Debbie does John S. Town; a very whett Ride-Report

1st up... Debbie doesn't do the long distance stuff, and in the past?; about 300mi/day has been her limit.

2nd up... KJ (thinking) since he added some 'fugly' RDL seats? "maybe Deb could handle a bit more?"

So this weekend was the early test. Last weekend we went on some local rides and she floored me with the comment "hey, that seat is pretty comfortable!". NO more 'fugly' comments, and no more comments that they took the sexy right out of the bike etc. Nice!!

So Johnstown PA (aka John S. Town^) was the target destination with a few "side-bars" (aka re-routes to twisty roads) thrown in for good measure. One curve-ball was that I (we) could not leave until Thurs early afternoon b/c of my business and a late last minute job that I had to care for. Only snag was with this later start, meant missing Mike (Wine Guy) for breakfast in Bradford PA but Steamer was to venture (alone) and meet him.... but,,,, he chickened out, waited for me as he is such 'the follower' lol.

Thurs-Day started out hot and muggy (low 90's). But well into PA it started to rain. After a brief gas-up and some additional rain gear...as we still had about 150 miles left before Somerset (which is about 27mi south of Johnstown). I'm thinking "dang, she (Deb) won't ever wanna go on another trip if we have the rain they are calling for!" (forecast was rain pretty much the whole weekend, a low pressure funk w the jet stream now dipped below us). We made it in just before darkness settled. Time to visit the liquor store and get the party grove in action.

Our group, just as last years is the Yami VMax group, great bunch of guys and gals. The following day (Friday), was a non-rain perfect day. Yes!!! We decide to ride to breakfast with about 40 of the VMaxers, then venturing along to the Flight 93 Memorial, which I Mike and I did last year, but we had Debbie and Stan as newbies that haven't.







The VMax boys had the entire ballroom booked just for us hoodlums... (yeah, that's Steamer's backside with the Geneva HD shirt)... and, I'm glad he's the only "Buff" one in the group!



Stan (now) thinks he has a shot w Debbie ...well, if I ever dump her again... cuz he's just "buff and much better looking!"



Cruising into town for the Rally after breakfast...





We both find our favorite new toyz.... (and, I was thinking of Don Stanley right here)



Deb likes purple, and yes, men can't touch, but they will let the ladies...



We worked up a good thirst walking around visiting w the Rally Vendors. Point Pub was also our last years thirst quencher retreat. It also is right below the Vertical Plain that Johnstown has been tagged as/with; in past Iron Butt bonus locations.



Arriving back to VMax Central (aka our Days Inn). The group was setting up for the multiple activities, including parking lot skills test,s and of course burn-outs... whenever someone gets the urge to show-off the 200+ HP VMAx machines...



The VMax owners group (with us now as adopted sons & daughters) engulf the entire Days Inn. Being that many of the Vmax clan brings 3, and even 4 VMax's to this event, they do trailer (I know, a no-no in our community) but with that being said, they also have the kitchen sink along with them.





Friday nite was FUNNN! We had a $10 dinner/BBQ in the parking lot with lots of goodies, BYOB of course but nobody walked away hungry. Here we have L->R Charlie (FJR; Huey Lewis), Mike (Wine Guy) and ole Steamer post BBQ and the beginning of story time.



Debbie got involved with a VMax friend that we met last year (George), who is a Virginia PoPo officer. George had her on the back of his VMAx doing this javelin (but with a pool cue stick) spear the rings deal. I was pretty buzzed by this time, forgot to snap pics, so, maybe Mike can post up some pics of that here (or video?). So Tag-on pics always welcomed!.......... (hopefully! so see below posts?....)

Sat morning ....looked like a ghost town!. What was so vibrant, loud and bustling (the night before), has now all bowed to the weather lords and the accompanied H2O.









^above pic was taken outside of Stan's room, so Deb and I bust in to see if he is hung-over?... Guess he didn't know he didn't shut his door all the way the night before!



Being early-morning shunned (by everyone it seemed), so, we just went back to our room.... Once we sprawled out on our bed for some late morning napping... our maid was a knocking at our door! dang!. We then see our maids name is Debbie also....



Sat ~2pm... the rain finally stopped!... and, after a nice lunch at our motels neighboring Ruby Tuesdays with Mike & Steamer, we also took in the local Harley Davidson dealer in Somerset. All within 5 mins of walking After lunch, I get the idea of going back up/into the Rally in J-Town.... hmmmm?.

Here, Mike (Wine Guy) is Stan's personal photographer ....for GQ magazine.



The other "couple" ....



Then... it rained, again! Hard enough so, that the event organizers moved the Sat nites concert to indoors (at least covered). The BIG stage outdoors had the BIG sound & lighting, this one however suffered on the mega system . Hey, It was dry at least!...



I quickly tell Mike here, "let's pay the $10 and get upfront viewing". He agrees, but Steamer is no where to be found, I think he went shopping for Rally Ho's, but he's now in-love, so that couldn't be the situation, could it? Here we are in the "premium" viewing area. Most are too cheap to pay, so we have space!!



The main act Sat nite is/was John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Most famous song is "On the dark side", commonly mistaken for a Bruce Springsteen song. He (his band) is also noted for the song track in the movie "Eddie and the Cruisers".



Me Mike and Deb kind of gently "weaseled" our way to the front... (still no sign of Steamer). We now had Debbie with some newly made g/f's as front row, Mike and I were right in back of them. The sax player was just amazing. I played an e-flat Alto Sax all through grade school, his was more a tenor sax. I could not blow a note to save me anymore, but we all liked this dudes talent! Wow!



Steamer finds us!... finally!



Band then invites some womenz up on stage, generally a no-no in the business due to the drunkenness and valuable gear on stage.





After the 2 encore's, the drummer came back out with his 2 drumsticks, pulls Deb up on stage. Debbie of course got one of the sticks ...oh yeah, she got a guitar pic also from the lead guitarist. Us guys?... got nut-tin! (as usual).



The night ended with a huge downpour. We just got back to our parked bike location after about a 10 min walk from the venue. We quickly got suited up, and bammm! It came down in buckets. So, I led Mike and Stan back to Somerset in a complete flash flood like miserable *** conditions. I hardly could see the road let alone any painted lines in the road. Man, what a 27 mile jaunt back to our Somerset Days Inn, and, I don't think I'll ever forget that ride. Evah!

So what's a RR without some Food **** right?

We stopped in Bradford PA on our way back; only to find our usual Kennedy St Cafe is/was closed now on Sundays! . So, I asked a local on the streets (not raining at the moment) and he shoots us down the street to 'Rookies Sports Bar'. It ended up being some very good grub!... Debbie had a beer, we had Ice Water, and, after this weekend?... I don't think I like the word 'water' nearly as much!



Mike's Reuben was killer ....in his words!



And I went healthy with a Grilled Chix salad, but, topped with fries, huh? Deb just had a turkey wrap, she ALWAYS eats healthy.



So all in all, it was a fun trip. The VMax bunch accepts us like their own (I'm not sure why?). I got to say I really like their tricked out VMax's, and yes, they are loud as heck. But, those 4 cylinders revved up sound much more like a race car than the 2 measly cylinders that the Harley's have. No whapp whapping crap.

Now for the closer.........

Upon eating with Mike in Bradford before parting our ways, Debbie spews off that "we" are going to TIV next year. I almost fell off my chair, and almost as shocked as I was with her RDL seat as "very comfortable" comment.. Mike and I looked at each other with a big "WTF?". After all the miserable rain we encountered, I thought for sure she was going to say "No more rides for me!" but nope, she says she's looking forward to next years Rally.

The "Whett" End.

KJ,

Nice RR and pics as usual. Sorry wife and I couldn't meet up with you. Again! Next year we'll have to make a plan.

Nice RR KJ, glad you all had fun! Looks like you got a rider.

@ KJ - Yeah, about that Russell seat... I hate to say I told you so. So instead...

Nice RR KJ!!

Gotta love those RDL's. It makes like much more tolerable on the road.

Debbie, back in the saddle...

Our RDL was "different" but we soon adapted and now enjoy it very much...1,000 miles two-up on Saturday two weeks ago. Mama highly approves. Best accessory on a tour? A good woman at pillion. Good RR!

Enjoyed coming along via your excellent RR. Thanks!

If KJs girlfriend's butt is happy, we're all happy.

Holy food ****! Another mighty fine report KJ, great to see you two having so much fun and even the Steamer made this report! Nice job on the bike **** too, those are some real nice looking Yamaha's-bet it sounded good too. Thanks.

KJ! Good read. Looks like you guys had a great time despite the rainy weather. Thanks for the picture tour for us guys who can't read. Sure wish we would have joined you. How was the Sunday ride home? A little on the dry side?

So you made up with Debbie. What happened to the chick with the big ears on the Internet dating site that you were drooling over??

Nice RR and pics there Beemer boy...

yamafitter said:

So you made up with Debbie. What happened to the chick with the big ears on the Internet dating site that you were drooling over??

Click to expand...

Had a hard time holding on!

Looks like fun, KJ! B)

Good Stuff. I like that your RRs almost always involve an interesting party of some kind.

Very nice!

Thanks!

Awesome ride report.....

Loved the shot of all the V_Max's.... Sweet

Thanks guys

--Yes, the RDL sure was a great band-aid to an otherwise piss-poor weather outing. Fred was correct (kudos!), but I still will have the stock seats on for my local riding. On the RDL, I can now say that I'm more use to the slide forward effect at a stop light to get the sure footing/feeling. I never felt any butt discomfort, that pocket was great, the wings supporting the upper thigh which takes away some of the lower additional spine pressure is the trick and overall secret weapon.

--A Gen2 VMax may be in my future, not for long distance stuff (their mileage and wind protection sucks moose-bawls!) so, my garage will have to grow outwards... somehow.

--Debbie said last night at a friends 'Martini Monday Party'... that she had fun and is looking forward to next years Rally. I was asked by a few "would I take her again?" lol, yes, but it is easier by myself and w only one person to please.... I know that sounds selfish, but, I'm just yapping on the truth here.

--We took some fun-busting from the VMaxer's, they all deemed us as FJR slugs (Me, Mike, Charlie and a couple of ther FJR's who made the trip). I defended the FJR nation at many of conversations. They may have the HP on us guys (especially the modded ones), but they have nut-tin on us in the LD comfort. No no, not even close. And I had to mention several times... none of us guys 'trailer' our bikes to an event either, and, that half the fun is getting there and back. Okay, more than half the fun, and we all know [here] it's not about the destination.....

--On my Beemer (they knew I have an FJR as well from last years event), well, they busted me big time on having a GPS built-in. Also, they didn't like the windshield at all. They all think you should feel the air as it's part of the adventure. My argument (friendly) was to them... "yeah, if I trailered my bike like you guys, and your big ride is 27 miles to a Rally, then I wouldn't need a windshield either!" ...we all had a lot of fun ribbing each other, clearly our ride style is attenuated more LD and way differently that theirs. I still want a VMax for sporting around town, they're bad *** in a totally different way than our ST bikes.

--In 2 weeks I head out for Montana and then down the Rockies. 16 days total, and, without Debbie. It's just WAYY too much for her, and it will be easier going with my other 2 buds who will be both 1up anyways. Of course I'll do a RR!

KJ, I rode the new V-Max last year at a Yamaha Demo event. It handles like a fat sow at parking lot speeds, it feels like it is 500 pounds heavier than the FJR until it gets above 20 mph. Then it feels like it is 250 pounds heavier.

Remember that I am much shorter than you are, I am less than 5'9" but the bike just did not fit. The reach to the bars, the huge bolster on the back of the seat, the footpegs, none of that was "right".

Until... When I twisted the throttle to the stop Everything Fell Into Place. At WOT the whole package harmonizes, the ergonomics become perfect, the rotation of the earth stops, the only sound you hear is your own heartbeat and the Roar of That Engine. The front wheel wants to lift but it cannot because that wide rear tire is spinning. I can only assume that the tire cannot get traction because the road is too slippery due to the tears of the Angels weeping.

After those few seconds of intense, blinding pleasure, depression. The bike becomes a fat pig again. But, oh my. It is definitely worth it!

You do know by the way that our FJRs are right there with the original V-Max (stock) as far as 1/4 mile times right? There is not much difference there.