Almost riding season guys

[Robert]

Been doing projects around the house so havenet been getting out as much as usual. But today went for a few hour ride and started at one of my favorite places. When you look you can see the sun on the water like it was summer. The temp was around 78 the sun was warm and the breeze just perfect. Sometimes on rides there are some that are for looking and some that are for riding. Today was a riding and making time kind of ride.

Didn't slow to much my lovely machine just was so smooth and since the wind was at my back it was so easy just to cruise along at a good pace. I had forgotten just how smooth the bike can be without bucking a headwind and today it was just perfect.

I hadn't realized that I have 26k on the odometer on this ride and the bike seems so much smoother. I was cruising along and there was not one bit of vibration from the bike. If I didnt know the feel of the bike it would be hard to tell the speeds. In fact sometimes it was a bit hard actually  I caught myself going a bit faster than I suspected. Passing today was like a, no way Im going to stay behind this guy for miles and I zipped by him.

Soon will need a new rear tire, front looks ok for now and an oil change is on the schedule for sometime when Im not that busy.

Just thought I would post a few for you guys with cabin fever.  

[KUGO]

Living in Illinois, Robert, you make me very envious. Ice on our roads today. Glad SOMEONE is having a good time! What are you replacing your rear tire with? A Michelin Pilot #4, or have you found the new 5 in our size? Or something even better, IYO? I've followed your tire posts for the past year and lean towards your advice and I'm going to have to replace both F/B this spring. Thanks! (All my retired friends from where I live are now relocated in your state with its pleasant climes. Getting antsier by the year.)

[st2sam]

Thanks for sharing Robert.

I got a buddy lives in Port Charlotte, has a spare bedroom with my name on it.
(How many hours ride are you away?)
Being we have 6-8 wks. of winter left.  Lets see???

Ahh jeeze  - just dreaming again. Maybe next winter.

However, I will be going to Disney World, with the grand kids, first week in April. 

[Crabballs]

It was 66* here in Maryland but it was urinating pachyderm with prostate issues.  Need to get the rest of the siding on the garage, but would have went for a ride as hot it was.  This winter definitely has me down in the dumps.  Can't wait to fire the old Valk up and hit the road.

[Robert]

Living in Illinois, Robert, you make me very envious. Ice on our roads today. Glad SOMEONE is having a good time! What are you replacing your rear tire with? A Michelin Pilot #4, or have you found the new 5 in our size? Or something even better, IYO? I've followed your tire posts for the past year and lean towards your advice and I'm going to have to replace both F/B this spring. Thanks! (All my retired friends from where I live are now relocated in your state with its pleasant climes. Getting antsier by the year.)

I always have a spare set of tires in the wings for emergencies since I would hate to have to stop riding if I had tire trouble. The ones in the pic are the ones I have in reserve and will be putting them on. I have heard many reports of new tires but most here have had mixed reviews on them and the 5"s have not come out yet in a GT version. I don't think it would matter all that much but have had good luck with the GT4 and the wet grip is really good so no rush to switch. I am going to take a look see what available before I order the replacement set and see if I think that there is anything better out there. Who knows maybe something will look good.

So when are you  making the switch, to come down that is.  

Thanks for sharing Robert.

I got a buddy lives in Port Charlotte, has a spare bedroom with my name on it.
(How many hours ride are you away?)
Being we have 6-8 wks. of winter left.   Lets see???

Ahh jeeze  - just dreaming again. Maybe next winter.

However, I will be going to Disney World, with the grand kids, first week in April.  

Its on the other coast but the guys over there are very active in rides and usually have something going on . It takes about 4 hours to get to the other coast from where I am and its not a bad ride going across the state. If you have that long I would devote some time to coming down and looking around since you already have a bedroom and can go and come as you please. The West coast has alot to see and the guys over there are a great bunch of guys and love food and riding. So whats not to like and if you want you can come to the East Coast and see the sights over here also. Start going to the Florida board and make some connections over there.

You going to Disney in Cali or Florida?

[st2sam]

That would be Florida. 
And thanks for the suggestions Robert...

[bscrive]

You are making me crazy Robert. 

Nice pictures, though.  Hopefully, we will be out in another month or so. 

Come on global warming....

[Robert]

You are making me crazy Robert. 

Nice pictures, though.  Hopefully, we will be out in another month or so. 

Come on global warming....

 

[GARY G]

You are making me crazy Robert. 

Nice pictures, though.  Hopefully, we will be out in another month or so. 

Come on global warming....

 

 



      Robert it is riding season  FLA. 365 you know????????????

[Adirondack Bill]

Robert, you are right on the money- got big time cabin fever here in upstate New York! Nice pics. This time of year I like to visit my local bike dealer just too look around and "smell" the new bikes.

[Robert]

Robert, you are right on the money- got big time cabin fever here in upstate New York! Nice pics. This time of year I like to visit my local bike dealer just too look around and "smell" the new bikes.

I know exactly how that is, I was laughing when I read that since I used to do the same thing. I thought I was a bit strange, at least I'm not alone.  

I don't know I'm a little cold its only 75 and sunny, so I'm a bit cold but if I was in Canada Id really be suffering so I can sympathize. 

[bscrive]

Robert, you are right on the money- got big time cabin fever here in upstate New York! Nice pics. This time of year I like to visit my local bike dealer just too look around and "smell" the new bikes.

I was doing that yesterday.  Specifically, I was looking for a new helmet and to see if the new wing and F6B was in.  No luck on anything.  I tried some on, but they didn't have the colour I wanted in the size I needed, so I ended up buying the helmet on eBay.

[Moofner]

I'm itching to get on the road again. I've been preoccupied with a VW Baja project but I can foresee the Valk becoming my obsession again. Too many things I still want to do along with riding.

New tires will be needed soon as well. I'll keep your suggestions in mind Robert.

[Hooter]

I'm prolly 6 weeks out from even thinking about riding. We just picked up another 8+ inches of snow so it just keeps coming. I go out in my garage, turn on the heat and piddle with my bikes. I sit on em and make vroom noises  . Seems like winter has been twice as long this year. The older I get it does that.

[woofred1832]

                Making me jealous,  you riders in the south,. Like Michigan said, here in northern Illinois,  we got about 10 inches of snow that will take time to melt.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be 40 degrees,  so that should start the melt,  but will be at least 6 weeks till it could be really ride time, I don't like alot of salt dust getting everywhere,. I do have a power washer but it's not fun to get it out this time of year.  Needs to be like 45+ before its good enough to take a ride. Sooooooo I will wait, but like reading about others that can get out.       
Keep up the good stories.

[shavdog]

Robert....how many miles on avg do you get on a front and rear of your 2014 Valkyrie...thanks...still looking..

[Robert]

Robert....how many miles on avg do you get on a front and rear of your 2014 Valkyrie...thanks...still looking..

Gotta say about 8k on the rear and 12k on the front average. While there are many highway miles there is also alot of stop and go. I use my bike everyday and really its my main transportation so its commute miles also, which will shorten tire life. Not to say I take off a bit to quick sometimes

[Robert]

I'm itching to get on the road again. I've been preoccupied with a VW Baja project but I can foresee the Valk becoming my obsession again. Too many things I still want to do along with riding.

New tires will be needed soon as well. I'll keep your suggestions in mind Robert.

Hows things going in the dry climate Moon? Good to hear from you.

[Bill Havins]

Almost riding season....  There's an inch of snow pellets/sleet/frozen rain covering the roads here so far this morning.  Supposed to get worse the rest of the day.

This too shall pass....

Bill

[AdrianR]

Old post...riding season and warm enough @78??     Give a break!!  I will.get my FIRST Valk ride of 18' this Sunday, temp will be a balmy 51!

That was really cruel Bob....

[Crabballs]

Hoping to get the Valk out of the garage this weekend and give it a good washing and put some miles on it.  All depending on the crappy Maryland weather, of course.

[ledany]

The riding season in Paris doesn't stop, even though the temps are between 30° and 45°F (little snow yesterday). That's why I could test ride the HD Fat Boy    last friday



and the HD Fat Bob  last saturday

[pago cruiser]

Its always riding season...
Just maybe not "As comfortable as you would have liked" season...



Speaking of that Fat Bob, I saw a review in MCN last month.  Not throwing stones at a brand... but...
It had mixed reviews, but it is the start of a whole new generation of HD's, managing to extract a massive 72 HP and 91 ft-lbs of torque from the new-ish Milwaukee Eight twin counterbalanced(!) 107 CI (1750cc) engine  .

From the review:

The Smiles:
A sporty HD.
Good brakes
Edgy (?) styling

The Frowns:
Heavy
Expensive ($17k)
Uncomfortable



They'll prolly sell a bunch of em...

[Crabballs]

Got my first ride of the season in.  Only 26 miles but the crosswinds were extreme and I was surprised at how I was being blown around for such a heavy bike.  Felt great!!!!

[st2sam]

Another great picture! Thanks pago.
You did a great job with your mods. The screen, tankbag, rack & bags look great, Honda OEM good. 
Nice to see the Valk ridd'in in less than ideal conditions.

(We got nailed with 8" of snow yesterday. )

[pago cruiser]

Thanks for the compliments.  It's slowly coming together, lots of great ideas on the site.

I ride pretty much year round, excepting when ice is in the forecast... So I figured to just go around the worst stuff on my through-the-hills route... Unfortunately, my weather routing was a bit off.  Had planned on a route thru towns where the temps were low 40's (as opposed to a high of 27F on the alternate!) , so even with the 50% chance of snow, I figured it would not stick, and I'd blow thru the area, and it would clear up at lower elevation.

Seems I forgot about a few pass-like areas in-between the towns....   

This pic and the other couple (with the icycles on the fender and cowling) were after the pucker part...  That white sh!t started piling up on the road, and within about 2 miles I could not see the road edge - just a flat white ribbon area in front of me, seemingly about 100 ft wide....  No traffic, no tracks to follow, and it got to about 1.5" thick, judging by my watching the bike track in the mirror, trying to confirm if the bike weight was getting down to asphalt, or compressing the snow to slush...  

Lasted about 10 miles, and really wanted to get a pic, as it was really scenic    but I was literally afraid to stop. I was concerned about losing concentration, or my foot slipping on the snow when I stopped, or breaking tracking for a fraction of a second on getting going again and going down; it would not have been good... so I missed a really great pic... but also avoided about $1000 deductible on my insurance, and prolly a broken leg... 

It was actually pretty awesome, as the electrics and gear were keeping me warm, cool scenery, no traffic, and all-in-all, rather serene; all on the edge of oh sh!t, I hope this ends well....  to confess though, I was thinking about the benefits of traction control when I started seeing white instead of asphalt after my rear tire had passed thru the snow...  although smarter weather routing would prolly be easier to implement... 

An 8" of snow forecast would have had me sitting in an airplane seat...

[Crabballs]

Thanks for the compliments.  It's slowly coming together, lots of great ideas on the site.

I ride pretty much year round, excepting when ice is in the forecast... So I figured to just go around the worst stuff on my through-the-hills route... Unfortunately, my weather routing was a bit off.  Had planned on a route thru towns where the temps were low 40's (as opposed to a high of 27F on the alternate!) , so even with the 50% chance of snow, I figured it would not stick, and I'd blow thru the area, and it would clear up at lower elevation.

Seems I forgot about a few pass-like areas in-between the towns....   

This pic and the other couple (with the icycles on the fender and cowling) were after the pucker part...  That white sh!t started piling up on the road, and within about 2 miles I could not see the road edge - just a flat white ribbon area in front of me, seemingly about 100 ft wide....  No traffic, no tracks to follow, and it got to about 1.5" thick, judging by my watching the bike track in the mirror, trying to confirm if the bike weight was getting down to asphalt, or compressing the snow to slush...  

Lasted about 10 miles, and really wanted to get a pic, as it was really scenic    but I was literally afraid to stop. I was concerned about losing concentration, or my foot slipping on the snow when I stopped, or breaking tracking for a fraction of a second on getting going again and going down; it would not have been good... so I missed a really great pic... but also avoided about $1000 deductible on my insurance, and prolly a broken leg... 

It was actually pretty awesome, as the electrics and gear were keeping me warm, cool scenery, no traffic, and all-in-all, rather serene; all on the edge of oh sh!t, I hope this ends well....  to confess though, I was thinking about the benefits of traction control when I started seeing white instead of asphalt after my rear tire had passed thru the snow...  although smarter weather routing would prolly be easier to implement... 

An 8" of snow forecast would have had me sitting in an airplane seat...

Now that is definitely an exciting and adventurous ride!  I used to ride in the snow when I was a teenager, wouldn't give it a second though.  Now? I will try to avoid it.

You are doing a great job on the bike.  I really like the way you have it laid out.  Looks highly functional and efficient.

[Robert]

Its always riding season...
Just maybe not "As comfortable as you would have liked" season...

Great pic