After I post this I am heading out of the office door to embark on my last long ride of the year. I had originally hoped to ride the bike down to Kamloops on the (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend, next month. As the leaves are already turning, and dropping off the trees hereabouts, and it's getting pretty chilly first thing in the morning, I've decided to err on the side of caution and take the bike south without any fear of getting caught out in ugly weather or on ugly roads.
My plan is to ride from here (Fort St. John) via Prince George, Tete Jaune, Little Fort, 100 Mile House, Cache Creek, Hope, and then north back to the 'loops. Planned journey time, less than 24 hours.
Is this man a fool?
Will Nick's unshakeable faith in Honda reliability carry the day?
Will Silver Sophie rise to the challenge?
Watch this space.
Last long ride of the season...
Last long ride of the season...
.....to be myself, a pattern for others.
1979 CB650
1971 Norton Commando
1968 CB175
1979 CB650
1971 Norton Commando
1968 CB175
Nah I don't think so... Although I did ride into work in Nashville today (and got sprinkled on) and I do wear black leathers and full face everywhere I go, I got back around 2pm and parked the bike. I think you would have recognized me though... The damn bike smokes like a corncob pipe.
I have noticed several other SOHC 4s and a few DOHC Nighthawks around Murfreesboro. Always nice to see some of the brethren around town
I have noticed several other SOHC 4s and a few DOHC Nighthawks around Murfreesboro. Always nice to see some of the brethren around town
OK, OK, call me a big softie, wuss, quitter, or whatever, but the lure of my nice warm bed, snuggled up to the missis (who I hadn't seen for a month) was just too much....so the long ride home, segued into the long ride home - lite.
Left at 4.15pm. I ended up doing 622 miles, and with stops (about 45 minutes total), was snuggled in the aforementioned nice warm bed by 3.30am.
I started in bright sunshine, but into a brisk headwind, so my gas mileage fell from 49mpg (imperial) to 44mpg. Once I crossed the mountains things improved and for the last three fill-ups the bike did 53/51/57mpg, all at steady cruising (5500rpm/110kph-ish).
Believe it or not this was the very first time that I had ridden the bike after dark. So after about 9pm it was new territory, riding wise. I was very impressed with the headlight (not the 'melt ice at 400 yards' brightness of the twin headlights on my VFR but still very good), which allowed me to maintain the same cruising speeds that I had been doing when it was daylight. The glare from my non-faced speedo wasn't too intrusive; I had forgotten how restful the green background of the tach could be.
Apart from it getting pretty cold at the end, and there being tons of bugs at the start (my helmet looked like it had sprouted fur when I got to Prince George), it was a pretty uneventful ride. Well, except for the numbnuts who had pulled his old truck off to the side of the road, leaving most of it actually still in the road; said truck was filthy so the rear reflectors were not reflecting, and he/she had not left the hazards on. So it blended in quite well and I didn't see it until I was almost on it. Passed it pretty close, for a sphincter pucker factor of about 9.75.
The bike ran flawlessly, didn't use any oil, and the chain still does not need adjusting (haven't touched it since I put the Scottoiler on a few thousand kms ago).
Left at 4.15pm. I ended up doing 622 miles, and with stops (about 45 minutes total), was snuggled in the aforementioned nice warm bed by 3.30am.
I started in bright sunshine, but into a brisk headwind, so my gas mileage fell from 49mpg (imperial) to 44mpg. Once I crossed the mountains things improved and for the last three fill-ups the bike did 53/51/57mpg, all at steady cruising (5500rpm/110kph-ish).
Believe it or not this was the very first time that I had ridden the bike after dark. So after about 9pm it was new territory, riding wise. I was very impressed with the headlight (not the 'melt ice at 400 yards' brightness of the twin headlights on my VFR but still very good), which allowed me to maintain the same cruising speeds that I had been doing when it was daylight. The glare from my non-faced speedo wasn't too intrusive; I had forgotten how restful the green background of the tach could be.
Apart from it getting pretty cold at the end, and there being tons of bugs at the start (my helmet looked like it had sprouted fur when I got to Prince George), it was a pretty uneventful ride. Well, except for the numbnuts who had pulled his old truck off to the side of the road, leaving most of it actually still in the road; said truck was filthy so the rear reflectors were not reflecting, and he/she had not left the hazards on. So it blended in quite well and I didn't see it until I was almost on it. Passed it pretty close, for a sphincter pucker factor of about 9.75.
The bike ran flawlessly, didn't use any oil, and the chain still does not need adjusting (haven't touched it since I put the Scottoiler on a few thousand kms ago).
.....to be myself, a pattern for others.
1979 CB650
1971 Norton Commando
1968 CB175
1979 CB650
1971 Norton Commando
1968 CB175
Chris wrote:Scottoiler?
Automatic chain lubrication system, of which I am a huge fan. If you would like more info go to:
http://www.scottoiler.com/
Or ask away! I would not have a chain driven bike without a Scottoiler fitted....!
Last edited by nickjtc on Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
.....to be myself, a pattern for others.
1979 CB650
1971 Norton Commando
1968 CB175
1979 CB650
1971 Norton Commando
1968 CB175
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