Shoop

Then come visit us in Marietta during the week of Aug 23-29. Most bikes show up for Fri, Sat, Sun. But the weekdays leading up to it are pretty cool. We go to the downtown restaurants those evenings. www.flybyweek.com A couple years ago, someone on here said about the Marietta event, that they could ride those roads anytime. That's true, but you don't have to register to just stop by. How often do you get to meet with riders in a parking lot filled with about 150 bikes, all brands, everything from dual sports, ADV, sports bikes, sports touring, oh yeah, and there's even a few of those big things... Goldwings - I think they call them. And then there's the crazy guys on the GS things...

Visit the Wild, Wonderful and TWISTY roads of West Virginia for the annual rendezvous organized by the Motorcycle Sport Touring Assoc. (MSTA) Saturday, June 12 through Wednesday, June 16 at the beautiful Canaan Valley Resort in Davis WV. Register here: https://reg.planetreg.com/E629131834226554 Or check out the discussion and see the 15 street and 6 ADV routes on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1283327378691574

Got my 2016 FJR back from the dealer today where she was getting transmission recall work done. Ran great. A bit brisk. Yamaha added the 6th gear with the 2016 model and apparently almost all of them were recalled. It's been quite a while since @JustinNck1 sold his five speed FJR, but I'm still gonna tease him about having (had) only five gears.

Thanks for the suggestion Jen. Not considering the Z300 because Kawasaki stopped participating in the loan program. Seems to have been a few years ago. They are still listed on the program description but it says - "no longer participating." If the range that's close to you is using Kawi's, they probably have a close relationship with a Kawi dealer - who's giving them a great deal so they expose a bunch of newbies to their brand. I'm looking for FREE bikes. My local dealer (Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha) is interested in / willing to put some newer ones on our range through the one-year loan program. But there's paperwork to do, and they want to grump at my state director about the deal that went sour before they start that. Regarding the Hondas, I was thinking that the CB300R had a fairing. But now that I looked at the Honda pages, I see they updated the CB300F to the R in 2019. But it's strange that they still show the 2017 & 2018 CB300F on their sales page. Musta made a pile of them that didn't sell? I like the looks of the newer R version better but which version I get will probably be up to the dealer and their corp contacts. Chris

BUMP - Getting closer to being able to talk with the local dealer for a bike or two. Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki. Same local shop handles all three. They've been a big supporter in past years before there was some sort of "misunderstanding" a couple years ago. Any fresh insight on new range bikes? The Morgantown range says the revised Honda Rebel is a real problem when they do the power-walking exercise because the pegs get in the way. The Groms are good but the brakes are a bit too powerful and they've seen more than a few drops and stoppies. I like the looks of the Yamaha MT-03, and the Honda CB300F. We already have a pair of CR230L's that are great for taller people, or I'd also be looking at a CRF250L or maybe a Yamaha XT250. Sorry - but I don't like the look of the TW200. Any thought on these or others from this dealer? Anybody have experience with adding crash protection to range bikes? Thanks, Chris

Don't believe anything he says about getting more for it than he paid.

Welcome to the forum. As you'll see, there's not much going on. But don't worry. The weather will soon be getting crappy and then all the regulars will be back and complaining about whatever. It'll be great fun. Chris

This weekend I am hoping to be in motorcycle training in Charleston. But if that doesn't work out I am considering a ride up to State 8 to see if they still have any bikes in stock. If plan B works out I could bring the Star helmet with me and stop by some place in Canton. Do you wear an XL and have an intermediate shape? Chris Shoop

Parkersburg, WV. I could meet you somewhere. Location is a feature of your profile. But you can't see it if you're using the mobile version.

BUMP - Price drop, now $160.

The riding season has an end date?

Who are you?

Welcome Rich. More details, please! I’m from PA and the wife is from Rockland county NY. We live in WV where the roads are even better-when they’re not actively sliding down the mountainside. Chris

Bell Star MIPS DLX, white, XL, $260 plus shipping. I bought this helmet last fall shortly after Bell brought out the MIPS in a street helmet. Besides MIPS, it comes with a Transitions shield - which is awesome. I LOVE the design and quality of this helmet. But I'm selling it because it is trying to tear my left ear off. I've tried two different, smaller sets of cheek pads. But that has made it only barely tolerable for me. I haven't logged 50 miles with this helmet. BTW, you'll get those two extra sets of pads for no extra charge Chris Shoop

For my FZ6 I just put it the tank bag. But with the FJR I mount it on the flat spot of the right side fairing. I bought this to make it more discrete. https://www.ebay.com/itm/EZ-Pass-IPass-Holder-Electronic-Toll-tag-Camouflage-Cover/254230477245?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3b315139bd:g:mqcAAOSwX~dWtQR9&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACYBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkrDx%2B2NLp21dg6hHbHAkGMaUE7altwZxATlEYonsafkFo7C3OdsqFrAwNFQtaYnWJ%2FFRleYh9RNQ6A4Int8WG3ZX7VkxNaUhjdNqNe%2Bj6aWzYh1svQgIlpY8FpdJZfyO%2Bt8PniCMfPePtsJIeji7yWGDCYZP3zbmuyDT%2BU%2FnU9Iti9%2F0dTxiq2ed%2FXVDPhl1SmQwf4sF87FWDPG8t1cpZddP6EIDcH8fLAS6fcjVuBW7OCbqVbmiKMxQncn6NLwFhlm5PMpPeVfq0aYSKE%2BEkNR5NWUOi11aAnL7YOq5z8ZbBxrXTfRZZD0L5wXgaMV%2BgRM8Nh4R0M7YRryxKFajVlcjxQLSo2ifaNk0kDcRvyb2pIXWtgNTG%2BImPkjqf4P22qRSnf%2BO%2B2mbSPBwlfNyMWxt%2BfhNfanAL03fs%2BfxV0R4lzZyqk9lu4aljcCwi3kwI2ljYvZqVocUJ%2Blzv3aa1DAPatSxr04gu12m6a9auZZ%2F1jHlwmJc64ndfjwDXLS7mGXVYKWIHMfYXwjKrjQ2oBWpvHGWCk%2FsSbduvqo2hR46UFuINI3PzN1W3ZHNHN%2F%2FjzoASxVbSivTXu7H1nwDmmuATzx286X6qqLrGU%2FoBIPOJN%2FhqAafSNv3aMcHZAApApXhsXFfw7ga90JA19US%2F1H258v1heUcO9Dp6xhABvepqrxdqyC1FOsOh3lUHJIR51bFWNGEQYwaL%2FjwQlBauzp%2FYerkpkNfnubpwnoqM1lK7r7cSxTtVHfHagBD%2FBEx4|cksum%3A25423047724568ed5c7450a54916ad899c46d7a19eca|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524

Y’all missed a great day.

So, the hotels were happy to have customers and didn't try to put you into quarantine for having crossed state state lines? 😁 > My wife is the paranoid one, but sometimes it rubs off on me. Thanks for the info on the 50. I'll probably keep my 10R till it dies. But it seems like mesh is finally living up to the advertising. Chris

So, who has changed their riding habits, or stopped for a bit? I hope this thread will stay objective and respectful, but we all know better... For the record, I am tasked to go to work M,W,F to run some samples. My company is taking good measures to prevent exposure. I am very concerned about the employment situation for the rest of the area. I understand the desire to get back to normal, but I don't think it's time, yet. Anyway, I have been riding, pretty much to my typical schedule. I ride to work except when there's ice on the roads or it's raining. I've been taking pleasure rides most weekends, either solo or with my neighbors. Visited Hawk's Nest SP about two weekends ago with two others. One of the few reasoned discussions that I have seen was from a guy in NJ who asked us to consider the overload levels in whatever hospitals are in the area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvLNzElW4A0 But he was in JERSEY, where the 'rona was and remains rampant. I have relatives (some are nurses) just the other side of the border w NY and it's pretty grim there. I would not want to be the happy winner of an ambulance ride into that mess. Or to add to the healthcare worker's burden. If I lived there, the bikes would be parked. But that makes me wonder what the situation is like for hospitals closer to home. Which brings me back to my intended question - Does anybody here @NinjaDoc have insight on the status of COVID-19 overload in area hospitals, in OH or in the newsworthy low impact rate state of WV? OTOH, I heard a few weeks ago, that Ruby Memorial in Morgantown WV was fairly busy w COVID-19. I feel like I'm starting an oil thread. Yikes. Chris

@TimTheAzn Interesting. Wait, you get the dirtbike version???

Hey, sorry to hear that you'll be farther away. I count myself as one of those quiet people, well as at least not one of the ... well, you know. I will always remember that EPIC ride when you helped push an older couple's car off of the road, up a freaking hill. Thanks. Please keep in touch. They do have internet in RTP - right? Chris

Never ever buy Sena's latest thing, like the 50S that is about to be released. Sena has a history of using their early adopters to help iron out the bugs in products that really weren't ready for sale. I have not been bit - but I've seen it and heard the whining.

Last year I wanted to use my Sena SMH10R with my dual sport helmet. Decided to buy a third unit so I can avoid swapping back and forth. Was not willing to risk suggesting that I could move the wife's unit. Went to Revzilla for an SMH10R and ended up with a 10R. At the time I thought it was an SMH10R and they had added the radio feature. But when it arrived the box said it was a 10R. I suspect that the Revzilla description was wrong - not that I would blame them when Sena is continually changing things. Anyway, today on Revzilla you can get a pair of SMH5-FM for $215 and have the radio. A pair of SMH10R's (no radio according to the online description) is $287. And a pair of 10R's (with radio) is $395. These are all sale prices - no idea when they will end. Or you can check Ridersdiscount.com Mike is a member on OR. (whom I keep forgetting to check - but I'm still loving that Shoei Transitions shield!) I really like my SMH10R and the 10R with the radio is just a bit nicer. I think the 10R might have a bit better battery life and a few extra yards of range. Whatever you decide on, read the descriptions really closely because with so many similar names, it's easy to get confused.

One thing to consider with the 5 - a few years ago, that model could only connect with one other unit. Fine for riding with the wife, but then if you ride in a group you must choose between talking with the wife or talking to the group. Though if the other unit is a Sena 10 or above you should be able to network both in. Not real simple though. OTOH my neighbor says the lit for his 5, newer than my 10, is able to connect to up to three others. Sena seems to add features to their older models every now and then. He's never been able to get it to work with more than the one other 5. But he doesn't seem to like talking to other riders anyway and it's not fun sitting aroud in your gear trying to connect to others. A pair of SMH10R's is about $100 extra. Just a thought.