Bubba

How old, worn and dry is the chain? Could be a tight link or excessively worn sprocket teeth. They can make some pretty weird sounds when they're past their useful life. If the bike is new to you and it's a low motor knock sound--like a rod bearing or piston slap--the DL650 motors were notorious for their "agricultural" motor noise. I bought mine used 9 years ago and was convinced for the first year or two that the motor was gonna grenade some day. Still going strong 40K miles later.

Once again, it sounds as if all the guns were legally obtained thru local gun shop owners. I don't understand, at least in this scenario, how a stricter licensing process that involves mental health evaluation will prevent a "one-and-done" shooting event. It's not the disheveled, drooling homeless guy that pulls this shit off--it's the "regular Joe" down the street, the quiet guy who keeps his yard nice and shares a beer with the neighbors who brings a whole new level of crazy to our society. No one--including a specialist in mental health--could have predicted this. By all accounts, he was law-abiding multi-millionaire who was fully involved in the fabric of his community: homeowner, investor, entrepreneur, pilot, retiree. It'll be interesting altho perhaps not completely definitive what the GF will reveal she knew about the last few months of this guy's life. Sounds like she must have at least been aware of his burgeoning arsenal, but that fact may not have been much of a tip-off to what transpired.

You should prolly schedule your ride for early in the day, so as to avoid any conflict with the scheduled rapture. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-man-whose-biblical-doomsday-claim-has-some-nervously-eyeing-sept-23/ar-AAshl6v?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp

Could be warped rotors--many big heavy superbikes are susceptible to overheating their rotors if subjected to high speed stops--but it might be something as simple as a rough, dirty or corroded spot on one or both rotors. Before you commit to spending $$$ on new parts, try using some brake cleaner and a fiberglass or copper scouring pad to thoroughly clean the surface of both rotors. Some folks use steel wool, but I've heard you can get some residue left from the steel pads that will create rust on the rotor surface.

2TT: Even though I was only a maybe for this trip, I'm gonna officially remove myself from the list. Just got back from our LocalRiders fall trip to Waynesville/BRMC and rode over 1600 miles of much the same route. Didn't get to the good stuff in GA--have to save that for next year--but got to run the Cherhola, BRP, 215, 276, 28, 80, 16, blahblahblah. Should be a great time to be down there if you can minimize your time stuck behind the leaf peepers in their RVs plunking along at 10 under the posted speed. Have fun and stay safe!

Mike, any XL left?

It certainly wouldn't be out of the question for an 11-12 year old sport bike with 40K hard miles to be in need of a new clutch. As others have noted above, if feels slow to accelerate but the RPMs are rising quickly, go clutch. If the bike feels slow to accelerate with throttle and the RPMs hold stable, you've got another issue--fuel/spark/???

Very nice. Was actually considering one for myself, but the models with the mid-controls are difficult to find and I'm not into the forward-control--or in that case, lack of control--style of riding. Congrats!

Don't know Jerry, but damn sorry to hear this. Seems to be a spate of the Big C going around my friend base lately. Two good friends have recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 colo-rectal cancer with metastases to the liver/bone/lung. One is a guy a few years older than me that I worked with and rode MCs with for decades--been on chemo doses of increasing potency for about 2 1/2 years, first folfox, then folfiri, now receiving erbitux in combination with Avastin--whose weight is down from +200# to 140#. The other is the wife of my good riding bud, diagnosed with colon cancer about a 1 1/2 years ago in her very early 50s. Same treatment course as above but with much lower efficacy, weight dropped under 90#. Hate watching the progression of the disease and cumulative effects of the chemo-toxicity. In these cases, neither the disease nor the treatment are pretty.... My best wishes to your friend Jerry for a successful surgery and quick recovery. The chemo treatment course will be more prolonged, but hopefully he will respond in a positive manner to the drug(s) and see a slow-down of the progression of the disease. Sending prayers!

'Murray thinks the bike’s steering locked up and caused him to lose control. “I love taking corners and I was only doing 40 mph and I went to lean into this turn and this bike would not let lean.”' LOL. Methinks it looked a whole lot like target fixation, panic braking, and inability to ride....all leading to one HELLUVA flight lesson!!!

Good looking bike. Based on the stated mileage at last service interval, am I correct to assume that the belts and valves are due to be done in another 1500 miles or so? I'm not a Ducatisti and not familiar with the required maintenance on these monsters. Just lusting out loud....

NP. I have heard some of the hard-core internet denizens complain about slow network. I'm an old guy who doesn't have a smartphone or tablet. I want a clean comfy bed to lie down in after a 12 hour riding day. If you're traveling with folks that "need" that kind of connectivity, maybe look elsewhere....

Tim: I've led a group of between 5 and 10 folks from LocalRiders from Cinti to Abingdon on our first day's ride to the BRMC for the last three years. Always stayed at the Super 8 there (Exit 17 off I-81) and had zero problems. If you're looking for hot tubs, swimming pools, workout rooms, and a 4-course breakfast, fuggedaboudit. But it's always been cheap, clean, no bed bugs, staff was efficient and personal at check-in/-out, and there's a free continental breakfast available. Easy access to gas/fast food/highway, no parking lot issues with security, and a big box store (Food City) within walking distance to pick up beer/wine/snacks. Unless things have changed dramatically since last September, I see no issue with booking there.

Wasn't suggesting that you do the entire length of 215 to Waynesville, although the north side is pretty where it wanders along Lake Logan. You can connect to the BRP at the top of 215 and just head east from there. Be about the same time as the original route. The other little side trip you can do is drop down 151 from the BRP just east of the 276 junction, run it to the bottom and then head right back up. Tricky little section know as Devil's Drop (I think). Guy rode it with our group a few years ago and boiled the rear brake on his Triumph Rocket 3 on the way down.

Unless you're dead set on running the BRP for that many miles on Day 3 (not my idea of fun, given that it'll be populated with leaf peepers and clotted with RVs) I'd suggest taking 281/Canada Rd out of Tuckaseegee all the way to Lake Toxaway, then 64 over to 215 up to the BRP. Gets you off the crowded and boring sections of 107 and 74. Little diner at the corner of 107/281 to catch a lunch.

Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir

Ah, I love the good natured banter on this forum...even if y'all are assholes. My only hope is that if I do manage to make the trip, I'll become an overnight OR legend based strictly on my epic farting skills...

Oh. So you're saying you've got this handled? Well, I'll just go back to surfing for internet porn then... Still might be able to make this, tho. Maybe y'all can learn me a thing or two about ridin'. 'Course, I might slow you down...IJS

I know you guys love the Gap area, but it's so overdone....a lot like the 10/22 route in NKY. High enforcement area with artificially low speed limits to dampen the fun factor and increase revenue. Have you ever thought of staying a bit further south in the Franklin area? Not that much further, still close enough to the Gap and other roads in that vicinity to make a day ride out of it, and an easier run to the great roads in northern GA--28 south to Pine Mtn (even great into SC!) then east on Warwoman thru Clayton on 76 to 197 around Lake Burton, 356 over to 348/Richard B Russell Hwy. And if you never ridden the circle loop of 215-276 between Brevard and Waynesville, DO EET!!! The south side run on 215 from the BRP to 64/Rosman is one of the best race tracks in the area--good enough to run it down, then back up just for giggles--with no LEOs and very little traffic. Also sample 281/Canada Rd and 1001/Elijay/Tilley Creek Rd while you're in the area. Given the timing, I might actually try to make this one if the stars align.

Since this thread has been successfully hijacked by midgets and street racing squids, I have to leave this here. Why do I think @Tonik when I see this? Well shit...that didn't work. Still an old techno-grouch, I guess...

You mean because you can't get low enough with standard bars and an upright riding position?

Wow. Now, I feel really old. The earliest news stories I remember are all from the mid- to late-50s and early 60s. I remember my Dad and Mom being shocked at the Rosa Parks arrest (over refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white person) and having long conversations about discrimination, segregation and the resulting bus boycott in Montgomery AL...but they were both Canadian so maybe not so surprising. I remember the desegregation of the public schools in Little Rock, AR, and the National Guard escorting the little bIack girls into the building. I remember reading about the push into supersonic flight by the X-2 program. I remember Gary Powers being shot down and captured by the Soviets. I remember both my parents discussing the political ramifications of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, and their fears about a nuclear war between the US and the Soviets during the blockade of Cuba in the early 60s. They were so concerned about what might happen, they seriously considered leaving the US and going back to their families in Vancouver, British Columbia.

@Casper Very nice find. Thanks! Shared with riding friends.

Holy zombie thread revival...

No one has suggested Pirelli Angel GTs? Had 'em on my Zed1K and my FZ1 and absolutely loved 'em. Sticky in both dry and wet. Decent...maybe above average wear mileage. Definitely go with the 55 profile on the rear!!!