Gotta Ride!

(Disclaimer: you won't learn anything about VFR's in this post. I don't even provide an opinion on motor oil) 

I was shocked!

I knew that 2023 was my worst mileage year in a decade or two. But I had a bunch of reasons:

About 10 months ago the surgeons at UCSF repaired the mitral valve in my heart. Surgery and recovery rehab pretty much eliminated riding for the spring.  

A simmering, ongoing consulting gig of maybe 10 billable hours/month suddenly and unintentionally took over my life starting in July. Ironically--because of my own personnel recommendations--I became the acting head of operations for a regional movie theatre chain. Fortunately I was able to find my permanent replacement in November.

And...my wife and I now have a grandson, currently 22 months, and we have pretty much been commuting to our son and DIL's place in San Diego.  😊

Where was I? Oh yeah, I was shocked. Yesterday I took a look at the odometer on the Ducati. I then compared it to last year, and...400 was the difference. 400 effing miles in 2023!! That's pathetic. Even if I generously add in another 400 on the RC-51 that's less than 1000 miles in a year. Wow.

So I checked my photos on this laptop, and it was another shock. For the first year in the history of digital photography I had not taken a single bike picture! This was the most recent pic I could find, probably my final ride of 2022, December 23rd:

[image: IMG_7630.thumb.JPG.77b845b3e266eec28010d6ae755d7f65.JPG]

As JZH said in his recent build thread, I really just had a lot of excuses. Unlike Darryl I was physically and legally able to ride by May. If something is important to you, you don't just drop that activity to do other things no matter how important they may also be. 

I live in one of the great motorcycle riding regions in North America--we can ride pretty much year-round, the roads are fantastic and plentiful, and there's an abundance of natural beauty only a day or two's ride away. And I own two bikes--2017 Multistrada Tour S, 2003 RC-51--that I love, are incredibly reliable, and are really tons of fun to ride.  

So.

Time to get off my ass and behind the bars. Trip planning time! Up to Oregon. A trip through the Sierra, into AZ, the four corners and the Rockies? My favorite Eureka/Yreka/Fortuna loop (aka 299-96-3-36)? San Diego of course. And just hitting the PCH/128/253 etc. when the right day opens up.

Anyway, if you're still reading this diatribe you probably understand the self-induced frustration. No excuses in 2024:

[image: IMG_8450.thumb.jpeg.0c929fe37b69fefa3606a70ae5ecca82.jpeg]

More to follow...       :wheel:

3 minutes ago, St. Stephen

400 effing miles in 2023!! That's pathetic.

There's no doubt that you're doing it wrong. 😛

I was just reading about tracking miles for the year. I never do, finding it more important how I feel about it. That being said, I've not been riding enough in my retirement.

Blasphemy! You don't track? That's like not tracking track day expenses!

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I'm not even retired and I don't have enough time to put on more than about 1k a year. 2 kids, a house that I built, and a very, shall we say, selfish/vindictive/physco wife does that to you. The wife bit will be ending soon but not the kids thankfully. 

2024 is going to be different. 

2 hours ago, bmart

Blasphemy! You don't track? That's like not tracking track day expenses!

[image: image.thumb.png.c937039ab6e2eb3d32c120ffe83fd861.png]

The beauty of my life is that I don't have to track or budget anything. It may not always be that way but for now it is. I did do my first track day back in October at Polecat Training Center. It was an awesome day. Will do again.

1 hour ago, Bren

I'm not even retired and I don't have enough time to put on more than about 1k a year. 2 kids, a house that I built, and a very, shall we say, selfish/vindictive/physco wife does that to you. The wife bit will be ending soon but not the kids thankfully. 

2024 is going to be different. 

That sucks Bren, hope your 2024 is better. Hang in there!

House and two kids for me too, but fortunately not that wife part. Early days we moved for my job and my ratty GS400 got stolen at work, couldn't afford a replacement. After my only four adult years w/o a bike we went out to eat, told her I just had to get another bike (VF of course). She was fine with it. 😊  BTW, she was six months pregnant. 

Shocking!  People have actual lives and can't dedicate endless hours to riding for fun?  Blasphemy!!  🙂

I got 6k miles in for 2023.  The year before was 5k, but my bike was offline for a few months due to waiting for a new front wheel to arrive.  I used to average more like 7-8k, but over the years (except for 2020) I've gotten busier and busier as a musician, in addition to my day job.  Being busy some weeknights and most weekends led to fewer rides.  I usually try to do 2-3 trips annually, but managed just one this past year.  At least it was a good one!

If I'm being completely honest, several years ago my annual mileage dropped to about 1,500 for two straight years.  I'd gotten busy (work/gigs) and kind of just lost my mojo for riding.  I'd been looking at buying another bike on and off for a while, but what was the sense in buying a new (or used) motorcycle if I wasn't even riding it that much?  In 2019 I rode more, and even more in 2020 when I had a lot of spare time due to all my musical activities being canceled due to the pandemic.  With the established uptick in miles I decided to go ahead and buy my current bike.  Hopefully this year I'll at least equal the 6k for 2023.

Good on you for already making plans to ride more.  Personally, I'm hoping to finally do the trip to Maine I've been wanting to do for the last few years.  Probably in late August.  🙂

18 hours ago, Sweeper

The beauty of my life is that I don't have to track or budget anything. It may not always be that way but for now it is. I did do my first track day back in October at Polecat Training Center. It was an awesome day. Will do again.

I hear ya. I like to track stuff. It puts me at peace...and I hate spending time hunting down little details one at a time! 🙂

Ping me if you want to do some track time. I coach for a few orgs in the south east...until I age out!

Between the 2 Gileras, 2 Hondas, Moto Morini and MV Agusta rode some 24,000km in 2023.

40hrs work per week restrict a bit..

But some 42 days paid vacation per year helps...  :laugh:

Plan to ride the same kms this year, tripto the Manx GP already decided upon.

You get days off?

My mileage is way down too... guessing sub 4k... used to do over 12k easy... gotta pick it up this year... 

Hope we all get some more seat time this year. My Multi has only seen 6K over the last 3 years.

Did I hear my name? Yeah, good times, brain surgery, then suspended license, what a year! although I did get my license reinstated, I did also lose my insurance coverage for next year, seems the under writer does not allow for any license suspensions, for any reason! All good now, in both health and insurance, but don't want to go through any of that again!

As far as riding, I haven't been to the track in a couple of years, and it was just about 9 months to the day from my initial seizure to the day I got my license back, so a small bit of time without any riding. Felt like forever though. Once I got my license back, I hopped on the bike as soon as I could, did a couple of commutes to San Diego and a few little trips down the coast and back, so I was able to at least go over the 400 mile mark, but still have not done a "proper" ride yet.

I'll definitely be doing some local "twisty" rides soon and hopefully get back to the track to work with the Superbike School again. Just need to get some bike restoration projects completed first, need to get some garage space back. Of course I do sneak out for those little rides but those only comfort me for so long.

Late spring and early fall 2023 cross country rides plus regular commuting use.  Safe to say the VFR saw a few miles... plus a pair of drive chains and a few tire sets. 

bmart, 1/4/2024 at 9:13 PM

You get days off?

Work - Life Balance Euro Trash Style!!! 🙂

16 hours ago, Duc2V4

Did I hear my name? Yeah, good times, brain surgery, then suspended license, what a year! although I did get my license reinstated, I did also lose my insurance coverage for next year, seems the under writer does not allow for any license suspensions, for any reason! All good now, in both health and insurance, but don't want to go through any of that again!

As far as riding, I haven't been to the track in a couple of years, and it was just about 9 months to the day from my initial seizure to the day I got my license back, so a small bit of time without any riding. Felt like forever though. Once I got my license back, I hopped on the bike as soon as I could, did a couple of commutes to San Diego and a few little trips down the coast and back, so I was able to at least go over the 400 mile mark, but still have not done a "proper" ride yet.

I'll definitely be doing some local "twisty" rides soon and hopefully get back to the track to work with the Superbike School again. Just need to get some bike restoration projects completed first, need to get some garage space back. Of course I do sneak out for those little rides but those only comfort me for so long.

There will be a motorcycle for you to ride should you ever come to the Netherlands.

No sympathy from those of you parked for the winter, but the heavy rains here may back off tomorrow and the RC wants to go out first:

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.8c6629754e5ddc81c971f43dc028df23.jpeg]

9 hours ago, St. Stephen

No sympathy from those of you parked for the winter, but the heavy rains here may back off tomorrow and the RC wants to go out first:

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16 hours ago, St. Stephen

No sympathy from those of you parked for the winter, but the heavy rains here may back off tomorrow and the RC wants to go out first:

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.8c6629754e5ddc81c971f43dc028df23.jpeg]

I'm counting on the rain this week washing away the massive amounts of salt and brine that were put down.  Only reason I've been taking the car these past few days 

Me too, tomorrow is looking good for me 🤞

Well, after a few months on the smart charger, in the garage (I have friends who think garages are for cars, go figure), and not moving an inch, the RC of course started immediately, manual fast idle aka choke pulled out. It's a Honda. 

Barely over 40 miles but far enough to get rid of the moisture in the crankcase, and get my arms and knees used to the sportbike position again. Around here this time of year the back roads that aren't well travelled get a bit of moss or other plant life growing in the middle of the lane where car tires don't go, so I took it easy.   Mostly. 

I moved the odometer!  😀

PCH today just south of Tomales:

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.31e06aaff3d58e7340dedafe01d134ff.jpeg]

Missing my RC about now…

Nice SC45!!!  :goofy:

Lots of rain recently but a nice day today before it all returns tomorrow. Did a thorough chain cleaning, adjustment and lube Tuesday so felt like everything was ready and prepped for a 10 day trip! However, this was not a 10 day trip, just 60 miles. I may complain about the rain but spring after an El Nino winter is beautiful here.

Sorry it's not a VFR, but...red...V cylinders...motorcycle

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Squint and you can see the Pacific ocean...

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About 50 miles today.

This bike has not rolled the miles that it should lately, all on me. Staring at the RC in the garage I often say to myself that if I'm not going to lay down the miles, I should sell it. But then I ride it. No way! 

Today, back in the garage, trying to straighten my knees ...

First overnight trip in almost 2yrs (finally!) for reasons you can read above. Headed south from Sonoma county towards San Diego county. Midway was Solvang--Denmark in CA. 

I can't believe how large trucks have gotten here in the U.S. Obviously all 20 million parking spaces should be expanded by 10 feet in width...

22 hours ago, St. Stephen

First overnight trip in almost 2yrs (finally!) for reasons you can read above. Headed south from Sonoma county towards San Diego county. Midway was Solvang--Denmark in CA. 

You still hanging out around that area of SoCal?  I was just there a few weeks ago and a neat stop is the Honda HQ in Torrance.  This is the lobby... just park in visitor parking during normal weekday work hours and waltz right in.  No entry fee or anything.

[image: CH.thumb.jpg.ec9d2086c95f9710aea4b2c3c2977cf0.jpg]

[image: rc51.thumb.jpg.1252574769fe5534736c8f124049925a.jpg]

[image: nr_rc30.thumb.jpg.b0f45c04b66470400337399b94142cb4.jpg]

Great photos vfrgiving! Of course I especially like the RC. I have heard great things about Honda HQ but have never been, thanks for reminding me.

This trip is to visit my son and family in San Diego County where I am now. Heading back north tomorrow morning, early Sunday being a good time to get through LA. Four days of riding, plus today off, about 1200 miles total--not super serious mileage but a lot of socal interstate. 

Tomorrow my plan is to finally visit the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. They're only open 6 hrs on Saturdays & Sundays and despite having stayed in Solvang a number of times I've never been around when they're open.

I'll post some photos. I believe they have a Britten, an RC30 and some other V4's.

https://www.motosolvang.com

10 minutes ago, St. Stephen

Great photos vfrgiving! Of course I especially like the RC. I have heard great things about Honda HQ but have never been, thanks for reminding me.

This trip is to visit my son and family in San Diego County where I am now. Heading back north tomorrow morning, early Sunday being a good time to get through LA. Four days of riding, plus today off, about 1200 miles total--not super serious mileage but a lot of socal interstate. 

Tomorrow my plan is to finally visit the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. They're only open 6 hrs on Saturdays & Sundays and despite having stayed in Solvang a number of times I've never been around when they're open.

I'll post some photos. I believe they have a Britten, an RC30 and some other V4's.

https://www.motosolvang.com

Ah man, I wish I was home, I would have made it a point to join you to Solvang, as you would be passing through my neck of the woods on your way from SD. I’m on travel for work right now. I’m in Hawaii (Oahu) and it’s been nothing but rain since I got here.

There’s a Cars and Coffee event that they do once a month that is hosted at Honda HQ. Not only do you get to visit the museum you also get treated to special guest as well as all the cars that show up. Ride safe and enjoy Solvang.

Cheers,

D

12 minutes ago, Duc2V4

Ah man, I wish I was home, I would have made it a point to join you to Solvang, as you would be passing through my neck of the woods on your way from SD. I’m on travel for work right now. I’m in Hawaii (Oahu) and it’s been nothing but rain since I got here.

That would have been fun. I always have renewed respect for your LA commuting on two wheels whenever I ride or drive through LA. Yesterday heading south I sort of went around, 118-->210-->15. Tomorrow morning going north it's the 405. I might hop over to the PCH at Santa Monica once I have most of the city freeways behind me. 

Hope you get some time to enjoy Hawaii despite work and the weather.

Just checked my GPS.....  May 2023 - May 2024  14,874km

I donot have the GPS on all the time so I reckon 19,000km does it.

Come May 2025, the plan is to work 32hrs/week from 40 now.

Come May 2026, that will be a 40 year working life... time to retire.

But...................  health should play along as this and other threads remind us all off...

6 hours ago, St. Stephen

Great photos vfrgiving! Of course I especially like the RC. I have heard great things about Honda HQ but have never been, thanks for reminding me.

This trip is to visit my son and family in San Diego County where I am now. Heading back north tomorrow morning, early Sunday being a good time to get through LA. Four days of riding, plus today off, about 1200 miles total--not super serious mileage but a lot of socal interstate. 

Tomorrow my plan is to finally visit the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. They're only open 6 hrs on Saturdays & Sundays and despite having stayed in Solvang a number of times I've never been around when they're open.

I'll post some photos. I believe they have a Britten, an RC30 and some other V4's.

https://www.motosolvang.com

I didn't get a chance to visit Solvang, but I did stop by the Petersen Automotive Museum.  They have a number of bikes that all seemed to be on loan from the Barber collection out of Birmingham, AL.  I'll try to get out for their Vintage Days again this year.

I only got to hang around SoCal and family for a week before riding 2,600 miles back home.  My go-to "welcome to SoCal" ritual is to enter on I-8 to Ocotillo, then jump on S2 through Anza-Borrego to 78.  Take 78 to Julian for food and beer.  No VFR on this run.  I made the trip on Honda's largest twin.

[image: malibu.thumb.jpg.f095e8eff300e18069882698ba13ac84.jpg]

As promised here's a photo of couple of bikes that folks here are interested in. More to follow.

Nice to see NRs get to hang with RC30s.  This is the 3rd pair on display I'm aware of now.  Solvang, Honda HQ, and I snapped this pic at Barber last year.  Look through the NR windshield.

[image: rcnrbarb.thumb.jpg.2c24198d6dca25482da581981a929f10.jpg]

More from the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum yesterday.

One thing that stood out to me re the NR was how wiiiide it is! There's a lot under that bodywork. Here's a photo from the front:

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.7fb014db07c3a92b5d286ed20ac6d9fc.jpeg]

(BTW my RC-51 has exactly the same turn signals as the RC-30. Probably the same as 20 other Honda street bikes of that era.)

Even the tach says NR:

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.eeb1f0d164a4476c39abd84517999c85.jpeg]

And one of my favorite race bikes, I've seen one once before:

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Finally...

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Two more posts from this trip, this is the next-to-last. Some interesting/strange bikes:

Check out this motor. A cube four two-stroke displacing a total of 250cc. Two crankshafts:

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The front of the museum. Very low key but also kinda cool.

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When I was young I remember hearing about this fire-breathing monster. If you know the actual hp please don't comment, I want to keep the memory alive. 😉

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.956a09afb693f2c536f60d75ea08bd2a.jpeg]

Tomales is a great spot on the PCH not too far from where I live. Lots of great roads in the vicinity, including Rt. 1 itself.

If you visit, stop at the Route One Bakery and Kitchen. Inside that top trunk is some of the best sourdough in the bay area. Apparently they made too much blueberry pie for Father's Day so, yeah, there's some other goodies in there too.  😎

8 hours ago, St. Stephen

If you visit, stop at the Route One Bakery and Kitchen.

I love the stretch of PCH and nearby roads between GG and Bodega Bay. Didn't try the bakery but I've had a few nice coffee breaks at Tomales Deli next door. Here're pics from my 1st visit, back in 2007.

[image: Tomales 1.jpg]

[image: Tomales 2.jpg]

St. Stephen, 5/22/2024 at 9:29 AM

Two more posts from this trip, this is the next-to-last. Some interesting/strange bikes:

Check out this motor. A cube four two-stroke displacing a total of 250cc. Two crankshafts:

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.82c27c32fa0d2e08621163326655ebd4.jpeg]

Wow. That ignition setup has to be a Rainy Day Nightmare! :ohmy:

18 hours ago, Lorne

I love the stretch of PCH and nearby roads between GG and Bodega Bay. Didn't try the bakery but I've had a few nice coffee breaks at Tomales Deli next door. Here're pics from my 1st visit, back in 2007.

[image: Tomales 1.jpg]

[image: Tomales 2.jpg]

Well Lorne, as you can see they painted it blue. And I'll check on my next visit but I doubt the pay phone is still there. I'm still trying to find a spot in norcal that you haven't been to!

The bakery changed hands, more upscale, but it attracts a nice combination of two-wheelers: tons of bicyclists in lycra/spandex, and all sorts of motorcycles, from tour groups on HD's, to squids, and everything in between, all eating their great pizza. Everybody gets along.

And, because it's all about the photos, here's the other bike on Tomales Road about two miles away, and about 3.5 years ago:

22 hours ago, St. Stephen

I'm still trying to find a spot in norcal that you haven't been to!

...

And, because it's all about the photos, here's the other bike on Tomales Road about two miles away

You can see a lot of a state if you visit often enough 😉

The scenery in that part of California does look like something out of a fairy tale, doesn't it? 

100 miles today. The marketing folks call a lot of the north bay Wine Country, and man there were a lot of grapes growing on my ride. 

Lots of agriculture here, and you can tell what kind by how often you have to stop and wipe all the bugs off your face shield. Cows and chickens are pretty much 10 splats per minute, but around the vinyards no visual obstruction!

No, I did not taste:

You've probably been in a similar situation:

A great stretch of road in front of you (PCH in this case). To the left: the way home after a fun 50 mile backroad ride. Straight ahead at least 20 miles of really great smooth, twisty pavement. Approaching the turn an RV and a truck were ahead of me as I headed south out of Tomales. So...inside my helmet I said, if they go left I should really go straight. They went left.

A good choice, and some luck, meant that the next 15 (or so) miles were motorcycling magic. The few four-wheeled vehicles in front of me used the turn-outs (thanks!). Michelin Power 5's still stick! Just buzzed all the way to Olema, kept meaning to stop and take a pic but, you know...

So, boring garage photo, back home:

6 hours ago, St. Stephen

Just buzzed all the way to Olema

 Olema, eh? I was enjoying a solo ride homeward from Monterey in July of '03, and neglected to stop at Olema's one and only stop sign. I was looking for the turn into Point Reyes National Seashore and hadn't noticed a CHiP car right behind. Oops. Got away with a warning, tho.

No photo of that adventure, but here's one from earlier on that trip. Also on a VTR1000, but an F sadly instead of an R. This is a couple miles up Nacimiento-Fergusson road from PCH, near Lucia.

Hey Lorne. VFRD member Tirso and I traded comments a couple of years ago about encountering a speed trap at that same Olema intersection a year or two ago. Watch out! 

My Nacimiento-Furgussen shot from four years ago, pretty close to your perspective, when it was the only way to go south as Rt. 1 had washed into the sea:

I had just purchased my 7th gen and the bags were back-ordered. I was living in the midwest at the time and my first overnight trip was to the beautiful and mostly empty backroads of north/central Arkansas. If you've been there you know: routes 123, 16, 27, and the absolute best, 341 aka Push Mtn Road. And I say that living now in northern CA, so that's good.

Not as much attention for the VFR1200F here on VFRD, we're mostly 8th, 5th gen and prior mentions these days, but I really loved my 1200. Seven years of great riding.

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.0d92ba4afe2d67c8711eed4d09afd1c3.jpeg]

[image: Arkansas 10.10 003.jpg]

[image: IMG_0961.JPG]

52 minutes ago, St. Stephen

[image: IMG_0961.JPG]

Terrible amount of oil leaking from your bike mate. Better get that checked ASAP. :laughing6-hehe:

Lovely looking 1200.

I had a quick read of your original post, and really got it. It happens, life, circumstances, job, suddenly you have run out of riding season.

I shipped out my entire life, because thats what you do up here if you want to make a living. More than once I left early April to go overseas with 18" of snow on the ground to get extended and come back in Nov. with..........snow on the ground. It was tough looking at the bikes in the garage to say the least.

26 minutes ago, Grum

Terrible amount of oil leaking from your bike mate. Better get that checked ASAP. :laughing6-hehe:

Lovely looking 1200.

Grum:

You will stay after VFRD school today and write on the chalkboard 100 times.

"I will not make fun of other members bikes"

When done, erase it, and do it again.😁

54 minutes ago, FromMaine

Grum:

You will stay after VFRD school today and write on the chalkboard 100 times.

"I will not make fun of other members bikes"

When done, erase it, and do it again.😁

Ok I'm sorry.....

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

I will not make fun of other members bikes

Dear FromMaine will that do? My fingers are worn out! I'm sorry,  Mea Culpa.  :wacko:

Happy days! :wheel:

:offtopic:

11 hours ago, Grum

Terrible amount of oil leaking from your bike mate. Better get that checked ASAP. :laughing6-hehe:

Lovely looking 1200.

The irony is that, although the first two photos are indeed from Arkansas, the last pic is actually taken on the road down from Mt. Hamilton here in the bay area. So that is actually CA crud and tar snakes on the road. The fog in the distance is covering San Jose. I have now added a proper 3rd Arkansas photo below (with my 6th gen this time), with no oil outside of the crankcase!

Anyway Grum, I would have made the same joke if I'd thought of it!

[image: Arkansas 06.09 005.jpg]

Did someone say Mt Hamilton? I stopped there on my way to the 1999 AMA races at Laguna Seca, then after the races I rode Angeles Crest hwy on the way to Mt Palomar. This pic is about 8 miles west on Mt Hamilton road from the observatory. I seem to recall that road being rather twisty.

[image: Mt Hamilton 1, April 1999.jpg]

[image: Mt Hamilton 2, April 1999.jpg]

60 miles or so on a perfect day, heat wave gone but not much rain yet. The north side of the hills where the backroads hug close are getting greasy from the lack of sun, but the tourists are few and far between, and, TBH, I only saw two bikes today. Weird. I think I've at least passed 3K miles this year, have to check, not great but better than last year!

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.80c4ac190f35adf9488d4e4f837f7f6e.jpeg]

Edit: planning a trip to nor nor norcal next week if the weather (and fires...) cooperate.  😎

Yesterday I check tire pressures and oil level, a quick visual walk-around, roll it out of the garage, pull out fast idle, press that little black button below the throttle, and...vroooom! Gotta love Hondas. (and FI)

As usual I had bumped into one of the rear view mirrors sometime during the previous month, so I'm adjusting the right one with my left hand on the way to the gas station. Filling up is always a pain since a) every gas pump in America seems to only have two flow rates, Dribble and Blast, and b) the "bottom" of the RC tank is maybe four inches below the cap. Dribble takes forever so try my best to modulate Blast, more or less successfully.

And after that, a really fun ride on a beautiful day.

Awesome RC51! A bike thats on my bike lust list!  :beer:

5 hours ago, mello dude

Awesome RC51! A bike thats on my bike lust list!  :beer:

Me too, but they are soooooooo expensive.

High pressure has arrived in NorCal and winds are offshore. Great for surfing, sucks for fires in L.A., but it means the north coast will have blue skies right to the Pacific, light winds, and warm temps. And not a lot of tourists in January.

Time for a quick trip up to Humboldt County! Now, where is that heated vest anyway?

Hopefully a quick trip starting tomorrow that will look like this:

[image: IMG_2416.JPG]

22 hours ago, St. Stephen

Time for a quick trip up to Humboldt County!

You lucky dog!

1 hour ago, Lorne

You lucky dog!

Woof! Great day, about 220 miles, sunny near 60F but every now and then 40's in the valleys. No pics, I'll try tomorrow. Thanks Lorne.

What a amazing area you have to ride in, to be honest I never knew Cal ( I assume Northern ) had such county, sure would like to see it someday

On the east coast of Canada today it is warm 🙂, -2c with snow on the ground 

31 minutes ago, Hingley

What a amazing area you have to ride in, to be honest I never knew Cal ( I assume Northern ) had such county, sure would like to see it someday

On the east coast of Canada today it is warm 🙂, -2c with snow on the ground 

Well, I only post the good photos!  Lot's of very cool rivers in NorCal: My route first followed the Russian River, then after crossing a pass I was in the Eel River watershed, and followed the Eel for about 100 miles to where it meets the Pacific. The pic with my 7th gen a couple posts above is the Klamath River before it meets the Trinity.

Roads that follow rivers are very enjoyable.    :wheel:

6 hours ago, Hingley

What a amazing area you have to ride in, to be honest I never knew Cal ( I assume Northern ) had such county, sure would like to see it someday

My biggest surprise about California is that most of its great motorcycling roads have such little traffic. For example, PCH - the coast road, is emptier than the Oregon coast. Plus, you see more coastline per mile in California. Look up Cal Hwys 96, 49, 108, 89, 25(south end), and 3 on a map, or at pashnit.com for some details. 

(or check some of my videos on YouTube)   

Oregon coast (mostly the northern section) is usually a slog.  Couldn't wait to start heading east the last time.

Well this was just an up-and-back, not even 500 miles in two days, but hey it's the rainy season (up here anyway) and the weather was pretty perfect. NorCal is pretty scenic, and even when on the 101 I could go minutes without seeing a car going in my direction.

As always, sorry it's not a VFR, but...motorcycle...red...V cylinders...

Tall and red(wood)...42 F when I took this though

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Lush and green

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God I'm itchin for a ride.  I've just been painting wheels instead.  Not quite the same.

1 hour ago, St. Stephen

Well this was just an up-and-back, not even 500 miles in two days, but hey it's the rainy season (up here anyway) and the weather was pretty perfect. NorCal is pretty scenic, and even when on the 101 I could go minutes without seeing a car going in my direction.

As always, sorry it's not a VFR, but...motorcycle...red...V cylinders...

Tall and red(wood)...42 F when I took this though

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Lush and green

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Glad to see you guys out west riding, and posting!

Since it has not been above freezing here for the past 3 weeks and has struggled at that to hit 20f this past week, and yeah that whole snow thing, its time to enjoy riding vicariously through all of you. Certainly better than the alternatives.

Lornes post was interesting as I have a friend in Trinidad CA who took me and my daughter for a tour when I showed up on my 85VF1100 Sabre about 12 years ago. I know 96 was one of the roads and I suspect 3 was also. It was a great day for sure.

Capt. 80's captured my feelings exactly on Oregon's Coast road on that same trip. I found that headed north on 101 that traffic headed south was absolutely cutthroat when it came to turning left, doubly so when it was just a motorcycle in the other lane. At my daughters request ,after she slammed my helmet 4-5 times, we got off at Lincoln City? and retired to Portland via interior  roads for a couple of days break.

Coming from Maine I am certainly no expert on great Calf roads for bikes, but I have to say I am a bit surprised I never hear about Rt 20, specifically between Willits and Ft. Bragg.  Yes, the first few miles from Willits is nothing special, as is the last few to Ft. Bragg, but in between............Oh Boy. I have ridden pretty much every road worth riding in NC, TN, WV VA etc. and  I would consider the middle of 20 to be comparable to Rt 129, or even Rt 151 in NC,, which I consider a to be more difficult/harder to ride.

Yes, there are logging trucks, but, I'm used to that up here. 

I'm curious if anyone here has ridden that road?

12 hours ago, FromMaine

Glad to see you guys out west riding, and posting!

Coming from Maine I am certainly no expert on great Calf roads for bikes, but I have to say I am a bit surprised I never hear about Rt 20, specifically between Willits and Ft. Bragg.  Yes, the first few miles from Willits is nothing special, as is the last few to Ft. Bragg, but in between............Oh Boy. I have ridden pretty much every road worth riding in NC, TN, WV VA etc. and  I would consider the middle of 20 to be comparable to Rt 129, or even Rt 151 in NC,, which I consider a to be more difficult/harder to ride.

Yes, there are logging trucks, but, I'm used to that up here. 

I'm curious if anyone here has ridden that road?

Yes I've ridden 20 a number of times, and it's a great road--good paving, lots of elevation changes, tight 2nd and even 1st gear corners. But like many norcal roads it gets really greasy in the winter as the sun never makes it through the tree cover to the road, and it's one of the few east-west roads in the region, so lots of commercial traffic and rv's heading to the coast in the summer. Maybe that's why you don't hear as much about 20.

As you mention, 96 is one of my favorite roads, generally not crowded and it goes on forever following the Klamath. A great loop I've done a number of times is to start in Eureka, 299 to 96, then south on 3 from Yreka, and loop back on 299 or, better yet, 36. A long but really fun day, or split it into two days by heading off on great side roads just as you would do on the BRP.

And for the record, my very first multi-day motorcycle trip was in Oregon; Eugene-->Crater Lake-->Coos Bay-->Eugene. I was 17, what a blast.

Well, top trunks...

I recently posted on another thread that it took me many years to come around to top trunks. Well, I still think they take away from the garage appeal of any bike, but they sure are useful!

My Multistrada is now almost eight (!) years old. When I bought it I splurged on the OEM luggage and top trunk--which is huge. So today is day 2 of a four day ride to and through northernmost CA. I didn't even bring the saddlebags, just the you-know-what.

BTW Rt. 96 is just heaven for motorcycles.  😎

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I added the trunk box to my MS and later the wife bday surprised me with the side bags. Barely used them, they still look new, the trunk box gets used every ride.

Perfect weather to take a trip, enjoy.

I have a Hepco & Becker rear luggage rack on my BMW, and have considered adding one of their top boxes for trips.  They're spendy but I would love to have waterproof and lockable storage available for long days and trips.

FromMaine, 1/9/2025 at 7:54 PM

I never hear about Rt 20, specifically between Willits and Ft. Bragg.

I'm not sure where I'd rank Cal 20, but definitely below Cal 1 (coast to Leggett) or Cal 128 (coast to Cloverdale).

22 hours ago, St. Stephen

BTW Rt. 96 is just heaven for motorcycles.  😎

Oh my, yes, Cal 96 is a terrific road. The whole ride is scenic and, as I recall, the twistiest part is between Weitchpec and Hoopa. Which you can view right here - also on a red v-twin back in 2003. 

Top cases are ugly, but they rock for utility. I didn't like any of the available racks for 5th gens so I made my own out of some spare 1" DOM. It's handy when your hard bags aren't easily removed. Pack street clothes/toiletries in the top case, and you can pop it off to carry into the room.

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1 hour ago, Lorne

Oh my, yes, Cal 96 is a terrific road. The whole ride is scenic and, as I recall, the twistiest part is between Weitchpec and Hoopa. Which you can view right here - also on a red v-twin back in 2003. 

There's an incredibly over-used phrase in U.S. sports: "the best ability is availability." In other words, talent isn't enough, you have to be able to play all the time. Well, I live near the PCH, one of the great roads, but it can be a tourist/RV parade in the dry season. 96 is the best of both worlds: 130 miles of just great riding with no one else on the road. Every curve is available. 

Great vid Lorne. My ear worm was Blondie's Union City Blues tho. I do enjoy those tight sections on either side of Hoopa, 500 feet above the Trinity River canyon, but honestly, I really love those 3rd and 4th gear sweepers that just go on forever further north. An opinion that was reinforced a few hours ago...

I quietly parked behind Bigfoot this afternoon:

1 hour ago, St. Stephen

My ear worm was Blondie's Union City Blues tho

Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time… a long time.

Well that’s enough Star Wars trivia.

NorCal has so many great motorcycling roads that are usually nearly empty. And Hwy 96 is top notch.

 We have some good roads in BC but the engineering falls down in the tighter bits. 

So.

New tires on the Multistrada. Sold the RC-51. $5800 USD sitting in the bank to be used for, well, you know. Making progress.

Sweeper has suggested a version of the Triumph 660:

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Sweet bike. Triumph claims about 80hp and about 455 lbs wet. That triple is something I've thought about for quite a while (in the Daytona). The sound of that engine is lovely--I've spent some time on the heels of one. Starts around $9700.

And then there's the Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. It's a (modern) twin. But claimed 105hp and 400 lbs. With upgraded suspension and all the bells and whistles. Costs more, ~$11,600.

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Hmmm

Hmm, the Triumph holds an extra half-gallon of fuel but the Tuono is a bit lighter and shorter wheelbase. But aren't they both pretty similar to your Multi ? Both of 'em are good looking bikes.

The ergos on the Tiger660 or 800 are way more old man friendly than the Ape. Less cool for sure but more all day comfort. There are a lot of Tiger660 leftovers for closer to $7k floating around. If you were closer, I'd put you on mine for a test ride.

10 minutes ago, Sweeper

The ergos on the Tiger660 or 800 are way more old man friendly than the Ape. Less cool for sure but more all day comfort. There are a lot of Tiger660 leftovers for closer to $7k floating around. If you were closer, I'd put you on mine for a test ride.

Agree on the ergonomics of the Aprilia.  Upper body forward lean is sporty but okay.  But the footpegs are in a very sportbike-like position.  Way too high for this old man, lol.

Also, I don't know if things have radically improved, but when the Aprilia 660s starting coming out, I was hearing rumors of quality issues and lack of parts availability.

Most of the used Tiger660's you see are for sale because someone is moving to a bigger bike for touring. It's a comfortable sport bike but not a great touring bike. 

16 hours ago, Lorne

Hmm, the Triumph holds an extra half-gallon of fuel but the Tuono is a bit lighter and shorter wheelbase. But aren't they both pretty similar to your Multi ? Both of 'em are good looking bikes.

The Multistrada is a bigger bike (taller, longer wheelbase, high COG) and about 80lbs heavier. Not much when comparing 900lb HD's but significant if under 500lbs. The Ducati is my overnight-and-longer travel bike.

I'm really looking to downsize (literally) and the Tuono's (claimed, I know...) 400lbs is an important feature for me. It also has premium suspension standard, and other bells and whistles. We''l see how the ergos are.

Shouldn't be worse than an RC51, right?

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Nuttin' wrong with a SP2 if you're a hard MF'r.....   :laugh:

4 hours ago, Dutchy

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Nuttin' wrong with a SP2 if you're a hard MF'r.....   :laugh:

Amen Dutchy! That was me. I did 1000 miles in 2.5 days on my RC-51 aka SP2 about eight years ago, blasting through the northern Sierra with the norcal VFRD gang. But no longer. Gotta keep my elbows above my knees.

I'm pretty sure Leon's picture is in the dictionary under HardMF.

Well, new tires, a sunny day, time to head out.

After some back roads I was heading south on 1 and right after a quick pass of a slower vehicle a guy in a red Honda S2000 (that's a car) passed me. I kept my distance but followed him for the next ~15 miles. A number of vehicles were nice enough to pull over for us, and a number got passed anyway. Not saying any double yellows were crossed. In fact, I'm just not saying.

He was faster in the 1st gear turns, I was faster when it was faster, so to speak. He headed inland on a back road, waved to say what fun! I waved back.

St. Stephen, 5/29/2025 at 4:44 PM

He headed inland on a back road, waved to say what fun! I waved back.

(almost) Any ride on PCH is fun, but it's even better when you cross paths with a like-minded rider/driver and share the joy.

I think you're looking for the KTM 890-SMT version - too bad they are bankrupt, and the cam issue that has plagued those engines, otherwise that thing is like a box of frogs! I rode the old 990 SMT, what a hoot! Comfy, fun, and fast as F through the twisties. Too bad KTM couldn't pull it off...

Oh well, keep looking... 

15 hours ago, RC1237V

I think you're looking for the KTM 890-SMT version - too bad they are bankrupt, and the cam issue that has plagued those engines, otherwise that thing is like a box of frogs! I rode the old 990 SMT, what a hoot! Comfy, fun, and fast as F through the twisties. Too bad KTM couldn't pull it off...

Oh well, keep looking... 

Yeah, always tempted by those KTM's! Almost bought the SD GT but ended up with the Multistrada. Eight years later I'm happy I did, but I probably would have been happy with the SD too. Or maybe have lost my license?

We were in San Diego Friday and I finally got to see a 2026 Tuono 660 Factory in person. I like it. Also, I have to recommend GPCycles in San Diego, might be the best motorcycle dealership in the state. 

More to follow...

Ride the new bike home Saturday!

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2 hours ago, St. Stephen

Ride the new bike home Saturday!

Good choice, and a much prettier bike than the KTM 890. More serious than the Trident 660 - was a Street Triple R ever in the cards? Or perhaps a Brutale RR?

27 minutes ago, Lorne

Good choice, and a much prettier bike than the KTM 890. More serious than the Trident 660 - was a Street Triple R ever in the cards? Or perhaps a Brutale RR?

Street Triple? Yes. If you asked me a couple of years ago what my next bike would be, the Daytona or almost any Triumph w that great three cylinder engine would have been my answer. Brutale, well, not seriously considered but maybe I should have looked at it more closely.

Don't worry, I'll go on and on about the new bike ad nauseam once I actually ride it, but for $11.5 new it's got a lot. More to follow.

Well, I guess I have chugged the Italian Koolaid.

Based on a 40 mile ride home today, starting in Dogpatch, all the way through urban SF to the GG bridge, and then home, I really like this bike. More to follow...of course.    :beer:

St. Stephen, 7/10/2025 at 7:16 PM

Street Triple? Yes. If you asked me a couple of years ago what my next bike would be, the Daytona or almost any Triumph w that great three cylinder engine would have been my answer. Brutale, well, not seriously considered but maybe I should have looked at it more closely.

Don't worry, I'll go on and on about the new bike ad nauseam once I actually ride it, but for $11.5 new it's got a lot. More to follow.

That is a lot of bike for that price! Congrats.

3 hours ago, St. Stephen

Well, I guess I have chugged the Italian Koolaid.

Based on a 40 mile ride home today, starting in Dogpatch, all the way through urban SF to the GG bridge, and then home, I really like this bike. More to follow...of course.    :beer:

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Yep, you chugged it alright.

Then asked for seconds..............🍾😄

Congratulations, looks like a fun ride!

It turns out that you can have a whole lot of fun on a new bike while still staying within the parameters of "Running In" the motorcycle, as Aprilia calls it in the manual. It's all about corner speed. Every time I exited a corner I felt I had entered too slow. 

Haven't touched the suspension yet, just getting used to the menus and acquiring a baseline feeling.

My last three new bikes were the Multistrada (2017), 7th gen (2010), and 6th gen (2002). Those familiar with VFR's will note that I purchased the last two the very first model year. Some comparisons will follow. Anyway, at ~400lbs this bike is incredibly nimble. Geared so low! I never used 5th or 6th on the RC-51 except for track days, and rarely hit 6th on the Ducati, but with this bike I start looking for 7th! PCH today:

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Just looked at the specs. Olins front and back, Brembos,, 5 riding modes, traction, wheelie and launch control., quick shifter, braided brake lines, engine maps, brakes and cornering control, same hp as a vfr and 55 lb lighter.........

As vfrcapn noted, that is a lot of bike for the money.

St. Stephen, 7/13/2025 at 2:31 AM

Well, I guess I have chugged the Italian Koolaid.

It's well known: Italians do it better 😎

😆

Congrats, @St. Stephen!! 🙂

Very cool.  Congrats dude.  Gonna have a great summer.

Cycle World (Don Canet I think) tested the 6th gen when it came out in 2002. I dug up the test in the two photos below. 23 years later it makes an interesting comparison. Note the stats.

 
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Comparison Part 2

My 2002 6th gen:

$11,000

520 lbs

100 hp

My 2026 Tuono 660:

$11,500

400 lbs

100 hp

I rounded the numbers since some are claimed, some are measured etc. An inflation calculator I found says multiply $11K in 2002 dollars by 1.79, so the 6th gen comes in around $19.5 in today's currency. This isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison, but it made me feel better after dropping that much money on a new bike!

23 hours ago, St. Stephen

you can have a whole lot of fun on a new bike while still staying within the parameters of "Running In"

Looks like you're about midway between Point Reyes and Tomales. 

The Aprilia is definitely a far prettier bike than a KTM.

Honda has the most sensible break-in guidelines, 'During this [first 300 mi] avoid full-throttle starts and rapid acceleration.' 

18 hours ago, St. Stephen

This isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison, but it made me feel better after dropping that much money on a new bike!

I hate to say it, but $11,500 for a new bike really isn't bad at all.  Not when a new I'm not saying it isn't a lot of money, but comparatively, $11K is reasonable for a nice brand new bike, especially Italian, and laden with features.

OK, I love this bike. Almost 400 miles on the odometer. 

I'm a lifetime B- track day rider. On VFRD rides blasting through the Sierra I have been maybe 40th percentile, trying to catch up to Duc2V4, BrianF, RC1237V et al. And I've never been one to talk about chicken strips. But when I just looked at the edge of the tires...wow, that didn't seem that fast.   😎

And! Amongst all the electronic bells and whistles, the Aprilia has a feature which will warm the heart of anyone who has ever owned a VFR. Revealed in the 2nd photo.  

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Don't worry, when running it toggles between 14.4 and 14.5 volts:[image: image.thumb.jpeg.c743498ca2eb48f0d56b62e1f59e3951.jpeg]

Duly noted!

Also noted, was despite being a smaller niche manufacturer of Italian motorcycles, someone in the software dept. made sure that the ambient and coolant temperature could be displayed in Fahrenheit rather than Celsius, which pretty much the rest of the world uses.

I worked in Italy and with Italians for many years. I have a lot of respect for what they bring to the table.

A quick update on this Aprilia. The bike is pretty much everything I hoped for/expected. (extremely) light and handles beautifully. But instead of going on (and on) about how great it is (and it is), here's what could be better:

-The footpegs have to go. At least the left one anyway. They have this big knob at the end and I have to lift my whole foot off to shift--I ride with the balls of my feet touching the pegs. My boot gets hung up on the jagged top edges and the knob, which seems more appropriate for a motocrosser:

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Fortunately there are many alternatives. And it's cool that I can not only adjust the height of the shifter, but also the position of the end via a cam as you can see above.

Also obvious, this is a naked so the wind blast hits my chest hard at 70mph+. To be expected, but unlike the "bike can do and be anything" VFR's I've owned, this isn't the one bike to own. It needs a travel bike next to it in the garage.

Uh, well, what else don't I like? Well clutch lever isn't adjustable and the reach is a bit too far for my fingers...but I'm nitpicking. Looking at alternatives. Geared incredibly low, thinking about a smaller rear sprocket. 

Anyway, more to follow.

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You mention same (ish) power output as the VFR, but lighter, but how is the torque? The lighter weight will definitely help pulling out of bends but I've always loved the linear nature of the VFR torque but how is the Aprillia in comparison?

Just wondering if a lack of cc's has a noticeable effect.

7 hours ago, Skids

You mention same (ish) power output as the VFR, but lighter, but how is the torque? The lighter weight will definitely help pulling out of bends but I've always loved the linear nature of the VFR torque but how is the Aprillia in comparison?

Just wondering if a lack of cc's has a noticeable effect.

Well, it's definitely not the VFR1200F! 😁 However...

Redline is 11,500 but it's not peaky, very linear output, both torque and hp. Below is a dyno chart (comparing this year's Tuono/RS--they have the same motor--with last year's) from Gabro, an Italian aftermarket co. that is pretty much the leader in performance parts and maps for the mid-displacement Aprilia. 

Although this vertical axis doesn't have numbers, it peaks at about 100hp and ~50 ft/lbs, but the point is that the torque curve is pretty flat. So far I've been riding under 7500rpm during the break-in period and it pulls strongly above around 4000rpm, with really crisp fueling. Gear ratios are close though so I'm definitely shifting a lot.

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21 hours ago, St. Stephen

A quick update on this Aprilia

I may be mistaken but I seem to recall there being a lot of great roads in that vicinity. 

40 minutes ago, Lorne

I may be mistaken but I seem to recall there being a lot of great roads in that vicinity. 

I don't recall you ever being mistaken re norcal roads, but yes, Rt. 128 in this case.  😎

My first mod. 400lb, 100hp, great quick shifter, but...the footpegs. I ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs, so lots of moving feet/boots around. The stock pegs do keep your feet in place, but I can't slide the left foot forward, have to lift.

So, ordered a rubber set, generic Piagio product. More to follow. 

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stock pegs, more like motocross...

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Interesting. I have the solid aluminum pegs on the day/track bike, and the stock rubber pads on the commuter. I don't have a problem with either, and ride with balls of my feet on the pegs 90% of the time. Maybe something to do with your boot soles? I wear SIDIs.

I like the rubber pads on the commuter for the little bit of cushion they provide though I don't do any touring these days.

For me its not aluminum vs rubber.  I have both between my many bikes. Those pronounced raised nubs on the end of the stock aluminum pegs would bug the shit out of me.  I can see them catching my boot when I want to move out towards the end, and I can see feeling that nub, and getting tired of it, when I have my boot out there in a series of corners.  Plus those pegs in general would be eating the shit out of my boot souls.  I get we want our feet to stay where we put them, but man.

22 minutes ago, Captain 80s

For me its not aluminum vs rubber.  I have both between my many bikes. Those pronounced raised nubs on the end of the stock aluminum pegs would bug the shit out of me.  I can see them catching my boot when I want to move out towards the end, and I can see feeling that nub, and getting tired of it, when I have my boot out there in a series of corners.  Plus those pegs in general would be eating the shit out of my boot souls.  I get we want our feet to stay where we put them, but man.

Yeah, well said, same here. That nub stops a smooth foot move to shift. Maybe not a problem during a track day but we'll see. 

MBrane, I'm a SIDI fan too, both sets--touring and track day. The boots have always worked for me on many bikes, love 'em.

Wouldn't take but a few minutes to remove those nubs from those pegs with the right tool. Mine are aftermarket. They do have nubs, but not near as much.

MBrane, 12/3/2025 at 7:16 PM

Wouldn't take but a few minutes to remove those nubs from those pegs with the right tool. Mine are aftermarket. They do have nubs, but not near as much.

Absolutely. I would have blended those down pretty quick.  Still wouldn't be thrilled about the tread pattern.

I don't know how you guys are riding, but I've never touched down even at advanced track pace!

57 minutes ago, bmart

I don't know how you guys are riding, but I've never touched down even at advanced track pace!

Not sure we are talking about the same thing.  I'm referring to the nubs on the outer TOP.

I would hope not to touch those down.

Phew! I was thinking the bottoms. 

 I cut the feelers down on my stock pegs because I got tired of scraping them all the time. 1/2" was all it took. They still let me know when I'm about to start grinding hard parts, but the margin is thinner.

Probably should have mentioned this earlier but, to be clear, I ride with my feet on the top of the pegs.