SilveradoGirl's Motorcycle Mayhem

[dr_bar]

Glad to hear you're out and about...

FYI, when you store your bike for winter, it's always best to top up the tank and add stabilizer to the gas, the less air space in the tank, the less likely that you'll get condensation and rust....

[zarakand]

Great bike! Do you ever go cruising around to the Dells? I've gone up there a few times, and always enjoyed the scenery.

I haven't ventured that far yet....the Dells are at least a 3hour drive from my place...maybe by the end of the season

Hopefully! Give me a heads up if you feel up to riding to the Dells, I'm always looking for an excuse to go on a longer ride. Plus, I'm really excited about trying out a longer interstate ride with the new bike.

[SilveradoGirl]

well....we finally are back from visiting Bill's family for the Easter Holiday. It was a nice break, but I am sure glad to be home. When we got settled we thought we'd relax with a nice ride on the bikes ....yeah right. Turns out Bill picked up a nail in his rear tire last time we were out . We looked it over and it is pretty bad. Even our buddy who owns a bike shop said he prolly wouldn't plug and ride it. He suggested we trailer it up to the shop. (Bill decided since he had to replace the tire, he would have the bearings done too, and he just wasn't up for that project himself.)

He is out in the garage right now putting new lights on the trailer and putting a front wheel stantion on. We both know how to do it, we both would do it differently, so to avoid problems, I am in here, writing to you guys, and cooking dinner Sometimes you just have to know when to walk away.

Anyways, my jacket hasn't come in yet. I am hoping it will be in by the time Bill's tire is done so we don't have to make an extra trip to the shop.

I better go tend to dinner, I'll let you know how the trailer turns out and when his bike is finally road ready again, we will ride!

[SilveradoGirl]

Bad bad news today, on what was suppose to be a very good day indeed. We were on our way to pay off the loan on my car, what a happy day right? We thought so too.

Everything turned bad when we got half way home. We witnessed a full size, Ford F150 turn left in front of a 22 year old kid on a CBR. You see this stuff on the web all the time, the videos, the pics, you hear others accounts....NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING can prepare you for the real thing. The kid was rushed by ambulance to the local hospital, from there he was air lifted to a facility with more capabilities. I just keep seeing it over and over in my head.

The weird thing, the image that is burned into my head more than anything, is the image of the little old man who was driving the truck. He is a short stocky man, prolly 70-80 years old. A farmer, he had on his work clothes and boots, old school glasses. He just stood there, behind the bike, in front of his truck as good samaritans and police worked on the kid before the ambulance arrived. I know I am a biker, but my heart went out to that man. He was in total shock. You could tell by the look on his face that he NEVER saw the bike. To his defense.(according to another witness) The bike was behind a car that turned right in the turn lane, and after that car started its turn, the kid dodged out from behind and went into the straight ahead lane, and the light, (they say) was yellow. It was a real messed up deal. I feel for the kid, and his family, and I feel for the old man and his family too. It shook me up pretty good and I wasn't even involved, I can only imagine how either of those two are.

I'll leave an update on the kids condition when and if I hear anything. On a side note..something that REALLY ticked me off. Both news channels, and the newspaper reported the kid wasn't wearing a helmet as their main point to the whole story...and the kid WAS wearing his lid!!! Anyways, had to get that off my chest.

When we got home, right before we had to go to work, (Bill and I both work 2pm-10pm) the shop called and Bill's bike is ready to be picked up. So a little good news. We will go get it first thing in the morning, then Bill wants me to go out for a ride with him. He saw how shook up seeing the accident made me, and he wants me on my bike asap, so I don't let my imagination run wild, and freak myself out. He's a smart guy too, cuz I think thats the best thing I could do right now.

Again, I'll give you guys updates when I hear anything more.

[VermilionX]

what!?

that part about the media lying about the helmet is just plain messed up.

i had 2 close calls w/ old people last week on the same day, thankfully i wasn't going too fast so i was able to evade them.

damn old people!

we need to start making soylent green

[SilveradoGirl]

It's been over a week now since we witnessed that terrible accident, and as far as we know the kid on the bike is still in critical condition at a local hospital, but reports are that he is making progress and getting better. The accident itself is still under investigation, and no more updates have been given.

I did talk to my cousin who said one of his buddies knows the kid, and he had just gotten that bike the night before and was on his way to a friend's house to go riding when the accident happened.....thats just awful....hopefully all will be okay.

[SilveradoGirl]

Yesterday, what a day. Woke up, the sun was shining, thats a good day here( lately it has rained every day). First things first, I had to run to the bike shop and return my tinted visor for my new helmet, the guy gave me the wrong one, didn't fit. They didn't have the right one, so I'm ordering one from Dennis Kirk instead. The shop is about 35 miles away, and I am sick of running back and forth up there. Dennis Kirk will deliver to my doorstep for about the same price

We had plans that some friends of our were coming over in late afternoon for pizza and just to hang out for the evening. When we got back from the bike shop I looked at my bike, and looked at Bill and said " I really can't put this off any longer can I?" Yep, that's right, time for me to WASH the bike. It was pretty awful, almost embarrising So, out came the bucket, the rags, the towels, the whole shabang....and I scrubbed, and polished and rinsed, (how bugs got splatted on the air cleaner cover and some of the other spots they were splatted on I'll never know) and after about an hour and a half, she was gleming in the sun.

Now Bill's bike looked bad compared to mine, so he backed his out to the driveway and an hour later his was shining as best it could too. We both looked at the time and it was like 2:50.....Bill told our friends anytime after 3:00 they were welcome over, so now we didn't have time for a ride Next thing I know Bill is on the phone (he hates the phone) and then he looks at me asks why I don't have my helemt on yet. I said cuz our friends are coming over. Nope, he took care of that, they won't be over til 5:00pm

I don't think I geared up that fast ever! Off we were!! WOOHOO. Bill thought we would go zipping around the neighborhood, stick to town, less bugs to clean off again later.Well, ya see, the only problem with that is....he lets me lead. We went out for about an hour hour and a half....went out on some back county roads....across 2 different lakes. WOW, that was awesome. I never took my bike over that one bridge, and it was amazing! The bridge arches up in the middle so when you get to the top its like all you can see is water everywhere, its breathtaking. The road leading to the bridge is all curvy and more or less a fill so water right up tp the guardrails...it was the best ride ever. It was rather windy though...whitecaps on the water, but I just didn't want to go home after I saw that...so I led us to the next lake down the road When we finally got back into town, we were on Main street, that leads to our road...and I was feeling awesome....I started to weave all the little marking and divots in the blacktop...just messing around with my bike, making sure I can handle it, you know. I look in my review mirror, Bill is behind me mimicking my moves. It was hilaroius....Then two Bikers were coming towards us, and they started too....A scooter came up behind Bill a few blocks later and next thing I knew I had a trail of people behind me playing follow the weaving leader...It was so funny.

The whole weaving thing is funny if you know the MSF class story behind it. I took the Rider's Edge class, sponsored by Harley Davidson, and we rode Buell Blasts. Awesome little bikes. Well when it came time for the weaving exercise I had it down pat, and me and another guy in class were kinda doing what Bill and I were. We played follow the leader and exaggeratted our moves. we both has smiles a mile wide. Our instructor said he could actually see the lightbulb turn on when we got it. The last day of class they handed out funny little awards and noted stuff that had happened during our 4 day course. Well, Me and the other guy got a certificate naming us the "Weaving Wonders" of class. Bill thought is was cute and it is framed up in our house now for all to see on my wall.....so yesterday, I reclaimed my title as weaving wonder, and brought Bill into my world too

[KarateChick]

[SilveradoGirl]

After tons of research, I decided to try out "New Enough" for my tinted visor instead of Dennis Kirk. I've heard a lot about them from here, and they have been recommended more than once. I of course have a shopping compulsion as my boyfriend would say, and couldn't buy just one. In reality, I couldn't make up my mind which visor I wanted and HE said, just get them both. I think he was just sick of listening me yap on and on trying to make up my mind.

So, Monday morning I placed my order for a silver rst mirror visor, and a dark smoke visor. I have an HJC CL-Max helmet (the flip up). I'll get a pic up here someday, but for now, I can tell you it is the "element 5" it is black with silver and white graphics.

Yesterday, Thursday, as we were eating lunch, the doorbell rang, and WOW, there was my package from "New Enough". I am kinda cheap, so I sprung for the USPS shipping option, not UPS or FedEx. I figured a week minimum to get here, and BAM, there it was 3 days later. So I opened it up, checked out the visors, they were the right ones. After lunch I went out and got my helemt and popped on the mirrored visor. I gotta tell you , it looks HOT!! Hope it stays that way for a while (meaning I hope it doesn't scratch up too easily). Of course now, I have to buy a bag or some kinda storage for my visors. I have 3 of them now, and don't want them scratched up or dusty. Hmmmm..sounds like more shopping!!

[SilveradoGirl]

Hi all...had an AWESOME ride last night. I work second shift, 2pm-10pm, so does Bill. When we got home from work, I asked Bill if he wanted to go out for a ride. I was hot and miserable from work, and I knew that would cheer me right up. He was of course up for that idea.

So the lunch coolers got tossed inside and we grabbed our helmets and off we went. Like I said I was hot from work, so I figured a ride would help cool me off. WOW did it ever. I kinda under dressed, ended up freezing my butt off , but hey, it was well worth it.

I got new work boots, and before I took the bike to work, wanted to go for a spin to make sure they work all right. they aren't the best. Don't fit under shift lever too well, and I'm not real fond of the heel toe shifter, but I'll use it more now I guess. We rode out to the place where I work. It has a VERY steep entrance, and I was afraid to take it on the bike for the first time with everyone watching before work. This way it was just Bill and I, so if I dump it, no one is the wiser. Well, I gotta tell you, it looks wayyyy steeper in the car, cuz I went right up it and had no problems leaving either ....so now all my fears are gone about the boots and the driveway, so maybe I'll ride to work a few times. (gotta find a lunch cooler that fits in the saddle bags next though)

After we left my work we headed out into the country. I like riding at night, it is so peaceful. As we drove through low liying areas you could just hear the frogs going crazy...almost deafening. And WOW were those areas ever cold too! then you'd go up a hill and boom, warm again. It was so fun. We zipped around on back roads for about 20 miles or so, then I was just too cold. Guess I finally cooled off from work. So I headed back towards home. When we hit the old highway it was really weird. The whole night out in the country the air hitting me was cool, on the old highway it was a warm breeze against me. I liked that much better! But it was cold again when we went over the river leading into town. I love the smell of the water though.

Back in town and only a few miles from home we decided to zig zag a bit on residential streets. After all, in town, 25-35 mile an hour speed limit, made things much warmer for me. So we messed around a little bit then headed home. Once home we put the bikes in the garage, and headed inside for a snack and then bedtime. Was a GREAT ending to an otherwise miserable day at work. I love how a simple ride can change my whole mood!