Battle Born ShakeDown ~~~RIDE REPORT~~

[FJRONAMISSION]

RJ......... you do the coolest runs doooood, and ya always have a ...... RJ style of interpreting a scene.

Kool

B.....

And what a shake down run........

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Simply awesome RJ... :good:

I was hanging on every word in your report. I rarely have that kind of attention span, But you sure know how to keep a guy reading! :clapping:

 

[RenoJohn]

Great report! Don't what is more amazing, the two Italian tourists crossing the U.S. on a 50cc Vespa or Victor crossing on a 1917 Harley. Amazing, both! Great vids.

Ya, both real amazing -true spirit of adventure and fun.

RJ, I know you'll stay in touch with Giorgio and Giviliana. When they prepare their Ride Report, I can't wait to see it. Just incredible touring on Vespa 50. And I thought our IT teerex51 Stef was a nut!

I definately will --I believe an italian magazine has picked up the story and will be doing a write-up as well. Perhaps a Dukes Of Hazzard sequel as well(?) ...Don I definitely will keep you up on whatever I know. If you know italian, that much better! -course we don't ;-)

Holy cow, John. :dribble:
And that was just the shakedown cruise?

I can't wait to see what happens when you go into full touring mode.

Fred --that thought has crossed my mind and has me a bit scared. The last bike liked to stumble onto mischief -this bike seems to like encounters with odd things. Yep, I'm a bit concerned where it might take me when we really get it going

RJ, I'm wondering how you would have gotten your new second wife home iffin' you'd found one? :blink:
Outstanding ride report !!

And call me about your cruise. I got some questions.

I had a plan to mount her side-saddle on the tank ....or maybe up on the handlebars. Love would have shown us the way Hal.

I'll call you today ....I need to get that thing sorted out or removed

Thanks -can you email me your number -I don't think I put it in my new phone.

 

[RenoJohn]

Wow RJ! You've outdone yourself sir. That must be simply the most interesting ride report that I've ever read - and I haven't finished reading it yet. There are still links unclicked and I haven't seen Victor's video yet. Loved the story about the Italians on the Vespa. The sad comment about asking the Indians how they felt about immigrants taking over. Definitely won't go into the politics here, but that was a point well made. And then that amazing photo of the children. For those who only viewed the highlights report, you HAVE to go into the detailed report and find out why RJ was asked to leave town by the father(s) of these kids.
I feel as though I've just watched a four hour long educational program on PBS. Looking forward to soaking up the rest of the story but there is a bike in the garage begging to be taken out to play right now.

Thanks RenoJohn. You made my day. I'm setting out with a big smile on my face.

Ah, what nice and golden words. Thanks for taking the time to dig in ...you made it all worthwhile. Yep, that photo of the kids is a shot of a lifetime.

I got lucky and that pic will be cherished -not easy to get a pic like that of a polygamous family.

Jill I sure appreciate your words, thanks.

Richly entertaining report, John Austin!(And hell, I know it ain't easy making Nevada look interesting.)



Loved it!

So, what did you learn about your new bike and set-up?

What will you be changing/adjusting/re-thinking?

What worked?

What didn't?

Thanks Mike ...shakedown report near the beginning in green text ...a basic overview what worked and what will get sorted out. For the most part the bike was awesome ...As espected I'm especially loving the keyless ignition and such things electric.

 

[Enn]

Really very interesting reading, I was travelling in nearly the same places 2 years ago with my family, but on Cadillac, not on a motocycle (yes, embarrassing, I know, but then I was simply not a moto-guy yet). Did the Grand Canyon down & up ...

One thing I do not understand: you say it took you 6 hours to get to the Hoover Dam. I thought the motorbikes normally pass all the lines, or this is not common in US?

 

[MEM]

Delicious reading, John !! All of the photos are fabulous - definitely the one of the poly-family is special but this one may be the best

:

 

[Bokerfork]

I got nothing to add except +1 to what everyone else said.

That was great. Thanks

Mark

 

[Bustanut joker]

Great report John! I spent an hour in awe of the sites and three people..

Amazing

You are indeed a lucky man.

:jester:

 

[Solo]

:clapping: Great report! I love the spirit of those you met along the way. Of course, yours to RJ. What a great reminder that it is the journey, not the destination, that makes an adventure. I hope I would have the same good sense you had to turn around twice to meet people that made your ride so poignant. Thanks for sharing a great story.

 

[tmc]

You are out of your damn mind John.

I LOVE IT.

Can't wait to see what's next man.

 

[S76]

I lost half an aftenoon to this report, and boy was it time well spent.

Amazing photo's and comentary.

Thank You.

 

[puppychow]

Epic doesn't cut it! Thanks for the great reading and watching material! :clapping:

EDIT - Does he have a GPS unit rigged to that HD? I thought I saw something around 8:55 into the video and then again at 12:20. The video snippet of him getting pulled by the pick-up had me cringing - glad it turned out all good. What is his plan for getting across the Sierra's into California?

 

[Khunajawdge]

Very interesting Johnny Reno (Commander Klink accent).

Yours does (somehow?) vaguely remind me of this story The Red Baron

Bravo for finding Giorgio and Giullianna = what a couple of Troubadours. Which one of them was the mechanic?

Ride on..... anywhere, anyhow, anywhen... with anywho(?), & best of luck out there!

 

[RenoJohn]

Delicious reading, John !! All of the photos are fabulous - definitely the one of the poly-family is special but this one may be the best

Thanks ....the joke at my house is since Grace joined us ...I've yet to be late coming home from a ride ...where before Grace my rides always went days longer than promised. She's our joy.

Great report John! I spent an hour in awe of the sites and three people..Amazing

You are indeed a lucky man.

LOL, thanks Bust ....ya those three folks are something.

You and I need to team up for some sort of wacky adventure --one that doesn't curtail dressing farm animals up in women's clothing. Well, ya on the other hand, maybe better to stay with one's strengths.

I lost half an aftenoon to this report, and boy was it time well spent.
Amazing photo's and comentary.

Thank You.

Nice words thanks

Epic doesn't cut it! Thanks for the great reading and watching material! :clapping:
EDIT - Does he have a GPS unit rigged to that HD? I thought I saw something around 8:55 into the video and then again at 12:20. The video snippet of him getting pulled by the pick-up had me cringing - glad it turned out all good. What is his plan for getting across the Sierra's into California?

**GREAT observations Puppy Love**

+ Yes, he had a cheap little battery operated GPS ...i didn't look at it closely but it was small and seemed very simple

+ The plan was for me to pull him with the Battle Born Bike ...until the Toyota came along and that seemed like a better plan. I too was scared shitless for him when he started out getting towed ...I knew for sure he was going down!! Thankfully he didn't.

+ I learned later he went over Kit Carson pass to get into CA ...that is no easy trek and it seems he got a lift.

**BUT, he did make it to San Francisco!! ...and I was pointed to a forum where they were tracking his progress ....even a kind of mention of me -I'm described as a fella on a metric cruiser!!!! LOL, good fun:



click on image to go to that forum

Also good overview of his welcome home

.....and such here (CLICKY)

====

Meanwhile:

Our Italian friends have been making progress and I've traded a few emails with them. They have been updating their blog (Clicky) in Italian

It would be great if someone here could read Italian and give us the cliff-notes.

 

[Bigbeavk]

Awesome report!!!!! How can anyone ever top a report like this. You've raised the bar way to high.

:clapping:

 

[RadioHowie]

RJ.....

What a mixed bag of emotions your report left me with...

A GIANT smile on my face for the wonderful things you saw and experienced.....

and a tiny tear to my good eye for living in FlatFlorida. I have GOT to get my fat *** out west. America is too great a country to see and smell and taste to spend it all in one place.

What a shakedown cruise!

Thanks SO much for the documentation.

I am so effing jealous. Living in a corner of the country sucks. Have to go SO far to see anything worthwhile.

 

[FJRMaineiac]

Great posting! Awesome story, pics and videos on your site - thanks for sharing!

 

[exskibum]

Just a classic, RJ. I didn't comment until now because I didn't finish watching the clip of Victor until now.

A ride report in a class of its own. You surely do meet some characters out motobiking. :clapping:

BTW, the XX is for sale -- as soon as I touch base with you first.

 

[5lbtrout]

Wow! This is the best ride report I've ever seen. Better than any on advrider.

When I go to Reno to have lunch at the Sushi Club via Hwy 49, I will have to look you up

 

[worldbound4now]

Damn you make me miss NV. You meet the most interesting people in the most remote areas. An odd couple of guys from the UK hiking Grand Canyon NP, an Australian retiree living the life in Australia, oil billionaires seeking medical help in TX, and the list goes on. I need to keep my camera handy and take some lessons from you. RJ, it was truly spirit lifting!