Laconia 100TH

[RickT2004]

Heading up Thursday morning to check out the 100th. 

[ybnorml]

Have fun Rick...Ride safe and stay dry.....

[Tony C.]

I'm meeting my brother at 8:00 at the Hooksett Rest Area. Maybe we'll see you up there. 

[ybnorml]

I'm meeting my brother at 8:00 at the Hooksett Rest Area. Maybe we'll see you up there. 

Ditto for you and your brother Tony......

[Tony C.]

I'm meeting my brother at 8:00 at the Hooksett Rest Area. Maybe we'll see you up there. 

Ditto for you and your brother Tony......

Thanks Terry!

[ybnorml]

 

I'm meeting my brother at 8:00 at the Hooksett Rest Area. Maybe we'll see you up there. 

Ditto for you and your brother Tony......

Thanks Terry!

[Wall]

Tony did you miss that mess on 495 this morning? Holy crap!

[Tony C.]

Tony did you miss that mess on 495 this morning? Holy crap!

No I didn't.

Got up at 4:45. Put on the news mostly for WX and traffic. I learned that a tractor-trailer rolled over on 495 north bound in Chelmsford, just south of the rest area. They way they reported it, I thought it might be cleared by the time I hit that section. It didn't clear.

Traveling north on 495, I hit traffic at 119 in Littleton. I wasn't too concerned because this is typical bad traffic spot (I commuted on 495 to Westford and Acton for over 20 years). But when I crested the hill, I saw nothing but traffic. I turned on WBZ AM radio for the traffic report and sure enough, it was still the tractor trailer roll over being cleared. It was stop and go for over 30 minutes.

Usually it's 1.5 hours from my house to the Hooksett rest area. Today it was slightly over 2 hours. My bladder was just about ready to burst when I got to the rest area.

I figured my brother would also be late.  He got stuck on route 2 east bound getting to 495, then stuck again going north. He stopped at the rest area in Chelmsford to phone/text me. Checked my phone and at the Hooksett rest area and learned he's not coming. His GPS said he wouldn't get to Hooksett until 9:30. I tried to call him but couldn't reach him. Called him when I got to Weirs Beach. He was already home.

I got to Weirs about 9:40 and it was packed! I was able to get a spot because somebody else was leaving. It was a zoo up there. And a very loud one at that. I had enough by 12:30 and headed to the Speedway. It was also packed. I've never seen more bikes there.

I guess COVID is over because the Canadians are back. Saw bikes from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Rick T also rode up. I didn't see him, but he texted that he also got stuck in the 495 mess.

You can almost always count on a bad experience on 495, especially between the Mass Pike and I-93. I stayed off 495 on the way home. Took back roads and smelled the roses.

Between the traffic, the zoo up in Laconia and being by myself, it wasn't a good Laconia experience. I miss the Good Ole' Days.  

[ybnorml]

Well Tony, that's a trio of misfits if ever there were one !!
Times are a changing my friend....
Traffic seems to suck all the way around, glad you were able to avoid any mishaps...
I bet the Broken Spoon just up the road was a zoo also....

P.S.    Don't suppose you had lunch at the Road House, did ya ??   

[Tony C.]

Well Tony, that's a trio of misfits if ever there were one !!
Times are a changing my friend....
Traffic seems to suck all the way around, glad you were able to avoid any mishaps...
I bet the Broken Spoon just up the road was a zoo also....

P.S.    Don't suppose you had lunch at the Road House, did ya ??  

Didn't have lunch at the Road House. I peaked in and did not see any lovely young ladies selling Budweiser products. Not sure if they've come back post-COVID.

I rode by the Road House on the way to the Speedway. It was rockin' and very busy. Not really fun going their alone, so I passed.

Links below to more Laconia memories. Lots of good times over the years.  

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8JTetEPY1dDd8PonemJcXx?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1300587347

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n92SgfINrkDoKQYgpXC6Li-?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1300586986

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8Qfa4X6E_BdBmNk1Wxhg3E?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1300586976

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n_mnju4xAijWgwDv7HwROuB?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1308269696

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n-71f7OfNDzUwKoBiTOsRrB?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1529023446

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n9vnH_kIY-6lMMJtzyz89ED?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1529023445

[ybnorml]

Thanks for the look back Tony...   

[Dan-bury]

I took some time off and rode up Monday. Never went to Weirs only the Speedway specifically to test ride the Road Glide Limited and the Pursuit.
Rolled in at 9am to a very quiet almost empty parking area. Walked over to Indian and asked what time the demo's started. The girl said we are set up now so if you would like you can go now.  We (I rode up with 3 others but only one test rode with me)   jumped on 2 Pursuits and off we went.
I had ridden the Roadmaster at Americade the week before and did not care for it but this Pursuit was a different feel.  The fixed fairing worked well and the Nav. was up higher in my line of sight. I never cared for the Batwing Fairing as it is just feels to close to me. 
Then over to HD for the Road Glide. Still no crowds so we jumped right on 2 CVO Road Glides.
I wish I could have had them change the seat for a better demo but the seat had a 3" pad sewn into the seat back and had a backrest I could not adjust and had me almost sitting on the Tank. The demo ride was about 20 min long and I couldn't wait to get off and try a different Road Glide with a normal seat.  So once back the crowds started but we were still able to get on a Limited for a better comparison.
Indian was still fairly slow at the demos so we jumped on 2 different Pursuits and rode off again for a direct back to back comparison. 
The HD is much better at handling and feels lighter but the Indian rides sooo smoooth. 
I wanted the HD to win me over but the Indian just had more of the options that I feel I would miss after riding a Wing.
Time will tell which way I go when I decide to sign on the dotted line.....
 

[GaryC]

So many nice bikes, difficult choices.

[Dan-bury]

For sure Gary.   

[Tony C.]

For sure Gary.   

Ditto Gary's comments. Cruiseman did a comparison video of the Pursuit vs the Gold Wing. The video is long (24 minutes) but thorough. Thought you might find it interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=338UoOpGLYA

[Dan-bury]

Thanks Tony, I did see Cruisemans video. The only real missing piece in my puzzle is I have not yet ridden  a new Wing.  Maybe I am deep down waiting for Honda to make a new Valkyrie Interstate, even though I know it will never happen.. 

[Tony C.]

Agree. Honda isn't bringing back the Valkyrie Interstate.

If you can't find a dealer that allow test rides, maybe you could talk to Gary. This is his 6th season riding the new Wing. He could comment on it compared to the previous generation.

I know he likes the new Wing, but I think Deb likes it even more. That's why he bought it.  

What I can tell you is:

The seat is not as good as the previous generation and most people replace it. Gary has a Corbin and Raybo has an Russel Day Long. I still have the stock seat. I bought motorcycle underwear with built in pads for days with long hours in the saddle. It helps a bit.

The handle bar position does not work for everyone. Gary and Raybo both have Helibars risers. Others have purchased a Helibars set up that complete replaces the stock handle bars and provides complete customization. Pricey. I have the stock. They work fine for me.

The engine is not quite as smooth as the previous generation. You can sometime feel a little buzz in the bars at speed. This is fixed with after market bar ends. I don't have them, though.

Storage space in no longer an issue when Honda increase the size of the trunk in 2020.

Gas tank is 1/2 gallon smaller but mileage has improved. I've got as high has 59.1 mpg on a ride on country roads with speeds between 35 and 50 mph.

I have the manual transmission. The clutch pull is much lighter than the Valkyrie and it shifts very smoothly. I think Honda sells more DCTs versions than clutch. Gary's got the DCT.

As you know the section of the GL1800 board about the 2018+ Wing also provides plentiful additional information on the pros and cons of the new Wing.

 

[RickT2004]

Left Johnston RI at 7:15 and arrived at Weirs at 10:45. That is not more than a three hour ride. Took 495 back and it was another horror show. bridge work around route 2 has 3 lanes down to 2. That amounted to another 4 hours home. Would have been quicker on back roads but didn't know about south bound mess. It was the 100th so I went but probably never again.