Riding Season is Almost Here!

[stingx]

Although I do ride all year round, it is a bit limiting in the northeast. I will not ride when the temps are below 38-40F as I am quite fearful of black ice. Anyway, I am getting the bike prepped in preparation of the long road trips to follow shortly. Anyone else here ride? I've been riding for years and have had all kinds of models. I am currently riding an '04 Honda VTX 1300, slightly modified.

http://www.stubble.org/hngd/vtx1300c640b.jpg

[Spudman]

Almost? It is here. I was out on my bike today. :)
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/hiking/RB_RB_GL_Brushed_w_White.jpg

[Tone2TheBone]

I drank a beer out in the sun today it was awesome. I got a bike too though. :AOK:

[sunvalleylaw]

I skied the north facing back side of Bald Mountain today through the burned zone from last years fires. I was wearing an avalanche beacon with prepared partners and avalanche danger was low. We were finding cold winter powder tree skiing through a very opened up landscape. Awesome!

I will welcome road and mountain bike season when it comes here, but I am not in a hurry, lots of ski season left. I will likely have to go visit Spudley for some early riding this spring.

[Simon]

Riding this, but season is probably a month or so away (for me at least):
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2950/img0773r2dw6.jpg
- although these wheels were borrowed for a test ride; they are worth more than the rest of the bike!

GASing for maybe something like this:
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/kawasaki/2006/23497_0_1_2_er-6n_Image%20credits%20-%20Kawasaki.jpg
Kawasaki ER-6n

I owned a Virago-535 a few years ago...

[Dreadman]

Good thread Stingx. I check out the VTX's every time I'm at the dealer and if ol' faithful ever stops being reliable then a VTX will replace it.

Here she is - 1988 Honda Shadow 1100

Artistic shot
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/phobuk/TideMillShadow.jpg

Less glamorous garage shot, but in color
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/phobuk/ShadowinGaragea.jpg


And one of my previous rides - 1994 HD Springer

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/phobuk/springer.jpg

[Algonquin]

Spudman... where are the pedals? :confused:

Almost? It is here. I was out on my bike today. :)
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/hiking/RB_RB_GL_Brushed_w_White.jpg

[stingx]

Good thread Stingx. I check out the VTX's every time I'm at the dealer and if ol' faithful ever stops being reliable then a VTX will replace it.

Here she is - 1988 Honda Shadow 1100

Artistic shot
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/phobuk/TideMillShadow.jpg

Less glamorous garage shot, but in color
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/phobuk/ShadowinGaragea.jpg


And one of my previous rides - 1994 HD Springer

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g164/phobuk/springer.jpg

Dreadman, it's interesting that you had a Harley and now ride a Honda. My first street cycle was a Harley and I have since gone on to the metric cruisers. I view bikes the same as guitars - there is NO REASON a Harley should cost as much as they do. For me, living in an area with an abridged riding season, I view bikes as toys and I'd rather buy a better, faster toy for half the price. Now I love all bikes and I would like to buy a Road King at some point but from a price vs. performance ratio, the Metrics FAR outweigh the domestics.

Let me back this up. My VTX was about $7,000 new in '04. It is liquid cooled, has a drive shaft, and alloy rims - basically just change the oil. The cheapest model that Harley makes that comes close in specs is $8,900 more. It isn't 9k better.

Anyway, your bike rocks and I wouldn't expect it to die any time soon. My friend has one that's pretty old and it still looks/rides well and he trusts it on runs that are over 600 miles.

[Brian Krashpad]

Bike Week started today, in fact.

But not being a biker, I've never gone.

I did own a little 70 cc (iirc) Japanese street bike back in high school though. The kind with a fairing on the front that looks sorta like a scooter.

Haven't ridden since then though.

[Robert]

I thought you guys were talking about horses, at first...

We have this in town - www.houseofthunder.ca

[Dreadman]

You're preachin' to the choir Stingx. For many years my shop did nothing but custom work on motorcycles, mostly Harleys. I've seen 'em all, ridden them all and worked on them all and the overall bang for the buck nod goes to Honda.

I owned the Shadow first and bought the Springer for designing Softail parts & making the expected appearance with my customers. As much as I loved the Springer, when it came time to decide on one bike the Honda stayed. As close as they were in looks and function the Honda is lighter, more nimble, better handling and parts cost a lot less. The real advantage to the HD's is that they're all pretty much built with the same frames and motors so the aftermarket is huge, lending to diverse personalization. Not a bad thing at all and I made a good living from it but when it came down to owning just one street bike I went with function.