Spring and Bikes thread

[Toadroller]

It's spring after a long winter for most of the country.

In Maine where I live, despite the fields still covered in snow, our local golf driving range opened today in what we call wahhhhm, 45 degrees and sunny.

But the V-Strom is still in the garage; I couldn't get it up the ice on the driveway or ride it on the sand-covered roads if I wanted to.

So help a fella out and post a pic and tell a story of your ride this spring!

[BadgerDave]

Love the Crampbuster. I found that the one with the wide palm surface was unusable. It got in the way when I wanted to back off of the throttle and tended to cause me to "goose" the throttle in neutral.

I switched to the model with a narrow surface and placed it at the outside edge of the grip. Works perfectly for me now.

[JGale]

Thanks for that little bit of info David. I was about to order the latter.

[jettster]

Alright, I've been in the same boat as you folks further north have been. Haven't been able to ride for a few weeks now and not liking it at all. looks like the low 50's is the best for this weekend and it's significantly colder in the mountains. Mid 40's... Too damn cold.

[Toadroller]

Too cold?

-3 this morning; there was point of -15 this week as my son drove to work.

My bike is up on blocks for the duration. I plugged in the trickle-charger last week. It will be April at best before I swap her parking-spot out with the snow-blower.

[jettster]

Hey now, we never got above freezing freezing for a few days this week. It was around 10 degrees a few mornings and -12 with the wind chill one night. That's cold no matter where you are and definitely cold for us southern dwellers.

[jettster]

From today

[Tres Aardvarks]

I took mine out too, but I think I went a lot slower than you did!!

[BadgerDave]

It won't be seeing the outside of my garage for at least two months, but here's a shot of my recent acquisition:

Ducati ST3s. I've been looking for one of these for about two years. Only made between 2005 and 2007 in my preferred wet clutch version. This one is a 2007 with only 4,000 miles.

Had to drive to Nashville to pick it up, break U-Haul rules by putting it in the back of a van, and finish the last 100 miles of the trip in a blizzard that dropped 20" of snow in my way.

I also had to sell four really nice guitars to fund the purchase, but it was worth every bit of the effort.

C'mon Spring!

[tbonesullivan]

Problem here in NJ is that everything is COVERED IN SALT. And it's below freezing. But the salt is a bigger worry. I don't want my motorcycle or myself covered in salt, so currently the motorcycle is in hibernation in the garage.

[tobereeno]

Sweet ST3, especially with the red frame! I love Ducati dry clutches, well, listening to them anyways! My old ST4 cramped up my left hand more than once.

I got two days of riding in a row as Nashville temps were around 60 both days of the weekend, whoo! I took out the Multistrada both days and got reacquainted with being on two. I thought about taking out the S1000RR but I'm already rusty from winter and the two bikes require fairly different riding techniques, so I didn't want to confuse my hazy muscle memory.

Of course now it's freezing again

[velorush]

I took mine out too, but I think I went a lot slower than you did!!

I've gotten mine dialed in pretty nicely since my "what fork to buy?" thread. Some might remember I picked this basket case up around October for 10% of the HFC-approved price.

Merlin Cycles (Chorley, GB) had a workable fork for about 2/3 the stateside price and shipped it for free in two days (they even did the transaction in $US so there were no foreign transaction fees on my card!). Got some shifters for Christmas and now all that's left is to ride it!

I've been riding it in the 30-acre hay field next to my house, but last weekend a friend and I went to some real trails at Union University (Jackson, TN). This guy is half my age and grew up racing motocross at pro level - fearless! He was amazing to watch. I was more cautious, but was able to catch up on the climbing sections. That was more fun than I've had on a bike in forever.

The one thing that was less than optimal was I had my road pedals (Speedplay) and shoes on the bike and they don't like mud. A few times I had to grab a tree and knock the debris out of the cleat. I stopped at a local bike shop on the way home and bought some proper mountain bike shoes and pedals - I'm sold! Not ready to hang up my road bike for good, but I certainly thought about it.

[BadgerDave]

Sweet ST3, especially with the red frame! I love Ducati dry clutches, well, listening to them anyways! My old ST4 cramped up my left hand more than once.

I grew up riding Japanese dirt bikes and, later, spent years riding Harley Davidsons, so my riding skills were deeply centered in feathering the clutch and using the friction zone.

I burned out the clutch in my first BMW in one riding season before I learned the "on/off" riding technique required for dry clutch bikes. It still feels awkward at low speed.

[Toadroller]

That sigh you heard was me after I fired up and went for a ride on the first warm day of the year up here in Maine.

Bikers were out everywhere, grins and thumbs up shared enthusiastically among the brotherhood.

[tbonesullivan]

That will be me tomorrow. It's gonna be a bit chillier, but I'm aiming to get some pretty serious miles on the bike Saturday and Sunday. Also want to put on some farkles.

[tobereeno]

spring weather broke in Nashville a couple weeks ago; I've been able to ride 3-4 days a week

[jettster]

Rode about 170 miles on the Street triple today, all back roads and twistys. Haven't had it out since last year since it doesn't have heated grips or any wind protection. Damn sure ain't as comfortable all day long like the Beemer but tons of fun nonetheless. Good to see that some of you other guys up north are able to get back out and ride again. Luckily, we didn't have more than 4-5 weeks without riding, even though it was rather brisk on more than a few occasions.

[stonge]

Mrs stonge has been prodding me to put the Kawi back together so we can putt around this summer. Might have to do that.

That KZ650 was sweet; I grew up riding Kawi and my mom flogged a KZ440 back in the day. Every once in a while she should take dad's 440 out to blow the carbon out.

[BadgerDave]

I'll be in Reno next week with a full day to spare. I've reserved an Indian Scout rental and plan to ride around Lake Tahoe. Looks like the weather will be high 60's and dry.

[aknapp]

I'll be in Reno next week with a full day to spare. I've reserved an Indian Scout rental and plan to ride around Lake Tahoe. Looks like the weather will be high 60's and dry.

That sounds like a great way to spend a day.

[BadgerDave]

Certainly cheaper and healthier than some of the alternative diversions available in Reno.

[jettster]

I'll be in Reno next week with a full day to spare. I've reserved an Indian Scout rental and plan to ride around Lake Tahoe. Looks like the weather will be high 60's and dry.

Be interesting to hear your take on that one, seems to be getting really good reviews. Enjoy!!

[tobereeno]

got ticketed for reckless driving today on my Multistrada (they weren't able to clock a speed); I was having a bit too much fun I guess. Need to regain throttle discipline and not abuse the power...

[tbonesullivan]

I inflated my tires, but the roads around here are so crappy that only the mountain bike will go out. I don't want to destroy my rims on these potholes.

As for the motorcycle, that got out monday. Saturday she goes in for the 6 month oil change/etc and then I will be blasting off for a lovely weekend of riding. I also got some new farkles to put on.

[Toadroller]

As I woke up to yet another four inches of snow in Maine this morning, and as I rode my road bike less than one time last summer, and, since I'm pushing *maximum density* of late, I've made the attempt to at least ride my rollers in the basement this week.

Talk about numb nuts.

Anyway, there has to be a better way, and there is. Check this out!

[Tres Aardvarks]

For those that haven't been out here to the Blue Ridge, you may not know what you're missing. Here's a video the local private school made for their cycling team (As part of the Endurance Program). I got to ride their on-campus trails with the coach and Dean of Students, but the video shows their trails AND the roads around here. Seriously seriously beautiful.

https://vimeo.com/118518878