Southeast MI Ride on 12/16/06

[Stripes]

Hello everyone, it's supposed to be 50 degrees and only a 30% chance of rain on Saturday, December 16th, and a buddy and I are riding to Triumph Detroit's Christmas Party/Open House. the party is from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. We will be riding from the west towards Roseville if anybody wants to meet up or we'll see you there!

Stripes

[forester]

That's a healthy bit of reliance on a long term forecast.    I hope it works out for you.  Up here the snow is melting.  Two days ago we had about 6-7" on the ground and snowmobiles were all around during the previous weekend (although it was fairly poor conditions for snowmobiles).  Now, as I look out through the woods it's about 80% grass and 20% snow patches.  It's raining fairly consistently up here right now.

Looks like we're going to lose all of the snow this week.  As for 50s, I'm not seeing the same forecast you are...  Of course, you're like 2 1/2 hours South of me, but highs are only supposed to be 41 with a chance of rain - low of 28, which although warm for this time of year, presents a possibility of snow, never a good thing for motorcyclists riding across the countryside on a whim...

Looks like this global warming trend might actually be happening.  A couple more years and I'll be able to grow palm trees!  

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

Ooooh!  I forgot about that!  I knew the warm weather was important for some reason.  Sure do hope my bike is back from the shop......

I'll be leaving from Battle Creek, and meeting Stripes in Jackson, if anyone wants to ride along.  Time to be determined on Friday morning.

[forester]

I might consider it if there is no chance for freezing rain or snow - by Friday I'll have a good idea too.  The wife is getting intermintent cabin fever and seasonal affective disorder and it's driving me a little batty.

It sounds like a seriously good time for a ride!    I'll have to keep an eye out for the weather though...

I'm not in the banana belt after all.  

[HankB]

This is the kind of weather where the real jerks ride to my buddies houses and say "Hey, let's go for a ride!" And then "Oh, wait... your bike is in storage, isn't it."  

I'm such a bastage.  

[forester]

It's rideable today.  Not bad out here - still some patches of snow here and there but the roadways are clear and it's in the mid 40s now!  We'll have to see what Saturday looks like.  NOAA is predicting mostly cloudy and high of 48/rain in the evening with lows in the high 30s, which isn't bad, but our local weather is slightly less optimistic.  

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

This is the kind of weather where the real jerks ride to my buddies houses and say "Hey, let's go for a ride!" And then "Oh, wait... your bike is in storage, isn't it."  

I'm such a bastage.  

If they store their rides, they deserve what they get.  All my friends that ride HD put theirs up 2 months ago.  Wusses.

[mxvet57]

If they store their rides, they deserve what they get.  All my friends that ride HD put theirs up 2 months ago.  Wusses.

 not to mention that they are paying hundreds of dollars  (hens HD) to store them at the dealer.

 i have to admit that this is the first year i have not done anything to prep the bike for winter.

[DavidLSI]

 not to mention that they are paying hundreds of dollars  (hens HD) to store them at the dealer.

 i have to admit that this is the first year i have not done anything to prep the bike for winter.

Am I wrong in thinking that the only winter prep work would be if you wanted to store the bike?

If you are going to ride it enough to run through the gas, it would seem to me that cleaning the salt off would be the only additional maintianace required.

Let me know if I am wrong....

SeeYa
DavidLSI

[xsPain]

If your bike is liquid cooled, you will want to make sure it won't freeze, like in a car. simple test, almost anywhere can do it.

Engine oils are good for different temps, you will want some appropriate for your riding weather. I go with 10w30 in the winter.

There was something else too, but I forgot it. I am not normally up this early, you know.  

[mxvet57]

If your bike is liquid cooled, you will want to make sure it won't freeze, like in a car. simple test, almost anywhere can do it.

Engine oils are good for different temps, you will want some appropriate for your riding weather. I go with 10w30 in the winter.

There was something else too, but I forgot it. I am not normally up this early, you know.  

   what the dog got you up

[mxvet57]

Am I wrong in thinking that the only winter prep work would be if you wanted to store the bike?

If you are going to ride it enough to run through the gas, it would seem to me that cleaning the salt off would be the only additional maintianace required.

Let me know if I am wrong....

SeeYa
DavidLSI

  when i prep a bike for winter i change the oil, put stable in the gas, put the battery tender on and cover it.

so i can take it out when the time calls.

also Dave you are rite i didn't mention washing it after i ride

[Mr.Awesome]

Do you guy's have a ball park time as to when you will be in the area. I'll probably head down for a little bit. Probably shouldnt as I'll be tempted to buy myself a christmas present.  Any idea if they are running demo's that day?

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

I don't know if they are running demos or not.

We will be there (provided I get out of BC by 11:00) by 1:00, 1:30.

Where are you coming from?  If you'd like you can join up with us in BC or Jackson.

[matkal]

Damn. One of the other eurotrash dealers is having theirs on Saturday too.
Decisions, decisions  

Looks like I'll have to build a bridge over my mudhole and go riding!

[forester]

You guys are meeting at noon at Duryea's point, or Ed's Holiday cycle or where?  I'm not sure if my rear tire will make it or not, which is my only concern.  It's the stock trailwing with 10,xxx miles on it and the wear bars wore through about 8600 miles or so..  

No cords hanging out yet though...    I was planning on getting some new sneakers in the spring, but with this subtropical weather and all, I might have to see if anyone around here has a couple tourances in stock.  

[Stripes]

We will be meeting the group coming from Battle Creek at the Shell gas station on the corner of Fifth St. and Broad St. in Michigan Center hopefully between 10:00 and 11:00(time still to be determined), and taking some of the fine twisties around here into Saline before getting on the super-slab. I did a pre-ride today and the roads are fine and it should take us about 2 hours to get there from here, so the sooner we can meet up and go, the better. We will know the meeting time for sure tomorrow morning. Stay tuned....

[matkal]

Do you guy's have a ball park time as to when you will be in the area. I'll probably head down for a little bit. Probably shouldnt as I'll be tempted to buy myself a christmas present.  Any idea if they are running demo's that day?

I know they moved, where to??

If I can get out of the house soon enough
I'll shoot over there, then stop at D-BMW
on the way to work.

[Stripes]

I know they moved, where to??

Triumph Detroit-
28000 Groesbeck Hwy.
Roseville, MI
48066
www.triumphdetroit.com
586-447-1340

[basco]

I know they moved, where to??

If I can get out of the house soon enough
I'll shoot over there, then stop at D-BMW
on the way to work.

About a 1/2 mile north of I-696 and Groesbeck on the east side of Groesbeck

[forester]

We will be meeting the group coming from Battle Creek at the Shell gas station on the corner of Fifth St. and Broad St. in Michigan Center hopefully between 10:00 and 11:00(time still to be determined), and taking some of the fine twisties around here into Saline before getting on the super-slab. I did a pre-ride today and the roads are fine and it should take us about 2 hours to get there from here, so the sooner we can meet up and go, the better. We will know the meeting time for sure tomorrow morning. Stay tuned....

...waiting...

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

The Battle Creek group will meet at the Citgo gas station at the Helmer Road exit (95) off I-94.  Plan on being there at 10:00.  We'll be leaving at 10:15.

We should be at the Shell in Michigan Center about 11:15, if nobody objects moving along at 85 or so.

Forester, will you meet up in BC or in Jackson?

[Stripes]

...waiting...

We will be meeting the group coming from Battle Creek in Michigan Center at the Shell gas station on the corner of Fifth St. and Broad St. at 11:00 a.m. and rolling out at 11:15 a.m. We'll be taking back roads into Saline and then jumping on the super-slab fo the second leg.

[forester]

The Battle Creek group will meet at the Citgo gas station at the Helmer Road exit (95) off I-94.  Plan on being there at 10:00.  We'll be leaving at 10:15.

We should be at the Shell in Michigan Center about 11:15, if nobody objects moving along at 85 or so.

Forester, will you meet up in BC or in Jackson?

Probably see you at Michigan Center's shell, but calling Jason to confirm.

[matkal]

Hey Forest
  John and I are going to try to make it to the Triumph dealer
by 1 or so, hang out for a bit, then head over to the BMW dlr.
Hope to see you there.(at the Triumph dlr)


Where is the Triumph dealer? Are they still on Groesbeck?

As long as you guys are in the area, there's a Duc/MVAgusta dlr at
Groesbeck and Hall rd(20mile rd).

[basco]

Where is the Triumph dealer? Are they still on Groesbeck?

Read my post at the end of page one.  

[matkal]

Doh! The old "end of page one" trick .

Got it. THX.

[forester]

See you there, Matt.  I guess we'll be there around 1:30-2ish if all goes to plan.  The Triumph party is being catered.  Demos are happening if the roads are dry.  I don't know what else they got going on there, but it will be interesting to see the place and I'll aim for the 675 if it's available to ride.  

I'd love to visit the Beemer dealer - if for no other reason to have them install some new tires for me - but doubt the time will work out.  I'll bet they'd have a pair of Tourances for me there - Stock tires (same size) for the GS.  I know they do in GR, because I checked earlier today.  I was too busy today, otherwise I would have ridden down and had them on the bike today...

The only thing that might hold me here is if there is ice on the roads tomorrow A/M. It was snowing today-hard!    My wife is grouchy regarding my taking place in this little event  - all the more reason to get the hell out of the house!  

[Mr.Awesome]

Good to put some faces with the screen names today guy's. Have to hook up for some rides come spring time. Kudo's to forester for coming all the way down from caddilac. I want that 07 Sprint ST in arrest me red.  
Here's a pic of the west side guys who made it out. Jason, Jeff, and Terry ?

[matkal]

What Mr Awesome said.
Hope you guys had a good trip home
especially Forester. It was great to meet
the new guys and to see the old faces again!
Here's the cold weather pic I was talking about.

[forester]

What Mr Awesome said.
Hope you guys had a good trip home
especially Forester. It was great to meet
the new guys and to see the old faces again!
Here's the cold weather pic I was talking about.

...and wouldn't you know it that the picture of the 30 degrees at the bank today somhow got corrupted.    Oh well, not like I haven't ridden in a lot cooler weather in the past but that was a bit of a haul for me with having to dodge the ice patches in the road and all for the first 15 minutes or so...  Heated Gear? I don't need no stinkin' heated gear!  

[matkal]

Any cord showing on that tire?
Glad you made it home safe and sound.

P.S. It's a lot easier to pee when you have heated gear.

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

Good to put some faces with the screen names today guy's. Have to hook up for some rides come spring time. Kudo's to forester for coming all the way down from caddilac. I want that 07 Sprint ST in arrest me red.  
Here's a pic of the west side guys who made it out. Jason, Jeff, and Terry ?

Jayson (Stripes), Jeff (TheRedOnesAreFaster), Terry (a soon-to-be-converted lurker)

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

It was nice meeting all you STN guys there today!  Thanks for taking the pictures!

[forester]

  a mini ride report summary here:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,1366.new.html#new

[Stripes]

Man what a great day for a ride!!! Like Mr. Awesome said; it was nice to meet all you STN guys at the Triumph dealer and put some faces with the screen names! We'll definately have to get together for a ride to the Beach Bar in Clark Lake, MI, and let me give you guys a tour of the roads I enjoy out here! It was great to finally meet up with Forester and ride with him in his old neighborhood, I still can't believe he made it all that way with that rear tire! Anyways, we'll see you all later.

Stripes