first ride of the season

[dbelch]

Hello from Southern Ontario.  It hit a balmy 8 C (or 47F) today.  Roads are fairly clean, although still frost heaved.  Fired up the 91 and spun around town.  Now, for those who live in the true Northern part of the Hemisphere, isn't the first ride always the best?  Thanks to the winter cleanup, new fork seals, and alot of adjustments the bike rode like a charm.  First ride always keeps you amazed at the power at your comand.  Hate to wax poetic about a motorcycle, but it reminded me alot of being a child on Christmas morning...after alot of eager anticipation and preparation, the unwrapping finally begins.  Already looking forward to the nest ride!

Dan

[carsick]

You said it! Warmer than that here today, but I'm encircled by a moat of mud.  It Will Be Soon.

[weymouth399]

Doug,

Put nobbys on her. Maybe your stock wheels with nobbys on them.  What a roost she would leave.

Bob W

[carsick]

Well, I did just buy a box of Kold Kutter ice screws.  Sure, rub it in you ice ridin' guys.

[Ganboy70]

Hey Dan, great post and so true, can't wait to get out for the first time on the '92.  Be safe everyone and watch out for "texters", they're everywhere...

[mikeholzer]

I managed to get mine out of the storage garage, ride up and down the street twice, then into the service garage for some much needed attention before the grit comes off the road. Tick-tock, better days are a-comin.

[dbelch]

Well, so much for that.  I'm sitting at home staring at a mess of freezing rain and snow.  FJ is back in the garage waiting for a better day....it's coming.

[rktmanfj]

I managed to get mine out of the storage garage, ride up and down the street twice, then into the service garage for some much needed attention before the grit comes off the road. Tick-tock, better days are a-comin.

Oh, not just one, but TWO garages??

Braggart!       

Randy T
Indy

[mrbreeze]

Had 60's plus here the other day, got bored and went for 200 mile ride. Felt great. Now time to clean and get ready for a good ride as soon as the cold, rainy front moves on. Think I'll ride back home to Pa. for a couple of days.

[mikeholzer]

Oh, not just one, but TWO garages??

Braggart!       

Randy T
Indy

Not bragging. Two one-car garages is not better than one two-car garage, believe me. However, my basement garage is heated and has running water and a floor drain, so at least I'm comfortable working in there over the long winter. The bike got a well deserved bath before I began work on it.

Speaking of which, it would seem that the joke is on me. After a week of 50°+ temperatures, the weather has turned for the worse and we got 6" of rain/snow mix yesterday. It's still coming down right now; they're predicting 10-12" by the time all of this is through. As if it isn't bad enough that I can't ride, my bike is currently where my car ususally lives, and this morning I was forced to remove 6" of very frozen heavy crap off my ride before my 48 mile commute. Thank god for the remote starter; at least the ice came off the windows easily enough.

Now the wonks are saying that "global warming" is leading to "climate change". It's funny to me how they change the theory to suit the facts, always coming back to the evil pollution of man. Whatever, it's March and it's snowing at the 45th parallel. Not much new here...

[rktmanfj]

Oh, not just one, but TWO garages??

Braggart!       

Randy T
Indy

Not bragging. Two one-car garages is not better than one two-car garage, believe me. However, my basement garage is heated and has running water and a floor drain, so at least I'm comfortable working in there over the long winter. The bike got a well deserved bath before I began work on it.

Speaking of which, it would seem that the joke is on me. After a week of 50°+ temperatures, the weather has turned for the worse and we got 6" of rain/snow mix yesterday. It's still coming down right now; they're predicting 10-12" by the time all of this is through. As if it isn't bad enough that I can't ride, my bike is currently where my car ususally lives, and this morning I was forced to remove 6" of very frozen heavy crap off my ride before my 48 mile commute. Thank god for the remote starter; at least the ice came off the windows easily enough.

Now the wonks are saying that "global warming" is leading to "climate change". It's funny to me how they change the theory to suit the facts, always coming back to the evil pollution of man. Whatever, it's March and it's snowing at the 45th parallel. Not much new here...

Just jokin with ya, Mike...

I do envy a bit, though, since I have no garage at all these days.

Considering we're seeing about a 50F degree temp drop in the lower Midwest US this week, you're not the only one feeling betrayed by Mother Nature.

Randy T
Indy

[carsick]

Well not as soon as hoped for, but this was it! Brought the bike out to pavement while the driveway was still frozen this morning. I waited until evening for the roads to dry and melt the ice in the shady corners. Check the oil, tires, lights, brakes, install the license plate that I forgot in my haste, and just like that back in the saddle! The change to a Corbin slightly skewed my instincts as to balance point at slow speeds, good excuse for more practice right? I took about ten minutes to get some heat in the motor, then ran through the gears full on. No need to preach to the choir, you all know the rest!! Ah, sweetness and light, I needed that goofy g force grin. Here's to a long summer with many more rides than last year!
Doug

[dbelch]

You said it Doug!  My wife and I had a beautiful tour to Port Dover (on the north shore of Lake Erie) grabed a foot long dog and basked in the spring time warmth.  My blue and white FJ sat sparkling in the sun against a backdrop of probably 30 or more Harley's parked across the road.  Made the FJ look pretty sexy.

[Travis398]

The change to a Corbin slightly skewed my instincts as to balance point at slow speeds.
Doug

Is that what you are going to blame it on? the seat? I guess if that is what you have to tell yourself, It must be the Corbin     

     

[carsick]

Is that what you are going to blame it on? the seat? I guess if that is what you have to tell yourself, It must be the Corbin     
 

Well I've ruled out valve clearance, must be the seat. The Corbin makes my stubby legs stick out, have to tiptoe when not under power. Maybe I need that bobber subframe...