The 2018 Holiday Adventure has kicked off. A scoot down I-35 to Austin Texas to pick up my brother and his son is accomplished. Tomorrow, my brother, nephew, my 2 kids and myself are headed to points east. My choice would be to ride the bike for 100% of this adventure, but 5 can not fit on 2 bikes. We stopped at Buc-ee's north of Fort Worth for a pit stop. Where else could you find a tub of Bacon grease to cook with? Coincidentally the Texas Motor Speedway is across the street.
Travel safe Fred.
That Suzuki really make the FJ look good. :rofl2:
Mark
looks like Fred is going to have to carry all his brothers stuff.
Surprised you're not riding the FJ, Fred - all those miles stuck in a car with 4 other people !!!!!
C'mon, get it off the trailer and get your riding gear on - show those Suzuki boys how its done :good2:
The ride to Key West was in jeopardy with the FJ fire. This forum has some of the greatest people ever. A fellow member, FJScott has offered to loan me his bike to make the trip. :drinks:
Not an FJ, his FJ is not extended trip ready. I will be riding his Triumph Tiger 800. :yahoo:
Fred
Sorry to hear about your fire Fred......... :empathy3:
FJScott certainly is an extremely Generous Individual!
Kudos to him for stepping up and offering his ride to you.
I drove down to Vero Beach with my brother to collect Scott's Triumph. First off.... I am definitely height challenged. With the seat in the low position, I am at my limit for the ability to get both feet on the ground. Just a bit more than tip toes :rofl2:
The bike rides like a dream, for being 800cc's, this thing is a rocket. My first taste of throttle by wire and electronic cruise control. Ooh, ah.... I like :good2:
I rode about 5 miles to the service station for fuel and to top off the tire air pressure. The seat was comfy but I didn't have faith in a non stop 150 mile ride back to The Villages. I put my Air Hawk on and set sail. 2 1/2 hours of non stop riding got me back. This bike will be a gem to ride to Key West.
Fred
With the extra bike, will you be riding lots more?
My brother wanted to do a ride to Daytona Beach today. An easy ride almost due east. 4 years ago, a few of us FJ owners went to De Leon Springs State park to have pancakes at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. I took my brother there for breakfast on our way to Daytona.
Fred
A few photos from Daytona Beach.
On a side note... My brother wanted to stop at the local Suzuki dealership for a part he needed. I saw a model that I had never seen before and sat on it. A 2016 GSX-S1000F. Other than very Spartan passenger accommodations, this thing felt like an FJ on a 100 pound diet. The ergonomics are very similar to a FJ. And I picked up some Alligator Jerky for my kids to try.
Fred
A guy I used to ride with in Phoenix had a GSX-650F. He loved that bike.
He called it a "Half-A-Busa" :sarcastic:
Nice pics Fred..............If you stick around there another month, you can camp in the infield for the Rolex-24!
I need to get back there!
Yesterday we took this exit to Rt60 east to Vero Beach. I would have thought Alabama would be more fitting. Tomorrow, I will take the same exit, but get on 441 south
Fred
I saw one of those Suzuki 1000 whatever they are things and liked the look. Wait though, apparently Suzuki are to bring out a revamped Katana based on the bike you sat on. It's silver and gorgeous and if it were a Yamaha, I'd get one.
Fred, I am jealous. It has been snowing here all day. would love to be there with you. Talked to my nephew in Aus. and he was saying it was dam hot down there. One place hit 49.5C, I think that is way to hot. Have a great trip and stay safe. All the best in the new year.
Fred
I heard once you ride a Tiger you won't want to ride anything else and judging from the smile on your face it must be true. I would be happy to give you $150 for that old....tired....dead FJ and even throw in $50 for the trailer. You could just drop it off at my place on your way home. Think of the gas you could save not having to haul it all the way home. Then you would have a small down payment for a Tiger. I hear those Tigers do a lot better in snow than a FJ. :yes: :biggrin:
Dave
Quote from: TexasDave on December 29, 2018, 12:53:19 AM
Fred
I heard once you ride a Tiger you won't want to ride anything else and judging from the smile on your face it must be true. I would be happy to give you $150 for that old....tired....dead FJ and even throw in $50 for the trailer. You could just drop it off at my place on your way home. Think of the gas you could save not having to haul it all the way home. Then you would have a small down payment for a Tiger. I hear those Tigers do a lot better in snow than a FJ. :yes: :biggrin:
Dave
Good try Dave.... :rofl: :lol:... I think I will keep the FJ awhile longer.
I got a chance to meet some of our FJ friends from across the pond this morning for breakfast. Mark Arliss and Kerry Rawson. On vacation themselves from England.
Fred
Fred
Hope you are enjoying the warm Florida weather. You certainly picked the right time for it. Almost freezing tonight even in Texas. Give us your opinion of that Triumph. Have fun.
Ride safe
Dave
Jeez Fred, you and Mark look like you could be twins separated at birth. :biggrin:
Joe
Breakfast in an open air Cafe, 25 yards from the ocean lapping the beach doesn't get much better.
http://www.southernmostbeachcafe.com (http://www.southernmostbeachcafe.com)
Fred
Some photos of my ride through the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. While riding through the Sugar Cane fields, there was a peculiar smell in the air.... The closest I can describe it is.... The smell of melted theater popcorn butter.
Fred
Final gas stop in Homestead, I met a couple riding a BMW K1600. We rode together onto the Keys. Traffic was pretty bad. Once we got past Plantation Key, the traffic got better. I stopped in Marathon, as that was where my hotel room was.
Fred
Photos from the balcony overlooking the channel and boat tie ups for the hotel.
Fred
I got up early and rode down the Key West for breakfast and a bit of sight seeing.
Fred
More shots of the boats in the Hotel tie ups. I kept thinking... Cap'n Ron would feel right at home here.
Fred
Riding the Tiger, I had to get the tires in some dirt. The opportunity presented itself on Duck Key. I found a good spot for a photo shot.
Fred
I decided to Super Slab it all the way back to The Villages. Nothing interesting except the new Hard Rock building shaped like a guitar near Miami.
Fred
The final entry to this adventure. I had to return the Tiger to Scott's mom's house. Also this will be the last ride for the year 2018. My daughter rode with me to test her New Rossi AGV helmet. I ended up with 1357 miles over the 4 days of riding The Tiger. I did leave Scott an small token of my appreciation. I had an absolute blast on the trip to Key West. This forum and it's members are the best. I know this trip was not done on an FJ, but an FJ owner stepped up and offered me a ride when my FJ went down. At least the final photo is of an FJ.
Fred
Bravo Fred. Thanks for allowing me to tag along on your adventures. Through the forum. As close as I got to adventure this year.
Great stuff Fred, ride reports are few and far between here these days and I love them.
You may not have been on the FJ for much of the trip but those Tigers are great machines. I have put a few miles on a 1050 and have always loved those triple motors, sweet as. Just think, FJScott could have been a closet Harley man!
Glad you were able to finish the trip and take us along for much of it.
Noel
Excellent report, some very nice pictures. Thanks for contributing.
Joe
Very Nice detailed Ride Fred,, Thanks for taking us all along with you ,Great Photos ,, All the best to you and yours in the New Year ,, regards Phil