Europe50 on the rode for a little ride time...

[europe50]

Hey guys, I know that my "Trip Report" will not be as exciting as some on the board, but I wanted to tell people about my experience that could really appreciate riding a 24 year old FJ1200 and loving it.

Here in Northern Illinois on Sunday it started out as a rainy crappy day as it was predicted, but buy 10am it was 52 degrees and stopped raining. By almost 12pm it was getting sunny and dry so I decided I'll just go out for an hour or two (The wife was busy all afternoon).
I started riding to a buddy's house about 55 miles south of me, lots of small towns. By the time I got there it was pure sun and I didn't even want to stay to hang out, so I said "Hey" and got back on the road.



I started heading North-East about 60 miles to visit my brother, (mostly highway) and I didn't even know if he was home, I was really just wanted to try to use up some road.
By now it was about 62 degrees and sunny, holly crap this was incredible weather to ride-in with a jacket and light gloves. I get to my brother's house and he's not home, so I try to call his cell, he's not picking up so I take a picture of my bike in front of his house and sent him a picture mail.



By this time, my other friend calls me and so I decided to head out west about for about 55 miles, stopped and hung out for a little bit and again, got back on the road (I couldn't let this great day get away with talking).

The wife calls and wants to have dinner and go to the pumpkin patch with my 2 year old little monster, so I typed it into the navigation unit and away I went to go spend some time with the family (Back another 40 miles).

Well, I had a great weather day of riding in with about 6.5 hours of ride time at a little over 215 miles more on the bike and almost all of it in 5th gear.
It's about 7:30pm and on the way home (7 miles) I stopped for gas and couldn't be happier with the day!
So much for the "I'll just go out for an hour or two" idea, LOL!

[Mark Olson]

Oh man,

You sound just like the rest of us, "uuumm honey I am just gonna go for a short ride over to blah blah and then I will be home". 6-8 hrs later.

I understand you can't help it.  the fj is a great bike to just get out and go.

I never know where I end up , wherever the road takes me.

you are in good company, we understand.

[europe50]

Mark,
I'm lucky, my wife actually encourages me to go riding as much as I can towards the end of the year (Same with snowmobiling) since good days are hard to come by.

[andyoutandabout]

My wife has perfected a look that says, 'i know you can't help yourself, so don't even bother putting a time limit on a riding day'.
I find this helps enormously as once the look has been noticed by me, I'm out the door.
Andy

[racerman_27410]

I love it when the days slip away with me on my motorcycle...... Happy days for sure!


KOokaloo!


Frank

[threejagsteve]

You certainly made me promise myself a road day this week... even if I do have to charge the gas!

[roaddog]

What a great day. Nice pictures. I'm totally jealous. I've been without a ride for months, first time in years. I just picked up a 1990 FJ1200. Ordered tires, heated grips and going through whole bike. Can't wait to get out their and do exactly what you did. I live in the Northest and love riding in the "Fall".

Any words of wisdom regarding these machines would be appreciated.

RD
beatrice07@gmail.com

[europe50]

This weekend is supposed to be somewhat nice (~55) with no rain and partially sunny. Going to try for one more good long day before the season ends.
I'm going to aim for Lake Geneva, Wi area this weekend.