Woohoo!! Motorcycle season started today.

[whoaru99]

Fired up the bike and drove 11.5 miles. Not much..but it's the beginning and didn't want to get pinched by The Man for not having the 2012 license tabs yet.

 

[bill1956]

Good for you.....I live in san diego.......Motorcycle season all year.....but always not the case, so i klnow how you feel.....ENJOY...i RIDE A 1956 PAN SHOVEL HOME MADE CHOP

 

[BmWr75]

Great new. We've gotten in a couple of rides in western PA so far this year. None this weekend though. :-(

 

[DENNYDOG]

Fired up the bike and drove 11.5 miles. Not much..but it's the beginning and didn't want to get pinched by The Man for not having the 2012 license tabs yet.

I got nailed because I didn't drive my bike one year and didn't realize the tabs were past due the following year. Unlike cars they are due every Feb in MN. They were overdue even though the year looked correct. You need to have tabs that show the following year.

I got pulled over because my headlight stopped working that day on my way home. I told them I didn't realize they were overdue (which I didn't) and gave me a ticket anyway even though I had proof of insurance with me.

It will still be a while before it's warm enough for me. 70's on up is about right for me. It's too cold if it drops into the 60's and below.

 

[old_tv_nut]

Motorcycle season!

I don't ride one, but I think it can't be said enough for us four-wheelers who happen to read this:
WATCH OUT and lets avoid "I didn't see him" accidents.

I now return you to Joy of Riding...

 

[whoaru99]

And, as a MC driver, I'm exceptionally wary in the early season for three main reasons.

1. Drivers not really in the "motorcycles out driving around" mindset quite yet.
2. Still lots of sand on the roads around here.
3. It's been nearly 6 months since I was in the saddle.

 

[similost]

Lucky guy... I've yet been able to get mine out..

One has an expired inspection sticker. I keep trying to get to the station to get it inspected, but the last three Saturdays have been crap, but then it's nice other days, but I'm at work..

The other has a dead battery, and I'm too lazy to charge it when I'm thinking about it, and pissed when it's nice enough to ride..

I need to quit making excuses and get something done about it..

Lucky guy... just keep it safe..

 

[mulester7]

.....had a great ride yesterday with 4 friends from work up to Heber Springs and back, about 110 miles total....drove across the top of the dam, around part of Greers Ferry Lake, cruised back through the business section of Heber Springs, and ate bbq at a place with a long history....one of the guys has a Triumph Rocket III....me and him lit 'em up for a 1/4 mile coming back home....great race, great ride, great afternoon....motorcycles, ya' can't beat 'em if the weather is cooperating.....

 

[Sandy G]

And, as a MC driver, I'm exceptionally wary in the early season for three main reasons.

1. Drivers not really in the "motorcycles out driving around" mindset quite yet.
2. Still lots of sand on the roads around here.
3. It's been nearly 6 months since I was in the saddle.

Yeah...PUH-LEEZE Be Careful !

 

[sxty8goats]

I've been riding since the second week in March. Not much, but any chance I get she comes out. When the weather warms up around here, I'll pretty much use her as my main vehicle.

 

[PickyEars81]

Motorcycle Season? That's 365.25 days of the year, here. I ride through rain, hail, and snow.

But that's one thing I like about Cali, motorcycle season is all year

 

[PickyEars81]

And, as a MC driver, I'm exceptionally wary in the early season for three main reasons.

1. Drivers not really in the "motorcycles out driving around" mindset quite yet.
2. Still lots of sand on the roads around here.
3. It's been nearly 6 months since I was in the saddle.

What are you ridin'?

 

[gearhound]

April and May are the windy months, plus LOTS of sand and gravel on the road too.
You ride on some of the narrow, windy mountain roads around here and it's.....money in the bank.....that some A-hole will cut a blind curve, and leave you with about 18" of pavement to deal with!?

Steve

 

[PickyEars81]

April and May are the windy months, plus LOTS of sand and gravel on the road too.
You ride on some of the narrow, windy mountain roads around here and it's.....money in the bank.....that some A-hole will cut a blind curve, and leave you with about 18" of pavement to deal with!?

Steve

Same thing with the mountains over here. We have one that goes from sea level to like 5000 feet - really technical turns, off camber, decreasing radius blind turns, gravel, sand - the whole nine yards. Excellent riding experience but the mountain will take you if you let it. At least once per trip some A hole comes around and blows the double yellow - usually at a speed for which their vehicle could easily maneuver the turn if they actually bothered learning how to operate it effectively. Then there was the time that I came haulin around a turn and there was a fox in the road, looking at me like, "Hold up buddy, this is my mountain."

 

[similost]

And, as a MC driver, I'm exceptionally wary in ANY season for three main reasons.

1. Drivers not really in the "motorcycles out driving around" mindset ever.

Fixed that...

Too many times I've stared a driver in the eyes as they were pulling out from a parking lot, and sure enough, they will pull out in front of you and make you slam on the brakes..

I think people see you, but as you say, they just don't register it, because they are trained to look for 4 wheel vehicles... "Nope, that's not a car, I can go... "

See it year round....

 

[whoaru99]

What are you ridin'?

I have a 1996 Suzuki RF900 which is a sport touring bike on paper but for all intents and purposes it's a crotch rocket, and a 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 cruiser.

It was the Vulcan I drove yesterday because it was closest to the door of the shed and required least effort to git'er done late in the day.

 

[whoaru99]

Fixed that...

Too many times I've stared a driver in the eyes as they were pulling out from a parking lot, and sure enough, they will pull out in front of you and make you slam on the brakes..

I think people see you, but as you say, they just don't register it, because they are trained to look for 4 wheel vehicles... "Nope, that's not a car, I can go... "

See it year round....

Yeah, I hear ya. I've seen that look too. You'd bet everything you had they looked right into your eyes, but still pulled out like you weren't even there.

Just threw it out because for ~ 4 months out of the year people have to look out for snowmobiles in the ditch making road crossings, then the other ~6 months or so they have to switch to looking for motorcycles on the highway.

 

[similost]

I remember when the Kaw 1300 Vulcan was the big dog on the road. I was thinking about trading my Suzuki Madura GV1200 for the Vulcan way back then..

I really like those... but that Madura was twice the power of that 1300.. it was trade HP for torque, and I just couldn't bring myself to leave wrapped out HP..

 

[whoaru99]

Yeah, even with the 2000 engine (rated 115 hp and 141 lbs torque, afaik) it's still not the fastest heavy cruiser on the road, but man she has GOBS of torque and easily pulls me and my GF (neither exactly small people ) with plenty of power for passing and such.

With the Vance & Hines pipes it's fairly mellow until you open the throttle, especially with a load on, then she roars pretty good. Not like shorty drag pipes but I really wouldn't want much louder than the V&H Powershots. :thmbsp:

 

[similost]

Yep... with a little age, I traded for the torque... I get on my Venture, and it feels so strange to have to wind it up to get it moving, where with the Roadstar I just roll on it and it's an instant grin... Gotta love them twins....