Tpoppa

Yep, a scratched frame needs to replaced per insurance. The labor to disassemble and reassemble on a new frame is more than the bike is worth.

Just because this conversation came up on the Gap trip...if anyone is working on anything (body position, lines, etc) I'll follow you for a few miles and we can talk about it at the next stop.

just claim it as a driveway tip over.

I think I can make this. Any idea on the route yet?

I'll see if I can make it. If I can, I could meet in New Concord.

Hmmm

We should plan a multi day WV ride for July. The roads are every bit as good as what's near Deal's Gap, but with less traffic and LEOs. It'll take 3 days (2 nights) to ride most of the really good roads. Last time I did a WV trip, I spent 1 night in Harrisonburg, VA (near James Madison University) and 1 night in Buckhannon, WV. I probably still have that route saved somewhere.

My buddy that showed up was one of my best friends in high school. We both joined the Marines just before Desert Storm. The military and then life took us different directions. Saturday was the first time I saw him in 25 years. That was the highlight of my trip...well that and ditching that cop outside of Robbinsville We got loaded at the bar at Fontana. Not sure how much we drank but the bar bill for 2 of us was $140 Sunday morning I was still a little drunk. I had to chill out for a couple hours before I could ride the Dragon and head home.

Yep. If you try to go fast, you'll be slow. This year I was just smoothly gliding from one corner to the next. Very little throttle or brake inputs, unless it was absolutely necessary. It was MUCH more fun that way.

Last year (first trip to Deal's gap), I really didn't like riding the Dragon. I figured it out this year and felt really good on it.

I was afraid he was going to crash at first. I could tell he could really ride after a few corners. I was cracking up inside my helmet watching him. At one point, I gave him a thumbs up. There was a group of people in the parking lot on top of the mountain waiting for him. He appeared to be a local guy...I'd imagine he can probably ride the hell out of a sport bike, too.

Kent, Jamie and I saw the fastest Harley rider I've ever seen. He was flying up Blood Mountain on a a Sportster wearing a t-shirt and a brain bucket. He wasn't dragging parts...must have have some serious suspension work done to get that thing to corner like that. Wish I had a video. It was hilarious watching him.

This bike is setup perfectly for this kind of trip

That's pretty much how it felt. It happened so fast I didn't have time to think it through. Don't try this at home kids.

Here's my best story of the weekend... Saturday afternoon I was taking 143E out of Robbinsville. Just past the high school the speed limit increases to 55. I took that first gentle corner about 8 or 10 over...and there's a state trooper right there. In my mirrors I see his brake lights and he starts doing a 3 point turn around right in middle of the road. I pulled into the first parking lot on the left an hid behind a couple pallets of mulch bags. 5 seconds later the statey comes back around the corner with his lights on. He doesn't see me in the straight...so he thinks I must have fled. He punches it and screams off into the distance. I wonder how long he "chased" me. He must have thought I was really moving I slowly rode back through Robbinsville and found another way back to Fontana:)

A little over 2,100 miles. I'm home...tired and smell like a dog's ass, but home. Post more later.

Similarily....a vfr1200 can smoke a 350 Turbo Z

Depending how much daylight is left, I may jump on 16 at Beckley and take that the rest of the way. We'll see.

Plan is to be on the road by 3. Then 400 miles of boring, awful slab till Marion. Crap.

I'm 50% packed...so 1 sidecase

I'll split it. I won't get there until late Wednesday.

At some point late Wednesday I will arrive in Marion.

You were sloppy. We finished an entire, new bottle of Crown in 90 minutes...except for the 2 or 3 shots that Brian had. You even autographed the empty bottle, and I think your ceiling too

Crown does

oh really?