Southern Missouri, Northern Arkansas ride..

[zzzzip]

Just made it in after doing a little sight seeing on the way home.

Curves were great, and my learning curve was verticle. This was an outstanding bunch of guys to hang out with, it made for a great trip in spite of the weather.

Hope to do it again someday.

Thanks all,

Skip

 

[spcombs95]

Thanks for uploading the pics Adam! It's nice to be able to show my wife that you guys actually exist!

Skip, thanks to you for being so diligent in getting shots of us throughout the trip, since some of us (me included) forgot our cameras. :huh:

If you don't have a PhotoBucket membership, getting one is easy and free. Hopefully you can then upload the rest of the shots you probably have.

Chester, I'm wondering what tire pressure you were running in your Avons? As you know, mine were new and just getting scrubbed in, but I detected some front end push on the corners in the rain on the way back. I also felt it a little Saturday morning on the dry roads, after we had aired my tires up a little more to 40 front, 42 rear (this is what I ran in the Metz's and never felt this lack of traction). I'm wondering if I should reduce the front back to 38 or even 36 to improve grip. I really don't care if it wears faster that way, as I always scrap a decent front when the rear wears out anyway.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[petey]

Thanks for uploading the pics Adam! It's nice to be able to show my wife that you guys actually exist!
Skip, thanks to you for being so diligent in getting shots of us throughout the trip, since some of us (me included) forgot our cameras. :huh:

If you don't have a PhotoBucket membership, getting one is easy and free. Hopefully you can then upload the rest of the shots you probably have.

Chester, I'm wondering what tire pressure you were running in your Avons? As you know, mine were new and just getting scrubbed in, but I detected some front end push on the corners in the rain on the way back. I also felt it a little Saturday morning on the dry roads, after we had aired my tires up a little more to 40 front, 42 rear (this is what I ran in the Metz's and never felt this lack of traction). I'm wondering if I should reduce the front back to 38 or even 36 to improve grip. I really don't care if it wears faster that way, as I always scrap a decent front when the rear wears out anyway.

Anyone have any thoughts?

spcombs95, I ran 38-39 lbs in front and 40-42 lbs in the back on Avons, and never had any push in the front.... got a set ready to go on the '06. The Metzlers are almost toast with 4000 miles.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Hey Smitty... et al,

I got back about 15 mins ago. Had a great time!

I left about 5:40 am -sorry petey and got home about 6:40 pm. 665miles, should have been less but I took a few wrong turns in Arkansas. 1700 mils total this weekend. That stock seat is great!

Hope y'all had a great time - I sure did. It was nice riding with all of you and putting some faces to the board names.

I have a good mind to nominate Smitty for CFO 2007 coordinator...I'm sure he'll have nothing else to do .

Thanks for all the wrenching, hospitality and nursemaiding us through the route...I'm sure you had to make up something to have fun with while only going 40-50% all day.

THANKS.

I will sit back now and read your guys' posts.

BTW, thanks zzzzzip for taking all the pictures. Thanks to you we have a record of some of the fun times...

 

[zzzzip]

There were a few who requested I email some photos. If you still want some selected ones, please PM your email address and I will send you a few of the good ones (excluding the ones of the guys dancing on the tables) later tonight, and try not to over load your system at the same time.

 

[smitty141]

Heres a few pic's from Skip's (zzzzip) photo shoot...

Here's Pete...

Mr. Hollywood..aka Skip...

Shaking hands with shorty!!!

And here came the rain...

Tom on the left, me (smitty) in the center, and my big brother Darrell on th right..

Matt, telling Pete and dave a long story..

Enjoy......

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Sorry i failed you with my technical disabilities :huh: I just could not figure it out!

Bottom line: Thanks everyone for coming! :yahoo: "THE RAIN GANG" should be our new name :lol:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Sorry i failed you with my technical disabilities :huh: I just could not figure it out!
Bottom line: Thanks everyone for coming! :yahoo: "THE RAIN GANG" should be our new name :lol:

I think maybe the "Smitty Patrol" ...

 

[KSFJR]

Steve - I had 39 or 40 in the front with 41 in the back and was comfortable on the straights up to 90 or so. As I said, during the 300 or so miles home, not one vehicle passed me and I was not concerned about traction. You guys should all know that I am "ChickenMan" after the way you all left me in the dust on our riding together. The rain was solid most of the way but never a torrential downpour.

Roadrailer - I'm glad you took the comment in the spirit that it was intended. I got to thinking that you might think that I was being a smart ass and that was never my intent. I only saw you as you flashed past us but your wife looked very comfortable back there and undoubtedly had great confindence in your abilities.

Sounds like everyone is home safely and Mark (FJRwheaton) sounds like you had a long day. Thanks for sharing the room and thanks for breakfast. Thanks to all of the new guys and old guys. I enjoyed talking to all of you very much. Now if I can only surreptitiously remove a spark plug wire from each of your motorcyles maybe I can keep you in sight.

Chester

 

[FJRocket]

Thanks again to Smitty and "The Rain Gang" for meeting up for a great ride. My ride down was just a mission to get there. Uneventful ('cept for the deer standing on the interstate) and mostly boring. But like they say, even a bad day of riding beats a good day at work. At it was NOT a bad day.

What a way to end the ride. #9 next to Anglers and the White River is comparable to Cherohala Skyway, but the pavement sucked. Still, a fun road to end and begin on. Certainly better than anything I have close to home.

I think Petey has a great attitude toward riding. Sort of a "take what comes and enjoy" philosophy. Good man! The rain in the afternoon on Saturday was interesting and still fun. Thank goodness it was just light showers. A good experience to be sure. It was pretty cool stopping at the restaurant on the cliff and watching the clouds/fog/rain engulf us.

Oh, and Petey, thanks for the tour of your '06. That was my first up close and personal with one, and I learned a lot. Thanks for sharing!

I can see that a repeat visit to the Mountain View (and west AR) area is going to be mandatory. There ARE some nice roads there. Great vistas, too. And gas was CHEAP.

I followed Smitty (and Dave aka "Bones" aka "Skinny Dave") back home toward Hooterville because I knew it would be a blast. I was not disappointed. For those guys it was just a means to an end. For me, it was yet another thrill ride. There were some whoops south of Winona where my front wheel left the ground over the crest. Now THAT doesn't happen just riding down the road that much on an FJR!

Ok, time to change out that front tire. The chip and seal just ate what was left of that Strada, it's toast.

Great meeting and riding with everyone. Let's do it again! Soon!

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Glad you like our backyard Matt.

You forgot your advil in the room, I picked it up. Thanks!

Oh, And +1 to everythingyou said! :clapping: :yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo:

 

[zzzzip]

I just noticed-- there have been almost 1400 hits on this thread. Wow!

 

[smitty141]

Just a few more pic's Skip sent me..

The White River...

The Anglers Resort...

After Skip made it home, he had to do just a little more carving before calling it a day!!! Maybe the best pic of the weekend....

Enjoy.... Smitty

 

[mindtrip]

After Skip made it home, he had to do just a little more carving before calling it a day!!! Maybe the best pic of the weekend....
Enjoy.... Smitty

I'm totally bummed I missed this! My GF's 30th b-day party was fun and all, but I was useless and hung over Sunday (ordinarily I'm just useless), and was thinking of you guys out having fun.

Smitty, I'd be most appreciative if you sent me your route plan, as I'd like to do this some other weekend-- sounds like ya'll had a blast!

BTW, if anyone is interested, I'm doing a BB1500 with a pal of mine the weekend of May19th (Friday). Plan is to leave from St. Louis Friday morning, head over to Charleston, WV, head south, cut back through Knoxville. We're hoping to get into Knoxville around 10pm, get some shut-eye, then finish the last 550 miles on Saturday. If any of you locals are interested in joining us, let me know.

Cheers, and glad to hear everyone got home safe!

Drew

 

[zzzzip]

At this rate, I can see the tires won't last long on the green machine.

Anybody know if Avon makes a tire that will fit a JD LX172?

What pressure do you think I should run in them? I'm not looking for mileage, I'm now looking for performance!

 

[spcombs95]

Drew, I did a similar trip last year on the Beemer. Went to Knoxville, rode the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, then on to Lima, OH for the BMW national rally. 1800 miles in 3 days. This year I'm going to the Blue Ridge Pkwy with some other buds from work on Memorial weekend. We're not going to spend much time on the BRP, but we're sure going to hunt out the lesser traveled twisty bits! :yahoo:

Since this trip is right after yours, while I'd love to tag along, I can't swing another hall pass for this month.

Enjoy!

 

[STL FJR]

Hey, for you guys that were on the Arkansas trip, I was was able to get my screen name changed. Just so you won't be confused, it's still me, Mr. Amber Headlights! :lol:

Thanks Ignacio!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Hey, for you guys that were on the Arkansas trip, I was was able to get my screen name changed. Just so you won't be confused, it's still me, Mr. Amber Headlights! :lol:
Thanks Ignacio!

Hey...how do we know that's really you spcombs? How do we know you aint just tryin te trick us??

SO... stl fjr it is! How'd you like the fog there Mr Amber?

BTW, I liked your B2 bomber piccie so much I put it as a background. That is one MEAN lookin' bird...

 

[STL FJR]

Hey, for you guys that were on the Arkansas trip, I was was able to get my screen name changed. Just so you won't be confused, it's still me, Mr. Amber Headlights! :lol:

Thanks Ignacio!

Hey...how do we know that's really you spcombs? How do we know you aint just tryin te trick us??

SO... stl fjr it is! How'd you like the fog there Mr Amber?

BTW, I liked your B2 bomber piccie so much I put it as a background. That is one MEAN lookin' bird...

I've got some other pics of the B-2 without yours truly in them. I'll send them to you.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Hey, for you guys that were on the Arkansas trip, I was was able to get my screen name changed. Just so you won't be confused, it's still me, Mr. Amber Headlights! :lol:
Thanks Ignacio!

Lemme guess,

The comment i made about puffy made you change it? :lol: