SOLD THE REBEL ON MARCH 21ST!!!
:-)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Lists of what we've done and how it came to us...
For the future owner of this fabulous motorcycle, I thought I'd make a list of the things we'd done to the bike and what the previous owner(s) had already done to the bike when we bought it.
PREVIOUS OWNER(S)
Different handlebars
She called them "Nighthawk" handlebars. She said she swapped them because she was taller and liked the longer reach. She had them adjusted so they were farther from the seat and more like mini ape hangers. I adjusted them so they were closer to the seat and I could actually reach them. They are pretty close to what the stock bars looked like. But they aren't stock.
Engine guard/Crash bars
I think she also painted it black. You can see some of the paint coming off and the chrome underneath.
Back rest
Painted #13 on fender and images on the tank
Broken handlebar lock
Pre-dented gas tank
MY OWNERSHIP
Accessories:
Sliptreamer Spitfire Windshield
I still have the mounting instructions for it and will pass those on. They are also on the web site.
Hand Deflectors
National Cycle brand. We cut the mounting arm to bring the guards closer to the grips.
Spotlights and mounting bar and on/off switch
Don't run them as running lights or they'll run the battery down quickly.
New gel seat
From Jack's Rebel Warehouse - has very few miles on it. (The passenger seat was also done.)
Rear luggage rack
From Jack's Rebel Warehouse - is not actually for the 450 but for the 250. We made a few modifications to it to make it fit. It isn't designed for heavy loads but will carry small items and is a great place to attach a bungee when needed.
Hard side bags
Bought online from Mutazu. Not waterproof. Lockable. I have two keys. The built in rear signals are not very bright and are actually a bit hard to see. I tried to remember to also use hand signals after we installed them. All the stickers on the bags are reflective and probably easily removed with a heat gun or hair dryer.
Extra brake light
Purchased at Sun Honda. Fits on the bottom of the license plate. It isn't a running light so it doesn't use much extra juice from the battery. Only lights up when the brakes are applied.
Maintenance things:
Replaced the speedo cable after discovering the mount had cracked and it wasn't actually attached. Part came from Jack's Rebel Warehouse.
Replaced the chain and sprocket when we first got it. I'll have to look at how many miles are on this new set. It's going to be close to 14,000 because that was one of the first things we did. Bought the parts from RPM Motorsports in Lakewood.
Replaced the CDI box. The bike was hesitating and not getting up to speed when we first got it. After some discussion the Rebel board, Jack (of Jack's Rebel Warehouse) told all of the 450 owners we needed new CDI boxes. He's the only place that can get this part for this bike. But, now that it is changed, it shouldn't need to be replaced for another 20 years. :-)
Replaced the rear shocks - part came from one of the parts bikes.
Replaced the mirrors - also from one of the parts bikes.
Other stuff of note:
The heat shield on the outside of the exhaust pipes has fallen off. I have it and will pass it on. I think the bolts sheared off from age and wear when I tried to tighten the bolts. It doesn't affect the bike at all.
And of course, the Gremlin Bell. I'm leaving it on because it's worked very well for the bike. I bought a new one for the BMW. I didn't want any of the Rebel gremlins getting on the Beemer. :-)
I'll add more notes if I remember any but I think that's it in a nutshell.
PREVIOUS OWNER(S)
Different handlebars
She called them "Nighthawk" handlebars. She said she swapped them because she was taller and liked the longer reach. She had them adjusted so they were farther from the seat and more like mini ape hangers. I adjusted them so they were closer to the seat and I could actually reach them. They are pretty close to what the stock bars looked like. But they aren't stock.
Engine guard/Crash bars
I think she also painted it black. You can see some of the paint coming off and the chrome underneath.
Back rest
Painted #13 on fender and images on the tank
Broken handlebar lock
Pre-dented gas tank
MY OWNERSHIP
Accessories:
Sliptreamer Spitfire Windshield
I still have the mounting instructions for it and will pass those on. They are also on the web site.
Hand Deflectors
National Cycle brand. We cut the mounting arm to bring the guards closer to the grips.
Spotlights and mounting bar and on/off switch
Don't run them as running lights or they'll run the battery down quickly.
New gel seat
From Jack's Rebel Warehouse - has very few miles on it. (The passenger seat was also done.)
Rear luggage rack
From Jack's Rebel Warehouse - is not actually for the 450 but for the 250. We made a few modifications to it to make it fit. It isn't designed for heavy loads but will carry small items and is a great place to attach a bungee when needed.
Hard side bags
Bought online from Mutazu. Not waterproof. Lockable. I have two keys. The built in rear signals are not very bright and are actually a bit hard to see. I tried to remember to also use hand signals after we installed them. All the stickers on the bags are reflective and probably easily removed with a heat gun or hair dryer.
Extra brake light
Purchased at Sun Honda. Fits on the bottom of the license plate. It isn't a running light so it doesn't use much extra juice from the battery. Only lights up when the brakes are applied.
Maintenance things:
Replaced the speedo cable after discovering the mount had cracked and it wasn't actually attached. Part came from Jack's Rebel Warehouse.
Replaced the chain and sprocket when we first got it. I'll have to look at how many miles are on this new set. It's going to be close to 14,000 because that was one of the first things we did. Bought the parts from RPM Motorsports in Lakewood.
Replaced the CDI box. The bike was hesitating and not getting up to speed when we first got it. After some discussion the Rebel board, Jack (of Jack's Rebel Warehouse) told all of the 450 owners we needed new CDI boxes. He's the only place that can get this part for this bike. But, now that it is changed, it shouldn't need to be replaced for another 20 years. :-)
Replaced the rear shocks - part came from one of the parts bikes.
Replaced the mirrors - also from one of the parts bikes.
Other stuff of note:
The heat shield on the outside of the exhaust pipes has fallen off. I have it and will pass it on. I think the bolts sheared off from age and wear when I tried to tighten the bolts. It doesn't affect the bike at all.
And of course, the Gremlin Bell. I'm leaving it on because it's worked very well for the bike. I bought a new one for the BMW. I didn't want any of the Rebel gremlins getting on the Beemer. :-)
I'll add more notes if I remember any but I think that's it in a nutshell.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2009 Year in Review - Looking back on the Rebel
Well, 2010 may just be the year the Rebel goes to some new owner, if the plan plays out as originally created. Sigh. I'll miss that bike and I really hope it goes to some one who will appreciate it as much as I did. It's a great old bike. Those Hondas just keep on rolling. So, this seems like the appropriate time to reflect on all the good times.
The photo above is of the Rebel's speedometer and odometer on September 12, 2009. I bought the GS on September 11, 2009. I put about 15,000 miles on that bike in the 3 years that I rode it. That's pretty darn good! More than I thought I had but I'm not surprised. The commute alone is about 1,000 miles per month if I ride every day.
We didn't do any camping or overnight trips anywhere, although there was one time I left the bike were it was due to the weather. A couple more times I probably should have. We've seen Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park a couple of times, been as far south as Castle Rock and as far north as Loveland. Been as far east as that Colfax ride and as far west as the RMNP Alpine visitor's center. Been as high as 11,796 feet at that same visitor's center. Rode in the rain, and the lightning (!), fair weather and foul, dark of night and many sunny days too. Saw dirt, though only in a parking lot. Went two-up with my niece. Carried some large loads but nothing too heavy. Dropped it only twice , in the garage and the driveway, both times forgetting to put the sidestand down. Farkled it up with a windshield, hand guards, spotlights, hard side bags, and various other soft luggage bags. Changed the front and rear tires once each, the chain and sprocket once as well. I think I washed it once or twice. :-)
Looking back, I didn't really have very set goals for 2009. There were two posts but not much content to either. Some vague reference to the unfulfilled mountain pass goal, which remains unfulfilled I think. Technically we did go over a pass, just not a marked one. I was hoping to have a documented pass photo. I'm sure the GS will cover that one for me. And there was another vague reference to making a long trip, another unfulfilled goal that I plan to meet on the GS. So, I guess, 2009 was more about the ride than about the destination.
I enjoyed it for the most part. I do recall a lot of thinking about the GS and feeling as though I'd "out grown" the Rebel. But, also, at the same time, feeling as though the Rebel was the perfect bike for me in a lot of ways. It did everything I asked it to do. Never left me stranded. Didn't cost much to maintain. And, I really had fun riding it. The GS has taken that to a whole new level though. The riding style is more comfortable. It's brand new, which is fabulous. But, in general, I think it will meet all of the same requirements that the Rebel did, aside from being cheap to maintain of course. (I'll certainly miss that part!)
Here are a couple of shots from my last ride on the Rebel. This was a ride to an off site staff meeting up the canyon a bit from Boulder. For some reason I didn't even blog about it. Two weeks later, I bought the GS.
The road is calling and the Rebel is ready. In a couple of months, it may have it's own Craig's List ad out there. I'll link to it here when that happens.
Happy New Year! Keep the shiny side up!
:-)
The photo above is of the Rebel's speedometer and odometer on September 12, 2009. I bought the GS on September 11, 2009. I put about 15,000 miles on that bike in the 3 years that I rode it. That's pretty darn good! More than I thought I had but I'm not surprised. The commute alone is about 1,000 miles per month if I ride every day.We didn't do any camping or overnight trips anywhere, although there was one time I left the bike were it was due to the weather. A couple more times I probably should have. We've seen Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park a couple of times, been as far south as Castle Rock and as far north as Loveland. Been as far east as that Colfax ride and as far west as the RMNP Alpine visitor's center. Been as high as 11,796 feet at that same visitor's center. Rode in the rain, and the lightning (!), fair weather and foul, dark of night and many sunny days too. Saw dirt, though only in a parking lot. Went two-up with my niece. Carried some large loads but nothing too heavy. Dropped it only twice , in the garage and the driveway, both times forgetting to put the sidestand down. Farkled it up with a windshield, hand guards, spotlights, hard side bags, and various other soft luggage bags. Changed the front and rear tires once each, the chain and sprocket once as well. I think I washed it once or twice. :-)
Looking back, I didn't really have very set goals for 2009. There were two posts but not much content to either. Some vague reference to the unfulfilled mountain pass goal, which remains unfulfilled I think. Technically we did go over a pass, just not a marked one. I was hoping to have a documented pass photo. I'm sure the GS will cover that one for me. And there was another vague reference to making a long trip, another unfulfilled goal that I plan to meet on the GS. So, I guess, 2009 was more about the ride than about the destination.
I enjoyed it for the most part. I do recall a lot of thinking about the GS and feeling as though I'd "out grown" the Rebel. But, also, at the same time, feeling as though the Rebel was the perfect bike for me in a lot of ways. It did everything I asked it to do. Never left me stranded. Didn't cost much to maintain. And, I really had fun riding it. The GS has taken that to a whole new level though. The riding style is more comfortable. It's brand new, which is fabulous. But, in general, I think it will meet all of the same requirements that the Rebel did, aside from being cheap to maintain of course. (I'll certainly miss that part!)
Here are a couple of shots from my last ride on the Rebel. This was a ride to an off site staff meeting up the canyon a bit from Boulder. For some reason I didn't even blog about it. Two weeks later, I bought the GS.
The road is calling and the Rebel is ready. In a couple of months, it may have it's own Craig's List ad out there. I'll link to it here when that happens.Happy New Year! Keep the shiny side up!
:-)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Moto Photo Blog-o-Rama: Canyons, Chasms, Mountains
Rocky Mountain National Park, me and my 450 Rebel, hubby's CX 500. That was a nice ride and was our longest ride at the time at a little over 100 miles. :-)I saw this photo theme on: http://bolty.net/
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tha Dance of the Rebels
My lovely hubby has been hard at work on the two parts bike Rebels. You may recall, we purchased a non-running 450 a year or more ago. The idea was it would be spare parts for the daily runner. Or, if we felt so inspired, a practice wrenching bike for me, or even better, a bike hubby could get going for us to sell. Of course, it sat for a while before any of those things came to pass. We did scavenge a few parts from it here and there though. Then, we purchased another 450 for parts. This one had been wrecked in the late 1990s but did have a running engine. No title with it but the first parts bike did come with a title. So, the new plan was to swap out all the good parts to make the titled parts bike a runner. That is where we are now. (And by we, I mean hubby.)
Above is the wrecked bike as hubby was preparing to remove the engine. The original owner (who I think bought it new) t-boned a car. The forks are mashed, the front fender was mangled (long since tossed by us), the gas tank has a massive dent in it where the rider landed on it (ouch!), and once the engine was out, we discovered a crack in the frame.
Below is the parts bike with the engine, among other things, already removed. Hubby thinks the engine is fine and that the starter might be bad. So, he is swapping out all of the keyed bits from the wrecked bike.
Both bikes came with trashed gas tanks. The parts bike had a tank from a 250 that was rusty and had many dents in it. I gave that to some one for the cost of shipping. The wrecked bike, in addition to the big dent, was also rusty inside. This bike had been stored outside since the wreck. Hubby said there was water coming from some of the parts as he removed them. All in all, the thing is in pretty good shape though. Mostly cosmetic issues aside from the wrecked issues. Between the two bikes, there is definitely a very nice running 450 in there. They both had very low miles as well. We'll need to replace the front tire but the rear was brand new when we got the parts bike. So, we'll leave that up to the next owner I think.
Below is the parts bike with the new engine in it. We plan to use the Tank brand gas tank that I bought new last year. (It's not attached yet.) They now have the console in stock so I should probably order one before they raise the prices again. I'll be glad not to need to do business with them any more. What a pain.
Oh, in the midst of this project, hubby also replaced the rear shocks on my daily runner with a pair from one of these parts bikes. He's so fabulous!
There's more completed since these photos were taken so I'll try to keep the updates coming. I'm hoping this blog will be a nice resource for anyone interested in buying one of these 450s. Hubby works faster than I can get photos documenting the job. :-)
Above is the wrecked bike as hubby was preparing to remove the engine. The original owner (who I think bought it new) t-boned a car. The forks are mashed, the front fender was mangled (long since tossed by us), the gas tank has a massive dent in it where the rider landed on it (ouch!), and once the engine was out, we discovered a crack in the frame.Below is the parts bike with the engine, among other things, already removed. Hubby thinks the engine is fine and that the starter might be bad. So, he is swapping out all of the keyed bits from the wrecked bike.
Both bikes came with trashed gas tanks. The parts bike had a tank from a 250 that was rusty and had many dents in it. I gave that to some one for the cost of shipping. The wrecked bike, in addition to the big dent, was also rusty inside. This bike had been stored outside since the wreck. Hubby said there was water coming from some of the parts as he removed them. All in all, the thing is in pretty good shape though. Mostly cosmetic issues aside from the wrecked issues. Between the two bikes, there is definitely a very nice running 450 in there. They both had very low miles as well. We'll need to replace the front tire but the rear was brand new when we got the parts bike. So, we'll leave that up to the next owner I think.Below is the parts bike with the new engine in it. We plan to use the Tank brand gas tank that I bought new last year. (It's not attached yet.) They now have the console in stock so I should probably order one before they raise the prices again. I'll be glad not to need to do business with them any more. What a pain.
Oh, in the midst of this project, hubby also replaced the rear shocks on my daily runner with a pair from one of these parts bikes. He's so fabulous!
There's more completed since these photos were taken so I'll try to keep the updates coming. I'm hoping this blog will be a nice resource for anyone interested in buying one of these 450s. Hubby works faster than I can get photos documenting the job. :-)
G650GS: There and Back Again
So, my new bike deserves a new blog. Plus, this blog is all about the Rebel, so I don't want to steal it's thunder. :-)
http://g650gs.blogspot.com/
Not much there yet but there will be. :-)
http://g650gs.blogspot.com/
Not much there yet but there will be. :-)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Oil Leak
See the bolt to the left of center? See the drop of oil clinging to it? And the spot of oil below on the lever? It runs down the lever to the end and drips. Not a lot. That spot in the bottom image is after it sat all day. But, I think most of it comes off as I'm riding. You can see it all caked on the sides of the engine. It's also all over the front and underneath. Bummer. Should probably pay more attention to this. Especially since this isn't new. :-(
Thursday, September 3, 2009
It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.
So, I've been riding now for 3 years. I bought the 450 Rebel on July 28, 2006. I saved the email from the transaction, which is also why I know I have put about 14,840 miles on the bike since I've owned it. It has occurred to me that I have a different level of comfort on the the bike this year. I've never felt very intimidated by my bike. I'd learned to ride years before so I didn't really have that anxiety about it when I got it. I knew I liked riding before I got the Rebel. It's always fit me very well too. I can flat foot it which means I can comfortably move it around without dropping it (usually). Or if I drop it, which hasn't happened since that first year, it's because I did something dumb, like forget to put the side stand down. My lovely hubby has customized it to my desired needs or wants. :-) He's the most fabulous hubby of all! :-) It has become "mine" and I feel very in control and comfortable on it.
The thing that is different for me this year is something more vague. Most of the time, after a ride, I'd come home and talk to my hubby about it. We'd basically have a debriefing to discuss the ride with each other. It could be good or bad things that happened, how we'd change what we did or didn't do, situations that we should continue to watch out for, that sort of thing. For me especially, this was part of the learning process. Riding, for me, isn't just the act itself. It is about being able to understand what's going on around you, and understand how your actions create reactions or put you in situations to make the ride better or worse. It is the ability to control your own situation to create a better one. (I think that's what I'm trying to say although that might be a bit too deep.)
This year, I haven't felt the need to debrief as much after every ride. Maybe it's because I'm riding more and after a while it all sounds the same. I think it's because, I feel more comfortable and in control of my riding than I did previously. We do have discussions about specific situations - the day I rode home in the lightning storm was one example. But, not so much after every ride. Now I just enjoy the ride and don't feel as though every day is a learning experience. Most days now, it's just fun to ride. :-)
That's not to say that I think I've learned it all. That will never happen for me. I'm not that kind of person who thinks I can't learn something every day. In fact, I think now would be the perfect time to take a more advanced motorcycle course. I'm starting to feel comfortable and that's when my mind starts to wander and I drop my guard for a second. That's when things can go wrong. I think it was the Hurt Report that mentioned the group of riders most likely to get into an accident had a smaller cc bike and had 3-5 years of experience.
So, now my challenge is to pay closer attention to myself. How do I get from point A to point B? Am I listening and looking? Am I still scanning well ahead? Did I even see that car behind me? How long has that Don't Walk sign been flashing? The bike I can control. It's all the other things around me that I can't. It is time to refocus my learning so I can continue to enjoy the ride.
PS
Name that movie quote in the title of this blog post!
The thing that is different for me this year is something more vague. Most of the time, after a ride, I'd come home and talk to my hubby about it. We'd basically have a debriefing to discuss the ride with each other. It could be good or bad things that happened, how we'd change what we did or didn't do, situations that we should continue to watch out for, that sort of thing. For me especially, this was part of the learning process. Riding, for me, isn't just the act itself. It is about being able to understand what's going on around you, and understand how your actions create reactions or put you in situations to make the ride better or worse. It is the ability to control your own situation to create a better one. (I think that's what I'm trying to say although that might be a bit too deep.)
This year, I haven't felt the need to debrief as much after every ride. Maybe it's because I'm riding more and after a while it all sounds the same. I think it's because, I feel more comfortable and in control of my riding than I did previously. We do have discussions about specific situations - the day I rode home in the lightning storm was one example. But, not so much after every ride. Now I just enjoy the ride and don't feel as though every day is a learning experience. Most days now, it's just fun to ride. :-)
That's not to say that I think I've learned it all. That will never happen for me. I'm not that kind of person who thinks I can't learn something every day. In fact, I think now would be the perfect time to take a more advanced motorcycle course. I'm starting to feel comfortable and that's when my mind starts to wander and I drop my guard for a second. That's when things can go wrong. I think it was the Hurt Report that mentioned the group of riders most likely to get into an accident had a smaller cc bike and had 3-5 years of experience.
So, now my challenge is to pay closer attention to myself. How do I get from point A to point B? Am I listening and looking? Am I still scanning well ahead? Did I even see that car behind me? How long has that Don't Walk sign been flashing? The bike I can control. It's all the other things around me that I can't. It is time to refocus my learning so I can continue to enjoy the ride.
PS
Name that movie quote in the title of this blog post!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
New Moto Parking
We have successfully petitioned for more motorcycle parking at work! Woot!
A month or two ago a bunch of us who ride to work sent emails and filled out the online comment form to ask if we could get more parking closer to our buildings. This summer has been a very active motorcycling season at work. Many more motos are parked in the two lots closest to our building. Each lot has six spaces. One is right in front of my building. The other is a bit farther away but not terribly so. But the farther lot is in the same lot where the CU buses park. Their spaces block access to some of these moto parking spaces like this:
I took this photo last week. That's mine on the end. Notice it isn't technically in a spot (no line on the outside). There was one spot left in the farther lot and I couldn't get into it because of the bus parked in it's spot. So, I took this photo with my camera phone and sent another email to parking services. That same day, I got a reply. The person I emailed is listed as the point of contact for new parking lots. She replied that after coming out to evaluate the spaces, they were going to add more spaces to this particular lot (on the end where I am in the photo). They also said they'd make an exception to the university rule of only creating moto parking on concrete lots and add a new lot on the existing car asphalt lot adjacent to this one (in the photo). AND they said they'd do it next week.
That was last week. Today on my way home I swung by this lot to see if they'd added the spaces. They did!!
They'd said they would angle the lines to make access easier so I'll follow up about that. And there is the curb to contend with. But, I think it is absolutely fabulous that they listened to our concerns, came out to assess it, created a solution, and acted on it so quickly. Awesome!
And here is the new lot:
A month or two ago a bunch of us who ride to work sent emails and filled out the online comment form to ask if we could get more parking closer to our buildings. This summer has been a very active motorcycling season at work. Many more motos are parked in the two lots closest to our building. Each lot has six spaces. One is right in front of my building. The other is a bit farther away but not terribly so. But the farther lot is in the same lot where the CU buses park. Their spaces block access to some of these moto parking spaces like this:
I took this photo last week. That's mine on the end. Notice it isn't technically in a spot (no line on the outside). There was one spot left in the farther lot and I couldn't get into it because of the bus parked in it's spot. So, I took this photo with my camera phone and sent another email to parking services. That same day, I got a reply. The person I emailed is listed as the point of contact for new parking lots. She replied that after coming out to evaluate the spaces, they were going to add more spaces to this particular lot (on the end where I am in the photo). They also said they'd make an exception to the university rule of only creating moto parking on concrete lots and add a new lot on the existing car asphalt lot adjacent to this one (in the photo). AND they said they'd do it next week.
That was last week. Today on my way home I swung by this lot to see if they'd added the spaces. They did!!
They'd said they would angle the lines to make access easier so I'll follow up about that. And there is the curb to contend with. But, I think it is absolutely fabulous that they listened to our concerns, came out to assess it, created a solution, and acted on it so quickly. Awesome!
And here is the new lot:
Thursday, August 20, 2009
New rear tire!
Yesterday I got a new rear tire at Colorado Powersports. They have a deal that if you buy the tire there, you get free mounting and labor. My new Dunlop 404 was $123 out the door. The cost of the tire plus the disposal fee was all I paid. And it was done by 2:00. This place happens to be close to my office. I drop it off first thing in the morning (9am) and they get it done by the end of the day. Very friendly folks too. No snide remarks or turned up noses at the 86 Rebel. I have had other Honda dealerships do those things when I've mentioned the type of bike.
When I picked it up yesterday, I paid my ticket and the service guy said he'd meet me out front with the bike. So, I walked out to gate, which is a private gate so you can't see any of the bikes behind it. He fired it up and that familiar engine sound made me smile. It isn't a hum or even a whine but something in between. I've not heard other bikes sound like mine and it dawned on me that I've never heard any other Rebels running. Weird. Anyway, no matter how much I want that BMW, this Rebel sure does make me happy.
After I got home I kept looking at the bike because something seemed off some how. I walked around it, looked it over, and then it hit me. They washed it! The air filter cover and battery cover were both so shiny. It was weird. Hubby said maybe they just didn't want to get dirt on themselves.
They didn't wash the whole bike just wiped down the tank, and some shiny bits.
Very cool shop if you are in the neighborhood.
When I picked it up yesterday, I paid my ticket and the service guy said he'd meet me out front with the bike. So, I walked out to gate, which is a private gate so you can't see any of the bikes behind it. He fired it up and that familiar engine sound made me smile. It isn't a hum or even a whine but something in between. I've not heard other bikes sound like mine and it dawned on me that I've never heard any other Rebels running. Weird. Anyway, no matter how much I want that BMW, this Rebel sure does make me happy.
After I got home I kept looking at the bike because something seemed off some how. I walked around it, looked it over, and then it hit me. They washed it! The air filter cover and battery cover were both so shiny. It was weird. Hubby said maybe they just didn't want to get dirt on themselves.
They didn't wash the whole bike just wiped down the tank, and some shiny bits.Very cool shop if you are in the neighborhood.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Cool mornings
Ah, the past few days have been very cool and great for riding. Well, except for the late evening thunder and lightning storms. Could definitely do without those. Supposed to warm back up into the 80s the rest of the week.
I have plans to get a new back tire this week. I think I need to find a twistier way to work. I've still got lots of nice tread on the sides but not much at all down the middle. Bummer. Otherwise, it's a perfectly good tire. ;-)
I have plans to get a new back tire this week. I think I need to find a twistier way to work. I've still got lots of nice tread on the sides but not much at all down the middle. Bummer. Otherwise, it's a perfectly good tire. ;-)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Getting a new helmet!
I've had this great Icon Airframe helmet since Christmas. It was a gift from my father. It is a fabulous fit and quite comfy. Recently though, the snaps that hold the liner in place have been failing to do that. So, sometimes when I put it on, the back end comes undone and pokes me in the head. So, on the advice of Mary at Motogear Outlet, I called the shop where I bought it. Icon has warranty coverage for helmets. GForce Powersports in Lakewood called their Icon rep and then called me right back to say they'd order a new helmet. Julie said it should be in the shop in a week and a half and I can bring my other one in to make the trade. Sweet! What awesome customer service all around!! :-) Now I'll need a new fleur de lis reflective sticker to put on the back of the new helmet. I should also remember to take off the sunblocker from the shield.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
ABQ here we come.... maybe next time...
My sister-in-law emailed me yesterday and asked if I wanted to take the next two days off and ride to Albuquerque with her. She was packing for a drive down and thought it would be fun to ride instead. I didn't say no right away but my little adult on my shoulder hesitated. We discussed it back and forth and decided to wait for hubby to tell us if he could go. He couldn't. So, I said no. I learned that we don't have emergency roadside assistance for the motos, only for the cars. So that was one thing. I'm not a wrencher. Even though I am confident in my bike, it's never done a 500 mile trip before, and neither have I for that matter. It was pretty late in the evening before we got home and I hadn't had time to pack yet. It would be a 4 day adventure and I wasn't sure what else I had planned for the weekend. (My sister and I have actually made plans to run stairs at Red Rocks on Saturday.) So, I chickened out. :-(
I hope we get to do it as a group though with our husbands along as well. It is definitely on the ride to do list. Hubby needs more lead time to take time off from his job. Me, not so much. An email in the morning is usually ok, if nothing is going on. Sigh. Now I wish I were on the road.... Although, after the ride in the storm last night, I'm actually glad to be off the moto for a bit.
That reminds me, I need to look into some emergency roadside assistance insurance for the motos.
I hope we get to do it as a group though with our husbands along as well. It is definitely on the ride to do list. Hubby needs more lead time to take time off from his job. Me, not so much. An email in the morning is usually ok, if nothing is going on. Sigh. Now I wish I were on the road.... Although, after the ride in the storm last night, I'm actually glad to be off the moto for a bit.
That reminds me, I need to look into some emergency roadside assistance insurance for the motos.
Lightning storm!!
Holy smokes!! Well, fortunately, not literally, but way too close for comfort.
We had an after work bbq yesterday in Boulder. Hubby came out as well. It was a beautiful and hot day, perfect for being in the yard with a burger and cold drink. It was a 4:00 - 7:00 deal but hubby and I hung around a little later to socialize with our friends who were hosting. About 8:00 or so, I thought I saw some lightning in the distance but it was one of those deals where I wasn't sure if that's what I saw or not. It wasn't dark yet and the sky was pretty clear over head. The time came when we decided to mosey on home - about 25 miles or so.
Hubby was in the car as he'd come from work. I was on the moto. As we are standing around saying our goodbye's I was certain now that there was lightning some where around us but still over us the sky was clear. We headed out and as we make the turn out of their neighborhood and face south the sky is a dark black blue color off to the west. Still, not raining, not close and not very much lightning and none hitting the ground. But, since that's the general direction we are headed, I pull over to put my rain gear on. Hubby says, well, we shouldn't dawdle.
Before leaving we'd settled on the most direct route home which is west and then south. After putting on the rain gear, I decided that was too close to the dark ominous clouds and instead took the south-easterly route. The first route takes us through some flat open space. The second would take us into town where there are taller buildings and more cars. I didn't think being the tallest thing on the road would work to my advantage. Plus, on the highway I can go about 75 mph and actually get home faster. So, off we went on highway 36.
We take our exit for home which is about 112th and Wadsworth. We need to go south to 64th and turn west (towards the storm and home). We could go west at any point really but by this time the storm is much closer. I want to stay as far away from it as I can. Now, the lightning is definitely hitting the ground to the west, my right. I push on now as we are just a few miles from home at this point. It isn't even raining yet but I can smell it. (Not good.) Then the sky lights up to my right. Not one huge bolt but the sky turns white. I duck instinctively. Or maybe it's fear. Anyway, I sort of tuck down on the bike without realizing it. After a while I tell myself to relax and focus. There are still cars around me and Wadsworth is a very busy road. It's now raining a little but not so much to worry about. I hardly even notice the rain.
Finally we reach 64th avenue and make the right turn. From here we are about a 2 mile drive through the neighborhood from home. It's a left, then a right, then a left, another right, left again right turn, right turn, left and home. At the first left, the sky turns white again, this time with thunder. I tuck down again and hit the throttle. I make the right turn but just before the next left, a HUGE bolt of lightning followed immediately by a LOUD clap of thunder. I ducked again and swear out loud and hit the throttle. At the corner I have to wait for a couple of turning cars. At this point I'm completely freaked out. Home is a few blocks away. I make that turn, stop at the next stop sign as it is a blind intersection, hit the throttle, blow through the next stop sign (its a 3 way and nothing is around), hit the throttle again, go two blocks, slowly realize it is now actually raining, slow to the next right, make the immediate left onto our street, and look for oncoming cars as I try to hit the garage door opener in my pocket. More thunder and lightning are surrounding me. I didn't get the opener to work so I pull into the driveway between our two large trees and the dead Bronco, open the garage door and duck in under it.
I must have left hubby in my dust because he didn't pull up until I'd shut off the bike and gotten off. I stood there for a bit while he walked up to me. He says, "That last one was probably 1000 feet from us!" I think I said carp or something, but mainly just stared at him. Then he looks at me and says, "Are you alright?" I said, "Yes." Then I said the F word really loudly.
We went inside and his daughter and her boyfriend were standing in the living room waiting for us. She'd text us about the storm but we were already on the road at that point. They said the house shook with that last one. I think I just said the F word again and just stood there shaking. I took my gear off and kind of shook off the events. Then all of a sudden, the sky opened up and rain came down as if we were living in the south. I think I said the F word again as we looked out the window at it.
After I calmed down a bit, I asked hubby what we should have done differently. He thought we did the best we could under the circumstances. We had no idea how bad it was or even that the storm was out there. We were so close to home, and it wasn't really raining, that he didn't think stopping was necessary. I felt the same way as we were traveling. I kept thinking, we're almost home. The problem was, and we didn't really know it, the storm was worse directly over our house. So the closer we got to home the closer we got to danger. But, I just kept thinking, we're almost home.
Thinking about it now, if I'd known how bad it really was, I would have stayed in Boulder or left the bike there at my friends' house. That was an option but one we didn't think necessary at the time under their clear skies.
I have never ever been so terrified. Even now, recounting the story, I feel like I seriously dodged it. Or maybe I am shaking because I had too much caffeine this morning. I think it might be a little of both. I drove to work today. Afternoon storms are forecast. They weren't yesterday.
We had an after work bbq yesterday in Boulder. Hubby came out as well. It was a beautiful and hot day, perfect for being in the yard with a burger and cold drink. It was a 4:00 - 7:00 deal but hubby and I hung around a little later to socialize with our friends who were hosting. About 8:00 or so, I thought I saw some lightning in the distance but it was one of those deals where I wasn't sure if that's what I saw or not. It wasn't dark yet and the sky was pretty clear over head. The time came when we decided to mosey on home - about 25 miles or so.
Hubby was in the car as he'd come from work. I was on the moto. As we are standing around saying our goodbye's I was certain now that there was lightning some where around us but still over us the sky was clear. We headed out and as we make the turn out of their neighborhood and face south the sky is a dark black blue color off to the west. Still, not raining, not close and not very much lightning and none hitting the ground. But, since that's the general direction we are headed, I pull over to put my rain gear on. Hubby says, well, we shouldn't dawdle.
Before leaving we'd settled on the most direct route home which is west and then south. After putting on the rain gear, I decided that was too close to the dark ominous clouds and instead took the south-easterly route. The first route takes us through some flat open space. The second would take us into town where there are taller buildings and more cars. I didn't think being the tallest thing on the road would work to my advantage. Plus, on the highway I can go about 75 mph and actually get home faster. So, off we went on highway 36.
We take our exit for home which is about 112th and Wadsworth. We need to go south to 64th and turn west (towards the storm and home). We could go west at any point really but by this time the storm is much closer. I want to stay as far away from it as I can. Now, the lightning is definitely hitting the ground to the west, my right. I push on now as we are just a few miles from home at this point. It isn't even raining yet but I can smell it. (Not good.) Then the sky lights up to my right. Not one huge bolt but the sky turns white. I duck instinctively. Or maybe it's fear. Anyway, I sort of tuck down on the bike without realizing it. After a while I tell myself to relax and focus. There are still cars around me and Wadsworth is a very busy road. It's now raining a little but not so much to worry about. I hardly even notice the rain.
Finally we reach 64th avenue and make the right turn. From here we are about a 2 mile drive through the neighborhood from home. It's a left, then a right, then a left, another right, left again right turn, right turn, left and home. At the first left, the sky turns white again, this time with thunder. I tuck down again and hit the throttle. I make the right turn but just before the next left, a HUGE bolt of lightning followed immediately by a LOUD clap of thunder. I ducked again and swear out loud and hit the throttle. At the corner I have to wait for a couple of turning cars. At this point I'm completely freaked out. Home is a few blocks away. I make that turn, stop at the next stop sign as it is a blind intersection, hit the throttle, blow through the next stop sign (its a 3 way and nothing is around), hit the throttle again, go two blocks, slowly realize it is now actually raining, slow to the next right, make the immediate left onto our street, and look for oncoming cars as I try to hit the garage door opener in my pocket. More thunder and lightning are surrounding me. I didn't get the opener to work so I pull into the driveway between our two large trees and the dead Bronco, open the garage door and duck in under it.
I must have left hubby in my dust because he didn't pull up until I'd shut off the bike and gotten off. I stood there for a bit while he walked up to me. He says, "That last one was probably 1000 feet from us!" I think I said carp or something, but mainly just stared at him. Then he looks at me and says, "Are you alright?" I said, "Yes." Then I said the F word really loudly.
We went inside and his daughter and her boyfriend were standing in the living room waiting for us. She'd text us about the storm but we were already on the road at that point. They said the house shook with that last one. I think I just said the F word again and just stood there shaking. I took my gear off and kind of shook off the events. Then all of a sudden, the sky opened up and rain came down as if we were living in the south. I think I said the F word again as we looked out the window at it.
After I calmed down a bit, I asked hubby what we should have done differently. He thought we did the best we could under the circumstances. We had no idea how bad it was or even that the storm was out there. We were so close to home, and it wasn't really raining, that he didn't think stopping was necessary. I felt the same way as we were traveling. I kept thinking, we're almost home. The problem was, and we didn't really know it, the storm was worse directly over our house. So the closer we got to home the closer we got to danger. But, I just kept thinking, we're almost home.
Thinking about it now, if I'd known how bad it really was, I would have stayed in Boulder or left the bike there at my friends' house. That was an option but one we didn't think necessary at the time under their clear skies.
I have never ever been so terrified. Even now, recounting the story, I feel like I seriously dodged it. Or maybe I am shaking because I had too much caffeine this morning. I think it might be a little of both. I drove to work today. Afternoon storms are forecast. They weren't yesterday.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thoughts on an ADV Rider thread
I don't know what prompted me to read the posts in the "Faceplant" section of this board but... The idea behind this section of the board is to learn from the mistakes of others. The rules are you can only post things that either happened to you or some one close to you so there is a personal connection and some follow up answers to questions. Two posts caught my attention recently.
The first was about mesh pants. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488246
I wear mesh pants and am quite happy with them. They are comfortable in all seasons and offer armored protection in the knees and padding in the hips. They are not inexpensive either, so in the you-get-what-you-pay-for (YGWYPF) realm, I'm hoping I'm getting enough. Then I saw this post with pictures of mesh pants (of a different brand than mine) melted after a crash. The rider goes on to say what a piece of junk they are. Many folks agreed, leather is the only way to go for them. Kevlar leather being even better. In the YGWYPF scheme of things, this is the top of the line. MotoGP racers wear full suits of tight fitting leather. Others mentioned the heat factor of wearing leather and that they could never do such a thing or they'd crash from heat stroke. They put in a bid for wearing what you are most comfortable with - physically and financially comfortable. They are of the mind that any gear is better than no gear. Still others claimed that mesh gear versus leather isn't simply a matter of what the stuff looks like after the crash. Mesh gear, they say, is designed to be disposable. It is supposed to take the brunt of the crash to protect you. If your pants melted but you got up and walked away, they did their job. Racing leathers are designed to take more than one crash. It is designed to be more durable so you can get up, get back on the bike, and get back in the race. All in all it is a very interesting thread to read and quite educational. I'll have to do some follow up research on this topic for my own piece of mind.
The other post was "I very very nearly died today..." http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=481931
Why I clicked on it I don't know. But, I was glad I did. The story is by a woman who was nearly taken out by a 4x4x8 that came off a truck at the woman and her husband. He was able to swerve and avoid it. She was not and it hit her head on. She managed to stay upright and not drop the bike, coming to a safe stop. The piece of 4x4 smashed into her headlight. She, knowing she was going to get hit, tucked down with her face next to her tank bag, and held on. Bravo to her for being in control of her bike and her wits at the same time! Wow! it was quite the adrenaline rush just reading her account of the event. I can't imagine being in the situation.
I read this one after hubby and I returned from our Colfax ride and it got me thinking. We take turns being the leader on our weekend trips. I think who ever is following has the most stressful part of the journey. I'm constantly worried about traffic around us, particularly around him. It's weird actually, because we're both fairly responsible riders, have taken multiple rider courses, and are very aware of our surroundings. But, being the one behind the other makes you more aware of how close cars are to the other person because you can see them. When a car is passing me, I barely even notice, even if it seems close. I feel like I can take action if needed and I dont' stress about it. But, it is another thing entirely to watch that some situation happen to your significant other. Get away from my husband you crazy drivers!!
We all accept the responsibility of riding. We wouldn't do it if we didn't know what we were getting into. It's one thing to know those dangers and accept them for yourself. It's another thing to know those dangers and accept them for the person you love. Anything can happen on the road whether you are in your car, on the motorcycle or walking across the street. Stay aware. Stay alert. SEE - scan, evaluate, execute - and be seen. ATGATT! Do what you love. Love what you do. And kiss your loved ones every day.
Ride, have fun, and come home at the end of the day. :-)
The first was about mesh pants. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488246
I wear mesh pants and am quite happy with them. They are comfortable in all seasons and offer armored protection in the knees and padding in the hips. They are not inexpensive either, so in the you-get-what-you-pay-for (YGWYPF) realm, I'm hoping I'm getting enough. Then I saw this post with pictures of mesh pants (of a different brand than mine) melted after a crash. The rider goes on to say what a piece of junk they are. Many folks agreed, leather is the only way to go for them. Kevlar leather being even better. In the YGWYPF scheme of things, this is the top of the line. MotoGP racers wear full suits of tight fitting leather. Others mentioned the heat factor of wearing leather and that they could never do such a thing or they'd crash from heat stroke. They put in a bid for wearing what you are most comfortable with - physically and financially comfortable. They are of the mind that any gear is better than no gear. Still others claimed that mesh gear versus leather isn't simply a matter of what the stuff looks like after the crash. Mesh gear, they say, is designed to be disposable. It is supposed to take the brunt of the crash to protect you. If your pants melted but you got up and walked away, they did their job. Racing leathers are designed to take more than one crash. It is designed to be more durable so you can get up, get back on the bike, and get back in the race. All in all it is a very interesting thread to read and quite educational. I'll have to do some follow up research on this topic for my own piece of mind.
The other post was "I very very nearly died today..." http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=481931
Why I clicked on it I don't know. But, I was glad I did. The story is by a woman who was nearly taken out by a 4x4x8 that came off a truck at the woman and her husband. He was able to swerve and avoid it. She was not and it hit her head on. She managed to stay upright and not drop the bike, coming to a safe stop. The piece of 4x4 smashed into her headlight. She, knowing she was going to get hit, tucked down with her face next to her tank bag, and held on. Bravo to her for being in control of her bike and her wits at the same time! Wow! it was quite the adrenaline rush just reading her account of the event. I can't imagine being in the situation.
I read this one after hubby and I returned from our Colfax ride and it got me thinking. We take turns being the leader on our weekend trips. I think who ever is following has the most stressful part of the journey. I'm constantly worried about traffic around us, particularly around him. It's weird actually, because we're both fairly responsible riders, have taken multiple rider courses, and are very aware of our surroundings. But, being the one behind the other makes you more aware of how close cars are to the other person because you can see them. When a car is passing me, I barely even notice, even if it seems close. I feel like I can take action if needed and I dont' stress about it. But, it is another thing entirely to watch that some situation happen to your significant other. Get away from my husband you crazy drivers!!
We all accept the responsibility of riding. We wouldn't do it if we didn't know what we were getting into. It's one thing to know those dangers and accept them for yourself. It's another thing to know those dangers and accept them for the person you love. Anything can happen on the road whether you are in your car, on the motorcycle or walking across the street. Stay aware. Stay alert. SEE - scan, evaluate, execute - and be seen. ATGATT! Do what you love. Love what you do. And kiss your loved ones every day.
Ride, have fun, and come home at the end of the day. :-)
Colfax Ride
This Saturday we rode Colfax Avenue. (Check out this cool interactive link! I wish I'd seen it before we went out on our ride.) I'd always wanted to do this just to say that I had. Now, it is crossed off the list and we don't have to do it ever again. It wasn't horrible by any stretch but it wasn't one of those nice comfortable rides with lots of great scenery either. It was quite stressful at times but not too bad overall. I guess what I'm trying to say is it could have been worse. :-)
We started out from Golden where we had some Starbucks and read the paper. It was going to be a leisurely ride. Our official starting point was Heritage Road and W. Colfax Ave. We headed east from there ending up at Powhaton Road in Aurora. The weather was great. Even though we got a late start, it wasn't too hot to be in the stop and go of Colfax. The traffic was pretty light as well. The only construction was a very short bit downtown. It was fun to ride by the capitol as if we were tourists just traveling through. Maybe knowing we didn't have to try to find a parking space was what made it more relaxing. LOL! About noon we stopped at a Wendy's at Colfax and Chambers. Next time, if we do something like this again, we'll have to plan it so we can stop at one of the diners along the route.
Once we got to Powhaton, we considered whether to keep going but decided to start heading back. Hubby had a party to go to later. So, we took a route back through Aurora, Cherry Creek, downtown Denver, Highlands, and home. It was a pretty great ride actually. Not as bad as I'm making it out to be. :-) We only nearly got run over a few times on Colfax by people not paying attention or in too much of a hurry to look for motorcycles. But that's nothing new. We make up for it by paying attention for them and being hyper-aware of our surroundings.
Here's a Google map of our route.
We started out from Golden where we had some Starbucks and read the paper. It was going to be a leisurely ride. Our official starting point was Heritage Road and W. Colfax Ave. We headed east from there ending up at Powhaton Road in Aurora. The weather was great. Even though we got a late start, it wasn't too hot to be in the stop and go of Colfax. The traffic was pretty light as well. The only construction was a very short bit downtown. It was fun to ride by the capitol as if we were tourists just traveling through. Maybe knowing we didn't have to try to find a parking space was what made it more relaxing. LOL! About noon we stopped at a Wendy's at Colfax and Chambers. Next time, if we do something like this again, we'll have to plan it so we can stop at one of the diners along the route.
Once we got to Powhaton, we considered whether to keep going but decided to start heading back. Hubby had a party to go to later. So, we took a route back through Aurora, Cherry Creek, downtown Denver, Highlands, and home. It was a pretty great ride actually. Not as bad as I'm making it out to be. :-) We only nearly got run over a few times on Colfax by people not paying attention or in too much of a hurry to look for motorcycles. But that's nothing new. We make up for it by paying attention for them and being hyper-aware of our surroundings.
Here's a Google map of our route.
Monday, July 13, 2009
A weekend of motorcycling!!
First of all, happy birthday to my sister-in-law!! :-) We celebrated her bday on Saturday in Loveland. Hubby and I rode out on the motos making a quick stop at Colorado Euro Motorcycles in Loveland. A few days ago I stopped in Foothills BMW but they were out of the 2009 G650GS. I was hoping to sit on one with my gear on to see how it fit. Apparently, Foothills owns the store up north, so the guy called that shop to see what they had. They had a couple in the shop so I thought it would be fun to stop there on the way to sis-in-law's place. :-) They had two on the floor, both black, one lowered one stock. The stock one is too tall. I could only tippy toe it. The lowered one was perfect! I'm not totally flatfooted but very close. Certainly close enough to be comfortable. The lowered one also had heated grips and a center-stand. It was about $8500. So, I have lots of saving to do. It was so comfortable sitting on it. :-D I could so get used to that!!
When we got to sis-in-law's she said they'd left her bike out in case I wanted to take it for a spin. :-D I was thinking I shouldn't because what if I fell in love with it? That would be sad. But then I thought, if I don't, I'll certainly wish I had. So, later, after dinner, she and I traded bikes. She rode the Rebel and led me around the neighborhood, around some lakes near their place on some slow curvy roads. It was so much fun! And I did love it. The GS is (obviously) taller than the Rebel. I say obviously but riding it is really what makes the difference. It's one thing to sit in the dealership on the floor but it's another thing to see the world go by from the saddle.
The pegs are in a completely different place too - thus the difference between a cruiser and standard I suppose. It actually took me a little while to find them. Muscle memory wanted them to be some where else entirely. And they are smaller than the Rebel's too. That was a bit weird for a while. My boots felt really big. The brake and shift levers are smaller too. Sitting on it was very comfortable. The seat is comfy and just the right size. The cruiser seat on the Rebel doesn't allow for much movement but I can see where the GS would be better. My knees nestled comfortably on the "tank". The Rebel tank is quite small and I always feel like my knees are not where they are supposed to be or are flopping around.
The handlebar position is also (obviously) completely different from the Rebel. The GS has a more leaned over position, although not as dramatic as a sportbike. I think it is a bit more leaned over than hubby's CX, although, that may be because I'm shorter of torso. I definitely felt like I was leaning on my shoulders more. I'm sure that can be changed easily enough if needed. It was difficult to reach the turn signals while holding onto the clutch, or really just the grips. I remember that being something that felt abnormal in the Rebel at first too. It takes some coordination to hold the handlebars steady while working the clutch and reaching for the controls. Muscle memory again.
It was a fabulous ride! Thanks sister-in-law!
Saturday, hubby and I rode about 116 miles.
On Sunday we went out to meet some of hubby's work buddies. They were planning a group lunch ride to Estes Park, which is one of my most favorite places in Colorado. There were 13 of us in the group and 9 bikes. I was the only woman riding her own and also the smallest bike there (with hubby close behind on his CX500). There were lots of different bikes - a couple of touring Harleys, a Gold Wing, a Victory, a Suzuki TL1000, a Virago, my Rebel, and hubby's CX. It was a great group of folks, most of whom I met for the first time there. The Victory had some electrical problems that the guys were able to fix before we left. That took about 30 minutes or so. Then we were off. Here is the route:
We rode about 163 miles. It was so much fun! We rode from our house to the meeting point down south in Littleton. from there we went northwest through Morrison, Red Rocks park, to Golden and highway 93, north to Coal Creek Canyon, and the Peak-to-Peak highway into Estes. We had lunch at Ed's Cantina, where I'd never eaten before. It was pretty ok. Not un-tasty. :-) Lunch is made all the better by good company. :-) After lunch, I led the group back to Boulder on highway 36. Well, most of the group. It's tough getting out of Estes on a weekend. Lots of tourists. So, we lost half the group getting out of town but were reunited between Lyons and Boulder. No worries, although I felt bad losing them since I was the leader. :-(
Here are some of the bikes we rode with.
It was a fabulous weekend spent with my hubby on the motos! We were sure tired after all that though. :-)
When we got to sis-in-law's she said they'd left her bike out in case I wanted to take it for a spin. :-D I was thinking I shouldn't because what if I fell in love with it? That would be sad. But then I thought, if I don't, I'll certainly wish I had. So, later, after dinner, she and I traded bikes. She rode the Rebel and led me around the neighborhood, around some lakes near their place on some slow curvy roads. It was so much fun! And I did love it. The GS is (obviously) taller than the Rebel. I say obviously but riding it is really what makes the difference. It's one thing to sit in the dealership on the floor but it's another thing to see the world go by from the saddle.
The pegs are in a completely different place too - thus the difference between a cruiser and standard I suppose. It actually took me a little while to find them. Muscle memory wanted them to be some where else entirely. And they are smaller than the Rebel's too. That was a bit weird for a while. My boots felt really big. The brake and shift levers are smaller too. Sitting on it was very comfortable. The seat is comfy and just the right size. The cruiser seat on the Rebel doesn't allow for much movement but I can see where the GS would be better. My knees nestled comfortably on the "tank". The Rebel tank is quite small and I always feel like my knees are not where they are supposed to be or are flopping around.
The handlebar position is also (obviously) completely different from the Rebel. The GS has a more leaned over position, although not as dramatic as a sportbike. I think it is a bit more leaned over than hubby's CX, although, that may be because I'm shorter of torso. I definitely felt like I was leaning on my shoulders more. I'm sure that can be changed easily enough if needed. It was difficult to reach the turn signals while holding onto the clutch, or really just the grips. I remember that being something that felt abnormal in the Rebel at first too. It takes some coordination to hold the handlebars steady while working the clutch and reaching for the controls. Muscle memory again.
It was a fabulous ride! Thanks sister-in-law!
Saturday, hubby and I rode about 116 miles.
On Sunday we went out to meet some of hubby's work buddies. They were planning a group lunch ride to Estes Park, which is one of my most favorite places in Colorado. There were 13 of us in the group and 9 bikes. I was the only woman riding her own and also the smallest bike there (with hubby close behind on his CX500). There were lots of different bikes - a couple of touring Harleys, a Gold Wing, a Victory, a Suzuki TL1000, a Virago, my Rebel, and hubby's CX. It was a great group of folks, most of whom I met for the first time there. The Victory had some electrical problems that the guys were able to fix before we left. That took about 30 minutes or so. Then we were off. Here is the route:
We rode about 163 miles. It was so much fun! We rode from our house to the meeting point down south in Littleton. from there we went northwest through Morrison, Red Rocks park, to Golden and highway 93, north to Coal Creek Canyon, and the Peak-to-Peak highway into Estes. We had lunch at Ed's Cantina, where I'd never eaten before. It was pretty ok. Not un-tasty. :-) Lunch is made all the better by good company. :-) After lunch, I led the group back to Boulder on highway 36. Well, most of the group. It's tough getting out of Estes on a weekend. Lots of tourists. So, we lost half the group getting out of town but were reunited between Lyons and Boulder. No worries, although I felt bad losing them since I was the leader. :-(Here are some of the bikes we rode with.
It was a fabulous weekend spent with my hubby on the motos! We were sure tired after all that though. :-)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Weird
I just posted the helmet review and this is the ad that popped up...
The internet really creeps me out some days.....
The internet really creeps me out some days.....
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