Valk_Ridin_Soldier
Member
Posts: 71
'15 F6B; '99 Blown Supervalk
Yorktown, VA
|
 |
« on: June 16, 2016, 10:16:26 AM » |
|
Having registered and insured the Green and Silver Blower Bike (GAS-BB) and of course attaching the new gremlin bell, "Esmaralda" as my wife has dubbed her (She names everything) was set for her debut at the local bike night.
I had removed the trunk and OEM seat and set it up for solo riding. Wrapped the trunk up in bubble wrap. Big Mike included something like 6 solo seats with the bike, so I picked one...a Mustang, I think, and slapped it on, affixed the chrome fender cover behind it, and bid the F6B adieu and headed out. The hand painted "If it's not blown, it must Suck" painted on the sides of the rear fender in plain view.
The local "bike night" is a poorly executed marketing ploy by the local Quaker Steak and Lube. Not well attended, no real biker stuff going on, but a few of us, maybe 20 or so some from my club, some from a few others, meet, hang out, eat some unremarkable food, and then usually split around 8 or so for more promising entertainment.
GAS-BB was a hit.
Leaving there, two of my brothers and I headed north, and found ourselves on a very nice little stretch of road- four lanes, flat, Straight, sparse traffic. One of them has a very heavily modified Harley... 110 C.I. Screaming eagle motor, stage 4 kit, all that. I think he's got something like $40k in that bike. Two or Three years ago, He took great pride in finally being able to beat my bone stock interstate that had long since passed 100K on the odometer. And yeah, he's shown that the Harley he has is faster than the F6B...or at least faster than I am willing to ride the F6B.
Cruising along, kinda enjoying the evening, we broke from our normally tight staggered formation and occupied both lanes, loping along at around 45 MPH. He pulled up alongside of me and goosed the engine. I really hadn't gone much past 1/3 throttle on Esmeralda at all, ever...but I goosed it back, a little. He downshifted a couple of times, and rolled on from about 45 and jumped three or four bike lengths ahead. I just rolled on, still in fifth, and easily reeled him in before the next light.
At the light, he took off like he was at the Dinwiddie drags. I did not, but I did start to roll the throttle back a bit as I shifted out of second...and then at around 4000 RPM, something magical happened. The bike seemed to launch. I shifted to fourth, and drew alongside the Harley, and watched him peg the throttle. His bike emitted a howl, and pulled ahead. I saw him throw his head back in triumph. Gave Esmeralda a little more throttle- maybe just past half- to which she responded with a very satisfying, visceral growl and again pulled alongside the now pegged out Harley. A good half mile of empty, four lane road lay ahead. I wasn't watching the panel, so I can't say for sure, but I know there was a lot of throttle left. He upshifted to 5th, surged forward. I throttled a bit more, and pulled up alongside. He looked over and pegged it again.
Esmeralda stayed with him. I waited a bit longer, maybe a second or three, though it seemed a lot longer. His huffin' puffin' Screamin' Eagle 110 was flat out. I smiled, and without breaking eye contact, shifted to fifth. *Click* See Ya! Went to maybe three quarter throttle...and the venerable, almost old enough to vote, GAS-BB deliberately and unmistakably left $40K worth of Hog in the dust. I kept it up long enough to make my point, then eased back, letting her drop down to a lower, satisfied, some might even say smug rumble. I clutched and coasted almost an eighth of a mile to the next light.
Big Mike said I'd never want to go back to a regular Valkyrie after riding a supercharged one. He's right. If it isn't blown, it must suck.
|
