Entry for November 18, 2006

I wasn't able to get all of these posted in yesterday's entry.  These are the shots I intend to submit to the contest thingie.  I don't know how Suzuki could not declare us the winners.........unless they aren't after the ROMEO market.........now what's the address of that Harley dealership?

Ride of a Lifetime

Picture:  The three amigos ham it up for the camera

What have I gotten myself into now?  Last week after the ROMEOs arctic lunch ride Richard and Louie stopped off at the local Suzuki dealership kick some tires and Richard came across a flyer for Suzuki's 'Ride of a Lifetime' promotion.  What it boils down to is three friends submit information about themselves and some pictures and if they are selected Suzuki will outfit them with motorcycles and gear for a 1100 mile, 5 day ride.  Of course they tag along shooting for commercials, etc.  The dealer convinced Richard and Louie that they would be good candidates, all they had to do was come up with a third rider..........me.  And since I have such "technical expertise" and a camera I got tapped to put the package together.  http://castingcall.suzukicycles.com/ if you are interested.  So that is what we did today.  After lunch at Taco Bueno we rode to Coronado Heights http://www.naturalkansas.org/coronado.htm and I snapped a few shots.  Then it was off to Marquette, via the twisty Falun road, for ice cream and to go over the entry form.  Of course you can't go to Marquette without making a call on Stan the Man at the Kansas Motorcycle museum http://www.ksmm.us/.  They had some new bikes and are in the process of building on so they can add more. 

  By now we have rode the afternoon away and it's time to head home.  I told Richard that if he wanted to go for a ride all he had to do was say so, no need to enter some contest as an excuse.  Winning would be fun though.

Entry for November 15, 2006

 

Picture:  Abilene, KS boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the USA.

Abilene is about 25 miles from Salina and most of it due East.  The temperature was 40 degrees at 10:45 when five of us meet at Wendy's for the ride to lunch at Mr K's Farmhouse.  Richard said, "let's meet on the South side of Wendy's so the building will block the wind.  That was a good plan as the wind was steady out of the North at 30mph.  Twenty plus miles on a beam reach with the bikes leaning (make that heeling) at what felt 30 degrees brought us to Mr K's.  One other ROMEO was there, John only lived two blocks away but, bless his heart, he rode his scoot to lunch.  That made Six total and another that had driven and was having lunch with his wife but stopped by to visit.  It was a day for smaller bikes, I was on the REB, Neil had his KLR, Louie on the DR200 , Richard on the scoot (no wife this ride) and Evan on the only big ride his V-Star.

  Mr K's has been around for years and is much more fancy than most of the places we eat.  I had the Orange Chicken and it was top notch.  Thanks to Evan for

entertaining us with wind chill data during lunch.  It seems that going 55 into a 30 mph wind at 40 degrees is a chill factor on 3 degrees.  Well that made the ride home much more enjoyable.

  It hadn't warmed up any as we cast off for the starboard reach back to Salina.  Since we came into town on the North end of town we made a stop at the H-D store to ogle all the shinny new bikes and drink their free coffee.  Nice folks there but they thought we were nuts riding in such conditions and I agreed.

  About 45 minutes and I was warm enough to take my reward for all the riding in the cross winds and run the 10 miles or so with the wind to get home.  ".  A friend of mine publishes a motorcycle magazine entitled "Riding South".  Today gave new meaning to term.

  Very invigorating day. 

Entry for November 11, 2006

Picture:  I used the Auto Zone brand.

I think I have solved the howling front brake problem on Dubya.  After much research on the W650 Yahoo group I came across a reference to some "brake pad isolation shims".  Little thin stick on metal coated shims that attach to the back of the pad and are supposed to prevent the vibration that causes the howl/squeak.  BUT, I also sanded the heck out of the pads with a sanding screen, now I'm not 100% sure which fix worked.  If the howl comes back I'm guessing the pads are the cause and I will look for a replacement.  I also greased and cleaned everything and bled the brakes all for the third time.  After an eight mile stop and go town ride this afternoon there was still no noise so I've got my fingers crossed (hard to type that way).

  It was a might nippy at 8am this morning when I rode the REB to the YMCA.  The thermometer outside the kitchen window said 32 degrees and there was frost on the car windows as I left the neighborhood.  I stayed on the back streets so I didn't have to go over 30mph.  It was a little warmer on the ride home.  A very invigorateing start to the day.

  The REB has sort of turned into my town bike.  With the saddle bags and luggage rack it is very handy for running errands and shopping.  Next Wednesday's ROMEO lunch is only 30 miles away in Abilene so I am planning on taking the REB.  Can't show any favoritism yer know.   

Entry for November 10, 2006

Picture:  A little too windy to ride.

 I took my wife to the airport in Wichita this morning so she could fly to Atlanta to meet daughter #3.  They will then drive to Virginia to #2's home where they will attend grandson #1's first birthday party on Saturday.  No, I didn't stay home just so I could go riding.  In fact it is darn lousy riding weather here is Mid-America, USA today.  One of those 40/40 days, 40 degrees and 40 mph wind.  Maybe I'll get out for a bit this evening if it stops blowing.

Entry for November 10, 2006

 Sweet Jesus in Heaven, I know there are folks working at Walmart that really need a job and most of them do a good job, but please Lord if I ever set foot in that place again could you have someone shoot me!

Entry for November 08, 2006

Pictue:  What the hell is Paul doing?

 Seven of us meet at Taco Bueno for the 120 mile ride to Hanover, KS and lunch at Ricky's Cafe.  Three scooters, four bikes and eight people including a first timer. Although a long way from retirement, my brother-in-law, Bob, took his first ROMEO (Retired Old Motorcyclist Eating Out) ride.  I think he had a good time because I could see his grin in my rear view all the way there.

  It was what they call unseasonably warm today, it got up to 89 and leather jacket was getting uncomfortable by days end.  There were 41 bikes/scoots but Ricky's took care of us like it was an everyday occurrence.  I the special, a huge slab of roast beef, homemade bread and drink for $6.  Hard to beat.  Turns out Bob knew a few of the guys that were there today.  I hope he doesn't have to wait until he retires to come again.

  The back roads to Longford for ice cream were fun even if we did have to stop and check the map a few times.  Pat was bringing up the rear on his scoot and several times looked like he was the hood ornament for trucks that wanted to go faster but didn't seem to want to pass.

  About the picture......Paul calims he was trying to improve the reception on his cell phone but it look pretty suspicious.