NCR: Fantastic weather today for riding...

[glwilson]

The last couple weekends have been great for riding here in the Midwest...

Last week my wife and I took off early on Saturday and finished the day having ridden just over 360 miles. We stopped a few times, but mostly kept riding. We covered a lot of area that day.

Today... the weather was again perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Put about 240 miles on today, but we stopped a lot more.

Here in the Midwest the fresh vegetable stands are springing-up everywhere, so we picked-up a few things, including beets. Wife loves beets. I cannot stand them. Yuck! Seems women like beets more than men...

Stopped-by a Harley dealer (Sauk City, WI). Great dealership, and fairly large in comparison to most. As typical... there were at least 60-70 bikes there and they have all kinds of things going on. The best part is they have a discount store. Sort-of a close-out store for Harley clothes and accessories.

Anyone that knows me knows I do not wear HD clothes at all. However, when their chaps, gloves, helmets, and heated-gear are at close-out prices... it is kind of hard not to buy something. The quality is good, but I am only willing to pay close-out price... (I know... cheap-@ss).

I decided after riding for 7 days in mid-April down to Missouri and Arkansas in rain and temps averaging around 45-48 degrees... that this would be my last year to freeze while riding. I am buying heated clothes (of some type... hell or high water). This "close-out" shop had Gebring heated vest on sale (with all the added wires, switches and etc included - which are always extra). I paid a great price for the vest. Looked online and cannot find it nearly as "cheap".

I am buying heated gloves next. Too many have told me not to bother installing heated-grips. A majority seem to like the gloves better. We'll see. I have heated-grips on my Spyder and like them, but do admit the tops of the hands still get cold.

Hope others in the North Central Region had a great day of riding also. Time for a liquid-grain sandwich!

[GIBBY]

It was a great day to ride, I also put on about 250 miles today and the weather was perfect. Heated grips are great once I figured out to wear only a very thin pair of leather gloves. It is about time we have some great weather here in the Midwest, sure hope it holds thru Labor Day.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

It was a great day to ride, I also put on about 250 miles today and the weather was perfect. Heated grips are great once I figured out to wear only a very thin pair of leather gloves. It is about time we have some great weather here in the Midwest, sure hope it holds thru Labor Day.

I have ordered perfect weather for this year's ride Gibby.

Pay no attention to the fact I bought a heated-vest just in case though...

[GIBBY]

I have found that with heated grips and seat all I need is a heated jacket liner. Last October Ray and I had to scrape frost from our windshields one morning in MO., but I was still warm once we started to ride.

[jendesigner]

Did a patriot guard mission yesterday, a welcome home, those are the best. Great weather. Waiting for coffee to finish to go start my ride today. Joined up with a riding group in my area, still like solo riding better but it has been fun. 300 mile ride today. Put on some debaffled pipes yesterday afternoon, looking forward to trying them out today.

As far as heated gear, well, I'm a 50+ woman, heated gear not needed, if I could find the off switch for internal heating I would! Rode to work this past winter, it was 26 degrees and never zipped my jacket :-)

Hoping the weather holds up through labor day also, planning a trip to Arkansas that week.

[glwilson]

Funny stuff Jen. My internal heat-source doesn't exist. I need help!

[stretch]

Rode out to Iowa this week for work. With that trip and some riding yesterday I have about 920 miles logged this week! This August weather is pretty nice.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by stretch

Rode out to Iowa this week for work. With that trip and some riding yesterday I have about 920 miles logged this week! This August weather is pretty nice.

Outside of about three weekends ago when the weather (up here) never saw above 50... we have had a great riding season this year - especially lately.

Riding your motorcycle for work is a great plus... wish I could do the same more often.

Hope things are getting organized for you at work, but at the same time I hope you are getting really, really tired and in need of a short vacation in about two weeks!! : I haven't seen your new bike yet, and would like to. I will be outnumbered by you Vic-Boys! I have to be careful of what I say that weekend...

I could use Denny & Sally, Jen, Cal, and Rayski to show to help balance the scenario out a bit!

[rayski271]

glad you are riding my season has been f uped since i had my bike done sooner or later ill get it fixed right kind of looks like im going have to lawyer up for this stuff now and my trip to antlers might be in jeopardy my riding season was ruined ive got only the national rally under my belt and i should have close to ten thousand miles on already and lucky if i have 3500 keep the rubber down and be safe ray

[GIBBY]

We could organize an NCR ride down to see those boys in Pekin, IL. I would very much like to meet them after the thinly veiled threat inviting me to visit them.
You really need to have her fixed up for the Antlers rally Ray.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by rayski271

glad you are riding my season has been f uped since i had my bike done sooner or later ill get it fixed right kind of looks like im going have to lawyer up for this stuff now and my trip to antlers might be in jeopardy my riding season was ruined ive got only the national rally under my belt and i should have close to ten thousand miles on already and lucky if i have 3500 keep the rubber down and be safe ray

Is there a mechanic good with metrics (or bikes in general) in your area that can give your bike a "once-over" to verify all the screw-ups done to it?

I would think that would go a long way to helping your case. The reputation of that shop in Pekin is not being helped at all with the situation. Bad news can travel fast through the internet...

I got a kick out of their "thinly-veiled" threat to Gibby by asking him to come to Pekin and "discuss" the situation. If only those idiots knew...

I also like their comment saying things were not their fault and that "bolts fall off... It happens!" Oh my... brake caliper bolts commonly fall off their bikes and that is supposed to be acceptable?

Maybe about a dozen or so of us should take them up on their kind invitation to visit them. We'll make them happy with a surprise visit...

[cbutteris]

Originally Posted by rayski271

glad you are riding my season has been f uped since i had my bike done sooner or later ill get it fixed right kind of looks like im going have to lawyer up for this stuff now and my trip to antlers might be in jeopardy my riding season was ruined ive got only the national rally under my belt and i should have close to ten thousand miles on already and lucky if i have 3500 keep the rubber down and be safe ray

Dang Ray, have been wondering how things were coming out for ya and sorry to hear it hasn't gone well.

I'm guessing they won't be in business a lot longer but hopefully you can get some compensation before they shutter. With the issues we saw, yours can't be the only bike they messed up. -C

[cbutteris]

And you other guys, am I the only one that works on Mondays? I got a couple rides in over the weekend going to a couple places around - just a couple hundred miles total.

And yes, the weather has been perfect! -C

[GIBBY]

Of course I work Mondays, but today I am in my office writing a CNC program and need to take frequent breaks to keep my head from exploding.

[stretch]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Ray! Hope you can get some compensation out of those assholes!