MotoGP 2012 -- MisterSmooth Goes to Jail (but it turns out OK)

[tthompsr]

Thanks MisterSmooth! Nice Ride Report.

[stromgal]

I look forward to this report each year. Almost as good as being there.  

[BIWOZ]

C’mon, gimme Gerry Burgess tossing spanners and cussing in Australian English any day.

Hey, I canz does that!  

Terrific writing, thanks very much.

[DNA]

Awesome RR - Smoothie does it again!  

[expatbrit]

Great report. Fun to see the trip; Markalee looks cooler than S. Lake Tahoe, where we overnighted on the way back

[XLR8]

I loved Markleeville. Great place to stop. I highly recommend the Hemp Ale.  

[Papa Lazarou]

Excellent report, only marred by the clash of red on a red teapot.

[falconati]

This was a fun read, thanks for taking the time to put it together  

[nevinfs327]

Agree with all of the comments - great report.  Enjoyed it almost as much as I did going to the GP myself  

[Blunder]

I finally broke down and opened this report. It's easy to not attend the STN non-meet when you're actually able to visit the races on the Monterey Peninsula, but when you can't even go to the races there's a real sense of emptiness and loss over the whole thing. Not on a PTSD level, mind, but still...

Truly an excellent write up, and the pics are cool, yet I feel betrayed by the title of the thread. Someone whose nom de board is Mr Smooth would surely provide some unique insights into the hierarchy of prison life vis-a-vis the inmates' relationships to various motorcycle marques.  Do the screws favor Ducatis, the guards Harleys? Does the warden ride a BMW? Are the child molestors and rapists sequestered away to knock-off Chinese Hondaland? Who favors that after lights-out Spanish delicacy known as Pedrosa? These are the questions that demand answers.

Maybe next year.

[wfo]

Work and family have kept me from riding, and from STN, for a few years, I logged in today and the first thing I see and read is this ride report...  Totally reminded why I love(d) riding and STN.  Thanks for sharing.  =)

[james_g]

Good stuff Mistersmooth. You've got a way with words for sure.

Great pics of the Honda 70. The very first experience I had with motorized two wheels was on one of those.

james

[BootBuckle]

How do you take those pics while riding? Any trick to it? I guess I'm just no good at multitasking...  

[MisterSmooth]

How do you take those pics while riding? Any trick to it? I guess I'm just no good at multitasking...  

It's pretty low-tech (which, come to think of it, explains the generally sketchy quality of my photography)  .  Canon point and shoot in my left hand with a pretty short leash; I'll take a bunch of shots quickly and then stop to stick the camera in my pocket.

Typically I take photos from the seat only in scenic bits or boring bits.  There's no doubt that it is a real distraction from the experience of riding; but having the photographic record after the ride is worth the hassle of taking a few pics.

[yellowledbetter]

Loved the pictures, great report.  Thanks!

[johnnyquest]

I was a bit late in reading this. Outstanding report, looked like a great trip! How many miles on your 1200 Sport now?

JQ

[MisterSmooth]

I was a bit late in reading this. Outstanding report, looked like a great trip! How many miles on your 1200 Sport now?

JQ

Hi, JQ.  Nice to hear from you!

The Sport has about 18,000 miles on it now.  It's been great.  Only three mechanical issues in that time:  Warped front rotors replaced under warranty (apparently a common problem); digital portion of the dash going goofy in a prolonged deluge; and what is apparently a faulty starter relay.   The relay works about 99% of the time, so one of these days I'll get around to replacing it.