Posted on 05/16/2006 2:48:09 PM PDT by StarCMC
Ok -- here was a comment by JoeSixPack1 made to me on this thread:
Riding is an extremely personal affair and each and every one of us that swings a leg over a saddle has one thing in mind while firing up the 2 wheeler... ::: To survive our passion.
But here on FR biker threads, the discussions devolve so quickly into biker bashing, intimidating safety advice, organ donor jokes, life support jokes, and every other aspect of biker lore that it's like being a conservative on a DU thread or a troll posting at FR.
When was the last time we had a thread talking about great places to ride? Or a thread on new safety features? Tire quality? Hand grip style? Comfortable riding clothes?
Answer = never.
We're too busy apologizing for scaring the big trucks or waking the baby sleeping in the back seat or explaining our insurance coverage or wowing at the latest 240mph crotch rocket or chuckling at the new bike prices.
So what say you all? Sound off -- what's your favorite place to ride?
I have 2. The first is (and yes, I know, cliche) the Dragon. We went 4 years ago -- it rained on us the whole time and it was in the middle of Bear Season in North Carolina (whoops!) but it was gorgeous!! I LOVE the Blue Ridge Mountains.
And my other favorite ride we have been on was in the Big Bend National Park area of Texas. We did this ride with a bunch of hubby's friends affectionately known as the "Hoons." It was a blast!! (Yes -- those ARE Draggin' Jeans)
Hehe.. well there's a golf cart path incident I won't talk about.. but in NC, they have certain raods designated as bicycle roads.. usually less travelled and other drivers should be on the lookout for them.
I live about 5 miles from Alice's on Woodside Rd, and I'll tell you, these are some of the best roads around, however I LOVE Highway 49 through Gold Country and all the roads off 101 near Eureka, Yreka, etc. I love the cool redwoods, the roads bending around the trees as though you were off road riding. Just awesome.
For dirt bike rides, I love Tahoe National Forest and Stanislaus National Forest. You can see Half Dome a ridge or two away, yet there isn't another rider for miles it seems! The solitude and great vistas are the best.
In general the CA roads from Big Sur, north have given me a little bit of every terrain you can picture, temperature changes that can be blessed or dreaded, roads that seemingly haven't been touched since the logging days, and some of the best escapes from the daily insanity of the bay area.
Oh yeah, me steed is a Ducati!
I'd reaaalllllly like to own one of these though:
It's called the Snake and is south of it's big brother, The Dragon, on the Ga side of the mountains. The T.W.O. (Two Wheels Only) Resort In Suches, Ga. is a pleasent and inexpensive stay and right in the thick of the ride.
Last time I was there was a bike shop in Dahlonga, Ga called Toosey's Weigh Station. Good burgers and the repair shop was not above lending me a few hand tools for a quick repair.
Then we come to my old pal, riding partner, Pouch. He built a bike resort in Blairsville, just outside the Snake, but if he didn't comp me a room I couldn't afford it. Now for a bike trip, they realy do rock! He even had Born to Ride TV come out and make a video. :-)
trails end cabin rentals video
Check these out: Luxury Biker Cabins
But switching gears, I do ever so much miss the Catskill & Pocono mountains in the summer up in NY State.
Thank you for the great thread StarCMC. :-)
Second and closer favorite: the bottoms along the Missouri and Yellowstone near the confluence, especially in spring and early fall.
No headsets, thanks, the motor is music to me.
I do not mind riding in a group, but prefer to be well at the back.
My hardtail ('82 Shovel in an old Drag Specialties frame) does not allow for being boxed in, and I have to avoid those little inconsistencies in the highway to avoid compression fractures. Tight formation flying doesn't give a guy much room to dodge the odd chuckhole.
What would you recommend? I have about $4,000 available. I know, not much, but it's a start.
Look, I just want to cruise around in the mountains of Pennsylvania or WVA and have some fun.
I would have hard time making a good recommendation at that price as I'm stuck on Harley.
A nice cruiser 650cc or above should do what you want. My last mid size bike was a Honda Shadow 750cc. Comfortable, dependable, etc. A few of my retired neighbors have that size bike, (450cc to 750cc), in that price range, of various manufacturers and all are satisfied. All are cruiser style. And all of them have windshields. :-)
A little bit of looking around and you'll find something comfortable.
My favorite ride? My commute, the first and last 17 miles of each day are rural mountain roads. I see you are part of the fellowship of the Roadcrafter.
Could be straight out of a Bob Ross painting!
I like our Duc a lot -- but I've found I don't feel quite as secure in the seat as I did on the FJR. I'm wondering if that will change as I get more used to it. So you want a Buell?
I love to ride -- and I don't get to go very often. :o) It's fun hearing where other folks like to go!
Yeah -- I don't mind riding with folks, but I don't like tight "formations" except when riding with the PGR -- and that's for a good cause.
First recommendation: take riding lessons. And I'm not joking. Hubby and I were driving behind a guy who had gotten his first bike and he was going around a slight bend (and I mean SLIGHT) in the interstate. He could not mentally make his bike lean -- we were watching and screaming at him in our truck to LEAN! He didn't -- he was all the way off the shoulder in gravel and (luckily) had slowed way down by the time he got there and EVERYONE on the road had slowed down behind him. In between the two sides of the interstate was one of those cable guards that works great for cars, but can be death to a biker. I was shaking for a couple hours after that just thinking about how close the guy and his wife were to being killed. And I was ANGRY that he didn't know what the heck he was doing on a new bike and was on the interstate, 2 up. A riding class is a MUST!!
I ride dirt bikes alone, but I am only a passenger on the road. If I ever decide to get my own bike, I will take a safety class and do some track time before I get out on the road.
*Off soapbox*
That said -- welcome to biking! It's a hoot! :-)
I would so love to do that -- just ride everyday. *sigh*
Beautiful!!
Blackie and I were laughing once that it's funny how when bikers take their pics with their bikes they are almost always standing BEHIND them. LOL!! You went one better and you're not even IN the picture! He he he!
We took a trip from Jersey to Virginia, before I sold my grandfathers place that I had. It was real nice to ride over the mountains near Natural Bridge before getting to Lunchburg.
The bike is a '90 Softail. 
We just put this motor on it. http://www.ultimaproducts.com/seven.htm
Man does she fly. It is hot, fast, and loud just like I like it!
So you want a Buell?
Ah! OK!
Hey -- does your wife ride along on the Duc? Do you have the stock seat? What does she think of it, if so?
One thing I am always jealous of about Harleys is that sissy bar. Man those are nice.
My wife and I like to ride through the Amish Country roads in Northern Ohio's Holmes, Tuscawarwas and Coshocton Counties. The hills and especially the backroads roads are great in Holmes County. Great roads: 62, 60, 39, 520, 557, 83, etc.
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