Rock My Ride

peter4jc · August 22

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

@genareddog said:

@CalvinAndHobo said:

@Amos_Umwhat said:
It's like they're all looking at you, expectantly, endlessly, stretching out over the horizon. That's as good as it gets, in Kansas.

Funny enough, this was in South Dakota, where I saw a number of these. Didn’t see a single one in Kansas.

I went with the Dunlop Elite 4s again. Don’t know about you, but I’m more concerned with running over something sharp and not going flat, than I am about performance. In a weird way, getting down to the cords without popping sold me on them even more. I haven’t tried other tires though, so couldn’t tell you comparatively how they perform over something else.

99% of all the tires I sell for the big bikes are E4.

I’m more of a performance rider so I use commander III’s. On any given day my rides consist of about 150-250 miles. Someday, I’ll graduate to @CalvinAndHobo status.

Funny - neither of you wants free cigars, so maybe you're already there.

Amos_Umwhat · August 22

@CalvinAndHobo said:

@Amos_Umwhat said:
It's like they're all looking at you, expectantly, endlessly, stretching out over the horizon. That's as good as it gets, in Kansas.

Funny enough, this was in South Dakota, where I saw a number of these. Didn’t see a single one in Kansas.

I went with the Dunlop Elite 4s again. Don’t know about you, but I’m more concerned with running over something sharp and not going flat, than I am about performance. In a weird way, getting down to the cords without popping sold me on them even more. I haven’t tried other tires though, so couldn’t tell you comparatively how they perform over something else.

Hard to beat Dunlops, I've worn out many of them on my Harleys, went back and forth between those and the Michelins on the BMW, and I have to say that the Dunlops weren't as squirrely and held up better. Michelin's got a new GT out, though, supposedly built with the Gold Wing in mind. I'll be calling Powersports soon, if they don't have the Michelins I won't be heartbroken. Larry's input carries a lot of weight, too.

Amos_Umwhat · August 22

Oh, and I put about 140 miles on yesterday, rode up to LBL for a picnic with Faye, probably should have taken a couple pictures, but that's one of our frequent rides. She calls me with the next weeks weather forecast and says "This is going to be our riding day, where do you want to go?" I'm blessed.

Amos_Umwhat · August 22

@CalvinAndHobo said:

@Amos_Umwhat said:
It's like they're all looking at you, expectantly, endlessly, stretching out over the horizon. That's as good as it gets, in Kansas.

Funny enough, this was in South Dakota, where I saw a number of these. Didn’t see a single one in Kansas.

Makes sense. The difference between SD and KS is the variations in terrain. SD has lots, KS...not so much.

IndustMech · August 22

@Yakster said:
I love this tread.

fify

CalvinAndHobo · August 22

@Yakster said:
I love this thread.

Stuck on the side of the road waiting for someone from AAA to come replace my battery, and hopefully that fixes things. I’ve decided it’s Chris’ fault.

Yakster · August 22

Anything to keep this thread going. Did you know that silly putty is conductive?

Stubble · August 22

CalvinAndHobo · August 23

So what happened was as I got out of South Dakota and into Minnesota, I got the flashing battery light, which normally means my key fob battery is low so I wasn’t worried. I pulled up the battery voltage on my screen and noticed it below normal, so then I started worrying. I watched it fluctuate mildly while slowly trickling down over the course of an hour until I got a bunch of codes and the engine light. Found a safe spot to pull over and then turned it off. Wouldn’t start back up, so called AAA. The nice gentleman towed me to an auto parts store and replaced the battery. I turned it back on and the voltage was still bumping around a little instead of staying steady like normal. Went half a mile down the road to a hotel and checked in for the night. If anyone wants to go stay at the super 8 in Saint James, I can probably get you in for free since Expedia wouldn’t refund me, so I’m paying for 2 rooms tonight.

Some googling on my phone leads me to believe I need a new voltage regulator. The plan tomorrow is to just cross my fingers and try to do the 330 miles home all on the highway if possible so I’m around civilization if I break down again before I get there, since everyone is closed on the weekend. We’ll see how it goes.

Stubble · August 23

I wonder if a NOCO and some small bungee cords would help get you home.

https://no.co/gb20

ShawnOL · August 23

@CalvinAndHobo said:
If anyone wants to go stay at the super 8 in Saint James, I can probably get you in for free since Expedia wouldn’t refund me, so I’m paying for 2 rooms tonight.

Put the bike in the 2nd room. You paid for it.

TRayB · August 23

@ShawnOL said:

@CalvinAndHobo said:
If anyone wants to go stay at the super 8 in Saint James, I can probably get you in for free since Expedia wouldn’t refund me, so I’m paying for 2 rooms tonight.

Put the bike in the 2nd room. You paid for it.

I think the idea was, he didn't make it to the hotel where the room was already paid for.

CalvinAndHobo · August 23

Made it about 50 miles before the new battery also crapped out due to whatever the underlying issue is. Luckily the Indian dealership is now 99 miles away exactly, and I get 100 miles free (well, included in the yearly cost) for a tow. Unluckily, they don’t have mechanics working until Tuesday. Will have to figure out if I can get a ride home somehow or if I’ll be camped out until then.

ShawnOL · August 23

That sucks.

CalvinAndHobo · August 23

Girlfriend is going to pick me up tomorrow afternoon (she flew home halfway through the trip since she couldn’t get enough time off at work), so we’ll have to pick the bike up whenever it’s all fixed. The guy at the dealership also said it sounds like a voltage regulator.

peter4jc · August 23

Shoulda got a Harley. They never break down.

Bob_Luken · August 23

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

I’m more of a performance rider so I

OutdoorsSmoke_21191 · August 23

@Bob_Luken said:

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

I’m more of a performance rider so I

MikeBob are you trying to tell me something?? That guy has extremely similar features to you. Holy doppelgänger, it is you!! Wanna go for a ride big boy.

Bob_Luken · August 23

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

@Bob_Luken said:

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

I’m more of a performance rider so I

MikeBob are you trying to tell me something?? That guy has extremely similar features to you. Holy doppelgänger, it is you!! Wanna go for a ride big boy.

Weak comeback if I'm being honest.
I'm too scared of eating asphalt and or winding up underneath a Mack truck. But how about kayaking? I bet you're not scared of drowning.
https://youtu.be/N3WeXGmqYsE?si=TRHiiJVhm-eJiUEr

OutdoorsSmoke_21191 · August 23

@Bob_Luken said:

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

@Bob_Luken said:

@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:

I’m more of a performance rider so I

MikeBob are you trying to tell me something?? That guy has extremely similar features to you. Holy doppelgänger, it is you!! Wanna go for a ride big boy.

Weak comeback if I'm being honest.
I'm too scared of eating asphalt and or winding up underneath a Mack truck. But how about kayaking? I bet you're not scared of drowning.
https://youtu.be/N3WeXGmqYsE?si=TRHiiJVhm-eJiUEr

Asahhh yes kayaking…where everyone knows what you’re doing when they don’t see your hands.

Truth be told…I love rafting and kayaking.

Amos_Umwhat · September 21

@Amos_Umwhat said:

@CalvinAndHobo said:

@Amos_Umwhat said:
It's like they're all looking at you, expectantly, endlessly, stretching out over the horizon. That's as good as it gets, in Kansas.

Funny enough, this was in South Dakota, where I saw a number of these. Didn’t see a single one in Kansas.

I went with the Dunlop Elite 4s again. Don’t know about you, but I’m more concerned with running over something sharp and not going flat, than I am about performance. In a weird way, getting down to the cords without popping sold me on them even more. I haven’t tried other tires though, so couldn’t tell you comparatively how they perform over something else.

Hard to beat Dunlops, I've worn out many of them on my Harleys, went back and forth between those and the Michelins on the BMW, and I have to say that the Dunlops weren't as squirrely and held up better. Michelin's got a new GT out, though, supposedly built with the Gold Wing in mind. I'll be calling Powersports soon, if they don't have the Michelins I won't be heartbroken. Larry's input carries a lot of weight, too.

I ended up with Bridgestone Exedra tires, because that's what the shop had in stock. I've only put a couple hundred miles on them so far, but I'm liking them a lot. A part of me thinks "These are way better than the Dunlops", but the logical part of my brain reminds me that I'm comparing new tires with ones that had nearly 9,000 miles on them, so, there's that.

All's well that ends well, I'm happy with the Bridgestones. I was wanting to try something new, and I think the last Bridgestone tires I had on a motorcycle was back in about 1973, on my Suzuki T-500.

dirtdude · September 21

I put those Bridgestones on mine this spring, seem to work just fine for the little bit I use them. Used to do a 1000 miles a week on occasion, now days maybe 10.

edz · September 23

Even the old farm mule deserves a little "bling".

Amos_Umwhat · September 28

dirtdude · October 9

I got the scooter out for an hour run to Patagonia Lake this week, no co-pilot, no co-riders, just a man on his wind machine, good times.

CalvinAndHobo · October 15

Well this sucks, I might end up getting stuck with a Harley for my next bike. Nothing good ever comes from getting sold to a private equity firm, no matter how much bs they put in the statement. I forsee a repeat of the same Indian motorcycles, with no updates, for the next 5 or 10 years until eventually they can't squeeze any more profit and go out of business. Very sad day, loved this company and having a bike built at a plant a few hours away from my house, but no chance I get a new one from them now.

https://www.polaris.com/en-us/news/company/polaris-to-separate-indian-motorcycle-into-standalone-company/

dirtdude · October 15

There are other bike makers out there, look around before you jump into the bottom of the barrel

Amos_Umwhat · October 15

@CalvinAndHobo , I never would have dreamed it, but the Goldwing may just be the most all around satisfying bike I've ever owned. The BMW was great, too, and I truly loved all my Harleys. If they'd stayed on track with the FXR's I'd probably still own one. Just some things to think about. Hopefully Indian manages as a stand alone. I'd hate to see them go under, again.

ShawnOL · October 15

What about Victory? Any good?

Amos_Umwhat · October 15

If I recall correctly, Polaris bought Victory, sold them for a couple years, and then turned the machining into Indian. Victory's got good press, reportedly solid machines, sometimes butt-ugly, but solid.

Rock My Ride

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