There really is a first time for everything

[El Toro Joe]

Sorry Fred, it's still not Friday yet.

...but it is getting closer. Have fun tomorrow Fred.

 

[Fred W]

Oh, I will. As Elton sung: "Zero hour is 10AM. And I'm gonna be hi-i-igh as a kite by then."

I've been using the waiting time productively though. The 2005 has been stripped of all of the farkles that I intend to move over to the '14 right away, and also those that I know my son won't want on the bike if he decides to take it. My workbench is literally covered with stuff, most of it electrical and electronics.

I'll probably ride the new redhead directly home from the dealers, just so I can get my GPS, tank bag, and RD all mounted up. Then we can go off for the rest of the weekend and enjoy a few miles together... Get to know each other, don't you know.

Sometime over the weekend I'll have to slap on the new SR357 rack (already here) and get the Givi trunk mounted up so I can take Josie out for a ride. If we are going to have this long standing three way relationship, might as well get the introductions over quickly.

 

[Tanker]

Have a fun long.... weekend Fred.

I intend on doing the same with my redhead.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!

Take pictures so we can all live vicariously through you.

 

[hppants]

I'll bet Fred didn't sleep a wink last night. Tossing and turning, staring at the alarm clock - "dammit - what's wrong with the POS clock? It hasn't moved a minute in an hour!"

Well, wait no longer, my friend. The day of celebration has arrived. I'm envious, to be sure.

 

[SkooterG]

*******!

 

[RadioHowie]

*******!

Yes, you are!

How ya doin', bud? Won't Mamayama cut you a deal on a Gen III??? Or you waitin' for a '15???

 

[ionbeam]

10:22 local time, Fred should just about be rolling out of MoM and headed for the Farkle Barn to get the compulsories installed -- radar detector

communications, See Me Lights etc. Right after that he begins the tough job of putting break in mileage on the bike. The tough part is being just 600 miles on the road.

Skoot may have a '14 in his back pocket...... but it's not a done deal until it's in the driveway.

 

[Warpdrv]

Skoot likely has his lips kept tight on the '15 model that he's secretly waiting for....

I know I'm not so patiently waiting myself....

 

[dcarver]

Fred, Fred, where is Fred?

 

[Fred W]

Pickup is completed.

Critical farkles are going on now: Electrified Bags Connection tank bag (MOM was generous enough to have prewired a battery tender cable right where I need one to plug my tang bag in, without my asking!), RD, GPS, and TechSpec Snake skin protection on the purdy red tank. I'll get to some of the other stuff later on.

I still have to bolt the SW Motech Sliders on and then we're off for our maiden ride. (I don't count the ride home thru ManchVegas as a ride.)

Photos at 11

 

[RadioHowie]

*******!

 

[Top_Speed1]

Hope u have as good as weather as we do here to the west a bit. You wouldn't want your first ride to be a water logger.

Enjoy it Fred, plus, I don't wanna see no 'Geezer machine' eitha! ... no matter what Greg tells ya, soap n water is cheap.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Pickup is completed.
Photos at 11

*******!

 

[dcarver]

Well? Well? Is it 11 yet?

 

[hppants]

Is there a breakin limit on the motor rpm?

Reminds me of when I bought my current boat. We were having trouble selecting the correct propeller (Yamaha outboard BTW - the only boat motor I trust). On the maiden test voyage, I was hesitent.

(dealer) "Why are you holding back?"

(Pants) "I'm being mindful of the break in"

(dealer) "F- that. Slam that throttle WFO. If she ain't broke in by now, she ain't gonna break in. If you break it, it was meant to break and I'm glad you did it with me. I'll hang you a new one on the transom and you can be on your way."

(Pants) "Ok - hold on....."

Part of me thinks that break-in stuff is bull ****...

 

[Fred W]

Ah yes... as previously mentioned the score did happen. Arrived just after their 10AM opening (didn't want to be that guy beating on the door) and even that may have been a bit early. It seemed like folks there were still wading through their morning mail, both paper an electronic.

I was ushered back to one of the "business ladies", and we went through all of the purchase paperwork in about 10 minutes flat. Last time I spent money at that speed was when we bought our house.

The sales guy that took my order during the demo days was not around, so Jennifer (a sales lady that has been around at some of the other dealerships here, too) gave me the intro spiel.

Note that I came properly attired to pick up a 2014!

We had already talked before about FJRs, so she knew that I already owned one, and probably know a whole lot more about this particular bike than she does. So she just ticked off the "required" items... New tires, don't fall down... check. Have you enjoyed your experience, please rate us highly on the post sales survey... check.

Of course, I had my own little checklist, so I asked to see all the stuff that is supposed to be included with the bike. We opened up the side bags and found that the two soft bag liners were in there (they are actually much nicer than in the olden days), and the third lock cylinder, and curiously only 2 or the 6 little painted hole covers, but no owners manual, and missing the other 4 painted covers.

I told her there should be 6 covers. Oh no, there are only 4. Two each side. No, says I, there are 6. 4 on the top and the 2 lower ones are different. Scurry, scurry scurry. OK, here's the owners manual and 4 more of those little painted covers! Some other sales guy comes out with them and informs me that they now have 6 covers. The old ones only had 4.

Uh... yeah. (I let it drop even though I have 6 covers for my '05.)

This is what it feels like to take delivery of your first new bike ever at the age of 56 years, 11 months, and 9 days of age.

If you can't tell from the photo, I am in heaven. Ask anyone. I am actually not a big smiler, but could not help myself there.

Geared up and heading home to add a few farkles

And here she is 10 miles later before getting her first additions. These are the "Before", driveway beauty shots. The poor thing may never look this unadulterated again!

Moved my Bags Connection tank bag, Garmin zumo 550 on a Wynpro RamBone, and my old POS radar detector (a Passport 8500) over from the old bike. Also installed some brand new Tech Spec Snakeskin tank protectors and SW Motech sliders on before her maiden voyage.

Then suited back up and hit the road. I had a date with a certain New Hampshire landmark. Every bike that I have ever owned I have taken (eventually) to this particular wooden bridge that overlooks Chocorua Lake and has Mount Chocorua in the background. This is just on the southern edge of the white mountains in Albany, NH. You may not have noticed it, but it has been my avatar both here and on ADVriders for the past several years.

Here's the money shot. A 2014 ES in its native element

We tooled around on a lot of roads I am very familiar with, but these roads were not the same today. Someone surely must have repaved them all since my last time here.

I burned almost the whole (free) tank of gas, right at 200 miles. 1/3rd of the way to the "all impotent" first earl change. Jennifer had told me earlier, "No problem doing your own, just keep the receipts." Good thing... 'cause at this rate I'll be needing it on Monday, and it's a holiday. I seriously doubt they will see this bike again, unless there are some recalls or warranty work to be done.

This right here, is one happy garage...

And, it gets even better... After having, quite literally, the best day of my life, Josie had a home made pie waiting for me for our celebratory dinner.

Yeah buddy! That is what I am talking about!!

I could probably die right now and be satisfied. But I sure the hell do not want to. :nono:

Instead I want to go back out into the garage and bolt on that new SR357 rack so I can snap the Givi trunk on and take my best girl for a ride tomorrow.

Well... I'll take both my best girls, actually.

 

[gregory]

Congrats Fred, you need to bring her to the West coast next year!

 

[Auburn]

Awesome Fred! Enjoy the bike! Riding two up has been the best part of motorcycling for me over the years. Sharing the passion...

 

[Fred W]

I think you are right! I have a lot of white in my states map out that way...