Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ZooTech wrote:As for camping, if the thought of roughing it with my redneck family worries you that much ( ) there is supposedly some good camping along the Triple-Nickel itself.

Yeah, your "redneck" family is less of a concern and me being a baby about it being cold or rainy is a bigger one. Plus the whole sleeping on the ground and getting sore before a big ride. I think for now I'm leaning towards having you bring the tent. I'd like to stay in a hotel, but I know that is not a reasonable expense for me at this time.

Well, there is a cabin down there...it's just a matter of how many people decide to sleep in it, too (making it impossible to stay asleep). I'm currently researching the easiest and cheapest way to put a tent in the back of my truck along with an air mattress. The one from GM is $189.00, but I might be able to come up with a make-shift version until one of those can be had.

Unfortunatly I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make this. Its going to depend on somethings that happen this week, and I probably wont know until thursday or so. I'll keep you guys updated.

Well...I'm sorry to say I'm going to bail now. I was really hoping we could get some more folks from this site on this ride, but it seems it is not really in the cards this time around. Loonette wasn't going to be coming because of her Mom being here this weekend, and she didn't want to leave her alone the whole weekend with our kids. I've decided since it will be a chance for her and I to ride a short ride or two closer to home, I'm going to do that instead. We really couldn't afford the gas and I need to keep the miles down on my bike until I can get my valves checked.

So let's try this again in the spring and maybe we can get more people to commit then.

It's all good, guys. The intensions were good, life just got in the way is all. We'll plan out further ahead next time and try in the Spring like Scan said. There's also the annual "ROTR" (Ride on the Ridge) in the Blueridge Mountains which is done by the Kawasaki guys from the Mean Streak forum I belong to. Next year will be ROTR-6, and it sounds like a hoot! Different from most bike-weeks because this one covers some decent mileage and a couple of states. I'm gonna count on goin' if anyone else is game.

Yea, I'm sorry this didnt work out. As it turns out I DEFINATLY would not have been able to make it, because I have to be around to show my house to potential renters on Saturday.

I'm definatly up for something in the spring, or even possibly in October. I cant let be done with touring just yet this year...

I might end up down on the blue ridge for a weekend.

-Holiday wrote:I'm defiantly up for something in the spring, or even possibly in October. I cant let be done with touring just yet this year...

I might end up down on the blue ridge for a weekend.

I wanted to say - Good one! - on your new avatar.

I'm never done riding, but there is no saying how much distance I'll put in during the colder riding season. I can say this; long rides "happen" in the off season, but are much harder to plan. Those days just show up and you grab them.

With all that said, I'm in a holding pattern for any overnight stuff, as money is especially tight at the moment. I will start thinking of some "next season" plans though soon. It seems good to set any intentions early.

scan wrote:

-Holiday wrote:I'm defiantly up for something in the spring, or even possibly in October. I cant let be done with touring just yet this year...

I might end up down on the blue ridge for a weekend.

I wanted to say - Good one! - on your new avatar.

ha, thanks. I found a bunch of old black and white motorcycle pics to make into cool avatars. Down time at work has its benefits

scan wrote: I'm never done riding, but there is no saying how much distance I'll put in during the colder riding season. I can say this; long rides "happen" in the off season, but are much harder to plan. Those days just show up and you grab them.

With all that said, I'm in a holding pattern for any overnight stuff, as money is especially tight at the moment. I will start thinking of some "next season" plans though soon. It seems good to set any intentions early.

I have plans to ride as much as possible this year, but its going to be a bit of a test for me as I've never really ridden through the entire winter. Last year my nighthawk went down with a clutch issue in late october and I didnt bother fizing it until it was warm enough outside again to do so.

This year, I expect the Bandit to stay in shape, and I'm installing heated grips, and maybe even some of those hand guards you see on dirt bikes to save your hands from bushes..i've seen it done before and it didnt look bad. Aside from that I'm looking into heated vests, and winter weight riding pants.
I'm really not sure how long my carbed engine is going to run in the extreme cold though, especially because I dont have a garage to store the bike in this year..

This weekend was looking iffy for me too. I hadn't yet found anyone to watch the kids and Darcy has to work Saturday night.

Scan, I may be up for some of them short local rides you were mentioning. Sound cool? Let me know and I'll see what I can work out.

t_bonee wrote:This weekend was looking iffy for me too. I hadn't yet found anyone to watch the kids and Darcy has to work Saturday night.

Scan, I may be up for some of them short local rides you were mentioning. Sound cool? Let me know and I'll see what I can work out.

I'll keep you posted. I need to talk to Loony.