Leaderboard

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.

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.

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

Took the wheels off the Versys. Went to IP for a pair of Roadsmarts 3 to replace the knobbies. Bought new helmet. Expensive trip over $600 for everything.

Congratulations! I plan to inform my company next Friday. Tomorrow I'm going to look at a potential retirement gift for myself.

On our third day of five days to the Ozark. Mrs. Durk is killing it averaging close to 500 miles a day. No complaints about speed or cornering too hard. She gets a little green feeling at times so does request at times to back it down a bit. MO 125, AR 125, AR 123, AR 7 are some good roads. Peel ferry is a cool deal, can’t believe it’s free. Did take a route around Lake of the Ozarks that was a nice cruise and had a fun little loop from Camdenton down towards Devil’s Elbow and back up to Bridal falls this morning.

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 🤷‍♂️.

Assembled the Goldwing and took a short ride to shake down the suspension upgrade. 100% worth the money. Low speed maneuvers and highway handling is most noticeable. It doesn't wallow and 75mph is solid as 45mph. Bumps are smoothed out, too.

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.

Added turn signals, horn, and brake lights to the TE300, to make it street legal. Sent the new Goldwing seat to Russell Cycle products for the Day Long modification. Hopefully, it will be back in time for a trip to Smokies at the end of March.

Zoo was near Bristol. Took back roads up through VA, KY and WV. Made it to the casino in Charleston just before the rain rolled in.

Home. It was Epic.

I haven’t posted in a while, life’s been busy. I sold my 2022 KLR650. Two short hours later I bought another bike. Those who know me, I like my big heavy sport touring bikes. The KLR was enough for me to realize ADV doesn’t scratch that itch for me, so I’m heading back to my old home. I’m going back to the trusty FJR! I got a low mileage 2006 with a nice taste of farkles. I pick it up Friday. Probably hit some twisties on the way home. I can’t wait to get wrenching on this thing and making it my own. Got a gap trip planned in July. I don’t have any photos of my own yet but here’s one from the listing.

443 miles chasing Tony's BMW through Ohio and WV. My new handlebar upgrade has turned the RS into a very capable barn stormer. This bike is zoomier than ever and now flicks effortlessly through switchbacks... which settles the debate once and for all... Clipons are for nerds.

Two new tires, new upgraded cam chain tensioner, re-torqued steering bearings (after finding out the previous owner already upgraded to tapered roller bearings), new tail light bulbs, dif oil change, removed and plugged the secondary air system, and still gotta put the led headlights in. Dad helped me a bunch and got started on it while I was at work. Almost all back together now. Bar risers on the way too…

Shakedown ride. Runs great. Super comfortable. Could stop a little quicker, but it's 1000 lbs and older than most on the road. I was able to get my emergency braking to the point of making the front bark, bark, bark... until it stopped. That's all the brakes the Dunlops can handle in the dry without a pillion. Will be a learning curve coming from the new Wing and the BMW. Adjusted throttle cable slack after the test ride and found out I could raise the windshield even higher than I thought. All quirks remedied. Still, a super nice bike and am happy with the overall ride. I even ordered a retrofit kit to turn the cornering lights into LED driving lights. Should be here in a couple days.

Working on the winter service/inspection on my wife's Mother Fking Can Am shit crap designed Spyder. This is the most NON maintenance friendly piece of panel covered crap equipment I have ever had the opportunity to work on. But.... Happy Wife, Somewhat Happy Life. Now she wants a Vanderhall Carmel GTS.

Passenger pegs deleted and rear hugger added. Yeah, they're vanity mods. So what?

Spyder Wife and I road over to Marv's Place in Sardis for lunch. Logged 6hrs of move time with 45min off time. 255,26,260,537,565,145,564 all in good shape. 537 is closed mid btw 26&260. 52deg's starting out from Hocking Hills at 10am. also hit some very lite rain. Great Day.

Ok, it is ready for tours. Got the floor in today. Done until spring when I may drywall it except for adding a plate for the centerstand.

I was kind of looking at these and the price was too good to pass up, so I picked up this 2020 Z900 ABS. The motor is an absolute gem, and it seems to love the corners.