Niehart
Pie Smuggler
Some places or roads you ride once or twice and then are done with them. Glacier Park is not one of those place, I see something new and different every time.
The ONE Picture Ride Report
- Thread starter hppants
- Start date
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GinaMcD
Well-known member
June 2014 - Four days and over 2,000 miles away from home, sitting in the Limon CO Econo Lodge parking lot searching the Internet for a new stator for my bike. Thankfully it waited to die in the motel parking lot right after we checked in and not somewhere out in the middle on Kansas. Rick's Motorcycle Electrics--way back home in New England--had one on the shelf and they shipped it overnight. After three nights we said goodbye to Limon, hoping never to return for more than a gas stop, and salvaged what we could of our two week vacation. Even after having to toss our whole itinerary out the window, it turned out to be one of the best trips we've ever taken.
RayW
Well-known member
My favorite ride ever was on Memorial Day of 2010. And since that holiday is coming up again, this looked like a good time and place to post this.
Several years ago I reconnected with a girl I had dated in high school. She was only a freshman when I was a senior, so when I graduated we went our separate ways.
We hadn't seen each other since 1974 but we found each other again right when we both needed each other the most.
The day after our first meeting since I graduated, we went on a nice all day bike ride around central PA together on my FJR.
I took this pic at one rest stop where we had pulled off to check out a nice creek that ran beside the road.
Carla is just enjoying the simple pleasure of the sun on her face as it filters through the trees.
We got married on July 28th of 2015.
Several years ago I reconnected with a girl I had dated in high school. She was only a freshman when I was a senior, so when I graduated we went our separate ways.
We hadn't seen each other since 1974 but we found each other again right when we both needed each other the most.
The day after our first meeting since I graduated, we went on a nice all day bike ride around central PA together on my FJR.
I took this pic at one rest stop where we had pulled off to check out a nice creek that ran beside the road.
Carla is just enjoying the simple pleasure of the sun on her face as it filters through the trees.
We got married on July 28th of 2015.
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Niehart
Pie Smuggler
Sorry Pants, outa' likes. ^^^ Like ^^^
There had been no motorcycle riding for over a month, too busy, too sick, too what not, or this or the other - they all happened in this past month.
Then, Sunday arrived - and a friend and I decided to shun everything-else and just go for a ride, and it turned out to be a really nice day to go for a ride. The dark and gray skies in Folsom gave way to blue skies with puffy clouds just West of Sacramento. The wildflowers were still hanging on, aided by some late showers. The roads were deserted, more often than not. I didn't try to keep up with my racer friend, who zipped past cars at light speed on his ZX10, but somehow I managed to stick only a handful of seconds behind, probably because most of the cars I encountered were very courteous to pull over, again possibly because they saw a lit up space shuttle in their rear view mirrors i.e. me.
Good food in St. Helena also, got in and out the back-way, avoiding the tourist cluster-**** on Hwy 29, and ate where the locals do, far from the madding crowds. A good day!
Cell phone picture on a fire suppression stop follows:
Then, Sunday arrived - and a friend and I decided to shun everything-else and just go for a ride, and it turned out to be a really nice day to go for a ride. The dark and gray skies in Folsom gave way to blue skies with puffy clouds just West of Sacramento. The wildflowers were still hanging on, aided by some late showers. The roads were deserted, more often than not. I didn't try to keep up with my racer friend, who zipped past cars at light speed on his ZX10, but somehow I managed to stick only a handful of seconds behind, probably because most of the cars I encountered were very courteous to pull over, again possibly because they saw a lit up space shuttle in their rear view mirrors i.e. me.
Good food in St. Helena also, got in and out the back-way, avoiding the tourist cluster-**** on Hwy 29, and ate where the locals do, far from the madding crowds. A good day!
Cell phone picture on a fire suppression stop follows:
wheatonFJR
...
You know puppychow, you keep this up...yer gonna get pretty good at this here pitcher takin and word smithin'!There had been no motorcycle riding for over a month, too busy, too sick, too what not, or this or the other - they all happened in this past month.
Then, Sunday arrived - and a friend and I decided to shun everything-else and just go for a ride, and it turned out to be a really nice day to go for a ride. The dark and gray skies in Folsom gave way to blue skies with puffy clouds just West of Sacramento. The wildflowers were still hanging on, aided by some late showers. The roads were deserted, more often than not. I didn't try to keep up with my racer friend, who zipped past cars at light speed on his ZX10, but somehow I managed to stick only a handful of seconds behind, probably because most of the cars I encountered were very courteous to pull over, again possibly because they saw a lit up space shuttle in their rear view mirrors i.e. me.
Good food in St. Helena also, got in and out the back-way, avoiding the tourist cluster-**** on Hwy 29, and ate where the locals do, far from the madding crowds. A good day!
Cell phone picture on a fire suppression stop follows:
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jmdaniel
Has A Well Known Member
11 day, 11 state ride, in.... '11, of course.
Uncle Hud
Just another blob of protoplasm using up your oxyg
Yesterday. Took off early from work to collect my last points for the 2016 Big Money Rally. Bonus RV178 is nearby, but a few comments indicated that it was located down a long dirt road. Had to go, especially since two other Atlanta FJR riders had already claimed it.
Followed Tugalo Village Road past the last buildings. Turned out to be easier than advertised. You know this type road: hard-packed dirt and stone with only a little loose gravel in the corners. No problem if you concentrate.
It was steeper in some places than shown in the photo, though, so a steady 10-15 mph, slower in the hairpins, and I was there. Going out -- uphill -- was a lot easier.
If you're curious, RV178 is the Tugalo Dam. You can find it on Google Maps or see bonus photos and comments on the BMR site.
Followed Tugalo Village Road past the last buildings. Turned out to be easier than advertised. You know this type road: hard-packed dirt and stone with only a little loose gravel in the corners. No problem if you concentrate.
It was steeper in some places than shown in the photo, though, so a steady 10-15 mph, slower in the hairpins, and I was there. Going out -- uphill -- was a lot easier.
If you're curious, RV178 is the Tugalo Dam. You can find it on Google Maps or see bonus photos and comments on the BMR site.
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Looks like a fun road on any bike. Comments are typical street only riders. Any local NERDS wouldn't have batted an eye after following me around all these years on sometimes worse ones.
Nice job on the bronze finish (but you're slipping, Hud!)
Nice job on the bronze finish (but you're slipping, Hud!)
GinaMcD's photo of the Blackbird naked in a parking lot reminded me of a trip long ago.
I had purchased the BMW R1100RT-P in April of '05, and had ridden it from TX to CA. In November, I head out for a 5 day/2400 mile ride. I went east through Phoenix, south to Tucson, Tombstone, Douglas, then north to Safford. The 3rd night of the trip I spent in Blanding UT. The next morning, the temp was in the upper 40s, and I heard an odd noise as the bike started and warmed up. When I stopped at the intersection a few yards from the hotel, I looked down and noticed that my left boot was covered with oil. Not good, but I immediately knew what the problem was. The oilhead engine is known to spit out the oil sight glass from time to time. It was a well known issue on the BMW forum, and most guys riding oilheads seemed to carry a spare sight glass. Luckily I had already been carrying a spare since I bought the bike.
I rolled the bike onto a sidewalk and got to work. There was a Chevron station a block away, but this spot was right beside a True Value hardware store, which would be more handy than a convenience store. I stripped the bike, cleaned up the mess, and tapped the new sight glass in with socket purchased at True Value.
I was back on the road in a couple of hours. I was still able to cover 305 miles that day, even with the late start. Touring on an older BMW can be a real adventure. I'm just glad the FJR doesn't do such silly things.
I had purchased the BMW R1100RT-P in April of '05, and had ridden it from TX to CA. In November, I head out for a 5 day/2400 mile ride. I went east through Phoenix, south to Tucson, Tombstone, Douglas, then north to Safford. The 3rd night of the trip I spent in Blanding UT. The next morning, the temp was in the upper 40s, and I heard an odd noise as the bike started and warmed up. When I stopped at the intersection a few yards from the hotel, I looked down and noticed that my left boot was covered with oil. Not good, but I immediately knew what the problem was. The oilhead engine is known to spit out the oil sight glass from time to time. It was a well known issue on the BMW forum, and most guys riding oilheads seemed to carry a spare sight glass. Luckily I had already been carrying a spare since I bought the bike.
I rolled the bike onto a sidewalk and got to work. There was a Chevron station a block away, but this spot was right beside a True Value hardware store, which would be more handy than a convenience store. I stripped the bike, cleaned up the mess, and tapped the new sight glass in with socket purchased at True Value.
I was back on the road in a couple of hours. I was still able to cover 305 miles that day, even with the late start. Touring on an older BMW can be a real adventure. I'm just glad the FJR doesn't do such silly things.
Bugnatr
Well-known member
Was the slight glass half full or half empty?
Deep aren't I ?
Deep aren't I ?
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GinaMcD
Well-known member
Morecowbell -- all the years we were for on the YZF600R forum, I don't think either of us ever posted up pics of our Thundercats in that state of undress--did we??? Mine's still going strong at almost 90k with no 2nd gear issue in sight. You still have yours? The stator, RR and CCT are known weak spots for Birds, so I'm now prepared for them.
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Weird...I can't see why anyone would need to tap on the sight glass during an oil change. Must be a BMW habit that I never learned.
I'm an optimist...half full, of course!
No, my trusty little YZF has never let me down like my cantankerous old BMW has. But I bought the BMW with 51000 miles on it, and it has 161000 on it now, so it really doesn't owe me anything. I still have the YZF...it sits in the garage with 122500 miles on it. I haven't ridden it in a year and a half, ever since the front sprocket nut came off and it came home on a flatbed truck. That's the only time that bike ever stranded me, besides a flat tire. I've been at a loss for what to do to repair it, so it's been sitting. Some guys say cut a notch in the splines and use a circlip, and others have welded a sprocket to the shaft. I wouldn't be able to trust either of those repairs. After I complete an extensive 30K service on the FJR, I'm going to get the YZF back on the road. I'll drop the engine from the frame and either replace the output shaft myself, of take the engine to a local shop and let them do it. It needs to be done...I really miss riding that thing.
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1911
Well-known member
Virginia is for what????
FJRs!
FJRs!
bruinFJRguy
Well-known member
Well, dang! That's about as good a ride report as I can imagine. Well done on the reunion and congrats on your upcoming 2 year anniversary!
My favorite ride ever was on Memorial Day of 2010. And since that holiday is coming up again, this looked like a good time and place to post this.
Several years ago I reconnected with a girl I had dated in high school. She was only a freshman when I was a senior, so when I graduated we went our separate ways.
We hadn't seen each other since 1974 but we found each other again right when we both needed each other the most.
The day after our first meeting since I graduated, we went on a nice all day bike ride around central PA together on my FJR.
I took this pic at one rest stop where we had pulled off to check out a nice creek that ran beside the road.
Carla is just enjoying the simple pleasure of the sun on her face as it filters through the trees.
We got married on July 28th of 2014.
hppants
Well-known member
April 2015
I've had 4 days and about 1200 miles of wonderful riding throughout Arkansas. Last night, I camped by myself on Lake Nimrod just north of Hot Springs. I've got about 425 miles to get home today. Historically, on the last day of the trip, I'm anxious and chomping at the bit to ride hard and ride fast. There will be chores. I'm sure something broke at home (it always does). Work is coming up. The bike needs to be cleaned. The grass needs mowing. My neighbor needs ..... ah **** - I forgot what he needs, but he needs something - I'm sure of it.
Now hold on just a dog gone minute.
Why do I have to panic now? Why stress out over crap that is inevitable? Why do I have to let this ruin my day? If I've got a 5 day vacation, why cut it short mentally on the last day and cheat myself out of 20% of the fun?
Ah the hell with it.
Hwy 7 heading south toward Hot Springs in the glorious morning sun. I've got the road to myself. This day is mine. I will deal with the real world when I get home.
I've had 4 days and about 1200 miles of wonderful riding throughout Arkansas. Last night, I camped by myself on Lake Nimrod just north of Hot Springs. I've got about 425 miles to get home today. Historically, on the last day of the trip, I'm anxious and chomping at the bit to ride hard and ride fast. There will be chores. I'm sure something broke at home (it always does). Work is coming up. The bike needs to be cleaned. The grass needs mowing. My neighbor needs ..... ah **** - I forgot what he needs, but he needs something - I'm sure of it.
Now hold on just a dog gone minute.
Why do I have to panic now? Why stress out over crap that is inevitable? Why do I have to let this ruin my day? If I've got a 5 day vacation, why cut it short mentally on the last day and cheat myself out of 20% of the fun?
Ah the hell with it.
Hwy 7 heading south toward Hot Springs in the glorious morning sun. I've got the road to myself. This day is mine. I will deal with the real world when I get home.
hppants
Well-known member
June 2010
I've got a thing for barns, and it's hard to explain.
I was born in a suburb of New Orleans. It is impossible to know where the city ends and the suburb begins. The whole place was one big metropolis.
So suffice it to say that I have no idea what a farm hand does. But I'm enamored in the country way of living. To me, a barn seems to represent that, for some reason. It's built strong - made to last forever. It can get weathered, but it really doesn't need much maintenance. It's basic shelter for things that need to get out of the weather. No frills. Just the raw and basic necessities. Form and function over style.
One day I hope to do a riding tour of barns. Venture out to the countryside and try to find as many different styles, shapes, colors, and varieties of barns that I can. In the meantime, as often as I can, when I see an interesting barn, I stop and look at it.
What can I say? I have a thing for barns.
Just outside of Mena, Arkansas. The weather has done its toll on this old barn, but it is still standing.
I've got a thing for barns, and it's hard to explain.
I was born in a suburb of New Orleans. It is impossible to know where the city ends and the suburb begins. The whole place was one big metropolis.
So suffice it to say that I have no idea what a farm hand does. But I'm enamored in the country way of living. To me, a barn seems to represent that, for some reason. It's built strong - made to last forever. It can get weathered, but it really doesn't need much maintenance. It's basic shelter for things that need to get out of the weather. No frills. Just the raw and basic necessities. Form and function over style.
One day I hope to do a riding tour of barns. Venture out to the countryside and try to find as many different styles, shapes, colors, and varieties of barns that I can. In the meantime, as often as I can, when I see an interesting barn, I stop and look at it.
What can I say? I have a thing for barns.
Just outside of Mena, Arkansas. The weather has done its toll on this old barn, but it is still standing.
hppants
Well-known member
March 29, 2013.
Today was Good Friday, and indeed, it was a very good Friday. I had the day off work, and left the house at daybreak for some East Texas riding. I went to the Big Thicket National Preserve north of Beaumont, Texas. I walked around looking for Pitcher Plants. And boy did I find them. Those carnivorous wonders were in full swing that day.
On the way home, while riding some State highway, I crossed a swampy bayou. It looked so peaceful so I turned around and went back. Sitting on the bridge, I could see turtles, frogs, birds, a couple of green lizards, and even an ornery squirrel that was not at all glad to see me. From his low lying branch, that sucker barked deliberately at me. Maybe it had a nest of babies nearby - after all, it was Spring time.
I set the camera timer for 10 minutes and forgot about it. This picture depicts the epitome of what riding does to me. It allows me to observe the true beauty and peace of the world.
Today was Good Friday, and indeed, it was a very good Friday. I had the day off work, and left the house at daybreak for some East Texas riding. I went to the Big Thicket National Preserve north of Beaumont, Texas. I walked around looking for Pitcher Plants. And boy did I find them. Those carnivorous wonders were in full swing that day.
On the way home, while riding some State highway, I crossed a swampy bayou. It looked so peaceful so I turned around and went back. Sitting on the bridge, I could see turtles, frogs, birds, a couple of green lizards, and even an ornery squirrel that was not at all glad to see me. From his low lying branch, that sucker barked deliberately at me. Maybe it had a nest of babies nearby - after all, it was Spring time.
I set the camera timer for 10 minutes and forgot about it. This picture depicts the epitome of what riding does to me. It allows me to observe the true beauty and peace of the world.
RayW
Well-known member
Thanks!! but.....OOPS....got the right date but the year was wrong. Just got married last year..2015. So ONE year anniversary coming up. A lot has happened in that year too. New job....moved from Atlanta to Greenville, SC....bought a house...sold a house... Been a really busy year. Found a little time for riding, not as much as we would like but....<shrug> Thinking Monday might be a good day for a nice long ride. (Monday is my "Saturday"...weird work schedule )
And to top everything off....Carla rides her own bike!! She has a Honda Shadow Aero 750. She still likes to ride on the back of the FJR sometimes though. I got her to try riding the FJR herself the last time we went out. She took it around the neighborhood by herself while I followed on the Honda. She liked it!! No problems handling the FJR at all.
I am a VERY lucky man.
