It's May 1st and I have not started my FJR

[Baz]

Uggggh, this is the worst spring I can remember.

Yes, I could have gone for a ride but at most days being around the 10 C mark, I have not been that motivated. I think I need to look at relocating somewhere near the equator.

[MstrJim]

Don't feel bad Baz.  Mine's still covered in the garage and I'm back at work for a month so no chance of starting it till the end of May.  Mind you, Spring is due to arrive in Calgary sometime this year.

[Rigger]

Hey Baz how was your winter buddy?  Right now Winnipeg is -5 and its blowing snow.  I would gladly ride in 10 above if I could.   Hows things back in St Albert?  I miss riding to Riverside and catching up with you at Timmies

[Corbeau]

No worries, Baz, I took out my VFR only yesterday, despite nice weekends in April. But since there was still some nice skiing to be done, I was still in winter mode.

[veefer800canuck]

Hey, my bike is sitting like this right now.

[alphabet man]

So  you guys probably don't want to hear about my ride this morning then I guess    I was able to get a couple hour reprieve from installing counter tops and went for a little scoot

[bubba zanetti]

Me too  

[alphabet man]

   

[Croak]

Beautiful day in the Lower Mainland, took my camera out with the intent to get some pictures.  These are not as scenic as Dave and Jim's shots (took some but they were overexposed, perils of a cheap point and shoot.)

[bubba zanetti]

Beautiful day in the Lower Mainland, took my camera out with the intent to get some pictures.  These are not as scenic as Dave and Jim's shots (took some but they were overexposed, perils of a cheap point and shoot.)

Jeebuz ... that is a sweet bike J .... must be addictive as hell ? It is just so .. so ... purposeful looking.    Hope you ride it here sometime soon. I would love to hear it and try ..TRY ... and follow you ...  

[alphabet man]

Beautiful day in the Lower Mainland, took my camera out with the intent to get some pictures.  These are not as scenic as Dave and Jim's shots (took some but they were overexposed, perils of a cheap point and shoot.)

   I guess  this makes us cousins    Nice bike what are the two cannons sticking out under the seat?
That thing looks scary fast

[Huron52]

First ride of the season turned into 1600kms over three days.  Of the three days it was cold wet, beautiful, cool wet and then windy.

 It was very good to get out on the FJR!

[Croak]

    I guess  this makes us cousins     Nice bike what are the two cannons sticking out under the seat?
That thing looks scary fast

I guess we are cousins, since Aprilia owned Moto Guzzi when your V11 was made, same year as my Tuono.   

I don't know if it's scary fast (consider the rider), but with those twin 54mm Bofors, it's indeed scary loud.   

[Scoop]

Mine's still in the garage too.  It can't make up it's mind whether to be warm or to snow.  And, I've been too busy working on the garage to get the bike ready.  Ah well, maybe June......

[Rigger]

Hey Baz I might be through the Edmonton area this summer on vacation.  Will you be around the 20th of July?

[Baz]

Some of you made me feel better.....

Rigger.. I should be around. I believe we are doing Beartooth the week before and I think I will be back by the 18th.

[Kootenanny]

Better get our bikes on the road quick!  Get those trips in before the 21st!

http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/may21/

[Croak]

Shit.  That's Victoria Day weekend innit?  

Good news is, that's just Judgement Day.  Actual end of the world isn't until October.

[Kootenanny]

Shit.  That's Victoria Day weekend innit?  

Good news is, that's just Judgement Day.  Actual end of the world isn't until October.

Right.  Whew...at least we got one more summer...(unless, of course, you're one of the "saved.")

[Fast Blue]

Well it's been on of those springs or one of those long relenting winters - either way the time has come where I took the cover off  today and began my pre riding  maintenance -   all is good  - the plan is to be on the road no later than Tuesday  -- just in time for Port Dover on Thursday night - ride home to Huronia then on to Muskoka on Saturday-- By the way I hear the MF Blackflies are out already--  may I paste a gazillion on my windshield -- ya-ya i know my Visor too  oh well so a few Blueberry bushes wont get pollinated : )

[birdrunner]

Hey Baz I might be through the Edmonton area this summer on vacation.  Will you be around the 20th of July?

That's the BBBBQ weekend,  so yes, Baz will be in Edmonton.

[bubba zanetti]

Had a visitor who fed me beer whilst I did my valve check ....



I think the bike is too small for him ..  

[ST1300Rider]

Had a visitor who fed me beer whilst I did my valve check ....



I think the bike is too small for him ..  

What's that green stuff in front of your house?   It looks sort of familiar.... Nice looking bike.

[Kootenanny]

I think the bike is too small for him ..  

I agree...it would definitely fit me better!

[alphabet man]

Had a visitor who fed me beer whilst I did my valve check ....



I think the bike is too small for him ..  

   well maybe if I didn't have to wear an under shirt, a long sleeve shirt, a heated vest, and the linear undr my jacket I would have looked my usual svelte self,    besides pictures always make you look bigger. And the bike fit just fine for my ride up 3A  even when I passed both cars I meet in 80KM      

 Edit to add:  and my skidoo gloves  

[alphabet man]

I decided Friday I was done planning and decided to head out regardless of the somewhat less than desirable forecast. I lucked out and missed most of the bad whether, the worst was on Friday around Fenrie, 4C and pouring rain, I almost turned around and went home but I figured I would at least ride to the tunnel near ELko; riding here for more years than I care to mention I had a feeling that things may improve once I was west of the tunnel, and indeed they did. It wasn't overly warm but I kept my electric vest on all the way to Castlegar and was comfortable for the most part. I pretty much forgot about the cold when I hit 3A north of Creston and had the road mostly to myself, it was dry and clean, quick and fun. My first real ride on the LeMans  and all I can say is Ohlins   my God they work  
The lone bike at the ferry. I expected some of my STN brethren to meet me but alas they were all home hiding under the covers  
 


I spent Saturday with my daughter and granddaughter, cutest baby in the world, just saying not bragging  . OK I can ride my Guzzi all day and not feel real tired and pretend I am a young pup, but a day with those two and I know I am not a spring chicken any more. Spending the day with them worked out well as it poured rain all day but Sunday morning turned out to be much drier and I managed to have another fantastic ride along the lake and home in time to BBQ for my special girl.





And for anyone planing a dual sport ride over Gray Creek pass, you have plenty of time;  here is a shot up Gray Creek from the ferry

[bubba zanetti]

Looks like today is the first day above 20C here ....  

[birdrunner]

Looks like today is the first day above 20C here ....  

We've been supposed to see 20 a couple times already, not sure if we've made it.

But for you guys,  that's BRUTAL.   Poor muffins.

[Kootenanny]

But for you guys,  that's BRUTAL.   Poor muffins.

Yes, I've been having to keep wearing socks with my Birkies...

[Baz]

That's the BBBBQ weekend,  so yes, Baz will be in Edmonton.

Oh dear, this is the weekend of the famous Borsche thingy? I may have to change some plans here...... I could do a delayed return from Beartooth, perhaps through Idaho...

[Croak]

Weather held out long enough for me to actually escape the city and get some enjoyable open-road time on the Tuono today.  Ugly weather days weren't totally wasted, more time to farkle (if you're really bored, find the changes from my earlier pictures ). 

Carbonfiberitus is a terrible disease, as is Ohlins Fever (I have forks and rear shock en-route, more gold bling baby).

[bubba zanetti]

That must be awesome fun Croak !!  Well, the riding I mean   ... paying for new Ohlins ... not so much.    
A unique and beautiful machine !

Finally finished all my maintenance and tracking down a perpelexing fuel leak after putting it all back together. Fabbed a larger rear rack and despite a busy weekend of gardening and visiting, replete with rain, managed to get out yesterday for a 200km loop. Love the bike and it is running better than ever thanks to all the love heaped on it the last two weeks.

I did a loop over the Paulson Pass to Christina Lake, had a quick coffee and then back over Strawberry Pass, through Rossland and up the Beaver Valley, over the Bombi Pass and back to Castlegar.  Tons of snow at about 1400 meters and really chilly. Strawberry Pass was cloudy and it got down to 6c.  Was testing my new RevIT Mistral (vented) pants without the liners to see how comfortable they were. They work great down to about 10C and from then they flow too much air. But a genuine 3.5 season pant utilizing the liner.

Leaving in two weeks for the ST.n National and am thinking that the down sleeping bag and a toque may be in order as we will be traveling quite high up for our first week.  Brrrr ... it is still cold in them thar hills for camping.

[birdrunner]

That must be awesome fun Croak !!  Well, the riding I mean   ... paying for new Ohlins ... not so much.    
A unique and beautiful machine !

Finally finished all my maintenance and tracking down a perpelexing fuel leak after putting it all back together. Fabbed a larger rear rack and despite a busy weekend of gardening and visiting, replete with rain, managed to get out yesterday for a 200km loop. Love the bike and it is running better than ever thanks to all the love heaped on it the last two weeks.

I did a loop over the Paulson Pass to Christina Lake, had a quick coffee and then back over Strawberry Pass, through Rossland and up the Beaver Valley, over the Bombi Pass and back to Castlegar.  Tons of snow at about 1400 meters and really chilly. Strawberry Pass was cloudy and it got down to 6c.  Was testing my new RevIT Mistral (vented) pants without the liners to see how comfortable they were. They work great down to about 10C and from then they flow too much air. But a genuine 3.5 season pant utilizing the liner.

Leaving in two weeks for the ST.n National and am thinking that the down sleeping bag and a toque may be in order as we will be traveling quite high up for our first week.  Brrrr ... it is still cold in them thar hills for camping.

Most Canucks do not realize how high and cold the U.S. Rockies are.  Electric gear is the answer.

[KLRchickie]

Most Canucks do not realize how high and cold the U.S. Rockies are.  Electric gear is the answer.

  Electric gear & rain gear get packed on every trip that is more than an afternoon ride.  Even in August.  It is amazing how cold you can get if you are at high elevations and/or wet.

On a good ride, 1/2 of what is packed never comes out of the luggage, but if you need it you're glad to have it.

[Scoop]

I started mine for the first time yesterday.  Not that we haven't had good weather, last week was fantastic.  Just no damn time    Then it was cold and rainy all weekend and I was painting anyway.  This week looks good though.

[Baz]

I am proud to announce that on May 21, I officially burned the entire tank of winter gas out of the FJR.  

Looking forward to our Beartooth trip in July now, and may actually make the Burn this year as my most excellent wife gave me a two week ride with the boys blessing.

(Wondering what she has bought  )

[alphabet man]

I am proud to announce that on May 21, I officially burned the entire tank of winter gas out of the FJR.  

Looking forward to our Beartooth trip in July now, and may actually make the Burn this year as my most excellent wife gave me a two week ride with the boys blessing.

(Wondering what she has bought  )

 You know you could bring her to the burn, if she doesn't feel like riding Sat she can hang at the beach.

[Kootenanny]

Well, last week was hot, and I was out of town--so as soon as I got back I put insurance on the bike and got a couple quick rides in.  Then, suddenly the world got wet again...and it's forecast for at least the next week...drat!

[birdrunner]

Well, last week was hot, and I was out of town--so as soon as I got back I put insurance on the bike and got a couple quick rides in.  Then, suddenly the world got wet again...and it's forecast for at least the next week...drat!

Yup,  picked up oil and filter during the last nice day of the weekend,  got a day to ride  (Monday), and it turns BLOODY cold.   Typical, we'd had 3 beautiful weeks prior but I was busy.

[Hoochie Papa]

Most Canucks do not realize how high and cold the U.S. Rockies are.

For example- May 23, 2011  Hwy #89 just south of St. Mary around 4:00 pm.  I thought it was going to snow on us.

P.S. Thats not me putting the Walmart bags over the gloves.

[birdrunner]

For example- May 23, 2011  Hwy #89 just south of St. Mary around 4:00 pm.  I thought it was going to snow on us.

P.S. Thats not me putting the Walmart bags over the gloves.

Bummer that your first trip was with lousy weather.

[bubba zanetti]

Snowing on Kootenay Pass this morning.  



Was looking at the Montana web cams this morning and there is snow on Lolo and Lost Trail Pass too     ... c'mon warm weather !!!

[Baz]

I hear you are going to get hit for the next two days. Southern AB is under heavy rainfall warning.   (Snowing in the rocks here also)

[Hoochie Papa]

Yup. Looking forward to it...  
I hear that this is going to be the trend for the "summer".

[bungie4]

 Not that we haven't had good weather, last week was fantastic.  Just no damn time    Then it was cold and rainy all weekend and I was painting anyway.  This week looks good though.

Tell me about it, I headed for TBay last weekend (despite the forecast, they kept flip-flopping on it). Ended up spending the night at the Red Dog Inn (No coffee or breakfast.. for a $100 night!) in Terrace Bay . Woke up in the morning to rain and pea-soup fog. I said f'it and turned around and came home. 25km/h on the hwy with my 4 ways going between Terrace Bay and Marathon. Couldn't see Shite!

Still, got out for the first over-nighter of the season.

I'll do the ride up to see Kakabeeka Falls sometime again this summer when the forecast is better.

[Scoop]

Tell me about it, I headed for TBay last weekend (despite the forecast, they kept flip-flopping on it). Ended up spending the night at the Red Dog Inn (No coffee or breakfast.. for a $100 night!) in Terrace Bay . Woke up in the morning to rain and pea-soup fog. I said f'it and turned around and came home. 25km/h on the hwy with my 4 ways going between Terrace Bay and Marathon. Couldn't see Shite!

Still, got out for the first over-nighter of the season.

I'll do the ride up to see Kakabeeka Falls sometime again this summer when the forecast is better.

Yes, that Marathon-Terrace Bay is bad for fog.  And last weekend was just crap around here.  Next week ain't looking too good either, at least from a rain point of view.  Unless you're a tree.  
If you're coming up to TBay, drop me a PM.