Some Michigan ST.n members went to HELL (but not STRAIGHT there) today.

[forester]

TheRedOnesAreFast and his friend Terry from K-Zoo, Stripes and yours truly met up in Michigan Center, Michigan for a ride that Stripes put together.  This was a SPLENDID December day, as far as I'm concerned.  It was cool and crisp (39F) at our meeting at 11:00 a/m, and the roads were clear and we all knew it was going to warm up nicely (maybe 10 degrees or so!).  Pic of meeting up at the Fifth and Broad Shell station:



Our group ride started off in the SE Jackson County area through Michigan Center, Napoleon and Clark Lake which are all very nice riding areas in the Southeast Michigan Region.  We went East just as far as we could on back roads through Manchester, MI headed toward the Detroit Metro area.  Think of scenic farm country roads with a touch of topography and some nice scattered twisties to keep the ride fun.  This ended at I-94 where the back roads end and the Metro area begins.

The main ride was to go to Triumph Detroit's Christmas party, and running through the mosaic of some of Detroit Metro's main roads (and all around the associated traffic), including through a lighted tunnel which was temporarily filled with the sound of Big Triumph I-3s exhuast tones.  There's just something about those tunnels that begs for accelleration!    RIGHT, TheRedOnes?  

When we arrived at Triumph Detroit, I instantly spotted another ST.ner, matkal.  This was a very nice event for the smallish dealership.  The catered food was excellent.  I helped myself to some pasta, green beans and carrots, and baklava.  Yum.  Meanwhile, two other STners were also at the party that I have not met before, Basco and Mr.Awesome, both very cool guys.   (Nice GPz, Mr. A)

Pic of this event:



After chatting a while, watching Stripes make a nice 1" long crack in his fairing   , and checking out the various bikes such as this one:

,

we decided to GO TO HELL to order dinner:



On the way TO HELL, Stripes did prove that the Red Ones aren't faster by passing his long-time riding partner on the inside of an off-ramp.  

When we got done eating and shooting the shit, we made plans to head toward 52, where I would head North and the others would head South.  By then it was dark, but I think that we may have ridden the best roads after dinner, or it could be that there just seemed to be more twisites since they were showcased by headlights during this time.

Of course, TheRedOnes and Stripes will have to fill in their own experiences after this, but for myself, I went through Stockbridge (followed the Stockbridge cop down the main drag   ) and took DEXTER TRAIL through past the Dansville State Game area to Mason.  This road is a road I've known for a good deal of time having spent a good deal of time in the Lansing/Jackson outskirts - it is FULL of twisites and if you all get a chance, you should ride it!  I had to apply the full-on brakes for a truck that did the same in front of me on this forested road and I saw bambi run in front of his truck.  I looked carefully and then quickly passed said truck.  I also ran into some sprinkles, mist and HEAVY water standing on the roads between Mt. Pleasant and Clare, and as I entered highway 10 NW of Clare, I saw a very nice buck that hadn't been shot yet standing next to the road (luckily he went the other way).  By the time I got 5 minutes from home, the mist/fog was so heavy that I could not see out of my visor, so I just lifted it and squinted slowly.  I never had to don rain gear and guess what: No cords are showing still!  

I am glad I came down to ride with you guys and meet you all at the Triumph place.  It was really nice riding while remembering past pleasant memories down that way, and really "refreshed" my memory that not all Southern lower peninsula roads are laid out in square sections!

Thanks for the invite, Stripes!

[Mr.Awesome]

Mint condition  1966 Tiger 100.

07 Daytona 675


Glad to hear you made it home safe forester.  

[Ninja Woman]

I am jealous......

[RedCBRRider]

I am jealous......

Me too!

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

The main ride was to go to Triumph Detroit's Christmas party, and running through the mosaic of some of Detroit Metro's main roads (and all around the associated traffic), including through a lighted tunnel which was temporarily filled with the sound of Big Triumph I-3s exhaust tones.  There's just something about those tunnels that begs for acceleration!    RIGHT, TheRedOnes?  

Yep!  Kind of makes me wish I lived underground.

On the way TO HELL, Stripes did prove that the Red Ones aren't faster by passing his long-time riding partner on the inside of an off-ramp.  

Sometimes the red ones have to slow down so the silver ones don't get inferiority complexes.  Seriously, this guy can't keep up with that guy in the corners.  I obviously have much more to live for.  Maybe.


The roads around there are pretty good, and any time you want to come on down and ride them, drop one of us a line.

The GPS routed us home on some roads I've never been on that seemed like they'd be fun in the daylight.  I don't like unfamiliar twistys in the dark.  After we hit 52, we ran it south to I94 and slabbed it home.  I'm not sure if Terry's hands have thawed out yet.

Looking forward to riding with you again.  I know Jayson is as well, because he likes witnesses to his "passing Jeff on the inside" moves.

[forester]

 Seriously, this guy can't keep up with that guy in the corners.  I obviously have much more to live for.  Maybe.

This guy can and did, until I saw dust coming out of his rear tire around the sharp weirdly banked curve near Clark Lake, and then I re-considered the current condition of my tire (having ridden over 10,500 miles on them might have something to do with this), and that keeping up that pace might not be the best way to keep my rubber down, so I only hit the corners hard that looked fairly clean.  I only had one small gravel event in which my rear tire slid a bit sometime before we left Jackson Co.  

There was one dirty long sweeper toward Manchester that Stripes hit pretty fast - I know there was at least some chunk of something (bark?) in the middle of that corner, along with some tractor dirt that I was a bit cautious on, but right out of that curve, he hit it, and while he didn't completely leave me in the dust, it was obvious the little 'strom lacked the punch of the Sprint at those speeds.  

I was kind of concerned about Terry breaking his bike in, since I was in his position on another group ride, and from experience, it seems to tempt a rider to not follow the break in schedule when the other bikes are hauling ass down the road...    In my case, I was left behind in the dark East of Cleveland.      

I was a bit suprised that Jackson Co. roads had that much fine gravel/dust on them (could this have been sand/salt mixed used during an earlier snow/ice event possibly?).  I am not a big fan of our DOTs use of this caustic mix...but then again, I am not a road maintenance expert and they do a fine job of maintaining the roads with what little funding they get.  

I really enjoyed watching Stripes ride in front of me - great form and position on the Sprint!  It got a bit confusing for certain moments whether we were on public roads or private tracks, which doesn't help the cager's view of our sport, something that shouldn't be as much of a problem up here (less traffic).  I think there needs to be some consideration of what level of disrespect we show the turtles that are slowing down our corner entries - I'll poll for opinions regarding this ('cuz I'm curious where other riders stand on the issue).  I'd personally draw the line on the side of caution relative to making passes around twisties where there is another oncoming car present.    

I am very glad you guys had radar detectors - I know for sure they were in use at least once (in Metro, I saw a cop in my mirrors that was hiding between the cement barriers that we otherwise may have never seen) - I know your detectors went off because you guys decreased the speed a wee bit.  

I haven't had one mounted on a bike since the late 80s/early 90s.  Maybe it's time I get one.  

It looked like Stripes got beaned by something coming off the road on our way back from Triumph Detroit.  Lots of debris on those roads down there.  

Anyway, I guesstimate I ran about 500ish miles yesterday.  I had the GPS off for quite a while (I primarily keep it on to see areas that I am not familiar with - and there is a short in my wire somewhere - reason I used batteries - which were being eaten up quickly by the screen backlight, so I tried to conserve a bit...)  Below is the stats to part of yesterday.  I cleared it somewhere around Mt. Pleasant on the way down.

Oh, and one comment regarding that max speed figure:  I think it must be a glitch, since there is NO WAY I would EVER go any faster than the posted speed limit!  





 

[matkal]

It was cool meeting you guys, I hope we can get together for a ride sometime.

For some reason I expected "Thr red ones are faster" to look more like "Eddie" . Must be an old picture.

On my way there it was 40deg in Almont at about 11:30. On my way home from work at midnight it was 49! Nice.

Great report and pics!

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

For some reason I expected "The red ones are faster" to look more like "Eddie" . Must be an old picture.

Maybe in my younger, skinnier days.........

Loved your FJ and Mr. Awesome's GPZ.  Two bikes I've always wanted to own at some point.

[Stripes]

It was really nice meeting all of you guys! I'm glad you came down for a ride Forester and that you made it home safely! Maybe I can talk Forester into getting a Tiger or a 675!!! Anyways, you guys take care and I'll look forward to meeting up with you guys and riding in the spring time!

Stripes

[basco]

Nice meeting you guys. Sorry I couldn't ride with you guys. Wife was sick and I just got over something. Amazing that in the photo us, 4 of us had Sprint ST's.

[forester]

It was really nice meeting all of you guys! I'm glad you came down for a ride Forester and that you made it home safely! Maybe I can talk Forester into getting a Tiger or a 675!!! Anyways, you guys take care and I'll look forward to meeting up with you guys and riding in the spring time!
Stripes

I do like the Tiger, but all things considered for a practical bike, the 'strom takes the cake.  If I ever decide to get a bike for hauling ass, the silvery-gray 675 is the ONLY bike I would even consider!  Wish me luck on the lotto - I pay cash.  

[Stripes]

Nice meeting you guys. Sorry I couldn't ride with you guys. Wife was sick and I just got over something. Amazing that in the photo us, 4 of us had Sprint ST's.

No need to apologize basco, stuff happens!!! There will be plenty of chances we can all ride together soon, and I'll be looking forward to it! It sounds like we might have converted Mr.Awesome into a Sprint ST!!! They're simply the best bike on the market!!!!

Take care,
Stripes

[BubbaDenkins]

I'm not sure if Terry's hands have thawed out yet.

Yes, they have thawed out nicely, no thanks to the plentiful heated hand grips comments I had to endure.  I had a blast riding with you guys, and I didn't find it too hard to keep with the breakin schedule.  I'm definitely looking forward to the spring when I can get out and really push this bike

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

Yes, they have thawed out nicely, no thanks to the plentiful heated hand grips comments I had to endure....I'm definitely looking forward to the spring when I can get out and really push this bike

Sorry about the "heated grips" comments.  I was trying to make you mad, because anger increases blood pressure and flow, thus making you warmer.  It was all because I care.

If you keep it gassed up, you won't have to push it at all....


Welcome to STN, BubbaD!

[Stripes]

Sorry about the "heated grips" comments.  I was trying to make you mad, because anger increases blood pressure and flow, thus making you warmer.  It was all because I care.

If you keep it gassed up, you won't have to push it at all....


Welcome to STN, BubbaD!

  Yeah, welcome aboard Bubba Denkins!!! I'm glad you came along for the ride!!!
Stripes

[Mr.Awesome]

 It sounds like we might have converted Mr.Awesome into a Sprint ST!!! They're simply the best bike on the market!!!!

I dont need to be converted. I've been lusting after a sprint for many years now. Just havent had the cash to pick one up yet. Some day soon hopefully.  

[Stripes]

I dont need to be converted. I've been lusting after a sprint for many years now. Just havent had the cash to pick one up yet. Some day soon hopefully.  

That's awesome, Mr.Awesome!

[matkal]

Did anyone get a pic of the Vincent?
If so, could you post it?

[Mr.Awesome]

Did anyone get a pic of the Vincent?
If so, could you post it?

No I didnt. Was going to take one when the west siders pulled up and we started talking. Next time I looked it was gone.  

[BubbaDenkins]

Sorry about the "heated grips" comments.  I was trying to make you mad, because anger increases blood pressure and flow, thus making you warmer.  It was all because I care.

If you keep it gassed up, you won't have to push it at all....


Welcome to STN, BubbaD!

I'm not sure you're one to talk about pushing things.  I'm pretty sure I could have out cornered you on my America.  I really can't blame Stripes for passing you