Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

For the Iron Butt rides (not IBR) you need to stop every 350 miles:

 

Triple tree bolt coming loose is a common problem on Ninjas. Happened to my 2010 Nijette but I caught it early.

 

I posted about my Iron Butt ride on a local FB riding group and there's a lot of "I don't get why you'd do that to yourself" or "that much freeway looks boring". I think the majority of them are missing the point. I've always been fascinated with pushing my limits mileage wise, first in cars and now on motorcycles. I guess most people don't feel that way.

 

Probably a bunch of guys who put less than 1k miles on their bike a year.

 

It's funny that a motorcycle thread on a Tacoma forum is the most welcoming motorcycle space on the internet.




Except for maybe my wheelie videos.

 

That's good to know. Any other things to be aware of? I know these are pregens, but I'm always interested to learn.

 

I always get a kick out of the people who tell me "you can't possibly see anything riding all those miles like that". How many of them have ever watched the sun set in their rear view mirrors as a full moon was in front of them while on a long bridge crossing a river? I have and it was incredible. I can remember during a 24 hour rally doing my first official Saddlesore crossing the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel Bridge heading north at almost midnight and you exit an underwater tunnel section coming back above the surface to a section of bridge and seeing nothing but water all around me without another car or bike in sight and the feeling of at that moment being completely alone as if I were the last person alive in that brief moment in time. Same ride roughly 2 hours later I'm sitting at a traffic light in Ocean City, MD right where a hugely popular night club sits, Seacrets, and watching a bunch of rather sparsely clothed, drunk, college girls come stumbling out of the club and crossing right in front of me to head back to their hotels and thoroughly enjoying the view.

That feeling of accomplishment when you finish that first big ride and know that you had done it. The next day after some sleep and a decent meal when you start thinking about what ride you want to do next. The realization that you can ride further than you might have thought less than 48 hours ago. At one of the rallies I've participated in there was a BMW with stickers from all over the place on the panniers and stenciled on one pannier was the simple phrase; Far away is only far away if you don't go. That phrase has stuck with me ever since.

I had a great uncle, long gone now, who used to ride Indian motorcycles back in the 1930's and I can remember sitting on the floor at the foot of his chair and hearing him tell stories of he and his brother riding cross country back in the '30s just to go see the Pacific Ocean. How they camped their way across the states back at a time when many roads weren't even paved yet in a lot of areas. I wish he was still around sometimes just so I could share my stories with him and somehow thank him for probably being one of the instigators of my own wanderlust.

Long distance riding isn't for everyone and that's fine. I'm not big on off road riding but I can still appreciate the talent, practice, and skills involved. You just keep doing what makes you happy and when you decide to move to a FJR1300 to do the really big miles hit me up and I'll be happy to chat, give advice, or hopefully even meet you halfway to somewhere.

 

My g/f had her car totaled in an accident a few years back and I kept the scissors jack from it just for such occasions. You can often get one or two from a salvage yard pretty cheap. They don't take up much space and are really good for this sort of work.

 

a lot of people are like that tbh. id like to do long bike trips but i have a dirtbike and after a few hours of wide open throttle i get sick of it lmao so that dream aint gonna happen. i think it mainly comes down to who wants to explore and who doesnt want to explore

 

I'd love to, but finding the funds and the time seems to be my challenge.

 

i agree with that also... i can usually find the time since i dont do a whole lot but the funds not so much since it goes to the civic or well living lol

 

Same here.

 

Its Friyay! Rode the moto to work, instantly puts me in a better mood!

 

i wanted to also but to cold for me lol

 

Same. Mid 30s here.

 

ya it was 38? this morning and i dont have truuue riding gear lol i got dirtbike gear, a street helmet, and a summer jacket so id freeze lmao ive already ridden once in 28 degree weather and maaaan that suuucked!

 

I feel for you guys with riding "seasons".... was a chilly 67 on my way to work this morning, going to be actually quite hot today at 98. Supposed to get back to normal 75high 50 lows in a week or so.

 

ya it sucks but id rather be here then cali and Missouri sucks lmao

 

It's a balmy 47 with a high's in the upper 50's here. New jacket shows up tomorrow and Sunday is supposed to hit 80, so Sunday is the day to ride. 'cept the Broncos play the Jets, so that may change.