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I have the same exact bike as you Zarakand even down to the color. Only thing I don't like about it is it's a little buzzy over 50 mph.

ZooTech wrote: All in all, I'm still glad we went. I like to say I've at least been to Chicago...you know...been there, done that.

Yeah I understand, that's my sole reason for wanting to go to South Dakota to say I've been to Mt. Rushmore. Plus, it looks very cool in all the photo's I've seen.

MrGompers wrote: I have the same exact bike as you Zarakand even down to the color. Only thing I don't like about it is it's a little buzzy over 50 mph.

Don't you love it? I don't notice the buzziness till 75/80. The only two complaints I have is at that speed I don't have any oomph of power to overtake anyone if I need to, and the small gas tank. Other than that it's a great bike.


So yesterday was a long riding day. A few days ago a friend of mine had purchased a GSXR-1000 through E-Bay, and was very excited about the move up from a GSXR-600 that he'd been riding for 3 years. The bike was in Northwest Indiana, about a 100 miles from Chicago. Sounds like a fun ride, the weather's not too bad right around 50. So Sunday morning I give him a call, asking him to wait for me because I'll follow his brother and him in the car there and ride back with him.

Well let me tell you my friends, 50F is wonderful riding weather on the streets, but if you're going on the interstate it's FLUBBING freezing! It's not like I wasn't wearing quite a few layers. I had the thermals, a long sleeve shirt, a fleece, and then my leathers. Though I think the weak points were the gloves, those holes always seem to suck all the heat out of my body.

On our way there we decided since it was Sunday might as well cut take the main expressway 90/94. Unfortunately we'd forgotten they'd just started a major construction project on the Dan Ryan closing half of it down for the next year. Generally I tend to avoid the rush hour expressways, since I tend to make better times via alternative routes plus cagers are nuts when they're going 1mph. Not having any choice once we're stuck in the grind, we putt along alternating between spurts of 50 and a dead stop. Through it all, I got to practice my fist waving, cursing, honked at least 10 times for drivers who didn't see me, and all in all felt quite alive.

For those of you who're planning on riding to Chicago, once you're on your way out and if you're heading east this route is quite scenic as well. Within 5 miles the downtown buildings disappear, and the projects and factories rise up. For any of those interested in social change studies, parts of these projects are being torn down and high rise condo's are going up. The effects of gentrification are quite startling, and it looks like the slums out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. Saddening as well, since the people who're getting kicked out of the projects have no where to go, and were never offered any sort of education. Anyway, I know this could stir up quite a debate so back to motorcycling.

Finally, after about an hour of arm waving, toe curling traffic weaving, sailor esque cursing we made it onto the Skyway (a toll road connecting Indiana and Illinois), which is where the freeze began! Nothing all too exciting for the next 70 miles, quite boring actually and if I hadn't been freezing the whole ride I wouldn't even mention it.

Once we got to the guy's house that's where the fun began again. For some reason this guy does not believe in pavement, and his large circular drive was just gravel. Luckily, there were no spills it really was quite easy. The sight of it is much more intimidating than actually riding on it, though turning on it was more than a little scary!

Rode straight back home, and had a great time out riding my friend on all the ramps since he just wasn't familiar with his new bike. I'm sure this will only last a week or so. We decided to avoid the chaotic traffic jam that was the Dan Ryan, and rode through Lake Shore Drive. Coming up from the south side, once it gets into downtown it goes up, and then a hard right. I wish we'd stopped to take some pictures, but as you're riding it feels as though you're going straight into Lake Michigan when this curve pops up on you out of no where. Loads of fun.

Now in the garage we have 2 GSXR-600s, 2 Honda Shadow 600s, and of course the GSXR-1000. The pictures are funny, if only the neighbors knew of the treasure trove they could find in this garage.

The 1st GSXR-600. The other Shadow, and other GSXR-600.
The GSXR-1000 we just came back on, and it's lucky new owner.

And this is a really bad pic, didn't notice the flash didn't go off, but my bike along with the GSXR-1000.

This two car garage's quite full!

nice! i love gixxers.

i rode in freezing cold once... not fun!

but the scenery is great plus it was the 1st time i've seen snow in my life.

here's one pic from angeles crest highway, a great twisty mountain road ...when it's sunny.

Personally, I don't get the GSXR obsession. Then again not my ride, and my dough so who cares right? Though if I could buy a new bike today it'd be either a SV-650 or a the 750 Shadow Aero.

In any case, cold riding defintley can provide gorgeous scenery Verm, but I'm just not cut out for it! I'd rather hike through the scenery or bicycle at least then there's no crazy wind chill to deal with.

Buy some real gloves And keep posting, I like yer stories.

Sevulturus wrote:Buy some real gloves And keep posting, I like yer stories.

Hah! If I wasn't freezing the stories wouldn't have any excitement. Just like the upcoming "Snakes on a Plane" with Samuel L. Jackson, the theme of this blog is "Icicle on a Bike." This guy's got the right idea. All that's been missing from my ensemble is a scarf!

I'm for some riding, the weather's gorgeous partly cloudy 72 degrees but gusty winds at 25-35mph. Probably not going to go too far just cruise around the neighborhood...isn't that what we all say before we wind up in Alaska thinking about crossing the Beiring Straight? They really need to build a bridge...and with my scarf I'd be well prepared!

In any case I'm going to look for a new jacket; the current jacket's been great but quite loose now. Plus, I wouldn't mind something without blue on it! I put it on craigslist.com and on the for sale forum here. Hopefully it'll sell within a few days, and I'll be able to afford a new jacket!


No making fun of the flowerly blanket it's all the GF's idea. Stupid blankets...

Life's really odd, and things you don't expect to happen just do. 24 hours ago had anyone told me, "Saif, you're getting a new bike in a day" I'd have laughed. After all where the heck am I going to get the money for a bike? Student loans are going to start coming due rather shortly, and I still have to pay off my current bike.

Well, apparently I'm extremely lucky. I started the day off riding around the city with no particular destination in mind. After an hour or so I'm by Des Plaines Honda, and I decide to stop and ogle the bikes. I've always been curious as to the trade in value of my bike, so I inquire and they offer me a measly $2500. Not that I was expecting anything near a realistic deal, but it was still odd to hear it spoken out loud since I purchased mine for $5200 and it's an 05 with 6500 miles on it. As I'm talking to the sales manager, who'd done the appraisal, he asks what bike I'd trade it in for. Now, as much as I'd like to purchase an SV-650 or something a bit sportier for my next bike I just don't see that happening till I have the cash in hand. I'm a cheapskate And since I'm at a Honda dealership, they obviously don't stock Suzuki's.

In any case, I mention if I was to purchase a new bike from Honda it'd most likely be their Shadow Aero. It's slow at the dealership, and I'm enjoying talking to the gent (he had some great military stories) so I let him start talking prices. As I hear the prices, I let him know look there's no way I'm financing another bike and his prices are outrageous. Turns out he had a 2005 Shadow Aero with 1800 miles on it, that was $2000 less than a brand new one (freight set-up etc). Since I work in commission sales, and was genuinely enjoying talking to him I went along letting him do the paperwork. During the process I kept arguing about how ridiculous it would be for me to expect to accept a trade in value of $2500 since I could easily sell it for $4500. Well turns out he was amiable to negotiation on the trade-in value, and being in commission sales for a living it's always fun to hone your skills against a pro. I ended up getting him to agree to a trade in value of $4500 and a sale price on the '05 Shadow Aero 750 of $5200.

At this point I was a bit startled that I'd found myself at this interesting cross-roads. I'd enjoyed the test ride, and taken it for a 10 mile excursion around the city ranging from highway to local attempting to get a feel for the bike. Obviously I loved it! Finally I could cruise very comfortably on the expressway, and still have power to overtake someone if necessary. Not to mention that the ergonomics and handling were almost identical to my Shadow 600. There was also the hefty bonus of no longer having a tiny 2.9 gallon tank. So I could either go ahead with the trade-in and purchase a new bike, or walk away from a great deal.

Of course I bought it. Funnily enough, when I sat down to do the financing part of the deal things got even better. My credit had improved significantly since last March, and my new loan amount was $700 more than I currently owed. However, at a 6% lower interest rate and same monthly payment for the same term. It worked out very well, and considering I graduate in June hopefully start teaching in August my plan to pay the loan off by the end of the year is still very feasible. To cap it all off, the sales manager wants me to come back Monday to interview with the store owner for a sales position. I’m going to go in for the interview, but I’m not sure about working in bike sales. While I was there, I heard sales associates recommending 600 CBRs to first time riders…don’t think I could do that.

Course, now all that's left are the pics right? I'm not that thrilled about the change in color, but I'm ecstatic about the handling, comfort, and power. I didn't have time to do too much riding, since it's Easter weekend and only put on about 80 miles today. This coming week should be rather exciting! Did I mention that the 05 Shadow Aero was sold at the end of July, and so still has the 1 year orginal warranty till the end of this July?

Happy bikeday!

It looks like you and I are of a similar build, you might check out the Joe Rocket Alter Ego. I love mine. Does everyting from freezing to high temps (with the ability to turn it into a mesh jacket).

Congrats. Is that honda shadow aero 750 buzzy like the shadow 600 at speeds above 50 mph ? Hopefully, that buzziness is toned down with a bigger engine. I like that paint scheme.

congrats!