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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | I made a run from Goldsboro NC to Johnstown PA to see my old high school buddy. I'd done this once before on my Road Kill (errrr... King) and felt like I was beat with a bat at the end. How did the Vision fair? I could do it again the next day. Nice.
So what happened? On the way home, it rained off and on. That put the kibosh on my plans to run Skyline Drive to extend the trip. No sense in it when the roads are slippery, there are precipitous drops, and you can't see for the clouds, right?
So now I'm buzzing down I-64, listening to my MP3 player throguh the speakers and enjoying a smoke. HUH? Without thinking about it at all, I took off my gloves, pulled out a cigarette, dug for my lighter, ducked behind the windshield and lit up... at 75-80mph. It's scary how surprised I was to find myself enjoying a smoke.
This bike is smooth, stable and protects you from the wind if you so choose. From giving high fives to corn fields to showing off for my kid while picking him up from the dance to this new story... I find new reasons to love this bike all the time. |
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Visionary
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Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | More to the point: "WHY did it happen?" Do your kid a favor and QUIT !!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | hmmmm. yes, i'm not advocate for some vices having quit a long, long, long time ago and glad that i did.
but more to the point. I've found myself on twisties, in a full curve, adjusting the volume on the radio. Or taking something out of my jacket breast pocket (I won't say what) and putting in the glove box. These are idiotic things I would have never done on anyother motorcycle and never thought about doing it. On the Vision, it is easy, but I have to ask myself when I did do those things "Why did I just do that?"
on quitting any vice, it has to be up to the individual. now with that said, my lovely wife put up with my puffin' for 4 straight years and never nagged once, never. I would have to say that helped me more, because had she nagged me, I'd still be picking up stogies today. |
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Visionary
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Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Awe, heck Chris. Don't spoil my fun!
There is ONE thing worse than a 'reformed smoker' - - - - - 'a smoker'.
My Pet Peeve when driving is smokers flicking their ash out the windows of their vehicle - when I am behind or along side on my bike. I want to smash their windshield or something when they do that. Ignorant Asswipes...... and for a fellow biker to do that - well ........ |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | i've been told that, that is there is nothing worse than a deformed smoker, aka, me. but I get told i'm worse for other reasons as well. I can concur with the FLlCKERS of butts and as*hes out the winder. but that gives me one more obstacle to avoid, like playing a video game.
the only problem i have is when my life is exhausted, that's it..... |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | I learned a long time ago to ride defensivly and let go of errant behavior when I am on two wheels. Save the anger for when you are in a car. Now repeat after me...one one thousand, two one thousand, three.............. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | what anger? oh, yeah, it does get me steamed when someone pushes me onto the shoulder because THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR DRIVING! Where's my machine gun....????? rat-a-tat-tat-tat.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 205
| Man, I know that feeling and that moment! I had the same thing today, funny as I read your post I knew exactly what you meant... I was cruising down Pacific Coast Highway out here in Southern California, 8am, sunshine and ocean view... absolutely beautiful.... Suddenly I realized I had the cruise control on and was holding my coffee from my drink holder in my right hand, sipping and cruising...with the tunes rockin... It was crazy!!!!
I had a Road King too prior to the Viz and never could have enjoyed that bike the way I enjoy this one.
Glad you had a great day too. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | Mfoster - 2009-09-10 9:24 PM
Suddenly I realized I had the cruise control on and was holding my coffee from my drink holder in my right hand, sipping and cruising...with the tunes rockin... It was crazy!!!!
I had a Road King too prior to the Viz and never could have enjoyed that bike the way I enjoy this one.
Glad you had a great day too.
Thanks, Mfoster... I was starting to feel like a red nose at a teetotaler's revival. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | And people that drink coffee while motoring down the road..... they're as bad as the dudes on cellphones!
Paul - my campaign to get you off your dependancies was working.... keep on thinkin' and PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD (and the scenery, and the tunes, and the sweet vv sounds, and the fight you had with your boss, and the sex you had last nite, and the ...... ) |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | We may need to send some De-Radiation methods up doneglowinthedarktracey way. He's on fire. I normally have to have something to stay awake on the drive in. Used to be a Dr Pepper in the shirt pocket. Now it seems the morning commute is fine, now the afternoon needs a little pickme up. So a diet dew is in order. Somebody here was having DPM (Dews per mile)! Of course, it comes with the complimentary, "Sir, you do know that is a Diet Dew!"
This morning, had the Auto-pilot engaged and was cruizin' along checking the nighttime scenery out, when it occurred to me, I hadn't touched the handlebars in over 10 miles. Coulda used a Coffee or a Dew. Oh yeah, I did have the tunes up, and I'd a probably been thinking about the sex I had last nite, but I just reminisced a few years ago instead. |
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Tourer
Posts: 460
Centennial, CO | varyder - 2009-09-10 6:16 PM
what anger? oh, yeah, it does get me steamed when someone pushes me onto the shoulder because THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR DRIVING! Where's my machine gun....????? rat-a-tat-tat-tat....
Get this...me and 8 other fellow riders on all makes/models were riding up I-70 into the mountains about 3 weeks ago to do a last ride over Trail Ridge road. Just as we started up the hill (yeah...ok...Mountain), a kid just starts pulling over (I am leading) into my lane. I was far enough back that I wouldn't be hurt but close enough that had he let off the gas I would have had his tail for lunch. I had the cruise on like an idiot (with my girl on the back...she was VERY laid back about this and had the utmost confidence in me) I just moved into the shoulder and as luck would have it, he began to slow. Just then his dad and mom realized I was pushed over. I could see them saying, "OMG...YOU NEED...". I stayed right there and the kid looked over and was saying sorry to me. Fine I thought, but I gave him the right hand move over sign with my thumb. He quickly moved back to his lane and the entire group passed him. I am SURE he felt horrible and like an idiot. I realize this happens and I am SURE he learned a valuable lesson as a young driver. I let it go.
Why, you might ask, did I just continue up the shoulder and ask him to move back over? Well, because as the leader of a fairly large group, I felt compelled to ensure he knew we were ALL behind him. He moved and we were all very safe about it. But probably not the smartest move I have ever done...especially with my GF on the back.
About 15 minutes later we are cruising up to our exit and no joke, about a mile prior to the exit we see what appears to be a bouncing prairie dog hopping across the highway. I just continue on at 70 mph figuring we have millions of PDs and losing another won't be a big deal. Turns out that a kitten mountain lion was traversing the 70 mph traffic. I hit the brakes and the whole group except the guy behind me and to my right did too. The guy behind me was staggered (as we all were) and it was coming from my 11 o'clock so he couldn't really see it given his position. I moved to my left a bit and missed the little guy. I watched and was horrified that my buddy was about to smush a cute cat that needs to remain alive for the ecosystem (NO...I am not a greeny...but still...he needed to live). Well, the little guy freaked and took an immediate hard left and darted for the shoulder in which he was originally hopping to. The guy to my right saw it and had only enough time to TOUCH his brakes. No kidding, the kitten went directly between his front and rear tire and was absolutely fine. Could NOT freakin believe it! The whole group talked about that the rest of the day and only a little about the kid that I pushed back over.
Turned out to be one of those days as a leader to be watching out THAT MUCH MORE for the freaky things coming out of the woodwork! Amazing to me that I can ride by myself and I seem to never experience this kind of stuff. But as a leader it seems that God is testing my patience as a group leader! OR maybe he knew I was good enough to lead and put those things in front of me knowing all would be right in the world. Who knows!?
Edited by ElroyJ 2009-09-14 12:13 AM
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Cruiser
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Rapid City, SD | donetracey - 2009-09-10 1:16 PM
More to the point: "WHY did it happen?" Do your kid a favor and QUIT !!!!
+1 |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Great story, James. Reminded my of some adventures in my younger years when I used to 'lead the procession'. And reminded me why I don't do group rides any more.
My daughter, her husband, his father, and his mother all are bikers. And I don't ride with them - as a group. Nor any of my old rider pals.
Quite simply - you reminded me of why I quit doing that - too many lapses in concentration. Like our pal lighting his cigarette.
I am just off a 600 mile weekend ride that required 100% concentration on the road, the traffic and the weather - and the occasional look at the astounding scenery. I just could not handle the responsibility of managing a group of bikers on top of that. I did it for years - not any more. I just love being able to ride and share with my new wife the joys of the road - and I can't do that if a lapse in concentration leaves us ..... in a bad place.
As an aside - met a guy in his 80's on my recent ride. He was riding some old 'ese' bike - but with a side-car. Doesn't have the balance to ride 2 wheels - but uses the side-car as his excuse to continue to ride. Gives me hope ..... |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | donetracey - 2009-09-10 2:16 PM
More to the point: "WHY did it happen?" Do your kid a favor and QUIT !!!!
Or you could do us ALL a favor and stop proselytizing.
One's about as likely as the other.
By the way, the point is the ease, comfort and stability of the machine. So your kind of remark is anything but "more to the point". All it does is pi$$ people off.
How could someone from a RIDING forum pick that detail out of the story and harp on.... oh, never mind. Arrogance never responds to reason. Might as well talk diplomacy to the Taliban... or limited government to today's Congress.
Edited by trailbarge 2009-09-14 11:40 AM
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How did THAT happen?!?