beastwood

Hello Everyone! I'm still here in southern California. I've had my GL1800 Goldwing just over a year now. Still riding two to three times a week. I'm hoping to move to a less populated area in 2020. When the freeways are five lanes each way and you're going 75 and getting passed on the left and the right at the same time, my little brain says "not for long buddy". Will turn 68 in December, hope to keep riding. The wife has been hinting at a Can Am, so I have that base covered for when the time comes.

Congratulations on your retirement! That just moves work out of the way. Now the other three quadrants of life have more time: family, faith and friends. (of course, riding the motorcycle is included in all of those)! Have fun!

I'm about six hours south of you. I haven't been up there in a while. If you are heading down this way, PM me in advance. There is some interesting riding hidden in this area.

Well, my beautiful 2008 RSV Black Cherry is no more. I am okay, uninjured. Here is the short version. I'm camping in the mountains at 6500 feet. Wake up two Mondays ago to get breakfast at about 0800am. Obeying speed laws, use turn signal, slow to a stop to make a left turn on a two lane road. The motorist in a pickup behind me decides to make a whip around pass maneuver to my right. He does, I check my mirror, I see the SUV which was behind him, which appears to be stopping, then, BAM I get rear ended. I roll off wearing full gear uninjured. The mom in the SUV was taking her daughter to school and just didn't stop in time. The rear end of the bike collapses, fender, bag guards and bags and trunk absorb the impact. Then the bike hits the ground and more stuff on the left side are damaged. It is totaled. The take away: In addition to observing laws and avoiding errors, take into account the emotional tone of traffic. Monday morning in the mountains is crammed with service workers going to work, impatient,moms taking kids to school, etc. It was not a good time for going to breakfast on that busy street. We on two wheels need to anticipate other peoples failures before we get bit. The result: Friends of mine in the Gold Wing community set me up with a beautiful 2006 GL 1800. Riding will continue!!!!!!

I had the dealer install a Barnett clutch and disc pack and I put a new AGM battery (310cca). This, coupled with last year's carb sync and valve adjustment, makes the bike ride like a brand new machine. Now if I could just dial down these 104 degree temperatures ... In all fairness, I just ride more early morning or after dusk.

Here are some pbone camera shots from on the road in New Mexico then a sunset from Kerrville in the Texas Hill country. By the way, I got my first look at two jackrabbits running around chafing each other. Just like Bugs Bunny.

Well, I decided to take the Venture out to visit the Texas Hill country, starting from southern California. I thought I'll take the trip in June to take advantage of "June Gloom", which means overcast skies and cooler temperatures. About the time I hit Tucson, AZ I realized that must be a California thing, cause there was a lot of Sun and temps near 100. I noticed my mileage was decent. At 68 mph I averaged 46 mpg with airtemps about 100 and not much crosswind. I tent camped most of the trip, Puc would have been proud, and I discovered three things you always want in the same saddlebag. Your hat, your flip flops, and your phone charger. You don't want to be checking multiple bags and pockets trying to find stuff. I used a cooling vest for most days. I planned stops every 90 miles but discovered that the cooling vest dries out in just 60 miles. So I adapted accordingly. In the Texas Hill country I was in contact with both of our members, and was able to meet up with Gray Ghost and his wife for a wonderful visit. Our venture rider family proves valuable in so many ways. I'm resting up in Needles CA and will head home tomorrow. It was 113 today. Eastwood out.

Here are some shots of my first cross country trip with Run For The Wall, which includes my first time seeing a Piggly Wiggly, four days of rain in the southern states, and resting up at a friends home in Pensylvania.

I took the RSV out on Saturday for a ride on some two lane roads in Riverside County, CA. I stopped at a point overlooking Lake Elsinore, CA. For lunch I tried a dry rub smoked rib platter with bbq beans and fries. It was a nice day for ridin'.

I attended the Long Beach Motorcycle Show recently and checked out the new bikes. Royal Enfield has a nice lineup of retro bikes all in the $5000 price range. These are made in India and machined with robotic controls. Yamaha has the YF07 in the $7000 price range. If I was starting out, I would look in either of these areas for new. For used there is a glut of bikes flooding the market, but a new rider would need help sorting through the inventory so as not to buy too big.

I took videoarizona's suggestion and went for a ride yesterday, just 'cause I can. I went to a favorite watering hole in Orange County, CA. Somebody put a Harley Country sign over the doorpost, but I took the Venture just the same. See the pictures.

Best wishes for your recovery. Hope all heals well. Great job on wearing your gear every ride.