Couple of short rides today
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 6:52 pm
About 10:00 this morning the phone rings, and it's an old buddy of mine who recently bought a new HD Softail Classic. Turns out he was down at the dealership expecting to attend a "group riding" class but when he got there it had been cancelled. He was only about 15 minutes away and wanted to know if I wanted to ride. So I said sure, come on over and we'll go.
So he shows up on his very spiffy looking new bike and away we go. We headed inland and cut over to the Connecticut River and cross over on Route 82 at the Goodspeed Opera House. Then we took Route 149 north from there, picked up 151 south back to 82, and stopped at Gillette Castle State Park. After a quick rest stop we went out the back way, picked up Route 148 back to 82 south, and from there down to 156 back to 95 and home to Clinton. Gorgeous day, on some gorgeous roads.
So we pull into my driveway as my wife walks out to greet us and admire Bob's bike. I said, "Honey, quick, go get the camera. We set a record!" She says, "What record?" I said, "Bob just became the first Harley rider to go 58.7 miles without stopping for a beer!"
So we sat on the porch and shot the breeze for awhile. Bob headed out, and then my wife & I got into my car and drove up to Danbury to pick up my airhead. It has been in the shop since before I left on vacation in July, waiting for stainless steel braided brake lines which are a custom order for a 1987 R80RT. One thing led to another; it turns out that the brake lines were only part of my problem. It also needed a new master cylinder. Anyhow, the annual brake inspection ended up pushing four figures but the end result is much better confidence in the brakes. I'll have to watch the panic stops; I now have enough braking authority to lock the front wheel without trying too hard.
Switching from the Roadster to the Airhead was quite a difference. From a naked bike to a fairing & windshield, from 80 HP to 50, from telelever to fork dive, the RT is definitely a blast from the past. It was 70 miles back from Danbury, with a stop along the way at the apple festival in Monroe where a friend of mine was hawking his folk art wares. Mostly highway this time, but not too much traffic and fun just the same. A gorgeous day.
So he shows up on his very spiffy looking new bike and away we go. We headed inland and cut over to the Connecticut River and cross over on Route 82 at the Goodspeed Opera House. Then we took Route 149 north from there, picked up 151 south back to 82, and stopped at Gillette Castle State Park. After a quick rest stop we went out the back way, picked up Route 148 back to 82 south, and from there down to 156 back to 95 and home to Clinton. Gorgeous day, on some gorgeous roads.
So we pull into my driveway as my wife walks out to greet us and admire Bob's bike. I said, "Honey, quick, go get the camera. We set a record!" She says, "What record?" I said, "Bob just became the first Harley rider to go 58.7 miles without stopping for a beer!"
So we sat on the porch and shot the breeze for awhile. Bob headed out, and then my wife & I got into my car and drove up to Danbury to pick up my airhead. It has been in the shop since before I left on vacation in July, waiting for stainless steel braided brake lines which are a custom order for a 1987 R80RT. One thing led to another; it turns out that the brake lines were only part of my problem. It also needed a new master cylinder. Anyhow, the annual brake inspection ended up pushing four figures but the end result is much better confidence in the brakes. I'll have to watch the panic stops; I now have enough braking authority to lock the front wheel without trying too hard.
Switching from the Roadster to the Airhead was quite a difference. From a naked bike to a fairing & windshield, from 80 HP to 50, from telelever to fork dive, the RT is definitely a blast from the past. It was 70 miles back from Danbury, with a stop along the way at the apple festival in Monroe where a friend of mine was hawking his folk art wares. Mostly highway this time, but not too much traffic and fun just the same. A gorgeous day.
