I need ONE DAY of decent weather...

[robertbarr]

I'll be here tomorrow:

http://fastride.us/

Last year's was easily the best-organized ride I've ever been on. They shut down a Chicago-area tollway for us! It's escorted its entire 150-mile length, with all intersections blocked.

Last year, I came to a complete stop exactly once during the entire first leg. I had to abandon ship mid-ride because of an impending meteorological Armageddon. I got into my garage with about three minutes to spare...

I spent most of Saturday morning working out the shameful cosmetic neglect I've subjected my Bandit to this season, so I'm all spiffed up with somewhere to go.

[steve murdoch]

Good on ya, Robert.
I don't own anything that would go for 150 miles without a pit stop for gas.

[Redman]

rb,

Good to see that you are enjoying the bike and doing more than dealing with o-rings and bolts.

Tell us how the ride went.

Dave

.

[robertbarr]

Good on ya, Robert.
I don't own anything that would go for 150 miles without a pit stop for gas.

Yeah, the Bandit has a respectable range. I wish the bladder did.

The morning was heavily overcast, which is my favorite weather for riding. Soon it turned sunny, and the bake-off began. Close to perfect weather if you don't mind a little sunburn.

We ride in two columns all the way, which can provide some entertainment. The Harley bagger in front of me hit a modest bump in the road and fell apart. God, what a riot. Both latches on the lid of his lefthand fiberglass saddlebag sprang open, and the lid was flapping around on its hinges, which are designed to allow the whole lid to be lifted off. It's flapping around in the breeze, and I'm trying to signal this guy. With open exhaust, he can't hear my horn. Apparently he doesn't notice my high beams switched on & off. The only thing left to do is to check clearance & move into the oncoming lane, to lunge forward & get alongside the guy. That took all of 0.003 seconds with the Bandit, and I finally got his attention and he was able to latch the lid. He spent the rest of the ride looking back every mile or so to check his bag latches.

It's just amazing how well-planned this ride was. Every intersection was escorted & blocked off by cops or tollway staff -- even the remote sections of Will County & the farmlands.

We had lunch at a Moose lodge, and we packed the parking lot like sardines. There was quite a variety of bikes, and looking them over is part of the fun. One guy had a '78 Honda 750K ratbike -- looked like fun. I saw several other Suzis -- V-stroms mainly -- and, no surprise, they were owned by the few helmeted riders there. Beemers and Goldwings galore. Lots of really gorgeous Harleys & cruisers with custom paint; I just wish they didn't make so damned much noise.

I spent about 20 miles alongside (more or less) TWO actual muffled Harleys. Yep, they exist, and they sounded great. They have that unique industrial sound that is usually drowned out by open exhaust.