Gold Country Ride 04/19/09 - BARF

BearKiller · 04-21-2009, 11:02 AM

It was a beautiful day for a ride. I had just installed a car tire on the back of my Valkyrie the day before and was eager to ring it out on some nice back roads. I met up with Aaron at our shop around 9am and waited for the rest of the group to show up. Aaron was riding our recently refreshed 1980 CB750F. Jim was the first to show on his ‘busa then Greg on his CBR929. Greg nearly biffed it on a batch of gravel when he made the turn towards the shop. Just goes to show you don’t need to be dragging a knee at speed to toss it down the road. Finally Joel showed up on his ZX10R so we were off!

We left Oakdale headed towards Knights Ferry via Orange Blossom Rd. From there we crossed 108/120 to Wilems/Crabtree Rd to Roberts Ferry. Man those sport bikes are fast! I wasn’t pushing as hard as I could due to the new rear tire but the way those guys could accelerate was a little humbling after years of riding with cruiser style bikers. So there I was usually about a half mile or so back with poor Aaron way behind since the old CB just didn’t have the legs to keep up. We stopped at Turlock Lake for a breather so Aaron could richen the carbs on the CB since it was running a little lean.

From there we shot over to La Grange for a soda via Lake Rd. This is a fun strip of asphalt. We then headed down Hayward Rd/Merced Falls Rd to Merced Falls proper. It was here a guy in a late model sporty car suddenly turned into Michael Shumaker when he saw me in his mirrors! What is it with cagers? If I caught you that should tell you I’m way faster than you and you need to yield the right of way not gun it because you think you’re suddenly in an imaginary race with me! This guy was all over the road! He finally took a turn so fast he got sideways and nearly went off the road! He slowed down enough for me to slip by after that. Apparently everyone else in the group had issues with this guy. Next was the old couple on the Goldwing trike. The road was so bumpy the back wheels on that thing were bouncing off the ground! Not to mention the old gal on the back was launched in the air several times! I finally got around them just in time to hit a rough spot in the road that launched all 950+lbs of Valkyrie and me in the air and towards the shoulder of the road! Luckily my superior riding skills kept me on the road. Well maybe it was just luck ;-)

Then it was off to Hornitos, Bear Valley then up Hwy 49 to Coulterville where they were having some kind off charity event. We hung out for a while then headed up to Greeley Hill for gas. We then went up Smith Station Rd to have lunch at the Iron Door in Groveland. After lunch we said our goodbyes and each headed home. It was a great day and we all made it home in one piece. Doesn’t get much better than that!

gpg · 04-21-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearKiller

Luck and nothing else kept me on the road. next time I'll be riding my own ride!

!!!!!!Fixed!!!!!!!

Damn you guys are a lot of fun. laughed my azz off more than a few times.

Lets do this again, next time I'll ride the trail-90.

BearKiller · 04-21-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpg

!!!!!!Fixed!!!!!!!

Damn you guys are a lot of fun. laughed my azz off more than a few times.

Lets do this again, next time I'll ride the trail-90.

Yeah Aaron and me are going to build up the two S90's we have with 160cc racing engines and spank your trail-90

I forgot to include the other Aaron on his XL650 SM and Sean on his 650R in my story. Sorry guys

gpg · 04-21-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearKiller

I forgot to include the other "Crawl" on his XR650L SM and his "protege " on his Ninja 650 in my story. Sorry guys

Fixed!

XR650L Motard "Crawl", Bet you never saw Wheelies like that uh.

crawl · 04-21-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearKiller

. Jim was the first to show on his ‘busa then Greg on his CBR929.

Hey they call me Greg not Gary......

crawl · 04-21-2009, 08:35 PM

That was a great ride guys! I have got to fix the hesitation in my bike!!! It really hels me back.... well in the straits any way. LOL

Cycle61 · 04-21-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearKiller

...just installed a car tire on the back of my Valkyrie...

seriously? I've heard of this before, but never from somebody who has actually done it.

crawl · 04-21-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycle61

seriously? I've heard of this before, but never from somebody who has actually done it.

Yep I seen it and now he doesn't need a kick stand!

BearKiller · 04-21-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawl

Hey they call me Greg not Gary......

Greg, Gary whatever.

I'm terrible with names anyhow Steve

BearKiller · 04-21-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycle61

seriously? I've heard of this before, but never from somebody who has actually done it.

Yep most people think when you're on a car tire you ride around on the edge of it. In reality on a bike like a Valkyrie that has little lean angle to start with I've got at least a quarter to half the tread on the pavement even riding hard in the corners. This gives me a larger contact patch and the compound in the Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid 205/60-16 I'm running is softer than a MC tire.

Cycle61 · 04-21-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearKiller

Yep most people think when you're on a car tire you ride around on the edge of it. In reality on a bike like a Valkyrie that has little lean angle to start with I've got at least a quarter to half the tread on the pavement even riding hard in the corners. This gives me a larger contact patch and the compound in the Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid 205/60-16 I'm running is softer than a MC tire.

Cool. I'll bet it lasts a hell of a lot longer too. Don't think I'm gonna try that on my 600 though.

gpg · 04-21-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycle61

Cool. I'll bet it lasts a hell of a lot longer too. Don't think I'm gonna try that on my 600 though.

How about a side car named desire for that 600?

...with a car tire on it.

04-21-2009, 11:02 AM	#1
BearKiller 8 bones 7 screws 1 plate Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Between Lard & The Bathrooms Motorcycles: 06 Triumph Scrambler, 84 Old Wing Name: Kenny	Gold Country Ride 04/19/09 It was a beautiful day for a ride. I had just installed a car tire on the back of my Valkyrie the day before and was eager to ring it out on some nice back roads. I met up with Aaron at our shop around 9am and waited for the rest of the group to show up. Aaron was riding our recently refreshed 1980 CB750F. Jim was the first to show on his ‘busa then Greg on his CBR929. Greg nearly biffed it on a batch of gravel when he made the turn towards the shop. Just goes to show you don’t need to be dragging a knee at speed to toss it down the road. Finally Joel showed up on his ZX10R so we were off! We left Oakdale headed towards Knights Ferry via Orange Blossom Rd. From there we crossed 108/120 to Wilems/Crabtree Rd to Roberts Ferry. Man those sport bikes are fast! I wasn’t pushing as hard as I could due to the new rear tire but the way those guys could accelerate was a little humbling after years of riding with cruiser style bikers. So there I was usually about a half mile or so back with poor Aaron way behind since the old CB just didn’t have the legs to keep up. We stopped at Turlock Lake for a breather so Aaron could richen the carbs on the CB since it was running a little lean. From there we shot over to La Grange for a soda via Lake Rd. This is a fun strip of asphalt. We then headed down Hayward Rd/Merced Falls Rd to Merced Falls proper. It was here a guy in a late model sporty car suddenly turned into Michael Shumaker when he saw me in his mirrors! What is it with cagers? If I caught you that should tell you I’m way faster than you and you need to yield the right of way not gun it because you think you’re suddenly in an imaginary race with me! This guy was all over the road! He finally took a turn so fast he got sideways and nearly went off the road! He slowed down enough for me to slip by after that. Apparently everyone else in the group had issues with this guy. Next was the old couple on the Goldwing trike. The road was so bumpy the back wheels on that thing were bouncing off the ground! Not to mention the old gal on the back was launched in the air several times! I finally got around them just in time to hit a rough spot in the road that launched all 950+lbs of Valkyrie and me in the air and towards the shoulder of the road! Luckily my superior riding skills kept me on the road. Well maybe it was just luck ;-) Then it was off to Hornitos, Bear Valley then up Hwy 49 to Coulterville where they were having some kind off charity event. We hung out for a while then headed up to Greeley Hill for gas. We then went up Smith Station Rd to have lunch at the Iron Door in Groveland. After lunch we said our goodbyes and each headed home. It was a great day and we all made it home in one piece. Doesn’t get much better than that! __________________ Too many parts is better than not enough parts

04-21-2009, 08:35 PM	#6
crawl Banned Contributor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thermopylae Motorcycles: yes please! Name: Greg	That was a great ride guys! I have got to fix the hesitation in my bike!!! It really hels me back.... well in the straits any way. LOL __________________ Vote no on 8 and next they'll be telling us it's OK to marry if your brother and sister! (hey if you want to it should be your right) if you aska child molester he will tell you he was born that way. (does that make it ok?) Garbage!!! I’d rather ask Forgiveness than Permission. If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

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