Lets hear your bad bike ride stories!

[fudgie]

We hear about folks good rides but not about the bad ones. Lets hear'm! I really never had a bad expirience that I can remember. Even when I dropped her twice in one night! Mine are either weather related or long rides. The worst ride I can think of is right at a year ago when I met Smokin Joe in TN to buy his trailer. It was cold, windy, and snowy when I left NE Ind. No sun till I hit TN. My plan was to ride back that night. I left at little after 7a and had the trailer and was headed back home by 3 or 4. It was nice and warm and green down there. Go north of Lexington and was cold again even with a face mask on. Sleet when I hit Ind. Rode another hour and stopped around 8p about 2 hours south of home. I was froze so rolled over to a resturaunt and warmed up with some whiskey. Rain with snow the rest of the way home that Sunday.

I left Sturgis in 06 solo around 11a for the return trip home. Went south to Wounded Knee and into NE. 110 deg the whole way. Was 3/4 the way through NE when I noticed it was a helmet state!  Don the lid and hit Iowa at midnight. Found the 1st rest stop and sprolled out on the picnic table. Well about 2a someone turned the sprinklers on! Ah hell a storm!  Grapped the mattress and sleeping bag and slept between the ladies and gents rest room. Rain blew on me the whole night but I slept so well. Got up at 8a, found a lady HD rider and we headed for Ind together.
I look at these as something not as bad memories but as learning expiriences. Sure I've had close calls but they never bothered me. I love to ride.

[sandy]

I rode 8,000 miles pulling my Roll-a-Home tent trailer. That had to be one of the wettest summers I can remember. It took 6 days to get to Philly from AZ and it rained all 6 days. Not much camping till later in the trip. I got to where I'd see a cloud and grit my teeth. My frustration with "asking directions" led me to get a GPS by the next summer.I guess us Zonies aren't use to being wet unless it's our own sweat.

[Momz]

Back in 1985 my buddy, his wife and I decided to tour Michigans upper peninsula. We left a noon on a saturday and didn't get five miles before the sky opened up and rained like never before, we pulled over and waited for at least an hour before it let up somewhat. (Should have taken that as a sign and just gone home.) Well that first day we made all of 185 miles before we found a muddy campsite to set up a soaked tent. The trip got worse from there. You have never known fear until you have crossed the Mackinaw Bridge in 34 degree weather, raining cats and dogs, wind gusts over 50 MPH, and the only lane open has slippery grateing and a semi-truck right on your rear fender.

Well to make a long story short,....it was cold and rained every day of the 10 days on our trip, except for one day, and we got snow flurries on that day (in mid August in Ontanagon).

On the last day of our trip and within 50 miles from home we pulled into a rest area on the expressway. And a minivan pulled upnext to us. As soon as the doors opened up we were insulted by a husband/wife/grandma about being low life biker types. How we had no business riding motorycles in the rain and endangering the lives of everyone on the highway. Screaming at us for not having the sense to not let children see us, as we were not fit to live in the same state. They called us every derogtory term that they could think of, and then wouldn't let their kids out of the minivan to use the toilets and started accusing us of being child molesters. The three of us just looked at each other and wondered what was wrong with them. The family in the minivan backed out and sped away. All three of us noticed the Christian symbol of a fish on the back of that minvan.

Ten days of bitter cold and rain, and now these idiots. The perfect end of the worst 3000 mile trip I've ever experienced. The ultimate trip to hell and back.

[Popeye]

On on trip to Colorado, stopped at a gas station, sky was very dark.  My buddy said we were real close to his friends place, won't need the rain gear.  Back out the highway, the skies opened up.  I thought we were driving under  Niagraa Falls. Never been is a downpour like that, so much rain. so fast.  We pulled over to put on the rain suits but it didn't really matter.  We were soaked and my buddy admitted he was lost.  We did make it to his friends house, about 1/2 hour later.

My boots were so wet I put them in the dryer. Made one helluva racket.


The view the next morning made it all worth it.  Love western Colorado, what a beautiful state.

[Oss]

July 4 2005 woke up in Lawrence Ks to a beautiful day. I had to be in Denver by dark (I dont see particularly well at nite) as Bonnie's plane was arriving by 9am so headed west on I-70.   Found out that the Kansas 500 was on the christian broadcasting network and settled in to listen to the pre race coverage while enjoying Kansas   Yeah its flat but I found it really nice, kinda like being on the ocean you can see forever,   and that lady driver  Dana Kirpatrick ? was doing real well that day, never listened to nascar on the radio  It was fun like listening to a baseball game you can use your imagination.

Well a few hours later I hear this beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep over the radio  Seems they have these tornado alerts that say if you are home get in the basement and if outside get shelter if in an open field lie down in a gully.  If you are Oss on the highway they didnt say nuthin so I kept riding and never saw nuthin scary cept BIG thunderheads off to my south, They were a spectacle to behold and I shoulda been thinkin they could come my way but was too dumb.

Sometime around noon I am just past Salina and I hear the beep again. I had just gotten gas and a pit stop and the radio alert said funnel clouds and softball sized hail in Salina WTH  I saw blue skies ahead but dark clouds on both sides of me so I leaned my head back and looked up while layin off the throttle and saw multiple funnels above and behind me but not one touching the ground. They was just hangin out up there but getting lower.  That was an interesting moment,

Closed the baker air wings and set the brakeaway at 95 mph and held on as loosly as I could with my legs down on the mickopegs while the rain and such started.  I did not let off for a solid hour and when I did my hands was froze stiff.  I sorta remember sayin something like "feet dont fail me now" only directed at my Valkyrie.  I have never again felt the need to run extended periods of time at that speed in the rain but have had to do triple digits to hang with Taz but thats another story for later in the trip while I was 2 up with Bonnie.

Anyhow I rested at the  rest area inside COlorado a spell and continued toward Limon

Approaching Limon I saw the most ferocious black thunderstorm clouds with long ass lightning strikes sky to ground I have ever seen and managed to pull into a gas station in Limon and waited an hour whilst the sky emptied itself out.  Some trucker I struck up a conversation with told me that the storm had now moved out and he had come from denver and now the road to Denver was clear so I saddled up after takin off the rain gear  BIG MISTAKE

At the underpass for 50 just a few miles away it started to rain hard and the wind picked up. Now I dont mean the 40 mph stuff you get all day this was monzo wind so I pulled under the overpass and tried to put on the frogg togg suspender pants but the wind was so high I fell down. Even lying down I couldnt get them on lol The bike was rocking so I sat on it but the wind was pushing me out of the underpass. It was so loud I have never heard anything like it other than a Who concert or having a Concorde jet fly over my car while sitting off the runway at Kennedy Airport.

I did believe there was a chance I was going to die that day alone in the empty land east of the rockies but was more scared what would happen if I wasnt at the airport to pick up Bonnie she would kill me for real sure not just maybe so took a deep breath or two and headed off toward Denver, with tumbleweeds bouncing off my half helmet and the bike

When I arrived at the hotel by the airport I couldnt let go of the bars. I needed someone to sign my name as I couldnt hold the pen. Later I called Bonnie (press 2 and hold for wife on the cell phone) and she told me the weather channel said the wind  was clocked 91mph at Limon as she was following my progress all day from her computer, She asked me if I knew there was like half a dozen tornadoes in Ks and I said uh huh I heard about that

I remember riding from Limon to almost the Denver line with the bike leaned around a 45 degree angle in the pouring rain and these double length trucks flyin by me at 80+  I never ran more than 50 as I couldnt see anything thru the rain and there was no place to pull over and no overpass for the whole distance

That trip was on new metzlers front and rear and I was impressed with the tires. I went thru some real crap with them and the only thing they dont like is oil on the road

I have crashed pretty good twice on oil but honestly was not scared either time. That independence day scared me good

Ride safe everyone

[Strider]

Ummm...not bad but interesting.

Late 60's - took a pig trail off of our normal trail in Tennessee (by Morristown) on a 70 and got on the side of the mountain that I couldn't get off of.  I was on the side of a mountain and everytime we (there were 3 of us) gave it gas, the bikes slid down the mountain towards the creek bed (Panther Creek). Put your feet down, give it a nudge and the bike would slide towards the creek.  I was grounded at the time and knew my daddy would snatch a knot in me if he knew I was riding instead of staying home.  Had to eventually park the bikes and walk out of the woods, hitch hike to the Honda/Yamaha shop and get a couple of guys who Motorcrossed for a living to give us a lift back and get our bikes out.  Too late getting home and got a whoppin' for being on the bike when I was grounded.

Early 70's - Bear and I were on our 750 and 550's and I got sideswipped by a school bus.  By the time I got stopped, Bear was beating on the door with his helmet telling the SOB to come out.  Later that day, I got a flat tire in the middle of a Louisiana swamp and Bear went back to get a truck to haul me back.  It was a Louisiana swamp - at dusk - back then - in the middle of nowhere and the skeeters ate me alive.  I swished my hands in front of my ears and eyes for 2 hours to keep them away and when he finally got there - I was nothing but one BIG SKEETER BITE!!!!!

Had a flat tire a few months later and called my mother and she borrowed my aun't's truck and came and got me - the same 550-4.  I got ready to roll the 550 up the ramp and my Mum wanted to help.  I told her that I had it, but as I was rolling the bike up the 2x4, she grabbed the pipes - right at the header - and I could hear the skin singe in her hands as she grabbed hold - I had been riding all day and the pipes were still hot.

Let's see - the riding back from DOTS, in the rain - when you have to pull over on the side of the road and hunker down cause you couldn't see a foot in front of you and PRAY somebody doesn't plow you down on the shoulder of the road - the ride back from the ride in Tennessee when you have to put a hot towel over your saddle to break up the ice - the 100 deg plus ride back from IZ in Colorado -the sleet and snow and rain from out west and out to Tucemcari - those are all normal rides.....Oh yeah - SPENCER MOUNTAIN, Tennessee when we held up in a church because of a rain in a community that didn't even have a town - Come to think of it - never had a bad ride!  Had some rides that stand out in my memory, but never a BAD one.  No, NEVER A BAD ONE!  Even the Spencer Mountain just makes your life that more interesting!!!!!!!!!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Ummm...not bad but interesting.

Late 60's - took a pig trail off of our normal trail in Tennessee (by Morristown) on a 70 and got on the side of the mountain that I couldn't get off of.  I was on the side of a mountain and everytime we (there were 3 of us) gave it gas, the bikes slid down the mountain towards the creek bed (Panther Creek). Put your feet down, give it a nudge and the bike would slide towards the creek.  I was grounded at the time and knew my daddy would snatch a knot in me if he knew I was riding instead of staying home.  Had to eventually park the bikes and walk out of the woods, hitch hike to the Honda/Yamaha shop and get a couple of guys who Motorcrossed for a living to give us a lift back and get our bikes out.  Too late getting home and got a whoppin' for being on the bike when I was grounded.

Early 70's - Bear and I were on our 750 and 550's and I got sideswipped by a school bus.  By the time I got stopped, Bear was beating on the door with his helmet telling the SOB to come out.  Later that day, I got a flat tire in the middle of a Louisiana swamp and Bear went back to get a truck to haul me back.  It was a Louisiana swamp - at dusk - back then - in the middle of nowhere and the skeeters ate me alive.  I swished my hands in front of my ears and eyes for 2 hours to keep them away and when he finally got there - I was nothing but one BIG SKEETER BITE!!!!!

Had a flat tire a few months later and called my mother and she borrowed my aun't's truck and came and got me - the same 550-4.  I got ready to roll the 550 up the ramp and my Mum wanted to help.  I told her that I had it, but as I was rolling the bike up the 2x4, she grabbed the pipes - right at the header - and I could hear the skin singe in her hands as she grabbed hold - I had been riding all day and the pipes were still hot.

Let's see - the riding back from DOTS, in the rain - when you have to pull over on the side of the road and hunker down cause you couldn't see a foot in front of you and PRAY somebody doesn't plow you down on the shoulder of the road - the ride back from the ride in Tennessee when you have to put a hot towel over your saddle to break up the ice - the 100 deg plus ride back from IZ in Colorado -the sleet and snow and rain from out west and out to Tucemcari - those are all normal rides.....Oh yeah - SPENCER MOUNTAIN, Tennessee when we held up in a church because of a rain in a community that didn't even have a town - Come to think of it - never had a bad ride!  Had some rides that stand out in my memory, but never a BAD one.  No, NEVER A BAD ONE!  Even the Spencer Mountain just makes your life that more interesting!!!!!!!!!

I would have bet money your story was going to end with the trip to InZane that ended in a PT Cruiser .

[Strider]

Gotta admit bro, going to IZ in a PT Cruiser wasn't the BEST RIDE I ever had! 

I just didn't know how to put that one into words! 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Gotta admit bro, going to IZ in a PT Cruiser wasn't the BEST RIDE I ever had! 

I just didn't know how to put that one into words! 

   Good answer

[Steven W.]

Coming home to Florida from a cross country trip, trying to avoid interstates.  I was somewhere northwest of Oklahoma City in the middle of nowhere, mostly sunny morning.  A few minutes later the sky just turned gray, then a few minutes later, blue sky in front of me, and the sky behind me was green, and the wind was blowing like I've never seen before.  Linda was on the back of the valk.  We hit 100 mph going south on county roads, found I-40 and hauled east at warp speed.  The storm was cutting across on my left, we went through Oklahoma City, at 90-100 mph, even passed a cop on a harley who was doing well over 80 and he just waved as we blew past.  About a mile or so later the storm cut us off and a semi about a mile or so in front of us just blew off the road and rolled into a field.  We stopped under a bridge and crawled up under it, the bike blew over, and we saw a farm silo tear across the field across from us.  Rain was horizontal.  Never saw a funnel, but heard it.  Found out later that a train parked a mile or so away had 4 cars tip over, several wrecks and lots of damage from a big tornado.  Linda was screaming "get me out of here", like that was an option!  We uprighted the bike when it passed to the south and we hauled into Arkansas at about 100 mph.  All in all the trip was great but those 2-3 hours seemed to last an eternity.

[sugerbear]

coming home from work 2 years ago. i-70 westbound. high wind coming from behind.
finally couldn't handle the bike in that wind, i pulled over, standing up, astride the bike, the wind was pushing me foreward.
i head over the c.b. "need some help there?"  a semi pulled in behind me almost touching the rear of the bike.
in that calm i was able to hold the bike. the wind lasted about 15 min(felt like and hour).
after it died down the trucker got out, came up, smiled, and said "been there, done that"
he'd been riding harleys for years and had been blown over a few times.
said he'd heard a tornado passed a mile or two away from us.
rode home and pulled the seat cover outta my backside!!
now i listen to the weather BEFORE heading out.LOL

[Master Blaster]

Comming back from one of the Inzanes up east in a flight of three, my youngest son ran over something on the Interstate about 40 miles north of Memphis, and rear tire went down.  No problem I have a plug kit and a compressor.  Found the hole, and plugged and aired, and about the time we geared back up and was ready to go it was flat again.  Discovered it had several holes.  Again no problem, I had roadside and towing, so called and in about 3 or 4 hours a truck showed up with a M/C trailer in tow.  This was on the weekend, and we knew that no dealer or shop was open, but yet again no problem, we remembered a Motel 6 we had stayed in once in Memphis, so got the tow to take us there.  Only problem is to driver is high as a kite, but anyhoo after we got it loaded and tied down he got us there.  By this time it is about 1 AM, and we didnt notice what all was going on untill we got unloaded and the driver left.  What was going on was there was street walkers strutting their stuff, bad looking dudes circling in their pimp cars, and when we tried to get in the motel the door was locked.  A Cop was on duty inside and opened the door a crack and said there is no vacancy here.  He looked very scared, and ducked back in and locked the door.  By this time there were several pimp cars massing across the parking lot, and a bunch of rough looking dudes were getting out and looking our way and was plain they discussing what to do about us.  This was on the north side, and we had discovered by now the motel we had remembered was on the south side.  Well we decided to try something desperate, and John got on and started the bike with the flat,  while he was doing that I was airing the tire, as soon as it was up he gunned and ran, we followed.  The baddies were starting to move our direction across the parking lot.  John had got about a mile before it went flat again, and we repeated the air and run untill we got into a safe part of town.  Believe me, I was a happy camper to get out of that situation.  Next day I rode home, got the truck and trailer and went back and picked up the son and bike.  Man that was a long trip home.

[Bagger John - #3785]

On the last day of our trip and within 50 miles from home we pulled into a rest area on the expressway. And a minivan pulled upnext to us. As soon as the doors opened up we were insulted by a husband/wife/grandma about being low life biker types. How we had no business riding motorycles in the rain and endangering the lives of everyone on the highway. Screaming at us for not having the sense to not let children see us, as we were not fit to live in the same state. They called us every derogtory term that they could think of, and then wouldn't let their kids out of the minivan to use the toilets and started accusing us of being child molesters. The three of us just looked at each other and wondered what was wrong with them. The family in the minivan backed out and sped away. All three of us noticed the Christian symbol of a fish on the back of that minvan.

My guess? Wifey got caught having an affair with one of those "biker types". You know the old saying about a reformed sinner...

Nowadays, that kinda shiite is prime YouTube material... 

[Hoser]

A long time ago.  Had a 71 CB750 4, single, usually went home to see my folks on weekends.  200 mile round trip.  Nice day, sun shining, late June.  This was during the first gas shortage in the early 70's.  They closed most the gas stations on Sundays, 5 gallon limit on Saturdays.  Had an enjoyable weekend with the folks, stayed overnight Saturday, headed home Sunday night.  It was 100 miles to home, and I forgot to get Gas Saturday night!  I took off, knew I  would need gas, but thought I would find someone open on the interstate.  Not happenning!  Stopped at every station, drained all the hoses of leftover gas that didn't get pumped, about a pint or less each time.  Took half the night to get home.  To top it off the last 25 miles were in a Kansas thunderstorm, with hail and rain, COLD rain.  No helmet, no Jacket, no windshield.  Didn't say I was a pertikerly smart Young Man!       Hoser 
 

[RP#62]

One year the wife an I rode our bikes from Pittsburgh down to the Hoot.  This was in '97 when the Hoot was still in Asheville and I had just got my Valk.  Anyway, had a great time there and for coming back, the plan was to ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway, take the backroads from there to Wytheville, VA, then head up I-77 to US 19 and arrive in Summersville WV around 8 or 9 o'clock and spend the night.  I knew there were plenty of hotels in Summersville.

Everything went to plan, but what I didn't know was that there was a Bluegrass festival going on in Summersville and there was not a hotel room to be had.  So after spending about an hour trying to find a place, we said to hell with it and got back on the road.  I told my wife we'd stop at the next town and see what we could find there.  We'll, if you look at a map of WV, you'll see an area right in the middle that looks to be the least populated.  Thats what we were riding in to.

On top of this, it was now pitch black, but on the plus side, we were dry and warm.  That was about to change.  We had gone several miles and hadn't seen any sign of civilization when I started to smell that smell.  You know how you can smell rain for some time before it actually rains, well that smell was getting stronger and about that time, there was a huge flash in front of us and the whole sky lit up.  I just knew, we were about to get drenched.  Our luck held out though and a little further up the road I saw one of those little blue hotel symbols flash by in the gloom and we turned off at the next "town".  

Birch River WV had a gas station, a collection of small clapboard houses and a six unit hotel.  My wife said I don't know about this, and I said looks perfectly dry to me.  I went inside and for $19 we now had a place for the night. It was nothing special mind you, but I have to say, it was clean.  

We were standing in the doorway to our room looking back at the bikes debating whether to unpack and cover them or just get what we needed, when we heard this huge roar - it sounded like a freight train.  I walked out in the parking lot to try to see what it was and was finally able to make out what looked like Niagara Falls making its way across the highway and towards the parking lot.  There wasn't time to do anything with the bikes and before we knew it we were enveloped in the worst wind and rain I had ever seen.  

We watched the wind pick my wife's Virago up an inch or so off the kick stand and set it back down a couple of times and figured we should move the bikes up close to the side of the building.  We did and they were fine, but it rained like that all night.  From the time we had turned off the highway until the time the rain hit was about 5 minutes.  Had that little town not been there, I don't know what we would have done.  There would have been no cover on the highway.  The next morning was beautiful - the air crisp and clean and we had a nice ride home.  We found out later that that same storm had flooded most of SE Ohio earlier in that day.

-RP

[Bagger John - #3785]

I've been in hot...cold...wet...wet and cold...storms, hail, you name it. Of the three tornadoes I've personally witnessed in my life, two have been while on the bike. I once rode under one and smack-dab into the hail shaft which preceeded it...

Most uncomfortable rides?

2003...when Crossroads Cycle in PA (19 and 108) was still open. Me and Blondie took the I/S over on a rather hot July day...met up with Trap...did a little shopping and tire kicking...then went for a ride up 8, 62, 6 and so forth. Managed to get stuck in every friggin' small town's parade traffic along the way; we're both sweating to death...

Finally got headed west on 6, back to Ohio and began dodging thunderstorms for the next several hours. We didn't get home until after dark. 350 miles of stop and go traffic is MUCH harder on one's arse than 350 miles of riding the slab...

2004...Homecoming...even when fitted with an Ultimate Big Boy seat, my Tourer began to get quite uncomfortable. What saved the day is the purchase of a "Butt Buffer" slip-over gel pad. Neither I nor Blondie will leave on a long ride without taking one.

2008...Drove to Joisey to pick up Blondie's "new" '99 Tourer. Its second owner hadn't fitted the OEM windshield to it so a little time was spent attaching the thing for the 500-mile return trip. A little more time should have been spent swapping the bike's Corbin seat out for the Ultimate which I had taken with us. As it stood...thank the Lord for 70 degree days and medicinal wonders such as Advil. Without a dose of the stuff every couple of gas stops, there's no way in heck that I would have made it back to Ohio. That particular seat had to have been designed by St. Torquemada (Google him) but Blondie likes it just fine.

Go figure...

[Hoser]

We hear about folks good rides but not about the bad ones. Lets hear'm! I really never had a bad expirience that I can remember. Even when I dropped her twice in one night! Mine are either weather related or long rides. The worst ride I can think of is right at a year ago when I met Smokin Joe in TN to buy his trailer. It was cold, windy, and snowy when I left NE Ind. No sun till I hit TN. My plan was to ride back that night. I left at little after 7a and had the trailer and was headed back home by 3 or 4. It was nice and warm and green down there. Go north of Lexington and was cold again even with a face mask on. Sleet when I hit Ind. Rode another hour and stopped around 8p about 2 hours south of home. I was froze so rolled over to a resturaunt and warmed up with some whiskey. Rain with snow the rest of the way home that Sunday.

I left Sturgis in 06 solo around 11a for the return trip home. Went south to Wounded Knee and into NE. 110 deg the whole way. Was 3/4 the way through NE when I noticed it was a helmet state!  Don the lid and hit Iowa at midnight. Found the 1st rest stop and sprolled out on the picnic table. Well about 2a someone turned the sprinklers on! Ah hell a storm!  Grapped the mattress and sleeping bag and slept between the ladies and gents rest room. Rain blew on me the whole night but I slept so well. Got up at 8a, found a lady HD rider and we headed for Ind together.
I look at these as something not as bad memories but as learning expiriences. Sure I've had close calls but they never bothered me. I love to ride.

  Did ya learn anything from the Harley lady between the rest stop and Indy?  Inquiring minds want to know!    hoser

[fudgie]

We hear about folks good rides but not about the bad ones. Lets hear'm! I really never had a bad expirience that I can remember. Even when I dropped her twice in one night! Mine are either weather related or long rides. The worst ride I can think of is right at a year ago when I met Smokin Joe in TN to buy his trailer. It was cold, windy, and snowy when I left NE Ind. No sun till I hit TN. My plan was to ride back that night. I left at little after 7a and had the trailer and was headed back home by 3 or 4. It was nice and warm and green down there. Go north of Lexington and was cold again even with a face mask on. Sleet when I hit Ind. Rode another hour and stopped around 8p about 2 hours south of home. I was froze so rolled over to a resturaunt and warmed up with some whiskey. Rain with snow the rest of the way home that Sunday.

I left Sturgis in 06 solo around 11a for the return trip home. Went south to Wounded Knee and into NE. 110 deg the whole way. Was 3/4 the way through NE when I noticed it was a helmet state!  Don the lid and hit Iowa at midnight. Found the 1st rest stop and sprolled out on the picnic table. Well about 2a someone turned the sprinklers on! Ah hell a storm!  Grapped the mattress and sleeping bag and slept between the ladies and gents rest room. Rain blew on me the whole night but I slept so well. Got up at 8a, found a lady HD rider and we headed for Ind together.
I look at these as something not as bad memories but as learning expiriences. Sure I've had close calls but they never bothered me. I love to ride.

  Did ya learn anything from the Harley lady between the rest stop and Indy?  Inquiring minds want to know!    hoser

Well yes. Want to see the pix? Kidding! Not as well as I woulda if I was single! 
When we 1st met she asked how fast I rode. 75-80. Well I been doing 100 mph.  Sure my Valk can do it! Wow I had to stop in Des Moines cause my stuff was blowing loose! After that it was 90-100 the whole way to Ind. She was a Wall Street advisor who was unhappy with the job and was taking a few months off to travel Europe. She flew to OK or KS to pick up the wide glide and went to Sturgis and now headed home to NY but had to stop in W Ind to see some friends. She was close to me in age, early 30's, and single. I was a good guy since I met Kit a month ago prior. And after last Sat, I now know how she fights I'm glad I was a good boy! She fights like a dude, none of this slap'n and clawing stuff!  But back to the HD chic, I was nice riding with someone like that. Made that trip one of the best.

[stormrider]

Only got @ 35k miles in since started back ridin 3 years ago. And no bad rides. Honey and I were on the way home from Smith's Station with another group and tried to get them to go with us to Marilyn's to grub on the all you can eat shrimp. No one else took us up on it so we split off on our own. About 15 miles before we got there we saw the rain in time to stop and put on our frog skins. As we got to the tiny community of Haleburg, we got blasted with all kinds of wind, rain and just as we pulled under the shed of an abandoned station the hail came. Lightening was striking all around continuously, wind blowing rain sideways from the north then the south. We were never in fear, just in awe at such a spectacular light show. We did stay close to Honey B to keep her from getting blown over. It lasted for about 30-40 minutes. As the rains subsided we made our way on to Marilyn's and pigged out. When we talked to some of the others that had ridden with us earlier, they went straight home and didn't see any rain. They sure missed out.

What could've been a bad day turned out to be a blessing. Was on the way to the Fall Color Ride in Oct 07. Left the house in torrential rain. Got to Troop County Ga when the rain slacked off to a drizzle. They hadn't had any rain for months. So the drizzle caused sludge to creep across the road creating the baby poop effect. I was headed around a curve to the left, yet slid out on my right. Who knows? Got the bike up and rode another 100 miles before giving it up. I couldn't put any weight on my right leg. I guess it was bad in that I couldn't ride home, had to trailer her back. Good thing is I was 10 miles from where the guy lives I bought here from. Gave him a call, he came picked me and the bike up, trailed her to LaGrange where we met my wife and son with my trailer. So it was good in that someone was so kind to do that for us. And he wouldn't let me even pay for his gas. And the only injury was a cracked bone in the joint of my knee. It did however require surgery. Hey the engine guards did their job.

[Big IV]

I've ridden over 2 hunderd thousand miles on one bike or another. I've only had 2 bad miles.
One left me looking in the back of a stopped truck the hard way. The other left my head wedged against a van tire after I slid down on ice.
I've had bikes leave me in Daytona. Lost the brakes in Myrtle Beach and rode home without the rear half of them on an XS11. I broke down on the honeymoon in scenic Seneca, SC for the last few days of the honeymoon.
We just have to roll with it.

[2tonevalk]

Last Labor Day, we rode the BRP north to south with Smokin Joe and the folks.  The ride on the Parkway was great .  We got to Cherokee and no rooms to be had .  We had to go to a second town and found a room to stay in.
Glenda's daughter and family came to meet us in Cherokee to pick her up as I was heading to Arkansas alone the next day.  I got up early and headed out Labor Day Monday.  I decided to go overland and pick up I-40.   Thinking everyone was at the beach and not in the mountains was my down fall.    I headed over from Cherokee to Gatlinburg/Sevierville.  I rode in the blazin hot sun, one car length at a time , about 20 miles getting thru town and to the interstate.
I finally got on I-40 and headed west.  I started making some good time  when all of a sudden traffic stopped again .  I rode about 8 miles one car length at a time again.  I finally got to the next off ramp.  I rode the shoulder for a half mile to get off the interstate.  Thank goodness I had my GPS and saw an alternate route to get around the traffic stop.  I rode 10 miles on a parallel road and got to the interstate again.  It was clear so I hit it again after gassing up at the Pilot station.  My next pit stop, I happened upon some "crotchrocketeers" who were heading west like me.  They said the hold up was an overturned dirt truck.  They had to not only upright the truck but get the dirt off the road before traffic could go on.  So the big hold up was waiting on the loader and another truck to get there to get the dirt off the road.
From that point on, I was able to breeze on in to Arkansas.  I made it to mom's house around 1 am.  I had a great time on the visit.
Looking back it was not really a "bad" ride, it was just one of those "eventful" ones. 
 

[Bob E.]

Back when I was in college, my uncle says to me..."You know, there is no such thing as bad sex.  If you look back to the absolute worst sex you ever had, if you think about it, it really wasn't all that bad."  I'd say riding motorcycles is alot like that.

[~ Timbrwolf]

...back in the early 90,s


....I was in Real Estate at the time, and spent most of my nights and weekends, at the gym, either working out or playing Racquet Ball....guess you could say I was addicted to Racquet Ball back then. I started hanging out with some "regulars", that I played with. Almost every night you could go to the gym, go down stairs to the courts and there was always someone looking for a game. After a while we got a little ritual going on Fridays nights, meet at the club for some intense games...shower up...then head out to the Jug handle Bar, a place that was famous for it,s hot wings.



It was during this time in my life that I got to know a guy that went by the name of Bobby.....but most called him "Brownie"...cuz his last name was Browne. Bobbie was a great guy, and a hell of a racquetball player. He had this little trick corner shot, that could send you scambling for the corner full speed, in some hopeless manuver, that you prayed just might make a return. More times then not...you,d wrench a few muscles in your back, or just slam into the corner at full speed.....the ball slowly rolling out from between your legs....behind you. He,d laugh and had this little gleam in his eye....but it was all in good sport....you see thats the way Bobbie was....a good sport.



Well, I was riding my fathers big ol Gold Wing at the time, he had passed and my mom gave it to me. One night we were headed out to the parkinglot and when he saw I was getting on the Wing, he was surprised and told me that he had a BMW, and loved to ride. We rode a few times, but most of our time together, was either at the gym or the bar, and I never rode when I was drinking. One night we were downstairs at the bar, shooting pool, and sipping beers. I had to go to the bathroom, but it was an old bar wiht a one person bathroom for men and one for women. The mens room had soemone in it, and I was going to wait, when Bobbie said...go ahead...use the ladies room....I do it all the time. Well...I was crazy about doing it, but he kept at me so I went in and shut the door. When I got in there, I noticed that toilet seat was down, and someone...Im sure a guy....had peed all over it. I did my thing and turned to walk out, and when I opened the door a rather nice looking girl was standing there waiting...and was surprised to see a guy come out. A few minutes later she walked out and Im standing there playing pool, and she blurts out.....YOU PIG !! .....thinking I was the one who did the deed to the seat. Bobbie cracks up laughing as I slowly turned about 5 shades of red. That was Bobby ....anything for a good prectical joke.



Like I said, I was in Real Estate back then, and I used to have this morning ritual. I hit this bagel place that had some killer bagels....get me a nice "everything" bagle with cream cheese ...to go....grab a Philly Inquirrer....and head for the office....Id get some coffee and get seated at my desk, where Id munch on my bagel and read the morning paper.



One morning I was sitting there, sipping my coffee, when I spied an article about a motorcyclist death. Like most around here I guess, I was always attracted to these articles. I started reading it, and was was just thinking about what a shame it was that another person was no longer alive because of some idiot......thats when it slowly began to click......the name Robert Brown threw me off, because like I said....we always called him Brownie....but when I read he was on a BMW....all of a sudden I felt like I had been hit by a brick.....I was reading about my good friend ...Brownie



I,ll never forget his funeral, it was at this small Funeral Home in the next town over. I dont know how many Funerals you,ve been to, but Ive been to a few, and if you ask me....going to just one....is one too many.  You know how some people look so peaceful laying there...as if there almost asleep ? .....Bobby didnt....Bobby looked dead....he hit a pole head on and snapped his neck....and it was obvious by looking at him laying there....that he didnt die peacefully in his sleep. In the corner was this tiny woman sitting in a chair....quietly weeping...it was his mother. I always seemed to get through these things...relativly unscathed...you know...lock up your emotions before you walk in....go into "cold mode". But once I was in there....looking at him laying there...his mom off in the corner crying...my other racquetball friends standing off against the wall....all of a sudden...my chest felt really tight....it was hard to catch my breath...and I felt I could detect the disticnt odor of...death in the air.



I walked up to his casket...bowed my head....said a short prayer...went over and touched his mom on the shoulder and told her how geart her son was...and how he would be missed. Then I turned and quickly left out front to get some air....feeling like I was going to pass out. Some friends came out and made the usual "small talk" you make at these sort of things....what a shame...cant believe it....he was so young...how could it happen to someone so nice ?. ....but there was one more thing to be added to all that......who murdered him ?



Witnesses who worked at the gas station said a Red Ford Taurus was sitting at the light next to him ...revving its engine...the light turned green..the Taurus took off...came across two lanes and sent Bobby.s bike head long into a pole.....From what I heard the cops had a hard on to catch the individuals....thats until Bobby,s toxicology report came back...it seems he had a couple beers in his system....at which point the cops quickly changed their tune to.....drunk driver.....end of case.




I walked out of that Funeral Home and threw a leg over my Wing and rode off. For the next 5 years in October, Id ride up to that spot and stop at that Pole....Id get down on my knees and say a prayer for my friend....and as people rode by in their cars ..staring...Id wonder...why...why is it some peoples lives seem to mean so little....alot of his friends...and he had many...taped pictures of him to that pole...left little toy motorcycles and such....the last time I was there...the pictures were still there...albeit torn and faded....the trinkets were all long gone....you see life goes on....the folks who used to go there and pay tribute to Bobby...have long since delegated him to a spot as a long ago memory....



....its been almost 14 years gone by......Bobby,s still dead....his killers still free....last I heard his mom left the country immediately after his funeral...and moved back to Germany where she was from orgionally.......broken hearted