is some crazy road, I need to go up their one of these days.

[madmax]

Have fun Poppygene, that all sounds like a good time to me. I used to have an old Suzuki 380 triple, 6 speed, man that thing would haul a$$. I can just imagine a whole bunch of those old bikes at Deals Gap!!

[CentralOzzy]

Lucky YOU! Enjoy!!

[poppygene]

I survived! Again! Pulled out this morning about 7:00 and got back a bit past 8:00PM. Only clocked about 300 miles, round trip, but I'm not ashamed to tell you I'm exhausted. I made several runs at the Dragon (I kinda lost count) with some friends and I feel like I've been wrestling grizzlies all day! I had a blast, though... definitely a great day spent on the bike!

Full report to follow... after I rest up a while!

[CentralOzzy]

Nothing like a good HOON in the Twisties on a bike to spice up ya life!

That's one thing we don't have much of down here in the Outback - Twisties!

[Toyuzu]

Sounds like a great time! We have a short section of Highway 49 over here just north of Mariposa that all us locals cal the "little dragon". Lots of super-tight corners going down one side, and up the other of a steep canyon. It's one of the favorite local rides. I guess I'll have to settle for that until I can get out there to NC. Can't wait to see your pics! I have a friend who is in the process of restoring his old H1. I'll show him some of your pics for motivation.

[poppygene]

Allright! That had to be the hardest days' ride I've had in recent memory, maybe ever. I know it was only 300 miles in a day, but it was a far cry from a leisurely day spent with a Goldwing or Road King on the super-slab.

I had been planning this trip for a month or so. My "Zephyr-Zone" BB-forum friend, Scott, from sunny Florida, had suggested we meet at the Gap and talk ZRs. When he mentioned that the two-stroke meet was going to be there this weekend, I was sold! By the way, Scott has one of the few remaining ZR1100s like mine, a survivor from the scant 900-or-so imported here in '93.
I had happened to mention the idea to my brother, Brian, also a classic japanese-bike fiend, and he was in, too. He and I had spent more than a few hours resurrecting a grand old bike he found last summer in a guy's garage, neglected and just barely running, an '82 Suzuki GS1100E, which he wanted to put through the paces. Michael, a co-worker of Brian's, needed to blow the cobwebs out of his superb '02 GSXR1000, so he joined us for the ride out.
A motley crew, I know, but wait'll we get to the Gap! You ain't seen nuthin' yet!
Here's the first installment of pics. Keep in mind, as a photographer I make a pretty good ditch-digger, but I hope you enjoy 'em.

Here's a nice Suzuki GT 750:


A clean Kawasaki H2 750:


A nicely modded GT 750:


Some snooty guy trailered his two (count 'em) MV Agustas to the Dragon! Man, what gorgeous bikes!!!


This sweet Kawasaki H1 may be my favorite 2-smoker of the meet:


That's all I have time for now, but I'll try to add some more later. So stay tuned!