Changes

It's been a while...damn near a year, but it's been a busy time.

Lots of small changes, but one major change has flipped things around for us and made it very difficult to find time to do anything. We had a baby and she is now just over 6 months old. We had been trying for quite a while and just as we were giving up, it happened.

So I've dropped a lot of things and my bike time has been severely limited. Being a parent all over again has been a very exciting time and this little being needs your utmost attention.

So, another riding season is about to begin. March temps are starting to rise and the amount of rain we are getting is quickly melting any remaining snow. That doesn't mean we are in the clear as the Maritimes loves to switch seasons mid-stride.

Insurance for the bike has been renewed and the biggest thing I need to take care of is a new set of tires. Here's hoping our finances agree and let me pick those up soon.

No promises on posts as my time is no longer my own. In the meantime, stay safe out there.

Yawn! It hasn't been much of a winter around here. In fact I've only had a couple of times to really have a good time in the Jeep and most snow accumulation we've had has quickly been swept away by the high temps and floods of rain. Oddest winter yet. Regardless, my throttle hand is itchy and I want my two wheels back on that one road.

All hail March, death knell of the white shit.

The Usual Hangout

 

All of my riding is solo again. My riding buddies have drifted for one reason or another away and I dropped the riding club that I was part of. It wasn’t fun anymore, it wasn’t about riding anymore, it was about politics and that’s not why I ride a bike. I ride to get away from that shit and it was starting to feel like it was following me everywhere I went. So I dropped it, stepped out completely. I gotta say, it was a huge weight off my shoulders.

So now I ride solo, back to the way it used to be and I still enjoy every minute of it. I go where I want, stop when I want, leave when I want. No schedule, no ride route and no one else to worry about. I do like riding with buddies, but this is the way I learned to ride and this is the way I’ve rode for years.

I Have Become Hermit…

Avoider of the white death.

People are beginning to think I’m dead or have just simply vanished, but I have not. I’m just really really tired of all this snow and I would very much like for it to all go away.

I hit up the annual bike show the weekend past and even that was a bore. Same stuff as last year. After one tour of the place I was ready to go home. Not only that, but I’m finding that there’s nothing out there (bike wise) that really interests me. I’d still like to have a Sportster 48, but as “cheap” as it is I can’t justify the cost.

I guess I’m “stuck” with my baby. Which is no complaint at all, considering that I think it’s the last great cruiser made by Honda anyway. What’s up with all the Fury model crap they are putting out? Turns my stomach.

Well, at least we are more then half way out of the dark. Soon enough I’ll be putting that battery back in and cruising down the road. For everyone else feeling the same as I do, hang in there…it’s almost over.

Fall = Suck

The change in the season has brought too many changes and too many problems.  Any time I get to myself now I spend on bike, as long as it’s okay with Mother Nature.  We are having a typical Maritime autumn with cold temperatures and gale force winds.  There was barely enough time to see the leaves change before they were blown away.

As usual, I be pushing my riding season as far as I possibly can with hopes that the new fairing will make things more bearable when the temps drop below freezing.  I can already notice a difference during my ride to work with my hands being mostly protected and the wind taken off my chest.  Definitely no regrets on that purchase.

Really, it’s just the same shit happening all the time.  There’s too much crap going on for me to be in a good mood to post anything.  Winter is just around the corner which means I won’t even be able to use my bike to cool off or escape.  I think I’ll probably just let this go dormant until something happens to make me the person I used to be…

ciao for now.

A New Love

Seems like every year there’s a new piece of two wheeled machinery for me to fall in love with.  This year is no different, but we’ll get to that shortly.  It all started two days ago at the Harley Davidson Test Our Metal test ride at our local dealer.

The day didn’t start off the best.  During the pre-ride scout, one of the ride leaders dumped a test bike and suffered a bit of rash.  That took the Sportster 1200XR out of the test ride instantly.  Not sure what happened to cause the dump, but a newly sealed parking lot probably had a lot to do with it.  He made out fine though.

That delayed the ride by quite a bit and by the time they actually got back from the scouting run, it started to rain.  Wet roads means no rides as apparently their insurance doesn’t cover them when it’s wet out.  So there was a lot of waiting.

The first ride didn’t get out until early afternoon and I was bound and determined to get as many bikes out as I could before they closed up for the day.

First bike: 2011 883cc Sportster Superlow

I didn’t like the standard controls and after a while my right knee was whimpering to get stretched out.  It felt like a small bike, a really small bike.  Also, I don’t know if there was something wrong with this particular test bike (very possible) but it was jumpy as shit.  Every other bike I rode that day had a smooth throttle, but this one was have epileptic fits every time I would let off and increase on the throttle.

It’s a really nice looking bike, easy to handle and takes corners well, but it’s definitely not for me.  If it had forward controls, it would have been a lot more comfortable as the bars were in the perfect position.  But that’s not hard to change, the mount points for forward controls are right there at the front of the frame…all you need is money.

Second bike: 2011 1250cc Night Rod Special

The only reason I took this one out was the fact that it was the only bike left on the second ride.  I had the black and red one out for a ride last year and it killed my lower back.  I’ve been on a regular workout routine for the last year and my back has gotten a lot stronger, so I was able to survive this stretch rack of a bike.  This thing is still crazy powerful and the odd growl that it pumps out is rather appealing.  It’s fun, but I’d never be able to ride it for a long time.  At the end of the ride I was happy to step off, but smiling from the rush.

Fourth bike: 2011 1600cc Super Glide Custom

You’ll see why I skipped the third bike in just a bit.

Super Glide?  I didn’t like it.  It just felt like a plain old bike and I wasn’t a big fan of the seating position with standard controls.  Plus it felt much fatter then it actually looked.  Crazy pick up on this thing though and no lack of power with the six speed tranny.  Too bad the ride was too short with not enough straight aways to take advantage of it.

Odd note: During the ride I reached up to adjust the left mirror and the whole damn thing came loose.  Not only that, but the signal light below also came loose because they’re attached.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t for the vibration point on the bike.  About 1/3 of the way up on the throttle, the whole bike vibrates like a runaway dildo and all I could do was watch the mirror and signal bounce around.  So yeah, not the bike for me.

Third bike: 2011 1200cc Sportster 48

Meet my new love.  H-D?  You listening?  You hit the nail on the head with this piece of machinery.  It’s lean, it’s low, it’s barebones, light and a great sized engine to power it along.  It only weighs 257kg wet (567lbs), so it almost feels like you are tossing around a bicycle…a really fast bicycle.  It’s a feet and fists in the wind riding position with a little tiny seat to snuggle your ass in.  And you better snuggle your ass in nice and tight, cause this bike is going to try and slide you out of it.  I lost track of how many times I slide off the end of that seat when I cranked the throttle.  It just goes and wants to keep on going like some over anxious little pony.

The two big wheels made this bike track like a dream and corners were easy to dive into, easily scraping those ridiculously long feelers.  The only “problem” is the small fuel tank, you won’t be doing long long stretches on this bike with a measly 7.9L (2.1Gal), but I wouldn’t change it for the world.  It gives the bike such a minimalist look and suits it so well that I wouldn’t mind taking that frequent break to fuel up and stretch out.  Besides, the tank is where the bike gets it’s name from.  First year of the peanut tank.  I would gladly have this bike in my stable and it would be my daily ride…it would also result in me having a few speeding tickets…but I’d smile and accept it.

Best description for this bike?  An adult BMX.  Seriously…I love this thing.  Joey you listening?  Top of the Xmas list here!  Ha, one can dream.

Long days

I keep trying to drag out these summer days, but it's not quite working out for me.  I need more vacation time...

I hit the road a couple of days back to deliver some newly recovered photos of my cousin's son's birthday party.  Three months is a little long for them to wait to get the photos, but they were quite happy and surprised to get them.  I logged over 200 Km on a day that started off scorching hot, but slowly turned in to a hell of a lightning storm.  It was a beautiful ride down to Oromocto and it was still a gorgeous day once the black clouds started rolling in.  I got sprinkled on a bit, but managed to ride out of it and never saw water again until later that night during the storm.  I stuffed my camera in the saddle bag, but as usual I never stopped for any photos.  I love snapping pictures, but I hate interrupting my ride.  Once I'm moving I just don't want to stop.  Hell, even pulling into the parking lot after a days ride is tough to do.

In other news, me and Joey celebrated our 7th anniversary this week.  Wow...7 years.  Where does the time go.  Most times I wonder how she even puts up with me.  :)

Whaddya got?

Why has it taken me so long to watch this movie?

The Wild One…fantastic…loved it.

Need to get out

Once again, my head is a mess and I need a good meditation ride.  Just me, Selene and the road.  I think Friday I’ll pack a lunch, pack a camera and head down the coast for a few hours.  Extended forecast looks promising thus far.

Friday blues

Rode into work today with just a hoodie and my vest on.  I sure as shit don’t want to be sitting at a desk today.

Thinking

I want to wake up in the morning and think, “What do I want to do with my day?” instead of thinking, “How much sick time do I have left?”

Comfortable when it’s cool

The last few days have been on the cool side around here.  Temperatures have been in the single digits and morning commutes hover around the freezing mark.  Usually that would mean wrapping up and possibly the full face helmet.

Well, things have changed a bit since Selene’s new addition.  I can easily ride to work in the wind and cold with just my shorty on.  The fairing does wonders for cutting through the wind and keeping just enough cold away from my head.  I’m still a bit chilly when I get to work, but it’s nothing like I’ve been used to.

Memphis Shades fairing?  Sound investment.  Oh…and it looks cool too. ;)

Realization

After that last post about wanting the helmets, I realized that I could be using this blog to store everything for my wish list. Yeah, a little slow on the uptake...I know. At the very least it will be a good place to point family when they ask, "What do you want for such-and-such occasion?" Might also make me post more...hmmm...

Huh? Wha?

The end of February, eh?  This winter can't come to an end soon enough.  There's been too many problems and drama with the whole damn season and I really need to get a ride in.

On the plus side, the snow is mostly gone thanks to above freezing temperatures and plenty of rain (which was snow for everyone else).

List of things to do?  Get the saddle bags repaired and a new set of rubbers.  I may also have to get a new battery.  My current one is from 2006 and it's never had the love of a charger.  That's about it though...my little Selene is one reliable machine.

We got it

Snow that is.  Finally hit on Saturday December the 5th around 6pm.  I had to leave work early because of the fantastic flu that's floating around.  So in between much needed sleeps I got to watch snow fall and fall and fall.  At least 15cm of snow fell and the city probably dumped about 50cm of salt on it all.  This put a rather giant crimp in my plans to keep riding.  Sure, if the snow melts I can ride, but what about all that salt everywhere.  Do I really want all my chrome melting off?  I got some thinking to do...

Honda...what have you done...

They've taken the Sabre name and swapped it to yet another bike.

Good gods...we've gone cookie cutter style just like the VTX...which I had no love for to begin with.  Oh hey!  The Fury looks cool, let's make different versions!  Oh, and let's use the the cookie cutter VTX engine!  Brilliant!

So along with the "Sabre" we have the Fury

and the Stateline

So once it's time to move on from my Sabre (which I know is a rebirth of the V45) I won't be staying with Honda.  I didn't think I would anyway, but this just cements the thought for me.

Honda?

Shadow Phantom? I like the name and I like the looks. It almost seems like it was put out there as competition for the 883 Iron. Both are meant to be blacked out affordable cruisers with that bobbed and minimalist look. And I thought I wouldn't see anything from Honda that would impress me again. I've always loved the Shadow line and to see it slowly give way to the VTX made me cringe. I've never liked the VTX's styling and hated the demo rides I've had on them.

Specs:
(courtesy of Honda)

2010 Honda Shadow Phantom Specifications:

Model: VT750C2A
Engine Type: 745cc liquid-cooled 52° V-twin
Bore and Stroke: 79mm x 76mm
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Valve Train: SOHC; three valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enrichment circuit, one 34mm throttle body
Ignition: CD with electronic advance, two spark plugs per cylinder
Transmission: Wide-ratio five-speed
Final Drive: Shaft

Suspension

Front: 41mm fork; 4.6 inches travel
Rear: Dual shocks with five-position spring preload adjustability; 3.5 inches travel


Brakes
Front: Single 296mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear: Drum

Tires

Front: 120/90-17
Rear: 160/80-15

Wheelbase: 64.5 inches
Rake (Caster angle): 34o
Trail: 161mm (6.3 inches)
Seat Height: 25.7 inches
Fuel Capacity: 3.9 gallons, including 0.9-gallon reserve
Colors: Black
Curb Weight*: 549 pounds
*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel--ready to ride.


Gotta say...hate the rear drum brake, but I do like the bike.

Sons of Anarchy

Tomorrow night...must watch...

Admission

Okay, I admit that I beat myself up about dropping my bike...a lot.  Calling it an amateur mistake and thinking myself stupid for doing it.  Let's just say that my ego got the better of me.  I'm fine about it now, but I was a limping (twisted foot) bear for a couple of days after the incident.

Yesterday I read the post on Road Grits Cafe about the "Cherry Drop".  Genius naming, by the way.  And it made me realize how stupid those thoughts I had are.  Everyone has their moment and that day was one of mine.  The one line in his post that jumps out is, "LACK OF FOCUS AND ENVIRONMENT DISTRACTION".  That day was a result of lack of focus on my part.  I was distracted by thoughts other then my motorcycle and I had tried riding with tunes again.  Both of those things led to me not watching what I was doing and dropping Selene.

Really, there is no other excuse then that.  Any time that something like this has happened, it's been the result of me not focusing on what I'm doing.  Whether parking or riding, your focus needs to be on piloting that bike.  Once you are off, feel free to do as many things at once as you wish.

Focus brothers and sisters, your life is in your own hands while riding.  Make sure your mind is all about that.

I have discovered...

That I really don't like my days/life being planned.  Being on LoA from work really brought a sense of zen to my days.  Waking up with no reason to rush gave me a chance to savour the day and do what I wanted to do.  Dare I say that my LoA was a holiday in the true sense of the word.  Let me explain...

This "holiday" started out with surgery, which put me out for a couple of weeks.  No heavy lifting, no running or jumping about, no real expectations.  After the first week I had a fair amount of mobility back, but I still couldn't do anything strenuous nor was anything expected of me.  The month of July was probably the most relaxing and stress free month I've had in a long time.  Isn't that what a holiday should be?  Do what you want for the time you have with no deadlines or real expectations.

Once I was able to ride again, I was in heaven.  Wake up in the morning, have a bite to eat while surfing the web for bit, check the weather and go for a short ride.  I know...hard life, eh?  Mind you, I didn't turn into a lump that just laid in bed all day.  I still got things done around the house, but usually got scolded for it.

The only true downfall is that LoA means no income.  So we are pretty hard pressed right now while we wait for UI and benefits to come in and cover the time I missed.

Personally, I think that anyone who owns a motorcycle should have the whole summer off.  Yeah, that would do just fine...