drc32-0

Wow,we're going to be down there on part of our FJR Ramble Sunday...awful nice of them to clean the corners for us.While they're in the neighborhood do you think they might be able to clean Big Pine,Thompson Ridge and Illsboro-Ceder Falls?

Nice pics! Every time I go out there I think...they should have keep the whole Big Muskie,now THAT would have been a tourist attraction.I saw it when I was a kid,it was a BEAST!

I love new pavement on twisty roads!Here's a few of the paving projects I've came across recently.If anyone else knows of a good road being paved,please let us know. 669 form Eaglesport to Crooksville in Morgan and Perry counties is in the process of being paved.The base layer is complete both ways and should be getting a finish layer this week.A section of 669 is shared with 555 for about 8 miles. 685 from Jackson(just south of Glouster on 13) to Buchtel (North of Nelsonville on 78) is just about done.Base layer is done in both directions and the finish layer is complete in th westbound lane.I've been waiting for this road to get paved for about 7 years,it's short at about 6 miles,but there's some good riding here. 691 in Athens county between 33 and 56 is being preped and should begin paving this week.The paving equipment is sitting at the south end.This we'll be fun!

A lot of truth in what you said. If it wasn't for the debt that I feel I owe to the men and women that served in combat I wouldn't vote.

Here we go again...another silver spooner running for the white house. Like W,Romney's biggest achievement in life is being a rich man's sperm. We're still digging out from the last republican sperm count's idiocy. Republican party...the party of Alzheimer patients.

A long time ago I read some where to only use your "inside"hand for countersteering,just kind of rest your outside hand on the bar. I've been doing it for years and it works for me.

That makes about as much sense as,"I hate socialism,so move the manufacturing base to a socialist country,borrow money from the same socialist country so you can buy their products and then bitch about U.S. unemployment and taxes."

I've got my fingers crossed that it's going to be pavement and not chipseal.We'll know in a few weeks...they have the signs up on 669 so they should be working on it soon. On a related note on paving...I was on 594 east of Caldwell yesterday and they are preping it for paving.I talked to a couple of guys on the road crew and they said it will be pavement.It connects with newly paved 145 and 595.595 will take you over to 260 near Marr.Also,if you turn off of 595 at the road sign for Lebanon Church it will become Washington CR11 at the couty line.The first mile off of 595 is old pavement,but hang in there because CR11 is new pavement on a VERY curvy road all the way to 821.It's all good in that area.

That's what I'm thinking.All of that info and it doesn't include the most important spec...packed dimensions. It does look cool though.I wonder...does a lighted tent attract or repel bears?

I've got three suggestions for you...1)on the carreer front...have you ever considered getting in a electrical construction union?It would take a little while(5 years),and you might have to travel,but with the skills you already have and the skills you would learn in an apprenticeship you could be looking at$80k- $100k annually.Look into becoming an instrument tech. Suggestion #2...spend about an hour on an alzhiemers ward.Everyday the world tells you what you don't have,one hour seeing these poor folks will bring it all back home about what you DO HAVE! Suggestion #3...if you can possibly swing it,get on your bike,pack a tent,and head to the rocky moutains or Yosimite.Stay away from t.v.s,stay away from cell phones and get back to who you are.Bask in the natural beauty,camp,breath the moutain air,walk among the big trees and ride some mountain roads.You don't need the shit the world tells you,you need. Don't let those people at work bring you down.When you are on your deathbed,which I hope is many decades from now,the only people that will be important will be the people you love.All of these people that you are giving this power to,to adveresly affect your life will be long forgotten.Every day people try so hard to please people at work and if the truth be told most of those people couldn't give a shit less if you live or die. Realign priorities,it should be your God,your family and you.

For God's sake vote for Obama...Romney is going to take your guns and your god.Besides,remember the last election... the lunatic fringe had some folks thinking Obama was going to take your guns and ammo,did that happen? Just vote Obama and keep your guns and God.

I'm pretty content where I live now...close enough to Columbus and Nelsonville for concerts and right on the edge of the great motorcycle riding area of s.e.o. If I was to choose somewhere else in the U.S. I'd go for northern California,somewhere in the Santa Rosa/Petaluma area...only because Marin county is to freaking expensive.Great riding,cool weather,beautiful scenery,redwoods,pacific coast,lane splitting,close to San Francisco for music,motorcycle friendly drivers and still a little hippy attitude.

374 is my favorite road in the Hocking Hills area. I believe they're paving 328 between 56 and 93 this summer...that should be fun with new pavement.

I was looking at the ODOT construction plan for 2012 and it looks like Morgan county is going to have some great riding in the fall.The best part of 669 is getting new pavement as is the connecting part of 555.A little south of 555/669 377 is also getting new pavement and farther south 792 is on the list.Connect all of these great roads with 376 on the other side of the Muskingum river and you'll have one great twisty loop!I can't wait. Other highlights on the district 10 list are... Athens co 681 from 33 to 56 Galia co 790 and a large section of 218 Monroe co 78 from Woodsfield to Claradon(7) 800 south of Woodsfield 145 If you like that twisty new pavement like I do,this is some great news! Check it out...http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D10/Documents/ConstructionBrochure_d10.pdf

A little south of you...775,790,218,217,some of 141 and possibly Greasy Ridge Rd if the pavement is still good.I haven't been on these roads for over a year so I don't know if pavement conditions are still good.217 from 7 to 218 is very twisty,it's only about 6 miles,but it connects to all the other roads mentioned. 218 runs south out of Gallipolis and connects to the other roads. Go North and there is a ton of good roads,but they're a little farther away.

Good to hear the surgery went well.If you went to one of the medical hobby shops in Zanesville your a braver man then me. Very sorry to hear about the break up,its never good when you don't want it,but a lot of us have been there.Wanna hear about the nurse I put through school?Me neither!Hang in there,this too will pass.

Nice job abdecal!Now if the admins will make your list a sticky it will be a good place for new riders to get some helpful info.

Here's a couple of good resources for California; http://pashnit.com/ http://www.destinationhighways.com/

As someone else said earlier,there is a lot of good advice in this thread.It might be a good idea to condense it down and put it as a sticky for new rider advise.I'd do it ,but I know there are a lot of people here much more computer savvy than me.

...or for us old school types:rolleyes:... http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?forge_prod=0F2Gn3ney42udqjJtXFVmkkM%3AS&beginIndex=0&item=268&section=10096&forge_prod_pses=forge_prod%3D0F2Gn3ney42udqjJtXFVmkkM%253AS%7E

I agree...county roads are very overlooked. Here's a few of my favorites; Washington CR 11,42(posted about these earlier this spring) Archers Fork Rd(on 26 N of Marietta)posted a year or so ago Rinauld Mills Rd(on 26 at Rinauld Mills to 260)new pavement on 260 side,new pavement ends at county line. Greasy Ridge Rd(Near South Point)haven't been on it for awhile,don't know pavement condition.Posted a couple years ago. Big Pine Rd,Illsboro-Ceder Falls,Kreashbaum,Harble-Griffith(be careful on this one) and Thompson Ridge(all in the Hocking Hills area) Salt Creek Dr.(runs from Duncan Falls to 146)getting paved this year. Congo Rd(Perry county)pavement is getting a little rough. Off the top of my head this would be my top 10,not neccessarily in order.One thing about county roads...you have to know how to read corners because sharp turns probably won't have signs suggesting speed like state routes do and pavement conditions can change drastically...especially at county lines.Just make your first pass at a sane speed...then have fun!

Be very aware of your lane position.Be sure to not get in anyone's blind spot,if you can't see their face in their mirror they probably can't see you.Sped up or slow down,but don't stay in their blind spot. Don't ride in the middle of the lane,that's where all the junk(sand,oil,car parts,road kill,etc) will be.Stay in the car's tire tracks...it tends to be cleaner there.If there is no one in front of me I stay in the right tire track to keep a little cushion between me and on coming traffic.If there are cars in front of me I stay in the left tire track so on coming traffic can see me. And for God's sake don't get trapped behind a cattle truck...ever see how much pee is in a holstein?

So sad to hear someone so young passing. Prayers sent.

That's a great looking bike,especially for you're first bike. My first ride...I don't remember my first ride,but I know it would have been on my little YZ80 around '73.My first legal ride would have been on a Kawi TE250 in '76.Over 200,000 miles later it's still a blast!

Really sorry to hear that price tag,I was very interested in riding an American made sport-tourer.I would have considered buying one at $20,000.I can get TWO FJR's for that price and the FJR is a proven bike with an extensive dealer network and aftermarket accessory dealers.