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Haven't logged in here for a while. But got the ol' Connie out for rip today. After 12year and 80k miles still love this old girl.

It's official.

I made it to Tuktoyaktuk NWT today. It was by far the most difficult road I’ve ridden to date. Now I’ve been as far north and south as you can ride in the Americas!

Nine days on the road (so far). Touring Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum tomorrow then heading to GA. Next up, cherahola skyway, deals gap, BRP, the snake and back of the dragon

I was in Alberta and BC particularly around the Banff/Golden area in July of this year. I could not explain how beautiful it is up there. I also could not imagine what riding a motorcycle like you're about to do would be like. Unimaginably epic.

Loaded up and heading south for the smokies. Took 16 through WV/VA, staying in Abingdon, VA tonight. Staying at the gap store the next three nights.

Did some custom powdercoating on a set of 03 Cobra coil covers a few days ago, came out pretty sick. https://youtube.com/shorts/WZlqvWi52DA?feature=share

Started it! First time since last Dec. when I started the engine swap. Ran it for a few minutes then shut down to check for oil leaks. So far, so good. I'll start and run it a few more times, then put some gas in and go for a ride. I'm anxious to see how much difference I can feel with the new engine.

Last Friday was my last day of employment. After the weekend, I've now spent 2 days as an official retiree and I think I'm going to like it. I bumped the date ahead by 7 weeks from my original plan because my (now former) employer had put me on the road in Holland, MI for 19 weeks since early March with no end in sight. After 80 nights in a hotel, the manager gave me a gift bag and a card signed by all the staff. That's how you can tell you've been on the road too long. I have 2 cars that have been asking for attention - just routine maintenance. And the yard is a mess - I was able to keep it mowed, but nothing else. THEN I can get back to finishing my bike engine swap and hopefully start riding again for the fall season. Hope to meet you guys on the road!

Friday, the Spyder Wife and I set out for a overnight-er down to Augusta, KY from our home in Hocking Hills, Ohio. We take back roads as much a possible to enjoy the sights and enjoy curves with shade. Our first stop was Aberdeen, OH. for a photo of the Maysville Bridge looking south over the Ohio River. Next we crossed over and enjoyed Lunch at Delite's Diner in Maysville, KY. A 50's Style diner with great food and music. After lunch we jumped back over to Ohio and continued to Augusta, KY. Back roads again zig zaging from waterfront up high in the woods. One road (221) just North of the Higginsport Ferry had a stone wall that went for miles. This must have taken a lot of work back in the day. As the 4pm "Check In time at the "Augusta Guest House" had just past so we jumped on the Ferry and crossed over to the great little town of Augusta, KY. where food, music and friendly folks live and enjoy the river life. After check in and showers we walked down to the new "Beehive" restaurant$$$ for happy hour and dinner sitting out side with a river view. We finished and walked around town checking out the "American Queen" cruse ship that was docked for a few night stay. As the sun was closing we enjoyed the sunset by the river. We then walked back to the hotel enjoying the outdoor band playing at the Augusta pub and crashed for the night. In the morning we loaded up had breakfast outside at the General Store, ferried across to Ohio and returned home. Total miles 440

I subjected myself to southpaw lunacy and made the journey to retrieve it.

Spent all day Saturday going over all three bikes. Servicing, going over bolts and fluids and a deep detail of them. So all three are as clean and ready for the season as they could ever be. Time to log the miles. Even though I've already had a Gap trip under my belt a few weeks ago and ready to make trip #2.

It's official. I have informed the company I am retiring the end of April.

Well, I can't say I did it today, but after years lovingly wrenching on my older bikes, chucking money aside for the better part of a decade, I bit the bullet on a machine I can trust to not leave me stranded, hammer my spine on bumps or be hopeless when gravel appears. I just completed installing the major farkles I wanted on this bike and so far, I love it to death. Claims it's boring are vastly wrong. Also, hey, I haven't been on this board in a long time. The last few years have been kind of...weird.

I’ll be heading back to Dawson and then taking the ferry over to Alaska. I’ll do the Dalton then, so I’ll be through Tok. Too bad you didn’t have time. It would have been a trip to run into you Nevin. And thanks. This has been a crazy road. Still not sure I want to do this last stretch to Tuk tomorrow. My leg still makes it hard to even walk. One fuck up and it could be bad. It’s probably stupid for me to be doing this shit still. It’s all I know now, and one of the few things that make me truly happy.

Picked up a new retirement project bike to ride the backwoods this fall.

Amanda and I had our maiden voyage on the RT. We took OH-212/93 to Roscoe Village for BBQ and then came home via 60/62/83 into Smithville/OH-21. Good weather. Good roads. Good food. Good day.

Weather for the start of the Arctic Circle journey was looking iffy so I did two things: I delayed the start a few days so I wouldn’t be riding through rain to start the trip, and I also booked a small cabin at Cannabis Creek Cabins in Luther Michigan. They are as affordable as a motel and includes a nice gift bag with some tasty treats! Should be a great end of the first full day’s riding on the 15th after an overnight stay at my Father’s. Sunny 2.0 is completely loaded and champing at the bit to get going. You’ll be able to track my progress through the Yukon and Alaska with this link to my Garmin Inreach Mini satellite tracker! https://share.garmin.com/HWJA4

Just back to Ohio where I’ll begin prep for YT and AK departure on the 12th. I attended the Horizons Unlimited travelers meeting near Appomattox and had a great time hanging out with like minded people that don’t think you’re crazy for cashing in and leaving “normalcy” behind to create your own normal. On the way home I was hosted by Lauren and Paul Brenner at Rainbow Farm near the New River Gorge in WV. Aside from running an organic chicken farm and riding the world in their spare time (check out their YT channel “the other end of the Rainbow) they run the Appalachian Motorcycle Adventure tour company. Lauren took me for an awesome 250 mile loop through some crazy WV dirt roads. They cater to all skill levels up to hard enduro (they have one day ride with over 100 water crossings!). If you’re interested in using their services (highly recommended), their web page is here: https://www.appalachianmotoadvtours.com/ Some pictures from my last week Mystery hole! friend and we’ll-known motorcycle travel author Sam Manicom publisher Michael Fitterling

I completed the new bike today. First startup went well. Time for break in miles Alaska here I come

I have a bag that I am finished with that you can use for fresh water.

Mounted and balanced the new tires. Then took the rear rotor off the stock wheel and mounted it to the new rear wheel from Woodys. Then mounted the 320mm front rotor and mounted the wheels for the first time on the new bike. After that I installed the Safari tank (all new hardware, new petcocks, new fuel line and fittings) and plumbed the fuel lines. Then installed the fairing and re-aimed the headlight and light bar. The last item is the new shock being built for the bike by Cogent Dynamics. For the 82,000 miles on the original Sunny I ran a Cogent Mojave shock. This bike is getting a new Cogent Mojave Pro model (large remote reservoir with adjustable compression damping as well) as well as their hydraulic preload adjuster. It’ll be awesome to be able to soften the preload bit when riding the bike without all the luggage. Once the shock is in, fuel is going in and startup!! It’ll be great to see how it runs. I only rode it 10 miles or so before tearing the bike down. Some minor changes have been made from stock. Better air filter. Carb rejetted and modified with ethanol-proof o-rings and gaskets as well as a remote choke knob and manual air/fuel mixture screw (only needed one tweak on old carb in all those miles. Had to open up the air in Peru when over 16,000 ft). I’m also running a different exhaust can. The bike ripped stock. I’m sure it’ll be sweet. Alaska Ho!

Amanda and I took the Goldwing to breakfast and a quickie around Atwood Lake. Stopped in Bolivar for ice cream and then down 212 to 21/224 back home. About 150 miles and the Wing doesn't even know she's back there. This was her first time back in the saddle since the crash more than two years ago. Everything went smoothly and she's glad she decided to give it another whirl. Twenty bucks says there's a new Goldie in the garage by next spring. 😎

After 7yrs and 40,000 miles piled on I sold her for what I paid for her.

Now for all the custom parts... He wants a taller wind screen first.

Fuck all y'all. I am going back in time and telling your dad's to wear a rubber.

Large group rides are overrated, but I definently enjoy rolling with the usual suspects that I know and trust. Crashing is never off the table, but it can be mitigated with competent riders. A failure I see more than anything is a lack of understanding between new riders and veteran riders on what constitutes a ride. While I firmly stake my flag in the soil of "personal accountability", some folks get in over their heads. The difference between riding a bike to work every day and riding a bike in the twisties is massive. It is not the same thing in the slightest to the average rider. I have a friend that has been riding for decades, but he commutes. When we hit the mountains he can't begin to stay on pace with the rest of us. He just doesn't have that skillset because it isn't how he rides. He can pilot a bike, but he has to do it at his own pace. Luckily, he's mature enough to recognize this and doesn't try to keep up. That plays a major role.. personal accountability and leaving ego at the house.

100 miles from home. Stopped in Caldwell for fuel and a stretch. Front tire gave up the ghost on 58 yesterday heading toward Marion/16. One too many front end slides for my comfort level. I had to bail on twisties and slabbed to Princeton for the evening. Left the hotel around 8am and have been rolling 77N since then. The RS does not disappoint in the mountains or on sporty tours. Left the house on Sunday at 8am. Will be home by 2pm today, with almost 2500 miles of mountain fun in my wake. I look forward to another mountain weekend before the season ends.

Rode it about 150 mi to start getting myself in shape for the Sept group ride. Went from Gahanna to Ash Cave and discovered a slight oil leak so I came straight back home. The right side of the bike was pretty shiny with oil film so I washed it in the driveway. Got some copper crush washers ordered so I should be back in business in a few days.

Hello sleeping strangers. Your weekly wake-up call is rapidly approaching.

333 miles. Took 93/83/78/377/550/26/800 and had breakfast at the Triple Nickel Diner. Tires are horrible. The quick shifter isn't as smooth as the GSA, but it functions. The windscreen has two positions... loud and louder. The brakes will get a fluid exchange this week because I think it's running the original fluid. They have two settings.. slightly slowing and endo, but boy do they stop that bike right now. The engine belongs in a sportbike. It's so good. Torque everywhere. Riding position isn't hateful and the seat is decently supportive for a stock pad. The suspension is without flaw, although more harsh than the GSA over bumps. I presume the lack of telelever is the culprit and I am just spoiled. The dash is meh, but easy to use once you figure out which button does what. Cruise control on a sportbike should be mandatory. I like being able to touch the ground with both feet at a stop. 10/10, would purchase again.

Spent 3 hrs on the Goldwing with my wife this evening. Close to 140 miles. Definitely not my normal pace but I think my wife now realizes what she has been missing when I’m gone for hours. Both of us had a blast.

I was in North Carolina riding for the week after memorial day. We were filling up at a podunk gas station near our hotel at the end of the day. Who do I run into? @NinjaDoc of course!

After looking at many motorcycles that would be appropriate for retirement age...I made the mature decision and bought myself a new MT-09. It's light and the steering is really quick

Home. 2468 miles, 5 states one province, two countries and 5 casinos.

Got it fixed! First I planned to pull the oil pan which meant draining the oil that had less than 50 minutes on it. Then I had to remove the exhaust and the lines to the oil cooler before the pan came off. The only useful thing I could see up there was that the part I needed to access was in the clutch compartment. So now on to removing the clutch cover and clutch basket. I probably could have realigned the shift shaft gear without removing the clutch but, WTH, I'm already this far... After removing everything, it was a simple job to align the shifter end and spring. Shifting seemed like Iike it was good, so I put it all back together. New oil and a ride around the neighborhood confirmed that it's fixed!

Valve inspection, wheels installed, plates renewed. Quick little shakedown run up to triple digits and all is good. Once again no balancing. I just left the weights that were on the wheels prior to my tire change 🤷‍♂️.

Another short rip today

Took Sunny 2.0 for her first real ride. An easy 100mi wander through Amish farmlands. It felt so good to be on a bike again.

Home. It was Epic.

405 miles of beautiful riding into the mountains. Currently in Princeton, WV and heading southwest in the morning.

Ceiling insulation is in. It dropped the afternoon interior temp by a solid 15 degrees. Next, a dime patterned heavy vinyl floor.

I rode mine to WV this weekend for 3 days of zooming.

Removed the pannier rack and wiped down the shiny parts. The tires appear to be original, as this only has 5200 miles on it. Ordered new Pirelli Angels for it today. Going to give it a very mild shakedown ride tomorrow due to questionable rubber and holiday police presence.

Quick ride to hocking and back today.